Play Results Like 40 In National Pastime
Looking at the other "unusual" play result numbers
Play Results Like 40 In National Pastime
You probably remember our discussion the other day about 40 in National Pastime. If you didn’t see it then, you can read it again here:
It turns out that play results 36 through 39 are extremely similar to 40.
All 5 of these play result numbers:
Very rarely count as an at bat
Seem to have been used to fill in dice rolls usually occupied by base hits and walks
Are distributed to all players regardless of position — though 40 is the most common
Let’s look at each of these points in more detail.
Rarely An At Bat
It’s rare for play results 36 through 40 to ever result in an at bat. In fact, it’s so rare that it’s easier to list the exceptions:
Play result 40 with runners on first and third (batter out on a ground ball, pitcher to first; runners advance one base)
Play result 37 with runners on second and third (batter out on a ground ball, first to second; runners advance one base)
Play result 37 with the bases full (batter out on a ground ball, second to first; runners advance one base)
Play result 38 with the bases full (batter out on a ground ball, pitcher to first; runners advance one base)
An argument could be made that Clifford Van Beek intended to make each of these a sacrifice, with the exception of a 37 with the bases full. It’s not common to see a ball bunted to the second baseman who throws to first for the out. The others could be bunts; in fact, a 37 with runners on second and third is almost certainly a bunt, since the second baseman is covering the first base bag.
That’s it, by the way. There are 40 total play results for play result numbers 36 through 40. Only 4 of those 40 result in an at bat being charged.
Distribution
Here is how all 5 of these play result numbers were distributed:
They’re almost all on the same dice roll numbers, most of which usually contain hit or walk results.
Uniform Distribution
Finally, the distribution of these numbers is relatively uniform:
50 different players received one 36; no players received more than one. These include mostly infielders and catchers. The two outfielders with a 36 are Babe Ruth and Hazen Cuyler.
94 different players received one 37; no players received more than one. This includes catchers, infielders, outfielders, and pitchers.
90 different players received one 38; no players received more than one. Players of all positions received this number.
104 different players received one 39; again, no players received more than one.
We mentioned the distribution of play result 40 last time.
The most interesting unusual play result number card is Bill Dickey, catcher for the Yankees:
As you can see, Dickey has a 36, a 37, a 39, and two 40s. 5 of his 36 play result numbers are taken up.
Dickey received only a single 14. This might be because he walked 21 times in 396 plate appearances in 1930, though my guess is that it’s probably more indicative of his 1929 stats, in which he walked a mere 14 times in 474 plate appearances.
With a single 14, you’d expect Dickey to walk in 1 out of every 36 plate appearances, or 2.8% of the time. 21 divided by 396 is 5.3%; 14 divided by 474 is 2.95%.