Upcoming TWIB episodes

1) .363 AVG, 49 HR, 165 RBI - Lou Gehrig, 1B, 1934
Although best known for his landmark 1939 inspirational speech, "biscuit pants" could swing the lumber with the very best. The Iron Horse won the 1934 AL Triple Crown with these numbers: in fact, he led all of MLB in these categories, as well as OBP and SLG. In spite of this, he finished fifth in the MVP voting to Mickey Cochrane - who won the award as player-manager for the first place Tigers with a .320 average and 2 homeruns.

2) .301 AVG, 23 HR, 74 RBI - Carl Yastrzemski, OF, 1968
The year after winning MLB's last Triple Crown, Yaz won the batting title in the Year of the Pitcher with a .301 average: the lowest for any batting crown in MLB history.

3) .320 AVG, 52 HR, 149 RBI - George Foster, OF, 1977
The sometimes forgotten slugger that was an integral part of the Big Red Machine, Foster put up some monster numbers in 1977, and posted the highest HR total since Willie Mays in 1965. While Cecil Fielder reached the 50-homer plateau in 1990, Foster's total wouldn't be equaled until Mark McGwire's 52 round-trippers in 1996. His 149 RBI total was the highest since Tommy Davis drove in 153 in 1962, and wouldn't be eclipsed until Andres Galarraga tallied 150 in 1996.

4) .354 AVG, 10 HR, 109 RBI - Honus Wagner, SS, 1908
One of the game's all-time greatest hitters had perhaps his finest season in 1908, leading the league in over 11 different hitting categories. Honus would win eight NL batting crowns over his career, a record only matched by Tony Gwynn.

5) .401 AVG, 42 HR, 152 RBI - Rogers Hornsby, 2B, 1922
People think of Ted Williams and his 1941 average of .406 as the benchmark for batting average, but Hornsby averaged over .400 for a five season period (1921-25), including a career high of .424 in 1924. He remains the only player in history reach the 40 homer - .400 average marks in the same season.

6) .345 AVG, 41 HR, 110 RBI - Willie Mays, OF, 1954
When you think of Willie Mays and 1954 you think of his awe-inspiring World Series catch, but at age 23 he may have had his finest season at the plate, winning the MVP as the Giants overtook the 111 win Indians for the title.

7) .398 AVG, 32 HR, 122 RBI - Lefty O'Doul, OF, 1929
Failing as a pitcher and out of baseball at age 26, Lefty worked on becoming a hitter in the minors and did he ever - returning at age 31 as a ferocious slugger who went on to win 2 batting titles and post a career .349 average.

8) .362 AVG, 40 HR, 124 RBI - Mike Piazza, C, 1997
Perhaps the greatest hitter never to win an MVP or lead the league in a major hitting category, Mike Piazza's 1997 performance remains the finest season a catcher has ever had at the plate. Piazza would finish 2nd in MVP voting to Larry Walker.

9) .313 AVG, 47 HR, 129 RBI - Ernie Banks, SS, 1958
Long before Cal Ripken allegedly revolutionized the position by being a big man, 6'1'' Ernie Banks was pumping out 40 homer seasons as a shortstop, reaching the plateau 4 times as a full time shortstop. Make that 5 if you count 1957, when he hit 43 HR while playing 58 games at 3B and 100 as ****. Only Alex Rodriguez has more 40 homer seasons as a shortstop.

10) .391 AVG, 1 HR, 33 RBI - John McGraw, 3B, 1898
Before he became one of the all-time greatest managers, McGraw was a heck of a ballplayer that knew the value of getting on base, posting a lifetime .334 batting average and an amazing .466 career on base percentage - the 3rd highest total in MLB history that trails only Ted Williams and Babe Ruth.

Last week's 10 for 10 performances:

Brett Bonacum
Greg Holcombe

Good job, boys.