Baseball Records, Feats and Top 10 Lists

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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.

(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

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