Imagine playing an entire baseball game, scoring two crucial runs, but never recording an official at-bat. Sounds impossible? Well, that’s exactly what happened to Jimmie Foxx on June 16, 1938, when the Boston Red Sox slugger accomplished something that has still yet to be surpassed in baseball history.
According to a detailed account from Bill Nowlin on SABR.org, Foxx drew six walks in a nine-inning game against the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman’s Park. That set an American League record that still stands today. What makes this feat even more remarkable is Foxx managed to be the decisive factor in Boston’s 12-8 victory without recording a single official at-bat.
I’ve always been fascinated by quirky achievements like this one, as it perfectly captures how the game’s nuances can create legendary moments in the most unexpected ways. Let’s dive into why this record remains one of baseball’s most unique accomplishments.
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Jimmie Foxx’s Historic Six-Walk Performance
The numbers tell an incredible story. Foxx stepped into the batter’s box six times that Thursday afternoon and drew a base on balls every single time – once intentionally and five times the regular way. The 30-year-old “Beast” was already batting .349 entering the game, and Browns pitchers clearly wanted no part of challenging him.
What’s truly extraordinary about this performance is how Foxx maximized every opportunity. He scored in the first inning after his initial walk, eventually coming around on a Joe Cronin single. His fourth-inning walk set up another scoring chance, and his seventh-inning free pass directly led to the game-tying run when he advanced to third on Cronin’s double.
The most dramatic moment came in the eighth inning with Boston trailing 6-5. After an intentional walk – his fifth free pass of the day – Foxx raced home from first base on Cronin’s double, scoring what would prove to be the winning run. His sixth and final walk came in the ninth, adding an exclamation point to one of baseball’s most unusual individual performances.
The Exclusive Club: Players Who’ve Matched This Feat
Since Foxx’s remarkable 1938 achievement, three other players have managed to draw six walks in a single game. However, it’s worth noting all required extra innings to reach the milestone.
Andre Thornton of the Cleveland Indians was the first to match Foxx’s walk total, accomplishing the feat on May 2, 1984, during a marathon 16-inning contest. Fifteen years later, Jeff Bagwell of the Houston Astros joined the club on August 20, 1999, also in a 16-inning game.
Bryce Harper most recently did it for the Washington Nationals on May 8, 2016, drawing six walks in a 13-inning contest. None of these modern performances quite match Foxx’s efficiency. The fact that he accomplished this feat without extra innings remains the gold standard for patience at the plate.
The MVP Campaign That Defined a Career
Foxx’s six-walk game wasn’t an isolated incident but rather a perfect snapshot of his dominant 1938 MVP season. The Philadelphia Athletics legend, now playing for Boston, was terrorizing American League pitching throughout the campaign. His final numbers that year were staggering. They included a then-franchise record 50 home runs, a major league-leading 175 RBI, and 119 walks that topped both leagues.
What made Foxx’s season particularly special was his incredible plate discipline combined with devastating power. His .462 on-base percentage led the American League, while his .349 batting average also paced the Junior Circuit. Pitchers found themselves in impossible situations. They could challenge Foxx and risk a tape-measure blast, or walk him and watch him wreak havoc on the basepaths.
The walk total that season illustrates how much respect opposing pitchers had for Foxx’s capabilities.
A Hall of Fame Legacy Worth Collecting
Foxx’s incredible career achievements have made him one of the more sought-after players in the vintage baseball card market. As I mentioned recently, Foxx’s rookie cards and key vintage issues continue to command premium prices among serious collectors.
His 1933 Goudey #154 card, featuring that iconic batting stance, remains one of the holy grails of prewar collecting. The combination of his 534 career home runs, three MVP awards, and moments like this six-walk game have cemented Foxx’s place not just in Cooperstown, but in the hearts of baseball historians and card collectors alike.
What’s remarkable about Foxx’s legacy is how performances like his June 16, 1938 masterpiece showcase the complete player he was — not just a slugger, but a patient, intelligent hitter who understood how to impact games in multiple ways.
Nearly 90 years later, Jimmie Foxx’s six-walk game remains a testament to what makes baseball quirky and wonderful, where sometimes the most memorable performances come without putting the ball in play at all.
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