Washington Nationals Countdown to Spring Training: 15 Days
The off-season is almost over. Less than three weeks until Washington Nationals pitchers and catchers report to Viera. To celebrate this fact, we here at DistrictOnDeck will commence a countdown of sorts pointing out interesting facts about numbers.
We continue today with number 15.
April 5, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Nationals pinch runner Brett Carroll is congratulated by second baseman Danny Espinosa (8) for scoring a run during the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs on opening day at Wrigley Field. The Nationals beat the Cubs 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
Every day, I look for to get a different idea for this countdown. Today, a look at players in franchise history with at least 15 home runs, 15 doubles and 15 stolen bases in the same season. The result brings 16 players to do it while playing for the franchise and the list is quite a weird mix from Andre Dawson (8 times) to Mitch Webster, Ivan Calderon and Alfonso Soriano (among the players at 1 time).
Dawson is the player to have the most times doing this feat with eight. Those seasons started with a seven season streak from his rookie year in 1977 through to 1983 including the strike year of 1981. He then went two years missing the 15-15-15 before getting it back in his final season with the franchise in 1986. He completed the feat once more with the Cubs in 1990. The toll on his knees from Olympic Stadium really limited his stolen base numbers in the later part of his career.
The only other player in franchise history to complete the task more than twice was Larry Walker who did it four times between 1990-1994. Danny Espinosa has done this the past two seasons, Rondell White also did it twice and, surprisingly to me, Vladimir Guerrero only completed the task twice.
Last year’s Nationals, besides Espinosa had Bryce Harper and Ian Desmond complete the task. Jayson Werth completed the 15-15-15 season in 2011.
For comparisons sake, the task has been completed 305 times by 200 players since 1969. The top 5 since 1969 were Barry Bonds (14), Bobby Abreu (13), Alex Rodriguez (12), Bobby Bonds (10) and Mike Cameron and Dawson (9).
Notable players to wear 15 with the Expos/Nationals: Manny Mota, Balor Moore, Larry Parrish, Cristian Guzman, Jerry Hairston, Brett Carroll