Sunday, July 13, 2025

2025-06-30 500-HR Club Members who never had a 50+ HR season

 

This is a two-week theme.


MONDAY  — 30-Jun-2025

Q.  Who holds the major league career All-Star Game record for most runs scored and for runs batted in?

Hint: #1  He is the record holder for total bases in a single All-Star Game.

Hint: #2  Many believe those career numbers could easily have been much higher.

A.  TED WILLIAMS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In his 19 ASG appearances, Williams scored 10 times & had 12 RBI.

-  #1  In the 1946 game, he racked up 10 TB w/4 hits of which 2 were HR.

-  #2  Williams’ military service caused him to miss 5 ASG to which he almost certainly would have been selected.  (Feel free to join me making hypothetical calculations.)

FCR -  Rev. John Wilson, Mesa, Arizona

Incorrect guesses:  Willie Mays, Fred Lynn, Barry Bonds, Stan Musial

 

 

TUESDAY  — 01-Jul-2025

Q.  Who is the only member of the three-thousand hit, five-hundred home run club with a lifetime batting average higher than .305?

Hint: #1  He is the only native of his country to reach the three-thousand-career hit plateau

Hint: #2  He hit a walk-off home run in his first major league game.

A.  MIGUEL CABRERA  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Cabrera finished his 23-year MLB career in 2023 with 3,174 H, 511 HR & a lifetime .306 batting average.  Henry Aaron came close.

-  #1  He ranks 17th all-time in MLB in hits and remains the only Venezuelan to reach the 3,000-hit plateau.  Next closest player is Omar Vizquel with 2,877.  Closes active is Jose Altuve w/2,313.

-  #2   On 20-Jun-2003, in just his 5th career plate appearance, the 20-year-old rookie launched an 11th-inning walk-off HR to beat cross-state rival Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

FCR -  Brian Barris, Oneida, New York

Incorrect guesses:  Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Pujols, Rod Carew, Roberto Clemente

 

 

WEDNESDAY  — 02-Jul-2025

Q.  Who was the first player to amass at least two hundred home runs in each league?

Hint: #1  He won the Manager of the Year Award managing a team that improved its win total by thirty-three games over the previous year, just barely missing the postseason.

Hint: #2  He is one of only two major leaguers to win a (league) Most Valuable Player Award, a World Series Most Valuable Player Award and an All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award.

A.  FRANK ROBINSON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Robinson ended with 343 HR in the NL & 243 in the AL.

-  #1  He was MOY in 1989 w/BAL.

-  #2  Won the NL MVP in 1961 & the AL MVP in 1966*; won the WS MVP in 1966; & the ASG MVP in 1971.

*Unanimous

FCR -  Steve Riach, Southlake, Texas

Incorrect guesses: 

 

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  — 03-Jul-2025

Q.  Which Hall of Famer was originally more interested in softball than baseball, but was signed to his first professional contract by another Hall of Famer?

Hint: #1  In his career, he produced a game with three doubles, another game with three triples and four additional games each with three home runs.

Hint: #2  He ran for city alderman during his playing days, but lost in a landslide.

A.  ERNIE BANKS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Banks was signed by Cool Papa Bell to play for the Kansas City Monarchs.  After military service, he played for them in 1950 and then again briefly in 1953 before  joining the Cubs.

-  #1     Doubles X 3 = 29-Sep-1957;

Triples X 3 = 11-Jun-1966;

HR X 3 = 04-Aug-1955, 14-Sep-1957(2), 29-May-1962; & 09-Jun-1963.

-  #2  Banks ran for Eighth Ward Alderman in Chicago in 1963.  Reports at the time describe the defeat as a "landslide," though exact vote totals are not widely available.  Banks was a Republican in a ward that heavily leaned Democratic.  His opponent was James A. Condon, the entrenched incumbent & part of Chicago’s powerful Democratic machine led by Mayor Richard J. Daley.

FCR -  Andrew Milner, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Incorrect guesses:  Johnny Mize, Albert Pujols, Lou Gehrig

 

 

THURSDAY  — 03-Jul-2025

Q.  Who had the highest batting average ever in a qualified season by a teenager?

Hint: #1  He once said, “Every time I sign a ball, I am glad my name is not Coveleski, Wambsganss or Peckinpaugh.”

Hint: #2  Although he never won a Most Valuable Player Award, he received MVP votes in thirteen of his twenty-two years as a major league player.

A.  MEL OTT  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Ott’s .322 in 1928 as a 19-year-old still stands as the highest qualified average by a teenager in MLB history.

-  #1  Ott was apparently appreciative of possessing one of the shortest names in major league history.  Among Hall of Famers, he is equaled only by Ty Cobb.  Among all major leaguers, Ed Ott (no relation) appears to the fewest letters, first and last name combined.

-  #2  Although never an MVP, Ott finished in the top 10 of vote getters 6 times finishing, his best being 3rd in 1942.

FCR -  Jerry Miller, Liberty Hill, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Al Kaline, Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Tony Conigliaro, Whitey Ford, Jimmie Foxx, Rogers Hornsby

 

 

FRIDAY  — 04-Jul-2025

Q.  Who was the first player to homer twice in the same inning of a major league game twice?

Hint: #1  The only season he hit more home runs than the number on his jersey, he was rewarded with a Most Valuable Player Award.

Hint: #2  He once tied for the league lead in home runs with another Hall of Famer who wore the same uniform number.  The number they shared was also the number of homers they each hit that season.

A.  WILLIE McCOVEY  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  McCovey hit 2 HR in the 4th inning on 12-Apr-1973 in Candlestick Park off Astros Ken Forsch & Jim Crawford.  His repeat performance was as a 39-year-old in the 6th inning on 27-Jun-1977 in Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati off Reds pitchers Jack Billingham & Joe Hoerner.  [Note that Andre Dawson, Jeff King, Alex Rodriguez & Edwin Encarnacion each, also did it more than once.]  No one has ever done it thrice.

-  #1  McCovey wore #44 & in 1969 he hit 45 HR & won the NL MVP.

-  #2  In 1963 Hank Aaron & McCovey each hit 44 HR to lead the NL.  They both wore #44 same uniform number each wore.

FCR -  Jim Cochran, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Incorrect guesses:  Hank Aaron, Carl Yastrzemski

 

 

FRIED DAY — 04-Jul-2025

Q.  Who is the only major leaguer to play for the same franchise in three different cities in the Modern Era?

Hint: #1  He and a teammate hit more home runs as teammates than any other pair of players.

Hint: #2  Not long after retiring, he later landed a job as a major league manager and managed players who had recently been his teammates.

A.  EDDIE MATHEWS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Mathews was a Brave in Boston (1952), Milwaukee (1953-1965) & Atlanta (1966).

-  #1  Mathews and Hank Aaron were teammates on the Braves from 1954 through 1966.  In those years, they added a total of 860 MLB HR to the Braves’ annals.

-  #2  Mathews managed his erstwhile teammates on the Braves 1972-1974,  When he finally got the team’s record over .500, he was replaced and never again tried the managing waters.

FCR -  Patrick Roth, Chicago

Incorrect guesses:  Connie Mack, Robin Yount

 

 

SATURDAY  — 04-Jul-2025

Q.  Who is the only American Leaguer to homer and receive four intentional bases-on-balls in the same game?

Hint: #1  A nine-time Silver slugger, he also played a season of professional baseball in Taiwan.

Hint: #2  Now retired, his RBI total is the twentieth all-time, achieved over his five-team career in the majors.

A.  MANNY RAMIREZ  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  On 05-Jun-2002 DET pitchers watched Boston’s Ramirez homer in the 4th and then they hoped to limit his damage by walking him on purpose in, the 8th, 10th, 14th & 16th.  (He had flied out in the 2nd & 5th & got a single in the 12th.)

-  #1  In 2013, Ramirez played for the EDA Rhinos of the 4-team Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taipei, Formosa.  “EDA” is an English rendering of the name of the team’s previous owner.

-  #2  Manny drove in 1,831 runs in his MLB career, spanning 19 seasons.

FCR -  David Serota, Kalamazoo

Incorrect guesses:  Albert Belle, Jim Thome

 

 

SUNDAY — 06-Jul-2025

Q.  Who holds the National League record for most RBI in a season by a rookie?

Hint: #1  He hit a home run at PetCo Park that minutes earlier would have been the longest ever hit there.

Hint: #2  He is the first player to hit at least thirty home runs in each of his first twelve seasons in the majors.

Hint: #3  It took him his whole career to build a record that no other player ever wants to equal or break.

A.  ALBERT PUJOLS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Had 130 RBI in 2001.

-  #1  On 28-May-2006 the Padres’ Mark Bellhorn hit a HR measured at a 438' in the bottom of  the 4th inning.  In the top of  the 5th, the Cards’ Pujols hit one measured at 436'.  Kyle Schwarber is the current record-holder for his 488' blast on 18-Oct-2022 in the NLCS.

-  #2  From 2001 through 2012, never hit fewer than 30 HR every year.

-  #3  Pujols passed  Cal Ripken in 2017 for the most times hitting into a double play when he did it for the 351st time.  He ended with a lofty 426.

FCR -  John Burbridge, Timonium, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Nolan Arenado, Dave Winfield, Dave Kingman,

 

 

CARRY-OVER QUESTION— 07-Jul-2025

Q.  Which All-Star Silver Slugger finished three times in the top three of MVP voting without ever winning the plaque?

Hint: #1  He is the only player to hit at least thirty-five home runs  in a season for four separate teams.

Hint: #1a  He is the only player to hit at least twenty-five in a season for six separate teams.

Hint: #1b  He is only one of two players to hit at least ten home runs in a season for eight separate teams.

Hint: #2  His uncle had preceded him to the majors even making an All-Star appearance.

A.  GARY SHEFFIELD  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Sheffield finished 3rd, 2nd, 3rd for MVP in 1992, 2003, 2004.

-  #1  He hit 35+ HR for:  42 for FLA in 1996; 43 & 36 for  LAD in 2000 & 2001; 39 for ATL in 2003; and 36 for NYY in 2004.  He also hit 33 for(Stathead for 35)

- #1a  He hit 25+ HR for:  33 for SDP in 1992; 42 for FLA in 1996; 43 & 36 for  LAD in 2000 & 2001; 39 for ATL in 2003; 36 for NYY in 2004; and 25 for DET in 2007.  (Stathead for 25)

- #1b  He hit 10+ HR for:  33 for SDP in 1992; 42 for FLA in 1996; 43 & 36 for  LAD in 2000 & 2001; 39 for ATL in 2003; 36 for NYY in 2004; and 25 for DET in 2007.  (Stathead for 10)

-  #2  Sheffield’s uncle is Dwight Gooden (ASG in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988.)

FCR -  Jason Winston, Riverside, California

Incorrect guesses:  Nelson Cruz, Fred McGriff, Jim Thome, Bobby Bonds

 

 

MONDAY  — 07-Jul-2025

Q.  Who was the first Hall of Famer to play in two perfect major league games?

Hint: #1  He is the only player to homer in four consecutive World Series at-bats.

Hint: #2  In spite of his postseason success, he once said, “The only reason I don't like playing in the World Series is that I can't watch myself play.”

A.  REGGIE JACKSON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  First, on 08-May-1968, A’s teammate Catfish Hunter—who had 3 more hits than Jackson that day—set down the Twins & their 3 Hall of Fame batters, in order.  Second, Mike Witt brought CAL up to .500 for the season on 30-Sep-1984 by preventing anyone on TEX from reaching first base.  Jackson again went hitless.

-  #1  In game 5 of the 1977 WS in Los Angeles, Jackson homered off Don Sutton in the 8th inning, his last at-bat of that game.  Two days later in New York for game 6, Jackson went deep in his first 3 at-bats.  (He had received a walk his first time up—a plate appearance—not an at-bat.).

-  #2  Jackson did not lack confidence.

FCR -  Craig Blackstone, San Francisco

Incorrect guesses:  Freddie Freeman, Ted Williams, Albert Pujols

 

 

TUESDAY  — 08-Jul-2025

Q.  Who was the only player to win the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award for the Milwaukee Braves?

Hint: #1  He received MVP votes in nineteen of his twenty plus seasons in the majors—nine times finishing in the top five.

Hint: #2  He was the first player to win a Gold Glove the same season he won a batting title.

A.  HANK AARON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Amazingly, Aaron only won a single MVP and it was with MLN in 1957, the year they won the only World Series championship the city of Milwaukee has ever celebrated.  Five of his teammates also received MVP votes that year.

-  #1  Aaron played for 22 years in the majors and received MVP votes every year from 1955 to 1973.

-  #2  He led everyone with a .355 batting average in 1959 & won his 2nd GG.

FCR -  Robert Osman, Great Neck, New York

Incorrect guesses:  Andruw Jones, Ryan Braun

 

 

WEDNESDAY  — 09-Jul-2025

Q.  Who played in the most major league games in the 1990s?

Hint: #1  He set a major league record by hitting at least thirty-eight home runs for each of nine consecutive seasons.

Hint: #2  He is in a unique offensive club of only seven members who have a combination of stats either one of which was once a guarantee to Hall of Fame enshrinement.

A.  RAFAEL PALMEIRO  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  From 1990 through 1999, Palmeiro’s 1,526 outpaced Craig Biggio’s 1,515.

-  #1  From 1995 through 2003, he met or exceeded 38 HR each season.  It was a record at the time.

-  #2  Palmeiro hit 569 career HR and had 3,020 hits:  Click for ”club” members.

FCR -  Erik Lundegaard, Seattle

Incorrect guesses: Jim Thome, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Albert Belle, Eddie Murray, Mark Grace, Gary Sheffield, Adam Dunn, Frank Thomas,

 

 

THURSDAY  — 10-Jul-2025

Q.  Which player leads his franchise in twenty-six of the forty-six of documented offensive categories on Baseball-Reference.com?

Hint: #1  Only Babe Ruth has more American League season home run titles.

Hint: #2  His grandfather was the heavyweight wrestling champion of the Union Army during the Civil War.

Hint: #3  His father played college football in Illinois.

A.  HARMON KILLEBREW  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  For a full picture of Senators/Twins statistical leadership, click here.  In 7 additional categories, where he doesn’t have the top  position, he is in the Top Ten.

-  #1  Killebrew led the AL in HR 6 X, in 1959 (42), 1962 (48), 1963 (45), 1964 (49), 1967 (44) & 1969 (49).  Ruth led the AL in HR 12 X.

-  #2  Grandfather was Culver Killebrew.  Killebrew family lore has it that he could jump over a horse from a flat-footed start.

-  #3  His father, Harmon Clayton “Larry” Killebrew, played at Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois.

FCR -  Brian Barris, Oneida, New York

Incorrect guesses:  Jimmie Foxx, Roger Maris, Ralph Kiner, Ted Williams

 

 

THURSDAY REDUX  — 10-Jul-2025

Q.  Who was the first player to hit home runs in eight Opening Day games?

Hint: #1  During the season where he became MVP, he was saved from drowning by a teammate.

Hint: #2  He was the first Hall of Famer enshrined in the Modern Era to be hit-by-pitch more than 175 times.

A.  FRANK ROBINSON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Hit Opening Day home runs for 4 different teams across 3 decades.  Robinson has been tied at 8 by Ken Griffey Jr & Adam Dunn, but he remains he only righty in the top group.  Babe Ruth, Eddie Mathews, Willie Mays & he were tied with 7 apiece when Robinson hit his 8th on April 8, 1975 off NYY’s Doc Medich, historic because he hit it in his 1st at-bat as MLB’s 1st Black manager.

-  #1  Robinson was thrown into a private pool at a party in Baltimore by teammates who refused to  believe that he had never learned to swim.  Only when it became obvious that he was in peril did Andy Etchebarren dive in to pull Robinson to safety.   Click here for the full story.

-  #2  HBP 198 X from 1956–1976, later surpassed by Craig Biggio, though neither caught Hall of Famer Hugh Jennings, whose HBP total (287) was compiled mostly before the Modern Era began in 1900.

FCR -  Andrew Jett, Waxahachie, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Don Baylor, Ryne Sandburg

 

 

FRIDAY  —11-Jul-2025

Q.  Who is the only man to hit home runs in World Series games in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s?

Hint: #1  He finished in the top five in Most Valuable Player voting five times ever winning the award.  He finished behind only his teammate the year they won the World Series.

Hint: #2  Nobody in major league baseball’s long history ever hit more career sacrifice flies.

A.  EDDIE MURRAY  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Murray homered for BAL off PIT’s Bert Blyleven in G #2 of the 1979 WS.  He homered 2 X off PHI’s Charles Hudson in the 5th & deciding G of the 1983 WS.  Playing for CLE, he homered off ATL’s Tom Glavine in G #2 of the 1995 WS.

-  #1  Murray received MVP votes 1978-1985, 1990 (8th, 11th, 6th, 5th, 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 5th & 5th).  He finished 2nd to Cal Ripken in the Orioleschampionship season, 1983.

-  #2  Murray never led the league even once, but managed to amass 128 SF 1977-1997.  Cal Ripken almost caught him, falling 1 shy.  The active leader is Nolan Arenado with 78, so Murray’s record looks safe for some time to come.

FCR -  Scott Morissey, Hamilton, Ontario

Incorrect guesses:  Julio Franco, Dave Winfield

 

 

SATURDAY  — 12-Jul-2025

Q.  Which Hall of Famer’s middle name became as well known to fans as his first name?

Hint: #1  He is the last batter to lead the National League in home runs for three consecutive seasons.

Hint: #2  He once hit a home run off each of two  brothers in the same game.

A.  MIKE SCHMIDT  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Upon Schmidt’s introduction or on the occasion of a notable accomplishment, Philadelphia announcer Harry Kalas would always give booming, “Michael Jack Schmidt !” to anyone within earshot.  Two legends were being made.  Go here to listen.  Click the black bar at the bottom of the page.

-  #1  Schmidt led the NL in HR 1974 (36), 1975 (38), 1976 (38).

-  #2  Two of the 4 HR Schmidt hit in Chicago on 17-Apr-1976, were off the Cubs’ Rick  Reuschel in the 5th & off older brother Paul Reuschel in the 10th.

FCR -  Brad Clark, Madison, Wisconsin

Incorrect guesses:  George Brett, Ralph Kiner

 

 

SUNDAY  — 13-Jul-2025

Q.  Who hit the first regular-season home run in major league history in March?

Hint: #1  He is the first to play at the designated-hitter position for any games in back-to-back Most Valuable Players seasons.

Hint: #2  He led the majors in bases-on-balls three out of his first five full seasons and led his league in a fourth year.

A.  FRANK THOMAS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In the 1st inning on 31-Mar-1996, Thomas homered off Randy Johnson in Seattle—the 1st regular-season homer ever hit in the calendar month of March.

-  #1  Thomas was the AL MVP in 1993* & 1994, playing 4 & 13 games respectively at designated hitter in those seasons

-  #2  Playing for CHW in 1991, 1992, 1994 & 1995, Thomas drew 138, 122, 109 & 136 BB.

*Unanimous

FCR -  Waker Arnold, Jay, Vermont

Incorrect guesses:  Mark McGwire, Shohei Ohtani, Orlando Cepeda, Alex Rodriguez, Dale Murphy

 

 

TWO-WEEK THEME – 500-HR Club Members who never had a 50+ HR season

 

Player                      Best HR Year / #                 Career (Nth)

Aaron......................... 1971 / 47.......................... 755 (2nd)

Banks......................... 1958 / 47.......................... 512 (23rd)

Cabrera...................... 2012 / 44.......................... 512 (23rd)

Jackson...................... 1969 / 47.......................... 563 (14th)

Killebrew.................... 1964 / 49.......................... 573 (12th)

Mathews..................... 1953 / 47.......................... 512 (23rd)

McCovey.................... 1969 / 45.......................... 521 (20th)

Murray....................... 1983 / 33.......................... 504 (28th)

Ott.............................. 1929 / 42.......................... 511 (26th)

Palmeiro..................... 1999, 2001 / 47................ 569 (13th)

Pujols......................... 2006 / 49.......................... 703 (4th)

Ramirez...................... 1998, 2005 / 45................ 555 (15th)

Robinson.................... 1966 / 49.......................... 586 (10th)

Schmidt...................... 1980 / 48.......................... 548 (16th)

Sheffield..................... 2000 / 43.......................... 509 (27th)

Thomas...................... 2000 / 43.......................... 521 (20th)

Williams..................... 1949 / 43.......................... 521 (20th)

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme – 

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Mon     -  Players with the most career RBI

 

Wed     -  Members of the 500+ home run club

 

Thu      -  Players with 500+ home runs and 2,500+ hits in a career

 

Sun      -  Fewest career strikeouts for players with 500 or more home runs

-   Lifetime 500+ HR hitters with at least one HR in the WS

 

Mon     -  ASG and League in the same year

 

Wed     -  500 HR Club

 

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