Ba > Era?

[flash143817]

Today during the Dodgers game, Vin Scully commented after a Brad Penny double that his batting average was higher than his ERA (.226 BA, 2.00 ERA entering the game). He said the last Dodger to do this was Fernando Valenzuela.

Anybody know who the last pitcher do this was? Is there a list of pitchers to do this? (with qualifying IP of course)

[Zito75]

Mike Hampton hit .311 in 1999 and had an ERA of 2.90 the same year. I'm sure there are others in recent years.

[Ubiquitous]

There have been 417 pitchers who got 50 or more at bats and pitched more then 50 innings and had a higher batting average then ERA.
Only 288 have done it since 1901. Only 29 have done is since expansion in the early 60's, with Dwight Gooden in 1985 having the greatest difference.


name yearID IP AB ERA AVG
Gooden,Dwight 1985 276.7 93 1.53 0.226
Maddux,Greg 1994 202.0 63 1.56 0.222
Rhoden,Rick 1984 238.3 84 2.72 0.333
Gibson,Bob 1968 304.7 94 1.12 0.170
Hunter,Catfish 1971 273.7 103 2.96 0.350
Ryan,Nolan 1981 149.0 51 1.69 0.216
Peters,Gary 1966 204.7 81 1.98 0.235
Law,Vern 1965 217.3 82 2.15 0.244
Gibson,Bob 1969 314.0 118 2.18 0.246
Rooker,Jim 1974 262.7 95 2.78 0.305
Marichal,Juan 1966 307.3 112 2.23 0.250
Peters,Gary 1963 243.0 81 2.33 0.259
Drysdale,Don 1965 308.3 130 2.77 0.300
Forsch,Bob 1975 230.0 78 2.86 0.308
Hampton,Mike 1999 239.0 74 2.9 0.311
Rijo,Jose 1993 257.3 82 2.48 0.268
Clemens,Roger 2005 211.3 58 1.87 0.207
Seaver,Tom 1971 286.3 92 1.76 0.196
Maddux,Greg 1998 251.0 75 2.22 0.240
Palmer,Jim 1972 274.3 98 2.07 0.224
Hunter,Catfish 1972 295.3 105 2.04 0.219
Roberts,Dave 1971 269.7 86 2.1 0.221
Rhoden,Rick 1976 181.0 65 2.98 0.308
Osteen,Claude 1972 252.0 88 2.64 0.273
Prior,Mark 2003 211.3 72 2.43 0.250
Carlton,Steve 1978 247.3 86 2.84 0.291
Carlton,Steve 1977 283.0 97 2.64 0.268
Pascual,Camilo 1963 248.3 92 2.46 0.250
Valenzuela,Fdo 1981 192.3 64 2.48 0.250

[bluezebra]

Don't forget George Herman "Babe" Ruth.

SEASON BA ERA
1915 .315 2.44
1916 .272 1.75
1917 .325 2.01
1918 .300 2.22
1919 .322 2.97

EVERY full season as a pitcher.

Bob

[flash143817]

Don't forget George Herman "Babe" Ruth.

SEASON BA ERA
1915 .315 2.44
1916 .272 1.75
1917 .325 2.01
1918 .300 2.22
1919 .322 2.97

EVERY full season as a pitcher.

Bob

I think that list was for the post-expansion guys to do it. Thanks for that by the way. Pretty much answers my question.

I'd guess Wes Ferrell probably did it at least once. I'd also put money on Don Newcombe having done it the year that he led the Dodgers in a few offensive categories.

Now that I think about it, I'm surprised Orel Hershiser never did it for the Dodgers. He was a very good hitting pitcher. But in his best hitting year he had a .356 BA and a 3.59 ERA, barely missing.