Jose vs. David vs. the Krane

[batmagadanleadoff]

Hints:

The two remaining players batted lefty, exclusively.
One player hit his triples for an AL team; the other for an NL team.
One player has the same first name as one of the correctly guessed players.
One player, just like Roberto Clemente, made this list even though some of his triples were hit prior to 1962, and thus disregarded.
Both players are retired, were All-Stars, received MVP votes and were Gold Glove winners.
Both players made the cover of Sports Illustrated (back when that magazine mattered).

I'm withholding some other hints that would make the identification of one of these players very easy. I suppose that this is another hint.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Willie McGee?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Willie McGee?

McGee hit 83 triples for the Cards, switch-hitted, never made the cover of SI, was already guessed by Edgy and stole Dwight Gooden's MVP award.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Jose Cruz, Astros.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I'll flip the rest of the cards over because I'm not gonna be around tomorrow.

1. George Brett - Royals - 137
2. Willie Wilson - Royals - 133
3. Robin Yount - Brewers - 126
4. Lou Brock - Cards - 121
5. Pete Rose - Reds - 115
6. Roberto Clemente - Pirates - 108
7. Carl Crawford - Devil Rays/Rays - 105
8. Willie Davis - Dodgers - 103
9. Jimmy Rollins - Phillies - 99
10. Jose Reyes - Mets - 91
11. Rod Carew - Twins - 90







And for your reading and viewing pleasure, here are your all-time HR leaders for each franchise, not including pre-1962 stats:

1. Barry Bonds - Giants - 586 (Willie Mays, 646 HR's, all-time franchise leader)
2. Mike Schmidt � Phillies - 548
3. Sammy Sosa � Cubs - 545
4. Hank Aaron - Braves - 480 (733 total Braves HR's)
5. Willie Stargell � Pirates - 475
6. Jeff Bagwell � Astros - 449
7. Frank Thomas - White Sox - 448
8. Carl Yastrzemski - Red Sox - 441 (452 total Red Sox HR's; Ted Williams, 521 HR's, all-time franchise leader)
9. Cal Ripken - Orioles - 431
10. Harmon Killebrew - Twins - 429 (559 total Senators/Twins HR's)
11. Ken Griffey, Jr. � Mariners - 417
12. Albert Pujols � Cards - 416 (All-time franchise leader, Stan Musial, 475 HR's)
13. Johnny Bench - Reds - 389
14. Juan Gonzalez � Rangers - 372
15. Mark McGwire � A�s - 363
16. Todd Helton � Rockies - 339
17. Carlos Delgado � Blue Jays - 336
18. Jim Thome � Indians - 334
19. George Brett � Royals - 317
20. Norm Cash � Tigers - 314 (373 total Tigers HR's; Al Kaline, 399 HR's, all-time franchise leader)
21. Tim Salmon - Angels - 299
22. Bernie Williams � Yankees - 287 (Babe Ruth, 659, yada, yada, yada)
23. Eric Karros � Dodgers - 270 (Duke Snider, 389 HR's, all-time franchise leader)
24. Darryl Strawberry - Mets - 252
25. Robin Yount � Brewers - 251
26. Vladimir Guerrero � Expos/Nationals - 234
27. Luis Gonzalez � Diamondbacks - 224
28. Nate Colbert � Padres - 163
29. Dan Uggla � Marlins - 154
30. Carlos Pena � Devil Rays/Rays - 144

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Looked up to see by how much I missed Jose Cruz by (not a whole lot) and was revolted to see where he ended his career with the MFYs.

[Frayed Knot]

Brett was a logical answer. Great hitter, long career in one place, plus Kaufman/Ewing Stadium was a great doubles/triples/inside-park HR spot (astroturf and funky corners).

[batmagadanleadoff]

Here are your franchise hits leaders, not including pre-1962 stats. Four of the top seven players on this list accumulated 3,000+ hits for an expansion team.

1. Pete Rose � Reds � 3,358
2. Carl Yastrzemski � Red Sox � 3,264 (3,419 total Red Sox hits)
3. Cal Ripken, Jr. � Orioles � 3,184
4. George Brett � Royals � 3,154
5. Robin Yount � Brewers � 3,142
6. Tony Gwynn � Padres � 3,141
7. Craig Biggio � Astros � 3,060
8. Derek Jeter � Yankees � 2,980
9. Lou Brock � Cardinals � 2,713 (Brock 2nd all-time Cards hit ldr., Musial � 3,630 hits #1)
10. Chipper Jones � Braves � 2,536 (Jones 2nd all-time Braves hit ldr.,Aaron - 3,600 hits #1)
11. Ryne Sandberg � Cubs � 2,384 (Sandberg 4th all time Cubs hit ldr., Anson/Banks/Williams)
12. Lou Whitaker � Tigers � 2,369 (Whitaker 6th all time Tigers hit ldr., Cobb � 3,900 hits #1)
13. Garret Anderson � Angels � 2,368
14. Kirby Puckett � Twins � 2,304 (Puckett 2d all-time Senators/Twins hits; Sam Rice 2,889 hits #1)
15. Ichiro Suzuki � Mariners � 2,303
16. Todd Helton � Rockies � 2,280
17. Mike Schmidt � Phillies � 2,234
18. Willie Stargell - Pirates � 2,232 (Stargell, 7th all time Pirates hit ldr., Clemente � 3,000 hits #1)
19. Frank Thomas � White Sox � 2,136 (Thomas 3rd all time Sox hit ldr., Appling/Fox)
20. Willie Davis � Dodgers � 1,977 (2,091 total Dodger hits; 3rd all time; Zack Wheat 2,804 hits #1)
21. Barry Bonds � Giants � 1,951(Bonds, 5th all time Giants hit ldr., Mays � 3,187 hits #1)
22. Michael Young � Rangers � 1,915
23. Bert Campaneris � A�s � 1,882
24. Tim Wallach � Expos/Nationals � 1,694
25. Omar Vizquel � Indians � 1,616 (Vizquel, 7th all time Indians hit ldr., Lajoie � 2,046 hits #1)
26. Tony Fernandez � Blue Jays � 1,583
27. Carl Crawford � Devil Rays/Rays � 1,480
28. Ed Kranepool � Mets - 1,418
29. Luis Gonzalez � Diamondbacks � 1,337
30. Luis Castillo � Marlins � 1,273

[Edgy MD]

Ichiro, by the way, pretty bad this year, tied up for one more season, and making more dough than Jason Bay.

[batmagadanleadoff]

The franchise leaders for strikeouts, not including pre-1962 stats: Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson are the franchise leaders for two teams, each. Including pre-1962 numbers, Seaver's all-time team total would rank 9th (Feller and Johnson would leapfrog Seaver) - still not too shabby.

1. Steve Carlton � Phillies � 3,031
2. John Smoltz � Braves � 3,011
3. Bob Gibson � Cardinals � 2,834 (3,117 total Cards K�s)
4. Don Sutton � Dodgers � 2,696
5. Mickey Lolich � Tigers � 2,679
6. Roger Clemens � Red Sox � 2,590
7. Tom Seaver � Mets � 2,541
8. Nolan Ryan � Angels � 2,416
9. Jim Palmer � Orioles � 2,212
10. Randy Johnson � Mariners � 2,162
11. Sam McDowell � Indians � 2,154 (2,159 total Indians K�s; 2nd all-time; Bob Feller, 2,581 K�s #1)
12. Juan Marichal � Giants � 2,099 (2,281 total Giants K�s; 2nd all-time; Christy Mathewson, 2,504 K�s #1)
13. Randy Johnson � Diamondbacks � 2,077
14. Fergie Jenkins � Cubs � 2,038
15. Bert Blyleven � Twins � 2,035 (2nd all time; Walter Johnson, 3,509 K�s #1)
16. Nolan Ryan � Astros � 1,866
17. Andy Pettitte � Yankees � 1,823 (2nd all time; Whitey Ford, 1,956 K�s #1)
18. Dave Stieb � Blue Jays � 1,658
19. Bob Veale � Pirates � 1,652 (2nd all-time; Bob Friend, 1,682 K�s #1)
20. Steve Rogers � Expos/Nationals � 1,621
21. Catfish Hunter � A�s � 1,520 (5th all-time; Eddie Plank, 1,985 K�s #1)
22. Jim Maloney � Reds � 1,487 (1,592 total Reds K�s)
23. Kevin Appier � Royals � 1,458
24. Charlie Hough � Rangers � 1,452
25. Jake Peavy � Padres � 1,348
26. Wilbur Wood � White Sox � 1,325 (1,332 total White Sox K�s; 4th all-time; Billy Pierce, 1,796 K�s #1)
27. Ben Sheets � Brewers - 1,206
28. James Shields � Devil Rays/Rays - 883
29. Dontrelle Willis � Marlins - 757
30. Pedro Astacio � Rockies - 749

[Edgy MD]

Funny to see Sheets atop the Brewers list.

The Brews have had a lot of good pitchers who just couldn't last: Caldwell, Higuera, and D'Amico come to mind. Vuckovich too, I guess.

[batmagadanleadoff]

The all-time RBI leaders for each franchise, not including statistics prior to 1962. (To even the playing field for the Mets).

1. Carl Yastrzemski � Red Sox � 1,764 (1,844 total Sox RBI�s, Ted Williams #2 all-time Sox � 1,839 RBI�s)
2. Cal Ripken, Jr. � Orioles � 1,695
3. George Brett � Royals � 1,596
4. Mike Schmidt � Phillies � 1,595
5. Willie Stargell � Pirates � 1,540
6. Jeff Bagwell � Astros � 1,529
7. Chipper Jones � Braves � 1,522 (2d all-time; Hank Aaron, 2,202 RBI�s #1)
8. Frank Thomas � White Sox � 1,465
9. Barry Bonds � Giants � 1,440 (4th all-time; Mel Ott, 1,860 RBI�s #1)
10. Sammy Sosa � Cubs � 1,414 (3rd all-time; Cap Anson, 1,880 RBI�s #1)
11. Robin Yount � Brewers � 1,406
12. Johnny Bench � Reds � 1,376
13. Garret Anderson � Angels � 1,292
14t. Albert Pujols � Cardinals � 1,261 (2d all-time; Stan Musial, 1,951 RBI�s #1)
14t. Edgar Martinez � Mariners � 1,261
14t. Todd Helton � Rockies - 1,261
17. Bernie Williams � Yankees � 1,257 (6th all-time; Derek Jeter, 1,151 RBI�s, 9th place; Lou Gehrig, 1,995 RBI�s #1)
18. Harmon Killebrew � Twins � 1,203 (1,540 total Senators/Twins RBI�s)
19. Juan Gonzalez � Rangers � 1,180
20. Tony Gwynn � Padres � 1,138
21. Lou Whitaker � Tigers 1,084 (8th all-time; Ty Cobb, 1,805 RBI�s #1)
22. Carlos Delgado � Blue Jays � 1,058
23. Steve Garvey � Dodgers � 992 (5th all-time; Duke Snider, 1,271 RBI�s #1)
24. Mark McGwire � A�s � 941 (4th all-time; Al Simmons, 1,178 RBI�s #1)
25. Jim Thome � Indians � 927 (2d all time; Earl Averill 1,084 RBI�s #1)
26. Tim Wallach � Expos/Nationals - 793
27. Luis Gonzalez � Diamondbacks - 774
28. Darryl Strawberry � Mets � 733 (David Wright 2d, 682 RBI�s)
29. Carl Crawford � Devil Rays/Rays - 592
30. Mike Lowell � Marlins � 578

[G-Fafif]

METS ALL-TIME HIT LEADERS
Through 6/2/2011
1. Ed Kranepool 1,418
2. JOSE REYES 1,196
3. Cleon Jones 1,188
4. DAVID WRIGHT 1,182

[G-Fafif]

METS ALL-TIME HIT LEADERS
Through 6/3/2011
1. Ed Kranepool 1,418
2. JOSE REYES 1,198
3. Cleon Jones 1,188
4. DAVID WRIGHT 1,182

[batmagadanleadoff]

Baseball Reference lists the top 10 career leaders for each franchise in OPS+ (OPS adjusted for league, year and park effects), 1500 PA's min. I compiled a list of each franchise's all-time leader, again, not including stats from prior to 1962. However, lacking the formula for OPS+, I was unable to calculate the post-1961 OPS+ for any player whose career encompassed both the pre and post expansion era, and so my leaders list consists solely of players whose careers began no earlier than 1962. There were only two instances when the OPS+ franchise leader was a player whose career straddled both eras: Hank Aaron (Braves) and Harmon Killebrew (Senators/Twins).

I'll post the list later on, but first some trivia.


Among players whose careers began no earlier than 1962, five players are the career OPS+ leaders (1,500 PA, min.) for two different franchises. Five! Who are they?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Frank Robinson?

Pete Rose?

Carlton Fisk?

[Benjamin Grimm]

(I just realized that Robinson and Rose can't both be correct.)

[batmagadanleadoff]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Frank Robinson? Pete Rose? Carlton Fisk?

All wrong answers. But Robinson was very close. He's the Orioles all-time OPS+ leader and very close to the Reds all-time OPS+ leader. BTW, even without knowing the numbers, Rose and Robinson have to be mutually exclusive guesses, right?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: (I just realized that Robinson and Rose can't both be correct.)

Right back atcha.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Also, Frank Robinson's Reds career covered both the pre and post expansion era. The answers to my trivia question are limited to post-1961 players.

[HahnSolo]

A-Rod?

[HahnSolo]

McGwire
Albert Belle
Miguel Cabrera

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

McGwire
McGriff
Bonds
A-Roid
Thome

[G-Fafif]

METS ALL-TIME HIT LEADERS
Through 6/4/2011
1. Ed Kranepool 1,418
2. JOSE REYES 1,199
3. Cleon Jones 1,188
4. DAVID WRIGHT 1,182

[batmagadanleadoff]

HahnSolo wrote: A-Rod?

No-Rod

[batmagadanleadoff]

HahnSolo wrote: McGwire Albert Belle Miguel Cabrera

McGwire is the all-time OPS+ leader for the A's and the Cards.

1. McGwire (HahnSolo)

[batmagadanleadoff]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: McGwire McGriff Bonds A-Roid Thome

1. McGwire - A's & Cards (HahnSolo)
2. McGriff - Padres & Blue Jays (JCL)

[batmagadanleadoff]

I'll flip over the answers soon. So howcum nobody guessed Mike Piazza?

[Guest Vince Coleman Firecracker]

[batmagadanleadoff]

... and a rare, Kineresque appearance by the Firecracker to add Ramirez to the list.

1. Mark McGwire - A's & Cards (HahnSolo)
2. Fred McGriff - Padres & Blue Jays (JCL)
3. Manny Ramirez - Indians & Red Sox (VCF) (tied with Thome for Indians record among post-1961 players; Shoeless Joe Jackson, all-time Indians OPS+ leader); (all-time Sox OPS+ leader, Ted Williams)

One trick to this trivia question was to focus on the min. 1500 PA requirement -- roughly three seasons worth of game-time. OPS+ is a rate stat, and therefore, we weren't necessarily looking for players like Yaz or Stargell, who had to play for the same team for about two decades to accumulate their counting stat franchise records.

The other two twofers are:

Vladimir Guerrero - Angels & Expos (tied for Rusty Staub for all time Expos/Nats OPS+ career leader)
&
Gary Sheffield - Dodgers & Marlins.

Here's the entire list:

Adj OPS+ (min. 1,500PA, among players who debuted no earlier than 1962)

1. Barry Bonds � Giants � 199
2. Mark McGwire � Cardinals - 180
3. Frank Robinson � Orioles � 169
4. Frank Thomas � White Sox � 161 (Shoeless Joe, 2d all-time, 159 OPS+)
5. Gary Sheffield � Dodgers � 160 (Mike Piazza, 2d all-time, 159 OPS+)
6. Brian Giles � Pirates � 158 (Ralph Kiner, 2d all-time, 157 OPS+; Honus Wagner, 3d all-time, 154 OPS+)
7. Gary Sheffield � Marlins � 156
8t. Mark McGwire � A�s � 155 (3d all-time; Jimmie Foxx, 174 OPS+ #1)
8t. Manny Ramirez � Red Sox � 155 (4th all-time, Ted Williams 190 OPS+ #1)
8t. Alex Rodriguez � Rangers - 155
11t. Richie Allen � Phillies � 153 (2d all-time; Elmer Flick, 156 OPS+ #1)
11t. Joey Votto � Reds � 153
11t. Miguel Cabrera � Tigers � 153 (3d all-time; Ty Cobb, 171 OPS+ #1)
11t. Fred McGriff � Blue Jays - 153
15. Manny Ramirez/Jim Thome � Indians 152 (4th all-time, Shoeless Joe, 182 #1)
16t. Jeff Bagwell � Astros � 149
16t. Fred McGriff � Padres - 149
18t. Reggie Jackson � Yankees � 148 (6th all-time; Babe Ruth, 209 OPS+ #1)
18t. Vladimir Guerrero/Rusty Staub � Expos/Nationals 148
20t. Edgar Martinez � Mariners - 147
20t. Larry Walker � Rockies � 147
22. Darryl Strawberry � Mets � 145 (John Olerud, 2d all-time 142 OPS+)
23. Rod Carew � Twins � 137 (Harmon Killebrew, 1st all-time, 145 OPS+)
24. Danny Tartabull � Royals - 144
25. Rico Carty � Braves � 143 (3d all-time; Hank Aaron, 158 OPS+ #1)
26t. Vladimir Guerrero � Angels � 141
26t. Ryan Braun � Brewers � 141 (Prince Fielder, 2d all-time, 140 OPS+)
28. Bill Madlock/Sammy Sosa � Cubs � 139 (5th all-time; Hack Wilson, 155 OPS+ #1)
29. Carlos Pena � 135 � Devil Rays/Rays
30. Luis Gonzalez � Diamondbacks � 130