A Look At “Unbreakable” Records: Joe Sewell’s Career Strikeout Rate.

There are two types of arguments in today’s game about striking out. Some feel that it’s a total waste of an at-bat, others feel that an out is an out, whether it’s a groundout to the 3^rd baseman or a swinging strikeout. With that in mind, organizations are willing to deal with a power hitter striking out 130 times per year if they can hit over 30 home runs and drive in over 100 runs in that particular season.

Joe Sewell was a shortstop and 3^rd baseman for 14 years in the Major Leagues; he played most of his career with the Cleveland Indians, but then spent his final three seasons with the New York Yankees. He was fortunate to win a World Series with both organizations. Being a career .312 hitter with over 2,000 career base knocks in his lifetime, Sewell was known as a very productive and dependable hitter. What stood out about him the most was his ability to put the ball in play.

He actually still holds the all-time record for the lowest strikeout rate in history, being called out on strikes once every 62.6 at-bats. Out of 8,329 career plate appearances, Sewell struck out only 114 times, never striking out more than 20 times in one single season. So, .01% of the time he went up to hit, he struck out. Pretty insane.

Also, since 1991, there have been 19 instances where a player that qualified for the batting title struck out in less than 4.75% of their at-bats. These 19 spots are held by nine hitters, which include:

• Tony Gwynn (7 times)
• Placido Polanco (2 times)
• Juan Pierre (3 times)
• Mark Grace (2 times)
• Ozzie Guillen (1 time)
• Ozzie Smith (1 time)
• Felix Fermin (1 time)
• Gregg Jefferies (1 time)
• Brian Harper (1 time)

Like I always say, the game has evolved in the sense that it is OK to strike out a lot, as long as you’re a middle of the line-up kind of hitter. Do I think this record will ever be broken? Absolutely, totally, 100% no. There is no way that someone will be able to keep their career strikeout total that low. To put Joe Sewell’s career strikeout total into perspective: it took him 14 years to fan 114 times, whereas it took 50 players strike out 114 times or more in the 2011 season alone.