04-Jul-2011
MONDAY
Q. Whom did Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick call "Baseball's Perfect Knight"?
Hint: He is the only player in history with 600 doubles, 100 triples and 400 home runs.
SABR Hint: He was the first National Leaguer to win three MVP awards.
Twint: He was the first player to receive 300 Hall of Fame votes.
A. Stan Musial (725 2b, 177 3b, 475 HR; MVP 1943, 46, 48; 317 HOF votes in 1969)
First Correct Respondent – Gregg Gaylord, Chicago
TUESDAY
Q. Who was the first Cub to win the Rookie of the Year award?
Hint: He got twice as many votes as Joe Torre.
SABR Hint: He finished second in the MVP voting twice and both times to the same Hall of Famer.
Twint: He was the only batter to work to a full count against Sandy Koufax in Koufax's perfect game.
A. Billy Williams (ROY 1962; MVP votes 1970, 72 Johnny Bench; Koufax game 09-Sep-1965)
FCR - Jim Casey, Savannah
WEDNESDAY
Q. Which Hall of Famer replaced Ray Chapman in the Indians' lineup following Chapman’s untimely death in 1920?
Hint: In his entire fourteen-year career in the majors, only twice did he strike out in a game more than once.
SABR Hint: One of his brothers played briefly in the majors, but another brother played for twenty years in the bigs, even making an All-Star squad.
SABR Hint: His cousin of the same last name enjoyed a thirteen-year career with three All-Star appearances.
Twint: He was Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Alabama while preparing for medical school.
A. Joe Sewell (debut 10-Sep-1920; 2Ks each by Cy Warmoth in 1923 and Pat Caraway on 26‑May‑1930)
FCR - Mark Jones, Birmingham
SABR 41 BONUS
Q. Who was the only rookie selected to the 1948 National League All-Star team?
Hint: The Cleveland Indians tried to sign him when he was still in high school.
SABR Hint: He finished 3rd in the second ever BBWA Rookie of the Year vote.
Twint: He is the only player in the Hall of Fame who had a twin sister.
A. Richie Ashburn
FCR - J.R. Richardson, Clarksville, MD
THURSDAY
Q. Who was the first player to win the MVP and gold Glove awards in the same season?
Hint: He once hit a bloop double that hit his own glove in shallow centerfield.
SABR Hint: He had the most at-bats during the decade of 1951-60.
Twint: He missed gaining Hall of Fame election by a mere 2 votes in 1985.
A. Nellie Fox (MVP GG 1959; 2b 04-Aug-1950)
FCR - Dave MacEntee, Beacon, NY
IN MEMORIAM
Q. What famously hard-nosed manager once said, “I don’t know anybody who refused the World Series checks I helped them get.”?
Hint: He managed the Red Sox , A’s and Padres to league championships.
Hint: Hall of Famer Bill McKechnie is the only other one to manage that feat.
Hint: He won two World Series championships with the A’s.
Hint: As a player, he drove in Gil Hodges and Roy Campanella with his first career home run.
SABR Hint: As a player, he hit as many home runs off Billy Pierce and Whitey Ford as he did off any other pitchers.
SABR Hint: A year after winning the American League pennant, he stripped Carl Yastrzemski of his captaincy with the Red Sox.
SABR Hint: He and Lou Piniella are the only managers in history to lead four teams to seasons of 90 or more wins.
Twint: He went to school in Pasadena, but it wasn’t Cal Tech.
Twint: He converted Rollie Fingers from a starter to a reliever.
Twint: Fingers entered the Hall of Fame on the strength of his record as a reliever.
A. Dick Williams (Pasadena High School)
FCR - Kenny Fink, Ocala
FRIDAY
Q. Which former shortstop was the only National League first baseman to record 22 putouts in a game?
Hint: He attended the same high school as did Norah Jones and Edie Brickell.
SABR Hint: It was also the high school of Negro Leaguer Bill Blair.
Twint: He was a letterman and standout in football, basketball and track in high school, where he graduated in 1950.
A. Ernie Banks (22 PO 09-May-1963 w/Dick Ellsworth pitching; Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas, TX)
FCR - J.J. McCoy, Washington, DC
SATURDAY
Q. Whose 220 hits in a season are the most by a player who walked 100 times in the 20th century?
Hint: He stole home for his first career stolen base.
SABR Hint: His 31 strikeouts with 49 home runs are the fewest strikeouts in a 40 homer season.
Twint: He made his final All-Star team appearance as an injury replacement for George Case.
A. Lou Gehrig (220H/101 1930; SB 24-Jun-1925; K/HR 1931; AS 1939)
FCR - Kenny Fink, Ocala
SUNDAY
Q. Who led the league in sacrifice flies the year his team finished last, 34.5 games out of first place?
Hint: He led or tied for the lead nine times in his career for games played in a season.
SABR Hint: He holds the American League record for winning Most Valuable Player Awards the most years apart.
Twint: He twice won the All-Star game Most Valuable Player Award.
A. Cal Ripken (10 SF for 1988 Orioles; MVPs 1983, 1991; AS MVPs 1991, 2001)
FCR - Jim Casey, Savannah
WEEKLY THEME – Hall of Famers with consecutive games played streaks of 700 games (I guess Lou and Cal had three each!)
Players Games From Date Ended
Ashburn 730 07-Jun-1950 to 26-Sep-1954
Banks 717 26-Aug-1956 to 22-Jun-1961
Musial 895 15-Apr-1952 to 22-Aug-1957
Williams 1,117 22-Sep-1963 to 02-Sep-1970
First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara (after the Sewell question)
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