Torchia's .294 good enough for batting title
Minor League Baseball is known for its rich history dating back more than 100 years. While much has been written about the best teams and top players who have graced the Minors, there remain many stories either untold or largely forgotten. Each week, MiLB.com will attempt to fill that gap
Minor League Baseball is known for its rich history dating back more than 100 years. While much has been written about the best teams and top players who have graced the Minors, there remain many stories either untold or largely forgotten. Each week, MiLB.com will attempt to fill that gap and explore these historical oddities in our feature, "Cracked Bats."
The mound was high and the batting averages were low in 1968, earning that season the appropriate label as "The Year of the Pitcher."
Bob Gibson and Denny McLain were busy leading the mound madness in the Major Leagues that kept batting averages, on-base percentages and slugging percentages to all-time lows in the live-ball era. Carl Yastrzemski was the only American Leaguer to crack the .300 mark and he just barely made it over the bar, winning the batting title with the lowest average ever (.301).
But what about the Minor Leagues? Were they affected as greatly by the higher mounds, bigger strike zones and more pitcher-friendly umpiring?
Ask Tony Torchia. He was there. He spent much of the summer following Yastrzemski's lead while playing for Pittsfield, Boston's Eastern League affiliate. He won the batting title that season on the Double-A circuit, despite hitting only .294. It remains the lowest average of any Eastern League batting champion and the only one under .300. The previous low mark had been Tony Bartirome's .305 in 1956.
The title also put Torchia, now 63, in select company. He is one of only 33 Minor League batting champions since 1905 to win the title while hitting under .300. There have been only six such champions since 1913, with two of them winning titles in 1967 -- Minnie Mendoza (Southern, .297) and Charles Stewart (Florida State, .296).
According to the Minor League Encyclopedia, Tommy Boudreau (.277) collected a batting title with the lowest average ever while playing for Milwaukee's Arizona League affiliate in 1990. He also was the last sub.-300 player to win a crown. The lowest full-season average for a batting champion was .281, a mark shared by George Whitman (1906 Texas League) and Hunky Shaw (1910 Pacific Coast League).
Torchia's story, though, is also interesting because of how he won the crown. He began the season in the International League, but after a month was sent back to Pittsfield. As the season wound down, it became apparent he would have an insufficient number of at-bats to win. Teammate Carmen Fanzone, who led the league with 17 home runs and 75 RBIs, finished second in batting at .270.
But the exception to rule 10.23(a) states "if there is any player with fewer than the required number of plate appearances whose average would be the highest, if he were charged with the required number of plate appearances or official at bats, then that player shall be awarded the batting championship or slugging championship." So league officials factored in an 0-for-22 skid onto Torchia's stat line -- which would give him enough at-bats to qualify -- and he still finished ahead of Fanzone.
"It was a unique thing," said Torchia, who despite being 5-foot-9 played first base. "It was kind of dubious because I got there a month late. But after applying the rule and seeing that I still would have led the league after going 0-for-22, they gave it to me.
"I'm sure I was hitting over .300 at some point during the season. But I wasn't thinking about winning a batting title. We were fighting for a championship against Larry Bowa and Reading. We never knew the rule about at-bats, we just figured I wouldn't have enough. Our general manager was Pat McKernan and he would go on to be the league president. He was a former English teacher in Pittsfield and he found out about the rule."
That gave Torchia two batting titles in six years. He won the 1962 Midwest League crown (.338) while playing for Keokuk in the Dodgers' system. The Red Sox drafted him out of the Los Angeles system the following season and he stayed with Boston for a dozen years, spending most of his career at the Triple-A level.
Boston hired Torchia as a Minor League manager in 1976, and he finally reached the big leagues in 1985 as Boston's hitting coach. He spent a year in the Majors before working in the San Diego, Colorado, Houston and Montreal systems. His most recent gig was as a manager in an independent league. Currently, he works for Major League Baseball International, helping to expose nations from around the world to the game.
"I was a good hitter, just not a good enough all-around player for the Major Leagues," Torchia said. "I wasn't a power hitter and they didn't have six-year free agents back then. If I had been a catcher or a second baseman with the way I hit, I probably would have made it.
"It was more gratifying to play for the championship in '68. After that year, there was expansion. I led the league in hitting and I wasn't that old, but I didn't get drafted by anyone and guys who hit .240 and .250 in that league did."
Torchia's experience in '68 certainly was unique. The mounds were lowered the following season and normalcy returned. Bob Kelly led the Eastern League in hitting with a .323 average in 1969 and no one has led the circuit with an average lower than .311 since Torchia.
Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com.
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition: