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Wild pitch

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This article is about the baseball statistic. For the Matt Christopher novel, seeWild Pitch (novel).For the American hip hop record label, seeWild Pitch Records.
A wild pitch goes past the catcher.

Inbaseball,awild pitch(WP) is charged against apitcherwhen hispitchis too high, too short, or too wide ofhome platefor thecatcherto control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing abaserunner,or the batter (on anuncaught third strike), to advance.[1]

A wild pitch usually passes the catcher behind home plate, often allowing runners on base an easy chance to advance while the catcher chases the ball down. Sometimes the catcher may block a pitch, and the ball may be nearby, but the catcher has trouble finding the ball, allowing runners to advance.

A closely related statistic is thepassed ball.As with manybaseball statistics,whether a pitch that gets away from a catcher is counted as a wild pitch or a passed ball is at the discretion of theofficial scorer.The benefit of the doubt is usually given to the catcher if there is uncertainty; therefore, most of these situations are scored as wild pitches. If the pitch was so low as to touch the ground, or so high that the catcher has to jump to get to it, or so wide that the catcher has to lunge for it, it is usually ruled a wild pitch and not a passed ball.[1]Because the pitcher and catcher handle the ball much more than other fielders, certain misplays on pitched balls are defined in Rule 10.13 as wild pitches and passed balls. Noerrorshall be charged when a wild pitch or passed ball is scored.

A wild pitch may only be scored if one or more runners advance. If the bases are empty, or if the catcher retrieves the ball quickly and no runner is able to advance, a wild pitch is not charged. A run scored on a wild pitch is recorded as anearned run.A runner who advances on a wild pitch is not credited with astolen baseunless he breaks before the pitcher begins his delivery.

Records[edit]

Bill Stemmyerthrew a National League record 63 wild pitches in one season.

Nolan Ryanis the modern-era leader in the wild pitches, throwing 277 over his 27 years inMajor League Baseball(MLB).[2]He also led his league in the category in six different seasons.[3]However, the all-time record belongs toTony Mullane,who threw 343 in the early years of the game from 1881 to 1894. After Ryan's 277, the next pitcher on the list isMickey Welchwith 274, followed byBobby Matthews,who threw 253.[2]

The single-season record for wild pitches is held byMark Baldwin,who threw 83 in 1889 while pitching in theAmerican Association.Second place on the season list is held jointly by Tony Mullane andBill Stemmyer,who threw 63 wild pitches in 1884 and 1886, respectively. Since 1900, the highest total in a season has been 30, byRed Amesin 1905.[4]

The modern-era MLB record for wild pitches in a single game is six, shared by three pitchers:Bill Gullickson,Phil Niekro,andJ. R. Richard.[5]The modern-era MLB record for wild pitches in a single inning during the regular season is four, shared by six pitchers:Walter Johnson,Kevin Gregg,R. A. Dickey,Phil Niekro,Ryan Madson,[5]andBrooks Kriske.[6]Bert Cunninghamof thePlayers' League(considered a major league) threw five wild pitches in an inning in 1890.[5]On June 26, 2017,Adam Ottavinoallowed five runs on four wild pitches, the most runs allowed on wild pitches in a single game in at least 50 years.[7]

As of July 2021,the active career leaders for wild pitches thrown in MLB areTrevor CahillandErvin Santana,with 100 each.[8]

Postseason[edit]

Rick Ankielof theSt. Louis Cardinalsthrew five wild pitches in the third inning of the first game of the2000 National League Division Seriesagainst theAtlanta Braves.[9]

Only oneWorld Serieshas ended on a wild pitch—the1927edition.[10]An errant delivery byPittsburgh PiratesrelieverJohnny Miljusin the ninth inning of Game 4 allowedEarle Combsof theNew York Yankeesto score the winning run.[11]

In the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 6 of the1986 World Series,with theBoston Red Soxleading 5–4, theNew York Metshad runners on first and third with two outs. Bostonrelief pitcherBob Stanleythrew a wild pitch which allowedKevin Mitchellto score the tying run from third andRay Knightto move from first to second base. With Knight inscoring position,he was able to score the winning run on first basemanBill Buckner's now infamouserror.[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"Wild Pitch (WP)".MLB.Archivedfrom the original on 23 June 2021.Retrieved29 June2021.
  2. ^ab"Career Leaders & Records for Wild Pitches".Baseball-Reference.Retrieved23 March2021.
  3. ^"Nolan Ryan Stats".Baseball-Reference.Retrieved23 March2021.
  4. ^"Single-Season Leaders & Records for Wild Pitches".Baseball-Reference.Retrieved23 March2021.
  5. ^abc"Wild Pitch Records".Baseball Almanac.RetrievedJuly 23,2021.
  6. ^Goodman, Max (July 23, 2021)."Brooks Kriske's Disastrous Night Was Historically Wild".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedJuly 23,2021– via MSN.
  7. ^Harding, Thomas (June 26, 2017)."Ottavino uncorks four wild pitches".MLB.RetrievedJuly 23,2021.
  8. ^"Active Leaders & Records for Wild Pitches".Baseball-Reference.RetrievedJuly 23,2021.
  9. ^"Ankiel's five wild pitches".MLB.October 3, 2000.RetrievedJuly 23,2021.
  10. ^"World Series Final Outs".Baseball Almanac.RetrievedOctober 16,2020.
  11. ^"1927 World Series".Baseball Almanac.RetrievedOctober 16,2020.
  12. ^Brown, Garry (30 October 2016)."Don't judge Bill Buckner so harshly for '86 World Series".Mass Live.Archivedfrom the original on 25 July 2021.Retrieved25 July2021.

External links[edit]

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