There Used to be a Ballpark
Briggs Stadium
Detroit Tigers
This Hall of Famer played 23 seasons, most notably with the Atlanta Braves where he exhibited exceptional command over his famous bat-breaking sinker.
Greg Maddux
____ Crisp
Coco
This stat measures a players value in all facets of the game by deciphering how many more wins he is worth than a replacement level player.
WAR
Home Runs, Cincinnati Reds
Johnny Bench
Colt Stadium
Houston Colt .45s
This pitcher begin his career in the early 60s, ended it in the late 80s, and proudly bore the nickname “Knucksie” on account of his famous knuckleball.
Phil Niekro
_____ Kuntz
Rusty
ISO
Isolated Power
Hits, New York Yankees
Derek Jeter
Forbes Field
Pittsburgh Pirates
This 6 time All Star and one time Cy Young Winner was known not only for his unorthodox pitching style and mound presence over the course of the 2000s, but his notoriously anti-social behavior.
Zack Greinke
Catfish _____
Hunter
This stat focuses solely on the events a pitcher has the most control over—strikeouts, walks, hit by pitches, and home runs.
FIP or Fielding Independent Pitching
Plate Appearances, Miami Marlins
Luis Castillo
Sportsman’s Park
St. Louis Browns or St. Louis Cardinals
This crafty Dodger’s curveball was the nail in the coffin for a number of batters when he set the MLB record of 59 consecutive scoreless innings pitched in 1988.
Orel Hershiser
Goose _____
Goslin or Gossage
DAILY DOUBLE
wRC+
Stolen Bases, Chicago White Sox
Eddie Collins
Swampoodle Grounds
Washington Nationals (1886-1889)
This journeymen of the mid-century played in 8 All Star games, won a World Series in 1954, and pitched a no-hitter in 1958 all with a piece of shrapnel in his back from a wound received in the Battle of the Bulge.
Hoyt Wilhelm
_____ Dickshot
Johnny
A stat that measures a batter’s efficacy in an at-bat in the 7th inning or later where the team trails by three runs or fewer, is tied, or ahead only by one run. Also known as the “clutch” stat.
LIPS, or Late Inning Pressure Situations
Batting Average, Texas Rangers
Al Oliver