RBI World Series Trivia Question

[RockRaines4life]

Without looking up team rosters, what is the most recent year in which no RBI players have appeared in the World Series?

[GDavis]

Good question.  I'm way to lazy to cheat anyway, I'd think that it would pre-date RBI, cuz I think we've had at least one each year since the game came out.  I'll guess 1974.

[BeefMaster]

This is easy to narrow down - there was no World Series in 1994, so no RBI players appeared in it (he said "which year", not "which World Series").  I'm thinking, though, that it could be '97 - I don't believe the Marlins and Indians had all that much for old guys, although I can't remember much of the Marlins' roster at that time.

[Gantry]

1997 Indians had Kevin Mitchell and Julio Franco on their teams at some point, though I'm not sure if they made the World Series roster:

http://www.baseballreference.com/teams/CLE/1997.shtml

[Sam]

Let's see...

2003: NYY v. FL: Clemens (NYY)
2002: ANA v. SF: Santiago (SF)
2001: NYY v. AZ: Clemens (NYY)
2000: NYY v. NYM: Clemens (NYY)
1999: NYY v. ATL: Clemens (NYY)
1998: NYY v. SD: Gwynn (SD)
1997: CLE v. FL: Seitzer (CLE) or Franco (CLE) if one of them pinch-hit
1996: NYY v. ATL: Key (NYY)
1995: ATL v. CLE: Pena (CLE)
1994: No series held

So I guess the direct answer to your question is 1994 (the most recent year in which no RBI players have appeared in the World Series). Maybe you want to ask the most recent World Series in which no RBI players have appeared?

(Also I did use a list of World Series winners and losers to help me, but not the rosters. You only forbade looking up rosters, not which teams were involved.)

[Sam]

1997 Indians had Kevin Mitchell and Julio Franco on their teams at some point, though I'm not sure if they made the World Series roster:

http://www.baseballreference.com/teams/CLE/1997.shtml

After looking it up (grr...) neither Franco or Mitchell had a plate appearance in the WS. However, Kevin Seitzer (also on the Cleveland roster) went 0-1.

Source:
http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0112253.html

[Gantry]

And to go a little further back:

1993 - Toronto (Molitor, Morris) vs Philly (Dykstra, Kruk)
1992 - Toronto (Morris, Candy) vs Atlanta (Pendelton)
1991 - Atlanta (Pendelton, Heep) vs Minnesota (Kirby, Hrbek)
1990 - Cincy (Hatcher, Davis) vs Oakland (McGwire, Canseco)

So not counting 1994, there was no series in the 90s that didn't include an RBI'er...

Note - I didn't include all RBI'ers on the above list, just picked a couple...

[Gantry]

Ah, what the fuck!

1989 - San Fran (Clark, Mitchell) vs Oakland (McGwire, Canseco)
1988 - Dodgers (Gibson, Heep) vs Oakland (guess who?)
1987 - RBI Year
1986 - RBI Year
1985 - St. Louis (Jack Cleck, Herr) vs KC (Brett, Sheridan)
1984 - Padres (Gwynn) vs Detroit (Trammell)
1983 - Philly (Schmidt) vs Baltimore (Ripken)
1982 - St. Louis (Hernandez) vs Milwaukee (Molitor)
1981 - Dodgers (Lopes) vs Yankees (Randolph)
1980 - Philly (Schmidt) vs KC (Brett)

So the 80s are also chock-full of RBI'ers

[Sam]

1993: TOR v. PHI: Dykstra (PHI)
1992: TOR v. ATL: Morris (TOR)
1991: MIN v. ATL: Morris (MIN)
1990: OAK v. CIN: McGuire (OAK)
1989: OAK v. SF: McGuire (OAK)
1988: OAK v. LA: Gibson (LA)
1987: MIN v. STL: Coleman (STL)
1986: BOS v. NYM: Clemens (BOS)
1985: KC v. STL: Brett (KC)
1984: DET v. SD: Trammell (DET)

That was the first WS I was baseball-conscious for... any takers for prior to 1984?

[Gantry]

On to the 70s:

1979 - Pirates (Madlock) vs Baltimore (DeCinces)
1978 - Dodgers (Lopes) vs Yankees (Randolph)
1977 - see 1978
1976 - Reds (Youngblood) vs Yankees (Randolph)
1975 - Reds (Nobody) vs Red Sox (Burleson)
1974 - Dodgers (Lopes) vs A's (Potatoes)
1973 - Mets (Nobody) vs A's (Potatoes)
1972 - Reds (Nobody vs A's (Potatoes)
1971 - Pirates (Nobody vs Orioles (Grich)
1970 -  Reds (Nobody) vs Orioles (Grich)

Wow!  Now keep in mind that I'm only looking at the rosters throughout the year, Sam or someone else will have to insure that they were on the WS roster...

[Gantry]

Lets keep going:

1969 - New York Mets (Ryan) vs Orioles (None)
1968 - Cardinals (None) vs Tigers (None)

Dah Nah!!  Keep in mind that the Dick Schofield who played on St. Louis in 1968 was the elder Schofield....

So assuming that Grich was on the WS roster in 70 & 71, 1968 was the last World Series that didn't include an RBI'er.  

This game amazes me more and more each day...

[BeefMaster]

Wow - 35 years that RBI players have been in the Series.  That puts a lot of pressure on Ellis, Benito, and Jesse for next year.

[RockRaines4life]

Good job with the question!  As many of you pointed out, I phrased the question poorly leading 1994 to be the correct answer.  I meant to say which World Series was the last one to have no RBIers involved.  Unfortunately I checked baseball-reference and Grich didn't appear in the WS in 1971, making that the last year the Series didn't feature a Tengen vet.  Hopefully the Mets with Johnny Franco will make it next year to extend the streak!

[Gantry]

Does baseball reference have the rosters or just the box scores?  Is it possible Grich was on the roster but didn't get an AB?  1971 is still impressive, but I'd like to go to the 60s...

And this will get added to the FAQ today...

[Sam]

Does baseball reference have the rosters or just the box scores?  Is it possible Grich was on the roster but didn't get an AB?  1971 is still impressive, but I'd like to go to the 60s...

The question was "made an appearance" and Grich did not have an appearance at the plate or the field in the Series. He only played in 7 regular season games in 1971, and 30 games in 1970 and appears to have been left off the WS roster in both years.

How about this BBS post calling for Grich to be in the HOF!

[vgp100]

Who would've known there would be such heated debate about Grich to the HOF.
Now the Larry Herndon debate, that's something I want to be part of.

[Gantry]

On that note, I just picked up Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract and it lists Grich as the 12th best second baseman of all time, just ahead of Sweet Lou.  Color me surprised....

Awesome book BTW, barely touched it so far but it'll be a source for decades to come...

[RockRaines4life]

I found a quote from baseballlibrary.com saying that Grich never reached the World Series... so he must have been left off the roster both years.  Good call with the Historical Baseball Abstract, its definitely one of the coolest baseball books out there.

[RockRaines4life]

Interesting thing I found while checking out Bobby Grich's World Series status:  In 1974 he set the record for best fielding percentage by a second baseman in MLB history, with .995.  His record was tied in 1980, but in 1985 he regained it with a .997.  The player who tied him with a .995 fielding percentage at second base in 1980?  None other than Rob Wilfong, his future Tengen teammate!

[ultimate7]

I too was suprised to see Grich so high in the Abstract, that sort of rating should make him a potential HOF, but unfortunately it won't.  Though hopefully arcade RBIers Ron Santo will be selected next time veterans comittee chooses.