This week’s theme is from reader Brad Fox of Erie, PA.
MONDAY
Q. Which World Series Most Valuable Player Award winner has been on the Disabled List 12 times since his debut in 2001?
Hint: He was part of a seven-player blockbuster trade two years after winning the World Series MVP.
SABR: He was voted Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year.
Twint: He played for the USA team in the Futures game in 2000.
A. Josh Beckett (Minor League Player of the Year 2001; Traded 24-Nov-2005 by the Florida Marlins with Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota to the Boston Red Sox for Jesus Delgado, Harvey Garcia, Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez; First Team High School All American Pitcher, 1998, 99)
First Correct Respondent - Derek Norin, Arlington, VA
TUESDAY
Q. Who, in 2007, was a single shy of being the youngest ever to hit for the cycle?
Hint: His brother and he were both first round draft picks, although in different years.
SABR: Peter Gammons stated that a Major League general manager had told him that "[He] was the best 20-year-old he's ever seen."
Twint: He was the youngest player in the majors the year when Julio Franco was the oldest.
A. Justin Upton (19 yrs 347 days on 07-Aug-2007; Justin pick #1 in 2005, brother B.J. #2 in 2002; 2007)
FCR - Alan Monarchi, Red Hook, NY
WEDNESDAY
Q. Who was often overlooked playing alongside four MVPs, two Rookies of the Year and a Cy Young Winner in his thirteen seasons in Oakland?
Hint: Now, in his first year on another team, plays with almost as many such winners.
SABR: It’s hard to overlook his six Gold Glove Awards and one Silver Slugger Award.
Twint: He hit the last cycle in the American League in the 20th century.
A. Eric Chavez (MVPs, ROYs & CYA winners on the A’s 1998-2010: Jason Giambi, Rickey Henderson, Miguel Tejada, Barry Zito, Frank Thomas, Mike Piazza, Nomar Garciaparra. 2011 Yankees have Alex Rodriguez, Bartolo Colon, Derek Jeter, CC Sabathia; GG 2001-06, SS 2002; Cycle 21-Jun-2000)
FCR - Derek Norin, Arlington, VA
MIDWEEK BONUS
Q. What two-time All-Star and former American League strikeout champion was given his unconditional release earlier this year, seven career strikeouts shy of 1,000?
Hint: As a high school senior, he struck out 172 batters in 75 innings and had an ERA of 0.37.
Hint: He was the youngest pitcher to start an Opening Day game since Dwight Gooden.
SABR: He was drafted ahead of Matt Cain and Cole Hammers.
Twint: He was also a starting quarterback in high school and verbally committed to play football for the University of Texas.
A. Scott Kazmir (Release by the Angels 15-Jun-2011; Cypress Fall High School, Houston, TX; 03‑Apr‑2006 @ 22 years, 2 months and 10 days; Drafted by the Mets 1st round [15th pick] 2002.)
FCR - Dave MacEntee, Beacon, NY
IN MEMORIAM
Q. Who was the last Orioles lefty to win more than twenty games in a season?
Hint: He won the American League Cy Young Award that same year.
Hint: He was on the mound for the last out recorded at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium twelve years later.
Hint: He twice served as the Orioles pitching coach, both times under men who were more famous as pitching coaches.
Hint: He has also served three separate stints as the Orioles broadcaster.
SABR: He coined the term "Horn" for a six-strikeout performance by teammate Sam Horn.
SABR: His father, Ed, was a minor league pitcher from 1944-52.
Twint: His eldest daughter was the first non-Caesarian test tube baby born in the United States.
Twint: To make room for him on their roster, the Blue Jays released Phil Niekro.
A. Mike Flanagan Story Another story Story #3 (23 W in 1979; 06-Oct-1991; PC under Phil Regan 1995 & Ray Miller 1998; Broadcaster 1996–97, 1999-2002 & 2010; Horn’s 6 Ks 17‑Jul‑1991; Ed Flanagan; Daughter born 09‑Jul‑1982; Niekro released by Toronto 31-Aug-1987)
FCR - J.R. Richardson, Clarksville, MD
THURSDAY
Q. Who received a fifty-game suspension while playing for AAA Durham for throwing a bat at the home plate umpire?
Hint: His older brother was an All-Star in the American League and the National League.
SABR: He was the Most Valuable Player of the AA Southern League although he only played in 84 games.
Twint: He twice played for Team USA in the Futures Game.
Twint: He was traded last week.
A. Delmon Young (Throwing incident 26-Apr-2006; Brother Dmitri Young; SL MVP 2005; Traded from the Twins to the Tigers 16-Aug-2011)
FCR - Tony Kostello, Troy, MI
FRIDAY
Q. What Blue Jays’ starting pitcher was given uniform #4?
Hint: He was traded for a Cy Young Award winner.
Hint: He is currently in AAA for “seasoning” (not, one would assume, basil or garlic).
SABR: In high school he hit 27 home runs and amassed a 30-1 pitching record.
Twint: His father won a Cy Young Award with the Pirates.
A. Kyle Drabek (Traded [with other players] from the Phillies for Roy Halladay; Father Doug Drabek CYA 1990)
FCR - David Krassin, New York
SATURDAY
Q. Which player was expelled three days after his team lost the 2002 Florida state high school championship game?
Hint: In 2007 he was called up from the minors to replace a player who was 26 years his senior.
SABR: He’s a “double unique”.
Twint: He played for the U.S. in the Futures Game in 2005.
A. Lastings Milledge (expelled by Northside Christian HS [St. Petersburg, FL] for having “marital relations outside of marriage”; No other major league has ever been named “Lastings”, no other has ever been named “Milledge”; replaced 48-year-old Julio Franco in ’07)
FCR - Michael Bender, Derwood, MD
WEEKEND BONUS
Q. Who was the only American Leaguer to appear in 30 or more games at each OF position during the 2010 season?
Hint: He went to the same high school (though not at the same time) as David Aardsma and Brad Lidge.
SABR: His brother and cousin both played in the Majors.
Twint: He was given a 50-game suspension in 2005.
A. S (30 G LF, 69 G CF, 34 G RF; Cherry Creek HS [Greenwood Village, CO]; brother Donzell & cousin James; suspended for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program)
FCR - Rod Nelson, Detroit
SUNDAY
Q. Who was the only player drafted ahead of Todd Helton and Roy Halladay to play fewer than 100 games above AA?
Hint: Although his family name is the third most common in the history of the majors, he has not yet added to that total.
SABR: The year after he was drafted, Baseball America ranked him as the 31st-best prospect in baseball, but he never again cracked the top 100.
Twint: He tried to revive his career as a pitcher, but gave up after one season of independent minor league play.
A. Jaime Jones (drafted 6th overall in 1995 [Helton 8th, Halladay 17th], played 99 career AAA games, 0 ML games; “Jones” ranks behind only “Smith” and “Johnson”; 0-2, 1 SV 5.25 ERA as a P for 2006 Kansan City T-Bones)
FCR - Bill Garrod, Edgewood, WA
WEEKLY THEME – Two-time High School All-Americans, according to the “Baseball America Almanac”.
Beckett 1998-99
Chavez 1995-96
Drabek 2005-06
Jones 1994-95
Kazmir 2001-02
McDonald 1996-97
Milledge 2002-03
Upton 2004-05
Young 2002-03
First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara
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