Issue #527
The goal with The Baseball Buffet series is to provide the best daily dose of relevant baseball info in a smart-brevity format (mostly short bullets, getting to the point, with quick analysis/insights.) Think of it like what baseball fans of a certain age would look forward to in their morning newspaper’s sports section each day!
⚾ Welcome! ⚾
The weekend produced a lot of snow for much of the eastern part of the US, but not much in terms of offseason baseball news. I didn’t really see any trades or free agent signings of note yesterday, so I’ll lead off today by introducing / reminding you of the upcoming SABR Day.
SABR Day 2026
During the offseason I’ve been highlighting various benefits of membership in SABR, the Society for American Baseball Research. So far this has included SABR Committees, Chapters, and Events (conferences). This time I want to focus on a different kind of SABR event, their annual SABR Day celebration, which this year is this coming Saturday, January 31.
As described on their website, “SABR Day is a way for all baseball fans to come together, regardless of where they live, and talk about the game we all love. Regional chapters are also encouraged to plan their own SABR Day events (virtually or in person) throughout the months of January or February to celebrate the start of a new baseball season.”
The chapters holding events on January 31 for SABR Day include Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Detroit, Fort Wayne (IN), Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Lexington (KY), Louisville, Naples (FL), Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland (OR), Rochester (NY), St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco/Sacramento, Seattle, Toronto, Tulsa (OK), and Victoria (BC). Other chapters are also holding events on different dates in January or February… see the SABR Day webpage for more information.
Today’s Trivia Question
One of today's Birthday Boys (see below) is Johnny Frederick. He has the all-time record for the most doubles in a rookie season with 52, back in 1929. The second highest number of doubles by a rookie is 47, reached by four players in the years 1975, 2001, 2006, and 2018. How many can you name?
Hall of Fame Voting Total Changes from 2025 to 2026
The most recent BBWAA Hall of Fame vote elected two CF in Carlos Beltrán and Andrew Jones. Manny Ramirez was in his tenth year on the ballot, so will not be on again next year. Nor will many players who failed to reach the minimum 5% vote threshold to be given another shot
That said, I wanted to understand how things are trending for the players who will return for another shot next year. So below are the returning players who will be on the 2027 ballot, along with their percentage change between 2025 and 2026, and how many years they have been voted on so far:
Chase Utley +19% (40% to 59%, 3rd)
Andy Pettitte +21% (28% to 49%, 8th)
Felix Hernández + 25% (21% to 46%, 2nd)
Alex Rodríguez +3% (37% to 40%, 5th)
Bobby Abreu +11% (20% to 31%, 7th)
Jimmy Rollins +7% (18% to 25%, 5th)
Cole Hamels +24% (first time on ballot)
Dustin Pedroia +9%, (12% to 21%, 2nd)
Mark Buehrle +9% (11% to 20%, 6th)
Omar Vizquel 0 (18% to 18%, 9th) - technically he increased from 17.8% to 18.4%
David Wright +7% (8% to 15%, 3rd)
Francisco Rodríguez +2% (10% to 12%, 4th)
Torii Hunter +4% (5% to 9%, 6th)
The newcomers next year include catcher Buster Posey, who could get elected right away or at least come close, and pitcher Jon Lester, who I think could get at least over 5% to stay on the ballot for more consideration.
But beyond those two, the new names are a bunch of good players, but not ones that I think will draw many votes. The dynamics of this process being what they are, I therefore think there is a chance that Chase Utley—and potentially Andy Pettitte and Felix Hernández—jump up enough to cross the 75% threshold needed for election. It is also entirely possible they all get to say 65-74% only, with perhaps Posey being the only player chosen.
Countdown to Spring Training!
Continuing with this fun series… Spring Training games are now just 25 days away, so here are some top players who had uniform #25 for extended periods of time (and the teams they wore it with):
OF Barry Bonds - Giants (1993-2007)
1B/DH Jim Thome - Indians (1992-2002, 11), Phillies (2003-05, 12), White Sox (2006-09), and three other clubs
OF Andruw Jones - Braves (1996-2007) and three other clubs
1B Mark McGwire - Athletics (1986-97), Cardinals (1997-2001)
1B Rafael Palmeiro - Cubs (1986-88), Rangers (1989-93, 1999-2003), Orioles (1994-98, 2004-05)
3B Buddy Bell - Indians (1973-78), Rangers (1979-85, 89), Reds (1985-88), Astros (1988)
SP Tommy John - White Sox (1965-71), Dodgers (1972-74, 76-78), Yankees (1979-82, 86-89), Angels (1983-85), Athletics (1985)
OF Jim Edmonds - Angels (1994-99)
OF Bobby Bonds - Giants (1968-74) and five other clubs
OF José Cruz - Astros (1975-87)
1B Norm Cash - Tigers (1960-74)
1B Mark Teixeira - Angels (2008), Yankees (2009-16)
1B Jason Giambi - Yankees (2002-08), Indians (2013-14)
1B Carlos Delgado - Blue Jays (1997-2004), Marlins (2005)
3B Troy Glaus - Angels (2000-04) and three other clubs
1B Derrek Lee - Marlins (1998-2003), Cubs (2004-10) and two other clubs
3B/OF Bobby Bonilla - Pirates (1986-90), Mets (1992-95, 99) and two other clubs
OF George Hendrick - Athletics (1971-72), Padres (1977-78), Cardinals (1978-84), Angels (1985-88)
OF/DH Don Baylor - Orioles (1970-75), Angels (1978-82), Yankees (1983-85), Red Sox (1986-87)
SP Jim Abbott - Angels (1989-92), Yankees (1993-94), and two other clubs
OF Byron Buxton - Twins (2015-25)
On this day in baseball history…
Here is what stands out to me for this day in baseball history. All quoted descriptions are from baseball-reference.com.
📅 On January 26…
1951: Jimmie Foxx and Mel Ott are elected to the Hall of Fame. “The Baseball Writers Association of America votes sluggers Mel Ott and Jimmie Foxx into the Hall of Fame. Ott hit .304 with 511 home runs and 1,860 RBI; he managed the New York Giants from 1942 to 1948. Foxx was a .325 hitter with 534 home runs and 1,922 RBI.”
1963: The size of strike zone is increased. “Major League Baseball's Rules Committee increases the size of the strike zone. The zone will stretch from the top of the batter's shoulders to the bottom of the knees. The committee hopes the return to the 1950s strike zone will result in a decrease in runs scored. The results will exceed the committee's expectations, and after the "Year of the Pitcher" in 1968, the strike zone will be tweaked again to give the hitters a break.”
🎂 Today’s Birthday Boys 🎉
Bob Nieman, Johnny Frederick, George Blaeholder, Bob Uecker
Bob Nieman (1927-1985)
12-year major league career, spanning from 1951-1962, with six seasons for the Browns/Orioles, and the remainder spread across five different clubs
On September 14, 1951 at Fenway Park, Nieman hit two home runs in his first two major league at-bats. (According to Wikipedia, he was the first player to ever do this.)
Was a capable batsman with 15+ HR four times, a .320 average in 1956, and a .325 average in 1958
Played LF and RF, but only played 120+ games in a season four times
Overall had 125 HR, a .295/.373/.474 slash line, and a 132 OPS+
After retiring, he served as a scout for over two decades, working for the Indians, Dodgers, Athletics, White Sox, and Yankees.
Johnny Frederick (1902-1977)
Six-year major league career, spanning from 1929-1934, as a CF/RF for the Dodgers
Had an outstanding rookie season in 1929 with a .328 average, 206 hits, 24 HR, 75 RBI, 127 runs, and an NL-leading 52 doubles
Did well again in 1930 with a .334 average, 206 hits, 17 HR, 76 RBI, 120 runs, and 44 doubles
A leg injury diminished his defensive ability, so from 1932-1934 he was used some as a pinch hitter. That, along with conflicts with team management, led him to be traded to the minor-league Pacific Coast League, where he continue to excel as a hitter with a .300+ average each year from 1935-1940.
Overall had 85 HR, a .308/.357/.477 slash line, and a 117 OPS+
George Blaeholder (1904-1947)
11-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1925-1936, mostly with the St. Louis Browns
Was very consistent, with 10-15 wins each year from 1928-1934
Led the AL with four shutouts in 1929
Overall had a 104-125 record, a 4.54 ERA, and a 103 ERA+
Bob Uecker (1934-2025)
6-year major league career, spanning from 1962-1967, as a part-time catcher with the Braves, Phillies, and Cardinals
Was a light hitter with 14 HR in 297 games and a .200/.293/.287 slash line
Became famous for his self-deprecating humor as a comedian dubbed “Mr. Baseball”, and then as a long-time baseball broadcaster, including 54 years as the play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Was also an actor, including playing George Owens on the sitcom Mr. Belvedere, and played announcer Harry Doyle in the film Major League and its two sequels.
Honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame with its 2003 Ford C. Frick Award in recognition of his broadcasting career.
Currently active players who were born on January 26 include TOR Davis Schneider, ATH Colby Thomas, CIN Zach Maxwell, and Omar Cruz (free agent).
Baseball Quote of the Day
As noted above, today is the late Bob Uecker’s birthday. While I shared this batch of quotes out on November 28th also, I can’t help but include them again today (curated from the collection at The Baseball Almanac):
"Anybody with ability can play in the big leagues. To last as long as I did with the skills I had, with the numbers I produced, was a triumph of the human spirit."
"Career highlights? I had two. I got an intentional walk from Sandy Koufax and I got out of a rundown against the Mets."
"If a guy hits .300 every year, what does he have to look forward to? I always tried to stay around .190, with three or four RBI. And I tried to get them all in September. That way I always had something to talk about during the winter."
"I hit a grand slam off Ron Herbel and when his manager Herman Franks came out to get him, he was bringing Herbel's suitcase."
"In 1962 I was named Minor League Player of the Year. It was my second season in the bigs."
"I set records that will never be equaled. In fact, I hope 90% of them don't even get printed."
"I signed with the Milwaukee Braves for three-thousand dollars. That bothered my dad at the time because he didn't have that kind of dough. But he eventually scraped it up."
"People don't know this but I helped the Cardinals win the pennant. I came down with hepatitis. The trainer injected me with it."
"Sporting goods companies pay me not to endorse their products."
"The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and then pick it up."
"When I came up to bat with three men on and two outs in the ninth, I looked in the other team's dugout and they were already in street clothes."
Today’s Trivia Answer
Johnny Frederick still has the record for the most doubles in a season by a rookie with 52 in 1929. The four players tied for second with 47 doubles in their rookie seasons are as follows:
1975 - Fred Lynn
2001 - Albert Pujols
2006 - Ryan Zimmerman
2018 - Miguel Andujar
Good Reads
Here I am providing one or more links to baseball articles I’ve enjoyed recently, whether by writers at MLB.com or elsewhere.
18 players who are on the rise entering 2026, by Brian Murphy at MLB, 1/25/2026
These were the top 10 games of a memorable 2025, by Manny Randhawa at MLB, 1/25/2026
5 Baseball Cards that Followed a Simple Ru(h)le, at Wax Pack Gods Newsletter, 1/25/2026
See recent issues of The Baseball Buffet for more recent good reads!
How did you like this edition of Now Taking the Field?
Did you know? I wrote a 600+ page book with the same title as this newsletter/blog? Now Taking the Field: Baseball’s All-Time Dream Teams for All 30 Franchises was published in early 2019, by ACTA Sports. It is available at Amazon and most other major booksellers.
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