Random Guys Who Dominated Greats

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Of all players with at least 75 PA, first baseman Nate Colbert holds the fourth highest slugging percentage against Don Sutton with .548. Colbert, a player with a few brief all-star stints, boasts a career 119 OPS+. Facing Sutton in his prime, Colbert's OPS+ from 1969-1973 was 132. He slugged .483 during this time. However, I doubt he makes a lot of baseball conversations.

Any other examples, batting or pitching, of well-known players being dominated by lesser known to unkown players?

[willshad]

Of all players with at least 75 PA, first baseman Nate Colbert holds the fourth highest slugging percentage against Don Sutton with .548. Colbert, a player with a few brief all-star stints, boasts a career 119 OPS+. Facing Sutton in his prime, Colbert's OPS+ from 1969-1973 was 132. He slugged .483 during this time. However, I doubt he makes a lot of baseball conversations.

Any other examples, batting or pitching, of well-known players being dominated by lesser known to unkown players?

Interesting idea for a thread, but the example you use is rather odd. Colbert was as good a hitter during his prime as Sutton was a pitcher, so it doesn't exactly fit the criteria. Plus, a .548 slugging average isn't exactly 'domination'.

[Los Bravos]

The Sutton puzzler is a guy he mentions in this context from time to time: Rance Mulliniks. .444/.472/.824

[Dude Paskert]

A lefty screwballer named Hub Pruett was known for owning Babe Ruth early in his career...the online references are not consistent but some say he struck Ruth out in 10 of his first 13 ABs against Pruett, and some extend it to 13 of 16. I think Babe hit the guy better the more he saw him, but there is a story about Pruett thanking Ruth for indirectly paying for his time in medical school.

[PVNICK]

Tom Hutton v. Tom Seaver is a famous one in Mets lore. From BR bullpen "Hutton batted .320 against Seaver in 62 plate appearances, with 11 walks, three home runs and 11 RBI."

[GiambiJuice]

Enrique Wilson was known as a "Pedro killer". I remember the Yankees always inserting him into the lineup when Pedro Martinez was pitching for Boston. In fact, Wilson had more than twice as many ABs against Pedro Martinez in his career than against ANY other pitcher.

Wilson's career OPS was .638, but against Pedro Martinez it was .867, helped along by a cool .364 batting average. Go figure.

Another one that comes to mind is Mike Redmond vs. Tom Glavine. In 51 PAs against the eventual 300 game winner, Redmond hit .438/.471/.604

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Interesting idea for a thread, but the example you use is rather odd. Colbert was as good a hitter during his prime as Sutton was a pitcher, so it doesn't exactly fit the criteria. Plus, a .548 slugging average isn't exactly 'domination'.

I searched a few pitchers and he was the most random I could find other than Gordy Coleman against Warren Spahn, a .869 slugger. Coleman played first base for the Reds for nine years, ending with a 107 OPS+. However, he faced Spahn in his twilight years.

[dgarza]

From 1986-1991, Rick Mahler :
90 ERA+.
1.412 WHIP
.283/.338/.414 - batters
111 OPS+ - batters

But vs. Barry Bonds :
.176/.222/.206/.428
0 HRs
1 RBI
5 Ks

[GiambiJuice]

From 1986-1991, Rick Mahler :
90 ERA+.
1.412 WHIP
.283/.338/.414 - batters
111 OPS+ - batters

But vs. Barry Bonds :
.176/.222/.206/.428
0 HRs
1 RBI
5 Ks

But how large is the sample?

[dgarza]

I love this.....

Duane Kuiper vs. the world...

                                                               
                   PA AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB   BA  OBP  SLG  OPS
Dennis Eckersley   46 39 16  2  0  0   2  5 .410 .467 .462 .928
Catfish Hunter     38 36 13  1  0  0   1  2 .361 .395 .389 .784
Jim Palmer         55 49 17  0  1  0   2  4 .347 .396 .388 .784
Dennis Martinez    28 26  9  1  0  0   2  2 .346 .393 .385 .777
Fergie Jenkins     49 42 13  2  0  0   2  6 .310 .396 .357 .753

[dgarza]

But how large is the sample?

Oh, I should have included that. 37 PAs.

[dgarza]

From 1948-1951 :

Joe DiMaggio
.305/.398/.553
151 OPS+

Alex Kellner
led league in losses 2x
93 ERA+
1.543 WHIP

DiMaggio vs. Kellner
49 PAs
1 HR
.150/.306/.275

[GiambiJuice]

Ted Williams batted .156 in 35 PA against Jack Harshman .167 in 44 PA against Jim Wilson.

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Jose Lima was a great guy who died too young. At the same time, he was one a very poor starting pitcher. Lima holds one of the highest career ERA among pitchers with at least 1000 IP. Alongside a 5.26 ERA, his ERA+ is 85 and WAR is -1.2.

Yet somehow he managed to baffle Jeff Kent and hold him to .208/.269/.333 in 26 PA. Scott Rolen faced him 22 times, but could not manage more than .200/.272/.250.

[Railsplitter]

For some reason, Mike Redmond's dominance over Tom Glavine has always stuck in my mind. Checking the official stats, he had a slash line of .438/.471/.604 in 51 PA's. It just seemed like he could never get him out.

This probably isn't as big of a sample as you are looking for, but this one stands out to me.