Starter Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondbacks leads the majors with 17 wins but also has given up a league-leading 30 home runs. Schilling’s lapses have rarely cost him more than one run, though, with only four dingers coming with men on base this season. The right-hander could become the 12th major-leaguer since 1901 to lead the league in wins and homers allowed. (t- tied for lead):
%% YEAR PITCHER TEAM WINS HRS
1920 Urban Shocker Browns 27t 21t
1951 Bob Feller Indians 22 22t
1954 Robin Roberts Phillies 23 35
1955 Robin Roberts Phillies 23 41
1959 Lew Burdette Braves 21t 38
1960 Jim Perry Indians 18t 35
1962 Ralph Terry Yankees 23t 40
1965 Jim Grant Twins 21t 34
1968 Denny McLain Tigers 31 31
%%
300 club
Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres is closing out his Hall-of-Fame career this season. If he plays in at least 50 games this year and bats .300 or better, he would tie Tris Speaker for second-most .300-plus seasons of 50 games or more.
%% PLAYER SEAS. PLAYED .300 SEAS.
Ty Cobb 24 23
Tris Speaker 22 18
Stan Musial 22 17
Tony Gwynn 19 17
Ted Williams 19 16
Babe Ruth 22 16
Rod Carew 19 15
Pete Rose 24 15
Wade Boggs 18 15
%%
Say goodbye
Former Bear and professional wrestler Steve “Mongo” McMichael became just the sixth non-participant since 1980 ejected from a major-league game by an umpire on Tuesday night. Here are the others.
NAME, OCCUPATION, YEAR
Al Friedman, cameraman, 1984
REASON: Showing replay of Mets close call
Doug Zimmer, cameraman, 1984
REASON: Showing replay of Mets close call
Pat Majeske, video operator, 1984
REASON: Tipping pitches to Twins
Youppi, Expos mascot, 1984
REASON: Not known
B.J. Birdy, Blue Jays mascot, 1993
REASON: Protesting out call
Contact
Paul LoDuca of the Los Angeles Dodgers had 18 homers but just 19 strikeouts through Friday. Among big-leaguers with at least 15 homers in a season, only 31 have finished a campaign with more homers than strikeouts, a total of 64 times. The last was George Brett, who had 24 homers and just 22 whiffs in 1980 en route to an A.L. MVP award. Joe DiMaggio accomplished the feat seven times in his career.
