In a balloting round heavy with famous pitchers, voters considered Tom Seaver the crème de la crème, and chose him as the 30th inductee into the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats (COG).  More on Tom Terrific and the voting after the jump. Continue reading →

This post is for voting and discussion in the thirtieth round of balloting for the Circle of Greats.  This round adds those players born in 1944.  Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading →

Much debate and discussion this round, but the top choice was clear from early on — Rod Carew is the 29th inductee into the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats.  More on Carew and the voting after this message from our sponsors  the jump. Continue reading →

A debate has been underway in the comments here at HHS today — would Ichiro Suzuki have made it to 4,000 major league hits had he played a full career in MLB?  Keeping in mind that Ichiro’s first season in MLB was his age 27 season and he is currently in his age 39 season, let’s look at some numbers, after the jump. Continue reading →

Last night, the Yankees put Alex Rodriguez in the second spot in the batting order for the first time in years.  However, he’s not exactly a novice in that spot.  Indeed,  he is tied for the record for most RBI in a season from the #2 spot in the batting order:

Most RBI in a Season, From Each Spot in the Batting Order (1916-2013)
#1 spot: Darin Erstad (2000) 100 RBI
#2 spot: Alex Rodriguez (1998) and Eddie Mathews (1959) 114
#3 spot: Babe Ruth (1921) 168
#4 spot: Hack  Wilson (1930) 191
#5 spot: Jimmie Foxx (1932) 169
#6 spot: Glenn Wright (1925) and Tony Lazzeri (1926) 110
#7 spot: Ken Keltner (1938) 111
#8 spot: Babe Dahlgren (1939) 89
#9 spot: Kevin Elster (1996) 92

After the jump, similar lists for Home Runs, Runs, Runs Created and Hits. Continue reading →

This post is for voting and discussion in the twenty-ninth round of balloting for the Circle of Greats.  This round adds those players born in 1945.  Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading →

As in the last round, Nolan Ryan gained much support from voters, but fell just short to a strong rival, as Reginald Martinez Jackson becomes the 28th inductee into the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats.  More on Reggie and the voting after the jump.  Continue reading →

When Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs back in 1927, setting a season record that would stand for more than 30 years, how many of those homers did he hit in games that the Yankees lost?  A grand total of nine.  The other 51 homers were all hit in Yankee wins.  Indeed, Ruth was merely tied for fourth in the majors in 1927 for home runs hit in team losses, behind Cy Williams (17), Hack Wilson (13) and Ken Williams (10), and tied with Babe Herman.  You’ll find more information on such “futile homers” (homers hit in team losses) after the jump. Continue reading →

This post is for voting and discussion in the twenty-eighth round of balloting for the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats (COG).  This round completes the addition to the ballot of those players born in 1946.  Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading →

This round provided a close battle between two born-in-1947 guys who were out-voted in the previous round by Johnny Bench.  In the end, it was another catcher, Carlton (Pudge) Fisk, who prevailed by just four votes over Nolan Ryan to become the 27th inductee into the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats.  This election also saw more voting participation (66 ballots cast) than in any round we’ve had since the opening week of the MLB season.  More on Pudge and the voting after the hop skip jump.  Continue reading →