The Los Angeles Dodgers recorded their first triple play at home since the franchise moved West in 1958 when they executed one against the Colorado Rockies on May 13. It was the 494th triple play in the majors since 1900. The last Dodgers’ triple play at home occurred April 26, 1949, at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn against the Boston Braves.
A JOYOUS DAY
Wade Boggs of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays celebrated his 40th birthday on Monday with his 114th career homer. Boggs joined Joe Morgan and Bob Thurman as the only major-leaguers to homer on their 40th birthdays. Morgan, by the way, went deep twice on his 40th.
DEBUTANTE BALL
Carlton Loewer of Philadelphia became the first Phillies rookie pitcher since Larry Christenson in 1973 to throw a complete game in his debut. Loewer also became the first major-leaguer to debut with a complete game since Nate Minchey of the Red Sox in 1993. The last National Leaguer to do it was Tim Wakefield of the Pittsburgh Pirates, in 1992.
CLEARING THE BASES
Juan Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers and Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals are chalking up RBIs on a record pace and are putting considerable distance between themselves and their closest pursuers in the RBI race. Through Wednesday, Gonzalez held a 21-RBI advantage over Ken Griffey, Jr., in the American League and McGwire led Andres Galarraga by 14 in the National League. However, these differentials are not close to record territory. In 1935, Hank Greenberg finished the season with 170 RBIs, 51 more than AL runnerup Lou Gehrig. The biggest margins of victory in RBI races since 1901 are: %%
Year RBI Champion RBIs Margin
1935 Hank Greenberg Tigers 170 51
1937 Joe Medwick Cardinals 154 39
1910 Sherry Magee Phillies 123 35
1913 Gavvy Cravath Phillies 128 33
1921 Babe Ruth Yankees 171 32
1926 Babe Ruth Yankees 146 32
1953 Al Rosen Indians 145 30
1910 Sam Crawford Tigers 120 29
1922 Ken Williams Browns 155 29
1928 Babe Ruth Yankees 142 29
Lou Gehrig Yankees 142 29
1938 Jimmie Foxx Red Sox 175 29
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HIGH MARKS
The New York Yankees’ winning percentage is better than .700 while the Atlanta Braves’ mark is just below. Only seven teams since 1901 have posted a winning percentage of .700 or better for a full season. The Yankees and Braves would need to finish the season at 114-48 to make the grade. The last team to join the .700 club was the 1954 Cleveland Indians. The complete member list is: %%
Year Team Record Pct.
1906 Cubs 116-36 .763
1902 Pirates 103-36 .741
1909 Pirates 110-42 .724
1954 Indians 111-43 .721
1927 Yankees 110-44 .714
1907 Cubs 107-45 .704
1931 A’s 107-45 .704
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BASE METTLE
Paul Molitor of the Minnesota Twins needs to steal two bases to become the fifth major-leaguer to accumulate 3,000 hits and 500 stolen bases. The only other players to amass such numbers during their careers were: %%
Player Hits SBs
Ty Cobb 4,191 892
Honus Wagner 3,415 722
Eddie Collins 3,315 744
Lou Brock 3,023 938 %%
