Baseball Books, CD's, Videos, Software, Toys


World Series Videos
out of print and rare
SABR's Essential
Gift Ideas & more...
Guru's Pick:
Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Firsts 2001
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars

Web Tour Navigation

KidsCoachesBaseball Book StoreBaseball LinksMemorabilia, Cards and CollectiblesHistoryResearch and AnalysisData Archive, Baseball StatsRecords, FeatsTriviaOther LeaguesLadies LeaguesLatin American BaseballJapanese BaseballNegro LeaguesMinor LeaguesMLB SitesPlayersSalaries and BusinessUniformsBallparksAll-StarsHall of FameWorld SeriesNewsgroups and WeblogsFantasy Insider

The Guru's FAMOUS Baseball Boardgame
You are the manager. Real players & stats. Easy to Play. Try it!

Complete game playing directions Strategy and base running charts Player Cards: 1996 World Series - Yankees & Braves

 Go to The Game  
Click on the Stadium to play the Guru's Free online baseball game.


BaseballGuru.com Home PageClubhouse!

Web Tour and Data ArchivesBaseball Records, Feats and Top 10 Lists


More baseball news topics

Inside Features
Harvey Frommer's Page (Auhor of roughly 40 sportsbooks since 1974). He is available for your questions about records and feats, particularly of Yankee players.

Articles by Harvey Frommer
Bobby Thomson's Famous Homer
Lou Gehrig: The Streak / 4 HR Game
Gionfriddo's Catch
First Designated Hitter to Bat: April 6, 1973
The Copa Incident: May 16, 1957
Joe Dimaggio's 56 Game Hitting Streak Began May 15, 1941
Joe Dimaggio Show at Fenway Park: June 28-30, 1949
Johnny Blanchard, Four Straight Hommers - July 21- 22, 1961
The Eleven Walk Inning: September 11, 1949
Ruth: The Called Shot - October 1, 1932Babe Ruth: First HR, May 6, 1915 / Ruth's MLB Debut / Final Appearance
Jim Leyritz and the Great World Series Comeback: OCTOBER 23, 1996
Pine Tar Game July 24, August 18, 1983
Mickey Mantle, Tape Measure Shot, April 17, 1953
Bill Mazeroski's World Series Homer, October 13, 1960

No Hitters
Vandy's Masterpiece: The Double No-Hitter
David Wells' Perfect Game
Allie Reynolds - The Two No Hitters, 1951
David Cone, The Perfect Game, July 19, 1999
Dwight Gooden No Hitter, May 14, 1996
The Bevens' No-Hitter Lost: October 3, 1947


Records and feats
Triple Crown Winners - Hitters and Pitchers
Six Hit Games - Players with six hits in a nine-inning game, 1900-2006.
Players who have for the the cycle by team
Worth a look, Baseball-almanac presents: Record Books, Famous Firsts and Feats.

Top 10 Lists
The Guru's top ten single season records by category for Batting and Pitching through 1998 in tribute to baseballguru.com's first year. :)

RECORDS by Herb Rogoff (data through 2011 season)

(SCROLL DOWN FOR TOP 10 LISTS!!)

Batting Notes:  Rankings were based on seasons from 1893 to 1998 and more than 400 plate appearances (ab+bb+hpb) were required. Percents for AVG and SLG were based on at bats.  Percents for 2B, 3B, HR, SO and BB were based on plate appearances. SB% was based on SB attempts and more than 25 SB's were required to qualify.  OPS was based on AVG+SLG.  Runs Created was based on Bill James' formula as follows: =(([h]+[bb]+[hpb]-[cs])*([h]+[2b]+2*[3b]+3*[hr]) +.26*([bb]-[ibb]+[hpb])+.52*([sh]+[sf]+sb])) /([ab]+[bb]+[hpb]+[sh]+[sf])

The purpose of his formula was to create the ultimate statistic characterizing the total offense production of a player.  However, it favors players with more games played, so for example, George Brett's .390 batting avg season ranks as his 2nd most productive even though it was easily his most productive per plate appearance.  So, I calculated OPS too for comparative purposes.

Batting Categories:  Hits/Avg, Doubles/2B%, Triples/3B%, HomeRuns/HR%, StrikeOuts/SO%, Walks/BB%, Runs/RBI, StolenBases/SB%, TotalBases/SLG%, RunsCreated/OPS%


BATTERS - SINGLE SEASON               Top of Page

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

H

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

AVG

1

SISLER, GEORGE

1920

257

1

DUFFY, HUGH

1894

0.440

2

O'DOUL, LEFTY

1929

254

2

LAJOIE, NAP

1901

0.426

 

TERRY, BILL

1930

254

3

KEELER, WILLIE

1897

0.424

4

SIMMONS, AL

1925

253

4

HORNSBY, ROGERS

1924

0.424

5

HORNSBY, ROGERS

1922

250

5

SISLER, GEORGE

1922

0.420

 

KLEIN, CHUCK

1930

250

6

COBB, TY

1911

0.420

7

COBB, TY

1911

248

7

DELAHANTY, ED

1899

0.410

8

SISLER, GEORGE

1922

246

8

BURKETT, JESSE

1896

0.410

9

HERMAN, BABE

1930

241

9

BURKETT, JESSE

1895

0.409

 

MANUSH, HEINIE

1928

241

10

COBB, TY

1912

0.409

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

2B

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

2B%

1

WEBB, EARL

1931

67

1

WEBB, EARL

1931

0.102

2

BURNS, GEORGE

1926

64

2

BURNS, GEORGE

1926

0.100

 

MEDWICK, JOE

1936

64

3

WALKER, LARRY

1994

0.099

4

GREENBERG, HANK

1934

63

4

GREENBERG, HANK

1934

0.096

5

WANER, PAUL

1932

62

5

SPEAKER, TRIS

1922

0.095

6

GEHRINGER, CHARLIE

1936

60

6

MEDWICK, JOE

1936

0.095

7

KLEIN, CHUCK

1930

59

7

WALKER, GEE

1936

0.095

 

SPEAKER, TRIS

1923

59

8

KNOBLAUCH, CHUCK

1994

0.091

9

HERMAN, BILLY

1935

57

9

SPEAKER, TRIS

1921

0.090

 

HERMAN, BILLY

1936

57

10

WANER, PAUL

1932

0.090

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

3B

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

3B%

1

WILSON, CHIEF

1912

36

1

REITZ, HEINIE

1894

0.063

2

REITZ, HEINIE

1894

31

2

DAVIS, HARRY

1897

0.060

3

WERDEN, PERRY

1893

29

3

WILSON, CHIEF

1912

0.058

4

DAVIS, HARRY

1897

28

4

THOMPSON, SAM

1894

0.056

5

DAVIS, GEORGE

1893

27

5

WERDEN, PERRY

1893

0.052

 

THOMPSON, SAM

1894

27

6

CONNOR, ROGER

1894

0.047

 

WILLIAMS, JIMMY

1899

27

7

TREADWAY, GEORGE

1894

0.047

8

CRAWFORD, SAM

1914

26

8

LONG, TOM

1915

0.046

 

CUYLER, KIKI

1925

26

9

DAVIS, GEORGE

1893

0.045

 

JACKSON, JOE

1912

26

10

KEISTER, BILL

1901

0.045

 

TREADWAY, GEORGE

1894

26

 

 

 

 

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

HR

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

HR%

1

McGWIRE, MARK

1998

70

1

McGWIRE, MARK

1998

0.103

2

SOSA, SAMMY

1998

66

2

McGWIRE, MARK

1996

0.095

3

MARIS, ROGER

1961

61

3

McGWIRE, MARK

1995

0.094

4

RUTH, BABE

1927

60

4

SOSA, SAMMY

1998

0.092

5

RUTH, BABE

1921

59

5

WILLIAMS, MATT

1994

0.090

6

FOXX, JIMMIE

1932

58

6

McGWIRE, MARK

1997

0.089

 

GREENBERG, HANK

1938

58

7

RUTH, BABE

1920

0.089

 

McGWIRE, MARK

1997

58

8

RUTH, BABE

1927

0.088

9

GRIFFEY, KEN

1997

56

9

MARIS, ROGER

1961

0.088

 

GRIFFEY, KEN

1998

56

10

AARON, HANK

1973

0.087

 

WILSON, HACK

1930

56

 

 

 

 

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

BB

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

BB%

1

RUTH, BABE

1923

170

1

WILLIAMS, TED

1954

0.260

2

McGWIRE, MARK

1998

162

2

CLARK, JACK

1987

0.245

 

WILLIAMS, TED

1947

162

3

RUTH, BABE

1923

0.244

 

WILLIAMS, TED

1949

162

4

MANTLE, MICKEY

1962

0.244

5

WILLIAMS, TED

1946

156

5

RUTH, BABE

1920

0.243

6

BONDS, BARRY

1996

151

6

WILLIAMS, TED

1941

0.240

 

YOST, EDDIE

1956

151

7

McGWIRE, MARK

1998

0.239

8

JOOST, EDDIE

1949

149

8

CLARK, JACK

1990

0.236

9

RUTH, BABE

1920

148

9

MANTLE, MICKEY

1957

0.235

 

STANKY, EDDIE

1945

148

10

WILLIAMS, TED

1947

0.234

 

WYNN, JIM

1969

148

 

 

 

 

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

SO

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

SO%

1

BONDS, BOBBY

1970

189

1

NIEVES, MELVIN

1997

0.390

2

BONDS, BOBBY

1969

187

2

JACKSON, BO

1987

0.367

3

DEER, ROB

1987

186

3

NICHOLSON, DAVE

1963

0.342

4

INCAVIGLIA, PETE

1986

185

4

GIL, BENJI

1995

0.333

5

FIELDER, CECIL

1990

182

5

DEER, ROB

1986

0.331

6

SCHMIDT, MIKE

1975

180

6

INCAVIGLIA, PETE

1988

0.330

7

DEER, ROB

1986

179

7

DEER, ROB

1987

0.329

8

BUHNER, JAY

1997

175

8

NIEVES, MELVIN

1996

0.328

 

CANSECO, JOSE

1986

175

9

DEER, ROB

1991

0.326

 

DEER, ROB

1991

175

10

DEER, ROB

1993

0.319

 

NICHOLSON, DAVE

1963

175

 

 

 

 

 

THOMAS, GORMAN

1979

175

 

 

 

 

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

R

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

RBI

1

HAMILTON, BILLY

1894

192

1

WILSON, HACK

1930

190

2

RUTH, BABE

1921

177

2

GEHRIG, LOU

1931

184

3

GEHRIG, LOU

1936

167

3

GREENBERG, HANK

1937

183

4

HAMILTON, BILLY

1895

166

4

FOXX, JIMMIE

1938

175

5

KEELER, WILLIE

1894

165

 

GEHRIG, LOU

1927

175

 

KELLEY, JOE

1894

165

6

GEHRIG, LOU

1930

174

7

GEHRIG, LOU

1931

163

7

RUTH, BABE

1921

171

 

RUTH, BABE

1928

163

8

GREENBERG, HANK

1935

170

9

KEELER, WILLIE

1895

162

 

KLEIN, CHUCK

1930

170

10

BURKETT, JESSE

1896

160

10

FOXX, JIMMIE

1932

169

 

DUFFY, HUGH

1894

160

 

 

 

 

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

SB

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

SB%

1

HENDERSON, RICKEY

1982

130

1

ANDERSON, BRADY

1994

0.969

2

BROCK, LOU

1974

118

2

CAREY, MAX

1922

0.962

3

COLEMAN, VINCE

1985

110

3

OTIS, AMOS

1970

0.943

4

COLEMAN, VINCE

1987

109

4

PERCONTE, JACK

1985

0.939

5

HENDERSON, RICKEY

1983

108

5

LARKIN, BARRY

1994

0.929

6

COLEMAN, VINCE

1986

107

6

DAVIS, ERIC

1988

0.921

7

WILLS, MAURY

1962

104

7

BONDS, BOBBY

1969

0.918

8

HENDERSON, RICKEY

1980

100

8

LOPES, DAVEY

1978

0.918

9

HAMILTON, BILLY

1894

98

9

LOPES, DAVEY

1979

0.917

10

HAMILTON, BILLY

1895

97

10

WYNN, JIM

1965

0.915

 

LeFLORE, RON

1980

97

 

 

 

 

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

TB

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

SLG

1

RUTH, BABE

1921

457

1

RUTH, BABE

1920

0.847

2

HORNSBY, ROGERS

1922

450

2

RUTH, BABE

1921

0.846

3

GEHRIG, LOU

1927

447

3

RUTH, BABE

1927

0.772

4

KLEIN, CHUCK

1930

445

4

GEHRIG, LOU

1927

0.765

5

FOXX, JIMMIE

1932

438

5

RUTH, BABE

1923

0.764

6

MUSIAL, STAN

1948

429

6

HORNSBY, ROGERS

1925

0.756

7

WILSON, HACK

1930

423

7

McGWIRE, MARK

1998

0.752

8

KLEIN, CHUCK

1932

420

8

BAGWELL, JEFF

1994

0.750

9

GEHRIG, LOU

1930

419

9

FOXX, JIMMIE

1932

0.749

10

DiMAGGIO, JOE

1937

418

10

RUTH, BABE

1924

0.739

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

RC

Rank

Player Name

YEAR

OPS

1

RUTH, BABE

1921

136

1

RUTH, BABE

1920

1.546

2

RUTH, BABE

1923

127

2

RUTH, BABE

1921

1.491

3

RUTH, BABE

1920

122

3

RUTH, BABE

1923

1.483

4

GEHRIG, LOU

1927

117

4

WILLIAMS, TED

1941

1.458

 

RUTH, BABE

1927

117

5

WILLIAMS, TED

1957

1.402

6

RUTH, BABE

1924

114

6

RUTH, BABE

1926

1.400

7

WILLIAMS, TED

1941

113

7

RUTH, BABE

1924

1.386

8

FOXX, JIMMIE

1932

112

8

RUTH, BABE

1927

1.383

9

RUTH, BABE

1926

111

9

McGWIRE, MARK

1998

1.369

10

McGWIRE, MARK

1998

110

10

THOMAS, FRANK

1994

1.356

Pitching Notes:  Rankings were based on seasons from 1893 to 1998 and more than 12 games started (except for Save rankings) with more than 35 innings pitched were required. Relative indices represent the percent above or below the league average for that season. So, RE_ERA=37 (Greg Maddux in 1994, 2nd best ever) indicates that his earned run average (ERA) was 37% of the league average (1.56/4.21=37%). Opponents batting average (O AVG) was calculated as: [h]/([ip]*3+[h]).

Pitching Categories:  Innings Pitched/Games Started, Complete Games/ShutOuts, Wins/Losses, StrikeOuts/Relative_SO, Walks/Relative_BB, OpponentsAvg/Relative_H, HomeRuns/Relative_HR, Games/Saves, ERA/RE_ERA.

PITCHERS - SINGLE SEASON                  Top of Page
Rank Player Name YEAR IP Rank Player Name YEAR GS
1 RUSIE, AMOS 1893 482 1 SHAWKEY, BOB 1914 62
2 SHAWKEY, BOB 1914 474 2 RUSIE, AMOS 1893 52
3 WALSH, ED 1908 464 3 CHESBRO, JACK 1904 51
4 CHESBRO, JACK 1904 454.7 4 BREITENSTEIN, TED 1894 50
5 BREITENSTEIN, TED 1894 447.3   BREITENSTEIN, TED 1895 50
6 HAWLEY, PINK 1895 444.3   HAWLEY, PINK 1895 50
7 RUSIE, AMOS 1894 444   KILLEN, FRANK 1896 50
8 McGINNITY, JOE 1903 434   RUSIE, AMOS 1894 50
9 KILLEN, FRANK 1896 432.3 9 WALSH, ED 1908 49
10 BREITENSTEIN, TED 1895 429.7   WOOD, WILBUR 1972 49
Rank Player Name YEAR CG Rank Player Name YEAR SH
1 RUSIE, AMOS 1893 50 1 ALEXANDER, PETE 1916 16
2 CHESBRO, JACK 1904 48 2 COOMBS, JACK 1910 13
3 BREITENSTEIN, TED 1894 46   GIBSON, BOB 1968 13
  BREITENSTEIN, TED 1895 46 4 ALEXANDER, PETE 1915 12
5 RUSIE, AMOS 1894 45 5 CHANCE, DEAN 1964 11
  WILLIS, VIC 1902 45   JOHNSON, WALTER 1913 11
7 HAWLEY, PINK 1895 44   KOUFAX, SANDY 1963 11
  KILLEN, FRANK 1896 44   MATHEWSON, CHRISTY 1908 11
  McGINNITY, JOE 1903 44   WALSH, ED 1908 11
  YOUNG, CY 1894 44 10 12 Players Tied   10
Rank Player Name YEAR W Rank Player Name YEAR L
1 CHESBRO, JACK 1904 41 1 DONAHUE, RED 1897 35
2 WALSH, ED 1908 40 2 BREITENSTEIN, TED 1895 30
3 MATHEWSON, CHRISTY 1908 37   HUGHEY, JIM 1899 30
4 JOHNSON, WALTER 1913 36 4 HART, BILL 1896 29
  KILLEN, FRANK 1893 36   TAYLOR, JACK 1898 29
  RUSIE, AMOS 1894 36   WILLIS, VIC 1905 29
7 McGINNITY, JOE 1904 35 7 ESPER, DUKE 1893 28
  YOUNG, CY 1895 35   HILL, BILL 1896 28
9 NICHOLS, KID 1893 34   SHAWKEY, BOB 1925 28
  WOOD, JOE 1912 34 10 8 Players Tied   27
  YOUNG, CY 1893 34        
Rank Player Name YEAR SO Rank Player Name YEAR RE_SO
1 RYAN, NOLAN 1973 383 1 VANCE, DAZZY 1924 321
2 KOUFAX, SANDY 1965 382 2 WADDELL, RUBE 1902 309
3 RYAN, NOLAN 1974 367 3 VANCE, DAZZY 1925 306
4 WADDELL, RUBE 1904 349 4 FELLER, BOB 1937 299
5 FELLER, BOB 1946 348 5 VANCE, DAZZY 1926 295
6 RYAN, NOLAN 1977 341 6 SEYMOUR, CY 1898 284
7 JOHNSON, RANDY 1998 329 7 GROVE, LEFTY 1926 274
  RYAN, NOLAN 1972 329 8 VANCE, DAZZY 1928 270
9 RYAN, NOLAN 1976 327 9 SCORE, HERB 1955 263
10 McDOWELL, SAM 1965 325   WADDELL, RUBE 1900 263
Rank Player Name YEAR BB Rank Player Name YEAR RE_BB
1 RUSIE, AMOS 1893 218 1 FISCHER, BILL 1962 16
2 SEYMOUR, CY 1898 213 2 BROWN, HAL 1963 19
3 FELLER, BOB 1938 208 3 SABERHAGEN, BRET 1994 22
4 RYAN, NOLAN 1977 204 4 YINGLING, EARL 1913 22
5 RYAN, NOLAN 1974 202 5 MATHEWSON, CHRISTY 1913 23
6 RUSIE, AMOS 1894 200 6 MATHEWSON, CHRISTY 1914 24
7 FELLER, BOB 1941 194 7 MADDUX, GREG 1997 25
8 NEWSOM, BOBO 1938 192 8 TEWKSBURY, BOB 1992 27
9 BREITENSTEIN, TED 1894 191 9 TEWKSBURY, BOB 1993 27
10 MULLANE, TONY 1893 189 10 ADAMS, BABE 1920 27
Rank Player Name YEAR O AVG Rank Player Name YEAR RE_H
1 RICHARD, J.R. 1980 0.160 1 BYRNE, TOMMY 1949 56
2 RYAN, NOLAN 1972 0.163 2 RICHARD, J.R. 1980 59
3 TIANT, LUIS 1968 0.164 3 RYAN, NOLAN 1991 59
4 RYAN, NOLAN 1991 0.164 4 BRANCA, RALPH 1945 59
5 REULBACH, ED 1906 0.165 5 RYAN, NOLAN 1977 60
6 LEONARD, DUTCH 1914 0.171 6 RYAN, NOLAN 1970 60
7 HEARN, JIM 1950 0.173 7 RYAN, NOLAN 1972 62
8 LUNDGREN, CARL 1907 0.173 8 SCORE, HERB 1956 63
9 FERNANDEZ, SID 1985 0.174 9 TURLEY, BOB 1955 63
10 BYRNE, TOMMY 1949 0.175 10 HEARN, JIM 1950 63
Rank Player Name YEAR HR Rank Player Name YEAR RE_HR
1 BLYLEVEN, BERT 1986 50 1 106 Players Tied   0
2 BLYLEVEN, BERT 1987 46        
3 ROBERTS, ROBIN 1956 46        
4 RAMOS, PEDRO 1957 43        
5 McLAIN, DENNY 1966 42        
6 NIEKRO, PHIL 1979 41        
  ROBERTS, ROBIN 1955 41        
8 9 Players Tied   40        
Rank Player Name YEAR G Rank Player Name YEAR SV
1 McGAFFIGAN, ANDY 1989 114 1 THIGPEN, BOBBY 1990 57
2 MARSHALL, MIKE 1974 106 2 HOFFMAN, TREVOR 1998 53
3 ALDRED, SCOTT 1998 94   MYERS, RANDY 1993 53
  TEKULVE, KENT 1979 94 4 BECK, ROD 1998 51
5 MARSHALL, MIKE 1973 92   ECKERSLEY, DENNIS 1992 51
6 TEKULVE, KENT 1978 91 6 BECK, ROD 1993 48
7 GRANGER, WAYNE 1969 90   ECKERSLEY, DENNIS 1990 48
  MARSHALL, MIKE 1979 90   SHAW, JEFF 1998 48
  TEKULVE, KENT 1987 90 9 SMITH, LEE 1991 47
10 EICHHORN, MARK 1987 89 10 5 Players Tied   46
  TAVAREZ, JULIAN 1997 89        
Rank Player Name YEAR ERA Rank Player Name YEAR RE_ERA
1 LEONARD, DUTCH 1914 0.96 1 LEONARD, DUTCH 1914 34
2 BROWN, MORDECAI 1906 1.04 2 MADDUX, GREG 1994 37
3 GIBSON, BOB 1968 1.12 3 GIBSON, BOB 1968 38
4 MATHEWSON, CHRISTY 1909 1.14 4 JOHNSON, WALTER 1913 39
5 JOHNSON, WALTER 1913 1.14 5 MADDUX, GREG 1995 39
6 PFIESTER, JACK 1907 1.15 6 BROWN, MORDECAI 1906 40
7 JOSS, ADDIE 1908 1.16 7 WITT, GEORGE 1958 41
8 LUNDGREN, CARL 1907 1.17 8 JOHNSON, WALTER 1912 42
9 ALEXANDER, PETE 1915 1.22 9 ROGERS, STEVE 1973 42
10 YOUNG, CY 1908 1.26 10 GOODEN, DWIGHT 1985 42

 Top of Page

HomeGuru's Baseball Book StoreLink to UsBraintrust & Mailing ListsEmail the GuruContact InfoRead baseball analysis

Looking for Baseball Bats?   Baseball Bats: Softball bats, Baseball bats, Easton bats,  & Worth bats!

Browse our affiliates :-) 33% off USA TODAY Baseball Warehouse Grand Slam Mall Baseball Gloves
Get early morning delivery of The Wall Street Journal PLUS up to 8 WEEKS FREE

Baseball Tickets World Series Tickets

Sabermetricians: Ask how you can post your baseball analysis on BaseballGuru.com

Become a member of the Guru's BrainTrust
Keep informed of the latest developments. The Braintrust is a free newsletter.