Golden sombrero
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
Look up golden sombrero in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
In baseball, golden sombrero is a slang term used to describe a player's inglorious feat of striking out four times in a single game.
Contents |
[edit] Origin
The term derives from hockey's hat trick and since four is bigger than three; the rationale was that a four-strikeout performance should be referred to by a bigger hat, such as a sombrero.[citation needed] The "Olympic Rings" or platinum sombrero applies to a player striking out five times in a game,[1] while a horn (after Sam Horn of the Baltimore Orioles, who accomplished the feat in an extra-inning game in 1991) or titanium sombrero is bestowed upon a player who strikes out six times in a single game.[2]
[edit] History
To date, no Major League Baseball player has ever struck out more than five times in a nine-inning game. This feat has been achieved 50 times, (27 in the AL and 23 in the NL) including two different golden sombreros by Dick Allen, Pat Burrell, and Alex Rios.[citation needed] The only games with six strikeouts have been extra innings affairs, and no player has ever struck out seven times in a game. Travis Hafner is the only player in Major League history to record both a grand slam and a golden sombrero in the same week[citation needed] on May 7, 2007, against the Baltimore Orioles (grand slam) and May 8, 2007 against Ervin Santana and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (golden sombrero)[3].
The record for plate futility in all of professional baseball belongs to Russ Laribee of the minor league Pawtucket Red Sox, who in 1981 struck out eight times in a thirty-three inning baseball game.[citation needed]
[edit] Major league players with six strikeouts in a game
| Player | Date | Innings | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carl Weilman | July 25, 1913 | 15 | St. Louis Browns |
| Don Hoak | May 2, 1956 | 17 | Chicago Cubs |
| Rick Reichardt | May 31, 1966 | 17 | California Angels |
| Billy Cowan | July 9, 1971 | 20 | California Angels |
| Cecil Cooper | June 14, 1974 | 15 | Boston Red Sox |
| Sam Horn | July 17, 1991 | 15 | Baltimore Orioles |
| Alex Gonzalez | September 9, 1998 | 13 | Toronto Blue Jays |
| Geoff Jenkins | June 8, 2004 | 17 | Milwaukee Brewers |
[edit] References
- ^ Michael, Matt (April 9, 2005). "Extra bases". Syracuse Post-Standard.
- ^ ESPN - More amazing stories to watch for - MLB
- ^ Strikeout Records by Baseball Almanac
[edit] External links
- Baseball Tips.com: Baseball slang
- Rocky Mountain News August 17, 2006 quoting Don Baylor
- Athlon Sports May 8, 2007: 4 leadoff hitters with golden sombrero.
- List of strikeout records at Baseball Almanac
