Bob Feller: Too Many Walks?
Feller Walked 153 Batters Yet Had One of the Best Seasons Ever
Rapid Robert pitched three no hitters, struck out 348 batters in a season, and won at least 20 games six times, but what was unique was he gave up many walks and few runs
Bob Feller was only seventeen years old when he joined the Cleveland Indians. The farm boy from Van Meter, Iowa is ranked among the all time greats. despite missing four seasons during WW II when he enlisted in the Navy. Rapid Robert pitched three no hitters, struck out 18 batters in a game, struck out 348 batters in a season, and won at least 20 games six times. His fastball was measured at over 100 mph, but what made Feller unique was that he gave up so many walks but so few runs relative to the walks.
Feller Didn't "Pitch to Contact"
Feller started only 8 games for the Indians in 1936, but the following year, the eighteen-year-old started 19 games, winning 9 and losing 7 with a 3.39 ERA. In 148 2/3 innings, he walked 106 and struck out 150. Feller did not “pitch to contact.”
He Walked 208 Batters in 277 1/3 Innings
In his first full season, his third with the Tribe, Feller started 36 games, completing 20. He was 17-11 with a 4.08 ERA, working 277 2/3 innings, allowing 225 hits, walking 208 and striking out 240. These are amazing statistics, especially when one compares them to today’s game. Nineteen-year-old pitchers don’t work 277 2/3 innings. Neither do twenty, or thirty, or forty-year-old pitchers.
11 Percent of the Batters Scored
What boggles the mind is that in 1938, Bob Feller faced 1248 batters, walking 208 of them. Feller allowed 208 walks, 225 hits, and hit 7 batters for a total of 440 base runners. Thirty five percent of the batters who faced Feller reached base, which is not good (440/1248). But Feller allowed 136 runs, which means that only 11 percent of the 1248 batters Feller faced scored (136/1248). Thirty one percent of the 440 batters who reached base scored (136/440).
Tougher to Reach Base Against Grove
In 1938, Lefty Grove led the American League with a 3.08 ERA. He faced 706 batters, walking 52, allowing 169 hits, and hitting 1 batter, for a total of 222 runners. Thirty one percent of the batters Grove faced reached base (222/706), and sixty-five base runners or only 9 percent of ALL the batters Grove faced scored (65/706),. Once on base, 29 percent of the runners scored (65/222). The chances of a batter reaching base were greater against Feller than against Grove, and the chances of runners scoring against Feller were a little better than against Grove.
Only 23 Percent of Runners Scored
Feller’s best season was 1946. He started 42 games and completed 36, working 371 1/3 innings and allowing 101 runs. He allowed 277 hits, 153 walks, hit 3 batters, and struck out 348 of the 1512 batters he faced, which means that 433 batters or 29 percent reached base (433/1512), but only 23 percent of the runners scored (101/433). Feller had a 2.18 ERA.
Clemens Had a Similar Season
To gain some perspective, let us take Roger Clemens’ 1997 season in which he started 34 games, completed 9, pitched 264 innings, and allowed 65 runs. Clemens gave up 204 hits, 68 walks, hit 12 batters, and struck out 292 of the 1044 batters he faced, which means that 284 batters or 27 percent reached base (284/1012) and 23 percent scored (65/284).
Does It Matter HOW a Batter Reaches Base?
Four hundred and thirty three batter reached base against Bob Feller, 153 of them on walks. Twenty three percent of those runners, regardless of how they reached base, scored. Two hundred and eighty four base runners reached base against Roger Clemens, 68 of them on walks. Twenty three percent scored. These data raise many questions. Does it really matter how a batter reaches base when the only concern is whether or not he scores? It’s much more complex than it seems. Stay tuned.
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