Ladies and Gentlemen Joe Start Your Engines
@joestart4hof.bsky.social
“Start was immense at 1st base — in fact, he was Joe Start, and that is perfection.” Brooklyn Eagle, November 7, 1865.
#sabr Author Page: https://sabr.org/authors/david-rader/
#sabr Author Page: https://sabr.org/authors/david-rader/
Just a reminder that Globe Life went from a top 5 hitter park in 2023 to a Seattle-tier pitcher park this year.
November 24, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Just a reminder that Globe Life went from a top 5 hitter park in 2023 to a Seattle-tier pitcher park this year.
Just watched McGwire’s 62nd homer for the first time in forever and I felt bad for Steve Trachsel because this was actually a really good pitch.
November 23, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Just watched McGwire’s 62nd homer for the first time in forever and I felt bad for Steve Trachsel because this was actually a really good pitch.
Tired: "1-2-3 inning"
Wired: "Went out on the rotary principle."
Wired: "Went out on the rotary principle."
November 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Tired: "1-2-3 inning"
Wired: "Went out on the rotary principle."
Wired: "Went out on the rotary principle."
Lmao they’re letting me speak at the Baseball Hall of Fame
November 11, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Lmao they’re letting me speak at the Baseball Hall of Fame
Nobody does melancholic romance better than the Symposium. It makes me think of characters inside of Brontë novels dying of tuberculosis. Billy Corgan hit on this feeling about 10% of the time and these boys are putting up Hugh Duffy numbers.
November 7, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Nobody does melancholic romance better than the Symposium. It makes me think of characters inside of Brontë novels dying of tuberculosis. Billy Corgan hit on this feeling about 10% of the time and these boys are putting up Hugh Duffy numbers.
Release the Jim Downey/Jack Handey fake attorney files.
October 27, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Release the Jim Downey/Jack Handey fake attorney files.
A hero emerges.
October 23, 2025 at 3:52 PM
A hero emerges.
Vuckovich won the Cy Young in 1982, the year with the torn rotator cuff. He was 29 years old. Here is the remainder of his career, spanning ‘83-‘86:
8-16, 4.96 ERA, 0.3 bWAR
They weren’t built different. They were built the same and treated with all the concern of an old mule.
8-16, 4.96 ERA, 0.3 bWAR
They weren’t built different. They were built the same and treated with all the concern of an old mule.
October 19, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Vuckovich won the Cy Young in 1982, the year with the torn rotator cuff. He was 29 years old. Here is the remainder of his career, spanning ‘83-‘86:
8-16, 4.96 ERA, 0.3 bWAR
They weren’t built different. They were built the same and treated with all the concern of an old mule.
8-16, 4.96 ERA, 0.3 bWAR
They weren’t built different. They were built the same and treated with all the concern of an old mule.
They never tell you the part where Vuckovich only pitched three games in the next two years and his career was effectively over.
October 19, 2025 at 9:06 PM
They never tell you the part where Vuckovich only pitched three games in the next two years and his career was effectively over.
Presented without comment.
October 14, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Presented without comment.
There are no ethical comedians.
October 8, 2025 at 5:21 PM
There are no ethical comedians.
SABR’s latest Origins Committee newsletter has been published, including my story on George Van Alst’s no-hitter in 1868. The recently discovered game is now the earliest confirmed no-hitter on record. Even more incredible, Van Alst never pitched for the Eckford club again; it’s a wild story!
August 23, 2025 at 4:26 PM
SABR’s latest Origins Committee newsletter has been published, including my story on George Van Alst’s no-hitter in 1868. The recently discovered game is now the earliest confirmed no-hitter on record. Even more incredible, Van Alst never pitched for the Eckford club again; it’s a wild story!
New article! It’s about how much I love Ross Youngs and how his induction into the baseball Hall of Fame should be the standard for others whose careers were cut short. I also analyze the candidacies of Thurman Munson, Ray Chapman, and yea, Joe Start. Link in the replies!
July 30, 2025 at 9:57 PM
New article! It’s about how much I love Ross Youngs and how his induction into the baseball Hall of Fame should be the standard for others whose careers were cut short. I also analyze the candidacies of Thurman Munson, Ray Chapman, and yea, Joe Start. Link in the replies!
Here is an estimate Start’s career stats in a 162 game world, and where they would rank among first basemen all-time:
62.9 bWAR (17th)
2,799 Hits (8th)
1,653 Runs (6th)
1,055 RBIs (63rd)
3,383 Total Bases (39th)
Keep in mind, these numbers still don’t include any production from 1859-1870.
62.9 bWAR (17th)
2,799 Hits (8th)
1,653 Runs (6th)
1,055 RBIs (63rd)
3,383 Total Bases (39th)
Keep in mind, these numbers still don’t include any production from 1859-1870.
July 29, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Here is an estimate Start’s career stats in a 162 game world, and where they would rank among first basemen all-time:
62.9 bWAR (17th)
2,799 Hits (8th)
1,653 Runs (6th)
1,055 RBIs (63rd)
3,383 Total Bases (39th)
Keep in mind, these numbers still don’t include any production from 1859-1870.
62.9 bWAR (17th)
2,799 Hits (8th)
1,653 Runs (6th)
1,055 RBIs (63rd)
3,383 Total Bases (39th)
Keep in mind, these numbers still don’t include any production from 1859-1870.
Tommy Leach is the only player in history to play at least 950 games at both centerfield and third base.
July 28, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Tommy Leach is the only player in history to play at least 950 games at both centerfield and third base.
Willie Mays
5/9/1958 — 5/21/1958:
57 PA
.500/.544/1.320/1.864
4 2b, 2 3b, 11 HR(!)
66 TB
5/9/1958 — 5/21/1958:
57 PA
.500/.544/1.320/1.864
4 2b, 2 3b, 11 HR(!)
66 TB
July 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Willie Mays
5/9/1958 — 5/21/1958:
57 PA
.500/.544/1.320/1.864
4 2b, 2 3b, 11 HR(!)
66 TB
5/9/1958 — 5/21/1958:
57 PA
.500/.544/1.320/1.864
4 2b, 2 3b, 11 HR(!)
66 TB
And finally, Rogers Hornsby
08/20/1924 — 08/28/1924
2.010 OPS
53 PA
.674(!)/.706/1.304
9 2b, 1 3b, 6 HR
60 TB
08/20/1924 — 08/28/1924
2.010 OPS
53 PA
.674(!)/.706/1.304
9 2b, 1 3b, 6 HR
60 TB
July 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
And finally, Rogers Hornsby
08/20/1924 — 08/28/1924
2.010 OPS
53 PA
.674(!)/.706/1.304
9 2b, 1 3b, 6 HR
60 TB
08/20/1924 — 08/28/1924
2.010 OPS
53 PA
.674(!)/.706/1.304
9 2b, 1 3b, 6 HR
60 TB
Ryan Howard, 08/29/2006 — 09/09/2006:
2.015 OPS
58 PA
.550/.690/1.325
4 2b, 9 HR
53 TB
2.015 OPS
58 PA
.550/.690/1.325
4 2b, 9 HR
53 TB
July 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Ryan Howard, 08/29/2006 — 09/09/2006:
2.015 OPS
58 PA
.550/.690/1.325
4 2b, 9 HR
53 TB
2.015 OPS
58 PA
.550/.690/1.325
4 2b, 9 HR
53 TB
04/12/2004 — 04/26/2004
2.489 OPS
47 PA
.640/.809(!)/1.680
2 2b, 8 HR
42 TB
2.489 OPS
47 PA
.640/.809(!)/1.680
2 2b, 8 HR
42 TB
July 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
04/12/2004 — 04/26/2004
2.489 OPS
47 PA
.640/.809(!)/1.680
2 2b, 8 HR
42 TB
2.489 OPS
47 PA
.640/.809(!)/1.680
2 2b, 8 HR
42 TB
Steroid Bonds is next, with two different stretches.
09/28/2001 — 04/04/2002:
2.450 OPS
50 PA
.586/.760/1.690
2 2b, 10 HR
49 TB
09/28/2001 — 04/04/2002:
2.450 OPS
50 PA
.586/.760/1.690
2 2b, 10 HR
49 TB
July 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Steroid Bonds is next, with two different stretches.
09/28/2001 — 04/04/2002:
2.450 OPS
50 PA
.586/.760/1.690
2 2b, 10 HR
49 TB
09/28/2001 — 04/04/2002:
2.450 OPS
50 PA
.586/.760/1.690
2 2b, 10 HR
49 TB
Ruth’s best run was from 6/3/1921 — 6/14/1921:
2.102 OPS
.514/.673/1.429
4 2b, 2 3b, 8 HR
50 TB
2.102 OPS
.514/.673/1.429
4 2b, 2 3b, 8 HR
50 TB
July 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Ruth’s best run was from 6/3/1921 — 6/14/1921:
2.102 OPS
.514/.673/1.429
4 2b, 2 3b, 8 HR
50 TB
2.102 OPS
.514/.673/1.429
4 2b, 2 3b, 8 HR
50 TB
7/28/1924 — 8/8/1924:
2.045 OPS
56 PA
.636/.704/1.341
5 2b, 1 3b, 8 HR
59 TB
2.045 OPS
56 PA
.636/.704/1.341
5 2b, 1 3b, 8 HR
59 TB
July 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
7/28/1924 — 8/8/1924:
2.045 OPS
56 PA
.636/.704/1.341
5 2b, 1 3b, 8 HR
59 TB
2.045 OPS
56 PA
.636/.704/1.341
5 2b, 1 3b, 8 HR
59 TB
Babe Ruth did it three different times:
07/10/1920 — 07/20/1920:
1.995 OPS
52 PA
.515/.692/1.303
5 2b, 7 HR
43 TB
07/10/1920 — 07/20/1920:
1.995 OPS
52 PA
.515/.692/1.303
5 2b, 7 HR
43 TB
July 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Babe Ruth did it three different times:
07/10/1920 — 07/20/1920:
1.995 OPS
52 PA
.515/.692/1.303
5 2b, 7 HR
43 TB
07/10/1920 — 07/20/1920:
1.995 OPS
52 PA
.515/.692/1.303
5 2b, 7 HR
43 TB
Nick Kurtz is on a once-in-a-lifetime heater. Here is his stat line for the past 12 games:
1.987 OPS
54 PA
.553/.604/.1.383
10 2b, 1 3b, 9 HR
65 TB
There have only been seven other 12 game spans of at least 50 plate appearances with an OPS higher than 1.987. You will recognize every name.
1.987 OPS
54 PA
.553/.604/.1.383
10 2b, 1 3b, 9 HR
65 TB
There have only been seven other 12 game spans of at least 50 plate appearances with an OPS higher than 1.987. You will recognize every name.
July 26, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Nick Kurtz is on a once-in-a-lifetime heater. Here is his stat line for the past 12 games:
1.987 OPS
54 PA
.553/.604/.1.383
10 2b, 1 3b, 9 HR
65 TB
There have only been seven other 12 game spans of at least 50 plate appearances with an OPS higher than 1.987. You will recognize every name.
1.987 OPS
54 PA
.553/.604/.1.383
10 2b, 1 3b, 9 HR
65 TB
There have only been seven other 12 game spans of at least 50 plate appearances with an OPS higher than 1.987. You will recognize every name.
Cincinnati was the most dangerous city for umpires in the 1880s. I learned about these two incidents from 1882 when writing a biography on Joe Simmons.
July 11, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Cincinnati was the most dangerous city for umpires in the 1880s. I learned about these two incidents from 1882 when writing a biography on Joe Simmons.