Horsehide Trivia: November 25-December 1, 2013 Bulldog Alumni

MONDAY

Q. What MVP-winner won Gold Glove Awards for his play at third base with the Braves and Cardinals?

Hint: He was a candidate to replace Frank Robinson as manager of the Washington Nationals, but he withdrew himself from consideration.

Twint: He was the hitting coach for the Braves from 2002-2010.

A. Terry Pendleton (1991 MVP, GG 1987, 89 for STL & 1992 for ATL)

FCR - Matthew Repplinger, Denver, CO

Most common incorrect answers: Joe Torre, Ken Boyer

MONDAY EXTRA

Q. Which modern era pitcher has the highest career winning percentage with an amazing .7171?

Hint: He had the fewest number of innings pitched (253) for a starting pitcher who won a league MVP until Justin Verlander won the award with 251.

Hint: He holds the Yankee team record for single season ERA.

Twint: He doesn’t look like a potato.

A. Spud Chandler (Al Spaulding’s .7950 was prior to 1900; 1943 MVP; 1.64 ERA 1943; Spurgeon Ferdinand Chandler nickname “Spud”.

FCR - Don Harrison, Fairfield, CT

Most common incorrect answers: Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry, Roger Clemens, Bobby Shantz, Pedro Martinez, Mike Mussina

TUESDAY

Q. Who caught the final out of the 1969 World Series?

Hint: Gil Hodges successfully argued that this player was hit by a pitch, pointing to a black mark on the ball as proof.

Q: As a result, he scored the first run for the team in what proved to be a comeback from a 3-run deficit.

Twint: He also scored the go-ahead run on a Ron Swoboda double that would clinch the team’s first World Series championship.

A. Cleon Jones (box Game 5 1969 WS; Shoe-polish incident was controversial as the ball skipped into the dugout prior to Hodges emergence, prompting some to say that Gil Hodges had scuffed the ball. Replays were inconclusive.)

FCR - Christopher Bell, New York, NY

Most common incorrect answers: Ron Swoboda, Al Weiss, Tommy Agee, Ed Charles

IN MEMORIAM

Q. What former Blue Hose hurler made his major league debut in Yankee Stadium on Babe Ruth Day?

Hint: The encouraging letters he received from Connie Mack during recuperation from a near-lethal wound in Italy during World War II were what made him know he could make it to the majors.

Hint: It took him a year just to be able to walk again, but he began playing catch while still on crutches.

Hint: Even with all the other service men returning, he still signed a professional contract and promptly won the pitching Triple Crown in the South Atlantic League.

Twint: He was as famous for something a baseball did to him as what he ever did to a baseball.

A. Lou Brissie (Attended Presbyterian College, 28‑Sep‑1947, Ruth passed the following year; On Opening Day 1948 in Fenway Park, Ted Williams lined a pitch off the metal plate in Brissie’s leg. Concern by all ensued and although he won the game, Brissie spent the night in a Boston hospital.)

FCR - Tim Doherty, Los Angeles, CA

Most common incorrect answers: Bert Shepard, Monty Stratton

TUESDAY EXTRA

Q. Who broke Mariano Rivera’s record of being the quickest to reach 200 career saves?

Hint: He did it against the team’s dreaded rival—the New York Yankees.

Hint: He struck out Seth Smith to end the 2007 World Series.

Twint: Ever outspoken, he declared that Yasiel Puig’s making the All-Star team as a rookie was “a joke” and “and injustice”.

Twint: He commented on his current team’s struggles, saying, “I didn’t come here for this.”

A. Jonathon Papelbon (200^th save in 359^th appearance vs Moe needing 382; 07-Jun-2011; Game 4 2007 box; Smith K 28‑Oct-2007; Comments)

FCR - Jerry Miller, Thousand Oaks, CA

Most common incorrect answer: [None]

WEDNESDAY

Q. Who finished second to teammate Kevin Mitchell in the National League MVP voting?

Hint: That same year he lost the batting crown to Tony Gwynn by less than one point on the last day of the season after leading much of the year.

Hint: The outgoing message on his home answering machine begins, “The Thrill is gone… “

Addint: He was in the first class of players inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

A. Will Clark (1989 MVP vote; Gwynn went 3 for 4 to get to .3361 over Clark’s .3333; Nickname “Will the Thrill”; 2006 College HOF)

FCR - Charlie Vascellaro, Baltimore, MD

Most common incorrect answers: Jeff Kent, Matt Williams, Keith Hernandez

WEDNESDAY EXTRA

Q. Who played the most major league games in the 1990s?

Hint: He was the first Texas Rangers player to receive an hundred bases-on-balls in three consecutive seasons.

Hint: He was also the first to do it in two consecutive seasons. [NOT SO! Reader Clem Comly pointed out that the first two such Texas seasons are owned by Mike Hargrove 1977-78. Sorry to mislead.]

Addint: He should never be confused with Raffy Mercedez.

A. Rafael Palmeiro (1,526 G 1990-99; 100+ BB 2000-03)

FCR - Matt Adams, Mundelein, IL

Most common incorrect answers: Juan Gonzalez, Will Clark, Brian Downing

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q. Which pitcher was credited with winning the clinching game of the 2006 World Series?

Hint: He shouldered his team’s only team loss in that series.

Hint: His high school is just ten miles from the Reagan presidential library.

Hint: In a different World Series, he gave up a 12^th inning walk-off homer to Alex Gonzalez.

Addint: In his first two seasons with the Tigers, he led the league in hitting batters with pitches.

Addint: After the 2003 season, he was traded for Kevin Brown.

A. Jeff Weaver (STL over DET 4-1 2006 WS; Game 4 2003 WS; HBP 17 and 15 1999-2000; 2003 NYY trade Weaver plus cash and two players to the Dodgers for Brown)

FCR - Dave Washburn, Marietta, GA

Most common incorrect answers: Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright

THURSDAY

Q. Who started Game 7 of the 1986 World Series for the winning New York Mets?

Hint: He also won Game 4 after having lost the Series opener.

Hint: He the final post-season game in his National League career, a result that would lead to one of the most famous walk-off homers in World Series history.

Addint: He won the pitcher’s Gold Glove the year prior to Greg Maddux’s 13 consecutive-year GG streak.

A. Ron Darling (1986 WS stats; lost G7, 1988 NLCS that sent the Dodgers to the WS where Kirk Gibson hit the G1 walk off; GG 1989

FCR - Dave Washburn, Marietta, GA

Most common incorrect answers: Sid Fernandez, Dwight Gooden

THURSDAY EXTRA

Q. Who broke Rolando Arrojo’s record for pitching wins in a season?

Hint: Soul patch goatee.

Addint: He pitched the only no hitter in the history of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Addint: He faced the minimum of 27 batters when the one walk in the game was eliminated by a double play.

Addint: He was the 2008 American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player.

A. Matt Garza (Arrojo was tied with teammates Edwin Jackson and James Shields with 14 W for Devil Rays season record, Garza got 15 W in 2010; Beard; No-no 26-Jul-2010; 1998 Orlando Arrojo 14W, Garza 15W, Price 19W)

FCR - Jimmy Goggin, Williamsburg, VA

Most common incorrect answer: David Price

FRIDAY

Q. Who holds the Kansas City Royals career pitching record for strikeouts?

Hint: He also holds the team record for most consecutive scoreless inning in one season.

Hint: He was Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 1990.

Addint: No American League Rookie pitcher in the past 22 seasons has had a better ERA than his 2.76 ERA.

Addint: He was once pulled on opening day by his manager after pitching 6.2 innings of no-hit ball because the manager “had no interest in letting his pitcher throw too many pitches” that early in the season.

A. Kevin Appier (1458K; 33 scoreless in 1993, while Greinke split 38 over the 2008-9 season; Sporting News RPOY history; pulled by Bob Boone 25-Apr-1995 strike delayed opening day, 0 H, 2BB, 98 P)

FCR - Jim McCoy, Melrose, MA

Most common incorrect answers: Mark Gubicza (2^nd), Dennis Leonard (3^rd), Bret Saberhagen (4^th), Paul Splittorff (5^th)

FRIDAY EXTRA

Q. What BLTR giant was born in California’s city of mercy?

Hint: In separate years, he was drafted by the Giants, Yankees and Mariners.

Hint: He is in a starting rotation that features two Cy Young Award winners.

Addint: He was a Blue Devil before he was a pro.

A. Doug Fister (6’8”, b. Merced, California; SFG 49^th round in 2003 draft, NYY 6^th round in 2005 draft, SEA 7^th round in 2006 draft; 2013 DET teammates Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer; Merced College Blue Devils)

FCR - Mark Hayne, Dumfries, VA

Most common incorrect answers: Barry Zito, Madison Bumgarner, Cole Hamels

SATURDAY

Q. Who was the last pitcher to face Reggie Jackson in the majors?

Hint: He also threw the last pitch in Toronto's Exhibition Stadium.

Hint: Most people don’t know that he managed the White Sox.

Addint: K-Rod broke his record.

A. Bobby Thigpen (Jackson AB 04‑Oct‑1987 [Jackson singled.]; TO last P 28‑May‑1989 [Gave up a walk-off HR to George Bell in the 10^th.]; Manage the 2007 & 2008 Bristol White Sox of the rookie-class Appalachian League; Set the record for S in a season @ 57 in 1990, Francisco Rodriguez had 62 in 2008.)

FCR - Steve Schwartz, Chico, CA

Most common incorrect answers: Don Cooper, Ron Schueler

SATURDAY EXTRA

Q. Who set an opening day record when he was hit by pitches three times?

Hint: He was the first gaijin to hit a sayonara grand slam.

Hint: Ironically, he holds the record for the most home runs by someone who never hit a grand slam in the majors.

Addint: Although he’s not a pitcher, many Baltimoreans believe should be compared to Ray Sadecki and Doyle Alexander. What post-expansion player once left his mitt on the field between innings to share with his opposite number during a major-league game?

Hint: He was born in Kansas City because that’s where his father was employed at the time.

A. Glenn Davis (3 HPB 09‑Apr‑1990; Japanese League walk-off GS for the 1985 Hanshin Tigers; 190 MLB HR; Sadecki and Alexander on the bad side of lopsided trades—he underperformed for BAL, after being traded for Curt Schilling, Pete Harnisch and Steve Finley)

FCR - Larry Creeden, Boulder City, NV

Most common incorrect answers: Tuffy Rhodes, Randy Bass

WEEKEND BONUS

Q. What post-expansion player once left his mitt on the field between innings to share with his opposite number during a major-league game?

Hint: He was born in Kansas City because that’s where his father was employed at the time.

Addint: His only seasons with the Mets were impaired with labor difficulties.

A. David Segui (Shared equipment with Mark Grace in Canada 12‑Jul‑1995; Father Diego Segui, played for KCA 1962-65, 67; NYM 1994-95)

FCR - Richard Tharp, Gaithersburg, MD

Most common incorrect answers: John Mayberry Jr., Brian McRae

SUNDAY

Q. Who, with Sam Mertes, made the first duo of teammates in the 20^th century each to collect fifty stolen bases in the same season?

Hint: Lou Gehrig’s biographer called him "the greatest third baseman ever to wear a Giant uniform".

Hint: He served as a basketball coach at the Naval Academy.

Addint: He’s one of only six District of Columbia natives with 1,000 games in the major leagues.

A. Art Devlin (1905 Giants: Devlin had 59 SB, Mertes 52; Sportswriter Frank Graham with quote; Played football at Georgetown)

FCR - Bob Wilber, Spokane, WA

Most common incorrect answers: Fred Lindstrom, Buck Herzog

SUNDAY EXTRA

Q. What future member of the Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Fame was given a three-week tryout by the Senators without pay so he could retain his amateur status?

Hint: In the season immediately following his major league career, he won both the Canadian-American League's Most Valuable Player and Manager of the Year awards.

Hint: His ancestors were, among others, Basque.

Addint: He owned restaurants and clubs in Missouri’s largest metropolitan areas.

A. Frenchy Bordagaray (1931 Sacramento Senators; 1946 Trois-Rivieres Royals of the Class C Can‑Am League; He also had, as you might expect, French ancestry; Restaurateur in St. Louis and Kansas City)

FCR - Al Blumkin, Brooklyn, NY

Most common incorrect answers: Sal Maglie, Rusty Staub

WEEKLY THEME – Selected Bulldog alumni

Appier Fresno State

Chandler Georgia

Clark Mississippi State

Darling Yale

Davis Georgia

Devlin Georgetown

Bordagaray Fresno State

Garza Fresno State

Jones Alabama A & M