Things I believe to be true...

While browsing one of my favorite websites, baseball-reference.com, I have come up with a couple of interesting nuggets I believe to be true.

You may remember Nick Esasky, who in 1989 hit 30 HR's and had 108 RBI for the Rex Sox. He fought off a case of vertigo after signing with the Braves the next year, had 35 at bats and did not record a RBI or extra base hit. I contend that he is the only player in major league history to have a 30+ HR and 100+ RBI season and go on to play at least a portion of another season and never record another RBI or extra base hit. If someone has, I am sure they did not have more than 35 at bats in that final season.

Our next player finished 7th in the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year voting - Jeriome Robertson of the Houston Astros. Robertson won 15 games in 2003 pitching 160 innings, but only pitched 184 innings in his entire career. I challenge anyone to find a pitcher that won 15 or more games in a season, but did not pitch more than 25 more innings combined the rest of his career. Robertson also only recorded one other win in the majors - he did, however go 5-5 for the Newark Bears last season.

The last guy I came across had the best single game career of all time (with apologies to Moonlight Graham) - John Paciorek (no relation to Tom) appeared in a game in 1963 for the Houston Colt 45's. John went 3 for 3 with 2 walks, 4 runs scored, and 3 RBI - and never appeared in another game in the big leagues in his career! He played in the minors for several more years after his initial call up but never made it back. I believe the story has something to do with Houston starting an all-rookie lineup for some promotion or something. But after a day like that, didn't Johnny Boy deserve another shot?