By Stanley Kuminski

    Joe Torre's frustrating 1975 season was "highlighted" by the July 21 game against the Astros where he grounded into four consecutive double plays. Batting ahead of him was Felix Millan, who had 4 singles, but was wiped out each time Tone hit the ball. For Torre, it was a National League record for grounding into twin killings in one game. He is one of the all time leaders in that department, having been victimized 265 times in his career.

    The double play is an important part of game strategy, for nothing ruins a rally like a twin killing. Yet, little statistical research has been done in this area. The National League started compiling these records in 1933 and the American League only since 1940. Consequently, no one knows how many times Ty Cobb was doubled up, or Honus Wagner, or even Zeke Bonura in his early years. However, it is safe to say that the all time record for grounding into double plays was not established by Cobb or Wagner. This is not just because they were fast runners but that there were fewer double plays made in their eras.

    Who, then, holds the career record? Apparently it is Henry Aaron, with 320 futile efforts. He is followed by Brooks Robinson, a long-service righthand batter who is slow afoot. Brooks holds the AL record with 290. Obviously, he is not as slow as Ernie Lombardi, but Lom did not have such a long career. Ernie hit into double plays most frequently, once every 20 times at bat. This is based on his career record since 1933 of 261 wipeouts in only 5260 at bats.

    If Lombardi was the easiest player to double up, who was the toughest? Logic would indicate that he would have to be a lefthand hitter, who wouldn't have to take that extra step or two. Well, it is necessary to settle for a compromise candidate, Don Buford, who was a switch hitter. Before he left for Japan in 1973 he had grounded into only 33 double plays in 4553 at bats, or once every 138 times at the plate. He tops all lefthand batting speedsters like Lou Brock, Richie Ashburn, and Joe Morgan. And don't forget another "Don," who went to Japan - Don Blasingame - who was almost as tough to double up as Buford.

    The righthand batters most difficult to catch in double plays were George Case, based on less than his full career, and Bert Campaneris, who is still going strong. Research on the available records has turned up some surprises. For example, Bill "Swish" Nicholson of the Cubs was harder to double up than Willie Davis, one of the fastest runners in the game, who also batted from the left side. In Nicholson's case, he was known to uppercut the ball a little to get it out of the park. And Johnny Mize, hardly a gazelle on the basepaths, was an infrequent victim of the double play. The same applies to big Willie Stargell. Of course, both batted from the left side and went for the fences.

   We will discuss further the advantage of lefthand batters when we take up season records. First let us show some career totals and frequency rates, below.

                    High Career Totals For GDP

                   Low Frequency Rates For GDP

*Incomplete career records

    It is obvious that on a career basis the righthand batter will normally have the higher GDP totals. Stan Musial is the only lefthander in the top 15. On the low frequency rates, it does not always turn out that way. This is also the case when it comes to the season leaders. In fact, in 1975 the tables got turned when Don Money of Milwaukee, a right-hand batter, was nabbed only 1 time, while Willie Montanez, batting left, was doubled up 26 times to lead the National League.

    It was only the fourth time since these records were first compiled that a lefty had topped the circuit in either league. In 1960, Wally Moon of the Dodgers tied for NL leadership, and Carl Yastrzemski led twice in the AL, once with a surprisingly high total of 30. In fact, the Red Sox have traditionally had some rather high totals, whether they batted left or right. Jackie Jensen, one of the best base stealers of the 1950s, nevertheless led the league 3 times in GDP. Bobby Doer, and Vern Stephens each led twice, and 4 other Boston players led once each. Maybe the infielders at Fenway Park play in closer because of the nearness of the leftfield wall.

    Only six players have gone essentially a complete season without hitting into a double play. This is based on a minimum of 350 at bats over the 154-game schedule, and 400 for the current 162 games. Augie Galan holds the all-time mark by going zero in 646 at bats in 1935. In 1968, both Dick McAuliffe and Roger Repoz in the AL had unblemished records. Tony Bartirome of the Pirates had the distinction of never having grounded into a double play in the majors. He topped the NL in 1952 and that was the only season he played.

    Here is the annual list of those hitting into the most double plays, and those hitting into the fewest per time at bat. Note that Pee Wee Reese and Dave Philley appear on both lists.

Players Grounding Into Most Double Plays

Players Grounding Into Fewest Double Plays Per at Bat