Games : 1996 National League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"Although baseball decided to extend the regular season deeper into October to play 162 games (after the 09-11 disaster), why not just play 154? Baseball has dealt with shortened seasons before. (Bud) Selig spoke about the sanctity of playing 162 games, but baseball played 154 games until 1961. Baseball should have just let the games go and continued with the current schedule." - Joe Morgan on ESPN (September 19, 2001)
 

1996 Games Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

Brad Clontz 81 Atlanta Braves 1
Bob Patterson 79 Chicago Cubs 2
Mark Dewey 78 San Francisco Giants 3
Jeff Shaw 78 Cincinnati Reds  
Mark Wohlers 77 Atlanta Braves 5
Robb Nen 75 Florida Marlins 6
Mel Rojas 74 Montreal Expos 7
Greg McMichael 73 Atlanta Braves 8
Antonio Osuna 73 Los Angeles Dodgers  
Dan Plesac 73 Pittsburgh Pirates  
Todd Worrell 72 Los Angeles Dodgers 11
Bruce Ruffin 71 Colorado Rockies 12
Mike Dyer 70 Montreal Expos 13
Trevor Hoffman 70 San Diego Padres  
Curtis Leskanic 70 Colorado Rockies  
Steve Reed 70 Colorado Rockies  
Turk Wendell 70 Chicago Cubs  
Terry Adams 69 Chicago Cubs 18
Toby Borland 69 Philadelphia Phillies  
Dave Veres 68 Montreal Expos 20
T.J. Mathews 67 St. Louis Cardinals 21
Jay Powell 67 Florida Marlins  
Jeff Brantley 66 Cincinnati Reds 23
Mark Guthrie 66 Los Angeles Dodgers  
Tony Fossas 65 St. Louis Cardinals 25



Jose Cruz of the Houston Astros had his number twenty-five retired on October 3, 1992, and became the first Major League player with that particular retired number.

The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?

The first player from the Angels franchise (they were the California Angels at the time) to wear the number twenty-five was Bob Perry.