May 23-29, 2011 Managers with 1,000 career wins with multiple stints with the one team

MONDAY

Q.         Whom is Tony LaRussa likely to pass next year in career managerial wins?

Hint:     He was the Darth Vader of New York’s “Evil Empire” before Yankees won their first championship.

SABR Hint:       As a player, he trails only Ted Williams and Babe Ruth in career on-base percentage.

Twint:    He hired and later released Victory Faust.

A.         John McGraw (2,763 W, LaRussa has 2,666 as of today; OBP; Faust)

First Correct Respondent - Will McCracken, Bradenton, FL

TUESDAY

Q.         Who was the first to win the Manager of the Year awards in both leagues?

Hint:     He’s also had knees replaced on both sides.

SABR Hint:       He is the only man (player, manager or coach) to be ejected from two World Series games.

Twint:    His uniform number 6 will be retired 12-Aug-2011 in Atlanta.

A.         Bobby Cox (MGROY AL 1985, NL 1991 et seq.; WS ejewwdunkctions G #3 1992, G #6 1996;

FCR -    J.R. Richardson, Clarksville, MD

TUESDAY DOUBLE

Q.         Who was the manager of the Twins in their first American League Championship Series?

Hint:     As a player, he was the first player to have two hits in an inning on Opening Day.

SABR Hint:       It was also the first major league game of his career.

SABR Hint:       That game was also the career debut of his teammate and fellow NoCal native, Jackie Jensen.

Twint:    A scheme with a chance for atonement in the plot of “Ocean’s 13” was named for him.

A.         Billy Martin (1969 ALCS; 18-Apr-1950)

FCR -    Bob Kimball, Washington, DC

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who got each of his five World Series championship rings at the end of a seven-game series?

Hint:     Ryne Sandberg broke his National League record for fielding percentage.

SABR Hint:       He was a Giant for one year and one day.

Twint:    His brother Paul was the first baseman for Montreal the year Jackie Robinson joined the team.

A.         Red Schoendienst (WS 1946, 57, 64, 67, 82; . 9994 in 1956 for second basemen; 1946 Royals)

FCR -    No one

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         What pitcher was the first 20-game winner for the Kansas City Royals?

Hint:     He was their choice in the 25^th round of the draft a year before the franchise existed as a team.

Hint:     He never pitched for any other franchise.

Hint:     He made a smooth transition to the broadcast booth and was a favorite there with fans.

SABR Hint:       He is still the winningest pitcher in the history of the Kansas City Royals 27 years after his retirement.

Twint:    Known as a Yankee killer, he was 2-0 with a 2.68 ERA in four ALCS against New York.

A.         Paul Splittorff  Passed away Wednesday after a struggle with cancer. (166-144; 15 years)

FCR -    Alan Work, White Plains, NY

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who led the National League in stolen bases as a rookie even though he only played in 85 games?

Hint:     He was twice the Sporting News Manager of the Year, the awards coming a decade apart.

SABR Hint:       As a manager, he often held court with the press from his rocking chair.

Twint:    He worked at McGovern’s Men’s Store in Chester, PA in the off-season.

A.         Danny Murtaugh (Rookie year 1941; TSN MOY 1960, 1970)

FCR -    Kenny Fink, Ocala, FL

THURSDAY

Q.         Who holds the record for the most RBI in a season without a home run?

Hint:     Honus Wagner said, “No one compared with him as a shortstop.”

SABR Hint:       He was the first baseball coach at the University of Georgia.

Twint:    He was the best man at John McGraw’s wedding.

Twint:    He became a major leaguer when his minor league team joined the National League.

A.         Hughie Jennings (121 RBI in 1896; UGA coach 1895-97; McGraw, then 23, married Minnie Doyle, the daughter of prominent Baltimore politician Michael Doyle, on February 3, 1897.  Jennings was a pall bearer at her funeral a mere two years later. Louisville Colonels joined NL 1982)

FCR -    Phil Oppenheim, Sacramento

THURSDAY EXTRA

Q.         Which player was elected to the Hall of Fame sixteen years after his brother?

Hint:     He was the second oldest player in the league in his rookie year.

Hint:     The oldest player only had a single game in the majors.

SABR Hint:       He was the oldest player in all but one of his remaining major league seasons.

Twint:    His father was a professional bowler.

A.         Harry Wright (HOF 1953, younger brother George HOF 1937; Oldest player in 1871 Nate Berkenstock)

FCR -    Kenny Fink, Ocala, FL

FRIDAY

Q.         Who was the youngest manager ever to lead a team to a World Series championship?

Hint:     He played semi-pro ball in the off-season until his team’s management discovered it.

SABR Hint:       He won the first job in the majors after hitting .214 as a call-up the year before.

Twint:    He set World Series records for a second baseman in chances, put-outs and double plays.

A.         Bucky Harris (27 in 1924; Call up 28-Aug-1919)

FCR -    Bill Garrod, Edgewood, WA

SATURDAY

Q.         Who is the only former Cub to have his ashes sprinkled onto the soil of Wrigley Field?  [I’ve since learned that Ron Santo received the same honor.]

Hint:     He bought the first ball hit into the centerfield bleachers of the Polo Grounds for $25, from the fan who caught it.

SABR Hint:       He was part of the college of coaches, but was never the “head coach”.

SABR Hint:       He had been the manager of the team the year prior.

Twint:    His sunny disposition earned him his nickname.

A.         Charlie Grimm (29-Apr-1953; HR by Joe Adcock’ “Jolly Cholly”)

FCR -    Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Which manager was once fired by Charlie Finley for being “too nice”?

Hint:     He started his managerial career in Lewiston, Idaho.

SABR Hint:       He got to the postseason in his 14^th season as a major league manager.

SABR Hint:       He managed another five seasons in the bigs, but never again in the postseason.

Twint:    One year, his team had the best record in the majors, but they didn’t make the playoffs.

A.         John McNamara (Fired by Finley 1970; 1959 Broncos, 1986 Red Sox; 1981 Reds)

FCR -    Randall Chandler, Germantown, TN

SUNDAY

Q.         Who managed during a change of venue for two major league teams?

Hint:     He suffered a heart attack during spring training 1949.

SABR Hint:       He once said, of his team's inflated ERA, "It's not big if you look at it from the standpoint of the national debt."?

Twint:    One of his rookie starters pitched a no-hitter on a day when the pitcher was so sick that he had to beg this manager to start.

A.         Bill Rigney (Giants NYC to SF, Angels from Los Angeles to California [You know what I mean.]; No-hitter by Bo Belinsky 05-May-1962)

FCR -    Phil Oppenheim, Sacramento

WEEKLY THEME – Managers with 1,000 career wins with multiple stints with the one team.

Cox                  Braves        1978-81; 90-2010

Grimm              Cubs          1932-49; 60

Harris                Senators     1924-28; 35-42; 50-54

Jennings           Giants         1924; 25 (See McGraw)

Martin               Yankees     1975-78; 79; 83; 85; 88

McGraw            Giants         1902-32 (with brief interruptions in 1924, 25 & 27)

McNamera        Angels        1983-4; 96

Murtaugh          Pirates        1957-64; 67; 70-71; 73-76

Rigney              Giants         1956-60; 76

Schoendienst    Cardinals    1965-76; 80; 90

Wright               Phillies        1890 (2X)

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one

May 16-22, 2011 Batters with three runs batted in during the Phillies/Cubs game 17-May-1979

MONDAY

Q.         Who is the all-time Major League leader in hits, games played, at-bats and outs?

Hint:     His son played in the majors, but could never quite equal his dad’s numbers.

SABR Hint:       He leads in each category by a considerable margin.

Twitter Hint:       Quoth he, "Sliding headfirst is the safest way to get to the next base, I think, and the fastest. You don't lose your momentum, and there's one more important reason I slide headfirst, it gets my picture in the paper."

A.         Pete Rose (4,256 H, 3,562 G, 14,053 AB & 10,328 outs; Pete Rose, Jr. 11 G 2 H)

First Correct Respondent - Bob Boehme, Birmingham, AL

TUESDAY

Q.         Which Hall of Famer hit the most home runs while Jimmy Carter was President of the United States?

Hint:     He had already officially retired when he played in his last All-Star game.

SABR Hint:       He won his league’s MVP three times more than any other third basemen in history.

Twitter Hint:       He was the “Sporting New”s first team College All-American shortstop in 1971.

A.         Mike Schmidt (152 HR 1977-80. Also the leading HR hitter in the Ford & Reagan administrations; Retd. 28-May-1989, ASG 11-Jul-1989; NL MVP 1980, 81 & 87)

FCR      - Will McCracken, Bradenton, FL

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         Who hit the most home runs during the while John F. Kennedy was President of the United States?

Hint:     He also hit the most home runs for the decade 1960-69 (…also 61-70).

Hint:     He also had the most bases-on-balls for that decade.

Hint:     On 03-Aug-1962 he became the first player to hit a ball over the left field roof at Tiger Stadium.  Marking his feat, a statue now stands exactly 520 ft. from home plate at Target Field.

Hint:     He stood in fifth place on the career home run list at the time of his retirement.

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

Hint:     His uniform number was the first to be retired by the Twins.

Hint:     When he retired, he and Babe Ruth were the only players to hit ten or more home runs in a month 20 times during their careers.

SABR Hint:       He hit the longest home runs ever measured at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium (471 ft.) and at Metropolitan Stadium (520 ft.).

SABR Hint:       Marking his feat, a statue now stands exactly 520 ft. from home plate at Target Field.

SABR Hint:       In addition to his 573 major league home runs, he hit another 63 in the minors.

SABR Hint:       His son hit nine career home runs, all in the minors.

Twitter Hint:       The street along the south side of Mall of America bears his name.

Twitter Hint:       Gate 3 at Target Field is appropriately named in his honor.

Twitter Hint:       He founded the Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament in 1977, in honor of his former teammate.

Twitter Hint:       To honor him, the Twins will wear 1961-style jerseys for their remaining home dates this year.

A.         Harmon Killebrew (139 during JFK admin; 393 HR in 1960s; 970 BB in 1960s; Ruth 12 HR titles to his 6; 573 HR, behind Aaron, Ruth, Mays & FRob; Ruth 10+ HR 24 times, Killer 20)

FCR      - David de la Fuente, San Francisco

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who hold the record for the most home runs in his final major league season?

Hint:     He won a World Series ring, but has never played in a World Series game.

Hint:     Even though he hit over 400 career home runs, he was dropped from the Hall of Fame ballot after only one vote.

SABR Hint:       He was the first A’s player to win the Designated Hitter of the Year Award.

Twitter Hint:       At age 50, he hit eight home runs for the West Palm Beach Tropics.

A.         Dave Kingman (35 HR in 1986 for Oakland; WS 1977; HOF 1992 [Only 3 writers put him on their ballot.]; DH Award in 1984; 49 HR)

FCR      - Alan Miller, Oakland

THURSDAY

Q.         What former Owl was elected a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia in 2003?

Hint:     His fiscal policy, if it paralleled his major league prowess, was probably defensive.

Hint:     He was twice passed by lead-footed runners who had hit fair balls over the fence, nullifying their home runs.

SABR Hint:       He once trailed only Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays in consecutive outfield Gold Glove Awards.

Twitter Hint:       He has hosted a charity Barbecue Challenge every year outside of Citizens Bank Park.

A.         Garry Maddox (Attended Temple University after his MLB career, before working for the Bank)

FCR      - James Kent, North Bethesda, MD

FRIDAY

Q.         Who was replaced by Brian Minniti as Assistant General Manager of the Washington Nationals?

Hint:     He was replaced as major league manager by Tony Muser and Dave Miley.

SABR Hint:       After 1916, he was the first catcher to throw out the same base runner three times in a game.

Twitter Hint:       He was the first to play 2,000 major league games at catcher.

A.         Bob Boone (AGM 2005-09; Rickey Henderson on 27-Jul-1982; 15-Jul1988)

FCR      - J.J. McCoy, Washington, DC

SATURDAY

Q.         Whose record did Albert Pujols break with his 185^th assist in 2009?

Hint:     He was drafted in the second round by a team that had drafted Bobby Valentine in the first round.

SABR Hint:       His first professional manager was Tommy Lasorda.

Twitter Hint:       Although he played a part of his career for the BoSox, he now toils with the BroRox.

A.            Bill Buckner (184 A in 1985 for a 1^st baseman, 157 A in 1986; Drafted by the Dodgers Brockton Rox; 1968 Ogden Pioneers)

FCR      - J.R. Richardson, Clarksville, MD

SUNDAY

Q.         Which son of a former major leaguer was one of the first four active players to serve time in a federal prison?

Hint:     The others serving were Willie Aikens, Vida Blue and Willie Wilson.

Hint:     He was signed by Mets shortly after being released, but still ineligible to play in the majors.

SABR Hint:       He played five years for the Phillies at the outset of his major league career, but had never been drafted by any team.

SABR Hint:       His brother Mike was drafted in the first round by the Phillies, but never played in the majors.

SABR Hint:       His father pitched one inning in the majors.

Twitter Hint:       Dan Driessen once hit an inside-the-park home run that slammed into the wall over this player’s head and caromed all the way back to the infield.

A.         Jerry Martin (Fort Worth Federal Correctional Institution Oct 1983-Jan 84.  All convictions were for attempt to purchase cocaine; Mets signing 16-Mar-1984, eligible to play 15-May-1984

FCR      - Bill Garrod, Edgewood, WA

WEEKLY THEME – Batters with three runs batted in during the Phillies/Cubs game 17-May-1979.

Boone       5

Buckner     7

Kingman    6

Maddox    4

Martin        3

Rose         4

Schmidt    4

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one (although Kenny Fink of Ocala, FL figured out that they’d all played in this famous game).

May 9-15, 2011 500 Home Run Club members who homered for different teams in the same city (greater metro)

MONDAY

Q.         Who celebrated his 80^th birthday this past Friday?

Hint:     Jack Bauer

SABR Hint:       Serious baseball people cannot think of a more complete outfielder.

Twint:    He is the only player to have a game with four home runs and another game with three triples.

A.         Willie Mays (b. 06-May-1931; “24” matching Mays’s famous uniform number; 4 HR 30-Apr-1961, 3 3b 15-Sep-1960)

First Correct Respondent - Matt Gibson, Barboursville, WV

TUESDAY

Q.         Whom did Willie Mays pass to move into second place on the career home run list?

Hint:     He hit thirty or more home runs in twelve consecutive seasons.

SABR Hint:       He was “discovered” by a Hall of Famer for whom home runs were also a calling card.

Twint:    He was the first player to win back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards.

A.         Jimmie Foxx (30+ HR 1929-40; Frank “Home Run” Baker; MVPs 1932, 33)

FCR -    Bob Kimball, Washington, DC

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who is the only player to hit an All-Star game home run for a team in each league?

Hint:     He was the first position player to win a league Most Valuable Player Award and a World Series Most Valuable Player Award?

SABR Hint:       He was a high school teammate of a man who was his teammate for eight years in the majors.

Twint:    He hit a home in his first at-bat as a player-manager.

A.         Frank Robinson (ASG HRs 03-Aug-1959 off Early Wynn, 13-Jul-1971 off Dock Ellis; MVP 1961, 66, WS MVP 1966; Vada Pinson; HR 08-Apr-1975 off Doc Medich)

FCR -    Rev. Gerald Beirne, Narragansett, RI

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Which Hall of Famer hit the 300^th home run in World Series history?

Hint:     He hit at least one major league home run per season for 23 consecutive years.

SABR Hint:       He was the first player to hit a home run off of 300 different pitchers during his career.

Twint:    His congratulatory note for Barry Bonds was prepared well in advance.

A.         Hank Aaron (06-Oct-1957; HRs 1954-76; Message when Bonds established the new career home run record 07-Aug-2007)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York

THURSDAY

Q.         Who boasted, “I am a natural hitter,” after his first season of leading the league in runs batted in with a relatively modest 114?

Hint:     He only became an All-Star in his 20^th season in the majors.

SABR Hint:       He donated generously to his alma mater.

Twint:    He eclipses even Cal Ripken, Jimmie Foxx and Left Grove as the greatest player born in Maryland.

A.         Babe Ruth (Quote from “Playing the Game”, 114 RBI in 1919; AS 1933; St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys)

FCR -    Judah Kaplan, Silver Spring, MD

FRIDAY

Q.         Who hit 41 triples in just over five minor league seasons, but only hit 46 triples in his 22-year Major League career?

Hint:     Before Barry Bonds in 1992, he had been the last player to top 200 OPS+ in a season.

SABR Hint:       His "invisible triple" prompted umpire Frank Dascoli to halt the game due to fog.

Twint:    He once said of his manager, “He managed percentages, not people.”?

A.         Willie McCovey (209 OPS+ in 1969; Fog G 15-Jul-1960; Mgr. Alvin Dark)

FCR -    Bill Garrod, Edgewood, WA

SATURDAY

Q.         Who led his team in home runs one season, but was not invited to return, effectively ending his major league career?

Hint:     He hit his first career home run off Roger Clemens, but never hit another off him in 22 at‑bats.

SABR Hint:       His performance in front of Congress, while not lachrymose, was, however, deceitfully taciturn.

Twint:    Although he tried out, he was left off his country’s World Baseball Classic team.

Twint:    He hit his 600^th career home run off a player wearing his old number for his old team after everyone thought that number would be retired.

A.         Sammy Sosa (21 HR for the 2007 Rangers; 1^st HR 21-Jun-1989; Before Congress 18-Mar-2005; HR off Jason Marquis 20-Jun-2007, the only HR he ever hit against the Cubs)

FCR -    Barry Kramer, Reisterstown, MD

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Who is the only switch-hitter to hit three home runs in a game three times?

Hint:     He was the first post-expansion switch-hitter to lead the league in home runs.

SABR Hint:       He is the only man to hit home runs in World Series games in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

Twint:    In 2008, he released a charity wine, the proceeds of which benefitted a local community foundation.

Twint:    More than 300 inner city Little Leaguers attended his Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

A.         Eddie Murray (3 HR Gs 29-Aug-1979, 14-Sep-1980, 26-Aug-1985; HR Title 1981; WS HRs 11-Oct-1979 G2, 16-Oct-1983 G5, 22-Oct-1995 G2; Eddie Murray 504 Cabernet Sauvignon; HOF 2003)

FCR -    Jim Casey, Savannah

SUNDAY

Q.         Who hit his 500^th career home run for the New York Mets?

Hint:     He was the first to hit his 500^th as a pinch-hitter.

SABR Hint:       He and Paul O’Neil are the only38-year-old players to have 20-20 seasons.

Twint:    His $61,000,000 contract set a baseball record.

A.         Gary Sheffield (HR 17-Apr-2009 off Mitch Stetter; 20-20 at 38 in 2007; Contract 1979)

FCR -    Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA

WEEKLY THEME – 500 Home Run Club members who homered for different teams in the same city (greater metro).

Aaron           Milwaukee          Braves/Brewers

Foxx            Philadelphia        A’s/Phillies

Mays            New York           Giants/Mets

McCovey      San Francisco    Giants/A’s

Murray          Los Angeles       Dodgers/Angels

Robinson     Los Angeles       Dodgers/Angels

Ruth             Boston               Red Sox/Braves

Sheffield      New York           Mets/Yankees

Sosa            Chicago             White Sox/Cubs

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Al Blumkin, Brooklyn

May 2-8, 2011 Rookie of the Year Award winners who never hit for a higher batting average after their rookie season.

N.B.  Gregg Gaylord of Chicago has supplied us with this week’s theme and questions.

MONDAY

Q.         Who was the first player to hit two home runs in an inning twice?

Hint:     He, Bobby Richardson and Charles Schultz will forever be linked.

SABR Hint:       He still holds the record for career grand slams by a National Leaguer.

Twint:    He played for three California-based teams.

A.         Willie McCovey (12-Apr-1973 & 27-Jun-1977; “Peanuts” comic strip 22-Dec-1962; 18 NL GS; San Francisco, San Diego & Oakland)

First Correct Respondent - Mark Jones, Birmingham

TUESDAY

Q.         Who was the first Braves player to win the Rookie of the Year Award?

Hint:     His single started the rally that ended with the “Shot heard ‘round the world”.

Hint:     He was regular-season teammates with Warren Spahn, Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Ernie Banks and Robin Roberts.

SABR Hint:       He was once drafted by the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.

Twint:    He managed in the World Series with teams from each league, winning once.

A.         Alvin Dark (ROY 1948; 03-Oct-1951; WS in 1962 & 1974)

FCR -    Cappy Gagnon, South Bend

WEDNESDAY

Q.         What former Cardinals All-Star was an MVP, leading the league in HR, RBI, BB, OBP, and SLG?

Hint:     The batting title that year went to a player who hit no home runs.

SABR Hint:       He hit the first regular-season home run indoors, accounting for all the runs in the game.

SABR Hint:       He also committed the first indoors error.

Twint:    When he was growing up, no one ever called him Richie.  It simply wasn’t his name.

A.         Dick Allen (MVP in 1972; Rod Carew .318 w/ 0 HR; (HR at the Astrodome 12-Apr-1965; Error in the 9^th inning)

FCR -    Jim Casey, Savannah

MIDWEEK BONUS

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

Hint:     It was the team’s sixth game, their first on the road.

SABR Hint:       He holds the record for the longest hitting streak by a player at his position.

Twint:    He was signed as a free agent 11 times.

A.         Benito Santiago (HR 12-Apr-1993; 34 G streak by a C 1987;

FCR -    Randall Chandler, Germantown, TN

THURSDAY

Q.         Who, when he retired, was his team’s all-time leader in stolen bases with 252?

Hint:     In the Vietnam War, in the middle of his career, he earned a Bronze Star as platoon leader.

SABR Hint:       He was regarded by some as the fastest player in Baltimore Oriole history.

SABR Hint:       That claim, though made by his Hall of Fame manager, was easily gainsaid by several teammates.

Twint:    He was a Trojan.

A.         Al Bumbry (Service from July 1969 to June 1971; Fleet of skeptical teammates included Don Baylor, Paul Blair, Mark Belanger, Rich Coggins et al; Attended Troy State University)

FCR -    John Rickert, Terre Haute

NEARING-THE-END-OF-THE-WEEK BONUS

Q.         Who appeared as the double for actor Tab Hunter in distance shots in the movie “Damn Yankees”?

Hint:     Hunter's character was left-handed, so this right-hander was outfitted with a mirror-image Nats uniform and the film was reversed in production.

SABR Hint:       The previous season, he had led the league in home runs, runs batted in and total bases and finished behind only Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams in slugging percentage.

Twint:    He was only one of seven players to don the uniforms of both the original and expansion Washington Senators.

A.         Roy Sievers (Damn Yankees 1958, Tab Hunter played Joe Hardy; stats 1957)

FCR -    Jim Casey, Savannah

FRIDAY

Q.         Whose thirteen hits in consecutive calendar days is still a major league record?

Hint:     He went on this tear only six weeks after being traded with another All-Star for a Hall of Famer.

SABR Hint:       His parents moved from Mostar to Moosup.

Twint:    A Husky, he was drafted by the Steamrollers and the Bears.

A.         Walt Dropo (13 H 14-, 15a- & 15b-Jul-1952; Traded 03-Jun-1952 with Johnny Pesky [and others] for George Kell [and others]; His Serbian parents emigrated from Mostar, then Kingdom of Yugoslavia [Bosnia and Herzegovina] to Moosup, CT; drafted in the first round of the Draft by the Providence Steamrollers with the fourth overall pick; also drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 9^th round of the 1946 NFL Draft after starring in three sports at the University of Connecticut.)

FCR -    Peter Baughman, Columbia, CT

SATURDAY

Q.         Whom did Mike Scioscia call the “Ozzie Smith of the American League”?

Hint:     He was on the losing team in three perfect games.

SABR Hint:       He was on deck as Joe Carter faced Mitch Williams in the ninth inning of Game Six of the 1993 World Series.

SABR Hint:       His playing career ended when Carter homered.

Twint:    He once had a consecutive games played streak that stretched to 392 games.

A.         Alfredo Griffin (Perfect games 15-May-1981 by Len Barker, 16-Sep-1988 by Tom Browning & 28-Jul1991 by Dennis Martinez)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Who is, in all probability, the most tattooed player today in major league baseball?

Hint:     He appeared in three consecutive World Series with three different teams, winning twice.

SABR Hint:       The next year he was with the team that lost in the NLDS to the eventual champions.

Twint:    In his major league debut—on opening day of the season—he picked up his first big league hit and an RBI with a two-run single off Pedro Martinez.

A.         Eric Hinske (Tats; WS in 2007 w/ the Red Sox, 08 w/ the Rays & 09 w/ the Yankees; 2010 NLDS w/ the Braves; Debut 01-Apr-2002)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York

SUNDAY

Q.         Who broke Ron Santo’s consecutive games Cubs hitting streak?

Hint:     He once injured his hamstring running for third and was tagged out crawling to third.

Hint:     It was the final out of the game.

Hint:     He missed a month of play during his best season.

SABR Hint:       He played for six teams in the majors, but was never traded.

Twint:    Teammate Dwight Smith got two votes, preventing his Rookie of the Year Award from being unanimous.

A.         Jerome Walton (Tag play 10-May-1989; 1989 ROY vote)

FCR -    David Krassin

WEEKLY THEME – Rookie of the Year Award winners who never hit for a higher batting average after their rookie season.

Allen            .318       1964

Bumbry        .337       1973

Dark             .322       1948

Dropo          .322       1950

Griffin          .287       1979

Hinske          .279*      2002

McCovey      .354       1959

Santiago      .300       1987

Sievers         .306       1949

Walton         .293**     1989

*Currently has a higher average

** Had higher averages, but never in a season with enough at-bats to qualify for a batting title

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Al Blumkin, Brooklyn