Mark Kotsay, “The Cycle,” and a Look at Rarities

We’re no Elias Sports Bureau here at Seamheads but thanks to Baseball-Reference’s Play Index, this week, I decided to look at how rare hitting for the cycle is. On Thursday, Mark Kotsay became the 123 ^rd player since 1956 to hit for the cycle and it was the 132 ^nd time since 1956 someone has accomplished the feat.

Only nine players have hit for the cycle twice since ’56: Ken Boyer, George Brett, Cesar Cedeno, Jim Fregosi, John Olerud, Chris Speier, Bob Watson, Frank White and Brad Wilkerson. According to Wikipedia, three players have hit for the cycle three times (Babe Herman, Bob Meusel and John Reilly) and another 11 prior to 1956 hit for the cycle twice with John Olerud and Bob Watson the only players to hit for cycles in both leagues.

An astronomical 12,234 times, a player was either a single, double, triple or homer short of a cycle including Barry Bonds who never hit for a cycle and fell a single, double, triple or home runs short 44 times.

Here are some other accomplishments comparable to hitting for the cycle:

Four or More Extra-Base Hits in a Game (222 times since ’56)
Last Occurrence: Kelly Shoppach, Cleveland Indians (07-30-2008)

Shoppach joined four other players in 2008 to achieve four or more extra-base hits in a game when he hit three doubles and two home runs in a 14-12 loss to the Tigers. Twenty-six players have had at least two four extra-base hit games including Willie Stargell who did it four times in his career. Hitters fell one extra-base short 4,508 times including Andre Dawson’s four three extra-base hit games but never a four extra-base hit game.

Four or More Steals in a Game (148 times since ’56)
Last Occurrence: Willy Taveras, Colorado Rockies (06-14-2008)

Taveras is the only player to steal four or more bases in a game this season and actually was the first player since Ryan Freel on July 27, 2005 to steal five bases in a game. Of the 148 times a player has stolen four or more bases, Rickey Henderson gets credit for 19 of those games and Vince Coleman for 10. Only 20 players have done it twice or more and just 113 players have done it once. That is 10 less than the number of players to hit for the cycle. Taveras does not own the Rockies team record for steals in a game since Eric Young joined Otis Nixon as the only two players since ’56 to steal six bases in a game. A player fell one short of four steals with three a total of 920 times including Rickey Henderson who stole exactly three bases a ridiculous 52 times.

Complete Game No-Hitter (128 times since ’56)
Last Occurrence: Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox (05-19-2008)

Counting rain shortened games, the number of complete game no-hitters is very close to hitting for the cycle. Nolan Ryan is not only the strikeout king but also fills up his resume with seven complete game no-hitters in his career. Sandy Koufax deserves honorable mention with four and 11 others have two to their credit. A complete game one-hitter has occurred 507 times since ’56 and again Nolan Ryan tops the list with 12 one-hitters. Steve Carlton has the dubious distinction of throwing six one-hitters in his Major League career but never a no-hitter.

Five or More Runs in a Game (110 times since ’56)
Last Occurrence: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox (08-12-2008)

While Pedroia is the most recent to accomplish the feat, Craig Biggio is the only player to score five or more runs in a game three times in his career. Six others, including active players Alex Rodriguez and Chipper Jones (and “free agent” Barry Bonds), have scored five runs or more in a game twice. Ryne Sandberg leads all players to score four runs but never five in a game with 10. A total of 1,630 players have scored four runs in a game but failed to circle the bases a fifth time.

Five or More Strikeouts by a Batter in a Game (109 times since ’56)
Last Occurrence: Andruw Jones, Los Angeles Dodgers (07-12-2008)

The term “Golden Sombrero” is well known for a player who strikes out four times in a game. However, very few are familiar with the term “Platinum Sombrero” for a player who strikes out five times in a game. Sammy Sosa has worn the “Platinum Sombrero” four times in his career but never in a nine-inning game. The number drops to 44 times if you only count nine-inning games and the last player to strike out five times in a nine-inning game is pitcher Ted Lilly of the Chicago Cubs earlier this season. Reggie Jackson has worn the “Golden Sombrero” 22 times and 2,803 times a batter has whiffed four times in a game since 1956.

16 or More Strikeouts by a Pitcher in a Game (101 times since ’56)
Last Occurrence: Johan Santana, Minnesota Twins (08-19-2007)

On Tuesday, it will be a year since the last time a pitcher struck out 16 in a game. Just 41 different pitchers have accomplished the feat with Nolan Ryan (16) and Randy Johnson (14) accounting for nearly 30% of the 16+ strikeout games. “The Big Unit” is also the only pitcher to ever strike out 16 or more in relief when he was inserted in relief on July 18, 2001 as a Diamondback against the Padres in the third inning. Johnson is still active but has not struck out 16 in a game since September 14, 2002. He came close on August 31, 2004 when he struck out 15 against the Dodgers, marking the 29 ^th time in his career Johnson struck out 15 or more, the most of any player since 1956.

Eight or More RBI in a Game (82 times since ’56)
Last Occurrence: Carlos Delgado, New York Mets ( 06-27-2008)

Dave Kingman notched eight or more RBI in a game three times in his career and only four others achieved eight or more RBI in a game twice. That list includes active players Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Bay along with retired players Jim Spencer and Jim Northrup.

I was also able to dig up some numbers off of MLB.com which span the entire history of Major League Baseball:

Hit for the Cycle: 254 Times
No-Hitters (Including Combined No-Hitters): 237 Times
Home Run in First At-Bat: 96 Times
Two Home Runs in an Inning: 52 Times
Four Strikeouts by a Pitcher in One Inning: 51 Times