Gimme That Old Time Contact Hitting

Today some records involving guys who didn't strike out at all in a season. I set the parameters for this search to be the years 1913-2007 since some (or maybe all) teams are missing batting strikeouts totals for previous years (though, oddly, they have pitching strikeouts recorded).

First up, we need guys to get on base. Let's look at the most walks by anyone who didn't strike out. I'd do OBP, but there aren't many plate appearances in these seasons, but we'll get to that.

1. Lloyd Waner, 12, 1941
2. Manny Mota, 10, 1977
3. Merl Combs, 9, 1949
4. Davy Jones, 9, 1913
5. Steve O'Neill, 8, 1928

Since it's the olden days of baseball, we'll need someone to bunt our leadoff guy into scoring position. Let's look at the sacrifice hits leaders. Not surprisingly, there's a number of pitchers at the top, though third baseman Manuel Cueto is up there too:

1. Johnny Sain, 10, 1946
2. Manuel Cueto, 5, 1914
3. Oscar Zamora, 4, 1975
4. Jim Middleton, 4, 1921
5. 14 tied with 3

Now we want a guy with a little pop in his bat. Doubles sounds like a good way of measuring that, huh?

1. Lloyd Waner, 5, 1941
2. Bill Sherdel, 5, 1925
3. Biff Pocoroba, 4, 1979
4. Eddie Murphy, 4, 1919
5. 10 tied with 3

Our cleanup hitter should be able to smack one out of the park. The list is a little skimpy but here it is nonetheless:

1. Terry Steinbach, 2, 1986
2. Carson Bigbee, 2, 1926
3. 61 tied with 1

Okay, so the chances of a home run are not so good. Maybe our fifth batter should be a guy who is good at knocking runs in. How about those RBI-men:

1. Johnny Sain, 17, 1946
2. Johnny McCarthy, 12, 1941
3. Lloyd Waner, 11, 1941
4. Willie Jones, 10, 1947
5. Bill Rariden, 10, 1920

Let's be goofy and say we want speed from the six spot. Here's our stolen base kings:

1. Larry Lintz, 31, 1976
2. Herb Washington, 29, 1974
3. Don Hopkins, 21, 1975
4. Matt Alexander, 13, 1979
5. Matt Alexander, 10, 1980

Surprise, surprise, the designated runners of the 1970's top the list. Ah, well, maybe they can swing the bat, too. Assuming they do get on base, who do we want to make sure they run in front of? Let's look at the GIDP leaders:

1. Bob Garbark, 5, 1938
2. Dave Hajek, 3, 1996
3. Al Richter, 3, 1951
4. Willie Jones, 3, 1947
5. Stan Galle, 3, 1942
6. Lloyd Waner, 3, 1941
7. Red Lynn, 3, 1939

Our eight hitter needs to get on base to clear the pitcher's spot. Let's look at hits leaders:

1. Lloyd Waner, 64, 1941
2. Johnny Sain, 28, 1946
3. Bill Rariden, 25, 1920
4. Tony Lupien, 17, 1945
5. Roy Spencer, 17, 1926
6. Eddie Murphy, 17, 1919

Finally, rather than looking up pitchers, let's look up why these lists tell us next to nothing about the talents of the men therein. Plate appearances leaders:

1. Lloyd Waner, 234, 1941
2. Bill Rariden, 108, 1920
3. Johnny Sain, 104, 1946
4. Bill Sherdel, 79, 1925
5. Carson Bigbee, 72, 1926

So maybe the no-strikeout squad would be pretty bad, after all.