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FEAST AND FAMINE
Q: What is the greatest number of hits in a nine-inning game by one team that did not result in a run scored?
-- Joe Kaehler
A: The record for most hits by one team while being shut out is 14, set once in the NL and once in the AL. On September 14, 1913, Chicago Cubs ace Larry Cheney threw a complete-game shutout against New York, despite being beaten up by the Giant hitters. The Giants had a hit in every inning, but had only one runner reach third base. Cheney was helped by three New Yorkers getting caught stealing and one being thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double.
The Giants’ dubious record was matched on July 10, 1928 by the Cleveland Indians, who somehow could not score against journeyman Washington pitcher Milt Gaston. Gaston, who two years earlier had allowed 12 hits while shutting out the Red Sox, survived six leadoff hits and five Indians reaching third base.
A: Two teams in baseball history have managed to come back from 12-run deficits to win a game. On June 18, 1911, the Detroit Tigers found themselves being trounced by the visiting Chicago White Sox, 13-1. They managed to score four runs in the fifth and three in the sixth, but Chicago countered with two runs of their own in the seventh. In the eighth, Detroit used five singles and two walks to cut Chicago’s lead to 15-13. They completed their comeback in the final frame when Ty Cobb plated the tying runs with a two-run single, his fifth hit of the day, and was driven in on a double by Sam Crawford.
Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics also managed a 12-run comeback on June 15, 1925. Down 15-3, Philly scratched out only a single run in the seventh, but proceeded to clobber Cleveland Indians' pitching for 13 runs in the eighth. Cleveland manager Tris Speaker's four pitchers, including ace George Uhle, could not stem the tide, and the A’s went on to win 17-15.
Q: Who holds the Seattle Mariners record for most triples in a season?
-- George Votav
A: The Mariners record for most triples in a season is held by Harold Reynolds, who hit 11 in 1988. Reynolds hit .283 that season, along with four home runs and 41 RBI, and the Mariners finished last in the AL West.
1926 – defeated New York Yankees in 7 games
1928 – lost to New York Yankees in 4 games
1930 – lost to Philadelphia Athletics in 6 games
1931 – defeated Philadelphia Athletics in 7 games
1934 – defeated Detroit Tigers in 7 games
1942 – defeated New York Yankees in 5 games
1943 – lost to New York Yankees in 5 games
1944 – defeated St. Louis Browns in 6 games
1946 – defeated Boston Red Sox in 7 games
1964 – defeated New York Yankees in 7 games
1967 – defeated Boston Red Sox in 7 games
1968 – lost to Detroit Tigers in 7 games
1982 – defeated Milwaukee Brewers in 7 games
1985 – lost to Kansas City Royals in 7 games
1987 – lost to Minnesota Twins in 7 games
Q: Who holds the record for most walks in one season?
-- Mary Fronczak
A: Babe Ruth holds the record for most walks in a season with 170 in 1923. In 152 games that year, he hit .393, with 41 home runs and 131 RBI, and even stole 17 bases.
Q: Who was the oldest player to play in the major leagues? Who was the oldest rookie?
-- Michael Duchesne
A: The oldest player to play in the major leagues was 59-year-oldSatchel Paige, who pitched three scoreless innings for the Kansas City Royals on September 25, 1965. He struck out one batter, and gave up only one hit, a single to Carl Yastrzemski.
The oldest rookie to play in a game was Diomedes Olivo, who debuted for the Pittsburgh Pirates at the age of 43. That season he went 5-1 with seven saves in 62 games.
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