April 22-28, 2013 Pitchers leading the league in strikeouts with 100 more than the runner-up

MONDAY

Q.         Who threw out the honorary first pitch at Opening Day at Dodger Stadium this year?

Hint:     This Hall of Famer had try-outs with the Giants and Pirates but never played for either.

Hint:     He made a throwing error on the first batted ball he fielded in the majors.

Hint:     His next batter was a future fellow Hall of Famer.  He walked.

Twint:    He became dominant on the mound after taking the advice of a teammate to slow his pitches down.

Twint:    He is the youngest person ever elected to the Hall of Fame.

A.         Sandy Koufax (2013 pitch; Debut game error 24-Jun-1955; Walked Henry Aaron; Pitching advice came from catcher Norm Sherry; Age at HOF election :36 yrs 20 days)

FCR -    Chuck Durante, Dover, DE

TUESDAY

Q.         Who was the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter after his fortieth birthday?

Hint:     It was a perfect game.

Hint:     His 300^th victory was with the Giants and was a rain-shortened affair that probably shouldn’t have been played.

Twint:    His nickname was the result of a collision with a teammate.

A.         Randy Johnson (Perfecto 18‑May‑2004, 40 yrs 251 days old [N.B. Warren Spahn threw a no-hitter in 1961, 5 days after his 40th birthday.  Nolan Ryan then threw his last TWO no-hitters after he was 40.  Cy Young, however did it first in 1908.]  No idea where I got my original research.]; 300^th 04‑Jun‑2009; “You’re a big unit!” exclaimed collidee Tim Raines during BP in 1988.)

FCR -    Dan Gurrola, Torrance, CA

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who held the modern, single-season strikeout record for a record 61 years?

Hint:     He pitched for Orphans and Colonels alike.

Twint:    It was well known that he would leave games, in uniform, to chase fire engines.

A.         Rube Waddell (349 K in 1904, almost broken by Bob Feller w/348 in 1946, but broken by Sandy Koufax w/382 in 1965; Louisville Colonels in 1897 & 99, Chicago Orphans [Cubs] in 1901)

FCR -    R.J. Lesch, Adel, IA

THURSDAY

Q.         Who upstaged Rickey Henderson on the day Henderson declared himself the “greatest of all-time”?

Hint:     He is the only player to have his number retired by three different teams.

Twint:    In addition to his seven no-hitters, he also threw twelve one-hitters and eighteen two-hitters.

A.         Nolan Ryan (Pitched his record-extending 7^th no-hitter on 01-May-1991 when Henderson broke Lou Brock’s career stolen bases record; Uni #30 Angels, #34 Astros & Rangers)

FCR -    David Ramsden, Barcelona, Spain

FRIDAY

Q.         Who was only the second American League pitcher to start the All-Star Game and win that game's MVP honors?

Hint:     His career Adjusted ERA+ is the highest in history for a pitcher with over ten starts.

Hint:     Despite his small stature, he was called up to the majors partly because his older brother was doing well on the same team.

Hint:     The MLB television channel deemed his best season superior even to Walter Johnson’s best season.

Twint:    During one seven-year period, he led his league in ERA five times.

A.         Pedro Martinez (ASG 11‑Jul‑1999; Mariano Rivera with exactly 10 GS has an Adj. ERA+ of 205, easily eclipsing Martinez’ 154; Debut with LAD 24‑Sep‑1992, brother Ramon; “Baseball's Greatest Pitching Seasons: The Prime Nine Revisited”; ERA leader 1997, 99, 2000, 02 & 03)

FCR -    Bob Kimball, Washington, DC

SATURDAY

Q.         What pitcher led the National League in strikeouts for a record seven consecutive seasons?

Hint:     With zero wins in eight starts (twenty appearances) in the first four years of his career in the majors, he was an unlikely candidate for the Hall of Fame.  Yet there he is.

Hint:     His professional career began with the Prohibitionists.

Twint:    He was the first pitcher to win the Most Valuable Player Award in the National League.

A.         Dazzy Vance (K leader 1922-28;1912 York [PA] Prohibitionists; NL MVP 1924)

FCR -    Fred Worth, Arkadelphia, AR

SUNDAY

Q.         Who was the first pitcher to start five Opening Day games for the Houston Astros?

Hint      He struck out fifteen batters in his major league debut.

Twint:    Though his career was ended untimely, only Roy Oswalt and Nolan Ryan have more strikeouts for the Astros.

A.         J.R. Richard (Opening Day starts 1976-80; Debut 05‑Sep‑1971; Ryan’s Ks 1,866, Oswalt’s 1,593, Richard’s 1,493 in a 10-yr career)

FCR -    Bill Chuck, Brookline, MA

WEEKLY THEME – Pitchers leading the league in strikeouts with 100 more than the runner-up

Pitcher           Year     Team         Ks        Runner-up            Team             Ks          Diff

Johnson        1993     Mariners    308       Mark Langston     Angels           196        112

                     1999     D’Backs    364       Kevin Brown         Dodgers        221        143

                     2000     D’Backs    347       Chan Ho Park       Dodgers        217        130

Koufax          1965     Dodgers    382       Bob Veale            Pirates           276        106

Martinez         1999     Red Sox    313       Chuck Finley        Angels           200        213

J.R. Richard   1979     Astros       313       Steve Carlton       Phillies           213        100

Ryan              1973     Angels      383       Bert Blyleven        Twins             258        125

                     1974     Angels      367       Bert Blyleven        Twins             249        118

Vance            1924     Robins      262       Burleigh Grimes    Robins           135        127

Waddell         1903     A’s            302       Bill Donovan        Tigers            187        115

                     1904     A’s            349       Jack Chesbro       Highlanders    239        110

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/

Horsehide Trivia home page:  https://sites.google.com/site/tnfotobbpics/home/horsehide-trivia

April 15-21, 2013 A line-up of [mostly] alternating, opposite-hand (BLTR/BRTL) players

MONDAY

Q.         Who was the Oakland A’s leadoff batter during the Loma Prieta World Series?

Hint:     He hits home runs and stole bases in four consecutive decades.

Twint:    For my money, he was the greatest of all time (if not, perhaps, the most self-effacing)

A.         Rickey Henderson (1989 Earthquake WS; SB & HR in the 1970s, 80s, 90s & 2000s)

FCR -    Joe Thompson, Splendora, TX

TUESDAY

Q.         Who received the most votes in the first-ever Hall of Fame ballot?

Hint:     He and Vice-President Richard Nixon presided over the first major league game held at Candlestick Park.

Twint:    He was the first batter Babe Ruth struck out in 1921.

Twint:    It was one of only two Ruth would get that season.

A.         Ty Cobb (222 votes, Ruth & Wagner each had 215; Candlestick debut 12-Apr-1960; Ruth’s K 13‑Jun‑1921)

FCR -    Kevin Warren, Briarcliff Manor, NY

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who is credited with receiving the first-ever intentional bases-on-balls?

Hint:     He is the only player in major league history to hit for the cycle and pitch in the same game.

Hint:     He attended both Boston College and Holy Cross.

Twint:    He was accused of leading a revolt against Cap Anson.

A.         Jimmy Ryan (IBB 1896; Cycle 28‑Jul‑1888)

FCR -    Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who is the most recent player to lead the junior circuit in batting for four consecutive seasons?

Hint:     He is one of two Hall of Famers to player in the longest professional baseball game in history.

Twint:    He is the only major league batting champ to lose the International League batting title on the last game of one season and win the title on the last day of the following season.

A.         Wade Boggs (AL batting champ 1985-88; Long game 23‑Jun‑1981; IL 1980, 81)

FCR -    Judah Kaplan, Teaneck, NJ

THURSDAY

Q.         Whom does Bill James rate behind only Rogers Hornsby as baseball’s greatest second baseman?

Hint:     Ironically, no other member of the 3,000-hit club has fewer doubles.

Hint:     He spent a lot of time there on defense, however, more than anyone else ever.

Twint:    He started his career under the name of Sullivan in order to maintain his college eligibility.

Twint:    He is the longest-tenured general manager in Red Sox history.

A.         Eddie Collins (438 2b; 2,650 G at 2B; BOS GM 25‑Feb‑1933 to 29‑Sep-1947)

FCR -    Edward Pappas, Rochester Hills, MI

FRIDAY

Q.         Who was the first player to have eighty pinch-hit at-bats in a season?

Hint:     He is the only player with 500 hits with each of four teams.

Hint:     He is the only player ever traded for Jesus Alou.

Twint:    He was fined when he refused to play following the assassination of presidential candidate Robert Kennedy.

A.         Rusty Staub (81 PH AB in 1983)

FCR -    Glenn Horowitz, New York, NY

END-OF-THE-WEEK BONUS

Q.         Who was the first player to collect 200 career stolen bases for the Yankees?

Hint:     He was the first alumnus of the Federal League to win a National League batting title.

Hint:     His middle name seems like a misnomer since he only had 57 in a fifteen-year career.

Twint:    Cy Young and Babe Ruth called him the best first baseman they ever saw play.

A.         Hal Chase (248 SB for NYY; NL batting title 1916, played in Buffalo of the Federal League for the Buffeds and Blues; Harold Homer Chase)

FCR -    R.J. Lesch, Adel, IA

SATURDAY

Q.         Who was the catcher on the first team to win a professional baseball championship?

Hint:     He played seven years in the majors, all but one for teams based in Philadelphia.

Hint:     He played for Philadelphia in three different leagues.

Twint:    He served in the Civil War in the same Company as Dick McBride.

A.         Fergy Malone (1871 Philadelphia Athletics; National Association Athletics, National League Athletics & Union Association Keystones)

FCR -    Michael Berry, Culver City, CA

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Who is the only pitcher with five consecutive seasons of 300 strikeouts?

Hint:     He didn’t have the first of them until his fourteenth professional season.

Hint:     He had fourteen seasons of 200 strikeouts and another seven seasons with over 100 strikeouts.

Twint:    He has more strikeouts than any lefthander in history.

Twint:    Clip

A.         Randy Johnson (300 K 1998-2002; Professional debut w/ the 1985 Jamestown, NY Expos; 4,875 K)

FCR -    Joe Thompson, Splendora, TX

SUNDAY

Q.         What former LCS MVP was fired from his position as a high school baseball coach only ten games into the 2013 season?

Hint:     In a previous job, his professionalism was called into question when he called a star player’s professionalism into question.

Hint:     Not that he was nasty; he was just speaking his mind.

Twint:    He is one of the few major league pitchers who can claim an Immaculate Inning.

A.         Rob Dibble (1990 NLCS MVP w/teammate Randy Myers, fired from Calabasas High School in Calabasas, CA 27‑Mar‑2013; In the majors, he was known as one of the “Nasty Boys”;  In August 2010, he Dibble criticized Washington Nationals rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg for missing a start due to an injury: "Suck it up, kid. This is your profession. You chose to be a baseball player. You can't have the cavalry come in and save your butt every time you feel a little stiff shoulder, sore elbow."

FCR -    Tim Phares, Laurel, MD

WEEKLY THEME – A line-up of alternating, opposite-hand (BLTR/BRTL) players

Player          Pos.     Bats  Throws

Henderson    LF        R       L

Cobb           CF        L       R

Ryan            SS        R       L

Boggs          3b        L       R

Collins          2b        L       R

Staub           RF        L       R

Chase          1b        R       L

Malone         C          L       R

Johnson       SP        R       L

Dibble          RP        L       R

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme –

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

April 8-14, 2013 Players who appeared in 500 Major League games without ever coming to bat

MONDAY

Q.         Who was the last Orioles pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in a season in which the O’s went to the World Series?

Hint:     He lost his first five and last four decisions, going 167-134 in-between.

Hint:     He coined the term “Horn,” after teammate Sam Horn, for striking out six times in a game.

Hint:     Seven strikeouts, he insists, should be called a “Horn-a-Plenty”.

Hint:     He had the most starts in the American League from 1977-87, even though he suffered a severe knee injury and torn Achilles tendon during that span.

Twint:    He was one of four Orioles pitchers to combine on a no-hitter.

A.         Mike Flanagan (1979 AL CYA; “Horn” debut 29‑Jul‑1991 Sports Illustrated; combined w- Bob Milacki, Mark Williamson & Gregg Olson on 13‑Jul‑1991)

FCR -    Walt Cherniak, Highland, MD

TUESDAY

Q.         Who was the first left-handed pitcher to earn 20 saves in a season for the Orioles?

Hint:     He was the only pitcher to earn 100 saves for the Orioles from 1976-85.

Hint:     His only postseason victory sent the Orioles to their last World Series appearance.

Twint:    He is the only Orioles pitcher to earn more than one save in a World Series.

A.         Tippy Martinez (21 SV in 1983; 104 SV from 76-85; W 1983 ALCS Game 4; 2 SV in 1983 WS)

FCR -    Mark Lewers, Blacksburg, VA

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Which submariner surrendered Manny Ramirez’s 500^th career home run?

Hint:     He would pitch 44 more games before giving up another home run.

Hint:     He only faced 163 batters in those 44 games, an average of just 3.7 BF/G.

Hint:     He is the only right-handed pitcher to appear in 500 career games while facing fewer than four batters per game.

Twint:    He was one of the players featured in the book Moneyball.

A.         Chad Bradford (Manny’s 500^th 31-May-2008; Next HR surrendered 25-Sep-2008 to Curtis Granderson; 3.89 BF/G [2180 BFP in 561 G])

FCR -    Dick Adams, Ellicott City, MD

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who is the only American League pitcher to appear in 70 games for six straight seasons?

Hint:     The game that gave him the sixth consecutive 70-appearance season was Cal Ripken, Jr.'s final major league game.

Hint:     It was also the last game of the season—his last opportunity to achieve the record.

Hint:     His career in the majors spanned fourteen years and saw him in the uniform of six different teams.

Twint:    Dallas-born, he attended two different universities in Texas before his professional days.

Twint:    Actually achieved seven consecutive 70-appearance seasons and two more of 60 each following those.

A.         Buddy Groom (Streak 1996-2002; Cal’s final G 06‑Oct‑2001; Pitched for the Tigers, Marlins, A’s, Orioles, Yankees & D’Backs; Carl Albert State College & University of Mary Hardin-Baylor)

FCR -    Dave Pugh, Baltimore, MD

THURSDAY

Q.         Who was once on a pitching staff that included Jack McDowell, Kevin Brown and Erik Hanson?

Hint:     California born, he grew up in Hawaii, but attended a known surfing school on the mainland.  (…perhaps THE surfing school.)

Hint:     He currently shares the microphone with a teammate who once imitated him in a major league game.

Twint:    His Samoan ancestry may or may not have been instrumental in his choice of school.

Twint:    He is currently Special Assistant to the Executive Vice President & GM for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

A.         Mike Fetters (He, McDowell, Brown and Hanson pitched for Team USA in the 1985 Intercontinental Cup; B. 19‑Dec‑1964 Van Nuys, CA, attended Pepperdine University; Teammate on the field and in the booth: Mark Grace, who aped Fetters’ distinctive delivery.)

FCR -    Blake Sherry, Dublin, OH

FRIDAY

Q.         Who threw the infamous pitch that Mookie Wilson dribbled up the first base line?

Hint:     He has pitched in more games than any other player in Boston Red Sox history.

Twint:    Historians now agree that Schiraldi was probably more to blame for the game six loss.

A.         Bob Stanley (G6 1986 WS; 637G)

FCR -    Bill Carle, Lee’s Summit, MO

SATURDAY

Q.         Who is the only pitcher to win the Rolaids Relief Award playing for the Seattle Mariners?

Hint:     He probably wasn’t cheering for the Cardinals on Monday.

Twint:    In his only All-Star appearance, he gave up two earned runs in two-thirds of an inning.

A.         J.J. Putz (RR Award 2007; Alumnus of the University of Michigan, whose basketball team played the University of Louisville Cardinals for the NCAA championship on Monday night 08‑Apr‑2013.  On the previous Monday night 01‑Apr‑2013, his big league team, the Diamondbacks, faced the St. Louis Cardinals; ASG 2007)

FCR -    Paul Sekula, Arlington, VA

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         What former Governor crossed the picket lines in 1994?

Hint:     He led the American League in pitching appearances one season over a decade later.

Twint:    In 2003, he was inducted into the Austin Peay State University Athletics Hall of Fame.

A.         Jamie Walker (Austin Peay University’s mascot is the Governors, Walker played (or was willing to play) during the MLB work stoppage of 1994-95; AL G leader w/81 w/ the Orioles in 2007;

FCR -    Damian Begley, New York, NY

SUNDAY

Q.         Who surrendered Jim Thome’s first career home run?

Hint:     He is one of only two American University alumni to make the majors.

Hint:     In his first year with the Yankees, he pitched 27 consecutive scoreless innings during a streak of fourteen straight saves.

Twint:    In 1990, despite having a 1.98 ERA over 57 appearances and 13 wins, he did not receive a single vote for the Cy Young Award.

A.         Steve Farr (Thome HR 04‑Oct‑1991; Mark Smith is the other AU graduate; Streaks in 1991.)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York, NY

WEEKLY THEME – Players who appeared in 500 Major League games without ever coming to bat.

Player          MLB Gs

Bradford         561

Farr                509

Fetters            620

Flanagan        526

Groom            786

Martinez          546

Putz               517

Stanley*          637

Walker            545

*Did have a postseason at-bat in G 2 of the ’86 World Series.  He struck out.

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Gregg Gaylord, Chicago, IL

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

April 1-7, 2013 Catchers who caught a combined no-hitter

MONDAY

Q.         Which Tigers star broke the American League record for most home runs in a season by a catcher which had been shared by Yogi Berra and Gus Triandos?

Hint:     He only held the record for one season.

Hint:     From 1982-86, when the Tigers played the Rangers box scores often included the first three letters of his first name.

Hint:     He was a bodyguard for Tina Turner.

Twint:    He accounted for all three outs (K, GIDP) in the top of the first inning on 13-Apr-1984.

A.         Lance Parrish (32 HR in 1982, broke record of 30 held by Berra [1952] & Triandos [1958]; broken by Carlton Fisk in 1983; Larry Parrish played for TEX, so box scores frequently identified them as LarParrish & LanParrish)

FCR -    Jeff Bergida, Albany, NY

TUESDAY

Q.         Who was the first player to hit a home run in his first two World Series plate appearances?

Hint:     He had previously gone 1-20 in postseason play.

Hint:     His .211 batting average was the lowest average by a modern player who led the league in walks.

Twint:    Jimmy Wynn and Adam Dunn have since submarined his mark.

A.         Gene Tenace (2 HR in 1972 WS Game 1; 0-3 in 1971 ALCS, 1-17 in 1972 ALCS; .211 w-110 BB in 1974, Yank Robinson [118 BB .208 AVG in 1889] held the all-time record; Wynn [127 BB .207 AVG in 1976] & Dunn [105 BB .204 AVG in 2012] eclipsed Tenace and Robinson)

FCR -    Fred Worth, Arkadelphia, AR

TUESDAY TWICE

Q.         Who continued playing with a fractured and separated shoulder after colliding with Pete Rose, only to have his season later ended by a broken index finger?

Hint:     He was the Indians’ first-ever draft pick, chosen ahead of Johnny Bench in the inaugural June Free Agent Draft.

Hint:     He suffered a crushed disk in his neck while trying to break up a fight between Reggie Jackson and Bill North.

Twint:    He only played 19 games after tripping in a hole while running down the first base line in a spring training game.

Twint:    Why there was a hole on the first base line, only the groundskeeper knows.

A.         Ray Fosse (Rose collision in 1970 All-Star Game, broken finger 03-Sep-1970; 7^th pick in 1965 draft, Bench chosen 36^th; Jackson-North duel 05-Jun-1974; hole trip during 1978 spring training, on DL entire 1978 season, played 19 games in 1979 before retiring)

FCR -    Morris Buenemann, Florissant, MO

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Which top prospect was traded for Michael Pineda prior to the 2012 season?

Hint:     Although a catcher in the minors, he was projected to be primarily a designated hitter due to his defensive liabilities.

Hint:     After signing for a $2,000,000 bonus, the sides renegotiated the bonus down to $1,650,000 without disclosing their reasons.

Hint:     Although he struck out with the bases loaded in his first major league at-bat, he scored the go-ahead run that day in his team’s crucial victory.

Twint:    He was the first Mariners rookie to start as designated hitter on Opening Day.

A.         Jesus Montero (traded w- Hector Noesi for Pineda on 23-Jan-2012; debut 10-Sep-2011; OD DH start 28-Mar-2012)

FCR -    Elijah Kaplan, Teaneck, NJ

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who is the only major leaguer catcher to play 140 games in a season eight times?

Hint:     His father did it once.

Hint:     He is in fifth place on the career HBP list.

Twint:    He was the first Pirate to hit for the cycle at Three Rivers Stadium.

A.         Jason Kendall (140 G caught in 1997-98, 2000, 2002-06, 2008; Fred Kendall 146 G caught in 1976; 254 HBP; Pirate cycle 19-May-2000)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York, NY

THURSDAY

Q.         Who finally stuck in the majors when Tom Glavine insisted on using him as a personal catcher?

Hint:     He may be best-known for a headstand.

Hint:     His only American League hit was called “the longest single in the history of the Metrodome” by Kirby Puckett.

Twint:    He was named to the NL All-Star team in his rookie season after spending more than eight years toiling in the minors.

A.         Greg Olson (Glavine’s personal catcher; bowled over by Dan Gladden in the 3^rd inning 19‑Oct‑1991 of the 1991 WS; hit line drive off the top of the left field Plexiglas at Metrodome on 01-Jul-1989, held to a single when ball caromed directly to Chili Davis, holding him to a long single; Minors 1982-90)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York, NY

FRIDAY

Q.         Which Jewish player has appeared in the most Major League games?

Hint:     While sitting out during Yom Kippur he joked that he was “trying to atone for my poor first half.”

Hint:     He was the manager of the Israel National Baseball Team during the qualifying round of the 2012-13 WBC.

Hint:     The team did not advance.

Twint:    He was a high school teammate of Hall of Famer Brian Leetch.

A.         Brad Ausmus (1,971 ML games; Yom Kippur in 2001; Ausmus & Leetch teammates at Cheshire HS, Leetch elected to Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009)

FCR -    Rick Brody, Austin, TX

FRIDAY FREEBIE

Q.         Who was the last player to bat against Sandy Koufax?

Hint:     He led the York Revolution to back-to-back Atlantic League championships in 2010-11.

Hint:     He has been bench coach for Tom Trebelhorn and Davey Johnson.

Twint:    He helped save teammate Frank Robinson from drowning during Robinson’s Triple Crown season.

A.         Andy Etchebarren (GIDP vs. Koufax in 1966 WS Game 2; bench coach for Trebelhorn with 1987-88 Brewers & for Johnson with 1996-97 Orioles; Robinson pool incident 22‑Aug‑1966)

FCR -    Dave Raglin, McLean, VA

SATURDAY

Q.         Who was the first manager of the Atlantic League York Revolution?

Hint:     Before reaching the majors he was traded for Fred Lynn.

Hint:     He was just the third rookie catcher to win an American League fielding title.

Hint:     The prior two winners played for the same franchise.

Twint:    He is second only to Rick Dempsey in games caught for the Orioles.

Twint:    He hit a home run may be considered the "most ultimate" grand slam of all time, as he hit his home run on a full 3-2 count with 2 outs, the only time in major league history this has ever been recorded.

A.         Chris Hoiles (named Revolution manager for the 2007 season;  Lynn trade 31-Aug-1988; 819 G @ C for BAL, Dempsey 1,230; Clint Courtney [pre-relocation St. Louis Browns] won 1952 AL C fielding title, Johnny Oates won in 1972; GS HR 17‑May‑1996 off future teammate and battery mate Norm Charlton)

FCR -    Bill Lewers, McLean, VA

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Who was the first Major League manager of Armenian heritage?

Hint:     He insisted that his players call him “Skip Johnson.”

Hint:     A Chicago Cubs blog employs a writer who uses the moniker in honor of this former Cubs pilot.

Twint:    Nephews Chris & Scott Demetral played in the minors.

Twint:    He managed nephew Ted Demetral on the Greek team in the 2010 European Championship.

A.         Jim Essian (“Skip” has a weekly column on Cubs blog Hire Jim Essian!; Greek team)

FCR -    John Michael Pierobon, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

SUNDAY

Q.         Which player was arrested on the field for punching opposing manager Clark Griffith in the face during a brawl?

Hint:     All charges were later dropped and three years later, Griffith purchased him for the Senators.

Hint:     In his first year in the Pacific Coast League, he was hailed as the only catcher in America to play 100 games without allowing a passed ball.

Hint:     During his rookie season in the majors, his jaw was broken by a Joe Engel fastball.

Twint:    He was the only catcher on the 1916 Red Sox roster who did not play in the World Series that year.

A.         Sam Agnew (fight/arrest 30-Jun-1916; Purchase to Washington Jan‑1919; broken jaw 25‑Jul‑1913; 1916 WS)

FCR -    Steve Bonfield, Calgary, AB

SUNDAY SERMONIZER

Q.         Which player, immediately after leading the American League in fielding, was traded along with $60,000 and two other players for Wally Schang, Bullet Joe Bush and Amos Strunk?

Hint:     He never played for the team that acquired him and his contract was sold six months later.

Hint:     According to legend, he nearly lost an eye during a mugging in San Francisco the year before he reached the majors.

Twint:    Belying his nickname, he went 0-for-his-last-16 as a pinch-hitter.

A.         Pinch Thomas (led AL C in fielding 1917, traded to PHA 14‑Dec‑1917; Sold to CLE 01‑Jun‑1918; attacked by “toughs” in San Francisco in 1911)

FCR -    Damian Begley, New York, NY

WEEKLY THEME – Players who caught combined no-hitters

Catcher        Game              Pitchers                 Opponent

Thomas        23-Jun-1917     Babe Ruth               Senators

& Agnew                             Ernie Shore

Etchebarren  30-Apr-1967     Steve Barber           Tigers

                                          Stu Miller

Tenace         28-Sep-1975    Vida Blue                Angels

& Fosse                              Paul Abbott

                                          Paul Lindblad

Essian          28-Jul-1976      Blue Moon Odom    White Sox

                                          Francisco Barrios

Parrish         11-Apr-1990     Mark Langston        Angels

                                          Mike Witt

Hoiles          13-Jul-1991      Bob Milacki             A’s

                                          Mike Flanagan

                                          Mark Williamson

                                          Gregg Olson

Olson           11-Sep-1991    Kent Mercker           Padres

                                          Mark Wohlers

                                          Alejandro Pena

Kendall         12-Jul-1997      Francisco Cordova  Astros

                                          Ricardo Rincon

Ausmus        11-Jun-2003     Roy Oswalt             Yankees

                                          Peter Munro

                                          Kirk Saarloos

                                          Brad Lidge

                                          Octavio Dotel

                                          Billy Wagner

Montero       08-Jun-2012     Kevin Millwood        Dodgers

                                          Charlie Furbush

                                          Stephen Pryor

                                          Lucas Luetge

                                          Brandon League

                                          Tom Wilhelmson

Oddities:

1. The Ruth/Shore game was perfect after Ruth was ejected following a disputed first-batter walk.

2. In Etchebarren’s game, the Orioles actually lost to the Tigers.

3. Paul Lindblad was involved in both games in the 1970s.

4. There are two guys named Greg(g) Olson on this list.

5. In the game Mercker won, the loser Greg Harris pitched a complete game.

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Jeff Bergida, Albany, NY (after the Fosse 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