In Ray King’s day, which basically was 15 to 20 years ago, lefthanded relievers were more specialized. If the former Cardinal pitched in back-to-back games in a series, it generally revolved around twice facing a dangerous, middle-of-the-order hitter.
Somebody like the all-time home run king, for instance, in Barry Bonds.
But, in those particular matchups, it was the portly “Burger King,” rather than the home-run king, who had it his way.
Over the course of King’s 10-season career, all spent in the National League, Bonds had 17 official at-bats (plus three walks) against King. He hit just three balls to the outfield and had only one hit, a game-winning home run, on a pitch King, then in his second of two stints with the Atlanta organization, said he didn’t want to throw but that his catcher had insisted upon.