Answers for the Week of September 20, 2010

MONDAY

Q.         Who has played the most games at catcher in major league history?

Hint:     He has also thrown out more would-be base stealers than any other catcher.

Twint:    He’s not really all that pudgy.

A.         Ivan Rodriguez (2,383 games caught (and counting) with 645 Caught Stealers (and counting) for a career CS% of 46% (645/768); Nicknamed “Pudge”)

First Correct Respondent – Dave Serota, Kalamazoo

TUESDAY

Q.         Who hit the first regular-season home run for the Florida Marlins?

Hint:     He was the only Padre to compile a 30 game hit streak in the 20^th Century.

Twint:    He is the only catcher to win the Gold Glove award for the Padres.

A.         Benito Santiago (12-Apr-1993, 6^th inning, off Trevor Wilson of the Padres in the Florida franchise’s 7^th game; 34-game hitting streak in his rookie season, 1987; GG 1988-90)

FCR -    Judah Kaplan, New York

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who was the catcher on the first French-Canadian battery in major league history?

Hint:     He attended the same high school as that battery mate.

Hint:     His father used to play saxophone in Montréal subway stations to help pay for his baseball training.

Hint:     His middle name is Coltrane, after the famous saxophonist.

Twint:    In an effort to quit the use of smokeless tobacco, Martin began wearing a custom-fitted mouthpiece during the 2009 World Baseball Classic and Spring Training.

A.         Russell Martin (W/Eric Gagné; Polyvalente Édouard-Montpetit High School; Full name is Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin Jr.)

FCR -    Bill Carle, Lee’s Summit, MO

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who was the first Pirates rookie to be named to the All-Star team?

Hint:     He tied a national high school record by hitting safely in 43 straight games at Torrance High School.

Hint:     He was named Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News, even though he finished third in the MLBWAA voting.

Twint:    He once went five-for-five, but didn’t have an RBI or a run in that game.

A.         Jason Kendall (AS 1996; ROY 1996, finished behind Todd Hollandsworth and Edgar Renteria; 5/5 G 03-May-1999)

FCR -    Joe Merth, Grove City, OH

THURSDAY

Q.         Who was appointed manager of the California Angels after their manager was injured in a team bus accident?

Hint:     He played 10 years in the majors for the team that drafted him and never for any other team.

Twint:    His teammates nicknamed him “Duke” for his accurate impersonations of John Wayne.

A.         John Wathan (Replaced Buck Rodgers, 22-May-1992)

FCR -    John Krassin, New York

FRIDAY

Q.         Who ended Greg Minton’s record of 269.1 consecutive innings without surrendering a home run?

Hint:     He was a successful Buffalo and was drafted by Buffalo.

Twint:    He was traded for the father of a famous country/western singer.

A.         John Stearns (HR 02-May-1982, G1; Played for the University of Colorado football team and was drafted by the Bills in the NFL; Traded for Tug McGraw, father of Tim McGraw)

FCR -    Phil Oppenheim, Sacramento

SATURDAY

Q.         Who, while still an active major leaguer, discovered Baylor standout Ted Lyons?

Hint:     He nearly came to blows with a teammate during the World Series when his star pitcher continually ignored his catcher’s sign.

Twint:    He sent a telegram to every catcher who caught a no-hitter until his death in 1970.

A.         Ray Schalk (Near fight came when he realized some of his teammates intended to intentionally lose the 1919 WS)

FCR -    Rod Nelson, Detroit

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Whose leave of absence to pursue a billiards career resulted in his team’s only non-pennant-winning season in a five year span?

Hint:     He owned the Kansas City Blues and abolished the practice of racially segregated seating.

Twint:    After going 3 for 4 in his major league debut, he knocked Win Mercer out in a collision at the plate.

A.         Johnny Kling (Cubs, 1906-08, 10, Pool career in 1909 may have been partly a contract negotiation ploy with the Cubs; Owned the Blues 1935-37 after which he sold them to the Yankees who re-instituted segregated seating.)

FCR -    Bill Carle, Lee's Summit, MO

SUNDAY

Q.         What catcher claimed to be the first to wear shin guards under his stockings?

Hint:     He suffered a broken ankle and a broken leg on similar plays in consecutive seasons.

Hint:     During his playing career, he was a vaudeville performer with the Dumont Minstrels in Philadelphia.

Twint:    He was offered a bribe to lose a series with the Giants in 1908.  Instead of accepting, he reported it.

A.         Red Dooin (Injuries 1910-11; Performed for Dumont while he was playing for the Phillies.)

FCR -    Phil Oppenheim, Sacramento

WEEKLY THEME – Catchers who had 20 steals in a season

Player          Year        SB

Dooin           1908        20

Kendall         1998        26

Kendall         1999        22

Kendall         2000        22

Kling            1902        24 (Played one game at SS.  Probably didn’t have 5 SB that day.)

Kling            1903        23

Martin           2007        21

Rodriguez     1999        25

Santiago      1987        21

Schalk          1914        24

Schalk          1916        30

Stearns        1978        24 (1 SB as PH)

Wathan         1982        36

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara

Thanks to Chuck Rosciam of Dameron, MD for this data.