Send Him Back

What to do with rookies that can't hit?

Send Him Back

After looking at Jackson Holliday’s awful career start, I started wondering about others who might have a similar experience.

And, as you know, it’s been bad for Holliday:

Now, the first comparison that comes to mind is Willie Mays, who went 1 for 26 for the Giants right after he arrived from Minneapolis.

Mays, by the way, was a huge deal. His call-up in May 1951 was front page news:

The Star Tribune even ran an editorial about him:

The funny thing about Willie is that the New York papers really didn’t dog him much during his slump. If they did, I certainly didn’t find any articles to that effect.

Things were different for Cal Abrams, who had an awful start to his career:

But tell me this: before reading this article, did you realize that Cal Abrams hit better than Willie Mays did in his first 26 at bats? After all, 2 for 24 is better than 1 for 26.

Abrams was a strange choice. The Brooklyn papers asked why Marvin Rackley wasn’t given the left field job. I have the same question, actually.

From The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 14, 1949, page 23

Abrams, of course, went to Fort Worth not long afterwards:

From The Fort Worth Star Tribune, May 14, 1949, page 12

Now, it could always be worse. If you’ve forgotten, I recommend reading my article on Hunky Shaw, a speedster, good hitter, and excellent fielder who only received a single plate appearance:

Maybe Jackson Holliday should feel fortunate.