Baseball player Joe Sewell is known as the hardest man in major league baseball history to strike out. Opposing pitchers managed to strike out Sewell only 114 times in 7,132 at bats. This lefthanded hitter's ability to make contact resulted in seasons when he struckout only 4 to 6 times for the full season. Joe Sewell played on the University of Alabama's baseball team; as did his brother Luke. Luke was a major league catcher for 20 years. Seven players of this University of Alabama's baseball team made the major leagues.

A righthanded throwing, shortstop, Sewell was a smooth fielder and in his rookie year, he set a then major league record with 75 double plays. He was a star on defense and was the American League's leading fielder in 16 different categories in his outstanding career. Joe Sewell batted over .300 in ten different years. In 1923, he hit .353 with 41 doubles had 109 RBI's; was at bat 553 times and struckout only 12 times. In 1925, Sewell hit .336 smashed 37 doubles, 98 RBI's, and in 608 at bats he struckout only 4 times! In 1926, he struckout only 6 times in 578 at bats. Joe Sewell wasn't just a punch hitter making contact; playing only 14 seasons he slugged 436 doubles, scored over 1000 runs and also knocked in over 1000 runs. In 1932, Sewell had 503 at bats, he walked 68 times and struckout only 3 times. A "Hall of Famer", he walked 844 times in his career and his career slugging percentage was .413. Sewell lifetime on base pct. - .391. Joe Sewell lifetime stats: .312 batting ave., hits - 2,226, triples 68, HR's 49, and stole 74 bases. We tip our caps to this unique, one-of-kind ballplayer. The hardest man in all of baseball history to strikeout. baseballhistorian.com archives