Answers for the Week of December 6, 2010

MONDAY

Q.         Who was the first player to win a Most Valuable Player Award playing for a last place team?

Hint:     It was his 12^th major league season, but his first with that team.

Twint:    The team probably would have finished last without him.

A.         Andre Dawson (MVP 1987 Cubs)

First Correct Respondent - Paul Vastola, Fanwood, NJ

TUESDAY

Q.         What 300-game winner claims he learned his most famous pitch from journeyman pitcher Bob Shaw?

Hint:     He won a Cy Young Award in the first full season he played for a certain team.

Twint:    He was rebuffed by the makers of Vaseline about endorsing their product with a one-line postcard reading, "We soothe babies' backsides, not baseballs."

A.         Gaylord Perry (The spitball; CYA 1978 Padres)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who, apart Murry Dickson, is the only National League pitcher to lead his league in losses for four consecutive seasons?

Hint:     In one of those years, he also led in wins.

Hint:     In three of those years, he led his league in innings pitched and hits surrendered.

Twint:    His boyhood friend from Ohio is in the basketball Hall of Fame in Massachusetts.

A.         Phil Niekro (Stats; John Havlicek)

FCR -    John Rickert, Terre Haute

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Which Hall of Famer retired to manage a Louisiana rice plantation with his sister?

Hint:     He holds the records for most career games pitched without ever striking 100 in a season.

Hint:     His highest strikeout season was only 74, but he totaled over 1,000 for his career.

Twint:    He appeared in relief in the first major league game he ever attended.

A.         Ted Lyons (Sister Pearl "Polly" Lyons; debut 02-Jul-1923)

FCR -    Fred Worth, Arkadelphia, AR

THURSDAY

Q.         Who is the only non-NY Yankee to collect 140 runs-batted-in in three consecutive seasons?

Hint:     He was the last player to collect eight RBI in a game in the 20^th century.

Twint:    He is the only American League player to come within 10 home runs of matching his team's win total.

A.         Ken Griffey, Jr. (140+ RBI 1996-98; 8 RBI game 08-Jul-2000; 40 HR for 49-63 Seattle in 1994)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York

FRIDAY

Q.         Who has the most career games started in the American League among left-handed pitchers?

Hint:     He was the starting pitcher in the first games ever played in Kingdome and in the first games ever played in the new Comiskey Park.

Hint:     He threw shut-out victories in both games.

Hint:     He and Rick Reuschel surrendered home runs to Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds.

Twint:    Chris Berman regularly appended “daiquiri” to his name, as spoken on the air.

Twint:    Although born a Catholic, he converted to Protestantism after the death of Lyman Bostock.

A.         Frank Tanana (587 AL starts; Kingdome opener 06-Apr-1977, Comiskey opener 18‑Apr‑1991)

FCR -    Fred Brillhart, Mechanicsburg, PA

SATURDAY

Q.         Which flashy Dominican led American League shortstops in errors in consecutive seasons?

Hint:     He collected 4,229 career hits as a professional.  Only Pete Rose and Ty Cobb had more.

Hint:     His two-out bad-hop grounder in the 9^th inning on 24-Sep-1988 deprived Dave Stieb of a no-hitter.

Twint:    He managed the Gulf Coast League Mets in 2009.

A.         Julio Franco (36 E 1984, 35 E 1985; Played for Chiba during 1995 strike; 2586 MLB hits, 618 minor league, 316 MX Lg, 286 Japanese Lg [NPB], 267 Dominican Winter Lg, 156 Korean BB Org)

FCR -    Phil Oppenheim, Sacto

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Whose record for consecutive saves converted did Eric Gagne break in 2003?

Hint:     He pitched in 480 games after being told by the Red Sox there was an 80-85% chance he would never pitch again.

Hint:     One season, he was Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year playing for three teams at three levels.

Twint:    His son Dee is currently a shortstop in the Dodgers’ organization.

A.         Tommy Gordon (1988 Class A Appleton Foxes, AA Memphis Chicks & AAA Omaha Royals; 54 SV streak 1998-99)

FCR -    Dan McCourt, Port Chester, NY

SUNDAY

Q.         Who was the last Yankee pitcher to hit a home run?

Hint:     In his 16^th season as a major leaguer, he tied the Yankees’ record for saves in a season.

Hint:     He scribed a newsletter for his church entitled "Pitching for the Master".

Twint:    When he retired he trailed only Hoyt Wilhelm for most career pitching appearances.

A.         Lindy McDaniel (HR 28-Sep-1972 off Mickey Lolich, 29 SV 1970, tying Luis Arroyo's 1961 total; 987 G)

FCR -    Roger Erickson, Kansas City

WEEKLY THEME – Major leaguers logging more than 20 major league seasons without appearing in a World Series

Dawson        21

Franco         23

Griffey         22

Gordon        21

Lyons           21

McDaniel      21

Niekro          24

Perry            22

Tanana         21

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Jeff Miller, Brookeville, MD

Answers for the Week of November 29, 2010

MONDAY

Q.         Who is the youngest player ever to appear in an All-Star game?

Hint:     He struck out the first three batters he faced in his two innings of work, but surrendered hits to two future Hall of Famers in the next frame.

Twint:    His nephew was a nine-time All-Star.

A.         Dwight Gooden (ASG 10-Jul-1984; Tony Gwynn, Eddie Murray; Gary Sheffield)

First Correct Respondent – Dan Silverberg, Aventura, FL

MONDAY MONDAY

Q.         Who has hit more home runs than any second baseman in history?

Hint:     He had 90 runs-batted-in in each of nine consecutive seasons.

Twint:    Some of his teammates have already been elected to the Hall of Fame.  Many more are sure to follow.

A.         Jeff Kent (351 HR; 1997-2005; Dave Winfield, Eddie Murray)

FCR -    Lost due to the machinations of gmail, but YOU know who you are.

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         Who was the first New York Yankee to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award?

Hint:     He was the first rookie to hit a grand slam in a World Series game.

Hint:     In his rookie season, he tied a major league record with six runs runs-batted-in in one inning.

Hint:     He was the first American League player to win the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award.

Hint:     He guest starred on the TV’s Phil Silvers Show and made an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Twint:    He was born in San Francisco, home town of his teammate Joe DiMaggio.

Twint:    In the 1958 contest at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, he drove home the game-winning run with a sixth-inning single in a 4-3 American League win.

A.         Gil McDougald (ROY 1951; WS GS Game 5 1951 3^rd inning off Larry Jansen, scoring Hall of Famers Berra, DiMaggio and Mize ahead of him; Gehrig Award 1958; Phil Silvers Show 01-Oct-1957; Sullivan Show, then known as “The Toast of the Town” 14-Oct-1951; 1958 ASG)     He passed away on Sunday at age 82.  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/sports/baseball/30mcdougald.html

FCR -    Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA

TUESDAY

Q.         Who hit the first home run against the Washington Nationals?

Hint:     He and Red Rolfe are the only 20th Century players to score a run in 18 consecutive games.

Twint:    He was the last American League player to collect 75 stolen bases in a season.

A.         Kenny Lofton (HR 5^th inning off Livan Hernandez 04-Apr-2005; R streak 15‑Aug thru 03‑Sep‑2000; 75 SB 1996)

FCR -    Ira Kotel, Short Hills, NJ

TUESDAY BONUS

Q.         Who was the first relief pitcher to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award?

Hint:     He led his high school to four consecutive Nebraska state championships.

Hint:     His wicked curve was called “Uncle Charlie”.

Hint:     His only career hit was a home run, which came in his last career at-bat.

Twint:    Drop a G and he becomes a catcher.

A.         Gregg Olson (1989 ROY; Northwest HS in Omaha, NE; HR 7^th inning 20-Apr-1998, had 1 PA [BB] on 08-Sep-1999; Greg Olson was ML C for 5 seasons)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who replaced Sparky Anderson as the manager of the Tigers?

Hint:     He was the second generation of a three-generation major league family.

Hint:     Rico Carty, Frank Robinson and Leo Cardenas played with both him and his father.

Hint:     Barry Larkin and Norm Charlton played with both him and his son Mike.

Twint:    He also replaced Jim Leyland as Rockies manager.

A.         Buddy Bell (replaced Anderson in 1996; son of Gus, father of David and Mike; replaced Leyland in 2005)

FCR -    David de la Fuente, San Francisco

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who is the only Kansas City Royals manager to win a Manager of the Year Award?

Hint:     He was the Most Valuable Player of the 1986 Major League All-Stars exhibition series in Japan.

Hint:     He often sat down on the job.

Twint:    He, Joe Girardi and Don Mattingly were the final candidates to replace Joe Torre.

A.         Tony Pena (MOY 2003; known for his seated catching stance)

FCR -    Kevin Johnson, Broken Arrow, OK

THURSDAY

Q.         Who broke his franchise’s 39-year-old season home run record by OVER 25%?

Hint:     He fell 14 shy of breaking the franchise’s season RBI record, held by the same player.

Twint:    It was only recently discovered that his RBI total that year led the league.

Twint:    He makes no pretentions of being Jewish.

A.         Jim Gentile (49 HR in 1961.  Previous record of 39 by Ken Williams when the Orioles were the St. Louis Browns; 141 RBI same year—Williams still holds the franchise record at 155; A correction of the record put Gentile’s RBI total into a tie with Roger Maris for the ’61 season.  He received a $5,000 bonus based on his contract at the time.  No interest calculation was made.)

FCR -    No one

THURSDAY BONUS

Q.         Who was the youngest member of the 1984 US Olympic baseball team?

Hint:     He was the second overall selection in the 1986 amateur draft.

Twint:    Famously chubby as a young player, he was nicknamed Flounder after the Animal House character.

A.         Greg Swindell (19 year-old Olympian; Jeff King chosen 1^st in 1986)

FCR -    Rod Nelson, Detroit

FRIDAY

Q.         Which player won the AL Rookie of the Year Award and his first Gold Glove Award in his 5^th Major League season?

Hint:     He was part of the package that brought Rocky Colavito back to the Indians.

Twint:    After joining his new team, he promptly broke his hand during spring training.

A.         Tommie Agee (1966 ROY & GG after September call-ups from 1962-65; part of 3-way trade between Indians, White Sox and A’s 20-Jan-1965)

FCR -    Fred Brillhart, Mechanicsburg, PA

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         Who was the first 10-year veteran to refuse a trade to another team?

Hint:     His annual “Walk for Diabetes” has raised over $40,000,000 for diabetes research since its inception in 1979.

Hint:     Although consistently supported among fans for election to the Hall of Fame, he has never received more than the 43.1% of the vote he received in 1998.

Hint:     In spite of being an All-Star nine times, he never experienced postseason play.

Hint:     As his team made a serious run at the 1969 pennant, he became known for his jubilant heel clicks.

Hint:     He reportedly once hit a grand slam while having a diabetic reaction.

Hint:     He had his left leg amputated below the knee following the 2001 season.

Twint:    He was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when he was 18.

Twint:    He kept his diabetic condition from the team until he made his first All-Star game in his fourth season, 1963.

Twint:    He was the first third baseman to hit 30 home runs and win the Gold Glove Award in consecutive seasons.

A.         Ron Santo http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-ron-santo-chicago-cubs-photos,0,5242250.photogallery (11-Dec-1973 refused to go to the Angels; GG 1964-67)

FCR -    Ira Kotel, Short Hills, NJ

FRIDAY BONUS

Q.         Who was the third baseman in the only Major League infield comprised of two sets of brothers?

Hint:     He inadvertently voided his contract by getting injured in a pickup basketball game during the 2003 off-season.

Twint:    This future National crushed the hopes of Red Sox Nation on 16-Oct-2003.

A.         Aaron Boone (3B on 27-Sep-1998 with brother Bret at 2B, Barry Larkin at SS and Stephen Larkin at 1B; 11^th inning HR in Game 7 of 2003 ALCS to send Yankees to WS over Red Sox)

FCR -    Diane Firstman, Queens, NY

SATURDAY

Q.         What pitcher set the record for consecutive saves (since broken) on his 31^st birthday?

Hint:     Although he was known as an elite closer, his fastball topped out in the mid-80s.

Hint:     His father was a racecar driver.

Twint:    At the time of his retirement he was the oldest player in the American League.

Twint:    He was born on the day that the last episode of I Love Lucy aired on CBS.

Twint:    He was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

A.         Doug Jones (14^th consecutive save on 24-Jun-1988; oldest AL player 2000; born 24-Jun-1957)

FCR -    John Rickert, Terre Haute

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Who broke up Johnny Podres’ no-hit bid in the 9^th inning on 04-Aug-1963?

Hint:     He was involved in a play that resulted in first basemen being required to change mitts when switching positions.

Twint:    His baseball career ended following a fight with fellow coach Reggie Otero.

A.         Johnny Temple (changed positions with George Crowe 14-Jun-1958; fought Reds coach Reggie Otero in 1964)

FCR -    Jerry Greene, Naples, FL

SUNDAY

Q.         Who gave up Willie Mays’s only career extra-inning grand slam?

Hint:     Eight years earlier, he had gvien up a grand slam to opposing pitcher Bob Grim.

Twint:    He also gave up the first of the Twins’ record-setting two grand slams in the first inning on 18-Jul-1962.

A.         Barry Latman (EIGSHR 13-Jun-1967; Grim GSHR 15-Apr-1959)

FCR -    David de la Fuente; San Francisco

WEEKLY THEME – All-Stars who played for the Indians and the Astros during their careers

Agee

Bell

Boone

Gentile

Gooden

Jones

Kent

Latman

Lofton

Olson

Pena

Swindell

Temple

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Gregg Gaylord, Chicago

Answers for the Week of November 22, 2010

MONDAY

Q.         Who played the most seasons for the Boston Red Sox?

Hint:     He was the last batter to win the Triple Crown.

Hint:     His late son was a AA All-Star, but never made it to the majors.

Twint:    His mother’s maiden name is Skonieczy.

A.         Carl Yastrzemski (23 yrs 1961-83; Son Mike was an All-Star for the Birmingham Barons in 1986, passed away in 2004 following complications from hip surgery)

First Correct Respondent – Dave Serota, Kalamazoo, MI

MONDAY THE SECOND

Q.         Who was the only person to both play and manage 500 games for the Cincinnati Reds?

Hint:     He was 17-time National League All-Star.

Hint:     He won two Gold Glove Awards at one position and a Silver Slugger Award at another.

Twint:    He was pictured on his son’s rookie card.

A.         Pete Rose (2,722 G played, 786 managed, 217 in both categorized; 1982 Fleer “Pete and Re-Pete”; GG OF 1969-70, SS 1b 1981)

FCR -    Chris Strohmier, Brookville, IN

TUESDAY

Q.         What batter holds the record for the most seasons with 200 hits?

Hint:     He won a Gold Glove Award every season he played in the majors.

Twint:    For only two seasons in his 10-year career did he not receive Most Valuable Player votes.

A.         Ichiro Suzuki (2001-10 [Tied with Pete Rose]; no MVP votes in 2005, 10)

FCR -    John Groulx, Canada

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Out of deference to whom does Albert Pujols refuse the nickname “El Hombre”?

Hint:     He was the first to make the All-Star team 20 times.

Twint:    He’s quite the harmonica player.

Twint:    In his final full year in the minors, he had an 18-5 record and a 2.62 ERA with 19 complete games.

A.         Stan Musial (Pujols explained that there can only be one “The Man”, whatever language it’s spoken in; AS 1943-44, 46-61 et seq; Often plays the harmonica at Hall of Fame induction ceremonies; 1940 Daytona Beach Islanders)

FCR -    Eugene Schwartz, New York

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who was the Giants’ career home run leader for 33 years?

Hint:     You ought to know this.  Everyone ought to.

Twint:    This Cajun was seldom ragin’.

A.         Mel Ott (Became the Giants in 1932 and was passed by Willie Mays 1965; Born and raised in Louisiana.)

FCR -    Larry Creeden, Boulder City, NV

THURSDAY

Q.         What former All-Star Game Most Valuable Player invited President George W. Bush to his wedding?

Hint:     Bush accepted and attended.

Hint:     He is the oldest player to hit a grand slam in a major league game.

Hint:     He is the oldest player to hit a pinch hit home run in a major league game.

Hint:     He is the oldest player to hit a home run in a major league game.

Twint:    He played his last game as a shortstop in 1987, his last game at second base in 1997 and his last game at third base in 2007.

A.         Julio Franco (AS MVP 1990; Wedding 2004; 03-Jun-2004 45 yrs 286 days, 20-Apr-2006 47 yrs 239 days)

FCR -    Buzz Brehm, Canby, OR

FRIDAY

Q.         Who was the first National League player to receive six bases-on-balls in a game?

Hint:     The only trade in his career was a famous one while he was still in the minors.

Twint:    He hit for the cycle the same day Barry Bonds tied Mickey Mantle on the career home run list.

A.         Jeff Bagwell (20‑Aug‑1999; Traded from Boston to Houston for Larry Anderson 30‑Aug‑1990; 18‑Jul‑2001)

FCR -    Craig Hixon, Roanoke

SATURDAY

Q.         Who collected his 3,000^th career hit on the day the U.S. first bombed targets inside Afghanistan?

Hint:     He was the first regular-season Designated Hitter in Padres history.

Twint:    He’d likely protest being the answer to a Saturday question.

A.         Rickey Henderson (2b off John Thompson 07-Oct-2001; 12-Jun1997)

FCR -    James Shimer, Nottingham, PA

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         What recently unemployed Hall of Famer was the final out in the first triple play that began with a strikeout.

Hint:     He is only of only two players under 5’8” to hit 20 home runs in a season.

Twint:    He was the first winner of the Commissioner’s Trophy.

A.         Joe Morgan (06-Apr-1978 1-2-5-2 Driessen struck out, Foster and Morgan out stealing; 26 HR in 1973, Yogi Berra was the other; ASG MVP renamed the Commissioner’s Trophy in 1972)

FCR -    Jay Berman, Manhattan Beach, CA

SUNDAY

Q.         Who was the first player to hit 60 career home run against the Mets?

Hint:     He was the 200^th person inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Hint:     He was the first player to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star game twice.

Twint:    Only he and Johnny Mize hit their first World Series home runs after turning 39 years of age.

Twint:    He founded Black Athletes dedicated to finding the cause of sickle cell anemia.

A.         Willie Stargell (HOF induction 12-Jan-1988; 30 Pre-AS HRs 1971, 73; WS HR 10-Oct-1979 39 years 7 months 3 days)

FCR -   Gregg Gaylord, Chicago

WEEKEND BONUS DEUX

Q.         Who broke Steve Garvey’s record for consecutive errorless games by a first baseman?

Hint:     He has been a standout at five different positions for his team, the only one he’s played for in the majors.

Hint:     He founded

Twint:    Although he’s often thought to be of Greek extraction, he actually has Romanian Jewish ancestry.

A.         Kevin Youkilis (194, extended to 234 by Youkilis, a record since broken by Casey Kotchman in 2010, who extended the record to 278; 1b, 2b, 3b, RF, LF; Hits for Kids)

FCR -    P.L. Cohen, Brooklyn

WEEKLY THEME – Batters with unusually memorable batting stances

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme –  Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara (following the Franco question)

Answers for the Week of November 15, 2010

MONDAY

Q.         Who is the only outfielder with nine World Series championships to his credit?

Hint:     He is the only All-Star to have two brothers who were also All-Stars (besides, of course, them).

Twint:    He twice married movie actresses.

Twint:    I’m told he jolted.

A.         Joe DiMaggio (WS W’s 1936-39, 41, 47, 49-51.  He might have won 10.  He was in the service when the Yankees also won in 1943.; Brothers Vince & Dom; Wives Dorothy Arnold [nee Olson] and Marilyn Monroe [nee Norma Jeane Mortenson, but baptized Norma Jeane Baker; “Joltin’ Joe”)

First Correct Respondent – Dave Serota, Kalamazoo, MI

TUESDAY

Q.         Who won 13 consecutive Gold Glove Awards at shortstop?

Hint:     He wowed them in Walla Walla.

Twint:    He was born in the same town as three other Hall of Famers, but was a high school teammate of another Hall of Famer in a different city.

Twint:    He and that high school teammate were the only players with 100 hits in the 1981 and 1994 strike-shortened seasons.

A.         Ozzie Smith (GG 1980-92, 1977 Walla Walla, WA Padres; Mobile, AL—Satchell Paige, Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Locke HS in Watts, CA w/Eddie Murray)

FCR -    Paul Rupright, Cleveland

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who is the Dodger’ franchise career leader in games, at-bats, hits, doubles and triples?

Hint:     He was the first player to collect 2,000 career hits for them.

Twint:    He was the only National League player to compile 5,000 at-bats for a single team during the 1910s.

Twint:    The most prominent baseball publication during his career said, “[He] is the easiest, most graceful of outfielders with no close rivals."

A.         Zach Wheat (2,000^th 25-Jun-1922; 5,064 AB 1910-1919. “Baseball” magazine 1917)

FCR -    Jim McCoy, Melrose, MA

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         What pitcher ended the Yankees' 12-game World Series winning streak?

Hint:     He played for the same team for his entire 16-year major league career, but played for seven minor league teams in two organizations.

Twint:    He afforded many a teammate to eat well.

A.         Carl Hubbell (WS W 30-Sep1936; Nickname was “The Meal Ticket”)

FCR -    Morris Buenemann, Florissant, MO

THURSDAY

Q.         Who was the first National League pitcher to record two victories in All-Star game play?

Hint:     He is the only pitcher with 200 losses for his franchise.

Twint:    He might have been the winner of the Cy Young Award, had the award begun a year sooner.

A.         Bob Friend (ASG W 1956, 60; 218 L for Pittsburgh)

FCR -    Fred Brillhart, Mechanicsburg, PA

MIDNIGHT POSER

Q.         Who was only the third American (after Wally Yonamine and Joe Lutz) to manage in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball League?

Hint:     His only All-Star team selection came as a result of controversial ballot-stuffing, even though he had received MVP votes the prior season.

Twint:    He married the daughter of a perennial All-Star catcher.

Twint:    Four times he collected his team’s only hit in a major league game.

A.         Don Blasingame (Mgr. 1978-82; AS 1958; father-in-law was Walker Cooper;)

FCR -    Larry Creeden, Boulder City, NV

FRIDAY

Q.         Who was the first visiting player to hit a home run into the upper deck at Three Rivers Stadium?

Hint:     He homered in three consecutive National League Championship Series.

Twint:    He was runner-up in the National League Most Valuable Player balloting to Reds Joe Morgan in 1975 and then George Foster in 1977.

Twint:    In 1989, he was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.

A.         Greg Luzinski (18-Apr-79 off Don Robinson 483'; LCS HRs 1976-78; NP-A HOF)

FCR -    John Read, Shaker Heights, OH

SATURDAY

Q.         Who was invited to the White House 16 years after his career?

Hint:     He openly denied being triskaidekaphobic.

Twint:    He appeared four times on the Ed Sullivan Show.

A.         Ralph Branca (Nixon visit 1972; Wore #13 and posed with a black cat on Friday, 13-Apr-1951)

FCR -    Charlie O’Reilly, Rutherford, NJ

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Who earned his nickname because of his freckles?

Hint:     He began his career with a team that seemingly never lost and ended it with a team that seemingly never won.

Hint:     He made the All-Star team in his rookie year, but never again in his eight-year career in the majors.

Twint:    He is listed as the "baseball throwing instructor" for the movie "The Natural".

A.         Spec Shea (Career; filmography; ASG 1947)

FCR -    Henry Hascup, Lodi, NJ

SUNDAY

Q.         Who hit a dramatic home run against the Red Sox to help lead his team to the World Series for the first time in their history?

Hint:     He finished a strong third place in Rookie of the Year Award voting, but has never made an All-Star team in his seven seasons in the majors.

Hint:     A baseball scout with 50 years of professional experience called him Joe DiMaggio’s twin.

Twint:    He is of pre-dominantly Italian and French ancestry but has Syrian lineage through his paternal grandmother.

A.         Rocco Baldelli (HR off Paul Byrd 13-Oct-2008; Scout Al Lamacchia)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York

WEEKLY THEME – Players whose nicknames suggest NBA teams.

Name              Nickname                       NBA Team

Baldelli            Woonsocket Rocket       Houston Rockets

Blasingame     Blazer                             Portland Trail Blazers

Branca            Hawk                              Atlanta Hawks

DiMaggio        The Yankee Clipper         Los Angeles Clippers

Friend             Warrior                           Golden State Warriors

Hubbell           King Carl                        Sacramento Kings

Luzinski           The Bull                          Chicago Bulls

Shea               The Naugatuck Nugget    Denver Nuggets

Smith              The Wizard of Oz            Washington Wizards

Wheat             Buck                              Milwaukee Bucks

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one