Ron Herbel
Encyclopedia
Ronald Samuel Herbel was a right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher
. His .029 career batting average
is the lowest batting average in Major League history for a player with a minimum of 100 at-bats.
, Herbel attended the University of Northern Colorado
. After two seasons at Northern Colorado, Herbel signed as an amateur free agent with the San Francisco Giants
. He spent five seasons in San Francisco's farm system when he received a September call up to the Giants in . He made two relief
appearances with the Giants, both against the New York Mets
, with his major league debut on September 10 at the Polo Grounds
.
in , as he made 22 starts and eighteen appearances out of the bullpen
. In his first Major League at-bat on May 6, he struck out against Larry Jackson
of the Chicago Cubs
. For the season, Herbel made 54 plate appearances without getting a hit
, and struck out thirty times.
On the mound, however, he was much better. Herbel went 9-9 with a 3.07 earned run average
and 98 strikeouts. His first major league win was a 1-0 complete game shut out
of the New York Mets on May 17.
, while holding the Houston Astros
to just five hits themselves in the complete game
victory. It was his only hit of the season, though he was credited with a second run batted in
on July 28 when he walked with the bases loaded.
, two walks, three successful bunts and struck out only fourteen times for a .107 batting average. It was also Herbel's first real season as a reliever. Though he made eleven starts, he made 31 appearances out of the bullpen, earning one save. Over the next two seasons, Herbel made only six starts. Following the season, Herbel was traded with Bob Barton
and Bobby Etheridge
to the San Diego Padres
for Frank Reberger
.
when they dealt Herbel to the reigning World Series
champion New York Mets, who were in the midst of a play-off drive again in (two games back of the first place Pittsburgh Pirates
in the National League East
at the time of the trade), and needed to add an arm to their bullpen. Herbel went 2-2 with a 1.38 ERA and one save in twelve relief appearances for the Mets, who finished in third place, six games back of the Pirates. Combined with his 64 appearances with the Padres, Herbel's 76 appearances on the mound led the National League
, and was only one less than major league leader Wilbur Wood
. Following the season, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves
for Bob Aspromonte
.
in , and spent the entire season with their triple A Pacific Coast League
affiliate before retiring. He died on January 20, in Tacoma, Washington
at 62 years old.
Ronald Samuel Herbel (January 14, 1938 – January 20, 2000) was a right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher
. His .029 career batting average
is the lowest batting average in Major League history for a player with a minimum of 100 at-bats.
, Herbel attended the University of Northern Colorado
. After two seasons at Northern Colorado, Herbel signed as an amateur free agent with the San Francisco Giants
. He spent five seasons in San Francisco's farm system when he received a September call up to the Giants in . He made two relief
appearances with the Giants, both against the New York Mets
, with his major league debut on September 10 at the Polo Grounds
.
in , as he made 22 starts and eighteen appearances out of the bullpen
. In his first Major League at-bat on May 6, he struck out against Larry Jackson
of the Chicago Cubs
. For the season, Herbel made 54 plate appearances without getting a hit
, and struck out thirty times.
On the mound, however, he was much better. Herbel went 9-9 with a 3.07 earned run average
and 98 strikeouts. His first major league win was a 1-0 complete game shut out
of the New York Mets on May 17.
, while holding the Houston Astros
to just five hits themselves in the complete game
victory. It was his only hit of the season, though he was credited with a second run batted in
on July 28 when he walked with the bases loaded.
, two walks, three successful bunts and struck out only fourteen times for a .107 batting average. It was also Herbel's first real season as a reliever. Though he made eleven starts, he made 31 appearances out of the bullpen, earning one save. Over the next two seasons, Herbel made only six starts. Following the season, Herbel was traded with Bob Barton
and Bobby Etheridge
to the San Diego Padres
for Frank Reberger
.
when they dealt Herbel to the reigning World Series
champion New York Mets, who were in the midst of a play-off drive again in (two games back of the first place Pittsburgh Pirates
in the National League East
at the time of the trade), and needed to add an arm to their bullpen. Herbel went 2-2 with a 1.38 ERA and one save in twelve relief appearances for the Mets, who finished in third place, six games back of the Pirates. Combined with his 64 appearances with the Padres, Herbel's 76 appearances on the mound led the National League
, and was only one less than major league leader Wilbur Wood
. Following the season, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves
for Bob Aspromonte
.
in , and spent the entire season with their triple A Pacific Coast League
affiliate before retiring. He died on January 20, in Tacoma, Washington
at 62 years old.
Ronald Samuel Herbel (January 14, 1938 – January 20, 2000) was a right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher
. His .029 career batting average
is the lowest batting average in Major League history for a player with a minimum of 100 at-bats.
, Herbel attended the University of Northern Colorado
. After two seasons at Northern Colorado, Herbel signed as an amateur free agent with the San Francisco Giants
. He spent five seasons in San Francisco's farm system when he received a September call up to the Giants in . He made two relief
appearances with the Giants, both against the New York Mets
, with his major league debut on September 10 at the Polo Grounds
.
in , as he made 22 starts and eighteen appearances out of the bullpen
. In his first Major League at-bat on May 6, he struck out against Larry Jackson
of the Chicago Cubs
. For the season, Herbel made 54 plate appearances without getting a hit
, and struck out thirty times.
On the mound, however, he was much better. Herbel went 9-9 with a 3.07 earned run average
and 98 strikeouts. His first major league win was a 1-0 complete game shut out
of the New York Mets on May 17.
, while holding the Houston Astros
to just five hits themselves in the complete game
victory. It was his only hit of the season, though he was credited with a second run batted in
on July 28 when he walked with the bases loaded.
, two walks, three successful bunts and struck out only fourteen times for a .107 batting average. It was also Herbel's first real season as a reliever. Though he made eleven starts, he made 31 appearances out of the bullpen, earning one save. Over the next two seasons, Herbel made only six starts. Following the season, Herbel was traded with Bob Barton
and Bobby Etheridge
to the San Diego Padres
for Frank Reberger
.
when they dealt Herbel to the reigning World Series
champion New York Mets, who were in the midst of a play-off drive again in (two games back of the first place Pittsburgh Pirates
in the National League East
at the time of the trade), and needed to add an arm to their bullpen. Herbel went 2-2 with a 1.38 ERA and one save in twelve relief appearances for the Mets, who finished in third place, six games back of the Pirates. Combined with his 64 appearances with the Padres, Herbel's 76 appearances on the mound led the National League
, and was only one less than major league leader Wilbur Wood
. Following the season, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves
for Bob Aspromonte
.
in , and spent the entire season with their triple A Pacific Coast League
affiliate before retiring. He died on January 20, in Tacoma, Washington
at 62 years old.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. His .029 career batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
is the lowest batting average in Major League history for a player with a minimum of 100 at-bats.
MLB debut
Born in Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, Herbel attended the University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Colorado
-Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado...
. After two seasons at Northern Colorado, Herbel signed as an amateur free agent with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He spent five seasons in San Francisco's farm system when he received a September call up to the Giants in . He made two relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
appearances with the Giants, both against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, with his major league debut on September 10 at the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
.
0 for 47
Herbel was used both in relief and as a starterStarting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in , as he made 22 starts and eighteen appearances out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
. In his first Major League at-bat on May 6, he struck out against Larry Jackson
Larry Jackson
Lawrence Curtis Jackson was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies from 1955 to 1968...
of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. For the season, Herbel made 54 plate appearances without getting a hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, and struck out thirty times.
On the mound, however, he was much better. Herbel went 9-9 with a 3.07 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 98 strikeouts. His first major league win was a 1-0 complete game shut out
Shut Out
"Shut Out" is a single from the Paul Jabara album of the same name and features special guest vocals by Donna Summer. On the album, it is used as the first half of a medley another with another song called "Heaven is a Disco."...
of the New York Mets on May 17.
First Major League hit
In Herbel earned a spot in the starting rotation on his way to a 12-9 record for a Giants team that won 14 straight games in September, with Herbel pitching the best ball of his career, only to lose the pennant by 2 games to a Dodger team that won its last 15 games. He registered his first major league hit and RBI on May 21 in his first major league game on astroturfAstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
, while holding the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
to just five hits themselves in the complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
victory. It was his only hit of the season, though he was credited with a second run batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
on July 28 when he walked with the bases loaded.
Trade to the Padres
1965 was Herbel's best season with the Giants. If it could be said that he had a best season with the bat, it would be when Herbel had three hits, two of which were doublesDouble (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, two walks, three successful bunts and struck out only fourteen times for a .107 batting average. It was also Herbel's first real season as a reliever. Though he made eleven starts, he made 31 appearances out of the bullpen, earning one save. Over the next two seasons, Herbel made only six starts. Following the season, Herbel was traded with Bob Barton
Bob Barton
Robert Wilbur Barton , is a retired, American professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from 1965-1974. He played for the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, and Cincinnati Reds....
and Bobby Etheridge
Bobby Etheridge (baseball)
Bobby Lamar Etheridge is a former professional baseball third baseman. He played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants....
to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for Frank Reberger
Frank Reberger
Frank Beall Reberger is an American former professional baseball pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball.-Playing career:...
.
New York Mets
The Padres were 50-82, 34.5 games back of the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
when they dealt Herbel to the reigning World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
champion New York Mets, who were in the midst of a play-off drive again in (two games back of the first place Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in the National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
at the time of the trade), and needed to add an arm to their bullpen. Herbel went 2-2 with a 1.38 ERA and one save in twelve relief appearances for the Mets, who finished in third place, six games back of the Pirates. Combined with his 64 appearances with the Padres, Herbel's 76 appearances on the mound led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, and was only one less than major league leader Wilbur Wood
Wilbur Wood
Wilbur Forrester Wood, Jr. is a former knuckleball pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and most notably the Chicago White Sox, where he got 163 of his 164 wins...
. Following the season, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Bob Aspromonte
Bob Aspromonte
Robert Thomas Aspromonte is a former utility player who had a 13 year career in 1956 and from 1960 to 1971. He played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Colt 45's/Astros, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets all of the National League.During his career, Aspromonte played first base, second...
.
Retirement
Herbel spent one season in Atlanta, where he went 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA and one save in 25 appearances for the third place Braves. He signed with the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in , and spent the entire season with their triple A Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
affiliate before retiring. He died on January 20, in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
at 62 years old.
Ronald Samuel Herbel (January 14, 1938 – January 20, 2000) was a right-handed Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. His .029 career batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
is the lowest batting average in Major League history for a player with a minimum of 100 at-bats.
MLB debut
Born in Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, Herbel attended the University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Colorado
-Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado...
. After two seasons at Northern Colorado, Herbel signed as an amateur free agent with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He spent five seasons in San Francisco's farm system when he received a September call up to the Giants in . He made two relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
appearances with the Giants, both against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, with his major league debut on September 10 at the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
.
0 for 47
Herbel was used both in relief and as a starterStarting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in , as he made 22 starts and eighteen appearances out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
. In his first Major League at-bat on May 6, he struck out against Larry Jackson
Larry Jackson
Lawrence Curtis Jackson was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies from 1955 to 1968...
of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. For the season, Herbel made 54 plate appearances without getting a hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, and struck out thirty times.
On the mound, however, he was much better. Herbel went 9-9 with a 3.07 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 98 strikeouts. His first major league win was a 1-0 complete game shut out
Shut Out
"Shut Out" is a single from the Paul Jabara album of the same name and features special guest vocals by Donna Summer. On the album, it is used as the first half of a medley another with another song called "Heaven is a Disco."...
of the New York Mets on May 17.
First Major League hit
In Herbel earned a spot in the starting rotation on his way to a 12-9 record for a Giants team that won 14 straight games in September, with Herbel pitching the best ball of his career, only to lose the pennant by 2 games to a Dodger team that won its last 15 games. He registered his first major league hit and RBI on May 21 in his first major league game on astroturfAstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
, while holding the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
to just five hits themselves in the complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
victory. It was his only hit of the season, though he was credited with a second run batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
on July 28 when he walked with the bases loaded.
Trade to the Padres
1965 was Herbel's best season with the Giants. If it could be said that he had a best season with the bat, it would be when Herbel had three hits, two of which were doublesDouble (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, two walks, three successful bunts and struck out only fourteen times for a .107 batting average. It was also Herbel's first real season as a reliever. Though he made eleven starts, he made 31 appearances out of the bullpen, earning one save. Over the next two seasons, Herbel made only six starts. Following the season, Herbel was traded with Bob Barton
Bob Barton
Robert Wilbur Barton , is a retired, American professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from 1965-1974. He played for the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, and Cincinnati Reds....
and Bobby Etheridge
Bobby Etheridge (baseball)
Bobby Lamar Etheridge is a former professional baseball third baseman. He played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants....
to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for Frank Reberger
Frank Reberger
Frank Beall Reberger is an American former professional baseball pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball.-Playing career:...
.
New York Mets
The Padres were 50-82, 34.5 games back of the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
when they dealt Herbel to the reigning World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
champion New York Mets, who were in the midst of a play-off drive again in (two games back of the first place Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in the National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
at the time of the trade), and needed to add an arm to their bullpen. Herbel went 2-2 with a 1.38 ERA and one save in twelve relief appearances for the Mets, who finished in third place, six games back of the Pirates. Combined with his 64 appearances with the Padres, Herbel's 76 appearances on the mound led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, and was only one less than major league leader Wilbur Wood
Wilbur Wood
Wilbur Forrester Wood, Jr. is a former knuckleball pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and most notably the Chicago White Sox, where he got 163 of his 164 wins...
. Following the season, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Bob Aspromonte
Bob Aspromonte
Robert Thomas Aspromonte is a former utility player who had a 13 year career in 1956 and from 1960 to 1971. He played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Colt 45's/Astros, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets all of the National League.During his career, Aspromonte played first base, second...
.
Retirement
Herbel spent one season in Atlanta, where he went 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA and one save in 25 appearances for the third place Braves. He signed with the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in , and spent the entire season with their triple A Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
affiliate before retiring. He died on January 20, in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
at 62 years old.
Ronald Samuel Herbel (January 14, 1938 – January 20, 2000) was a right-handed Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. His .029 career batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
is the lowest batting average in Major League history for a player with a minimum of 100 at-bats.
MLB debut
Born in Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, Herbel attended the University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Colorado
-Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado...
. After two seasons at Northern Colorado, Herbel signed as an amateur free agent with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He spent five seasons in San Francisco's farm system when he received a September call up to the Giants in . He made two relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
appearances with the Giants, both against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, with his major league debut on September 10 at the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
.
0 for 47
Herbel was used both in relief and as a starterStarting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in , as he made 22 starts and eighteen appearances out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
. In his first Major League at-bat on May 6, he struck out against Larry Jackson
Larry Jackson
Lawrence Curtis Jackson was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies from 1955 to 1968...
of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. For the season, Herbel made 54 plate appearances without getting a hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, and struck out thirty times.
On the mound, however, he was much better. Herbel went 9-9 with a 3.07 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 98 strikeouts. His first major league win was a 1-0 complete game shut out
Shut Out
"Shut Out" is a single from the Paul Jabara album of the same name and features special guest vocals by Donna Summer. On the album, it is used as the first half of a medley another with another song called "Heaven is a Disco."...
of the New York Mets on May 17.
First Major League hit
In Herbel earned a spot in the starting rotation on his way to a 12-9 record for a Giants team that won 14 straight games in September, with Herbel pitching the best ball of his career, only to lose the pennant by 2 games to a Dodger team that won its last 15 games. He registered his first major league hit and RBI on May 21 in his first major league game on astroturfAstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
, while holding the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
to just five hits themselves in the complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
victory. It was his only hit of the season, though he was credited with a second run batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
on July 28 when he walked with the bases loaded.
Trade to the Padres
1965 was Herbel's best season with the Giants. If it could be said that he had a best season with the bat, it would be when Herbel had three hits, two of which were doublesDouble (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, two walks, three successful bunts and struck out only fourteen times for a .107 batting average. It was also Herbel's first real season as a reliever. Though he made eleven starts, he made 31 appearances out of the bullpen, earning one save. Over the next two seasons, Herbel made only six starts. Following the season, Herbel was traded with Bob Barton
Bob Barton
Robert Wilbur Barton , is a retired, American professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from 1965-1974. He played for the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, and Cincinnati Reds....
and Bobby Etheridge
Bobby Etheridge (baseball)
Bobby Lamar Etheridge is a former professional baseball third baseman. He played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants....
to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for Frank Reberger
Frank Reberger
Frank Beall Reberger is an American former professional baseball pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball.-Playing career:...
.
New York Mets
The Padres were 50-82, 34.5 games back of the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
when they dealt Herbel to the reigning World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
champion New York Mets, who were in the midst of a play-off drive again in (two games back of the first place Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in the National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
at the time of the trade), and needed to add an arm to their bullpen. Herbel went 2-2 with a 1.38 ERA and one save in twelve relief appearances for the Mets, who finished in third place, six games back of the Pirates. Combined with his 64 appearances with the Padres, Herbel's 76 appearances on the mound led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, and was only one less than major league leader Wilbur Wood
Wilbur Wood
Wilbur Forrester Wood, Jr. is a former knuckleball pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and most notably the Chicago White Sox, where he got 163 of his 164 wins...
. Following the season, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Bob Aspromonte
Bob Aspromonte
Robert Thomas Aspromonte is a former utility player who had a 13 year career in 1956 and from 1960 to 1971. He played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Colt 45's/Astros, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets all of the National League.During his career, Aspromonte played first base, second...
.
Retirement
Herbel spent one season in Atlanta, where he went 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA and one save in 25 appearances for the third place Braves. He signed with the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in , and spent the entire season with their triple A Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
affiliate before retiring. He died on January 20, in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
at 62 years old.
| Seasons | W Win (baseball) In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only... |
L | PCT | ERA | G Games played Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,... |
GS Games started In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter... |
CG | SHO Shutout In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball.... |
SV | IP Innings pitched In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two... |
H | ER Earned run In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run... |
R | HR Home run In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process... |
BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08... |
K Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... |
WP Wild pitch In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually... |
HBP Hit by pitch In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:... |
Avg. Batting average Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :... |
RBIs Run batted in Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI... |
| 9 | 42 | 37 | .532 | 3.83 | 331 | 79 | 11 | 3 | 16 | 894 | 945 | 380 | 442 | 81 | 285 | 447 | 40 | 20 | .029 | 3 |
