I’m Walkin’ – Fats Domino and Joey Votto

Pablo Sandoval Fats Domino

Friday night, on the season’s premiere of PBS “American Masters”  Joe Lauro‘s documentary, “The Big Beat: Fats Domino and the Birth of Rock ’n’ Roll” will debut.

Even those of you who weren’t born when Antoine “Fats” Domino, Jr. was popular, you are probably familiar with his hits “Ain’t That a Shame,” “Walkin’ to New Orleans,” “Blueberry Hill,” and “I’m Walkin.’” According to the NY Times, Fats “has sold more than 60 million records and, between 1950 and 1963, he made Billboard’s pop chart 63 times and its R&B chart 59 times — more hit records than Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Buddy Holly combined.”

“I’m Walkin'” was first recorded by Fats (March, 1957) and then covered by Ricky Nelson (April, 1957) both resulted in hits, but I digress. These days, the player who should be singing this song is Joey Votto who has led the majors in walks four of the last five seasons. His performance is similar to that of Eddie Yost who from 1950-to-1960 was a league leader in bases on balls and earned the nickname, “The Walking Man.”

Nine to Know: 2015 Walks leaders

Nine to Know: BB leaders 2011-15

Nine to Know: BB leaders 2006-15

Nine to Know: Random walk stats from 2015

1. In 2015, Dexter Fowler led the majors walking 33 times leading off an inning.
2. In 2015, Dexter Fowler and Delino DeShields led the majors walking 13 times leading off a game.
3. In 2015, Carlos Santana led all clean-up batters walking 69 times. Terry Francona is giving thought to Santana leading off for the Indians in 2016,
4. In 2015, Curtis Granderson led the majors walking five times with the bases filled; there were 241 bases filled walks last season.
5. In 2015, Joey Votto led the majors walking 47 times in innings 7 through 9.
6. In 2015, Andrew McCutchen led the majors walking 72 times in wins; Joey Votto led walking 90 times in losses.
7. In 2015, Joey Votto led the majors walking in 94 games; Bryce Harper was next with 88 games.
8. In 2015, there were 63 one walk games and one 18 walk game*.
9. In 2015, Avisail Garcia, Greg Garcia, Chris Coughlin, and Adrian Beltre each had a walkoff walk.

*On July 19 in St. Louis, the Mets defeated the Cardinals 3-1 in 18 innings; the Cards drew five walks, while the Mets walked 13 times (there were five batters who walked twice)

Fats Domino and The Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll premieres on Fats’ 88th birthday: February 26, 2016 (on your local PBS channel)