The Baseball Guru - October Mendozas by John B Holway

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Also Read: 233 under .200  Dear Bryce (Harper from Ted Williams) The Dino in The Bronx How Grandpa Went to the 1946 World Series


OCTOBER MENDOZAS

By John B Holway

 

This October has been a disaster for baseball reputations. Thirteen times some of the biggest stars of baseball  -  A-Rod,  Fielder, Cano, Granderson, Teixeira  - fell below the Mendoza line - that is, they hit under .200 in a post-season series.  I'm not talking about everyone, I'm talking big stars, whose names every fan will remember for decades to come. It’s the biggest class of big-time October failures in at least five years. In 2011 only five names were added.

 

Fielder, A-Rod and Cano made the list twice this year, for a total of four times apiece. Only Manny Ramirez and Jose Canseco can equal them. Jackie Robinson and Yogi Bera appeared three times.

 

Is it just an anomaly when a player fails in a short post-season series?  An injury perhaps? Bob Feller had an explanation of why Jackie Robinson did so poorly:      Jackie couldn't hit the fastball, and the Yankees had a lot of great fastball pitchers - Reynolds, Raschi, Byrne, etc.

 

But is it a pattern for Fielder, Cano, and A-Rod?

 

I started compiling the list a year ago after Joe Buck and Tim McCarver sneered that Ted Williams had hit .200 in the 1946 Series, implying that no one else had done it. So I counted every time any great player hit .200 or less. Even Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth made the list. I'm up to 241, including a beloved sportscaster and former catcher named McCarver. I asked Tim and Joe to tip their caps to Ted this year, but of course they didn't.

 

New names in 2012 are in red.

 

 

 

                     POST-SEASON .200 AND UNDER

 

W – World Series   

L      League Series

D      Division Series                                     

  Gil Hodges                 1952     W         21         .000

  Mark Teixeira             2010     L          14         .000

  Wally Berger              1939     W         15         .000

  Maury Wills                1963     W         15         .000

 *Willie Stargell            1971     L          14         .000

  Bobby Grich               1973     L          20         .000

  Jose Canseco             1995     D          13         .000

  Manny Ramirez          1995     D          12         .000

  Bernie Williams          1998     D          11         .000

  Matty Alou                  1972     W         24         .042

*Dave Winfield              1981     W         22         .045

  Jim Bottomly             1930     W         22         .045

*Mike Schmidt              1983     W         20         .050

  Bobby Bonilla            1996     L          20         .050

  Vladimir Guerrero      2005     L          20         .050

*Brook Robinson          1969     W         19         .053

  Jose Canseco             1988     W         19         .053

  Manny Ramirez          1999     D          18         .056

  Dustin Pedroia           2008     D          17         .059

  Javy Lopez                 1997     L          17         .059

  Ken Griffey Sr            1976     W         17         .059     

*Yogi Berra                  1949     W         16         .063

*Mike Schmitt               1977     L          16         .063

*Willie Stargell             1972     L          16         .063

  Bernie Williams          1998     W         16         .063     

*Travis Jackson            1924     W         27         .074

  Jim Thome                 1997     L          14         .071

*Rod Carew                  1999     L          14         .071

  Alex Rodriguez          2006     D          14         .071

  Prince Fielder             2012     W          14         .071

  Prince Fielder            2008     D          14         .071

  Vladimir  Guerrero     2010     W         14         .071

  Maury Wills                1966     W         13         .077

*Johnny Bench             1975     W         13         .077                                            

  Ken Harrelson            1977     W         13         .077

                        *Brooks Robinson        1974     L          12         .083

*Frank  Robinson         1971     L          12         .083

  Jose Canseco             1990     W         12         .083

*Wade Boggs               1996     D          12         .083

  Jeff Bagwell               1997     D          12         .083

  Craig Biggio               1997     D          12         .083

  Juan Gonzalez           1998     D          12         .083

  Todd Helton               2007     D          12         .083

  Kevin Youkilis            2009     D          12         .083

  David Ortiz                 2009     D          12         .083

  Ad Jones                    2012     D          23         .083                

  Miguel Tejada            2003     L          23         .087

*Ozzie Smith                1985     W         23         .087     

  Edgar Martinez           1995     L          23         .087

  Robinson Cano          2012     D          22         .091

  Javy Lopez                 2000     L          14         .091

  Vada Pinson              1961     W         22         .091

*Gabby Hartnett            1938     W         13         .091

  David Ortiz                 2003     D          21         .095

*Joe Gordon                 1942     W         21         .095

  Mark McGwire            2000     D          11         .096

  Josh Hamilton            2010     W         20         .100

  Jim Thome                 2010     D          10         .100

  Mike Piazza                2006     D          10         .100 

  Ivan Rodgriguez         1998     D          10         .100

  Darrell Evans             1975     L          10         .100

*Orlando Cepeda          1967     W         29         .103

  Craig Biggio               1999     D          19         .105

*Eddie Murray              1995     W         19         .105

  Ryan Howard              2011     D          19         .105

  Bernie Williams          2000     W         18         .111

  Boog Powell              1971     W         27         .111

*Joe DiMaggio              1949     W         18         .111

  Albert Pujols              2001     D          18         .111

  Josh Hamilton            2010     W         18         .111

  Alex Rodriguez          2011     D          18         .111

  Yadier Molina             2012     D          17         .118

  Derek Jeter                 2001     L          17         .118

*Babe Ruth                   1922     W         22         .118

  Bernie Williams          1997     D          17         .118

*Rickey Henderson       1993     L          25         .120     

*Mickey Mantle             1962     W         25         .120

*Bill Dickey                  1936     W         25         .120

  Alex Rodriquez          2012     D          16         .123

  Gavvy Cravath            1915     W         16         .125

*Larry Doby                  1954     W         16         .125

*Reggie Jackson          1977     L          16         .125

   Jim Thome                2008     D          16         .125

   Harold Baines           1983     L          16         .125

   Will Clark                  1996     D          16         .125

   Phil Cavaretta            1935     W         24         .125

   Bryce Harper             2012     D          23         .130

   Rip Collins                1938     W         15         .133

 *Wade Boggs              1996     L          15         .133

   Jim Thome                1998     D          15         .133

   Mo Vaughn               1998     W         15         .133

   Julio Franco              2002     D          15         .133

  Ken Griffey Jr             1997     D          15         .133

  Alex Rodiquez            2010    L           15         .133

  Robinson Cano          2006     D          15         .133

  Chase Utley                2008     D          15         .133       

  Robinson Cano          2009     W         22         .136

  Mark Teixeira             2009     W         22         .136

  Gary Sheffield            2003     D          14         .142

  Manny Ramirez          1997     D          21         .143

*Duke Snider                1949     W         21         .143

*Joe Gordon                 1939     W         14         .143

*Phil Rizzuto                1950     W         14         .143

  Kent Hrbek                 1991     L          21         .143                 

  Jeff Bagwell               1998     D          14         .143

  Ken Caminiti              1998     D          14         .143

  Javy Lopez                 2001     L          14         .143

  Miguel Tejada            2002     D          21         .143

*Gary Carter                 1986     L          27         .148

  Barry Bonds               1991     L          27         .148

  Derek Jeter                 2001     W         27         .148

*Johnny Evers              1906     W         20         .150

*Ed Mathews                1958     W         25         .150

  Andre Dawson            1981     L          20         .150     

  Cecil Cooper              1982     L          20         .150

  Kent Hrbek                 1991     W         20         .150

  Mark McGwire            1992     L          20         .150

  Kent Hrbek                 1987     L          20         .150

  Buster Posey             2012      L          26         .154

  David Ortiz                 2008     L          26         .154

  Dustin Pedroia           2007     D          13         .154

  Garrett Anderson        2004     D          13         .154

  Jeff Bagwell               1999     D          13         .154

  Manny Ramirez          1997     W         26         .154

  Jim Thome                 1995     D          13         .154

*Dave Winfield              1991     L          13         .154

*Jim Rice                     1979     W         26         .154

  Bobby Grich               1979     L          13         .154

*Joe Tinker                   1907     W         13         .154     

  Kirk Gibson                1984     L          26         .158

*Yogi Berra                  1947     W         19         .158

*Orlando Cepeda          1962     W         19         .158

  Jesus Alou                 1973     W         19         .158

  Jim Thome                 2001     D          19         .158

  Garrett Anderson        2008     D          19         .158

  Curtis Granderson     2012     D          19         .158

  Matt Holiday               2011    

  Bobby Abreu              2009     L          25         .160

*Mickey Cochrane        1931     W         25         .160

  Dustin Pedroia           2007     D          14         .160

*Jim Rice                     1986     L          31         .161

*Joe Tinker                   1906     W         18         .167

*Chick Hafey                 1931     W         24         .167     

*Bill Dickey                  1941     W         18         .167

*Phil Rizzuto                1949     W         18         .167

*Reggie Jackson          1974     L          12         .167

*George Brett               1981     D          12         .167

*Cal Ripken                  1983     W         18         .167

  Darrell Evans             1988     L          12         .167

  Barry Bonds               1990     L          18         .167

  Cecil Fielder               1996     L          18         .167     

  Craig Biggio               2001     D          12         .167

  Chase Utley                2008     L          18         .167

  Lance Berkman          2001     D          12         .167

  Robinson Cano          2009     D          12         .167

  Dustin Pedroia           2009     D          12         .167

  Mark Teixeira             2011     D          18         .167

  Bernie Williams          1993     W         24         .167

  George Foster            1976     L          12         .167

  Tim McCarver             1967     W         24         .167

  Chipper Jones            2003     D          18         .167

  Vladimir Guerrero      2004     D          12         .167

  Tommy Henrich         1941     W         18         .167

  Mike Piazza                1999     L          24         .167

*Rickey Henderson       1999     L          23         .174

  Ryan Howard              2009     W         23         .174

*Rickey Henderson       1999     L          23         .174

*Jackie Robinson         1952     W         23         .174

  Barry Bonds               2000     D          17         .176

  Javier Lopez              1995     W         17         .176

*Carlton Fisk                1963     W         17         .176

  Jake Daubert              1916     W         17         .176

  Garrett Anderson        2005     L          17         .176

  Adam LaRoche          2012     D           17         .176

  Victor Martinez           2009     D          11         .182

  Ryan Howard              2008     D          11         .182

*Rickey Henderson       1981     D          11         .182

*Joe Gordon                 1948     W         22         .182

*Willie Stargell             1975     L          11         .182

  Juan Gonzalez           1999     D          11         .182

  Sammy Sosa              1998     D          11         .182

  Craig Biggio               1992     D          11         .182

  Jose Canseco             1990     L            11       .182

*Jackie Robinson         1955     W         22         .182

*Roy Campanella          1956     W         22         .182

*Willie Mays                 1951     W         22         .182

  Julio Franco               2002     D          22         .182

  Chase Utley                2007     D          11         .182

  Chase Utley                2008     L          22         .182

*Chick Hafey                 1926     W         27         .185

*Ross Youngs              1924     W         27         .185

  Bill Buckner               1986     W         32         .186

  Todd Helton               2009     D          16         .188

  Sammy Sosa              2003     D          16         .188

  David Bell                  2002     D          16         .188

  David Bell                  2001     L          16         .188

  Edgar Martinez           1997     D          16         .188

  Daryl Strawberry        1996     W         16         .188     

*Jackie Robinson         1949     W         16         .188

  Pete Rose                   1976     W         16         .188

*Frank Robinson          1969     W         16         .188

*Billy Herman               1938     W         15         .188

  Bobby Bonilla            1990     L          21         .190

  Alex Rodriquez          2010     L          21         .190

*Roberto Alomar          2001     D          21         .190                 

  Javy Lopez                 1996     W         21         .190

  Garrett Anderson        1996     L          21         .190

  Prince Fielder             2012     D          21         .190

  Matt Holliday              2012     D          21         .190

*Travis Jackson            1936     W         21         .190     

  Don Groat                  1964     W         26         .192

  Jose Cruz                   1986     L          26         .192

  Joe Carter                  1992     L          26         .192

  Bernie Williams          2003     W         26         .192

*Reggie Jackson          1986     L          18         .192

*Frank  Frisch              1934     W         31         .194

  Matt Holliday               2012     L          25         .200???

  Chris Davis                 2012     D          20         .200

  Miguel Cabrer            2011     D          15         .200

  Ken Griffey Jr             2008     D          10         .200

  Manny Ramirez          2003     D          20         .200

*Chick Hafey                 1928     W         15         .200                 

  Bobby Grich               1982     L          15         .200

*Ozzie  Smith               1987     L          25         .200

  Joe Adcock                1957     W         15         .200

*Mike Schmitt               1978     L          15         .200

  George Foster            1979     L          10         .200

  Steve Garvey              1984     W         20         .200

  Bobby Bonilla            2000     L          15         .200

  George Bell                1989     D          20         .200

  Albert Belle                1996     D          15         .200

  Derek Jeter                 1998     L          26         .200

  Andres Galarraga       2000     D          10         .200

  Jim Thome                 1997     D          15         .200

*Tony Gwynn               1998     D          15         .200

  Vladimir Guerrero      2007     D          10         .200

 Prince Fielder            2011     L          25         .200

 Kenny Lofton              1995     W         25         .200

*Duke Snider             1959    W         10        .200

*Yogi Berra                1950    W         15        .200

*Ty Cobb                    1907    W         20        .200

*Ted Williams            1946    W         25        .200

 

            Three men made the list for a record fourth time in 2012 – Prince Fielder, Robinson Cano, and A-Rod. All will probably go to the Hall of Fame. Another – Manny Ramirez – has also appeared four times.

             Two other Hall of Famers have made it three times – Yogi Berra and Jackie Robinson, plus Marl Teixeira and Vladimir Guerrero.

             Barry Bonds appears twice.

             Even Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth made the list.

       One of the above was playing with a painfully swollen right elbow. Can you spot him? (Hint: His initials are TW).

 

© 2012 John B Holway


John Holway is author of  "Josh Gibson," and "Josh and Satch."

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