Sunday, December 29, 2013

December 23-29, 2013 Players who hit walk-off homers against Rich Gossage

MONDAY
Q.         Who coined the term “Harvey’s Wallbangers”?
Hint:     He batted third in “Wallbanger’s” line up.
Hint:     He holds the Milwaukee Brewers single-season records for hits and singles.
Addint: He received the Roberto Clemente Award in 1983.
A.         Cecil Cooper (After hearing GM Harry Dalton try to name them “Harvey’s Ballbangers”, Cooper’s suggestion was, “Naw.  Just like the drink: Harvey’s Wallbangers.  We keep banging ‘em off the walls.”; 219 H, 157singles 1980)
FCR -    John Rickert, Terre Haute, IN
Most common incorrect answer:  Gorman Thomas, Paul Molitor, Robin Yount, Eddie Mathews, Bob Uecker, Harry Dalton, Jim Gantner

TUESDAY
Q.         Who has the only grand-slam single in the history of postseason play?
Hint:     He is tied with Willie McCovey for 5th on the career grand slam list.
Hint:     He is also the only player to hit a grand slam in both games of a doubleheader.
Addint: He once helped Nolan Ryan demonstrate the finer points of wrestling.
A.         Robin Ventura (GS 1b 17-Oct-1999 Game 5 NLCS; 18 GS; Doubleheader vs MIL 20‑May‑1999 in the 1st inn G 1, and 4th inn G 2; Ryan put him in a headlock after Ventura charged the mound 04-Aug-1993)
FCR -    Mike Brandyberry, Grafton, OH
MCIA:   Jim Northrup, Eddie Murray, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson, Alex Rodriguez, Dave McNally

TUESDAY TOPPER
Q.         Who was the first Cleveland Indian position player to be named Rookie of the Year?
Hint:     He was the first pick of the January 1970 amateur draft.
Hint:     As a result of his walk-off post-season homer, they changed the rule requiring a batter to touch all the bases.
Addint: Billy Martin once said of him, in a knock on Reggie Jackson, that Jackson might be Mr. October, but “That guy is Mr. Season”.
A.         Chris Chambliss (ROY 1971, the pitcher Herb Score won it for CLE 1955; January 1970 draft; The “Chris Chambliss Rule” amended rule 4.09 as a result of the mob that flooded the field when he hit the 1976 ALCS series clinching walk-off homer 14‑Oct‑1976)
FCR -    Dave Washburn, Marietta, GA
MCIA:   Larry Doby, Steve Dunning, Joe Charboneau, Ray Fosse, Toby Harrah, Julio Franco, Bobby Avila, Rick Manning, Max Alvis

WEDNESDAY
Q.         Who was a member of both the “Lumber Company” and the “South Side Hit Men”?
Hint:     In 1973, his first full season as a starting right fielder, he outhit the Hall of Famer he replaced.
Hint:     Unlike his predecessor, he DID hit for the cycle.
Addint: He started in left field in the 1977 All-Star Game and right field in the 1978 game.
A.         Richie Zisk (PIT 1971-76, South Side Hit Men 1977; CHW; BA/OBP/SLG .324/.364/.526 in 1973 to Clemente’s .312/.356/.479 in 1972; cycle 09-Jun-1974, Clemente never managed the feat; 1977 ASG, 1978 ASG)
FCR -    Paul Hirsch, San Diego, CA
MCIA:   Dave Parker, Al Oliver, Oscar Gamble, Bill Madlock

MIDWEEK BONUS
Q.         Who hit the fly ball out that completed Nolan Ryan’s first no-hit victory?
H:         He was also Steve Carlton’s 19th strikeout victim, then National League record for most strikeouts in a game by a single pitcher.
Hint:     In 1980, Sports Illustrated’s Henry Hecht referred to him as New York’s (Mets) WT 1 (worst trade No. 1) when they swapped him for Joe Foy.
Hint:     When Atlanta offered to trade Joe Torre for him, the Mets GM Johnny Murphy tagged him as “Untouchable”—a burden he didn’t care to assume.
Addint: When the “flim-flam man” took him away from the Mets in that infamous trade, he said “December 3rd was the happiest day of my life” despite the fact he was just awarded a share of his former team’s World Series winnings, and that he was joining a team that had only been in existence for one year.
A.         Amos Otis (15-May-1973, F9;Carlton’s 19 Ks 15-Sep-1969, Otis K’d 4 X, NL record later set by Kerry Wood’s 20 K 06-May-1998; Mets status and trade talk SABR BIO - Bill James gave KCR Cedric Tallis the flim-flam sobriquet in admiration of his building the great Royals teams.  Tallis had most cleverly arranged the WT1 trade highlighted by Henry Hecht’s article.
FCR -    Dave Serota, Kalamazoo, MI
MCIA:   Jim Fregosi, Felix Mantilla

THURSDAY
Q.         Who named his glove “Black Beauty” and his homers “Taters”?
Hint:     In his rookie year, as the starting All-Star first bagger, he faced Sandy Koufax and Jim Bunning, both of whom were pitching their final All-Star Game.
Hint:     He would go on to win eight Gold Gloves Awards.
Hint:     Manager Dick Williams said of him, "Until I saw [him], I thought Gil Hodges was the greatest defensive first baseman I ever saw, but [he] changed my mind."
Addint: Reggie Jackson said he used to tape his phone calls with him so he could enjoy them again in replay.
A.         George Scott ("I love my taters, my sweet potaters, and I love my home runs just like taters," he'd say.; 1966 ASG 12-Jul-1966; Williams quote; Jackson statement about Boomer’s unique voice and dialect)
FCR -    Alan Work, White Plains, NY
MCIA:   Aurelio Rodriguez, Orlando Cepeda, Boog Powell, Jim Gentile, Bill White, Steve Garvey, John Mayberry

IN MEMORIAM
Q.         What 26-year-old owns the high batting average for the Seattle Pilots?
Hint:     He also hit their first home run, providing the margin of victory in their very first game.
Hint:     He was the last player to come to bat in the original Yankee Stadium.
Hint:     He shaved his mustache immediately after earning a $300 bonus for Charlie Finley's 1972 "Mustache Day" promotion.
Hint:     He was a broadcaster for twelve years for the Brewers and 23 years for the Indians.
Addint: He won a World Series ring as a member of the 1972 Oakland A’s.
Addint: He was selected to the 1969 All-Star team but could not play because of injury.
A.         Mike Hegan, who passed away on Christmas day (Hit .292; HR 08‑Apr‑1969; Yankee Stadium was refurbished after the last game in 1973:  30‑Sep‑1973; 1972 A’s)
FCR -    Mike Brandyberry, Grafton, OH
MCIA:   Duane Kuiper, Steve Hovley, Tommy Harper

IN MEMORIAM II
Q.         Who was “Motormouth”?
Hint:     His eight American League outfield Gold Glove Awards are exceeded in number only by the ten each won by Al Kaline and Ken Griffey, Jr.
Hint:     He was later the head coach for the Coppin State baseball team.
Hint:     His five hits on 06‑Oct‑1969 are still the most in a single League Championship Series game.
Hint:     Many believe he would have been the World Series MVP in 1970 if it were not for the otherworldly glove work of his teammate Brooks Robinson.
Hint:     His first contract was with a major league team that had yet to play its first game.
Addint: His home run in Game 3 of the 1966 World Series that accounted for all the scoring in the Orioles' 1-0 victory over the Dodgers.
Addint: In the next game his acrobatic leaping catch off the bat of Jim Lefebvre saved a home run and preserved a 1-0 win for Dave McNally, clinching the Orioles' four-game sweep of Dodgers.
Addint: SABR reports that he tried switch-hitting for a brief time.
A.         Paul Blair, who passed away on Thursday (Coppin coach 1998-2002; 5 H in 1970 ALDS G 3; G 4; Signed with the NY Mets 20-Jul‑1961)
FCR -    Andy McCue, Riverside, CA
MCIA:   None

FRIDAY
Q.         Who was the subject of the very first on-air Bermanism?
Hint:     He finished second to Fred Lynn in the Most Valuable Player vote.
Hint:     He is the only player to hit three home runs in one game off Fergie Jenkins and he did it in three consecutive at bats.
Addint: He and Harmon Killebrew had back-to-back homers in that game.
A.         John Mayberry (John Mayberry "R.F.D.", EPSN 1979; 1975 MVP vote; 3 HR 01‑Jul‑1975)
FCR -    Dave Washburn, Marietta, GA
MCIA:   Jim Rice, John Lowenstein

END-OF-THE-WEEK BONUS
Q.         Who was the only All-Star of the last three brothers to play as teammates?
Hint:     He was the starting center fielder for that team, playing, while his brothers played a combined fourteen games for the club that year.
Hint:     He has been in uniform for all nine of his franchise’s post-season appearances—three as a player and six as a coach.
Addint: He once led his league with 189 hits, and twice led with 10 Sacrifice Flies.
Addint: He was “Cheo”.
A.         Jose Cruz (AS 1980, 85, brothers Hector & Tommy, 1973 Cardinals; Tommy 3G, Hector 11 G;  Astros player: 1980, 81 & 86/Coach:  1997, 98, 99, 2001, 04 & 05; 189 H 1983 tied with Andre Dawson, 10 SF 1977 and 1984, each year in a tie w/others; “Cheo” is a Spanish nickname for Jose.)
FCR -    Tim Doherty, Los Angeles, CA
MCIA:   Felipe Alou, Matty Alou, Jesus Alou, Moises Alou, Bret Boone

SATURDAY
Q.         Who made the 1986 Home Run Derby despite hitting only 13 homers the year before, and totaling only 14 the year of the contest?
Hint:     He finished fifth, tied with Jose Canseco in the 6-man contest.
Hint:     He was traded by the Mets along with several other players for Gary Carter.
Addint: In batting average for a single season, he is second only to Vladimir Guerrero for his franchise.
Addint: He also won the Silver Slugger award for shortstops the first two years with his new team.
A.         Hubie Brooks (1986 HR Derby results, he and Canseco tied with 1HR each; Traded to Expos 1984; MON team records; SS 1985,86 MON)
FCR -    Scott Schleifer, Suffern, NY
MCIA:   Ken Singleton, Mike Jorgensen, George Forster, Joel Youngblood

WEEKEND BONUS
Q.         Who was the third base coach when Joe Nathan got his 300th career save with a controversial game ending strike out?
Hint:     Prior to being third base coach, he was once the same team’s director of minor league operations.
Hint:     He is the only batter Dane Iorg ever walked.
Addint: In 1989, he pitched 1/3 of an inning in an Expos 19-6 loss to the Reds in which he gave up a homer to the first batter he faced, the redoubtable Jeff Reed, and then got the final Reds out with a grounder.
Addint: It was his only appearance as a pitcher.  It was one of only three homers Reed hit that year.
FCR -    Dave Washburn, Marietta, GA
MCIA:   Larry Bowa, Sean Berry, Tim Wallach, Bob Dernier, Gary Pettis, Dave Anderson

SUNDAY
Q.         Which major leaguer is the older brother of the player that hit the two-run homer that provided the winning margin in the final game of the 1969 National League Championship Series?
Hint:     He only played 163 games in Major League Baseball, but then had a stellar career with the Carp.
Hint:     He is currently an instructor for the Reds, and once said of Jay Bruce while Bruce was still in the minors "Jay has probably the best natural ability I've ever seen." 
Addint: He was a “Smokey”, a bear, managed foxes and rode Zephyrs.
A.         Adrian Garrett (Younger brother Wayne, Game 3 ’69 NLCS; 1977-79 Hiroshima Carps, he won Japanese All-Star Game MVP, and won the 1979 Nippon World Series; Adrian commenting on Reds star Jay Bruce who hit .332 with 21 Home Runs in 104 games at Triple A in 2007 & 2008; Nickname “Smokey” and a Tacoma Cub [1971], managed the  Appleton Foxes [1982] & the Denver Zyphers [1984].)
FCR -    David Knox, Pinson, AL
MCIA:   Dave Boswell


WEEKLY THEME – Players who hit walk-off homers against Rich Gossage.

Batter               HR Date
Brooks             04-Jul-1987
Chambliss         13-Aug-1986
Cooper             27-Jul-1979
Cruz                  01-Aug-1977
Foley                08-Aug-1984
Garrett              22-Sep-1975
Mayberry          15-May-1976
Otis                  12-May-1978*
Scott                09-Jul-1974
Ventura             31-Jul-1991
Zisk                  08-Apr-1978

*Inside-the-park-home run

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Dave Washburn, Marietta, GA (after Chambliss Q.)

Incorrect theme guesses:

Tuesday   -  Walk off in post season
               -  Questions for which the first name of the player is NOT Robin
               -  Front line MLB players, who also managed, but did not win a WS
               -  Players who were All-Stars in both leagues and went on to become major league managers
               -  These guys hit walk off post season HRs
               -  Roys who won a world series with a difft team than they won the roy

Thursday  -  Rookies who made their All-Star teams
               -  People who won multiple gold gloves, but struck out too much
               -  AL batters who struck out most against Nolan Ryan
Saturday  -  Theme has something to do with grand slams



Horsehide Trivia blog has the questions and answers from this week as well as from previous weeks:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/




Sunday, December 22, 2013

December 16-22, 2013 Cities whose MLB franchises have each won exactly one World Series

This week’s theme and questions were provided by David Berard of Mount Ranier, Maryland.

MONDAY
Q.         What city started the tradition of having the Chief Executive throw out the first ball of the opening season?
Hint:     Though an AL city for more than 70 years, it has also served brief stints in the NL, including now.
Hint:     A team in Texas allegedly holds the copyright or legal rights to one of their team's former nicknames.
Addint: This city, though important, endured a 33-season hiatus from MLB.
A.         Washington, DC (President William Howard Taft threw out first pitch in 1910;
Washington Nationals in the National League 1886-89 [WHS],
Washington Senators in the National League 1891-99 [WHS],
Washington Senators/Nationals in the American League 1901-60 [WSH],
Washington Senators in the American League 1961-71 [WSA] &
Washington Nationals in the National League 2005-present [WSN];
            Rangers own the name “Senators”)
FCR -    PJ Shelley, Louisville, KY
Most common incorrect answer:  DC, William Howard Taft, New York, Philadelphia

TUESDAY
Q.         What city served under the name of another city's borough?
Hint:     This city is the largest city to ever become part of another city.
Hint:     This city's name was the butt of many jokes in vaudeville and old-time comedy movies.
Addint: An NBA franchise now uses this city's name.
A.         Brooklyn, NY (1 of the 5 boroughs of New York City since 1898 adding a population of 1,000,000; Brooklyn jokes; Brooklyn Nets)
FCR -    Max Burgess, Houston, TX
MCIA:   New York, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Oakland

WEDNESDAY
Q.         What city had a World Series winner in just their fifth season after their team moved in from another town?
Hint:     This city was advertised as being made famous by a brand of beer.
Hint:     This city served briefly in the AA, then briefly in the AL, then briefly in the NL again, then in the AL and now in the NL.
Addint: This city has thrice elected Socialist mayors.
A.         Milwaukee, WI (Moved from Boston to Milwaukee after the 1952 season; Schlitz, ”The beer that made Milwaukee famous”; 1891 Milwaukee Brewers in the American Association, 1901 Milwaukee Brewers in the American League; 1953-1965 Milwaukee Braves in the National League, 1970-1997 Milwaukee Brewers in the American League & Milwaukee Brewers 1998-present; Mayors:  Emil Seidel 1910-12, Daniel Hoan 1916-40 & Frank Zeidler 1948-60)
FCR -    Dave Washburn, Marietta, GA
MCIA:   Los Angeles, Denver

THURSDAY
Q.         What city endured one of the shortest hiatuses in MLB history, going just one year between leaving and arriving franchises?
Hint:     It’s famous for its ribs and perennial regal champs.
Addint: In a major upset, this city’s team defeated its cross-state rivals in the "Show-Me" Series.
Addint: One of MLB's greatest managers hailed from this town, and made up his name from the city's initials.
Addint: Wilbert Harrison performed a song with this city's name that serves as an unofficial anthem and is often played at the ballpark during games.
A.         Kansas City, MO (City lost the A’s to Oakland after the 1967 season but gained the expansion Royals for Missouri’s largest metropolitan area; A plethora or barbecue restaurants populate the area and the Kansas City Monarchs won 10 Negro League championships before integration including the first Negro League World Series in 1924; The Royals defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1985 World Series, 4 G to 3, Missourians are reputed to have a deep mistrust of things generally and want to be shown instead of just sold; Charles Dillon Stengel became known as Casey (K.C.) because it was his home town; Harrison’s song is simply titled “Kansas City”.)
FCR -    Paul Hirsch, San Diego, CA
MCIA:   Louisville. Los Angeles, Seattle, St. Louis

FRIDAY
Q.         What city won the World Series one fall then hosted the Summer Olympics within less than a year?
Hint:     This city's team was the first to telecast games on a nationwide cable TV channel.
Addint: This city once actually had a minor league team called the "Crackers".
Addint: This city's franchise is the only one to win the modern World Series representing 3 different cities.
A.         Atlanta, GA (1996 Olympic Games; TBS first aired Braves games in 1973; Boston Braves won the 1914 WS, the Milwaukee Braves won in 1957 & the Atlanta Braves won in 1995)
FCR -    Makoto Ozawa, Scarsdale, NY
MCIA:   “not sure”, Los Angeles, New York Mets

SATURDAY
Q.         What team’s home state is the southernmost in the Mountain Time Zone?
Hint:     A tragic socio-political event delayed their Series appearance so late, one of the opposition players was referred to as "Mr. November".
Addint: The team nickname is the only one in MLB that represents a reptile.
Addint: Stellar play by former Florida Marlin Craig Counsell helped them win a World Series.
A.         Arizona [Phoenix] (The attacks of 9-11 caused the postseason delay, Derek Jeter was “Mr. November”; Diamondback [“D-Back”] is a poisonous snake, native to the Southwest
FCR -    Doug Wilkins, San Francisco, CA
MCIA:   Denver, Texas, Rockies

SUNDAY
Q.         What city, though in a heavily-Hispanic area, has a name of German origin?
Hint:     This team's nickname made it the perfect franchise to replace Pittsburgh in a 1994 remake of a 1951 classic baseball movie.
Addint: This team has had four official names, and its current one is reminiscent of the local NHL franchise.
Addint: This city's team was first owned by a famous singing cowboy actor.
A.         Anaheim, CA (According to Wikipedia, Anaheim means "home by the Santa Anna River" in German; “Angels in the Outfield”, 1951 & 1994; 1. Los Angeles Angels, 2. California Angels, 3. Anaheim Angels, 4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; Original owner was Gene Autry)
FCR -    Dave Johnson, Swarthmore, PA
MCIA:   Denver, Lukenbach, Los Angeles, Cleveland


WEEKLY THEME – Cities whose MLB franchises have each won exactly one World Series

Anaheim          2002 Angels
Arizona            2001 Diamondbacks
Atlanta            1995 Braves
Brooklyn         1955 Dodgers
Milwaukee       1957 Braves


First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Kellen Nielson, Blanding, UT (after the Tuesday question)

Incorrect theme guesses:

Monday   -    Cities that had teams, lost them, then got them back.
               -    Cities that have had teams in more than one major league, but not at the same time (since we don't want to include New York, Chicago, etc.)
               -    Franchises that have located in more than one city.
               -    Cities represented in the original National League?  Or Federal League?
               -    All are cities with teams in the American Association major league. (In this case, Washington Statesmen, 1891)
Tuesday   -    Teams which hosted major league cities and then lost them.
               -    Clearly involves cities where teams left to go elsewhere.
               -    Cities that lost a team but gained another team.
               -    Cities that baseball teams have left.
               -    Cities that lost franchises
               -    Cities who have had two or more nicknames for their baseball team.
               -    Cities that lost their major league teams to another city and that transferred franchise is still active
Wednesday - Teams managed by Chuck Dressen
               -   
Friday      -    Cities that had Negro League teams


Horsehide Trivia blog has the questions and answers from this week as well as from previous weeks:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/