Baseball 101: Introduction & Arizona Diamondbacks

Introduction

???????????????The purpose of this book is to inform the casual fan with teams, names, and numbers. This publication is designed to provide the basic level of information. My goal is to arm the reader with the knowledge to hold a conversation about baseball at any level. The statistics found here are commonly used and are the foundation of more advancement mathematics intentionally left out. Again, the purpose is to educate and eliminate information intimation.

???????????????The birth of baseball is unknown. Folklore tells a story of Admiral Doubleday creating the game in a New York town called Cooperstown, where the Hall of Fame is. Then there is Alexander Cartwright. Cartwright is known as the father of the game and established the first set of rules. However, there are other facts that cannot be overlooked when discussing the origin of this fine game called baseball. The Baseball Hall of Fame has an exhibit analyzing the discovery of rounded rocks and bat-like shaped sticks near tombs in ancient Egypt dated 3000 BC. Sounds far-fetched but take into consideration the source. Another theory points towards English immigrates bringing a game called Rounders to America in the early 19th century. One of the most popular suggestions does not point out a location but a time frame of during the American Civil War, 1861-1864. This proposal contradicts what the founders in Cooperstown support. The Hall of Fame was established in 1936, at baseball’s centennial. Arguments continue but baseball is here and its now. Now let us discuss the game itself.

???????????????Major League Baseball (MLB) is comprised of 30 teams separated into two leagues, American and National. National League (NL) is sometimes referred to as the “senior circuit” because it was established first in 1876. At one time it was the premier league. Ban Johnson founded the American League (AL) in 1901. Other leagues came and went during the infant stage of baseball but that is a topic for another time. Current day MLB is made up of the AL and NL. Some teams are older than others. Many teams have changed cities and included the names. This book lists teams by their current location and dissects past names and or locations.

???????????????Each team page lists the names of players associated with their accomplishment. Some of these names are household names like Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson. Other names will be lesser-known names, like Sam Crawford and Cy Young, but do hold major significance in the game. Hopefully, seeing these names will spark up interest and you can do your own research on a player. Also, Hollywood has done an excellent job telling the story of some of these players.

Baseball is commonly referred to as a game of numbers, which is true. If a player can reach base three out of 10 tries, he is a hall of famer. Conversely, a player reaching base two out of 10 tries will be forgotten in history. Statistics are used as a benchmark for comparison. Below is a list of which statistics are presented throughout this book and their definitions.

Batting Average: Batting average is determined by dividing a player's hits by his total at-bats for a number between zero.

Runs Batted In: A batter is credited with an RBI in most cases where the result of his plate appearance is a run being scored.

Hits: A hit occurs when a batter strikes the baseball into fair territory and reaches base without doing so via an error or a fielder's choice.

Runs: A player is awarded a run if he crosses the plate to score his team a run.

Singles: A single occurs when a batter hits the ball and reaches first base without the help of an intervening error or attempt to put out another baserunner.

Doubles: A batter is credited with a double when he hits the ball into play and reaches second base without the help of an intervening error or attempt to put out another baserunner.

Triples: Occurs when a batter hits the ball into play and reaches third base without the help of an intervening error or attempt to put out another baserunner.

Home Runs: A home run occurs when a batter hits a fair ball and scores on the play without being put out or without the benefit of an error.

Walks: A walk (or base on balls) occurs when a pitcher throws four pitches out of the strike zone, none of which are swung at by the hitter. After refraining from swinging at four pitches out of the zone, the batter is awarded first base.

Solen Bases: A stolen base occurs when a baserunner advances by taking a base to which he is not entitled.

Strike Outs: A strikeout occurs when a pitcher throws any combination of three swinging or looking strikes to a hitter. (A foul ball counts as a strike, but it cannot be the third and final strike of the at-bat. A foul tip, which is caught by the catcher, is considered a third strike.)

Wins: A pitcher receives a win when he is the pitcher of record when his team takes the lead for good -- with a couple rare exceptions. First, a starting pitcher must pitch at least five innings (in a traditional game of nine innings or longer) to qualify for the win.

Losses: A pitcher receives a loss when a run that is charged to him proves to be the go-ahead run in the game, giving the opposing team a lead, it never gives up.

Earned Runs Average: Earned run average represents the number of earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings -- with earned runs being any runs that scored without the aid of an error or a passed ball.

Saves: A save is awarded to the relief pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team, under certain circumstances. A pitcher cannot receive a save and a win in the same game.

A relief pitcher recording a save must preserve his team's lead while doing one of the following:

·????????Enter the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitch at least one inning.

·????????Enter the game with the tying run in the on-deck circle, at the plate or on the bases.

·????????Pitch at least three innings.

Innings Pitched: Innings pitched measures the number of innings a pitcher remains in a game. Because there are three outs in an inning, each out recorded represents one-third of an inning pitched.

Shut Outs: A starting pitcher is credited with a shutout when he pitches the entire game for a team and does not allow the opposition to score.

Complete Games: A pitcher earns a complete game if he pitches the entire game for his team regardless of how long it lasts.

Wild Pitches: A pitcher is charged with a wild pitch when his pitch is so errant that the catcher is unable to control it and, as a result, baserunner(s) advance.

???????????????With just this information, you can hold a conversation with any baseball fan. In fact, I would dare to say, one might get a baseball trivia question or two correct. Over time teams may relocate, players retire, and numbers will be updated. Keep this book handy while watching a game or highlights for quick reference. Now go out there and impress your coworker with random baseball facts!

(HoF) identifies hall of famers.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Founded: 1998

Previous franchise names: None

Stadium: Chase Field (Retractable roof)

401 E. Jefferson Street

Phoenix, Arizona 85004

Seats 48,686

Championships: 1 (2001)

Retired numbers: 3

20 – Luis Gonzalez OF

51 – Randy Johnson SP (HoF)

42 – Jackie Robinson 2B (HoF)

Batting

? Season??????????????????????????????????????????????Franchise Leaders

Batting Average:??Luis Gonzalez .336 (1999)?????????????????????????????????????????????Luis Gonzalez .298

Runs Batted In:?? ?Luis Gonzalez 142 (2001)??????????????????????????????????????????????Luis Gonzalez 774

Matt Williams 142 (1999)

Hits:????????????????????? Luis Gonzalez 206 (1999)??????????????????????????????????????????????Luis Gonzalez 337

Runs:????????????????????Jay Bell 132 (1999)?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Luis Gonzalez 780

Singles:?????????????????Jean Segura 135 (2016)????????????????????????????????????????????????? Luis Gonzalez 776

Doubles:????????????????Luis Gonzalez 52 (2006)??????????????????????????????????????????????? Luis Gonzalez 310

Triples:??????????????????Tony Womack 14 (2000)???????????????????????????????????????????? ?? ?Stephen Drew 52

Home Runs:??????????Luis Gonzalez 57 (2001)????????????????????????????????????????????????Luis Gonzalez 224

Walks:??????????????? ?Paul Goldschmidt 118 (2015)???????????????????????????????????Paul Goldschmidt 655

SB:?????????????????????????Tony Womack 72 (1999)???????????????????????????????????????????????Tony Womack 182

Strike outs:?????? Mark Reynolds 223 (2009)?????????????????????????????????????Paul Goldschmidt 1059

Pitching

????????????????????????????Season???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Franchise Leaders

Wins:????????????????? ???Randy Johnson 24 (2002)???????????????????????????????????? Randy Johnson 118

Losses:????????????????? Rodrigo Lopez 16 (2010)??????????????????????????????????????? ?Randy Johnson 62

Brandan Webb 16 (2004)??????????????????????????????????????? ?Brandan Webb 62

Earned Runs Average:Randy Johnson 2.32 (2002)????????????????????????????? ??Randy Johnson 2.83

Strike Outs:?????????????????Randy Johnson 372 (2001)??????????????????????????????? Randy Johnson 2077

Saves:???????????????????????? Jose Valverde 47 (2007)????????????????????????????????????? Jose Valverde 98

Innings Pitched:?????????Randy Johnson 271.2 (1999)??????????????????????????????Randy Johnson 1630.1

Shut Outs:??????????????? Randy Johnson 4 (2002)????????????????????????????????? ???????????Randy Johnson 14

Complete Games:???????Randy Johnson 12 (1999)??????????????????????????????????????????Randy Johnson 38

Wild Pitches:??????????????Trevor Cahill 17 (2013)??????????????????????????????????????????????Brandan Webb 56

Zack Godley 17 (2018)

Brandan Webb 17 (2004)