13 replies to this topic

[Fishin Phil]

Cubs Fact:

In 1979, Cubs slugger Dave Kingman led the National League in homers with 48, and in slugging percentage at .613. He also hit a career-high .288 and led the team in runs scored with 97, and RBIs with 115.

[Stinky Pete]

Yeah, but what was his BABIP?

[Fishin Phil]

Yeah, but what was his BABIP?

OK gang, there is your trivia question for today.

[Cubbie Blues]

.336? Are we going over/under on this?

[Spriggs]

.336? Are we going over/under on this?

That's gotta be close, but I'll go higher and say .347

[OCCubFan]

Assume Kingman had 600 ABs. Then, to hit .288, he needed 173 hits. Subtracting 48 HRs, he needed 125 non-HR hits.

If he struck out in 25% of his ABs, that would be 150 Ks. That gives 450 non-K ABs, and 402 ABs in which he neither struck out nor homered, that is, he put the ball in play 402 times.

Finally, based on the above assumptions, Kingman got hits on 125 of his 402 balls in play --- a BABIP of 0.311.

Of course, different assumptions lead to different results.

[Cubbie Blues]

Assume Kingman had 600 ABs. Then, to hit .288, he needed 173 hits. Subtracting 48 HRs, he needed 125 non-HR hits.

If he struck out in 25% of his ABs, that would be 150 Ks. That gives 450 non-K ABs, and 402 ABs in which he neither struck out nor homered, that is, he put the ball in play 402 times.

Finally, based on the above assumptions, Kingman got hits on 125 of his 402 balls in play --- a BABIP of 0.311.

Of course, different assumptions lead to different results.

Or a wild stab in the dark ...

[Fishin Phil]

FYI - I have no friggin idea what his BABIP was. Stinky Pete posed the question, he'll have to research the answer.

[Justen]

Assume Kingman had 600 ABs. Then, to hit .288, he needed 173 hits. Subtracting 48 HRs, he needed 125 non-HR hits.

If he struck out in 25% of his ABs, that would be 150 Ks. That gives 450 non-K ABs, and 402 ABs in which he neither struck out nor homered, that is, he put the ball in play 402 times.

Finally, based on the above assumptions, Kingman got hits on 125 of his 402 balls in play --- a BABIP of 0.311.

Of course, different assumptions lead to different results.

isnt a strikeout rate of 25% really high for 1979?? players didnt strikeout that much until probably the early to mid 90's. i would say it should be more around 10%.

[Justen]

FYI - I have no friggin idea what his BABIP was. Stinky Pete posed the question, he'll have to research the answer.

FanGraphs has his BABIP in 1979 as .291

[Justen]

FYI - I have no friggin idea what his BABIP was. Stinky Pete posed the question, he'll have to research the answer.

FanGraphs has his BABIP in 1979 as .291

his strikeout rate actually as 22.2%. im suprised it was that high considering the era so he definately struckout more than the average player(probably explains the low BABIP even though he hit .288)

[Spriggs]

I knew he led the league in strikeouts that year. Was thinking he was close to the all time record at the time (which was somewhere around 185 or 190 by Bonds). Must have had way fewer strikeouts than that though.

[fromthemitten]

@Phil - babip is batting average on balls in play -- i/e how many balls that were hit into non-foul territory went for hits.

[Justen]

@Phil - babip is batting average on balls in play -- i/e how many balls that were hit into non-foul territory went for hits.

i think what he was saying was he didnt know what Kiingman's BABIP was that particular year.