MONDAY
Q. Who ruptured his Achilles tendon on his team’s final play of 2011?
Hint: He totaled 100 career home runs faster than anyone in major league history.
Hint: A week before winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award, he was name the MVP of the Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series.
SABR: His injury was sustained while playing his “home town team”.
Twint: He was the first player to win a $10,000,000 arbitration award in his first year of arbitration eligibility.
A. Ryan Howard (Injury on the final play of NLDS in Philadelphia 07-Oct-2011; 100th HR in 325th game 27-Jun-2007; MPV of MLBJASS 08-Nov-2006, NL MVP announcement 20‑Nov‑2006; arbitration award)
First Correct Respondent – Walt Cherniak, Woodbine, MD
TUESDAY
Q. Who was the first Cleveland Indian to hit thirty home runs a year for six consecutive seasons?
Hint: He was also the first one to do it seven times.
Hint: He was named the Best Teammate in Major League Baseball with over three times the votes of any other player.
Hint: He was traded that very off-season.
SABR: He set a major league record by scoring in each of the White Sox's first seventeen games one season.
Twint: His college alma mater awarded him an honorary degree and named their baseball stadium after him.
Twint: He also played college basketball.
Twint: He, like many well-tested products, played in Peoria.
A. Jim Thome (30 HRs 1996-2002; Tribune Co. survey in 2005; R in 17 straight G for 02-Apr-2006 thru 22‑Apr‑2006; Illinois Central College; Thome’s native Peoria, Illinois is a traditional test market for new products and ideas.)
FCR - Mike McCroskey, Sugar Land, TX
WEDNESDAY
Q. Who became the youngest player to homer in a World Series on Mickey Mantle’s 65th birthday?
Hint: For good measure, he hit another one.
Hint: He twice won the “Baseball America” Minor League Players of the Year Award.
Twint: He carries a scar from a childhood iguana bite on his chest.
A. Andruw Jones (19 years, 180 days 20-Oct-1996; MLPOY 1995-96)
FCR - David Krassin, New York
MIDWEEK BONUS
Q. What Ontario native holds the record for postseason home runs for the Milwaukee Brewers?
Hint: He hit a batting practice home run in Tiger Stadium when he was only twelve years old.
Twint: His first career hit was off Hideo Nomo, but he never homered off him.
Twint: He is the youngest player ever to hit 50 home runs in a season.
Twint: He and his father are the only father/son combination each to hit 50 home runs in a season.
A. Prince Fielder (4 postseason HR, Ontario, California; 50 HR 2007; Father Cecil Fielder 51 HR 1990)
FCR - J.R. Richardson, Clarksville, MD
THURSDAY
Q. Who was given a plaque by his team’s owner declaring him "The greatest clutch hitter in the (100+ year) history of the team"?
Hint: He still plays for that team.
Hint: He was the last 20th century American League position player to go an entire season (minimum at-bats) without a hit.
Hint: Only three other players in the entire century equaled that mark.
Twint: He led the American League in run batted in for consecutive seasons.
Twint: The year before he had 139, but that was only good for second place, behind La Gua Gua.
A. David Ortiz (Red Sox owner John Henry & president Larry Lucchino on 06-Sep-2005; Larry Littleton [0-23 in 1981], Kevin Elster [0-20 in 1994], Ortiz [0-20 in 1999] [Eddie Tucker] went 0-20 for Cleveland Indians in 1995; Miguel Tejada w/150 RBI in 2004)
FCR - Joe Merrill, Brunswick, ME
FRIDAY
Q. Who was the last Colorado Rockies batter to hit forty home runs in a season?
Hint: He came within one first place vote of winning the Rookie of the Year Award.
Twint: Only he, Lou Gehrig and Chuck Klein have totaled 100 extra base hits in a season twice.
Twint: He was the highest-paid National League position player in 2011.
A. Todd Helton (49 HR 2001; ROY 1998 Kerrie Wood; XBH Gehrig [1927, 30], Klein [1930, 32], Helton [2000-01]; $19,000,000 [partly deferred])
FCR - Walt Cherniak, Woodbine, MD
SATURDAY
Q. Who holds the all-time record for the most All-Star votes received by a player in a single season with 7,454,753?
Hint: Only once before in his eight-year, five-team major league career had he received serious All-Star consideration.
Hint: His accent belies his nationality.
Twint: Joey Bats right-handed.
A. Jose Bautista (AS votes 2011)
FCR - Matt Dicker, Arlington, VA
SUNDAY
Q. Whose career .239 batting average over eleven seasons seems at odds with his 2011 $10,000,000 salary?
Hint: He has played for six different teams in the majors over that span, not counting seven different teams in the minors.
Hint: That does not count the six minor league teams he played before reach the majors.
Hint: He also played in the Cape Cod League.
Twint: He was both a Husky and a Raider.
A. Carlos Pena (Wareham Gatemen; Northeastern University and Wright State University)
A. Carlos Pena (Wareham Gatemen; Northeastern University and Wright State University)
FCR - David Krassin, New York
WEEKLY THEME – Active players who hold a major league franchise's all-time record for home runs in a season.
Slugger HRs Year/Team
Jones 51 2005 Braves
First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Walt Cherniak, Woodbine, MD
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