January 23-29, 2012 Rent-A-Yankee

MONDAY

Q.         Who was the first player to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season?

Hint:     He was the first Oakland A’s player to win the Rookie of the Year Award.

Twint:    He bashed teammates.

A.         Jose Canseco (40/40 1988; ROY 1986; Member, with Mark McGwire, of the “Bash Brothers” and tattled on many past teammates [including McGwire] about performance- enhancing drugs.)

FCR -    Bob Savoy, Philadelphia

MONDAY BONUS

Q.         Who threw the first postseason shutout in the state of Florida?

Hint:     Candy Maldonado hit a line drive off his elbow, ending his major league debut in the fourth inning and sending him to the DL.

Hint:     His 100^th career victory was the first time the Colorado Rockies had thrown consecutive shutouts.

Twint:    He donated $100 for each of his strikeouts to the Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

A.         Denny Neagle (PSShO 11-Oct-1997 @ Pro Player Stadium; Debut 27-Jul-1991; 100^th W 14-Apr-2001, Mike Hampton had turned the trick the day before, both games in San Diego; PSP)

FCR -    Brian Wood, Pacific Grove, CA

TUESDAY

Q.         Who is the only player to appear more than ten times as a pinch-hitter in the World Series?

Hint:     He led the American League three consecutive seasons in caught stealing.

Hint:     Jesse Barfield once misplayed a hit of his into an inside-the-park grand slam.

Hint:     Barfield did the same favor for Mike Greenwell just a few weeks later.

Hint:     Incredibly, there was a third such hit in the time between those two events.

Twint:    He was the last American League player to score five runs in one game in the 1980s.

A.         Luis Polonia (11 WS PH Abs; AL CS 1991-93; IPGS 14-Aug-1990; Greenwell’s 01‑Sep‑1990; Ron Karkovice’s IPGS 30‑Aug‑1990; 5 H 09-Sep-1988)

FCR -    Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara

TUESDAY BONUS

Q.         Who was the first regular-season designated hitter in National League history?

Hint:     He’s been the Colorado Rockies first base coach for the past five seasons.

Hint:     He hit three pinch-hit home runs off the same All-Star relief pitcher. (Not in one game‑that would be a record.)

Twint:    He struck out on the only major league pitch every thrown by Kevin Seitzer.

Twint:    Because he replaced a batter who already had two strikes, he was not charged with a strikeout.

A.         Glenallen Hill (1^st NL DH 12-Jun-1997; PH HRs off John Franco:  05-Sep-1993, 01‑Sep‑1995, 25-Jul-1998; Seitzer K 02-May-1993; Replaced Carlos Martinez at bat.)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York

WEDNESDAY

Q.         What active player played in three consecutive World Series teams, but on three different teams?

Hint:     He played in the postseason the next year for yet another team.

Hint:     A Razorback, drafted by the Cubs, he went on to beat out Carlos Pena for Rookie of the Year.

Twint:    He was the first player ever acquired by Blue Jays General Manager J.P. Ricciardi.

Twint:    His back tattoo is legendary.

A.         Eric Hinske (WS w/2007 Red Sox, 2008 Rays, 2009 Yankees; 2010 Braves; ROY 2002; Ricciardi; Tat)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who is the only pitcher to record ten-win seasons for all seven teams he played for?

Hint:     He surrendered one of the most famous home runs of the 1970s.

Twint:    He unintentionally beaned Dickie Thon in 1984, effectively ending Thon’s career.

A.         Mike Torrez (1. 10-4 for the 1969 Cards, 2. 16-12 for the 72 Expos, 3. 20-9 for the 75 Orioles, 4. 16-12 for the 76 A’s, 5. 14-12 for the 77 Yankees, 6. 16-13 for the 78 Red Sox and 7. 10-17 for the 83 Mets; HR to Bucky Dent in the 1978 AL playoff game 02‑Oct‑1978; Thon beaning 08-Apr-1984)

FCR -    Russ Lake, Champaign, IL

THURSDAY

Q.         Which pitcher amassed the most innings pitched in a season in the 1930s?

Hint:     He was the only pitcher to suffer 20 losses in a season for the Detroit Tigers in the 1940s.

Twint:    He was involved in consecutive Opening Day games with scores of 1-0.

A.         Bobo Newsom (329.2 IP in 1938 for the Browns; 12-20 in 1941; 16-Apr-1935, 14‑Apr‑1936)

FCR -    Peter Mitchell, Mission Viejo, CA

FRIDAY

Q.         Who, though he was born in Des Moines, he represented Mexico in the 2009 World Baseball Classic?

Hint:     He was the last American League player to be caught stealing two times in a game in the 20^th Century.

Hint:     His uncle had a cup of coffee with the Cubs.

Twint:    Even though he has played eight teams during fourteen seasons in the majors, he has also played parts or all of ten seasons in the minors for a total of twelve teams.

Twint:    His father has the most career pinch-hit at bats for a switch hitter.

A.         Jerry Hairston, Jr. (2X CS 03-Sep-2000; John Hairston)

FCR -    Al Blumkin, Brooklyn

FRIDAY BONUS

Q.         Who was the first National League batter to collect a ninth-inning, two-out game-tying pinch-hit in the World Series?

Hint:     In his first game with the Cubs, he became the 1,500^th player to appear in a game for them.

Hint:     Mirroring Casey Stengel and Darryl Strawberry, he has worn the uniforms of the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers and Giants.

Twint:    He was the first Met to collect a hit in nine consecutive plate appearances.

A.         Jose Vizcaino (WS H 23-Oct-2005; Cub debut 16-Apr-1991; Hit streak 23-25‑Apr‑1996)

FCR -    Peter Mitchell, Mission Viejo, CA

SATURDAY

Q.         Whose major league career ended with a strike out against, pinch-hitting for Whitey Ford, against Sal Maglie in 1956 World Series?

Hint:     He led the National League in pinch-hitting appearances in 1952.

Hint:     After returning from military service, he was such an admirer of Ted Williams that his teammates began calling him “Teddy”.

Hint:     He went so far as to copy Williams’ batting stance.

Twint:    He led the American Association in home runs in 1953 with 34 in 118.

A.         George Wilson (WS G 1 03-Oct-1956 4^th inning; 48 PH PA)

FCR -    John Michael Pierobon, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

SABR DAY BONUS

Q.         Who was given a special furlough from the U.S. Army to participate in the 1943 World Series?

Hint:     He held, for two years, the record for career home runs surrendered.

Hint:     He fought in the D-Day landing in Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge.

Twint:    His manager nicknamed him “Thomas Edison” for his inventiveness.

A.         Murry Dickson (12-Jun-1956 HR by Duke Snider, passing Red Ruffing’s 254.  He was passed the following 08-Jun-1958 [HR by Joe Cunningham] by Robin Roberts.

FCR -    Ray Luurs, Blaine, MN

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Who hit the first major league home run with a Rawlings baseball?

Hint:     He played games at four different positions for eight consecutive years in the majors before going to Japan.

Twint:    When he signed with the Giants in 1981, was granted the largest contract ever offered in the history of NPB.

Twint:    During the first year of that contract, he was nicknamed “The Giant Human Fan”, so frequently did he strike out that year.

A.         Gary Thomasson (07-Apr-1977 off Don Sutton; LF, CF, RF, 1b:  1973-80; Nippon Professional Baseball $1,200,000, spread over three seasons, played only 1981-82)

FCR -    Ray Luurs, Blaine, MN

SUNDAY

Q.         Which Stanford grad had John Elway as the best man at his wedding?

Hint:     He was part of a (very) recent World Series champion team.

Twint:    He and the Secretary of Defense attended the same high school.

A.         Mike Aldrete (2011 St. Louis Cardinals; Leon Panetta, Monterey [CA] High School)

FCR -    No one

WEEKLY THEME – Players who joined the New York Yankees part-way through a season, won a World Series with them then never played for them again.  Aldrete, Polonia and Wilson never played again in the majors.

Name            Year

Aldrete           1996

Canseco        2000

Dickson         1958

Hairston         2009

Hill                 2000

Hinske           2009

Neagle           2000

Newsom        1947

Polonia          2000

Thomasson    1978

Torrez            1977

Vizcaino         2000

Wilson           1956

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara

January 16-22, 2012 Players with under 5 HR and over 100 RBI in the same season

MONDAY

Q.         Prior to Eddie Mathews, who was considered the greatest third baseman in baseball history?

Hint:     He broke up Herb Pennock’s 1927 World Series perfect game bid with an eighth inning single.

Twint:    As a child he took a job checking railroad cars loaded with explosives.

A.         Pie Traynor (Perfect breakup 07-Oct-1927)

FCR -    Gene Rudzinski, Buffalo [Don Harrison, Fairfield, CT the second go-around]

TUESDAY

Q.         Who was the first player to have two hits in one inning in a World Series game?

Hint:     John McGraw called him “my greatest outfielder.”

Twint:    His customary avoidance of water during workouts in the Texas heat may have contributed to the kidney troubles which eventually took his life.

A.         Ross Youngs (2 H [2B & 3B] in 7^th inning 07-Oct-1921)

FCR -    J. R. Richardson, Clarksville, MD

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Which player, known for his keen batting eye, struck out only 114 times in his 14-year career?

Hint:     He only struck out 48 times in 5,540 plate appearances (0.87%) over his last nine major league seasons.

Twint:    He won the Southeastern Conference title as head coach at the University of Alabama in 1968.

A.         Joe Sewell

FCR -    Peter Beagle, Oakland

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who was the first first baseman to turn an unassisted triple play?

Hint:     He won the American League MVP Award in his 13^th Major League season, while setting the single-season doubles record.

Hint:     He led the league in errors (most, not least) among first basemen four times during his career.

Twint:    He gave one of his bats to Joe Sewell on the day Sewell replaced Ray Chapman, and Sewell used the bat (which he nicknamed ‘Black Betsy’) throughout his 14-year career.

A.         George Burns (UTP 14-Sep-1923; 1926 AL MVP, 64 2B [later broken by Earl Webb])

FCR -    Steve Bonfield, Calgary

THURSDAY

Q.         Which Hall of Famer holds the record for most putouts in a season by a National League second baseman?

Hint:     After singling in his first major league at-bat, he knocked himself out by fouling a ball off his head in his second time up.

Hint:     Footsie Blair replaced him and hit a home run.

Hint:     He got the only hit in the first of Mort Cooper’s back-to-back one-hitters in 1943.

Twint:    His granddaughter is the first lady of Indiana.

Twint:    He was named after a thrice-defeated Democratic Presidential candidate.

A.         Billy Herman (466 PO in 1933; Knockout-to-HR 29-Aug-1931; H [2B] vs. Cooper 31-May-1943 [g1]; granddaughter Cheri Herman Daniels, wife of Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels; given name William Jennings Bryan)

FCR -    Bill Lewers, McLean, VA

FRIDAY

Q.         Who hit the first home run of the 1912 World Series, in the second inning of Game Seven?

Hint:     His tenth inning sacrifice fly (NOT double) in Game Eight clinched the Series.

Hint:     He was the first American League player to attend the University of Vermont.

Hint:     He forewent his final year of eligibility to sign with the Red Sox after leading the school to the New England Championship.

Twint:    He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2000.

A.         Larry Gardner (Bounce HR in the ’12 WS; 1908 New England Champions)

FCR -    Tom Kennedy, Houston

SATURDAY

Q.         Whose throw in the 1934 World Series knocked pinch runner Dizzy Dean unconscious?

Hint:     According to the headlines that followed, “X-Rays of Dean’s Head Revealed Nothing”.

Hint:     In perhaps a bit of payback, he was released by the Cubs when Dizzy Dean was recalled from Tulsa in August 1940.

Hint:     He and his infield-mates combined for 462 RBI in 1934.

Twint:    He set an American League record (later tied by Jose Canseco) when he received seven consecutive BB in 1938.

Twint:    His arm went dead after a late-1938 handball injury.

A.         Billy Rogell (Dean knockout 1934 WS Game 4, 4^th inning; released by Cubs 28-Aug-1940; 1934 Tigers IF: Greenberg 139 RBI, Gehringer 127 RBI, Rogell 100 RBI, Owen 96 RBI; 7^th consecutive BB 18-Aug & 19-Aug-1938 G1)

FCR -    Dave Wise, Hyde Park, NY

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Who was the last player to get a hit in three games in one day?

Hint:     His son played briefly for the Pirates during WWII.

Twint:    He moved to the outfield to make way for Pie Traynor.

A.         Clyde Barnhart (triple header 02-Oct-1920: game 1, game 2 and game 3; father of Vic Barnhart; moved to OF in 1922)

FCR -    Dave Serota, Kalamazoo

SUNDAY

Q.         Who was the first modern player to collect seven extra-base hits in two consecutive games?

Hint:     He led American League first basemen in fielding in 1926, and led National League first basemen in fielding in 1929.

Hint:     He was an inaugural inductee into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame.

Hint:     His son, Bud, played just over 100 career games for the White Sox.

Twint:    He had 3,659 combined major league and minor league hits.

A.         Earl Sheely (3 2B 20-May-1926, 3 2B & HR 21-May-1926 [Ed Delahanty, 1896, is the only prior player w- 7 EBH in 2 games]; 1943 PCL HOF inductee; Bud Sheely 101 games for 1951-53 White Sox; 1,340 ML hits, 2,319 ml hits)

FCR -    John Michael Pierobon, Ft. Lauderdale

WEEKLY THEME – Player since the end of the Dead Ball Era (1920) with 100 RBI seasons who also hit fewer than five home runs that year.

Player       HR        RBI       Year

Barnhart      4         114       1925

Burns          4         114       1926

Gardner      3         118       1920

Gardner      3         120       1921

Herman       2         100       1943

Rogell         3         100       1934

Sewell         3         109       1923

Sewell         4         106       1924

Sheely        3         103       1924

Traynor       2         103       1931

Traynor       3         124       1928

Traynor       4         108       1929

Youngs       3         102       1921

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara

January 9-15, 2012 Players who names are also U.S. state capitals

MONDAY

Q.         What two-sport athlete was MVP of the All-Star Game the year he led the league in strikeouts?

Hint:     It’s OK if you don’t know.  He knows.

Twint:    It was his only All-Star game appearance.

Twint:    He was named for tough-guy actor Vince Edwards.

A.         Bo Jackson (1989 AS G; Vincent Edwards)

FCR -    Michael Daponde, Sacramento

TUESDAY

Q.         Who pitched the first perfect game in recorded professional baseball history?

Hint:     It was his third shutout in nine days.

Hint:     He had a successful medical practice after his baseball career.

Twint:    He was major league baseball’s first full-time left-handed pitcher.

Twint:    He was the first Brown University athlete named to that school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

A.         Lee Richmond (Perfecto 12-Jun-1880; Brown HOF)

FCR -    Tom Kennedy, Houston

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who leads all active players in career stolen bases?

Hint:     His over-the-wall catch of Barry Bonds's drive momentarily prevented Bonds from tying Babe Ruth on the career home run list.

Hint:     He is one of only four players with 100 career stolen bases for each of three different teams.

Hint:     He was named after a Dominican Hall of Famer.

Twint:    He has led his league seven times in being caught stealing.

A.         Juan Pierre (554 SB; Catch 09-May-2006; 100 SB w/Dodgers, Rockies & Marlins.  Others to do so:  Tommy Harper, Brett Butler & Otis Nixon; Named for Juan Marichal)

FCR -    Rod Nelson, Detroit

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         What pitcher has more career games and saves than any other pitcher in the history of the Kansas City Royals franchise?

Hint:     He once struck out three Texas Rangers batters on nine pitches in the eighth inning of a 5-2 win.

Hint:     Major league All-Star Rick Reed was his teammate at Marshall University.

Twint:    He was inducted into the Royals' Hall of Fame in 2003, his first year of eligibility.

A.         Jeff Montgomery (686 G, 304 S; 29-Apr-1990, striking out Incaviglia, Petralli & Bosley;

FCR -    J.J. McCoy, Washington, DC

THURSDAY

Q.         Who hit the first inside-the-park home run in the history of the Washington Nationals?

Hint:     According to some Mets fans, he single-handedly kept them out of the 2007 postseason.

Hint:     After ten seasons in the majors, he is rated with the highest range factor of any right fielder active in 2011, yet never won a Gold Glove.

Twint:    His collision with a star teammate in 2006 ended that teammate’s season.

A.         Austin Kearns (IPHR 12-May-2007; 2007 strong stretch run:  4/11 (with 2 home runs) in a September series sweep over the Mets; Active 2.41 (1^st); Collision with Nick Johnson 23-Sep-2006)

FCR -    John Michael Pierobon, Ft. Lauderdale., FL

FRIDAY

Q.         Who, when he shut the Rangers out for eight innings, became the fourth youngest pitcher to start and win a World Series game?

Hint:     He is the youngest left-hander to do so.

Hint:     He finished his stellar high school career by hitting a walk-off inside-the-park home run to win state title

Hint:     He earned state Player of the Year honors subsequently.

Twint:    He shut out the Colorado Rockies for seven innings in his last appearance of 2011.

A.         Madison Bumgarner (21 years and 91 days on 31-Oct-2010; HS title in 2007 for South Caldwell HS in Hudson, NC; 27-Sep-2011)

FCR -    Elijah Kaplan, Teaneck, NJ

SATURDAY

Q.         Who hit the 50^th home run off Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven, capping Blyleven’s unenviable record of surrendering the most home runs in a season?

Hint:     During his career, he was teammates with Hall of Famers Carlton Fisk, Tom Seaver, Eddie Murray and Wade Boggs.

Twint:    He had a knack for late-inning home runs, his first career homer coming off Charlie Hough in the 7^th inning of a game.

Twint:    His final career homer, true to form, came off Rick Aguilera in the 8^th inning of a game a few weeks before his retirement.

A.         Darryl Boston (HR 04-Oct-1986, Blyleven’s record has been approached but not broken in the subsequent 25 seasons; 1^st HR 19-May-1985, last 20-Jun-1994, final game 11-Aug-1994)

FCR -    Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA

SATURDAY BONUS

Q.         What Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame enshrinee won over 150 games in the minor leagues?

Hint:     After his retirement from baseball he worked for 18 years for the Columbus, Kansas police department and was a deputy sheriff for Cherokee County, Kansas.

Twint:    Though he spent just parts of three seasons in the majors, he played with two Hall of Famers.

Twint:    …and another two who, in my opinion, should be in the Hall.

A.         Raleigh Aitchison (Zach Wheat, Casey Stengel; Jake Daubert, Ed Reulbach)

FCR -    Prisco Panza, Milford, CT

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         What former Cougar and Cape Cod alumnus led his college team in ERA, home runs and runs batted in during the same season?

Hint:     As a result, he was named Conference USA Player of the Year as well as the Dick Howser Trophy winner and the Brooks Wallace Award winner.

Twint:    He underwent Tommy John surgery the spring after being chosen fourth overall in the major league draft.

A.         Brad Lincoln (University of Houston, junior year 2006, Conference USA, Howser Trophy, Wallace Award; 2006 MLB draft)

FCR -    Jared Lobdell, Elizabethtown, PA

SUNDAY

Q.         Who was purchased, sight-unseen by owner Charles Comiskey, upon the recommendation of former White Sox player Frank Isbel?

Hint:     Although The Sox paid a pretty penny for his putative performance, he played poorly and was never placed in the program.

Hint:     This shortstop’s eight major league games came in the final year his team was nicknamed for a teammate of his.

Hint:     An active SABR chapter is named for another of his teammates.

Twint:    His fielding prowess allowed him a nineteen-season minor league career in spite of a lackluster .593 OPS.

A.         Bruce Hartford (21-Aug-1916; 1914 Naps, Napoleon Lajoie; Jack Graney, Jack Graney Chapter; minors 1910-1927)

FCR -    Al Blumkin, Brooklyn

WEEKLY THEME – Players whose names represent U.S. state capitals

Jackson            (Mississippi)

Pierre                (South Dakota)

Richmond         (Virginia)     Bio

Bumgarner        (Wisconsin)

Kearns              (Texas)

Aitchison          (North Carolina)

Hartford            (Connecticut)

Lincoln              (Nebraska)

Montgomery     (Alabama)

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Al Blumkin, Brooklyn (after the Richmond question)

January 2-8, 2012 Pitchers who surrendered career home run #600 to a batter

02-Jan-2012

MONDAY

Q.         Who is the only pitcher to win a Cy Young Award after his brother had won one?

Hint:     In a true sample of sibling rivalry, he went on to win another one.

Hint:     He further topped his brother by winning 300 games and being elected to the Hall of Fame.

Twint:    He was the first to win a Cy Young Award in each league.

A.         Gaylord Perry (Jim Perry CYA 1970; Gaylord CYAs 1972 for the Indians and 1978 for the Padres, HOF 1991)

FCR -    Dave Serota, Kalamazoo, MI

TUESDAY

Q.         What former All-Star pitched his last inning of the 2011 season with a broken leg?

Hint:     He was hit by a line drive, but was able to pitch to four more batter before collapsing.

Hint:     He won a World Series ring in the same season he led the league in losses.

Hint:     Taking the safe route, his team didn’t even let him make a postseason appearance that year.

Twint:    He has appeared 34 times as a pinch-hitter.

A.         Jason Marquis (14-Aug-2011; WS 2006)

FCR -    Mike McCroskey, Sugar Land, TX

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who succeeded Roy Halladay as Opening Day starter for the Toronto Blue Jays?

Hint:     He had not appeared at all in the majors the previous season.

Hint:     He did in five minor league games that year.

Hint:     In five games in his first season in the bigs, he did not allow a single run.

Twint:    Tommy John surgery caused him miss 2009.

Twint:    His only major league home run was a grand slam on the Fourth of July.

A.         Shaun Marcum (05-Apr-2010; Debut season 2005; HR 04-Jul-2011)

FCR -    Bob Stuart, Scarborough, ON

THURSDAY

Q.         Who played for four teams for four seasons in the National Basketball Association, but had an even longer major league career?

Hint:     He gave up five runs in a third of an inning in his first major league appearance.

Hint:     He pitched a shutout for the Devil Rays after teammates, 349 games earlier, had thrown back-to-back shutouts.

Hint:     It was the second and final shutout of his career.

Twint:    He ranks second in Cougar history in rebounds.

Twint:    He was drafted six times for baseball but only once in basketball.

A.         Mark Hendrickson (Played for four NBA teams, Played for 5 teams in the majors over 10 seasons; MLB Debut 06-Aug-2002; ShO 06‑Apr‑2006;

FCR -    Robert Workman, Ashburn, VA

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         Who was the architect for Toronto’s SkyDome?

Hint:     Yes, I know.  They’ve re-named it the Rogers Centre.

Hint:     He also designed the Canadian Government Pavilion at Expo ’67 in Montreal.

Twint:    His daughter Caroline said the creation of SkyDome almost killed him while driving his company to the edge of bankruptcy.

Twint:    He also collaborated on the well-known Sharp Centre for Design, Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto.

A.         Rod Robbie, who passed away on Wednesday.  (Story; Rogers Centre; Expo Pavilion; Sharp Centre)

FCR -    Mike McCroskey, Sugar Land, TX

FRIDAY

Q.         Who was on the roster at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas but never played a game for them because of a medical red shirt for Tommy John surgery?

Hint:     He is one of only ten major leaguers born in his state.

Hint:     His father played for the three Super Bowl champions.

Twint:    He owns the longest run from scrimmage in Highlands Ranch High School football history.

Twint:    He also owns the record for strikeouts in a game for the school.

A.         Daniel Schlereth (UNLV 2005, b. 09-May-1986 in Anchorage, AK; Father Mark Schlereth; HS run 96 yds., 19 K)

FCR -    Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA

SATURDAY

Q.         Who struck out Bobby Bonds to give Bonds the season strikeout record?

Hint:     In the seventh inning of the same game, he surrendered a home run to George Foster’s pinch hitter.

Hint:     Five of his first ten home runs given up were to Hall of Famers.

Twint:    He threw a minor league no-hitter before coming to the majors.

A.         Mike Corkins (22-Sep-1969, Bonds’s 176^th K, passing Dave Nicholson; Willie Mays PH for Foster; HR log; No-no for Elmira 12-Aug-1969)

FCR -    No one

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Who surrendered Chris Carpenter’s first major league home run?

Hint:     When he wasn’t drafted until the 58^th round of the MLB draft, he accepted a baseball scholarship at Baylor University where he went 21-14 and had 288 strikeouts in three seasons.

Twint:    He led his high school baseball team to the Texas 5A state championship.

Twint:    He has been a Warthog, a Hillcat, a Bat and a Duck.

A.         Kip Wells (HR 01-Oct-2009, N.B. Carpenter is stuck at 2; HS Sr. yr 1995)

FCR -    John Michael Pierobon, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

SUNDAY

Q.         Who surrendered more career home runs anyone else in the 53-years history of the St. Louis Browns?

Hint:     He is the only one with 100 in that category.

Hint:     He once led the American League with shutouts without a winning record that year.

Hint:     Jimmie Foxx considered him the toughest pitcher to hit in the American League.

Hint:     He won ten or more games for seven consecutive seasons, but never had a winning record in that time.

Twint:    He perfected the “nickel curve”, which later became known as the “slider”.

A.         George Blaeholder (142 HRs; 1929 4 ShO, 14-15)

FCR -    Larry Creeden, Boulder City, NV

WEEKLY THEME – Pitchers who surrendered career home run #600 to a batter.  This week’s theme and data were supplied by loyal reader David Vincent.

Pitcher                 Batter                  Date                 Venue

Blaeholder        Babe Ruth            21-Aug-1931      Sportsman’s Park III, St. Louis

Corkins             Willie Mays          22-Sep-1969      San Diego Stadium, San Diego

Hendrickson      Ken Griffey, Jr.    09-Jun-2008      Dolphin Stadium, Miami

Marcum            Alex Rodriguez     04-Aug-2010      Yankee Stadium III, New York

Marquis*           Sammy Sosa       20-June-2007     Ameriquest Field, Arlington, TX

Perry                Hank Aaron          27-Apr-1971      Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, GA  

Schlereth          Jim Thome           15-Aug-2011      Comerica Park, Detroit, MI     

Wells                Barry Bonds         09-Aug-2002      Pacific Bell Park, San Francisco, CA

*Marquis wore Sosa’s old number for the Cubs that day.

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara (after the Tuesday question)