Bob Feller Archives - Cleveland Baseball History

Parker Messick Through Nine Starts

April 6, 2026

In Sunday’s 6-5 win over the Cubs, Parker Messick allowed just one run over five innings, lowering his career ERA to 2.31 through nine starts.

Over the last 100 seasons, only two others have posted a lower ERA through nine career games (minimum 50 IP) with Cleveland:

Aaron Civale, 182
Gene Bearden, 2.25
Messick, 2.31
Luis Tiant, 2.44
Hal Woodeshick, 2.72
Herb Score, 2.88

It’s also the second consecutive years in which Messick has generated an ERA under 1.00 through his first two appearances of the season.

He’s just the fifth Cleveland pitcher in the last 100 years to accomplish that feat (minimum 10 IP):

Mike Clevinger, 2018-19
Dick Stigman, 1960-61
Bob Feller, 1946-48 (three years)
Jim Bagby Jr., 1942-43

Tiant, Shane Bieber and Mel Harder also did it two (Harder three times) but in non-consecutive years.

Golden Sombrero and a Shutout

June 5, 2025

In Wednesday’s 4-0 win over the Yankees, Gabriel Arias had his third career Golden Sombrero.

It was the 11th time in franchise history someone recorded a Golden Sombrero in a shutout.

The most recent to do so prior to Arias:

2021 Daniel Johnson vs CHW
2020 Oscar Mercado vs CIN
2015 Brandon Moss vs HOU
2013 Drew Stubbs vs TBR
2008 Kelly Shoppach vs TOR

The most fun name on the list is Bob Feller, who pitched an 11-inning shutout against Washington in 1941 while also striking out four times.

Another pitcher by the name of Earl Moore pitched a shutout while recorded a personal Golden Sombrero in 1905 against the Yankees.

Youngest with Grand Slam Against Cleveland

April 17, 2025

Last night in the second inning, Orioles rookie Jackson Holliday became the fourth youngest to hit a grand slam against Cleveland.

Faye Throneberry (BOS) off Early Wynn – 20 years, 317 days (1952)
Ted Williams (BOS) off Harry Eisenstat – 20 years, 364 days (1939)
Bobby Doerr (BOS) off Bob Feller – 21 years, 116 days (1939)
Jackson Holliday (BAL) off Gavin Williams – 21 years, 133 days (2025)
Isaac Paredes (DET) off Adam Plutko – 21 years, 185 days (2020)
Melky Cabrera (NYY) off Paul Byrd – 21 years, 328 days (2006)
Juan Gonzalez (TEX) off Shawn Hillegas – 21 years, 302 days (1991)

HBP and BB with Bases Loaded

July 21, 2024

In the fourth inning on Saturday night, Gavin Williams loaded the bases against the Padres, then walked Luis Arraez and two batters later hit Jake Cronenworth.

It was just the ninth time in the last 100 years a Cleveland pitcher walked a batter and hit a batter with the bases loaded.

2018 – Kyle Nelson
2012 – Justin Masterson
2010 – Aaron Laffey
1986 – Phil Niekro
1977 – Don Hood
1976 – Tom Buskey
1975 – Dennis Eckersley
1952 – Bob Feller

Everyone on the list except Williams and Feller did it to consecutive batters.

Eckersley’s meltdown was a historically embarrassing moment for the team. In the bottom of the 9th, with the Indians leading 2-1 at Chicago, rookie manager Frank Robinson called up Eck – a rookie reliever making just his ninth career appearance. Eck promptly hit the first batter, tying the game, then issued a walk-off-walk to the next batter.

Opening Day Shutout

March 29, 2024

The Guardians pitched the 12th Opening Day shutout in franchise history on Thursday in Oakland.

2024 at Oakland (Shane Bieber)
2020 vs Kansas City (Shane Bieber)
2014 at Oakland (Justin Masterson)
2002 at Anaheim (Bartolo Colon, CG)
1968 at Chicago (Sonny Siebert, CG)
1962 at Boston (Dick Donovan, CG)
1953 vs Chicago (Bob Lemon, one-hitter)
1948 vs St. Louis (Bob Feller, CG)
1946 at Chicago (Bob Feller, CG)
1943 vs Detroit (Jim Bagby Jr., CG)
1940 at Chicago (Bob Feller, no-hitter)
1920 vs St. Louis (Stan Coveleski, CG)

3 K, 0 Times On Base

February 12, 2024

Most career games with at least three strikeouts and zero times reaching base

Gavin Williams 10 K Again

August 14, 2023

Gavin Williams struck out 10 Rays in his 10th career start on Saturday.

It was his second straight double-digit strikeout performance. He’s the 36th pitcher in MLB history with multiple 10-K games within his first 10 career games.

He’s also the 8th rookie in franchise history with multiple 10-K games, joining:

Williams and Bibee Dominate

August 9, 2023

In consecutive games against the Blue Jays, Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee tossed seven shutout innings.

It’s the first time rookie starters pitched at least seven scoreless innings in consecutive games since Jeff Mutis and Albie Lopez in 1993 against the California Angels.

Mutis tossed a complete-game four-hit shutout, while Lopez tossed seven scoreless before giving way to the bullpen.

Here’s the full list of rookie starters to toss 7+ shutout innings in consecutive games, with their combined strikeouts in parentheses:

2023: Williams and Bibee (18)
1993: Mutis and Lopez (9)
1970: Rich Hand and Steve Dunning (14)
1902: Gene Wright and Addie Joss (10)
1901: Bill Cristall and Earl Moore (4)

The 18 combined strikeouts by Williams and Bibee are also tied for the second most by rookie starters pitching in consecutive games. Here’s the leaderboard: