Rookie Casey Kotchman just strikeout for the first time on Sunday in his 46th plate appearance. Elias Sports Bureau reports that it was the longest stretch without a K at the beginning of a player's career since Bob Bailor went 51 plate appearances over three years (1975-77) and two teams (O's and the original Jays) without striking out.

When one considers that Kothcman has now struck out once and walked just twice in 51 plate appearances, one realizes that Kotchman is a bit anxious to stay in the majors. He just got promoted from Double-A as the Angels turned to the former number-one pick to spell the oft-injured Darrin Erstad at first. (By the way wasn't that supposed to change when he moved to first?)

That means that he makes some sort of contact with the ball 94.22% of the time, or that he walks or strikes out only 5.88% of the time. That seems extremely low for a ballplayer in the 21st century.

I thought it would be interesting to take a look at all the ballplayers that have had what I'm calling a K+BB ratio under 6% with at least 50 plate appearance. There have been 106 since 1901. However, as you imagine, they are getting rarer all the time. The last to do it was the estimable Felix Fermin in 1995, and only three players have done in it in the last thirty years.

Here are all the players since 1950 to have a K+BB Ratio under 6%:

By the way, the lowest since 1901 was pitcher Murry Dickson in 1948. He had one strikeout and one walk in 101 plate appearances for a K+BB ratio of 1.98%. Stuffy McInnis had the lowest for a batting title qualifier: 3.44% in 611 PA in 1924.