Answers for the Week of December 13, 2010

MONDAY

Q.         Who is the only player to hit 50 home runs in a season while striking out fewer than 50 times?

Hint:     He was an All-Star for one league, then played for a team from the other league in that season's World Series.

Hint:     He is the only player to hit three home runs in a game twice in a season twice during his career.

Twint:    He has hit three home runs in a game for three different teams.

Twint:    He was a cousin of Babe Ruth's second wife.

A.         Johnny Mize (51 HR, 42 K 1947; 1949; 3XHRX2: 1938, 1940)

First Correct Respondent -

TUESDAY

Q.         Which Hall of Famer led the National League in stolen bases in 1945, just after being discharged from the US Army?

Hint:     It was his first season in the majors.

Hint:     He never led again in his 19-year major league career and finish with fewer than 100.

Twint:    He suffered through a broken finger, pleurisy and bruised ribs in 1958 before sitting out the 1959 season with tuberculosis.

Twint:    His name means "beautiful servant" in German.

A.         Red Schoendienst (26 SB 1945; 89)

FCR -   

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who is the only manager to lead the Kansas City Royals to 100 wins in a season?

Hint:     He said, "Baseball has been good to me since I quit trying to play it."

Twint:    He was hit by a batted ball on the day the leagues sent out a directive to umpires warning them to watch for intentional interference by runners?

A.         Whitey Herzog (102-60 in 1977; 25-Apr-1977)

FCR -   

THURSDAY

Q.         Whose place did Cliff Mapes take in the outfield?

Hint:     One season he led his league in home runs while striking out fewer times than he had home runs.

Twint:    He once broke a Hall of Famer’s jaw with a line drive.

A.         Joe DiMaggio (Was benched 11-Aug-1950; 1948 39 HR 30 K; George Kell 29-Aug-1948.  Kell crawled over to complete a force-out at third, but missed the rest of the season.)

FCR -   

FRIDAY

Q.         Whose .388 batting average is the highest in a season ever recorded by a shortstop?

Hint:     He led his league in errors committed a record five times.

Twint:    He hit a home in an old-timers game against Warren Spahn at age 75, despite hitting only 45 home runs in a 20year major league career.

A.         Luke Appling (.388 in 1936)

FCR -   

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         Who had the most total bases in a season as a teenager?

Hint:     He was the first player to reach base five times in an All-Star game.

Hint:     He hit for the cycle in his first game as a pro.

Hint:     He was the first manager to be fired during Spring Training when he gave the team owner his frank opinion about the team’s chances.  (It turned out he was right.)

Twint:    He broke his ankle sliding against the Giants in May of 1939 and again in June of 1940.

Twint:    He was the last pre-expansion Cub to win a batting title.

A.         Phil Cavarretta (238 TB in 1935.  He turned 19 in July of that season.  1944 ASG 3b+1b+3BB; Cycle playing for the Peoria Tractors in 1934; Fired as Cubs’ mgr 29-Mar-1954.  The Cubs finished 64-90, in 7^th place.  Hit .355 in 1945, the last time the Cubs went to the WS.) http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-1219-cavarretta-cubs-chicago--20101218,0,901069.story

FCR -    Scott Schleifer, Suffern, NY

IN MEMORIAM II

Q.         Who was the first player to win the Rookie of the Year Award while playing for the Red Sox?

Hint:     He had over 140 RBI that season, playing fewer than 140 games.

Hint:     He was once traded for a Hall of Famer (other players were involved).

Twint:    Shortly after being traded to Detroit in 1952, he tied a major league record that still stands when he got hits in 12 consecutive trips to the plate.

A.         Walt Dropo (ROY 1950, easily outdistancing White Ford for the honor; 144 RBI, 136 G; George Kell) http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Former-Red-Sox-first-baseman-Walt-Dropo-dies-at-87-121810

FCR -    Rod Nelson, Detroit

WEEKENDER

Q.         Who was the first catcher to hit 30 home runs in a season?

Hint:     He is the only National League catcher to hit a triple in the All-Star game.

Twint:    He hit the famous Homer in the Gloamin’.

A.         Gabby Hartnett (37 HR 1930; ASG 3b 07-Jul-1936)

FCR -    Elmer Cowley, Berkeley, CA

WEEKLY THEME – Hall of Famers who coached the A’s when they were owned by Charlie Finley

DiMaggio        1968-69

Appling           1964-66

Hartnett           1965

Mize                1961

Herzog            1965

Schoendienst  1977-78

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No One