Interesting Sports Facts and Statistics

[Quillz 1,356]

Probably been mentioned by now, but every possible 2015 World Series matchup will feature a team that hasn't won a championship in 20+ years. Blue Jays (1993), Mets (1986), Royals (1985), Cubs (1908). This would have also been true had the Dodgers (1988) beaten the Mets, and also would have held true if the Rangers and Astros had advanced (neither have won a championship). Had the Pirates advanced, this still would have held true, as they last won in 1979. In fact, except for the Cardinals, every team that qualified for the 2015 playoffs has yet to win a championship in this decade (Yanks last won in 2009). This also would have held true had the Angels (2002) and Twins (1991) qualified.

[pmoehrin 1,116]

The most recent Baltimore Oriole to lead the American League in slugging percentage is Reggie Jackson.

Also the first Oriole pitcher to ever shut out the Yankees was Don Larsen in what wound up being the last win of a 3-21 season.

[pmoehrin 1,116]

In game two of the 1926 World Series, Tommy Thevenow would hit what would prove to be the final home run of his career. An inside the park home run off in the ninth inning off Sad Sam Jones.

What makes this stat unique is that Tommy Thevenow didn't retire from baseball until 1938 and currently holds the record for the longest homerless steak in Major League history.

[raysox 2,484]

So in this thread, someone mentioned that there was never a World Series featuring two franchises not from the 1903 season.

This year just changed that. Mets-Royals is your first expansion team Fall Classic.

[Walter Sobchak 310]

To add to that, the Mets and Royals are the first expansion teams in their respective leagues to win the World Series.

[pmoehrin 1,116]

First inside the park home run in World Series history since Mule Haas in the 1929 World Series.

The next most recent one was hit by none other than Lou Gehrig in the 1928 World Series.

[2001mark 1,204]

Kobe Bryant, first player to play 20 seasons with the same NBA team, opening the 2015 season playing against Kevin Garnett.

Kobe Bryant's first ever game in 1996 he played against Kevin Garnett.

[pmoehrin 1,116]

The complete game Johnny Cueto pitched last night was the first by an AL starter in the World Series since Jack Morris' famous ten inning shutout of the Braves in game seven of the '91 Series.

[FinsUp1214 5,557]

I knew this thread was here somewhere!

 

I hope this stat line is worthy of a nearly-year bump, but I found it really interesting.

 

It's been easy for me as a history junkie to compare Clayton Kershaw to Sandy Koufax; two insanely dominant left-handed Dodger aces that are the premier pitchers of their time. What surprised me in comparing the two is how close a few of their stats are. I focused mostly on avg per 162 game season stats because Koufax still has the longer career by 3 seasons at this point (though some overall career stats are fairly close, though).

 

Where they're identical

Average W-L per 162 games: 16-8

Cy Youngs: 3

MVPs: 1

 

Where they're close

Avg. Hits allowed per 162 games: Kershaw 167, Koufax 168

Career Win Pct.: Kershaw .677, Koufax .655

Avg Strikeouts per 162 games: Kershaw 247, Koufax 229

Avg. IP per 162 games: Kershaw 227, Koufax 222

Avg. GS per 162 games: Kershaw 34, Koufax 30

Career ERA titles: Kershaw 4, Koufax 5

 

Aside of course from the obvious difference in World Series titles, it's fascinating to see how close their careers have turned out to be. Yes, he needs a ring at the very least (but more likely two or three) to get on Koufax's overall level, but hey, there's still time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kroywen 2,280]

1 hour ago, FinsUp1214 said:

I knew this thread was here somewhere!

 

I hope this stat line is worthy of a nearly-year bump, but I found it really interesting.

 

It's been easy for me as a history junkie to compare Clayton Kershaw to Sandy Koufax; two insanely dominant left-handed Dodger aces that are the premier pitchers of their time. What surprised me in comparing the two is how close a few of their stats are. I focused mostly on avg per 162 game season stats because Koufax still has the longer career by 3 seasons at this point (though some overall career stats are fairly close, though).

 

Where they're identical

Average W-L per 162 games: 16-8

Cy Youngs: 3

MVPs: 1

 

Where they're close

Avg. Hits allowed per 162 games: Kershaw 167, Koufax 168

Career Win Pct.: Kershaw .677, Koufax .655

Avg Strikeouts per 162 games: Kershaw 247, Koufax 229

Avg. IP per 162 games: Kershaw 227, Koufax 222

Avg. GS per 162 games: Kershaw 34, Koufax 30

Career ERA titles: Kershaw 4, Koufax 5

 

Aside of course from the obvious difference in World Series titles, it's fascinating to see how close their careers have turned out to be. Yes, he needs a ring at the very least (but more likely two or three) to get on Koufax's overall level, but hey, there's still time.

And with the benefits of (hopefully) good health and modern medicine, Kershaw should be able to keep pitching for quite a bit longer than Koufax did. The future is far from a given, of course - we've seen plenty of elite pitchers fall off a cliff in their early 30's - but there's a very good chance Kershaw winds up combining Koufax's prime with much greater longevity.

 

It's amazing that he's only 28 still - he's been pitching at an elite level for 8 (!!!) years now. I can only hope there are a lot of years left in that arm.

[clonewars2008 232]

The first Grey Cup (UofT vs Parkdale) game was played on the same day that the Montreal Canadiens were founded on December 4th 1909.

[TrueYankee26 1,036]

Last time there were 2 ties in the NFL in 1997, the Indians lost the World Series.

In 2016, there were two ties in the NFL. The Indians lost the World Series.

[Sport 13,797]

I retweeted this: Bartolo Colon and Turner Field made their major league debut in the same season. He will pitch in the Braves' new stadium this season. Bartolo Colon outlasted a stadium. 

[HedleyLamarr 1,393]

When the Seahawks and Cardinals played to a 6-6 draw, that became the third time in NFL history that there's been a 6-6 tie game.

 

The Cardinals have been involved in all three of said games....

[dfwabel 4,155]

Kris Bryant becam the first player in NCAA/MLB history to win Golden Spikes Award (effectively, College Player of the Year), Minor League Player of the Year, MLB Rookie of the Year and MLB MVP in four consecutive game seasons.

[FGM13 767]

Miguel Cabrera has never had less than 103 RBI in a full season, and only twice had an average below .300.

[2001mark 1,204]

1939 Grey Cup in Ottawa, groundskeepers poured on the field & lit on fire 400 gallons of gasoline to remedy the frozen field.  It didn't help for the next day's game & Ottawa wasn't awarded host duties again until 1967.

[2001mark 1,204]

NHL 100, BMO Field was the 125th venue to hold an NHL game.

Exactly 1000 players have been on a Stanley Cup winner.

Sometime this January, the 350,000th goal (regular season + playoffs) will be scored.

[TrueYankee26 1,036]

Bulls have not lost a home game on TNT since February 2013, and with yesterday's win vs Cleveland, increase their TNT home winning streak to 20.

[cmm 386]

The Blue Jackets are 9-0-0 at home on Tuesdays this season.