HIT BY PITCH (HUNT)

You are here: Home

Hit by Pitch

HIT BY PITCH (HUNT)

By Alex J. Haas

Batters hit by pitched balls has been an interesting baseball statistic, but not a very important one -- at least not until this year. Ron Hunt of the Montreal Expos was hit a record 50 times in 1971, and this resulted in renewed interest in this unusual batting category. Hugh Jennings of the old Baltimore Orioles was reportedly hit by pitches 49 times in 1896, which was the old time mark. This type of record was not included among the official averages until 1920, and trying to ascertain the actual figures prior to that time is s tedious process. Compiling complete and accurate figures prior to 1909 is virtually impossible.

It is understood, however, that no player approached Jennings' high total at any time in this century until Hunt in 1971. In fact, very few players took the chance of being hit half that many times. Nevertheless, there were several players who had a particular knack for getting hit. Included was Louis Evans, who played with the Cardinals 1909-1913. He was hit the most times in three of those years, including 31 times in 1911. This was the modern record until] Hunt surpassed it this past year. Arthur Fletcher of the Giants was another to finish high in the HBP column, leading his league five times.

In the 1930s and 1940s, when it was much easier to hit than get hit, Frank Crosetti of the Yanks led seven times. In the 1950a Minnie Minoso led ten times. While with the White Sox, Minoso's unusual talents rubbed off on teammates Nellie Fox and Sherm Lollar, who racked up some substantial HBP totals. Probably the best hitter among those frequently hit is Frank Robinson of the Reds and Orioles, who has led in both leagues. A high-priced player, he has continued to crowd the plate even in his later years.

On a career basis, Minoso has been hit 192 times to lead all players in this century. Hunt, however, is moving up rapidly with 177, followed by Frank Robinson with 176. Other players who have been hit more than 100 times since 1909 include: Arthur Fletcher 141, Nellie Fox 141, Sherm Lollar 115, Buck Herzog 114, Frank Crosetti 114, George H. Burns 111, and Jimmy Dykes 109. The annual leaders in each league follow.

BATSMEN HIT BY PITCH MOST TIMES

Year	American League Leader		National League Leader
1909	Dave Altizer, Waah.	16	John Titus, Phil.	16
1910	Bert Daniels, N.Y.	16	Louis Evans, StL.	31
	Harry Geaaler, Wash.	16
	Wade Killefer, Waah.	16
1911	Norm Elberfeld, Wash.	25	Louis Evans, StL.	19
1912	Bert Daniels, N.Y.	18	Louis Evans, StL.	17
1913	Bert Daniels, N.Y.	18	Arthur Fletcher, N.Y.	15
1914	Joseph Murphy, Phil.	12	Arthur Fletcher, N.Y.	13
	Geo. H. Burns, Det.	12	Henry Groh, Cm.	13
1915	Jack Fournier, Chi.	15	Wade Killefer, Cm.	19
1916	John Barry, Boston	17	Arthur Fletcher, N.Y.	14
1917	Elmer Miller, N.Y.	9	Arthur Fletcher, N.Y.	19
	Wally Schang, Phil.	9
	Edward Spencer, Det.	9
1918	Geo. H. Burns, Det.	8	Arthur Fletcher, N.Y.	15
	Elmer Gedeon, StL.	8
	Robert Roth, Clev.	8
1919	Geo. H. Burns, Phil.	12	Buck Herzog, Bos-Chi.	14
1920	Bucky Harris, Wash.	21	Jack Fournier, StL.	12
1921	Bucky Harris, Wash.	18	Jack Fournier, StL.	8
1922	Bucky Harris, Wash.	14	Casey Stengel, N.Y.	9
	Johnny Mostil, Chi.	14
1923	Heinie Manush, Det.	17	Eugene Hsrgrave, Cm.	12
1924	Heinie Manush, Det.	16	Henry Groh, N.Y.	11
1925	Johnny Mostil, Chi.	12	Hazen Cuyler, Pitt.	13
1926	Johnny Mostil, Chi.	10	Ray Blades, StL.	11
1927	Frank O'Rourke, StL.	12	Cy Williams, Phil.	9
1928	Bing Miller, Phil.	8	Taylor Douthit, StL.	10
	Ossie Bluege, Wash.	8
	Geo. McNeely, Wash.	8
1929	Jimmie Dykes, Phil.	7	James Welsh, N.Y.-Bos.	11
	Wally Schang, StL.	7
	Robert Reeves, Bos.	7
1930	Jimmie Dykes, Phil.	10	Hazen Cuyler, Chi.	10
1931	Bing Miller, Phil.	10	Vince Barton, Chi.	9
1932	Earl Averill, Clev.	6	George Watkins, StL.	8
	Bruce Campbell, StL.	6
1933	Jimmie Dykes, Chi.	12	George Watkins, StL.	12
1934	Pinky Higgins, Phil.	9	Dick Bartell, Phil.	9
1935	Cecil Travis, Wash.	9	Hank Lieber, N.Y.	10
1936	Frank Crosetti, N.Y.	12	Ival Goodman, Cin.	9
1937	Frank Crosetti, N.Y.	12	Dick Bartell, N.Y.	10
1938	Frank Crosetti, N.Y.	15	Ival Goodman, Cin.	15
1939	Frank Crosetti, N.Y.	13	Ival Goodman, Cin.	7
			Dick Bartell, Chi.	7
1940	Frank Crosetti, N.Y.	10	Elbie Fletcher, Pitt.	9
1941	Dom DiMaggio, Bos.	7	Pete Reiser, Bkn.	11
1942	Frank Crosetti, N.Y.	19	Dick Bartell, N.Y.	8
			Bill Nicholson, Chi.	8
1943	Mickey Vernon, Wash.	10	Dick Bartell, N.Y.	7
1944	Roberto Ortiz, Wash.	8	Dan Litwhiler, Phil.	10
1945	Frank Crosetti, N.Y.	10	Andy Pafko, Chi.	8
	Floyd Baker, Chi.	10	Melvin Ott, N.Y.	8
			Napoleon Reyes, N.Y.	8
1946	Tommy Henrich, N.Y.	7	Buddy Blattner, N.Y.	6
1947	Phil Rizzuto, N.Y.	8	Geo. Kurowski, StL.	10
1948	Joe DiMaggio, N.Y.	8	Jack Robinson, Bkn.	7
1949	Larry Doby, Clev.	7	Andy Pafko, Chi.	9
	Ed Robinson, Wash.	7
1950	Al Rosen, Clev.	10	Eddie Stanky, N.Y.	12
	Luke Easter, Clev.	10
1951	Minnie Minoso, Chi.	16	Andy Pafko, Chi-Bkn.	12
1952	Minnie Minoso, Chi.	14	Solly Hemus, StL.	20
1953	Minnie Minoso, Chi.	17	Solly Memus, StL.	12
1954	Minnie Minoso, Chi.	16	Frank Thomas, Pitt.	10
1955	Nellie Fox, Chi.	17	Stan Musial, StL.	8
1956	Minnie Minoso, Chi.	23	Frank Robinson, Cm.	20
1957	Minnie Minoso, Chi.	21	Ed Bouchee, Phil.	14
1958	Minnie Minoso, Clev.	15	Solly Memus, StL.	8
			Walter Moryn, Chi.	8
			Ray Walls, Chi.	8
1959	Minnie Minoso, Clev.	17	Frank Robinson, Cin.	8
1960	Minnie Minoso, Chi.	13	Frank Robinson, Cin.	9
1961	Minnie Minoso, Chi.	16	Joe Cunningham, StL.	11
1962	Norman Cash, Det.	13	Frank Robinson, Cin.	11
	Bob Del Greco, K.C.	13
1963	Max Alvis, Clev.	10	Frank Robinson, Cin.	14
1964	Harm Killebrew, Mm.	8	Tony Taylor, Phila.	13
	Zoilo Versalles Mm.	8
	Bill Freehan, Det.	8
1965	Max Alvis, Clev.	9	Frank Robinson, Cin.	18
	Bert Campaneris,K.C.	9
1966	Rick Reichardt, Cal.	13	Orlan.Cepeda, SF-StL.	14
			Lou Johnson, L.A.	14
1967	Bill Freehan, Det.	20	Orlan. Cepeda, StL.	12
1968	Bill Freehan, Det.	24	Ronald Hunt, S.F.	25
1969	Frank Robinson,Balt.	13	Ronald Hunt, S.F.	25
1970	Roy Foster, Clev.	12	Ronald Hunt, S.F.	26
1971	Mike Epstein,W-Oak. -	12	Ronald Hunt, Mont.	50