HHS reader Paul E recently identified that Adam Dunn is on pace to obliterate the record for the highest season total of strikeouts and walks, believed to be Mark McGwire‘s 317 (162 BB, 155 SO) in 1998, one of only a handful of seasons above 300. Dunn, though, is currently on pace for 133 BB and 260 SO, perilously close to the 400 mark.

Strikeouts and walks are two of the TTOs (three true outcomes – HRs are the third), so named because a batter’s PA does NOT result in a batted ball being put into play (at least not so that the defense can do anything about it). McGwire’s total in 1998 for all of the TTOs was 387, a mark that Dunn, barring injury, is certainly likely to challenge, if not surpass.

But, what about the opposite end of the spectrum – which hitters have accumulated the lowest TTO totals? I’ll take a look after the jump.

Here are the seasons (min. 502 PA) since 1901 with 15 or fewer of each of the TTOs.

So, Stuffy McInnis looks to be our winner, with TTO totals of 21 and 22 (followed closely by Lave Cross at 23) to go with predictably poor OPS+ scores below 85. But, look at those other seasons – pretty decent OPS+, especially for Charlie Hickman, whose 1902 season included leading the AL in hits and total bases, 2nd in HR and RBI, and 3rd in OPS+ and WAR (but not good enough for the Boston Americans, who sold Hickman to Cleveland in early June).

Of course, none of those seasons has come in the past 75 years, so let’s adjust our parameters a touch. Here are the players since 1925 with 15 or fewer HRs and 20 or fewer walks and strikeouts.

We’ve added a few more seasons, but still none in the past 50 years. Take a look at Woody Jensen’s 1936 season and his league-leading 731 PAs. Adding his 6 HBPs to his TTO totals, he put the ball in play 680 times, but apparently not with great effect (even with 197 hits) as evidenced by his 88 OPS+. In fact, only Frank McCormick’s 1938 season with 113 OPS+ and a league-leading 209 hits looks worth writing home about.

Another tweak of our selection criteria. Here are seasons since 1950 with 15 or fewer HR and 25 or fewer walks and strikeouts.

The seasons just get worse. Only 3 seasons over 100 OPS+, and to do that you have to hit .342 or show some pop with 14 HR.

But, we’re still looking for recent years. Here are the players since 1987 with 15 or fewer HRs and 30 or fewer walks and strikeouts.

Looks like Brian Harper is the only player who can be consistently successful (or, at least, above average)  hitting this way.

And, for our lifetime achievement awards, here are the players with the most 15-30-30 TTO seasons.

Some new names, including a few HOFers. So, while not recommended, a select few can succeed with this approach to hitting.

Finally, I was curious how low l would have to go in PAs to get a season with single digits in all TTOs.

And, there you have it. Only Ossee Schrecongost at the top of the list qualified for the batting title. Ossee was a catcher with 10 seasons ranging from 239 to 453 PAs, all but one a 15-30-30 season (he had one season with 31 Ks). For Ossee’s career of over 3000 PAs, his TTO total was 256, which Adam Dunn may surpass with just his strikeouts this year.