A striking performance

Cleveland third baseman Joe Sewell strikes out twice 94 years ago today against Chicago left-hander Pat Caraway during a 5-2 victory over the White Sox before a Monday afternoon crowd of 3,500 at old League Park.

In itself, striking out twice in a game seems like no big deal, except Sewell rarely strikes out even once.

Ever.

In fact, Sewell will not strike out in any of the remaining 83 games he plays that season for Cleveland, leaving him with only three strikeouts in 414 plate appearances in 1930.

In all, Sewell – seen here in another of Charles Conlon’s magnificent photos from that era – strikes out only 114 times in 8,333 plate appearances during his Hall of Fame career from 1920-33.

As a point of reference in 2024, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson and Pittsburgh Pirates Oneil Cruz share a major league-leading 72 strikeouts.

For Benson, those 72 strikeouts have come in only 161 at-bats with Cruz totaling his 72 in 190 at-bats.

At this rate, each easily should eclipse 100 strikeouts by the Fourth of July.

“There’s no excuse for a major league player striking out 100 times a season,” Sewell says in 1960. “Unless, of course, he’s blind.”