Sunday, January 27, 2013

January 21-27, 2013 Houston Astros 20 game winners


MONDAY
Q.         Who was the first modern National League right-hander to strike out 300 batters in a season?
Hint:     He did it two seasons in a row.
Hint:     His modern National League record for most strikeouts in a season by a right-hander has been eclipsed only by Curt Schilling.
Hint:     Stephen Strasburg came within one K of matching his (shared) record for most strikeouts in his first major league game.
Twint:    Only future MVP Jeff Burroughs was selected before him in the 1969 June draft.
A.         J.R. Richard (303 K in 1978, 313 K in 1979; Schilling 319 K in 1997, 316 K in 2002; 15 K in 1st G on 05-Sep-1971, record shared w/Karl Spooner)
FCR -    David Ramsden, Barcelona, Spain

TUESDAY
Q.         Who was the second modern National League right-hander to strike out 300 batters in a season?
Hint:     Officially Roger Craig’s tutelage turned him into a star, but according to opponents he only became great after he started scuffing the ball.
Hint:     In a 2002 ESPN poll he was labeled the third-biggest cheater in baseball history, ahead of admitted cheats such as Joe Niekro and Gaylord Perry.
Hint:     He was the first player to win the NLCS MVP Award while playing for the losing team.
Twint:    He pitched a perfect game for Pepperdine four months before becoming a second-round draft pick.
A.         Mike Scott (306 K in 1986; 2002 ESPN poll; 1986 NLCS MVP while losing to the Mets; College perfect game 17-Feb-1976, chosen in second round of 1976 June draft)
FCR -    Mark Pattison, Washington, DC

WEDNESDAY
Q.         Who finished second to Albert Pujols in the 2001 National League Rookie of the Year balloting?
Hint:     He was named NL Rookie Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News that year.
Hint:     He pitched the first inning of a combined no-hitter against the Yankees.
Hint:     He won a gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Twint:    After publicly complaining about being demoted to the bullpen in 2012, manager Ron Washington pulled him from his next start, one out before he would have received credit for a win.
A.         Roy Oswalt (82 points in 2001 NL RoY voting; combined w- Peter Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel & Billy Wagner on 11-Jun-2003; pulled @ 4.2 IP on 18-Aug-2012)
FCR -    David Ramsden, Barcelona, Spain

THURSDAY
Q.         What pitcher had the most career victories among brothers whose sibling had more wins?
Hint:     He only led the league in wins one time, and then he had to share the title with his brother.
Hint:     He finished a close second to Bruce Sutter in the Cy Young voting that year, while his brother finished a distant sixth.
Hint:     He had to wait more than 21 years for his first chance to pitch in the World Series. His brother never made it that far in 24 major league seasons.
Twint:    He was one of two pitchers in the no-risk free agent class of 1988.
A.         Joe Niekro (221 career W to Phil’s 318 [Jim Perry had 215]; 21 W, tied w- Phil in 1979; 1979 NL CYA voting; Donnie Moore was the other pitcher, along with position players Juan Beniquez, Tom Brookens, Carlton Fisk, Kirk Gibson & Butch Wynegar)
FCR -    Jason Schmidt, New York, NY

FRIDAY
Q.         Who was the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter against the Expos?
Hint:     Only Bob Forsch, Tommy Greene & David Cone matched his feat.
Hint:     He made his Major League debut on his 18th birthday, finishing the first inning by striking out Willie Mays, but then opened the second inning by giving up a home run to Orlando Cepeda and ended up taking the loss.
Hint:     He jumped from the Astros broadcast booth to become the team’s manager, never managing at any other level before or after.
Twint:    His number was retired the year after he retired from managing.
Twint:    The Houston, Texas-area chapter of SABR is named for him.
Twint:    He is also an active SABR member.
A.         Larry Dierker (no-hitter vs. Expos 09-Jul-1976; Forsch 26-Sep-1983, Greene 23-May-1991, Cone 18-Jul-1999; debut 22-Sep-1964; Astros broadcaster 1979-1996, manager 1997-2001; #49 retired by Astros in 2002)
FCR -    Bill Carle, Lee’s Summit, MO

SATURDAY
Q.         Whose $121 million contract signed during the 2000-01 off-season was, at the time, the largest contract in baseball history?
Hint:     He held the record for two days.
Hint:     He was the first Major League pitcher to throw a regular-season pitch in Japan.
Hint:     He was the first pitcher to win the Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award in the same season.
Twint:    He only received Cy Young Award votes once, finishing second to former teammate Randy Johnson.
A.         Mike Hampton (signed 09-Dec-2000, A-Rod [$252M] & Manny [$160M] signed 11-Dec; Opening Day starter for the Mets in Tokyo 29-Mar-2000; GG/SS 2003; 2nd in 1999 NL CYA voting)
FCR -    David Krassin, New York, NY

SUNDAY
Q.         Who was the next Dodgers pitcher to win a postseason game after the team won the 1988 World Series?
Hint:     He holds the National League record for most home runs surrendered in a season.
Hint:     He gave up the home run that moved Mark McGwire ahead of Reggie Jackson on the career home run list.
Hint:     He was the first active player to sing the National Anthem before a game in the 21st Century.
Twint:    After retiring as a player he focused on his musical career as a bachata singer.
A.         Jose Lima (NLDS W 09-Oct-2004; 48 HR in 2000; McGwire’s 564th HR 14-Jul-2001; Anthem 13-May-2004; Bachata)
FCR -    Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA


WEEKLY THEME – Houston Astros 20 game winners

Dierker        1969 (20)
Hampton     1999 (22)
Lima           1999 (21)
Niekro         1979 (21), 1980 (20)
Oswalt        2004 (20), 2005 (20)
Richard       1976 (20)
Scott          1989 (20)

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Paul Sekula, Arlington, VA


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



Sunday, January 20, 2013

January 14-20, 2013 Members of the Baseball Hall of Fame Board of Directors


This week’s quiz is another fine contribution from reader Barry Sparks of York, Pennsylvania.

MONDAY
Q.         Whose final major league home run was a 10th inning, pinch-hit walk-off homer off Cleveland Indians' hurler Dave LaRoche?
Hint:     He never played high school baseball; he was playing second base in a church league when he was discovered.
Hint:     Johnny Pesky said of this Hall of Famer, "If he could run, he would be the perfect player."
Twint:    He is part owner of the Atlantic League Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
A.         Brooks Robinson (HR 09-Apr-1977; Crabs)
FCR:     Steve Schwartz, Chico, CA

MORE MONDAY
Q.         Whose team had a flag erected with the word "Here" in recognition of a feat of his at his home ballpark?
Hint:     Roberto Clemente considered him and Stan Musial to be the best hitters he ever saw.
Hint:     Although he only stole 20 bases or more in a season three times, he was considered one of the most feared baserunners of his time.
Twint:    He homered in the first game he managed.
A:         Frank Robinson (Only ball out of Memorial Stadium 08‑May‑1966; Player/mgr HR 08‑Apr‑1975 for the Cleveland Indians)
FCR:     Jim Casey, Savannah, GA

TUESDAY
Q.         Who did Bill James say was the best percentages player in baseball history?
Hint:     He led the league in walks, on-base percentage and runs scored the first year he was traded from the team that he broke into the majors with.
Hint:     His career stolen base percentage is greater than 80 percent.
Twint:    He finished with as many career home runs as Brooks Robinson.
A.         Joe Morgan (1972 Cincinnati Reds after playing 1963-71 with the Houston Astros; 689 SB, 162 CS, 80.9%; 268 home runs)
FCR:     Will McCracken, Bradenton, FL

WEDNESDAY
Q.         What pitcher led the National League in bases-on-balls allowed the only season he topped the league in strikeouts?
Hint:     He surrendered the most hits in the National League for three consecutive seasons, although he averaged nearly 19 wins during that time span.
Hint:     His annual golf outing raises money for abused or neglected children.
Twint:    He won 100 games after turning 40.
A.         Phil Niekro (262 K, 164 BB in 1977; 1977-79 with 56 wins)
FCR:     Eric Johnston, Ellicott City, MD

MIDWEEK BONUS
Q.         Whom did Hank Aaron call, "the toughest pitcher I ever faced"?
Hint:     Reggie Jackson said, "Blind men come to the ballpark to hear him pitch."
Hint:     He was the first National League player from a last place team to win Rookie of the Year.
Twint:    Although he never pitched for the Yankees, he won his 300th game in Yankee Stadium.
A.         Tom Seaver (Aaron/Seaver; ROY 1967; 04-Aug-1985)
FCR: J.J. McCoy, Washington, DC

THURSDAY
Q.         Who is an adjunct faculty member at Marquette University Law School, lecturing on sports law and policy?
Hint:     The Milwaukee Brewers recently announced they would build a statue of him outside Miller Park.
Hint:     In 1970, he purchased the bankrupt Seattle Pilots franchise.
Twint:    Official baseball historian Jerome Holtzman called him "the best commissioner in the history of baseball."
A.         Bud Selig (Marquette prof.; statue; Pilots)
FCR:     Doug Rose, Crestwood, KY

FRIDAY
A.         Who was the Toronto Blue Jays' first employee?
Hint:     He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Hint:     His name in on the Blue Jays' Level of Excellence at Rogers Centre.
Twint:    He served as president of the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts in 1996 and 1997.
A.         Paul Beeston (President of the Toronto Blue Jays)
FCR:     Sean Fink, Edison, NJ

WEEK-ENDING BONUS
Q.         Who hired Michael Jordan as a baseball player during his sabbatical from basketball?
Hint:     In 2012, he paid the cost of a new Olympic gold medal for White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who had won it playing for Cuba in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.  Ramirez had unfortunately lost it.
Hint:     A Brooklyn native, he was in the stands the day Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier.
Twint:    In 2012, he suggested that major league baseball should contract two teams.
A.         Jerry Reinsdorf (Owner of the Chicago White Sox; Ramirez; Robinson G 15-Apr-1947)
FCR:     Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA

IN MEMORIAM
Q.         Who was the last 20th century American League manager to win 100 games in back-to-back seasons?
Hint:     Ron Luciano ranked him first, second, third and fourth on his list of five most disliked managers.
Hint:     Among AL managers, only Joe McCarthy has more 100-win seasons.
Hint:     He popularized turning the bill of his cap around when arguing with umpires.
Hint:     His last season was the only one of his 18 managerial campaigns in which he did not have a winning record.
Hint:     He was the first post-WWII manager to be ejected from a World Series game.
Hint:     One of his pitchers claimed, “The only thing [he] knows about a curve ball is that he couldn’t hit one.”
Hint:     Four of his players went on to win the Manager of the Year Award.
Hint:     He once claimed, “I gave Mike Cuellar more chances than my first wife.”
Hint:     Sammy Stewart observed, “Having [him as our manager] gives us a four-game lead on everybody.”
Hint:     His rulebook-shredding, dirt-kicking, base-stealing tirades were infamous and, according to his players—inspiring.
Hint:     His wife had to track him down on the golf course to let him know he’d been elected to the Hall of Fame.
Hint:     When he suggested first baseman Pat Kelly, an evangelical minister, spend less time preaching and more time practicing Kelly asked, “Don’t you want me to walk with the Lord?,” to which he retorted, “I’d rather have you walk with the bases loaded!”
Twint:    His slogan, and the title of his 1982 autobiography was “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”
A.         Earl Weaver (102 W in 1979, 100 W in 1980; the other manager on Luciano’s list was not named; McCarthy’s 6 100 W seasons to Weaver’s 5; 1986 record 73-89; ejected from 1969 World Series Game 4; MoY winners Robinson [1989], Baylor [1995], Oates [1996] & Johnson [1997, 2012]) [Baltimore Sun; Washington Post; SABR Bio]
FCR:     Dan Silverberg, Aventura, FL

SATURDAY
Q.         What baseball executive is the former president and CEO of Wal*Mart?
Hint:     In 2012, frustrated fans took out a full-page advertisement urging him to sell his major league team.
Hint:     He once walked out of a "Dateline" interview.
Hint:     In 2011, his team made a $30 million profit, the most in major league baseball, according to Forbes.
A.         David Glass (Owner of the Kansas City Royals)
FCR:     Mark Kanter, Portsmouth, RI

IN MEMORIAM II
Q.         Who was the answer to the first question ever asked on Horsehide Trivia?
Hint:     His six home runs in All-Star competition is an all-time record.
Hint:     His 24 All-Star games is an all-time record.
Hint:     He is the only player to rank in the top 30 in singles, doubles, triples and home runs.
Hint:     He played over 1,000 games in the outfield and 1,000 games in the infield and won MVPs at each.
Hint:     He led his Pennsylvania high school basketball team to an undefeated season.
Hint:     He was the first player to collect 6,000 total bases.
Hint:     He is the only general manager to preside over a World Series champion in his lone season in that capacity.
Hint:     He broke the National League career runs record on the day the Mets played their first home opener.
Hint:     He is the last first baseman to lead the league in triples.
Hint:     Only Tony Gwynn and Honus Wagner have won more National League batting titles.
Hint:     He was the first player to receive 300 Hall of Fame votes in the year he was elected.
Hint:     Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick called him "Baseball's perfect knight".
Hint:     His custom bats were fashioned with the handles of Mel Ott's bats and the barrels of Jimmie Foxx's.
Hint:     Warren Spahn quipped, "Once he timed your fastball your infielders were in jeopardy."
Hint:     He was the first athlete inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians.
Hint:     When asked how good he was, Vin Scully said, "He was good enough to take your breath away."
Hint:     Albert Pujols refused to accept the sobriquet “El hombre” because he insisted there was only one “Man”.
Hint:     He is still the only pitcher in major league history to appear in a game, facing at least one batter but never recording an out, giving up a hit or a base-on-balls.
Hint:     He accomplished all this while giving up a season in the heart of his career to military service.
Twint:    He signed his first professional baseball contract when he was only sixteen years old.
Twint:    He did so after consulting with Miss Helen Kloz, his high school librarian, who advised him to follow his heart—"at least for a little while".
A.         Stan Musial (The question was “Which player, with 3,000 or more career hits, had the same number of hits at home and on the road?” [1,815 H ea., posted 12‑Mar‑1997]; 18th in 1b [10th when he retired], 3rd in 2b [2nd when he retired], 19th in 3b, 28th in HR @ 475 [6th when he retired]; OF 1,980 G, IF 1,016 G, MVPs 1943, 46, 48; 6,134 TB; Cardinals GM 1967; 1,869th R on 13‑Apr‑1962; 12 3b in 1951 [Paul Molitor played 46 G @ 3b in 1991]; 8 batting titles ea. for Gwynn & Wagner, 7 for Musial; 371 votes in 1969; HOFM 2000; P on 28‑Sep‑1952 when batter Frankie Baumholtz reached on an E by Solly Hemus; Mil. Service 1945)
FCR:     Jim Lovelace, Kent, OH

SUNDAY
Q.         Who was the most famous bat boy for the St. Louis Browns?
Hint:     It wasn't hard for him to get the job—his father owned the team.
Hint:     Besides being the owner of a major league baseball team, he has owned or been part owner of teams in the NFL, American Basketball Association and the World Hockey Association.
Twint:    A close friend of President George W. Bush, he raised $200,000 for Bush's 2004 re-election campaign.
A.         Bill DeWitt, Jr., (Owner of the St. Louis Cardinals; Bill DeWitt, Sr.)
FCR:     John Burbridge, Mebane, NC


WEEKLY THEME – Baseball executives and former players who are members of the Baseball Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Bill Deane, Cooperstown, NY (after the Selig question)


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




Sunday, January 13, 2013

January 7-13, 2013 Twenty-two years between 1st & last HRs


MONDAY
Q.         Who holds the career record for games played, at-bats, plate appearances, times on base, singles and outs made?
Hint:     He was traded only once, straight-up for Tom Lawless.
Hint:     He was the oldest player in the league for each of his last three seasons.
Hint:     Phil Niekro, in the other league, was the oldest in the Majors for those three seasons.
Twint:    The baseball world celebrated him breaking a revered record on 11-Sep-1985, but research shows that he most likely broke the record three days earlier.
A.         Pete Rose (3562 G, 14053 AB, 15890 PA, 5929 TOB, 3215 1B, 10328 OM; NL old man 1984-86; Niekro 2yrs 2wks older; traded for Lawless 16-Aug-1984; 4192nd H 11-Sep-1985, research has shown that Cobb may have “only” had 4,189 career H, which means Rose passed him on 08-Sep-1985)
FCRs -  Steven Elsberry, Windsor Heights, IA  @ 1:24:19 a.m.
            Mark Linneman, Sacramento, CA         @ 1:35:43 a.m.
            Rick Gross, Miami, FL                        @ 1:35:49 a.m.
            Alan Work, White Plains, NY               @ 1:35:58 a.m.
            Donald Harrison, Fairfield, CT             @ 1:36:05 a.m.
            Steve Van Wagener, Bethesda, MD     @ 1:36:12 a.m.
            normank@rogers.com                           @ 1:36:19 a.m.
            Vickie Riggsbee, Raleigh, NC             @ 1:36:25 a.m.
            Jess Forrest, Chicago, IL                    @ 1:36:32 a.m.
            Blake Sherry, Dublin, OH                    @ 1:41:23 a.m.

MONDAY MADNESS
Q.         Which Hall of Famer, more famous for his bat than his glove, holds the AL record for most career errors committed by an outfielder?
Hint:     He also holds the record for most career steals of home.
Hint:     He had an intense rivalry with teammate Sam Crawford.
Hint:     He observed, years after his retirement, “In legend I am a sadistic, slashing, swashbuckling despot who waged war in the guise of sport.”
Hint:     Few of his contemporaries would disagree.
Twint:    Trivia list member Norm Coleman regularly performs a one-man show as this famous Tiger.
A.         Ty Cobb (271 E; 54 steals of home; Norm “Ty Cobb” Coleman)
FCR -    Alan Work, White Plains, NY              @ 7:55:13 p.m.
            Matt Gibson, Barboursville, WV         @ 7:55:40 p.m.
            Michael Daponde, Sacramento, CA   @ 7:55:48 p.m.
            Bob Yahr, Milwaukee, WI                   @ 7:57:27 p.m.
            Bob Wilber, Spokane, WA                 @ 7:58:04 p.m.
            Andrew Milner, Bryn Mawr, PA           @ 7:58:04 p.m.
            Phil Hertz                                          @ 7:58:34 p.m.
            Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA                   @ 7:58:38 p.m.
            Glenn Vasey, Lancaster, PA              @ 7:58:46 p.m.
            Rockwell Hoffman, Glenside, PA       @ 7:59:27 p.m.

TUESDAY
Q.         Who won two legs of the NL Triple Crown in 1957?
Hint:     He had won the third leg the prior season.
Hint:     Statues of him reside outside Turner Field, Miller Park and Carson Park (in Eau Claire, WI).
Hint:     He holds the record for most home runs hit for one franchise.
Hint:     He threw out the first pitch at both the 2000 and 2002 All-Star Games.
Hint:     He received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Bill Clinton and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush.
Hint:     Although he has twice endorsed Barack Obama, the President has not given him any awards (yet).
Twint:    When he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982, only Ty Cobb had received a higher percentage of votes.
A.         Hank Aaron (44 HR, 132 RBI in 1957; .328 AVG led the NL in 1956; 733 HR as a Milwaukee/Atlanta Brave; 97.8% HOF vote, 2nd at the time to Cobb’s 98.2%)
FCR -    Rick Brody, Austin, TX                      @ 3:38:42 a.m.
            Al Blumkin, Brooklyn, NY                  @ 4:58:43 a.m.
            Steve Haas, Clarksville, MD              @ 5:01:28 a.m.
            Art Springsteen, Sunapee, NH           @ 5:13:27 a.m.
            Mitch Nolan, Langhorne, PA              @ 5:17:18 a.m.
            Dave Mason, Ottawa, ON                  @ 5:37:03 a.m.
            Christopher Bell, New York, NY         @ 5:37:46 a.m.
            Rick Fink, Edison, NJ                       @ 6:01:41 a.m.
            Matt Gibson, Barboursville, WV         @ 6:02:30 a.m.
            John Wanamaker, Binghamton, NY    @ 6:07:22 a.m.

WEDNESDAY
Q.         Which player joined the Mets after team owner Horace Stoneham admitted he could not guarantee any post-retirement income?
Hint:     Though his total dropped each year, he led the National League in stolen bases each year from 1956-59.
Hint:     He also led the league with the most times caught stealing for the first two of those years.
Hint:     He was the first player to score 2,000 runs in the National League.
Hint:     Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds are the only others to do so.  [N.B.  Pete Rose also did it.]
Twint:    When the Giants moved to San Francisco he bought two homes there, but ended up living in Atherton, CA.
A.         Willie Mays (traded to Mets 11-May-1972; 40, 38, 31 & 27 SB respectively; 2000th R 26-Sep-1971; Aaron 2,107 NL R, Bonds 2,227 NL R, Rose  2,1655 NL R; Atherton)
FCR -    Al Blumkin, Brooklyn, NY                  @ 2:05:12 a.m.
            Damian Begley, New York, NY          @ 2:09:53 a.m.
            Bob Stuart, Scarborough, ON            @ 2:10:26 a.m.
            Rick Brody, Austin, TX                      @ 2:20:26 a.m.
            John Null, Sugarland, TX                   @ 2:21:53 a.m.
            Michael Daponde, Sacramento, CA   @ 2:22:12 a.m.
            Bob Archer, Sacramento, CA             @ 2:24:29 a.m.
            Rod Nelson, Detroit, MI                     @ 2:32:59 a.m.
            Saul Wisnia, Newton Center, MA        @ 2:43:26 a.m.
            Alan Chen, Denver, CO                     @ 2:43:36 a.m.

MIDWEEK BONUS
Q.         Who is the only player to amass 100 walks, 100 stolen bases and 100 runs in the same season more than once?
Hint:     He also holds the record for most times caught stealing in a season.
Hint:     He won a Gold Glove Award before he became notorious for his showboating “snatch catches”.
Hint:     The A’s retired #24 in his honor, though it was only one of four numbers he wore for the team.
Hint:     Bill James claimed, “If you could split him in two, you’d have two Hall of Famers.”
Twint:    He was twice traded for Eric Plunk.
A.         Rickey Henderson (100 BB, SB & R 1980, 82-83, Billy Hamilton [1891] is the only other player to do so; 42 CS in 1982; 1981 GG; also wore 22, 35 & 39 for OAK; traded for Plunk 05-Dec-1984 & 21-Jun-1989)
FCR -    Pete Cottrell, Gaithersburg, MD         @ 6:03:05 p.m.
            Will McCracken, Bradenton, FL          @ 6:03:22 p.m.
            Matt Gibson, Barboursville, WV         @ 6:03:31 p.m.
            David Krassin, New York, NY            @ 6:03:57 p.m.
            Alan Work, White Plains, NY              @ 6:03:58 p.m.
            Fred Worth, Arkadelphia, AR             @ 6:04:29 p.m.
            Jack Kelly, Lexington, KY                 @ 6:04:30 p.m.
            Blake Sherry, Dublin, OH                   @ 6:05:08 p.m.
            Elijah Kaplan, Teaneck, NJ                @ 6:05:28 p.m.
            Arieh Siegal, Austin, TX                     @ 6:05:43 p.m.

THURSDAY
Q.         In 2004, who was rated by ESPN as the third-best all-around athlete of all time, behind only Jim Brown and Jim Thorpe?
Hint:     He was the 1972 Alaska Goldpanners team MVP, the year before winning the College World Series MVP.
Hint:     Although he was a pitcher in college, he made his Major League debut as a right fielder.
Hint:     During his first season in the Majors, he bought blocks of tickets to distribute to families who could not afford to attend games.
Hint:     With an average attendance of only 7,500 fans per game, there were plenty of tickets available.
Twint:    His accidental radio invitation to all the children in San Diego was the impetus for open All-Star batting practices.
Twint:    He is now an ESPN analyst.
A.         Dave Winfield (ESPN athlete rankings; ESPN Baseball Tonight analyst; After buying his by-then-usual block of tickets for the 1978 All-Star Game, he went on the air and invited “all the kids of San Diego” to attend.  The Winfield Foundation brought the unexpectedly large crowd into batting practice, launching the now-popular event.)
FCR -    Dave Krassin, New York, NY                      @ 3:35:09 p.m.
            Bob Newton, Bethesda, MD                       @ 3:35:37 p.m.
            Bob Wilber, Spokane, WA                          @ 3:36:46 p.m.
            Gene Rudzinski, Buffalo, NY                      @ 3:36:53 p.m.
            Art Springsteen, Sunapee, NH                    @ 3:37:17 p.m.
            Doug Rose, Crestwood, KY                       @ 3:51:15 p.m.
            Steve Van Wagener, Bethesda, MD            @ 3:38:32 p.m.
            John Wilson, Mesa, AZ                              @ 3:38:54 p.m.
            John Michael Pierobon, Ft. Lauderdale, FL  @ 3:39:21 p.m.
            Rockwell Hoffman, Glenside, PA                @ 3:40:27 p.m.

FRIDAY
Q.         Who was the first player to retire with 3,000 hits and 400 home runs in the American League?
Hint:     Only Cal Ripken Jr. has joined him since.
Hint:     His career games played record was broken the year after he retired.
Hint:     He signed what is believed to be the first half-million dollar contract.
Twint:    He replaced Ted Williams as Red Sox left fielder.
A.         Carl Yastrzemski (3,419 H, 452 HR; Ripken 3,184 H, 431 HR; GP record broken by Pete Rose 29-Jun-1984; signed 3-year contract for $167,000/yr. [$500,000 total] in 1971)
FCR -    John Rickert, Terre Haute, IN             @ 12:24:13 a.m.
            Arieh Siegal, Austin, TX                     @ 12:26:49 a.m.
            Matt Gibson, Barboursville, WV         @ 12:26:55 a.m.
            Peter Beagle, Oakland, CA                @ 12:36:52 a.m.
            Ron Kaufman, Thornhill, ON              @ 12:27:47 a.m.
            Jimmy Goggin, Williamsburg, VA      @ 12:28:28 a.m.
            Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA                   @ 12:29:13 a.m.
            Judah Kaplan, Teaneck, NJ               @ 12:31:27 a.m.
            Bob Kimball, Washington, DC           @ 12:32:33 a.m.
            Jerry Kahn, Queens, NY                    @ 12:46:27 a.m.

SATURDAY
Q.         Who was the first player to appear in 162 games in a season without playing in the field?
Hint:     He is the only player to appear in 500 games for four different teams.
Hint:     He is also the only player to get 500 hits for four teams.
Hint:     He was once traded for Donn Clendenon, but Clendenon threatened to retire rather than report to his new team.
Hint:     Bowie Kuhn intervened and the teams worked out alternative compensation.
Twint:    He received a three-minute standing ovation from a record-setting crowd in his first game back in Montreal after returning to the Expos.
A.         Rusty Staub (162 G as DH in 1978; 500 G for Mets [942], Colt .45s/Astros [833], Tigers [549] & Expos [518]; 500 H for Colt .45s/Astros [742], Mets [709], Tigers [582] & Expos [531]; traded for Clendenon 22-Jan-1969; 59,000-fan ovation 27-Jul-1979)
FCR -    Mark DeLodovico, Rockville, MD      @ 12:17:22 a.m.
            Ron Kaufman, Thornhill, ON              @ 12:19:41 a.m.
            Madison McEntire, Bryant, AR           @ 12:28:52 a.m.
            Paul Meagher, Washington, DC         @ 12:30:33 a.m.
            John Null, Sugarland, TX                   @ 12:34:38 a.m.
            Rod Nelson, Detroit, MI                     @ 12:43:14 a.m.
            Tony Nicolo                                      @ 12:46:36 a.m.
            Bradley Curtis, Roseville, CA             @   1:05:06 a.m.
            Michael Daponde, Sacramento, CA   @   1:35:14 a.m.
            Ken Auerbach, Bronxville, NY            @   1:38:08 a.m.

WEEKEND BONUS
Q.         Whose record for hits by a Dominican was passed by Vladimir Guerrero in 2011?
Hint:     When passed by Guerrero, it was not the first time he had surrendered the record.
Hint:     He was the only player to collect an RBI in the 1990 All-Star Game.
Hint:     His career included two stints in the Japanese League (NPB), two stints in the Mexican League (LMB) and one stop in the Korean League (KBL).
Hint:     He hit over .400 during both of his LMB seasons.
Hint:     He was the last-active player to have been included in the Nintendo (NES) RBI Baseball video game.
Twint:    He was teammates with both Pete Rose and Jared Saltalamacchia.
Twint:    He was the last-active batter to face a pitcher who had also pitched to Ted Williams.
A.         Julio Franco (2586 H passed by Guerrero 26-Sep-2011; Passed by Tony Fernandez 20‑Jun‑1999, Retook the record with his second hit on 19‑Aug‑2002; 2 RBI in 1990 All-Star Game; 1995 & 1998 NPB, 1999 & 2001 LMB, 2000 KBL; RBI Baseball released in 1987; teammate w-Rose on 1982 Phillies, w-Salty on 2007 Braves; Jim Kaat vs. Williams: 27‑Sep‑1959, RBI single & RBI double; 22-Apr-1960, 0-1; Kaat vs. Franco: 25‑Apr‑1982, IBB)
FCR -    Bob Kimball, Washington, DC           @   3:28:42 p.m.
            Steven Young, Middletown, MD        @   3:29:08 p.m.
            Reif Faulkner, Lakewood, CO            @   3:29:37 p.m.
            Dan Silverberg, Aventura, FL             @   3:31:10 p.m.
            David Krassin, New York, NY            @   3:33:13 p.m.
            Derek Norin, Arlington, VA                @   3:33:31 p.m.
            David Knox, Pinson, AL                    @   3:33:52 p.m.
            J.J. McCoy, Washington, DC            @   3:34:03 p.m.
            Kevin Epstein, San Antonio, TX         @   3:34:35 p.m.
            Ron Kaufman, Thornhill, ON              @   3:36:56 p.m.

SUNDAY
Q.         Before Frankie Hayes and Ray Mueller in 1944, who was the last player to catch all of his team’s games for a full season?
Hint:     Nolan Ryan was the first player to match his Major League longevity record.
Hint:     Matt Stairs broke his team-jumping record when Stairs played for his 12th Major League team in 2010.
Hint:     In 2011 Tim Wakefield broke his record as oldest Red Sox player.
Twint:    He had six stints as a Major League manager, but never had a winning record.
A.         Deacon McGuire (133 G [including 5 tied] for the 1895 Washington Senators, Hayes for the 1944 A’s, Mueller for the 1944 Reds)
FCR -    Mark DeLodovico, Rockville, MD      @ 12:13:11 a.m.
            Len Levin, Providence, RI                  @ 12:17:12 a.m.
            Jack Sullivan, Louisville, KY              @ 12:19:50 a.m.
            Dick Adams, Ellicott City, MD           @ 12:23:03 a.m.
            Bill Deane, Cooperstown, NY            @ 12:27:10 a.m.
            Darrell Hanson, Altoona, IA               @ 12:32:22 a.m.
            Tom White, Houston, TX                   @ 12:33:39 a.m.
            Dave Serota, Kalamazoo, MI             @ 12:39:42 a.m.
            Al Blumkin, Brooklyn, NY                  @   1:39:52 a.m.
            Damian Begley, New York, NY          @   2:38:05 a.m.


WEEKLY THEME – Players whose last Major League home run came more than 22 years after their first.

Player            First HR            Off                     Last HR            Off                      Elapsed      Total
Aaron           23-Apr-1954       Vic Raschi           20-Jul-1976        Dick Drago             22y 88d       755
Cobb            23-Sep-1905      Cy Falkenberg      16-May-1928     Mel Harder             23y 236d     117
Franco          09-Apr-1983       Tippy Martinez     04-May-2007     Randy Johnson       24y 25d       173
Henderson     17-Sep-1979       Steve Comer        20-Jul-2003        Woody Williams      23y 307d     297
Mays            28-May-1951     Warren Spahn      17-Aug-1973      Don Gullett             22y 81d       660
McGuire        13-Aug-1884      Larry McKeon      25-Jul-1907       Ed Siever                22y 346d       45
Rose             03-May-1963     Ernie Broglio        06-Sep-1985       Derek Bothello        22y 119d     160
Staub            03-Jun-1963       Don Drysdale       22-Jun-1985       Jeff Reardon           22y 19d       292
Winfield        21-Jun-1973       Ken Forsch          27-Jul-1995        Tim Belcher            22y 36d       465
Yaz              09-May-1961     Jerry Casale         10-Sep-1983       Rick Sutcliffe          22y 124d     452

N.B.: Stan Musial missed joining this elite group by a mere seven days.

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one.


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