LOCAL MOUNDSMEN HAVE GIVEN UP

HOME RUNS TO GAME'S TOP SLUGGERS

In 1922, 27-year-old pitcher Walter Mails gave up three home runs to the immortal Babe Ruth. The left-hander from Christian Brothers High School was the first of 19 Sacramento-area high school pitchers who has contributed to Major League Baseball history by serving up home runs to the greatest long-ball hitters in the game (see chart below).  

Belonging to the 500 Home Run Club is one of the most heralded milestones in baseball. This elite group, which 15 of its 25 members are in the Hall of Fame, has combined to hit 4,878 home runs. Of the 75 home runs allowed by the Sacramento-area contingent, Johnson High standout Bob Forsch,

“I certainly gave a lot of guys a really good shove into the Hall of Fame,” said Forsch, who in his 16-year career spanning 1974-1989 gave up 11 home runs to Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt, who is 15th all-time with 547 home runs. “If you play this game you got to have a claim to fame.” 

While Forsch has given up the most home runs, Darren Oliver, a 17-year veteran out of Rio Linda High who began his career in 1993 and is still throwing strikes for the Texas Rangers, has had the most members of the 500 Club go deep (8) -- Barry Bonds (No. 1-762), Ken Griffey Jr. (No. 5-30), Sammy Sosa (No. 6-609), Alex Rodriguez (No. 7-598), Mark McGwire (No. 9-583), Jim Thome (No. 10-574), Rafael Palmeiro (No. 12-569) and Manny Ramirez (No. 13-554).   

Ken Forsch, who pitched from 1970-1986, and Gordon Jones, who pitched from 1954-65, each had four Hall of Famers hit home runs off them. Forsch, who like his younger brother Bob hurled for Johnson High in the 1960s, found the sweet spot of the bats of Hank Aaron (No. 2-755), Eddie Murray (No. 25-504), Willie McCovey (No. 18-521) and Schmidt. Jones, the ace of Sacramento High in the late 1940s, was tagged by Harmon Killebrew (No. 11-573), Mickey Mantle (No. 16-536), Ernie Banks (No. 21-512) and Aaron. 

Sacramento River Cats left-hander Brad Kilby looks forward to the day he can add his name to the list of locals who have given up a bomb to a 500 Home Run Club member.   

Kilby would join long-time friend and foe J.P. Howell, the Tampa Bay Rays lefty from Jesuit High,

J.P. Howell of the Tampa Bay Rays pitching on June 7, 2009 at Yankee Stadium
(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) 

who became part of MLB history when he gave up Frank Thomas’ 482^nd of 581 home runs on Sept. 9, 2006. Kilby and Howell were teammates on the North team in the 2001 high school Optimist All-Star Game and competed for years against one another playing in youth summer all-star tournaments, Kilby for Elk Grove and Howell for East Sacramento. 

“I’ll have my name on that list in the next 10 to 15 years and be proud of it,” said Kilby, who

Kilby, who pitched 17 innings for the A’s last year and a hand full of innings earlier this year, will have to wait a bit. He envisions making the list having given up a home run to Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria in April. The 24-year-old Longoria has 73 home runs in two-and-a-half seasons in the big leagues. ZiPS (Dan Szymborski Projection System) calculates Longoria will hit 526 home runs over 16 seasons. That means over the next 13-and-a-half seasons, he would have to play at a consistently high level, avoid injury and average 33.5 home runs.  

“I’m history in the making,” Kilby said. “When Longoria hits his 500^th home run, I will become one of those pitchers that have given up a home run to one of the greatest power hitters in baseball history.” 

The next likely 500 Home Run Club addition, however, is St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols. The

While there may be some baseball enthusiasts who view the home run list as a negative accomplishment, River Cats left-hander John Halama doesn’t see the list that way. The 38-year-old major league veteran won 56 games, made 113 starts, pitched 911 innings and yielded 113 home runs from 1998-2006.   

“If I gave up Barry Bonds’ record-breaking 756^th home run, I’d be uspet, but I definitely would be   proud too,” said Halama, who has given up four-baggers to three on the 500 Club list. “I don’t see something like that in a bad way. Your name becomes part of history.” 

While pitching for the Seattle Mariners against Texas in 2001, Halama allowed home run No. 208 to Rodriguez and No. 414 to Palmeiro in the same game. Later that year, Thome connected for No. 269 off him.  In 2002, Rodriguez hit No. 244 and No. 245 in a game.  

Another former major leaguer, Fred Besana, wishes his name appeared on the list.  

The Lincoln High School left-handed legend of the late 1940s, who pitched briefly for the Baltimore Orioles in 1956, said his only regret in baseball was never facing his idol Hall of Famer Ted Williams (No. 18-521), a 14-time American League All-Star and two-time MVP with the Boston Red Sox from 1939-1960. 

“During that 1956 season, I was pitching against Boston and Williams was coming up,” said the 80-year-old Besana. “I was doing everything I could to stay in the game. And, while on his way to the plate, he was called back to the dugout for a pinch hitter. Something about a heel injury, so it was said. I always thought it was because I was so wild Boston was afraid that I’d hit him. All I ever wanted was to be able to tell my son and grandson Ted Williams hit one off me that’s still going.”  

 

Uploaded 07/17/10