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Who Had the Worst Game as a Base Runner in MLB History?
Who lost the most bases as a base runner in a game? The winner of this dubious record is Joe Judge of the Washington Senators on September 21, 1916, when he lost 9 bases. Judge gained not a single base as a base runner in the game, and he wasn't forced to run on any of his base-losing plays. In every case during that game, when Judge chose to run, it was the wrong decision. He also gained no Xtra Bases, so both his tBGR and XtBGR for the gamne are -9, a record.
Three other players also had -9 tBGR, but all three also had at least one Xtra Base, which gave them a -8 or -7 XtBGR.
Joe Judge, Washington Senators vs Cleveland Indians, Sept. 21, 1916: tBGR -9, Xtra Base 0, XtBGR -9
- 2nd inning: Out trying to score on a grounder (-3)
- 4th: Out advancing from 2nd to 3rd on grounder (-2)
- 7th: Caught stealing 2nd (-1)
- 12th: Out trying to score from 2nd on a single (-3)
Bing Miller, Philadelphia Athletics vs Chicago White Sox, July 18, 1924: tBGR -9, Xtra Base 1, XtBGR -8
- 1st: Out trying to score from 2nd on a single (-3)
- 3rd: Out trying to score from 1st on a double (-3)
- 8th: After singling, Miller advanced to 3rd on a single by Joe Hauser (+1 Xtra Base)
- 8th: Out trying to score from 3rd on a grounder (-3)
After being thrown out at the plate twice, you’d think Bing would’ve been cautious the 3rd time. But no. And despite Bing's best effort, the A’s actually won the game, 4-3.
Bing Miller being tagged out at home in 1925. Bing was used to that.
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Clyde Barnhart, Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs, April 22, 1925: tBGR -9, Xtra Base 1, XtBGR -8
- 3rd: Out tagging up from 3rd (-3)
- 5th: Doubled off on bunt pop to the pitcher (-3)
- 8th: Walked and then advanced to 3rd on a single by Max Carey (+1 Xtra Base)
- 8th: Out tagging up from 3rd (-3)
Shockingly, the Pirates won 6-1 over the Cubs.
Tris Speaker, Washington Senators vs Chicago White Sox, July 17, 1927: tBGR -9, Xtra Base 2, XtBGR -7
- 1st: Out tagging up from 3rd (-3)
- 5th: Scores from 2nd on a single (+1 Xtra Base)
- 7th: Doubled and advanced to 3rd on a ground out (+1 Xtra Base)
- 7th: Caught stealing home (-3)
- 9th: Caught stealing home (-3)
The Hall of Famer was caught stealing home twice in a single game? Must be a record.
*See the Title Page of the report for a list of the running plays that count toward tBGR and Xtra Bases.
Use the Game IDs on the report to search for the box scores in BaseballReference.
Note: The tBG database currently goes back to 1910.