BOX-TOPPERS EXTRA
Jason Giambi of the Indians had been the only player to earn at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point in each season since record keeping began in 1995.
However, in 2014, Giambi failed to earn Player of the Game honors even once and so earned no Box-Toppers points for the season. That means his streak of 19 straight seasons with at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point, which lasted from 1995 to 2013, has come to an end.
Giambi, 43, was hampered by injury this season and played in only 26 games, making 70 plate appearances.
Giambi has 133.4 career Box-Toppers points, which ranks eighth among all batters since record keeping began in 1995. During his 19-season streak, Giambi has had as many as 17.0 Box-Toppers points (he did it twice—in 2000 with the Athletics and in 2002 with the Yankees) and as few as 1.0 (in 2012 with the Rockies). In 2013, he had 3.5 with the Indians.
Giambi broke into the Majors in 1995, the same year as Box-Toppers record keeping began. He started as primarily a first baseman and late in his career has been primarily a designated hitter.
Giambi hasn’t decided whether to retire at the end of this season. He is a free agent.
With Giambi’s streak of 19 seasons at an end, the longest current streak of seasons with at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point is 17, held by Paul Konerko of the White Sox. Konerko has scored at least 1.0 point in each season from 1998 to 2014—he scored 1.0 point each in 2013 and 2014.
However, Konerko’s 17-year streak is now at an end because he played his last game Sunday and retired.
That means the longest streak is now 16 seasons with at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point held by three veteran players:
• Pitcher Tim Hudson of the Giants.
• Outfielder Carlos Beltran of the Yankees.
• Outfielder Torii Hunter of the Tigers.
All three players have at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point in each season from 1999 to 2014.
Derek Jeter of the Yankees had a streak of 17 seasons with at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point from 1996 to 2012. However, he scored no Box-Toppers points in either 2013 or 2014.
Three other players had 18-year streaks with at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point come to an end after the 2012 season: Jim Thome, Chipper Jones and Johnny Damon. Alex Rodriguez had an 18-year streak with at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point come to an end after the 2013 season.
Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. Players earn Box-Toppers points for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.