RE: Separated at Birth ? I recently put together a list of retired MLB pitchers career batting statistics. This list included anyone pitcher who retired over the last 50 years who had at least 100 at-bats, which totaled 608 total pitchers. The best hitting pitcher was Don Newcombe (Dodgers/Reds) who was 238 for 878, compiling a BA of .271, and the list goes all the way down to Ron Herbel (Giants/Padres) who hit .029 by amassing 6 hits in 206 at-bats. Some of these guys had quite a few at-bats: Greg Maddux (272-1591, .171), Warren Spahn (363-1872, .194), and Steve Carlton (346-1719, .201). The general average for pitchers BA's is somewhere in the .140's range. In the mathematical near-impossibility department, you would expect that out of 608 players, for at least 1 pair to have identical batting averages while totaling the same amount of at-bats. Here's where it gets strange though: There are no less than THIRTEEN PAIRS of guys who had IDENTICAL statistics out of this relatively small group. And never 3 guys, always just two with the same numbers. Since this is so crazy and improbable, I am including these player statistics below:
Dan Schatzeder (1977-1991, Expos, Phillies, Giants, Astros) 242 AB, 58 H, .240 BA, 5 HR, 68 K's
Omar Olivares (1990-2001, Cardinals, Pirates, Rockies, Angels) 242 AB, 58 H, .240 BA, 5 HR, 71 K's
Larry Sherry (1958-1968, Dodgers, Tigers, Astros) 148 AB, 25 H, .169 BA, 37 K's, 8 bunt sac
Tommy Boggs (1976-1985, Braves) 148 AB, 25 H, .169 BA, 37 K's, 9 bunt sac
Rex Barney (1943-1950, Dodgers) 201 AB, 33 H, .164 BA, 7 BB, 0 HR
Dennis Lamp (1977-1992, Cubs, Pirates, White Sox) 201 AB, 33 H, .164 BA, 6 BB, 0 HR
David Cone (1986-2003, Mets, Red Sox) 412 AB, 64 H, .155 BA, 16 BB, 38 bunt sac
Mike Torrez (1967-1984, Expos, Cardinals, Mets) 412 AB, 64 H, .155 BA, 10 BB, 28 bunt sac
Vicente Romo (1968-1982, Red Sox, Padres, White Sox, Indians, Dodgers) 121 AB, 18 H, .149 BA, 1 HR, 3 BB
Frank Linzy (1963-1972, Giants, Cardinals, Brewers) 121 AB, 18 H, .149 BA, 1 HR, 3 BB
Bud Black (1981-1995, Giants, Royals) 179 AB, 26 H, .145 BA, 4 BB, 27 bunt sac
Silvio Martinez (1977-1981, Cardinals) 179 AB, 26 H, .145 BA, 4 BB, 20 bunt sac
Barry Latman (1957-1967, Indians, White Sox, Angels, Astros) 332 AB, 48 H, .145 BA, 2 HR, 90 K's
Tom Bradley (1969-1975, White Sox, Giants, Angels) 332 AB, 48 H, .145 BA, 1 HR, 117 K's
Bob Moose (1967-1976, Pirates) 397 AB, 56 H, .141 BA, 31 BB, 27 bunt sac
Jim Merritt (1965-1975, Twins, Reds) 397 AB, 56 H, .141 BA, 28 BB, 33 bunt sac
Al Worthington (1953-1969, Giants, Twins, Reds) 255 AB, 35 H, .137 BA, 1 HR, 8 BB
Brian J. Anderson (1993-2005, Diamondbacks, Royals) 255 AB, 35 H, .137 BA, 1 HR, 7 BB
Mike Nagy (1969-1974, Red Sox, Cardinals, Astros) 133 AB, 18 H, .135 BA, 0 HR, 6 BB
Tom Cheney (1957-1966, Senators, Pirates, Cardinals) 133 AB, 18 H, .135 BA, 0 HR, 5 BB
Duke Maas (1955-1961, Tigers, Yankees, Athletics) 214 AB, 25 H, .117 BA, 80 K's, 13 BB
Robert Person (1995-2003, Phillies, Mets, Blue Jays) 214 AB, 25 H, .117 BA, 119 K's, 10 BB
Jay Tibbs (1984-1990, Reds, Expos, Orioles) 180 AB, 21 H, .117 BA, 10 BB, 11 bunt sac
Brian Meadows (1998-2006, Pirates, Marlins, Padres) 180 AB, 21 H, .117 BA, 8 BB, 19 bunt sac
Barry Lersch (1969-1974, Phillies) 133 AB, 15 H, .113 BA, 56 K's, 11 bunt sac
Sean Bergman (1993-2000, Astros, Padres, Twins) 133 AB, 15 H, .113 BA, 59 K's, 12 bunt sac
Pretty incredible. Thought you'd get a kick out of this. Mark Bromann Wheaton, IL