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0 Subject: OT - Strange, unusual, rare...

Posted by: Wilmer McLean
- [75249] Tue, Apr 27, 2004, 00:00

This thread won't better inform you for your roto team(s), but I thought this would be an interesting season long thread - an accounting of the strange, unusual, rare, out-of-the-ordinary baseball plays, moments, events and such for the 2004 season.

One of the reasons I am a baseball fan is because of the "something new" that seems to pop up every now and then. I believe this differentiates MLB from the other sports in a positive way.

Examples of the strange, unusual, rare, out-of-the-ordinary baseball plays, moments, events and such from a few seasons ago that I remember are:

The New York Yankees in Detroit had three sacrfice flies in one inning. I was watching and George Will was in the TV booth for the inning.

When I put a similiar thread a few seasons ago, someone posted that there were three Benjis in a lineup. Yes, that's strange, unusual, rare and such.

I'm looking for a community accounting for such plays, events and moments that will be a season long thread good for reading and saying to oneself, "interesting, never heard of that, three SF? How is that possible?"

There are a few moments from the 2004 season that I want to start you off with:

Larry Ellison, with a blue kayak, retrieved Barry Bond's 660 homer in McCovey Cove. He gave the ball to Bonds and in return got tickets to the next game. Ellison gave the tickets away and boarded his blue kayak for the next game and retrieved Bond's 661 ball. What are the odds?

Pitt P Kris Benson tied a major league record with four sacrifice bunts on April 18. It has only been done six times and only twice since 1920.

And, I believe when Clemens matched up against Bonds it was the first time a 600+ homer batter faced a 300+ pitcher.

Well, I hope others will contribute with other strange, unusual, rare, out-of-the-ordinary plays, events, moments and such for a long 2004 season thread. Thank you.
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100KrazyKoalaBears
      Leader
      ID: 517553018
      Sun, May 23, 2004, 00:34
05/23/2004 - Ben Sheets ties the record (3 K's) for fewest K's in the game following an 18+ K game.
101KrazyKoalaBears
      Leader
      ID: 517553018
      Sun, May 23, 2004, 00:45

- 8 different players scored the total 9 runs for MIN in their 9-1 win over CWS.

- 42 games into the season, the Texas Rangers (25-17) are 1 game up on the New York Yankees (24-18).

From the Game Recaps...

- Reggie Jackson's #9 was retired by the Oakland A's before their game today.

- The A's recorded their 3,000th win in Oakland history and now have a record of 3,000-2,744 since coming to the area in 1968

- Manny Ramirez's homer was his 358th, tying Yogi Berra on the career list.

... and my favorite...

- Fans booed the Florida Marlins at the end of the eighth inning because the team had 11 hits, one short of a promotion with Krispy Kreme that would have given ticket holders free donuts.

102Wilmer McLean
      ID: 75249
      Sun, May 23, 2004, 13:22
05-23-2004 Kazuo Matsui of the New York Mets set the club record for most leadoff home runs in a season with five. He only has five home runs this season.
103Wilmer McLean
      ID: 75249
      Wed, May 26, 2004, 20:31
05-25-04 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- "Nobody on either team could remember a game ending like this.

Second base umpire C.B. Bucknor called interference on Carlos Guillen in the ninth inning, nullifying the tying run and giving the Kansas City Royals a 4-3 victory Tuesday night over the Detroit Tigers.

Detroit trailed 4-3 with runners at the corners and one out in the ninth. Ivan Rodriguez hit a grounder to shortstop Angel Berroa, who flipped to second baseman Desi Relaford for the force.

As Guillen came crashing in, Relaford threw to first, trying for a game-saving double play. But Rodriguez beat the throw, allowing Alex Sanchez to score the tying run from third.

Or so it seemed.

Right after first base umpire Chuck Meriwether called Rodriguez safe on a close play, Bucknor signaled interference on Guillen and an automatic double play, ending the game."


05/18/2004 - On the same date Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell and Jim Thome of the Phillies hit back-to-back-to-back home runs, "Colorado's jeromy Burnitz and Matt Holliday hit back-to-back homers twice in an 8-3 win against the Reds. Although Holliday is a rookie, he and Burnitz go way back. Burnitz played for Holliday's father at Oklahoma State. 'In spring training, I realized I had baby-sit that kid when I was in school,' Burnitz says."
104Skidazl
      Leader
      ID: 379312323
      Wed, May 26, 2004, 21:08
First of all, great thread idea wilmer....

Here's one from today -
"Manager Bobby Cox of the Braves was ejected from the game in the top of the 3rd inning by home plate umpire Bill Welke for arguing balls and strikes."

;-) ;-) ;-)
105KrazyKoalaBears
      Leader
      ID: 517553018
      Thu, May 27, 2004, 13:31
05/26/2004 - Daryle Ward joins his father Gary Ward in hitting for the cycle. The Ward's become the only father-son team to accomplish this feat. Story
106KrazyKoalaBears
      Leader
      ID: 517553018
      Thu, May 27, 2004, 22:08
05/27/2004 - With a strikeout thrown in the 9th inning, pitcher John Smoltz of the Braves passed Early Wynn for 37th on the Major League Career Strikeout List with 2,335 career strikeouts.
107KnicksFan
      ID: 51411222
      Fri, May 28, 2004, 00:11
The Yankees had 7 hits in a row tonight. What's the record for consecutive hits?
108Tastethewaste
      ID: 249352813
      Fri, May 28, 2004, 14:06
When Carlos Pena went 6 for 6, it was the 1st time in American League History that 3 guys got 6 hits in a game in one season.

Soriano Catalanato and Pena
109Wilmer McLean
      ID: 75249
      Sat, May 29, 2004, 04:54
05-28 2004 Mariano Rivera earned his 300th career save Friday night,
becoming the first Yankee and the 18th pitcher in history
to reach the milestone.

He is the fourth pitcher to get 300 with one team, joining
Trevor Hoffman, Dennis Eckersley and Jeff Montgomery.
110KrazyKoalaBears
      Leader
      ID: 517553018
      Sat, May 29, 2004, 09:52
05/28/2004 - The home run by Cincinnati's Ken Griffey, Jr. was the 493rd of his major league career, tying him with Lou Gehrig for 20th place on the all-time list.

05/28/2004 - I wonder if the baby weighed nine pounds... Hours after his wife, Jennifer, gave birth to their first son, Rob Mackowiak hit his first career grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth Friday to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 9-5 win over the Chicago Cubs in the first game of a doubleheader. In the nightcap, he hit a two-run homer to tie the game in the ninth inning.

111rockafellerskank
      Dude
      ID: 27652109
      Sat, May 29, 2004, 10:02
Yesterday was the first time in MLB history that 5 games ended with walk off HRs and 7 games ended in any sort of walk off.

(according to ESPN SportsCenter)
112KrazyKoalaBears
      Leader
      ID: 517553018
      Mon, May 31, 2004, 10:21
05/30/2004 - Jim Thome's homer was the Phillies' 37th in the month of May, breaking a franchise record set in 1999.

05/30/2004 - SP Tomo Ohka batted 8th in the MON lineup. The last time a MON pitcher batted higher than 9th was 08/23/73 when Steve Renko batted 8th against SDG.

113KrazyKoalaBears
      Leader
      ID: 517553018
      Mon, May 31, 2004, 22:59

05/31/2004

- Ken Griffey, Jr. hit his 494th career HR, moving ahead of Lou Gehrig for sole possession of 20th place on the all-time HR list.

- The Red Sox have sold out 91 consecutive games, the third-longest streak in baseball history.

- Pirates 1B Daryle Ward hit into a rare 6-5-3 double play in the third, after the Cardinals shifted their defense against the left-handed pull hitter.

114JeffG
      Leader
      ID: 1584348
      Tue, Jun 01, 2004, 09:08
Seattle Mariners OF Ichiro Suzuki went 3-for-4 Monday, May 31, against the Toronto Blue Jays, bringing his hit total over 50 for the entire month. Suzuki became the first player since Pete Rose to have two 50-plus hit months in his career. He had 51 in August of 2001. Rose had 52 in July of 1973 and 51 in September of 1979.
115C1-NRB
      ID: 104102811
      Tue, Jun 01, 2004, 16:39
Post 108: All three have spent time in the Rangers organization.
116Tastethewaste
      ID: 249352813
      Tue, Jun 01, 2004, 16:42
yeah youre right!
117Khahan
      ID: 364131722
      Tue, Jun 01, 2004, 22:40
News and Notes on Armando Benitez from espn:




In the first 15 pitches of his outings, Benitez's opponents are batting .106 with 21 strikeouts.

To me it sounds as if 21 batters have struck out on the first pitch 15 times!
Now that is both strange, unusual and rare.
118KrazyKoalaBears
      Leader
      ID: 517553018
      Fri, Jun 04, 2004, 09:42
It looks like #10 is likely to end on 06/08.
119KrazyKoalaBears
      Leader
      ID: 517553018
      Fri, Jun 04, 2004, 09:53
The Yankees currently have 33 wins and 22 come-from-behind wins. Kind of odd given their payroll.

It was a family affair in Anaheim... "Kelvim Escobar pitched to his cousin, Alex Escobar, for the first time in the majors. Alex was 0-for-3 against him... Bengie and Jose Molina, the only brother catching combination in the majors, got to see brother Yadier's big league debut with St. Louis Cardinals on the video board while doing their pregame stretching. Yadier had two hits and scored a run."

Ty Wigginton's triple in the second inning gave him an extra base hit for an eighth straight game, a Mets record. Steve Henderson (1977) and Tommie Agee (1969) each had streaks of seven straight. Wigginton's 8-game extra base hit streak has also given him the longest hitting streak for his career.

120KrazyKoalaBears
      Leader
      ID: 517553018
      Sun, Jun 06, 2004, 23:32
06/06/2004
- In blowing his 3rd save of the season tonight, Billy Koch allowed 3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, and 3 SB. He also threw 30 pitches and pitched just 1/3 of an inning.

- With his 7th strikeout thrown in today's game, Mike Mussina of the Yankees passed Vida Blue on the all-time major league strikeout list with 2,176 career strikeouts.

- Scott Dohmann became the 399th pitcher to give up a homer to Barry Bonds.

121Skidazl
      Leader
      ID: 379312323
      Mon, Jun 07, 2004, 00:17
KKB, the M's actually stole 4 bases off koch tonight, ichiro->2nd, winn->3rd and the boone/bloomquist double steal...

but nonetheless, that's a lot of 3's...
122KrazyKoalaBears
      Leader
      ID: 517553018
      Mon, Jun 07, 2004, 09:36
Ah ha! Missed the double steal. So why don't we say 3 SB events? ;)
123Skidazl
      Leader
      ID: 379312323
      Mon, Jun 07, 2004, 18:27
works for me... ;-)
124Skidazl
      Leader
      ID: 379312323
      Mon, Jun 07, 2004, 19:13
BTW, didn't mean to be picky, but My M's need all the positives they can get this year...
125Wilmer McLean
      ID: 75249
      Thu, Jun 10, 2004, 19:48
These are from Sports Weekly.

06-03-04 "At 45, Julio Franco became the oldest major leaguer to hit a grand slam, leading the Braves to an 8-4 victory at Philadelphis."

06-02-04 "Pittsburgh Jason Kendall scored from second base on a sacrifice fly." (wow, how?)

And, from their "Superlatives for the first third of 2004" piece...

"Strangest Relief Appearance - David Weathers, Mets - Weathers was warming up in the pen when he was summoned into the game. No big deal. Yet, it was in the middle of an at-bat, with Mike Stanton on the mound. Odd, but it's been done before.
But with two strikes on hitter Mike Lowell?
Weathers, brought in because Lowell was hitting .484 against lefties, inherited a 2-2 count. 'I Was totally off kilter. I guess you can't assume anything as a reliever.'
Weathers promptly gave up a game-tying double, and the Mets lost to the Marlins."
126Tree
      Donor
      ID: 599393013
      Fri, Jun 11, 2004, 13:31
i don't think it's been mentioned in this thread, but doesn't Toby Harrah posess what is quite possibly the most unique and nearly difficult to reproduce record in baseball - that being his "do nothing" record?

June 25, 1976, saw Harrah play an entire Doubleheader at shortstop, and not handle a single chance in the field.

interesting, in September of 1977, just over a year later, Harrah played an entire 17-inning game at 3B without recording an assist.

bio of Toby Harrah
127Mikel
      ID: 811112016
      Fri, Jun 11, 2004, 15:24
According to Earnie Harwells book "Diamond Gems", Early 1970's New York Yankee First baseman, Ron Blomberg, could consume 28 hamburgers at one sitting.
128Sludge
      ID: 523482015
      Fri, Jun 11, 2004, 15:49
White Castle, McDonald's, or something a bit on the larger side?
129J
      Leader
      ID: 49346417
      Fri, Jun 11, 2004, 16:07
mmmmmm White Castle. We only have Krystals down south :(

Not quite the same. Even 28 White Castle burgers is quite an accomplishment.
130Tree
      Donor
      ID: 599393013
      Fri, Jun 11, 2004, 16:08
if you're consuming 28 White Castle burgers in one sitting, you're doing that one sitting on the can.
131beastiemiked
      Sustainer
      ID: 3531815
      Fri, Jun 11, 2004, 16:13
I wouldn't want to share an apartment with that guy unless we had one helluva air freshner.
132Mikel
      ID: 811112016
      Fri, Jun 11, 2004, 16:22
Ironically enough, Ron Blomberg was the first designated hitter to appear in a regular-season game. April 6, 1973.
133Mikel
      ID: 811112016
      Fri, Jun 11, 2004, 16:27
Ron admits that his 28 hamburger sitting was during a contest held in Atlanta. So if J says no white castles in ATL then we have confirmed that Ron did infact NOT eat 28 white castle hamburgers.
134biliruben
      ID: 441182916
      Fri, Jun 11, 2004, 16:30
Krystal's "hamburgers" (sliders?) are almost identically small and intestine damaging as White Castle's "product."
135Skidazl
      Leader
      ID: 379312323
      Fri, Jun 11, 2004, 17:55
I noticed this one in the Angel-Milwaukee game last night, seemed odd to me...

Milwaukee P Jeff Bennett pitched to Milwaukee C Gary Bennett...

or maybe not... ;-)
136KrazyKoalaBears
      Leader
      ID: 517553018
      Sat, Jun 12, 2004, 22:14
A couple I saw in the recent issue of SI...

06/03/2004 - After calling every game on radio in franchise history, Toronto Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek's streak ended at 27-1/2 seasons Thursday because of his father's death. Cheek had called 4,306 consecutive regular-season games, plus 41 more in the post-season, since the Blue Jays began playing in 1977. Full story.

06/05/2004 - Tim Hudson's win over TOR broke a record-tying 7-game streak of no-decisions for Oakland's starters. Of interest is the fact that during that stretch, Oakland's starters posted a 1.84 ERA.

137Chuck
      Sustainer
      ID: 169212110
      Sat, Jul 03, 2004, 01:07
Can't believe this thread fell so far. 85 million gets butted more than this... sad.

7/3/04
Tonight´s game was the longest game in the history of the Baltimore Orioles franchise. The previous longest game was 5 hours, 49 minutes against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998.

7/3/04
Pirates played in their 5th DH of the season on Friday. This was the last time a team played 5 DH's in a season since the 1990 Cubs.
138Catfish
      ID: 30510218
      Sat, Jul 03, 2004, 08:41
#135 Skidazl, a couple of seasons ago in interleague play (Jays v Rockies), Walker walked Walker.

(Pete/Larry)
139KrazyKoalaBears
      Leader
      ID: 517553018
      Sat, Jul 03, 2004, 15:15
In the 7th inning of HOU's game @CHC on 06/29/2004, Carlos Beltran hit a HR off of Francis Beltran. They are the only two Beltran's in MLB currently on a 40-man roster.
140Tosh
      Sustainer
      ID: 57721710
      Sun, Jul 04, 2004, 19:21
Barry Bonds' second walk today gave him 2,191 for his career, breaking Rickey Henderson's all-time record.
141wolfer
      Sustainer
      ID: 18639422
      Sun, Jul 04, 2004, 22:23
2 things:

The no-hitter that Adam Eaton took into the eigth inning last night was the third time a Padre pitcher took a no-hitter into the eigth inning ON JULY 3rd!

Re 135:
If memory serves me correctly, didn't Jeremy Gonzalez of Tampa Bay hit Juan Gonzalez with a pitch a year or two ago?
142Wilmer McLean
      ID: 75249
      Mon, Jul 05, 2004, 23:46
07-05-04 Richard Hidalgo, who only had four home runs for Houston before being trade, became the first Met to hit a home run in five consecutive games. (The Mets fell one home run short of becoming the first NL team with at least 3 home runs in five consecutive games)

07-03-04 An uninjured Contreras was replaced by Paul Quantrill during Shane Spencer's at-bat with no outs in the sixth inning with a 2-1 count.
143StLCards
      Leader
      ID: 31010716
      Wed, Jul 28, 2004, 10:52
LANCASTER, Calif. -- Lancaster JetHawks right-hander Mike Schultz struck out five batters in one inning Thursday night in a 19-4 loss to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Thursday night.

link
144biliruben
      ID: 406171015
      Wed, Jul 28, 2004, 11:22
I Saw that. I was born in Lancaster - and have never been back. When did they get enough population to support a baseball team?
145darkside
      Dude
      ID: 3590317
      Thu, Jul 29, 2004, 14:38
Anyone notice that on Saturday Pit's 2B (J. Castillo) went 1-4 with no walks yet managed to score 4 runs?!?!

Here's the box score. I assume it was either errors or fielder's choice, but that's some bad luck!
146beastiemiked
      Sustainer
      ID: 3531815
      Thu, Jul 29, 2004, 14:44
2 FC's and 1 error.
147darkside
      Dude
      ID: 3590317
      Thu, Jul 29, 2004, 14:58
Well, I guess in that case it was his good luck. I was just surprised to see that sort of box score.
148j o s h
      ID: 2758215
      Mon, Aug 02, 2004, 18:54
Roger Clemens Ejected
149Wilmer McLean
      ID: 75249
      Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 05:18
Cardinals Fan Gets Hit Twice By Foul Ball In One Game

Woman OK After Baseball Hits Her In Head, Neck On Sunday

POSTED: 1:25 pm EDT July 7, 2004
UPDATED: 1:34 pm EDT July 7, 2004

ST. LOUIS -- The next time Sara Denoyer attends a St. Louis Cardinals game, she might want to sit way, way out in the bleachers.

Denoyer and her boyfriend sat down the first-base line at Busch Stadium, watching a game the Cards eventually won against the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Sunday.

Early in the game, a foul ball struck Denoyer in the neck. Then in the ninth inning, Seattle's Scott Spiezio hit a foul that also struck Denoyer -- this time in the head.

Denoyer was admitted to a hospital for one night for the blow to the head. She chalked it up to bad luck and said she still loves the Cardinals.

----------------------------------------------

But, is this the first time a fan is hit twice by two foul balls?...

----------------------------------------------

August 17, 1957 After breaking her nose with a foul ball, Richie Ashburn hits Alice Roth again as she is being put onto a stretcher. The injured woman is the wife of the Philadelphia Bulletin's sports editor, Earl Roth.

--------------------------------------------

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