Did you know?

Bill Veeck, the former owner of the Browns, White Sox, and Indians, was well-known for his promotions and ideas, which included a pinch-hitting midget, an exploding scoreboard, and putting players’ names on the back of their uniforms, the innovative Hall of Famer is also responsible for breaking the color barrier in the American League, signing Larry Doby in 1947 to play for Cleveland.

• Mike Pelfrey (2006-17) has the most career starts (256) without throwing a shutout.
• A.J. Pierzynski is one of only 10 players to catch 2,000 games in the majors.
• Three players have won the Batting Championship without hitting a home run, Ginger Beaumont (1902 Pirates), Zack Wheat (1918 Robins), and Rod Carew (1972 Twins).
• Four pitchers have won 25+ games in a season, yet they didn’t win the Cy Young Award: Juan Marichal (1963, 1966, 1968), Jim Kaat (1966), Mickey Lolich (1971), and Fergie Jenkins (1974). Now days wins don’t seem to matter in Cy Young voting.
• The durable reliever LaTroy Hawkins pitched 21 seasons for 11 clubs, and his 1,042 appearances rank 10th all-time.
• Back in 1928 in an effort to speed up the game and add more offense, National League president John Heydler proposes the concept of a designated batter for the pitcher. The American League opposes the idea and the NL withdraws the proposal before Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis is asked to break the deadlock.

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