MONDAY
Q. Who is the only non-Dodger pitcher to win a Cy Young Award and National League Most Valuable Player Award in the same year?
Hint: He was the first major league pitcher to strike out more than 200 batters in each of nine seasons.
Twint: He was the first player to hit a home run in the World Series in two separate years after not having hit one during each of regular season.
A. Bob Gibson (CYA MVP 1968 playing for the Cardinals; 200 K 1962-66, 68-70, 72; WS HRs 12-Oct-1967, 06-Oct-1968)
First Correct Respondent - Gene Rudzinski, Buffalo, NY
TUESDAY
Q. What pitcher wrought the most victories in the 1950s?
Hint: He once had a season record of 23-7.
Hint: … for a 6th place team….
Hint: … at age 42!
Hint: Only three of those wins were against the Mets.
Twint: It was merely a tie for his best season ever.
Twint: In 2011, Clayton Kershaw won the award named for him.
A. Warren Spahn (202 W 1950-59; 23-7 in 1963 for the Milwaukee Braves; 23-7 also in 1953; Warren Spahn Award given to the best left-handed pitcher of the year)
FCR - Alan Work, White Plains, NY
WEDNESDAY
Q. Who was the first Atlanta Braves pitcher to throw a no-hitter?
Hint: His jersey was retired three years before he played his last game for the team.
Hint: He was the last-active player from the Milwaukee Braves.
Hint: With his 300th win, he broke Satchel Paige’s record for oldest pitcher to throw a shutout.
Twint: He was the last player born in the 1930s to appear in a Major League game.
A. Phil Niekro (no-hitter 05-Aug-1973; jersey retired by Braves in 1984, rejoined team in 1987 for one game; geriatric SHO 06-Oct-1985)
FCR - Brian Wood, Pacific Grove, CA
MIDWEEK BONUS
Q. What pitcher holds the record for most career balks?
Hint: He was the last National League pitcher to toss 300 innings in a season.
Hint: During one memorable season, he accounted for 46% of his team’s wins.
Twint: Among left-handed pitchers, he is second in career wins and strikeouts.
A. Steve Carlton (90 career balks; 304 IP in 1980; 1972, 27 W)
FCR - Chuck Durante, Dover, DE
THURSDAY
Q. After Monte Ward did it in 1880, who was the next National League pitcher to throw a perfect game?
Hint: At the time of his retirement, he was second on the career strikeouts list (he is now 17th).
Twint: He is the only Hall of Fame player to be elected to the U.S. Congress.
A. Jim Bunning (perfect game 21-Jun-1964; US Representative 1987-99, US Senator 1999-2010)
FCR - Tom Kennedy, Houston
FRIDAY
Q. Who is the only player to hit his 500th home run in an Astros uniform?
Hint: Ty Cobb said of him, “I’ve only known four perfect swings in my time. This lad has one of them.”
Hint: He is the only Hall of Famer from Santa Barbara County (CA).
Hint: The baseball field behind Santa Barbara High School bears his name.
Hint: He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976, alongside Vince Lombardi.
Twint: He played in both the majors and minors in two different cities.
A. Eddie Mathews (500th HR 14-Jul-1967; played for the 1950-51 Atlanta Crackers [1966 Braves] and 1951 Milwaukee Brewers [1953-65 Braves])
FCR - Bob Dorrill, Kingwood, TX
SATURDAY
Q. What Hall of Famer ate pork chops three times a day?
Hint: The first professional team he played on won the World Series.
Twint: At the time of his retirement, he was the last-active Major Leaguer to have appeared in the Negro Leagues.
Twint: More than a few retired players still take credit for developing his batting stance.
A. Hank Aaron (Indianapolis Clowns team owner Sid Pollock with the dietary claim; played for Indianapolis Clowns, last game 03-Oct-1977 [3 days after Minnie Minoso’s 1976 PH appearance], later surpassed by Minoso’s 1980 PH appearances; Aaron batted cross-handed when he came to the pros.)
FCR - John Wanamaker, Binghamton, NY
SUNDAY
Q. Who, matching the theme of this week, led his league in batting with a .361 average in 1961?
Hint: His record for leadoff home runs in the National League was broken by Bobby Bonds.
Hint: He went one-for-ten in the Pan Am games, playing for the U.S.
Twint: He passed Mickey Mantle to set a new career strikeout record.
Twint: He hit .189 in his first collegiate season—.500 in his second.
A. Lou Brock (Played for St. Cloud Rox in 1961 in the Northern League; Bonds broke it with his 22nd on 20-Jun-1973; 1959 Pan Am Games; Played for Southern University)
FCR - Rick Zucker, Chesterfield, MO
WEEKLY THEME – Hall of Fame Teammates of Hall of Fame announcer Bob Uecker
Brock 1964, 65 Cardinals
Bunning 1967 Phillies
Carlton 1965 Cardinals
Gibson 1964, 65 Cardinals
Niekro 1967 Braves
First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Henry Hascup, Lodi, NJ
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