Expert: Tom Schott - 7/20/2008

Question
QUESTION: On July 4th, Florida scored 17 runs and lost.  What is the most runs scored by a team in a losing effort in a nine inning game and also when was the last time a team scored at least 17 runs and lost?

ANSWER: Steve,

The most runs scored by a loser that I've been able to find is 23, in a game on Aug 25, 1922, when the Cubs beat the Phillies 26-23. If you go back into the 19th century and consider the National Association as a major league, the number jumps up to 33 when the Philadelphia Athletics beat the Troy Haymakers, 49-33, in a game on June 28, 1871. (see http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/06281871.htm)

The Cubs were the last team to score at least 17 runs and lose. That was back on May 17, 1979 when the Cubs lost to the Phillies, 23-22 at Wrigley Field in 10 innings.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197905170.shtml

The last time this happened in a 9-inning game was when the Phillies  scored 17 times in a loss to the Reds on August 3, 1969 at Connie Mack Stadium. The Reds won 19-17.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI196908030.shtml





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: In 1968, Bill Mazeroski batted 506 times and only scored 36 runs.  What's the fewest runs scored for any batter (post 1900) with at least 500 at bats?

Answer
Several people did worse than Mazerowski in this department:

RUNS          YEAR      R       AB          
1    Leo Cardenas          1972       25      551         
2    Mario Guerrero          1978       27      505         
3    Earl Sheely          1931       30      538         
T4   Billy Gardner          1958       32      560         
T4   Mickey Doolan          1913       32      518         
T6   Whitey Wietelmann        1943       33      534         
T6   Mickey Doolan          1907       33      509         
T6   Monte Cross          1904       33      503         
T9   Mike Champion          1977       35      507         
T9   John Leary          1914       35      533         
T9   Tommy Helms          1968       35      507         
T9   Doug Flynn          1979       35      555