July 14-20, 2014 Played for 5 different teams in the postseason

MONDAY

Q.         Who has played for the Oakland A’s four discrete times?

Hint:     His namesake had a lot of hits as well.

Twint:    1,406

A.         RICKEY HENDERSON (A’s stints:  1979-84, 89-93, 94-95, 98; Ricky Nelson; Career MLB stolen base record)

FCR -    Andy Milner, Bryn Mawr, PA

Incorrect answers:  Dave Stewart, Miguel Tejada, Pete Rose, Kenny Rogers, Andy Parrino

HRD BONUS

Q.         Who is the only California Angel to win the Most Valuable Player Award?

Hint:     He recently (and very publicly and awkwardly) broke his leg.

Twint:    He was the first player to be thrown out stealing twice in an inning.

A.         DON BAYLOR Salmon [Vladimir Guerrero won in 2005, but the team had changed its name.] (AL MVP 1979; Broken leg; 9^th inning 15-Jun-1974)

FCR -    Ken Auerbach, Bronxville, NY

Incorrect answers:  Tim Salmon, Rod Carew, Kendrys Morales, Dean Chance, Jim Fregosi

TUESDAY

Q.         Who is the single-season and career home run leader for the Cleveland Indians?

Hint:     As a child, he jumped from the stands into the Cubs dugout in an attempt to get Dave Kingman's autograph, only to be hoisted back into his seat by Cubs catcher Barry Foote.

Twint:    He hit an 11^th-inning, come-from-behind, game-winning two-run home run on the day his team gave away his bobblehead dolls.

A.         JIM THOME (52 HR in 2002, 337 career; Game winner:  21-Apr-2001, bobblehead)

FCR -    Timothy Kearns, Washington, DC

Incorrect answers:  Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Cory Snyder

ASG BONUS

Q.         Who receives $1,193,248.20 annually from his one-time team, just as he will every July 1 through 2035, even though he retired in 2001?

Hint:     He was the first Pittsburgh Pirates player to switch-hit home runs in a game.

Hint:     He once hit a postseason grand slam that landed two rows in front of me.*

Twint:    "He…reminds me of both Willie McCovey and Willie Stargell." ~ Washington Post baseball writer Thomas Boswell

A.         BOBBY BONILLA (Pay day; Switch-hit HR 03-Jul-1987; Postseason GS 01-Oct-1996)

FCR -    Tommy Bennett, New York, NY

Incorrect answers:  Alex Rodriguez, Mo Vaughn, Eric Byrnes

*My good friend (and reader) Jim Nelson was the one who got the tickets for us.  It's the only postseason game I've ever attended.  A Baltimore native, he is a veteran of games in October.

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Whose frequent career moves were once subject of a wry television ad by international express package carrier DHL?

Hint:     His career lasted eleven years longer than that of the man who beat him out for Rookie of the Year.

Hint:     He was nicknamed "Sugar Loaf" by his teammates.

Twint:    He hit the first home run against the Washington Nationals.

Twint:    It was one of only two he hit that season.

A.         KENNY LOFTON (DHL ad; Pat Listach, 1992 ROY vote; HR 04-Apr-2005)

FCR -    Zack Murphy, Folsom, CA

Incorrect answers:  Harry "Suitcase" Simpson, Eric Hinske

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who was the "Baseball America" NCAA Player of the Year in 1988?

Hint:     So dominant a pitcher and hitter was he in college, that the National Collegiate Hall of Fame award for the best two-way player is named for him.

Hint:     In one amazing stretch, he reached base fifteen times in fifteen straight plate appearances, a National League record.

Hint:     He shares the record with Barry Bonds.

Twint:    He won the Gold Glove at First Base the year after Rafael Palmeiro's controversial win.

Twint:    He is the only Seattle Mariner to win a Gold Glove Award at First Base.

A.         JOHN OLERUD (POY List; 15/15 PA: 16 to 22-Sep-1998; Played for Washington State, The John Olerud Award; GGs 2000, 02, 03)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York, NY

Incorrect answers:  Brooks Kieschnick, Ben Sheets, Albert Belle

THURSDAY

Q.         Who was hit-by-pitch in the eighth inning 13-Apr-1994, ending Pedro Martinez' bid for a perfect game, then charged the mound, hypothesizing that it had been intentional?

Hint:     He is a member of the exclusive 300/300 club.

Hint:     He hit at least thirty home runs in a season for two different National League teams.

Hint:     He hit at least twenty home runs in a season for five different National League teams.

Hint:     He hit at least ten home runs in a season for seven different major league teams.

Twint:    He went to the World Series with three different teams, taking home a ring once.

A.         REGGIE SANDERS (HPB game; 300 HR/300 SB)

FCR -    Timothy Kearns, Washington, DC

Incorrect answers:  Ron Gant, Rickey Henderson, Gary Sheffield, Steve Finley, Kevin Mitchell, Gerald Williams, Bobby Bonds, Dante Bichette, Mike Piazza, Carl Everett

FRIDAY

Q.         Who is the only pitcher to throw an Immaculate Inning in the World Series?

Hint:     Three seasons later, he finished second in the Cy Young Award voting to a pitcher who got all the first-place votes.

Twint:    He pitched for three teams in the World Series, on the winning side twice.

A.         DANNY JACKSON (Immaculate Inning 1985 WS, G 5, 24-Oct [K’d Terry Pendleton, Tom Nieto & Brian Harper in the 7^th]; 1988 CYA votes; WS:  1985 KCR, 1990 CIN & 1993 PHI)

FCR -    Richard Tharp, Gaithersburg, MD

Incorrect answers:  David Price, Orel Hershiser, Randy Johnson, Johnny Podres

SATURDAY

Q.         Who ranks behind only Larry Walker and Todd Helton for the best season WAR in the history of the Rockies?

Hint:     He hit home runs in 39 different major league stadiums.

Hint:     Twice in his career, he had season slugging averages of over .600.

Hint:     He currently works in the front office of the team he played for 2001-03.

Twint:    He attended tiny Ranger College.

Twint:    Former Chicago Cub outfielder Roosevelt Brown is his cousin.

A.         ELLIS BURKS (WAR of 7.9 in 1996; Slugged .678 in 1994 & .639 in 1996*; Works today for the Cleveland Indians; Ranger College, Ranger, TX) *Led the NL

FCR -    Bill Deane, Cooperstown, NY

Incorrect answers:  Dante Bichette, Andres Galarraga, Matt Holiday, Vinny Castilla, Troy Tulowitzki

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Who holds the season records for home runs by a shortstop on the Montreal Expos?

Hint:     He homered in his first at-bat with the Red Sox.

Hint:     It was a good omen.

Twint:    He is second only to Edgar Renteria for seasons played in the majors among natives of Colombia.

A.         ORLANDO CABRERA (17 HR ins 2003; BOS HR 01-Aug-2004->BOS won WS that year; 15 yrs in MLB [Renteria, 16])

FCR -    Doug Greenwald, San Francisco. CA

Incorrect answers:  Mike Lansing, Hubie Brooks, Wil Cordero, Tim Foli, Spike Owen, Tim Wallach

SUNDAY

Q.         What pitcher recorded the final out of the 2004 ALCS?

Hint:     He once won a major league game without throwing a single pitch.

Twint:    He is the pitching coach for the Elks.

A.         ALAN EMBREE (ALCS G 7 20-Oct-2004; No-pitch W:  07-Jul-2009, the antepenultimate G of his career.  He only threw 12 more pitches in the majors; Pitching coach for the Bend (Oregon) Elks in Bend.)

FCR -    Don Masi, San Antonio, TX

Incorrect answers:  Keith Foulke, Derek Lowe, Curtis Leskanic, Tim Wakefield

WEEKLY THEME – Players with postseason experience with five teams

Baylor          5:  BAL, CAL, BOS, MIN, OAK

Bonilla          5:  PIT, BAL, FLA, NYM, ATL

Burks           5:  BOS, CHW, COL, SFG, CLE

Cabrera        5:  BOS, CAL, CHW, MIN, CIN

Embree        5:  CLE, ATL, SFG, BOS, SDP

Henderson    5:  OAK, TOR, SPD, NYM, SEA

Jackson       5:  KCR, CIN, PIT, PHI, STL

Lofton          6:  CLE, ATL, SFG, CHC, NYY, LAD

Olerud          5:  TOR, NYM, SEA, NYY, BOS

Sanders       5:  CIN, ATL, ARI, SFG, STL

Thome          5:  CLE, CHW, LAD, MIN, BAL

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Stanley Cohen, Washington, DC

Incorrect theme guesses:

Monday

               -  Players who held records that Derek Jeter passed (Henderson held Yankees career stolen base record until Jeter broke it)

               -  MVP's who led League in Runs Scored the same year

Wednesday

               -  Players who got traded after the All-Star break

               -  Went to PO's with every team they played for

               -  Career Playoff OBP over .300

We archive our questions here:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/

Horsehide Trivia home page:  https://sites.google.com/site/tnfotobbpics/home/horsehide-trivia

July 7-13, 2014 21st Century Super Slams

MONDAY

Q.         Who was the American League Most Valuable Player in 2000?

Hint:     After suffering a poor 2004, he was named the AL 2005 Comeback Player of the Year.

Hint:     He is the oldest player to hit a walk-off homer.

Twint:    He won the Home Run Derby for the infamous 2002 All-Star Game.

A.         JASON GIAMBI (2000 MVP; Walk-off 24-Sep-2013, 42 yrs. 259 days; 2004 OPS+, 2005 OPS+ 161; 2002 ASG ended in a tie, unlike the 2002 HRD)

FCR -    Richard Tepedino, Hillsborough, NJ

Incorrect answers:  Manny Ramirez, Ivan Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Jim Thome, Mo Vaughn, Alex Rodriguez, Frank Thomas, Vladimir Guerrero, Juan Gonzalez

TUESDAY

Q.         Who hit a home run that landed in another state?

Hint:     In 2012 he tied the record held by Frank Robinson and Ken Griffey Jr. for most opening day home runs.

Hint:     He is second on the all-time list for most strikeouts in a season, though in 2004 he held that “honor” when he struck out 195 times.

Twint:    In 2012 he struck out in his first twenty games of the season, eclipsing the record of fourteen consecutive games established by Howie Goss in 1963.

A.         ADAM DUNN (Hit a HR out of Great American Ballpark in 2005 that landed on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River; 06-Apr-2012 8^th OD HR; 222 K in a season is 2^nd to Mark Reynolds’ 223 in 2009; Howie Gross)

FCR -    Christine Scully, Oglesby, IL

Incorrect answers:  Rob Deer, Jim Thome, Ryan Zimmerman, Neil Sheridan, Ryan Howard, Mark Reynolds, Prince Fielder, Ernie Lombardi, Joey Votto

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who, despite hitting five grand slams before the All-Star break, only managed to tie the single season record for grand slams?

Hint:     He has the most home runs for a player born in North Dakota.

Hint:     After signing with the Yankees [not traded] in 2013, he hit a 3-run homer in his first at bat back in Progressive Filed.

Twint:    He wasn’t from there, but he was adored in "Pronkville".

A.         TRAVIS HAFNER (Don Mattingly had three of his 6 after the ASG break; Players born in ND; 08-Apr-2013 boxscore; Pronkville was a mezzanine section in right field of Jacobs Field)

FCR -    Mitchell Below, Seattle WA

Incorrect answers:  Roger Maris, Darin Erstad, Mark Reynolds, Nick Swisher, Richie Sexson, Grady Sizemore

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who, aside from Ralph Kiner and Willie Stargell, is the only Pittsburgh Pirates slugger to exceed 30 home runs in a season for four consecutive years?

Hint:     At the end of his career he signed with the Dodgers, but retired during spring training.

Hint:     He is second only to Tony Gwynn for the Padres franchise career bases-on-balls record.

Twint:    He and his brother were both starters for the 2007 Padres.

A.         BRIAN GILES (509 BB to Gwynn’s 790; 2007 SDP roster)

FCR -    Neil Bhaerman, Pittsburgh, PA

Incorrect answers:  Dave Parker, Barry Bonds, Dick Stuart, Richie Zisk, Bob Robertson, Ralph Kiner, Donn Clendenon, Andrew McCutchen, Frank Thomas

THURSDAY

Q.         What current speedster, now playing for his fifth team in the majors, has stolen 40+ bases in four out of the previous five seasons?

Hint:     He's well on his way to top that total again this year.

Hint:     After three seasons in the minors, he switched from switch.  He now bats only right-handed.

Twint:    He got his first stolen base in the majors two weeks before he got his first hit.

Twint:    Although he starred football and basketball as well, he chose baseball as a Huskie.

A.         RAJAI DAVIS (23 SB in 71 G this year; Has played for PIT, SFG, OAK, TOR, DET; 1^st SB 16-Aug-2006, 1^st H 29-Aug-2006; University of Connecticut Avery Point)

FCR -    Mitchell Below, Seattle WA

Incorrect answers:  Michael Bourne, Jose Altuve, Billy Butler, Eric Young, Dee Brown, Jose Reyes, Carlos Gomez, Juan Pierre

FRIDAY

Q.         Which heavily tattooed member of the Red Sox got the nickname "Tatman" while a Diamondback?

Hint:     He played on the team that won an NJCAA Division III World Series his sophomore year.

Hint:     The only home run in his first year in the majors was off Cory Lidle in Yankee Stadium.

Twint:    He was the 530^th pick of the 2003 draft.

Twint:    He was given his unconditional release from the Red Sox after eight games this year.

A.         RYAN ROBERTS (Tattoos; Eastfield College; HR 03-Aug-2006; 18^th round/2003; BOS)

FCR -    David Ramsden, Barcelona, SPAIN

Incorrect answers:  Ryan Reynolds, Jonny Gomes, Cody Ross

SATURDAY

Q.         Which Tulane University alum, drafted as a starting pitcher for the Astros as the 24^th pick overall in the 2005 draft, proved to be a better hitter though drafted as a pitcher?

Hint:     While at Tulane, as a pitcher he was First-Team All-Conference USA Pitcher, Louisville Slugger First-Team All-American, and College Baseball Foundation National Honors Team, and also earned Freshman All-America honors from Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball as a utility player.

Hint:     He did manage to pitch once in the majors in a 2-14 loss to the Cardinals, giving up two runs in the ninth.

Hint:     He was traded at the end of 2013 to Miami for Justin Ruggiano, but was designated for assignment at the end of 2014 spring training.

Twint:    He’s been a Valley Cat, a Legend, a Hook, a Red Hawk and a Zephyr.

A.         BRIAN BOGUSEVIC (Tulane career; Pitching appearance 07-Jun-2012)

FCR -    Bob Chan, Oakland, CA

Incorrect answers:  Todd Helton, Brandon Barnes

SUNDAY

Q.         Who made three errors in one inning in a League Division Series game?

Hint:     He had four errors for the series, more than the rest of his team combined.

Hint:     He is the last player to qualify for this week's theme and the only one to qualify as a pinch-hitter.

Hint:     Laynce Nix was an unintentional co-conspirator in this player’s accomplishment.

Twint:    His Braves team finished one game ahead of the Padres, taking the last playoff spot that year.

Twint:    He almost wishes they hadn't, given his fielding miscues.

A.         BROOKS CONRAD (2010 NLDS vs. SFG 10-10-10; , G 3; His drive to left was deflected over the wall at the 380 mark in left-center-field by Reds left fielder Laynce Nix.)

FCR -    Mark Kanter, Portsmouth, RI

Incorrect answers:  Dan Uggla, Pete Kozma, Mike Andrews, Chuck Knoblauch, Rafael Furcal

WEEKLY THEME – Twenty-first century "super slams", i.e., grand slams to win a game, hit in the bottom of the ninth inning with your team behind by exactly three runs at the time.

Bogusevic    16-Aug-2011

Conrad         20-May-2010

Davis           30-Jun-2014

Dunn            30-Jun-2006

Giambi         17-May-2002

Giles            28-Jul-2001

Hafner          07-Jul-2011

Roberts        27-Sep-2011

Incorrect theme guesses:

Monday   -  Players who have homered in the All-Star Game and World Series in the same year

               -  Players who have been on the cover of baseball video games

               -  Players with more than 2000 hits and 400 doubles

               -  Players with 2000 hits that Bat Left and Throw Right

               -  Active players who won the Homerun Derby

Tuesday   -  Active players with at least 10 grand slams

               -  Players who have hit 10 or more walk-off home runs

               -  High school quarterbacks that were All-Stars in MLB

Wednesday

               -  First basemen who bat left and throw right

               -  Players to strike out more than 200 times in a season while hitting more than 30 home runs

               -  Bats Left Throws Right who have led the league in walks

               -  All-Stars with 30-HR seasons

               -  Guys who hit walk-off homers at Jacobs/Progressive field

               -  Comeback Players of the Year

Monday   -  Players whose first ml hr was a grand slam

Thursday  -  Guy with pink bats on Susan G. Komen day

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara, CA (After Hafner)

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/walk_off_grand_slams.shtml

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/rare_feats/index.jsp?feature=ultimate_slam

Incorrect theme guesses:

Horsehide Trivia blog has the questions and answers from this week as well as from previous weeks:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/

Horsehide Trivia home page:  https://sites.google.com/site/tnfotobbpics/home/horsehide-trivia

June 30-July 6, 2014 Leadoff and walk-off home runs by the same player in the same game

MONDAY

Q.         What speed merchant is the all-time leader in runs scored in a season and career runs scored per game played?

Hint:     He is the first Hall of Famer born in New Jersey.

Hint:     He has a namesake in the majors this year with some similar skills.

Twint:    He was the first Philadelphia Phillies player to win the National League batting title.

Twint:    He ranks fourth in on-base percentage in major league history.

A.         BILLY HAMILTON (198 R in1894; B. Newark, NJ; Modern Billy Hamilton; Batting title .340 in 1891; Career OBP .455 [trailing on Williams, Ruth & McGraw)

FCR -    Nick Batselos, Rockville, MD

Incorrect answers:  Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines

TUESDAY

Q.         Who was the first native of Puerto Rico to be selected to the American League All-Star team?

Hint:     He twice Gold Glove Awards at first base playing for two different teams each season.

Hint:     He won five additional Gold Gloves.

Twint:    He was the last active player in the majors to have played for the Philadelphia A’s.

A.         VIC POWER (AS 1955; GG 1958 [KCA & CLE], 1964 [MIN & LAA]; GGs Also in 1959-63; 1954 A’s, ret. 1965, a few weeks after Nellie Fox did)

FCR -    Larry Creeden, Boulder City, NV

Incorrect answers:  Carlos Delgado, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Alomar

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Which player holds the record for most hits in the month of April?

Hint:     He leads in every conceivable offensive career category for players born in his native state.

Twint:    He was a punter for the 1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers national championship football team.

A.         DARIN ERSTAD (48 H Apr 2000; B. ND; Kicking for Neb.)

FCR -    Brad Fox, Erie, PA

Incorrect answers:  Vern Stephens, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Pete Rose, Ichiro Suzuki, Derek Jeter, Jose Altuve

THURSDAY

Q.         Whom did the Tigers acquire in exchange for Prince Fielder?

Hint:     This is second time he has been a Tiger.

Hint:     He has twice been a member of the 30/30 club.

Twint:    Led his high school team to two state championships in baseball.

A.         IAN KINSLER (Trade for Fielder 20-Nov-2013; Attended University of Missouri; 31 HR/31 SB in 2009 & 32/30 in 2011; Attended Canyon del Oro HS in Tucson)

FCR -    Alex Griffel, Great Neck, NY

Incorrect answers:  Howard Johnson

FRIDAY

Q.         Who was the first player in major league history to steal 25 bases and hit thirty home runs in his rookie season?

Hint:     That only garnered him fourth place in Rookie of the Year voting.

Hint:     Although a regular starter, he has only once hit above .250 in his nine-year career in the Bigs.

Twint:    He is active in community affairs and an active user of Twitter.

A.         CHRIS YOUNG (2007:  32 HR, 27 SB; 4^th place ROY voting; Twitter account)

FCR -    Richard Tharp, Gaithersburg, MD

Incorrect answers:  George Case, Jose Canseco, Brandon Phillips, Dan Uggla

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         What pitcher's widely-read autobiographical account of a year of his career, The Long Season, was written entirely by him?

Hint:     It is still considered a pioneering effort contributing to the success of subsequent books such as Ball Four and The Bullpen Gospels.

Hint:     Jimmy Cannon, a respected sportswriter, called it "the greatest baseball book ever written."

Hint:     The Saturday Evening Post declared him, "... quite possibly the most intellectual creature ever to put on major-league uniform."

Hint:     He played for an American Legion team with teammates Don Zimmer and Jim Frey that made it to the national finals.

Hint:     His contribution during that championship run included two shutouts in the regional and sectional finals, one a two-hitter and the other a three-hitter.

Hint:     In his nine-year career in the majors, he was a journeyman starter then finished as a reliable closer.

Hint:     "I don't mind catching your fastball at all.  Naturally, I'd want to have a glove on in case you might be having an especially good day." -Batterymate Gene Green, joking with him about his lack of velocity.

Twint:    He was teammates with Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Ralph Kiner, Monte Irvin, Stan Musial, Frank Robinson and Nellie Fox.

Twint:    His last manager was Hall of Famer Al Lopez.

A.         JIM BROSNAN (SABR Bio; NY Times Obit; The Long Season; Cincinnati’s Bentley Post American Legion team made the national finals in 1946)

FCR -    Dave Johnson, Swarthmore, PA

Incorrect answers:  Jim Bouton, Stu Miller

WEEKEND FINALE

Q.         Who passed Tim Wallach for the Cal State Fullerton school record for runs scored in a season?

Hint:     This twelve-year major league veteran has thrice been plunked by a pitch three times in a game.

Hint:     He once drove in the walk-off, 11^th-inning game-winning run by being hit by a pitch.

Hint:     He once went over the wall to catch a Prince Fielder drive that, if not caught, would have resulted in a game-tying grand slam.

Twint:    He was an Academic All-American in college.

Twint:    His soul-patch facial hair, while not unique in baseball, has been his trademark for many years.

A.         REED JOHNSON (101 R in 1999 for Cal State Fullerton; 3HBP 29-Apr-2006, 07-Apr-2006 and 16-Apr-2005; Walk-off HBP 12-Jun-2008 vs. ATL; Robbed Fielder 12-Apr-2009 with Cubs leading 6-2; Soul-patch)

FCR -    Alex Poterack, Providence, RI

Incorrect answers:  Aaron Rowand, Mark Kotsay, Phil Nevin, Torii Hunter

WEEKLY THEME – Batters who have hit a lead-off home run and a walk-off home run in the same game.  Thanks to David Vincent for verification of this information.

Player            Date                Innings

Hamilton     17-May-1893     1^st & 10^th

Power         07-May-1957*    1^st & 10^th

Erstad        25-Jun-2000      1^st & 11^th

Johnson     15-Jun-2003      1^st & 10^th

Kinsler        19-Jul-2009       1^st & 12^th

Young        07-Aug-2010     1^st &   9^th

            *His first 2 HRs of the season

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Paul Sekula, Arlington, VA (after Power)

Incorrect theme guesses:

Monday   -  Players with 4 stolen bases in their first ML game

               -  Former U.S. Secretaries of the Treasury

               -  Former and current players with the same name

               -  Players with Dead-Ball Era Run Scoring Records

               -  Players with more than 2000 hits and 500 Stolen Bases.

We archive our questions here:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/

Horsehide Trivia home page:  https://sites.google.com/site/tnfotobbpics/home/horsehide-trivia