Strike-free zone

Joe Sewell with Cleveland (Charles Conlon photo)

Cleveland third baseman Joe Sewell strikes out twice 96 years ago today against Chicago left-hander Pat Caraway during a 5-2 victory over the White Sox before a Monday afternoon crowd of 3,500 at old League Park. ‍

In itself, striking out twice in a game seems like no big deal, except Sewell rarely strikes out even once.

Ever.

In fact, Sewell does not strike out in any of the remaining 83 games he plays that season for Cleveland, leaving him with only three strikeouts in 414 plate appearances in 1930.

In all, Sewell strikes out only 114 times in 8,333 plate appearances during his Hall of Fame career from 1920-33.

Sewell strikes out only 15 times in his final three seasons, a span over which he comes to the plate 1,753 times.

As a point of reference, Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood in 2025 leads the major leagues with a staggering 221 strikeouts in 689 at-bats.

“There’s no excuse for a major league player striking out 100 times a season,” Sewell says in 1960. “Unless, of course, he’s blind.”

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