But that Cardinals outfit was hardly a bunch of slugs.
Among those who contributed to the NL record were Hall of Famer Stan Musial, who grounded into 19 double plays, second on the team behind Gene Green’s 24. Ken Boyer, whose number is retired at Busch Stadium, grounded into 15 double plays.
The club also featured Curt Flood, one of the best center fielders in Cardinals history. Flood grounded into 17 double plays, and former Rookie of the Year Wally Moon had nine, as did .291 lifetime hitter Joe Cunningham.
It should be remembered that the 1958 Cardinals got to 166 double plays in 154 games, while teams play 162 games these days. But that team and the current team had in common the relative inability to steal bases. The 1958 Cardinals stole just 44 bases and the 2011 Cardinals had only 49 before the weekend.
The two teams also left the field behind in the National League double-play standings. The 1958 Cardinals “won” the title by 33 over Philadelphia. The 2011 Cardinals had 160 before Saturday night’s game, with Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina running 1-2-3 in double plays, and will “win” by more than 40.
But grounding into double plays is not necessarily an albatross preventing a team from being successful. The major-league record of 174 was set by the 1990 Boston Red Sox, a team that won the American League Eastern Division that year despite having nine players ground into at least 10 double plays, led by former Cardinals catcher Tony Peña, who had 23.
One addendum to the 2011 Cardinals leading both leagues in double plays is that they also have the fewest strikeouts in the National League, at just over 900. And they rank third in all of baseball in fewest strikeouts, despite the fact that the strikeout-prone pitchers don’t bat in American League games.
The 1958 Cardinals had the fewest strikeouts of any of the 16 major-league clubs in existence. So, in both cases, the team which put the ball into play the most also hit into the most double plays.
A-ROD BACK IN LINEUP
Alex Rodriguez returned to the Yankees’ lineup on Saturday, though he did so in an unusual position in the batting order.
And batting fifth agreed with him. But, more important, the sprained left thumb that kept him out the past six games, came through the afternoon OK.
“I’ve said all along if I feel pain-free, I think I’m able to do a lot of damage,” Rodriguez said. “I feel pretty comfortable with my timing in the box.”
Comfortable indeed.
A-Rod, batting fifth for the first time since Sept. 6, 2006, at Kansas City, singled his first time up, in the second, then highlighted the Yankees’ four-run sixth with a three-run home run.
“He looked really good to me,” manager Joe Girardi said.
BUCHHOLZ PROGRESS
Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz threw 30 pitches off a mound and said he is hoping to be able to pitch if Boston reaches the playoffs.
Buchholz hasn’t pitched since June 16 because of a back injury. He said he was throwing at 75 percent to 80 percent.
Manager Terry Francona said the goal will be to have Buchholz throw again on Monday or Tuesday.
