Horrible-Hitting Hurlers From the ’60s and ’70s

— Eight Guys Who Were Almost a Sure Out —

BY MARK A. LARSON
Editor & Publisher

Ron Herbel Was a Bad Hitter …
But How Bad Was He ??

Lee Stange Was a Crummy Hitter …
But How Crummy Was He ??

REALLY CRUMMY:  In 10 seasons, Lee had 24 hits in 305 at-bats.
REALLY CRUMMY:  His lifetime average was a paltry .079. Ouch.
REALLY CRUMMY:  Only two of his hits were for extra bases – both doubles.
REALLY CRUMMY:  Stange’s top year at the plate was 1963 when he went 5-for-52 (.096).

Luke Walker Was an Awful Hitter …
But How Awful Was He ??

• REALLY AWFUL:  Lifetime .059 hitter over nine seasons – going 11-for-188.
• REALLY AWFUL:  Went 0-for-32 in 1969 and 1-for-46 two years later.
• REALLY AWFUL:  Never had an extra base hit and scored just four measly runs.
• REALLY AWFUL:  Struck out 107 times (a 57 percent whiff rate). … “Steeeerike Three!”

Bill Hands Was an Atrocious Hitter …
But How Atrocious Was He ??

• REALLY ATROCIOUS:  In 472 at-bats, Hands had 37 hits for an .078 average.
• REALLY ATROCIOUS:  During the 1972 season, Bill went 1-for-57.
• REALLY ATROCIOUS:  In 1967, he struck out 26 times in 38 at-bats (2/3 of the time).
• REALLY ATROCIOUS:  Hands whiffed a total of 249 times during his career.
• REALLY ATROCIOUS:  Only 16 hits in 1970-71, but had a power surge – five doubles.

Wilbur Wood Was a Lousy Hitter …
But How Lousy Was He ??

• REALLY LOUSY:  Struck out 189 times in 322 at-bats – 57 percent strikeout rate.
• REALLY LOUSY:  Lifetime .084 hitter between 1961-72.   
• REALLY LOUSY:  Zero homers and just two doubles during career.
• REALLY LOUSY:  Saved by Designated Hitter … no at-bats in six seasons after ’72.

Bill Greif Was a Rotten Hitter …
But How Rotten Was He ??

• REALLY ROTTEN:  In 166 career at-bats, hit a meager .072.
• REALLY ROTTEN:  Went just 1-for-33 during 1972 season. Good “Greif.”
• REALLY ROTTEN:  Total power outage: Not a single extra base hit – ever. Not a one. 
• REALLY ROTTEN:  He did manage to obtain one RBI and scored six runs during career.

Dick Drago Was a Terrible Hitter …
But How Terrible Was He ??

• REALLY TERRIBLE:  Big League lifetime average of just .077.
• REALLY TERRIBLE:  Hit .058, .053 and .059 in 1969-70 & ’72.
• REALLY TERRIBLE:  Career year for batting in 1971 … hit .130. 
• REALLY TERRIBLE:  Strikeout rate of 54 percent (149 in 274 at-bats).
• REALLY TERRIBLE:  Home run total = Z-E-R-O.

Dean Chance Was a Dreadful Hitter …
But How Dreadful Was He ??

• REALLY DREADFUL:  For players with at least 500 at-bats, his .066 average is worst.
• REALLY DREADFUL:  Chance went just 44-for-662. … Gulp.
• REALLY DREADFUL:  Of his 44 safeties, only two went for extra-bases (both doubles).
• REALLY DREADFUL:  In addition, had lowest career slugging pct. (.069).
• REALLY DREADFUL:  Fanned an incredible 420 times for a K-rate of 63 percent.

THESE ARE JUST
SOME OF THE MANY, MANY
HORRIBLE-HITTING HURLERS.

BAD, CRUMMY, AWFUL, ATROCIOUS, LOUSY, ROTTEN, TERRIBLE, DREADFUL

FINAL THOUGHTS …

Many of these pitchers had a good mound careers.  After all, you can’t amass significant plate appearances if you stink as a hurler – at least before the Designated Hitter rule was adopted by the American League in 1973. Two pitchers, in particular, stand out: Dean Chance and Wilbur Wood. Between them, they were All-Stars five times and won 20 or more games in six seasons. In addition, Chance won the Cy Young Award and had a lifetime ERA of 2.92. While Wood won 164 ballgames over his career and was an excellent reliever before joining the starting corps.

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