Colorado third baseman Vinny Castilla hit his 30th home run of the season Aug. 15 on a 3-2 count. It was the first time in his major-league career that Castilla had hit a home run on that count.
STAYING POWER
Raul Ibanez, on Aug. 16, became the 49th left-fielder to play next to Seattle Mariners center-fielder Ken Griffey Jr. during Griffey’s nine-year tenure at that position.
START AND STOP
Oakland starters have 19 victories this season, last in the majors. The fewest victories produced by a starting staff in a non-strike year was 23 by the 1962 New York Mets. The five teams with the fewest starting staff victories, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, are: %%
Team Year Victories
Mets 1962 23
A’s 1919 28
Tigers 1996 29
Phillies 1928 29
Red Sox 1932 30
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TEN LITTLE BOMBS
Jay Buhner of the Seattle Mariners needs 10 more home runs this season to become the 10th batter in major-league history to post at least three consecutive 40-homer seasons. According to David Vincent of the Home Run Encyclopedia, the nine who have posted at least three straight seasons of 40-plus are: %%
Batter Years Seasons
Babe Ruth 1926-32 7
Ralph Kiner 1947-51 5
Duke Snider 1953-57 5
Ernie Banks 1957-60 4
H. Killebrew 1961-64 4
Jimmie Foxx 1932-34 3
Frank Howard 1968-70 3
Ted Kluszewski 1953-55 3
Eddie Mathews 1953-55 3
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TIGER TICKET TALE
On Aug. 15, the Tigers passed the million mark for fan attendance for the 33rd straight season.
FOURSOME
Boston shortstop Nomar Garciaparra on Thursday became the first Red Sox player since Jackie Jensen in 1956 to record a quad-double: double figures in doubles, triples, home runs and stolen bases.
TWINS TWINS
Catcher Terry Steinbach and designated hitter Marty Cordova are the only Minnesota Twins players to have double figures in home runs. Steinbach has 12 and Cordova, 10.
