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Did MLB Legend Willie Keeler Once Go More Than A Year Without Being Struck Out In A Big-League Game?
The baseball Hall of Famer claimed he had one stretch of more than 700 plate appearances before a pitcher got him out on strikes
Diminutive outfielder “Wee” Willie Keeler was considered a brilliant hitter in the history of baseball. Although he barely topped five-feet in height, he was a feared presence at the plate because of his catchphrase that he liked to “hit ’em where they ain’t.” As such, his career batting average is still one of the best of all time. Part of his success was consistently making contact, and more than a century ago, he wrote an article for a newspaper discussing one stretch where he went more than 700 big-league plate appearances without striking out.
Keeler enjoyed a remarkable big-league career from 1892 to 1910 for four different teams. His hitting prowess and base-running skills made him a star, despite being listed at 5'4" and 140 pounds. He finished his career with a remarkable batting average of .341, collecting 2,932 hits, 206 doubles, 72 triples, and 33 home runs. Additionally, he was supremely skilled in base-runnin, as he stole 495 bases and scored 1,719 runs. Playing during the Dead Ball Era, his ability to so consistently put the…
