The Baseball Buffet for 11/20/2025

Issue #459

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 most active team yesterday was the Atlanta Braves, with these three moves:

• Re-signed closer Raisel Iglesias. The contract is for 1-year at $16 million. He struggled badly at the start of last year, with a 6.75 ERA of his first 25 games. But then he was outstanding the rest of the way, with a 1.25 ERA over his other 45 appearances. He turns 36 in January, but has had 33, 34, and 29 saves in his three full seasons with the Braves so far.

• Traded infielder Nick Allen for infielder/outfielder Mauricio Dubón of the Astros. The 27-year old Allen was a good fielder as a SS for the Braves in 2025, but a very light hitter with a .221/.284/.251 slash line and 0 HR in 416 PA. The 31-year old Dubón only provides a little more offense, with a .241/.289/.355 slash line and 7 HR in 398 PA in 2025 (though he did hit .278 with 10 HR in 2023). But he is also a fine fielder, winning the AL Gold Glove Award as utility player last year, with significant time spent at 2B, SS, 3B, LF, and CF (and even a few games at 1B and RF). He similarly won a utility player Gold Glove Award in 2023.

• Acquired LHP Ryan Rolison. The Rockies traded former 2018 first-round draft pick (22nd overall) Ryan Rolison to the Braves for cash. Rolison has slowly climbed through the minors, and did well as a reliever at AAA in 2025 with a 3.34 ERA in 29.2 IP over 20 appearances. But then he struggled with the Rockies with a 7.02 ERA in 42.1 IP over 31 appearances.

Today’s Trivia Question

Which two future Hall of Famers were drafted one spot apart from each other in the 1971 draft, both played the same position, and ended up with nearly identical career RBI totals?

Trivia answers are at the bottom of each newsletter.

RIP, Randy Jones

The San Diego Padres released a statement yesterday announcing that former starting pitcher Randy Jones has died at age 75. Here are a few career highlights:

• Drafted in the 5th round by the Padres in 1972

• Struggled to an 8-22 record and 4.45 ERA in 1974, but then had his first of two consecutive Al-Star seasons in 1975, with a 20-12 record and NL-leading 2.24 ERA

• Led the NL in wins with a 22-14 record, to go with a 2.74 ERA in 1976, taking home the NL Cy Young Award

• On June 22, 1976 his lengthy streak of no walks finally ended. As described at baseball-reference.com, “Randy Jones pitches the Padres to a 4-2 win over the Giants, and ties Christy Mathewson's 63-year-old National League record by going 68 innings without a base on balls. He receives a standing ovation from the home crowd after striking out Darrell Evans to end the 7th. His streak ends when he walks C Marc Hill leading off the 8th.”

• Over a 10-year major league career he had a 100-123 record, playing most with the Padres and his last two seasons for the Mets. Had a 3.42 ERA and 101 ERA+.

• You can read more at this article by Shaun O’Neill at MLB, and at his Wikipedia entry

On this day in baseball history…

Here is what stands out to me for this day in baseball history. Unless otherwise noted, the descriptions are from baseball-reference.com.

📅 On November 20…

• 1888: Four balls is a walk. “The Joint Rules Committee reduces the number of balls for a walk from five to four, establishing the four balls/three strikes count that remains in effect to this day. It also eliminates an out on a foul tip if the catcher catches it within 10 feet of home plate.”

• 1934: 17-year old strikes out four future Hall of Famers. “17-year-old pitcher Eiji Sawamura gives up one hit, a home run to Lou Gehrig, as the touring major league All-Stars win in Japan, 1 - 0. At one point, Sawamura strikes out four future Hall of Famers in a row: Charlie Gehringer, Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, and Gehrig. Also visiting Japan as part of the big league All-Stars, catcher Moe Berg shoots movie film showing the roofs of Tokyo. The film will allegedly be used as a guide by United States bombers during World War II.”

• 1957: Tigers and Athletics have a 13-player trade. “The Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Athletics execute a 13-player trade. Among the players involved are second baseman Billy Martin, outfielder Gus Zernial and pitcher Mickey McDermott, who are headed to Detroit. The Athletics acquire pitcher Duke Maas, catcher Frank House, and outfielders Bill Tuttle and Jim Small.”

• 1962: Mickey Mantle wins his third MVP Award. “New York Yankees center fielder Mickey Mantle collects his third American League MVP Award. Mantle, who hit .321 with 30 home runs, also led the AL in walks (122) and slugging percentage (.605), while helping the Yankees to a berth in the World Series against the San Francisco Giants.”

• 1969: McCovey tops Seaver for the NL MVP. “San Francisco Giants first baseman Willie McCovey edges New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver as National League Most Valuable Player. McCovey hit .320 and led the league in home runs (45) and RBI (126), while Seaver posted a 2.21 ERA with 208 strikeouts and a league-leading 25 wins.”

• 1984: Dwight Gooden becomes youngest NL Rookie of the Year. “Four days after his 20th birthday, New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden becomes the youngest player ever to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Gooden posted a 17-9 record with a 2.60 ERA and a major league-leading 276 strikeouts. Bryce Harper will be even younger when he wins the award in 2012.”

• 1989: Robin Yount wins second MVP Award, this time as a CF. “Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Robin Yount edges Ruben Sierra of the Rangers to win his second American League MVP Award. Yount, who won the award as a shortstop in 1982, becomes only the third player to win MVP awards at two different positions, joining Hank Greenberg and Stan Musial.”

• 2001: Ichiro becomes the second rookie to win MVP Award. “Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki becomes only the second rookie in major league history to win the Most Valuable Player Award. He had earlier won the Rookie of the Year Award, joining Boston Red Sox outfielder Fred Lynn, who achieved this double distinction in 1975.”

🎂 Today’s Birthday Boys 🎉

Clark Griffith (1869)

• Hall of Famer

• 20-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1891-1914, mostly with the Cubs, White Sox, and Highlanders. He primarily played until 1906, and then was only sparingly used as a pitcher while also managing his teams.

• Won 20+ games seven times, including a 26-14 record in 1895 and a 24-7 record in 1901.

• Led the NL with a 1.88 ERA in 1898

• Overall had a 237-146 (.619) record, a 3.31 ERA, and a 121 ERA+

• As noted was a long-time player/manager, starting in 1901 and going through 1914, and then continuing as just the manager for the Washington Nationals (Senators) in the American League through 1920. Overall had a managerial record of 1,491-1,367 (.522).

• He also owned the Washington Senators from 1920 until his death in 1955.

Tarik Skubal (1996)

• Has so far pitched in the majors since 2020, breaking out in 2024 with a triple crown Cy Young award season leading the AL in wins with an 18-4 record, as well as a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts.

• Won the AL Cy Young Award again in 2025 after posting a 13-6 record, 241 K, and a league-best 2.21 ERA

• Overall so far has a 54-37 career record, 3.08 ERA, 889 K in 766.2 IP, and a 135 ERA+

Greg Holland (1985)

• 12-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2010-2022, mostly with the Kansas City Royals, but with some time spent with five other clubs

• Was a very effective reliever in 2011 with a 1.80 ERA, then stepped into the Royals' closer role the following year.

• Three-time All-star with great numbers in 2013 (47 saves, 1.21 ERA), 2014 (46 saves, 1.44 ERA), and in 2017 when he led the AL with 41 saves.

• Overall had 220 saves, a 3.14 ERA, and a 138 ERA+

J.D. Drew (1975)

• First-round draft pick (5th overall) by the Cardinals in 1998 (Of note, this was after he had been drafted with the #2 overall pick by the Phillies in 1997, but then he and agent Scott Boras refused to sign with Philadelphia).

• 14-year major league career, spanning from 1998-2011, mostly as a RF with the Cardinals, Dodgers, and Red Sox

• Soon after being drafted he was up with the Cardinals in 1998 and went 15-36 (.417) with 5 HR late that season

• Slumped a bit in 1999 with a .242 average, 13 HR and 19 SB in 104 games. Did better in 2000 with a .295 average, 18 HR, and 17 SB, and in 2001 with a .323 average and 27 HR.

• Had 20+ HR five times, and was an All-Star in 2008

• Overall had 242 HR, 944 runs, a .278/.384/.489 slash line, and a 125 OPS+

Rick Monday (1945)

• 19-year major league career, spanning from 1966-1984, as a CF with the Athletics, Cubs, and Dodgers

• Hit 15+ HR seven times, and 25+ HR twice

• Two-time All-Star

• Was the first overall selection in the inaugural Major Leaguer First-Year Player Draft in 1965 (taken by the Kansas City Athletics). As a result, he is the answer to the trivia question: Who was the first, first-round pick?

• Also is well known as the player who stopped two protesters from burning an American flag at Dodger Stadium on April 25, 1976. They had run into left-center field and tried to set fire to a flag after the start of the bottom of the fourth inning. Monday ran over and snatched the flag from them, and ran it over to the Dodgers dugout. (You can read more about this incident at Wikipedia).

• Overall had 241 HR, 950 runs, a .264/.361/.443 slash line, and an impressive 125 OPS+

Cody Allen (1988)

• 8-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2012-2019, almost all with the Cleveland Indians

• Was a reliever and for five seasons a closer, with 24-34 saves in each of those years

• Posted a career-best 2.07 ERA in 69.2 IP in 2014

• Was outstanding in the 2016 postseason, with 24 K in 13.2 IP, a 0.00 ERA and 6 saves in 10 appearances

• Overall had 153 saves, a 3.14 ERA, and a 135 ERA+

In addition to Tarik Skubal, other currently active players who were born on November 20 include Amed Rosario (free agent), CLE David Fry, ATL AJ Smith-Shawver, and Connor Kaiser (free agent).

Baseball Quote of the Day

One of the new features I’m starting up during the offseason is a baseball-related quote of the day. These will include quotes by players or managers that are insightful or funny, and interesting quotes from others about the game itself. I’ll try to mix it up over time.

Here is a funny one from one of the Birthday Boys above, Clark Griffith, I think during his time as owner of the Washington Senators:

“Fans like home runs. And we have assembled a pitching staff to please our fans.”
- Clark Griffith

Then here is another from him, expressing a sentiment that was likely shared by some others at the time, but has clearly proven to not be correct:

“There is no chance of night baseball ever being popular in the bigger cities. People there are educated to see the best there is and will stand for only the best. High-class baseball cannot be played at night under artificial light.” - Clark Griffith

⚾ I hope you enjoyed the newsletter today! ⚾
 

Today’s Trivia Answer

3B George Brett and 3B Mike Schmidt were both drafted in the second round in 1971, with Brett going 29th overall and Schmidt 30th (interestingly, they were both drafted as SS, not 3B). Brett ended up with 1,596 RBI and Schmidt had 1,595 RBI.

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.

• Draft, Futures Game dates tweaked as part of new All-Star Week format, by Mark Feinsand at MLB, 11/19/2025

• Annual All-Trade-Rumor Team: Players at each position who could be dealt, by Mark Feinsand at MLB, 11/18/2025

• Ranking the top 10 free-agent hitters for 2026, by Andrew Simon at MLB, 11/19/2025

• The case for trading, or keeping, 5 key Cardinals, by Will Leitch at MLB, 11/19/2025

• The best to never win MVP? Why that honor belongs to José Ramírez, by Sarah Langs at MLB, 11/19/2025

• The Glory of One-for-One Trades, by Joe Posnanski at JoeBlogs, 11/19/2025

See recent issues of The Baseball Buffet for more recent good reads!

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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