ERAces

(Minimum 150 innings)

* = Lowest ERA in NL/AL

*1. Sandy Koufax - 1.73 in 323 innings (Los Angeles Dodgers, 1966)

*2. Sandy Koufax - 1.74 in 223 innings (Los Angeles Dodgers, 1964)

*3. Sandy Koufax - 1.88 in 311 innings (Los Angeles Dodgers, 1963)

3. Joe Horlen - 1.88 in 210 innings (Chicago White Sox, 1964)

*4. Sandy Koufax - 2.04 in 335 innings (Los Angeles Dodgers, 1965)

5. Joe Horlen - 2.06 in 258 innings (Chicago White Sox, 1967)

6. Dave Roberts - 2.10 in 269 innings (San Diego Padres, 1971)

7. Joe Horlen - 2.37 in 223 innings (Chicago White Sox, 1968)

8. Joe Horlen - 2.43 in 211 innings (Chicago White Sox, 1966)

9. Ken Holtzman - 2.51 in 265 innings (Oakland Athletics, 1972)

*10. Sandy Koufax - 2.54 in 184 innings (Los Angeles Dodgers, 1962)

*11. Saul Rogovin - 2.78 in 216 innings (Detroit Tigers/Chicago White Sox, 1951)

12. Dave Roberts - 2.85 in 249 innings (Houston Astros, 1973)

13. Joe Horlen - 2.88 in 219 innings (Chicago White Sox, 1965)

14. Ken Holtzman - 2.97 in 297 innings (Oakland Athletics, 1973)

15. Ken Holtzman - 3.07 in 255 innings (Oakland Athetlics, 1974)

16. Dan Warthen - 3.11 in 167 innings (Montreal Expos, 1975)

17. Ken Holtzman - 3.14 in 266 innings (Oakland Athetlics, 1975)

18. Steve Stone - 3.23 in 250 innings (Baltimore Orioles, 1980)

19. Ken Holtzman - 3.35 in 215 innings (Chicago Cubs, 1968)

20. Ken Holtzman - 3.38 in 287 innings (Chicago Cubs, 1970)

21. Dave Roberts - 3.40 in 204 innings (Houston Astros, 1974)

22. Sandy Koufax - 3.52 in 255 innings (Los Angeles Dodgers, 1961)

23. Ross Baumgarten - 3.54 in 190 innings (Chicago White Sox, 1979)

24. Ken Holtzman - 3.58 in 261 innings (Chicago Cubs, 1969)

25. Ken Holtzman - 3.65 in 246 innings (Baltimore Orioles/New York Yankees, 1976)

26. Jason Marquis - 3.71 in 201 innings (St. Louis Cardinals, 2004)

27. Barry Latman - 3.75 in 156 innings (Chicago White Sox, 1959)

28. Steve Stone - 3.77 in 186 innings (Baltimore Orioles, 1979)

29. Joe Horlen - 3.78 in 235 innings (Chicago White Sox, 1969)

30. Ken Holtzman - 3.79 in 220 innings (Chicago Cubs, 1966)

31. Dave Roberts - 3.81 in 181 innings (San Diego Padres, 1970)

32. Saul Rogovin - 3.85 in 231 innings (Chicago White Sox, 1952)

33. Sandy Koufax - 3.91 in 175 innings (Los Angeles Dodgers, 1960)

34. Steve Stone - 3.95 in 214 innings (Chicago Cubs, 1975)

A Jewish Skipper? Damn Skippy!

Bob Melvin, at your service. Former MLB catcher. 6 years of managerial experience so far; 3 of those years have been winning seasons. Currently manages the Arizona Diamondbacks. Got his start with the Seattle Mariners after Lou Piniella left. Was named the 2007 NL Manager of the Year. Has won 90 or more games twice.

While a member of the Giants, Melvin served as the backup for fellow catcher Bob Brenly, who also went on to serve as manager of the Diamondbacks. Later, Melvin became one of Brenly's bench coaches. Got a ring from the '01 squad.

Larry Rothschild is someone I've been aware of for quite some time. Got his start with the (then) Tampa Bay Devil Rays in their inaugural season in '98. Was the skipper there until '01 when none other than Sweet Lou replaced him. Hails from Chicago and has been the Cubs' pitching coach since 2002.

Currently works under Piniella. However, this isn't the first time he's worked under him. Was the Reds' bullpen coach from 1986-1993. Got a ring from the '90 squad with Lou. Also got a ring from the '97 Marlins squad. Will Rothschild and Piniella find the magic again? The Cubs faithful certainly hope so. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

Total Bases, Familiar Faces

1. Hank Greenberg - 397 (1937, Detroit Tigers)
2. Hank Greenberg - 389 (1935, Detroit Tigers)
3. Hank Greenberg - 384 (1940, Detroit Tigers)
4. Hank Greenberg - 380 (1938, Detroit Tigers)
5. Shawn Green - 370 (2001, Los Angeles Dodgers)
6. Al Rosen - 367 (1953, Cleveland Indians)
7. Shawn Green - 361 (1999, Toronto Blue Jays)
8. Hank Greenberg - 356 (1934, Detroit Tigers)
9. Ryan Braun - 338 (2008, Milwaukee Brewers)
10. Shawn Green - 325 (2002, Los Angeles Dodgers)
11. Shawn Green - 321 (1998, Toronto Blue Jays)
12. Hank Greenberg - 316 (1946, Detroit Tigers)
13. Hank Greenberg - 311 (1939, Detroit Tigers)
14. Kevin Youkilis - 306 (2008, Boston Red Sox)
15. Al Rosen - 301 (1950, Cleveland Indians)
16. Lou Boudreau - 299 (1948, Cleveland Indians)
17. Al Rosen - 297 (1952, Cleveland Indians)
18. Shawn Green - 288 (2000, Los Angeles Dodgers)
18. Buddy Myer - 288 (1935, Washington Senators)
19. Ryan Braun - 286 (2007, Milwaukee Brewers)
20. Shawn Green - 281 (2003, Los Angeles Dodgers)
20. Mike Lieberthal - 281 (1999, Philadelphia Phillies)
21. Sid Gordon - 280 (1948, New York Giants)
22. Goody Rosen - 279 (1945, Brooklyn Dodgers)
23. Lou Boudreau - 278 (1940, Cleveland Indians)
24. Shawn Green - 277 (2005, Arizona Diamondbacks)
25. Sid Gordon - 275 (1951, Boston Braves)

A Tribute to Al Rosen

For half a decade, Al Rosen was one of the best third basemen in all of baseball. From 1950-1954 for the Cleveland Indians, Rosen averaged 31 HRs and 114 RBIs per season. He hit .300 or above 3 times. He also had an OBP of .400 or above 3 times. For 5 consecutive seasons, Rosen drove in over 100 RBIs and hit 20 or more HRs with 20 or more doubles. Scored 100 or more runs 3 times. A 4-time all-star, Rosen finished in the top 20 of MVP voting 4 times during his abbreviated career.

In 1953 Rosen had one of greatest seasons of any third baseman ever. He hit .336 with a .422 OBP and a .613 SLG, had 43 HRs, 27 doubles, 5 triples, scored 115 runs, and drove in 145 runs. He won the AL MVP in convincing fashion; he was the first player in MLB history to get an MVP by a unanimous vote. The only other Jews who have won an MVP are Hank Greenberg (2), Sandy Koufax, and Lou Boudreau. Rosen missed winning the batting title and with it the Triple Crown by 1 percentage point. He led the AL in HRs, SLG, RBIs, OPS (1.035), runs scored, extra-base hits (75), and total bases (367). He finished 2nd in average and OBP and third in hits (201).

Coming into 1950, Rosen only had 58 ABs from the 3 preceding seasons. But he broke out in a big way in 1950, leading the AL in HRs with 37. He also had a .543 SLG (5th in AL), drove in 116 runs (7th in AL), scored 100 runs, and had 301 total bases (7th in AL). Now, if you're like me you're thinking: why the _____ didn't he win Rookie of the Year? Simple. Walt Dropo had a freakishly good season, one that he'd never come close to reproducing. He hit .322 with 34 HRs, 144 RBIs, and scored 101 runs. Dropo would never hit .300 again. Nor would he hit 30 HRs or drive in 100 runs or score 100 runs again. So "freakishly" is the operative word here.

Unfortunately, Rosen's meteoric rise to excellence was equaled by a meteoric demise. Lingering back and leg injures forced Rosen to retire at the age of 32 in 1956. Like Sandy Koufax after him, Rosen's career was cut short by chronic pain. Had he remained healthy, it's entirely possible he would be mentioned today in the same breath as guys like Eddie Matthews and Mike Schmidt. As it is, his .879 career OPS ranks in the top 100 of all time. His 9 career grand slams also rank in the top 100 of all time. He hit 4 grand slams alone in 1951. His AB/RBI ratio is in the top 50 of all time. His home run percentage is in the top 100 of all time. All told, Rosen hit .285 with a .384 OBP and a .495 SLG, had 192 HRs, 165 doubles, 20 triples, scored 603 runs, and drove in 717 runs in 7 full seasons. In the tradition of players like Sid Gordon and Buddy Myer, Rosen also walked more than he struck out in each of those 7 seasons. And here's a little known fact: in the 1954 All-Star game, Rosen homered twice - with a broken finger.