MONDAY
Q. Whose
uniform number inspired George Costanza’s bizarre choice for his first child’s
name?
Hint: He
became discouraged early in his professional career and decided he’d rather
mine lead and zinc. His father’s stern
pep talk turned him around.
Hint: Ironically,
his next professional team was the Miners.
Twint: Penicillin,
only recently available at the time, once saved his life.
Twint: His
father must not have been a purebred.
A. Mickey Mantle’s (Seven; Members of his family worked in
the lead and zinc mines near his home in Oklahoma; 1950 Joplin Miners;
Developed osteomyelitis following a high school football injury; Father Elvin
“Mutt” Mantle)
FCR - Doug
Wilkins, San Francisco
MONDAY/MONDAY
Q. Who
did Kramer promise would hit two home runs?
Hint: The
second one was ruled a triple plus an error.
Hint: He
is the only player to ever play in World Series sweeps in both the National League
and the American League.
Twint: He
became the oldest major leaguer to steal twenty bases and hit twenty homeruns
in the same season.
A. Paul O'Neill (2 HRs; 1990 WS, 98 WS, 99 WS; 20-20 at 38 yrs
181 days 25-Aug-2001)
FCR - Steve
Van Wagener, Bethesda, MD
TUESDAY
Q. What
Gold Glove winner was moved from his primary position and also used as a
designated hitter just three years later?
Hint: He
had been a second-team All-American at Texas A&M.
Twint: His
Gold Glove win interrupted what likely would have been an eleven-year string of
Gold Glove wins by Roberto Alomar.
A. Chuck Knoblauch (GG 1997; Alomar won GGs @ 2b 1991-96
& 1998-2001)
FCR - Arieh
Siegal, Austin
TUESDAY TWO TIMES
Q. Who
was hit on the elbow by a Randy Wolf pitch on a
check swing last night?
Hint: He
was called back from first base and told that it was ruled that he had swung on
the pitch.
Hint: He
was out since it was the third strike.
Replays showed he had not gone around and that the call was in error.
Hint: His
elbow is bruised, but he feels OK today, is ready to play but is uncertain
about his future with the team.
Twint: Because
of his speed and because he was born in the 50th state, he’s often
called “The Flyin’ Hawaiian”.
A. Shane Victorino (Play; Rumors abound
that he will join Ichiro in the Yankee outfield)
FCR - John Wilson, Mesa, AZ
TUESDAY TOO MUCH
Q. What
Boston player/manager committed suicide during spring training of the 1907
season?
Hint: Teammates
had heard him speak of it, but to this day no one knows the real reason.
Hint: He
hit three triples in the first modern World Series.
Twint: He
hit .354 in his rookie year in 1897.
A. Chick Stahl (Drank 4 oz of carbolic
acid 28-Mar-1907; 1903 WS)
FCR - Mark Pattison, Washington, DC
WEDNESDAY
Q. Who
owns the single-season highest batting average for any American League player
in the league’s history?
Hint: Even
though he won the Triple Crown that year, it was only the third best season of
his career.
Hint: He
was possibly the most athletic Athletic of them all.
Twint: He
was so popular in Cleveland that the team was collectively called by his first
name.
A. Napoleon Lajoie (.426 in 1901, the AL’s
first year; WAR ratings higher in 1906
& 1910, Cleveland Naps 1903-14.)
FCR - John Robertson, Cambridge, ON
WEDNESDAY BONUS
Q. Who
was the first Oakland A’s outfielder to win a Gold Glove award?
Hint: He then won the next two at the same
position.
Hint: A
Hall of Fame catcher tied him for the triples crown in 1972 as a result of a
controversial fan interference call.
Hint: He
and his wife own a successful real estate brokerage in Bend, Oregon.
Twint: His
sale with Rollie Fingers to the Boston Red Sox was voided once cooler heads had
prevailed, but not, how, however, before he had been issued his uniform.
A. Joe Rudi (GG OF 1974-76 [N.B. Vic Power, 1958, was
the first A’s player to garner a Gold Glove.]; 9 3b in 1972, tied with Carlton
Fisk; Wife Sharon & he
operate Nelson Real Estate in
Bend; Commissioner Bowie Kuhn voided
sale by A’s owner Charlie Finley
1976)
FCR - Andrew
Milner, Bryn Mawr, PA
WEDNESDAY WINDFALL
Q. Who
was the first native of Cuba selected to the National League All-Star team?
Hint: The
All-Star games that year, in his third season, were his only one in his
nineteen-year major league career.]
Hint: Had
he been hit by just one more pitch, instead of merely leading the league in
that category, the Phillies might have won the pennant.
Twint: His
six steals of home for the Phillies is tied for second place on their all-time
list. [Unverified]
A. Tony Taylor (1960 AS games at Municipal Stadium and Yankee Stadium, two
days apart for the Phillies; 13 HBP in
1964)
FCR - Bill Carle, Lee’s Summit, MO
MIDWEEK
BONUS
Q. Who
was the first native of Canada to score a run in an All-Star game?
Hint: Twice
he led the National League in assists by a right fielder and six other times he
was among the league leaders. His
throwing arm was respected.
Hint: His
name appears in the Top Ten in virtually every offensive category for the
Montreal Expos and yet that is not where he had his best years.
Twint: He
won the MVP by such a wide margin one year that only two other players even
received first place votes.
A. Larry Walker (1998 ASG, 3rd inning
for the NL; 1997 National League MVP,
Walker 22, Piazza 3, Bagwell 3)
FCR - Alex Holzman, Philadelphia
THURSDAY
Q. Which
future Lou Gehrig Memorial Award winner was the first Dodger to hit 40 doubles
in a season since the team decamped from Brooklyn?
Hint: He
was the first Los Angeles Dodger to hit for the cycle.
Hint: In
Long Beach for the 2011 SABR Convention, he held an impromptu question and
answer session outside for more than an hour after his speaking assignment
ended.
Hint: In
2007, the Rawlings Company named him to
the Gold Glove team as the greatest defensive first baseman in the last half
century.
Hint: He is the lone winner who has not been
elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Twint: He
hosted Dodger Talk on KABC in the
mid-1980s.
A. Wes Parker (47 2b in1970; Cycle 07-May-1970; All-time Rawlings Gold Glove team)
FCR - Matt Repplinger, Denver
THURSDAY TWICE
Q. When
caught with a corked bat, which light-hitting former Rookie of the Year winner
infielder claimed it was hardly “an endorsement of the cork industry”?
Hint: In
his second major league game, he tied a record with eleven assists as a third
baseman.
Hint: He
was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2010, even though he never finished
higher than 13th in league MVP balloting.
Twint: His
manager gave him a nickname based on a character in a Bud Light commercial.
A. Chris Sabo (ROY 1988, corked 29-Jul-1996; 11
assists on 07-Apr-1988; nicknamed
“Spuds” by Pete Rose)
FCR - Ken White, Charlotte
THURSDAY THRICE
Q. Of
whom did Ozzie Guillen claim, “If you play against him, you hate him. If you play with him, you hate him a little
less.”?
Hint: Ozzie
appears to have company: In the spring
of 2012, he was named the most hated player in the majors by a survey of his
peers in Men’s Health magazine.
Hint: He
has been active in both Total Nonstop Action (TNA) and WWE wrestling.
Twint: His
heads-up play with two out in Game Two of the 2005 ALCS resulted in Pablo Ozuna
scoring the winning run.
A. A. J. Pierzynski (Most hated in the
July 2012 issue; Ran to first after an apparently dropped 3rd strike
on 12-Oct-2005, Ozuna pinch-ran &
scored on Joe Crede’s double)
FCR - Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA
FRIDAY
Q. Before
Minnie Minoso in 1952, who was the last White Sox player to win an American
League stolen base title?
Hint: His
career ended when he broke his leg tripping over home plate.
Twint: He
had attempted suicide two years earlier during spring training, allegedly after
news of an affair broke.
Twint: Rumor
had it that his paramour was married to teammate Red Faber.
A. Johnny Mostil (AL SB titles 1925-26;
broken leg 19-May-1929; attempted
suicide 09-Mar-1927)
FCR - Gary Sarnoff, Alexandria, VA
FRIDAY EXTRA
Q. Who
was the first outfielder inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame?
Hint: He
was the only 20th century player to hit a home run in his first
major league at-bat for the Rangers.
Hint: He
received almost half of his $34M career earnings between the time he played his
final game and his retirement announcement.
Twint: He
is the only Major Leaguer to have played baseball for the University of
Montevallo.
Twint: His
all-out style of play resulted in numerous surgeries, including vertebrae
fusion.
A. Rusty Greer (TEX HOF 2007; HR 16-May-1994)
FCR - Jim McCoy, Melrose, MA
FRIDAY FINALE
Q. Which
player, in 1878, has been cited as the first player to turn an unassisted
triple play in a Major League game?
Hint: The
location of Ezra Sutton is crucial to the claim.
Hint: There
is now no question that he won the first batting Triple Crown.
Hint: At
the time, however, Abner Dalrymple was incorrectly declared the batting titlist
and runs-batted-in were not yet officially tabulated.
Twint: An
accomplished pickpocket, he was arrested at age 65.
Twint: search
of his home turned up numerous purses, pocketbooks and pairs of glasses.
Twint: His
police department friends and sterling reputation helped him avoid
incarceration.
A. Paul Hines (“UTP” 08-May-1878; Sutton is said to have
passed third base when Hines, who had caught Jack Burdock’s line drive in left
field, stepped on third base. By rules
of the day, Sutton, who had been on second, was retired along with lead runner Jack Manning. Other accounts have Sutton not yet reaching
third when Hines touched the bag.
Regardless of Sutton’s position, Hines threw to second baseman Charlie Sweasy “to
make sure,” which may or may not have been the third out.)
FCR - Walt Cherniak, Woodbine, MD
OPENING CEREMONIES BONUS
Q. Who
was the first player to hit a grand slam on the first pitch he saw in the Major
Leagues?
Hint: His
home run the next day broke up Kevin Millwood’s no-hit bid in the 5th
inning.
Twint: He
was only the third Indians batter to hit home runs in each of his first two
games.
Twint: He
was the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2003.
A. Kevin Kouzmanoff (1st pitch
GS HR 02-Sep-2006; Millwood
spoiler 03-Sep-2006; Earl Averill [16- & 17-Apr-1929] and Josh Bard [23- & 24-Aug-2002] also
homered in their first two games; Played for Nevada, now in the
Mountain West Conference)
FCR - Paul Sekula, Arlington, VA
SATURDAY
Q. Who
was the first Diamondbacks player to switch-hit home runs in a game?
Hint: His
three pinch-hit home runs in 2005 tied for the most in the majors that year.
Twint: After
two years in the minors he officially retired from baseball, announced in a
four-word Tweet by a Padres minor league broadcaster.
Twint: He
unretired earlier this year to play a few games for the Atlantic League Sugar
Land Skeeters, but is not currently on their roster.
A. Alex Cintron (SHHR 08-Jul-2004;
Tweet: “Alex Cintron has retired.”; Skeeters)
FCR - Mark DeLodovico, Rockville, MD
SATURDAY BONUS
Q. Which
Tigers shortstop was traded to the Indians to make way for Alan Trammell?
Hint: His
9th inning, two-out double ruined Ken Holtzman’s no-hitter.
Hint: A
friendlier scorer might have charged center fielder Bill North with an error on
the play.
Twint: His
father was a basketball standout at Manhattan College.
A. Tom Veryzer (traded to CLE 09-Dec-1977
for Charlie Spikes;
ruinous 2b 09-Jun-1975; father
John Veryzer played for Manhattan College in the late 1940s)
FCR - Clem Comly, Wallingford, PA
WEEKEND BONUS
Q. Who
threw the first pitch in the first game ever played in the National League?
Hint: His
first year and last year in the majors were in Philadelphia, but in different
leagues, neither of which still exists.
Twint: As
a manager, he won a pennant at age 30.
A. Lon Knight (1st P
22-Apr-1876; 1875 Philadelphia Athletics
of the National Association, 1885 Philadelphia Athletics
of the American Association
[although his last game was played for the Providence Grays; Pennant with the 1883 Philadelphia Athletics)
FCR - Jared Lobdell, Elizabethtown, PA
SUNDAY
Q. Who
is the reigning MVP of the Venezuelan Winter League?
Hint: By
pinch-running on Opening Day he became the first player to make his major
league debut in 2008.
Hint: The
next year he became the first player to collect five hits in a game for the
Gwinnett Braves.
Twint: He
was the first batter in Mississippi Braves history.
A. Gregor Blanco (PR 30-Mar-2008; 5 H Gwinnett game
31-Aug-2009; 2005 Mississippi Braves
leadoff batter)
FCR - Frank DiPrima, Morristown, NJ
SUNDAY BONUS
Q. Which
second baseman set the American League record for highest fielding percentage
with .995 in 1980?
Hint: The
only time he led the league in a batting category was in 1979 when he led the
AL in sacrifices.
Twint: After
being traded for Tom Brunansky, he split time at second base with Bobby Grich.
A. Rob Wilfong (25 SH in 1979; 2B platoon
w/Grich for 1982-86
Angels)
FCR - Damian Begley, New York
GRATEFUL FINALE
Q. Who
led the White Sox in postseason RBI and OPS in 2008?
Hint: Earlier
this year his highlight-reel “catch” was convincing enough to fool umpire Mike
DiMuro.
Hint: DiMuro
did not even ask to see the ball, which ended up in the hands of a front-row
fan.
Twint: Three
days later he made his debut as a pitcher, getting the last two outs in mop-up
duty during a 14-7 loss.
Twint: His
main claim to fame is his reason for inclusion in this week’s questions.
A. Dewayne Wise (5 RBI, 1.232 OPS in 2008 ALDS; Phantom catch 26-Jun-2012; P debut 29-Jun-2012)
FCR - Alex Holzman, Philadelphia
WEEKLY THEME
– Players whose defensive plays helped insure a perfect game for a teammate
Blanco Matt Cain 13-Jun-2012 Catch of Schafer’s liner in the
7th
Cintron Randy Johnson 18-May-2004 Fielded Hampton’s slow roller in the 6th
Greer Kenny Rogers 28-Jul-1994 Catch of Hudler’s liner in the
9th
Hines John Ward 17-Jun-1880 Notable outfield catch
Knight Lee Richmond 12-Jun-1880 Made a great catch
Knoblauch David Wells 17-May-1998 Threw out Coomer in the 8th
Kouzmanoff Dallas Braden 09-May-2010 Snagged Pena’s foul at the
dugout steps
Lajoie Addie Joss 02-Oct-1908 Great infield play in the 3rd to
nip Walsh on a grounder
Joss had stabbed at and missed
Mantle Don Larsen 08-Oct-1956 Catch of Hodges’s liner in the
4th
Mostil Charlie Robertson 30-Apr-1922 Catch of Veach’s liner in the 2nd
O'Neill* David Cone 18-Jul-1999 Diving catch of Guerrero’s pop fly
Parker Sandy Koufax 09-Sep-1965 Dug out a throw in the dirt from Wills to retire Krug in the 6th
Pierzynski Philip Humber 21-Apr-2012 Passed ball, throw to first to get Ryan in the 9th
Rudi Jim Hunter 08-May-1968 Catch of Carew’s drive in the 7th
Sabo Tom Browning 16-Sep-1988 Strong throw to nip Marshall in the 5th
Stahl Cy Young 05-May-1904 Fine fielding play (Patsy Dougherty & Buck Freeman also are
credited with excellent defensive plays in that game)
Taylor Jim Bunning 12-Jun-1964 Threw out Gonder from his knees
in the 5th
Veryzer Len Barker 15-May-1981 Threw out Griffin** in the 1st
Victorino Roy Halladay 29-May-2010 Caught Lamb’s deep fly ball
in the 9th
Walker Dennis Martinez 28-Jul-1991 Played a bad throw from DeShields into an out
at first base, nipping Griffin**
Wilfong Mike Witt 30-Sep-1984 Foley ground out to
him to end the game. It was the final
at-bat of Foley’s major league career.
Wise Mark Buehrle 23-Jul-2009 Spectacular catch at the wall in the 9th
of what would have been a home run for Gabe Kapler
*Paul O’Neill is the only player to be
on the winning side in three perfect games:
Browning’s, Wells’s and Cone’s.
**Alfredo Griffin is the only player
in history to be victimized three times.
He was on the losing sides of the perfectos thrown by Barker, Browning
& Martinez.
N.B. Bunning’s game was on Fathers’
Day, Braden’s was on Mothers’ Day.
First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Paul Sekula,
Arlington, VA (after the Taylor question)
Horsehide Trivia blog has the
questions and answers from this week as well as from previous weeks: http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/
Horsehide Trivia home page: https://sites.google.com/site/tnfotobbpics/home/horsehide-trivia
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