Baseball Reference Blog

With his 2-out go-ahead pinch-single in the 7th Thursday, Allen Craig became the 1st player with 2 go-ahead RBI as a pinch-hitter in World Series play (according to the B-R Event Finder).

Craig's RBI pinch-hits in games 1 and 2 were the 30th and 31st WS pinch-hit RBI that put the team in front. Here's the list in reverse date order, minus Craig's game-2 hit:

Sports Illustrated has a great story on Kelly Swift.

Click here to read it.

C.J. Wilson walked 6 last night - in less than 6 IP of work. How often does this happen? Who else has walked 6+ batters in less than 6 innings pitched in a post-season game?

Via Madison.com with a h/t to BBTF -

As the World Series begins, the most powerful man in baseball readies a nest in Madison for retirement. It contains bubble gum, pretzels, a basket of baseballs and a cable connection to Major League Baseball's TV channel.

Allan H. "Bud" Selig has charmed the UW-Madison history department, paid a million-plus for a professor to teach the history of sports and had scholarships created in his honor. His new office in the Humanities Building is cozy and modest. The effect of his presence will be the opposite.

Selig, 77, owner of the Milwaukee Brewers from 1970 to 1992 and commissioner of Major League Baseball since, will retire in 2012. His intention to return to his alma mater to write his memoirs, and to create a legacy in his chosen-but-not-followed field of history, has been in the works for at least a few years.

"One of the favorite parts of my life was the four years I spent in Madison, and I always thought I would be coming back as a history professor," Selig said Tuesday.

"I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to it, to write my book and do what I want to do in Madison," he said.

The department is getting ready to search for a professor to fill Selig's endowment wish — and preparing for sightings of the commissioner wandering the maze of halls and giving a lecture or two, said department chairwoman Florencia Mallon.

"We're not hiring (the professor) this year, but there is a very good chance, if all goes to plan and the commissioner is on board, we will be hiring next year," Mallon said.

If Bud does write a book, would you have an interest in reading it?

How many batters had 7+ total bases in Game 1 of a World Series?

Here are the top players who appeared in the majors for both the Cardinals and the Rangers:

C: Darrell Porter
1B: Will Clark, Joe Cunningham, Andres Galarraga
2B: Don Blasingame, Luis Alicea
3B: Todd Zeile, Fernando Tatis
SS: Royce Clayton
LF: Alex Johnson
CF: Curt Flood
RF: Brian Jordan, Ryan Ludwick, Bobby Bonds

Starting pitchers: Bob Tewskbury, Ken Hill, Todd Stottlemyre, Jeff Fassero, Jamie Moyer, Sonny Siebert
Relief pitchers: Tom Henke, Rick Honeycutt, Darold Knowles, Rich Rodriguez, Jeff Brantley, Hal Woodeshick

Check out a limited cross-section of some great part-time seasons. Here are seasons back to 1901 where 290 to 350 plate appearances, 15 to 17 homers, and an OPS+ of 125 to 130:

John Mayberry has two such seasons--only it's not the same guy. One is from John Mayberry Sr (1981) and one is from John Mayberry Jr (2011).

Using Play Index, I think these are 5 of the most notable World Series Game 1 situations where both starting pitchers spit the bit:

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Any others that maybe I missed?

Using Play Index, I think these are 3 of the greatest World Series Game 1 Pitcher's Duels -

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Any others that maybe I missed?

Just a quick reminder to cast your vote for the 2011 Internet Baseball Awards:

BP Unfiltered: Internet Baseball Awards Are Here

This year's edition marks the 20th anniversary of the longest-running baseball awards in web history. Vote today!