Sunday, August 31, 2014

August 25-31, 2014 Hall of Fame players who had more triples than doubles in a full season

This week's theme and (most of the) questions were submitted by reader Jim McCoy of Melrose, Mass.

MONDAY
Q.        Who was the first of three teammates to be mentioned in the 1910 poem "Baseball's Sad Lexicon" by Franklin Pierce Adams?
Hint:     Prior to the poem's publication, he was the starting shortstop on consecutive world championship teams.
Tint:  You wouldn't try to fine-tune his abilities as a tin-smith.
A.         JOE TINKER (The Poem; Starting SS on 1907 & 1908 CHC; "Tinker" is another name for a tin smith and also means to make small adjustments.)
FCR -  Art Springsteen, Sunapee, NH
Incorrect answers:  Sam Crawford, Frank Baker, Johnny Evers

TUESDAY
Q.        Who hit the first major league home run ever surrendered by Walter Johnson?
Hint:     He had more RBIs than teammate Ty Cobb for four consecutive seasons.
Hint:     His hometown was his nickname.
Twint:  He had the most at-bats in the first decade of the twentieth century.
A.         SAM CRAWFORD (HR 02-Aug-1907; RBI total's over Cobb 1912-15; B. Wahoo, NE; AB 1901‑10 = 5,670)
FCR -  Michael Newman, Fairfield, CT
Incorrect answers:  Frank Baker, Harry Heilman, Al Simmons

WEDNESDAY
Q.        Who was the second National Leaguer after Frank Chance to win a ring as a player/manager?
Hint:     He was a colonel before he was a captain.
Twint:  He was a player/manager longer than anyone in history.
A.         FRED CLARKE (Won the 1909 WS [John McGraw did not play in the 1905 WS.]; Louisville Colonels before being known as "The Captain"; Player/manager for 19 yrs. from 1897 to 1915 [only managed in 1912] w/1,602 W, 18th all-time)
FCR -  Cappy Gagnon, South Bend, IN
Incorrect answers:  Frankie Frisch, Earle Combs, Pee Wee Reese, Lou Boudreau, Joe Tinker, Gabby Street

MIDWEEK BONUS
Q.        At 6'3", whose imposing presence was the primary inspiration for the New York Gothams first being referred to as the Giants?
Hint:     He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee after years of lobbying by HOF umpire Bill Klem.
Twint:  It was his record for career home runs that Babe Ruth broke.
A.         ROGER CONNOR ("Giants" first used in 1885; HOF 1976; 138 HR)
FCR -  Richard Nicholson, Richmond, VA
Incorrect answers:  King Kelly, High Pockets Kelly, George Kelly, Jim Mutrie, John Montgomery Ward

THURSDAY
Q.        Of whom did the major leagues' winningest manager say, "He was the greatest second baseman who ever lived."?
Hint:     The second winningest manager in major league history added, "I doubt if anyone will dispute my selection of [him] as the greatest second baseman of all time."?
Hint:     MLB's seventh-winningest manager had a nice quote too:  "He was the greatest second baseman I had ever seen.  Plays which were difficult for even a finished infielder were made to seem easy."
Twint:  Quoth Bill James, "His was the most valuable career that any second baseman ever had."
A.         EDDIE COLLINS (Managers:  1st Connie Mack; 2nd John McGraw; 7th Bucky Harris)
FCR -  Fred Worth, Arkadelphia, AR
Incorrect answers:  Rogers Hornsby, Nap Lajoie, Johnny Evers, Sparky Anderson, Charlie Gehringer

FRIDAY
Q.        Who had the lowest American League-leading batting average before 1968?
Hint:     The season after that, he led the league in games, at-bats, runs, triples, and steals.
Twint:  Cleveland refused to trade him for the young Ty Cobb when Detroit offered.
A.         ELMER FLICK (.308 in 1905; Trade talks 1907)
FCR -  Rich Klein, Plano, TX
Incorrect answers:  Snuffy Stirnweiss, Vern Stephens, Carl Yastrzemski, Pete Runnels, Sam Crawford

END-OF-THE-WEEK BONUS
Q.        Whose record for RBI in a season by a switch-hitter did Mark Teixeira break in 2005?
Hint:     He is third all-time in stolen bases among shortstops, trailing only Honus Wagner and Bert Campaneris
Twint:  He was the first Hall of Famer to have appeared as a position player for the Cleveland Spiders, but entered the Hall as a New York Giant.
Twint:  Was he gorgeous?  You be the judge.
A.         GEORGE DAVIS (Teixeira had 144 w/TEX; 619 SB [Wagner 723, Campy 649]; HOF 1998; Was called "Gorgeous George".)
FCR -  Richard Tharp, Gaithersburg, MD
Incorrect answers:  Luis Aparicio, Frankie Frisch, Maury Wills, Ozzie Smith, Mickey Mantle

SATURDAY
Q.        Which Hall of Famer outfielder also played second base, third base and shortstop even though he threw left-handed?
Hint:     Although a Brooklyn native, the son of a horse-drawn trolley conductor, he came to prominence in Baltimore.
Hint:     He ended up playing for New York for what was then the highest salary in the history of the majors.
Twint:  Pete Rose tied one of his most cherished records.
Twint:  He still owns the record for the most hits in a season without hitting a home run.
A.         WILLIE KEELER (Made $10,000 in each of 1903 & 1904; Keeler & Rose share the NL record for longest hitting streak at 44; 1897 – 239 H & 0 HR)
FCR -  Rich Klein, Plano, TX
Incorrect answers:  Bobby Wallace, John McGraw, Babe Ruth, King Kelly

BOWIE BONUS
Q.        Who got 119 hits in a season where he only played in 83 games?
Hint:     It was in the Players League.
Hint:     He is credited with inventing the pregame clubhouse meeting.
Twint:  He was a wagon driver for Maddox & Hobart in Cincinnati, driving a team of four horses six days a week.
A.         BUCK EWING (1890)
FCR -  Fred Worth, Arkadelphia, AR
Incorrect answers:  Monte Ward, Joe Tinker, Frank Chance

WEEKEND BONUS
Q.        Who was the only player to collect a hit against Addie Joss in Joss's debut in the majors?
Hint:     He began his pro career as a pitcher, but won three batting titles in the Bigs.
Hint:     He is one of the few professional baseball players who has ever been a double slash.
Twint:  He coached the Holy Cross baseball team from 1917-20.
A.         JESSE BURKETT (Joss debut 26-Apr-1902 [With today's replay capabilities, this might have been rules a catch and Joss's game a no-hitter.]; Won batting titles .405 in 1895, .410 in 1896 and .376 in 1901; He was the owner/player/manager when he purchased the Worcester Busters in 1906, playing there until 1913 & managing until 1915.)
FCR -  Max Burgess, Houston, TX
Incorrect answers:  Napoleon Lajoie, Jimmie Foxx

SUNDAY
Q.        What former home run champion has held the career record for putouts by a second baseman for 125 years?
Hint      He had to be convinced multiple times that his future lay in playing ball and not in bookkeeping.
Hint:     He ranks impressively in the all-time top twenty among career triples hitters.
Twint:  His fielding prowess in his rookie season helped his team become the first champions of a new major league.
A.         BID McPHEE (Passed Jack Burdock with his 3,072nd PO in 1889.  His seemingly unbreakable record stands at 6,552; Ranks 11th in triples w/189; Rookie year 1882 with the Cincinnati Red Stockings of the newly formed American Association)
FCR -  Dave Serota, Kalamazoo, MI
Incorrect answers:  Eddie Collins, Jimmy Ryan, Roger Connor, Napoleon Lajoie, Rogers Hornsby

AND FINALLY…
Q.        Which Hall of Famer was given "Pass No. 1" by the National League, a free pass to any game he wished to attend?
Hint      His fielding ruse in 1870 led to the adoption of the infield fly rule.
Hint:     He once hit two home runs off a future Hall of Famer in a single inning.
Twint:  His brother was Harry, but they were both hairy.
A.         GEORGE WRIGHT (IFR adopted 15-Jun-1870; 2 HR off Candy Cummings 26-Jul-1873;  Brother Harry Wright)
FCR -  No one
Incorrect answers:  Cal McVey, Billy Hamilton, Bobby Lowe

WEEKLY THEME – Hall of Fame players who had more triples than doubles in a full season

Player         Year       2B      3B
Burkett        1900       11       15
                    1905       12       13

Clarke         1896       15       18

Collins         1916       14       17

Connor        1888       15       17

Crawford    1902*      18       22
                    1903*      23       25
                    1914*      22       26
                    1916       11       13

Davis          1893       22       27

Ewing          1883       11       13
                    1884       15       20
                    1892       10       15

Flick            1907*      15       18

Keeler         1899       12       13

McPhee      1890       16       22
                    1891       14       16

Tinker         1904       12       13

Wright         1874*      10       15

*Led the league in triples


First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one

Incorrect theme guesses:

Sunday      -     Players elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee

We archive our questions here:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/




Sunday, August 24, 2014

August 18-24, 2014 Most strikeouts by a pitcher in his first 100 career starts

MONDAY
Q.        Whose record for the most career American League no-hitters did Nolan Ryan break on 01-Jun-1975?
Hint:     When he set the new record, he broke a tie between two other Hall of Famers.
Twint:  He used to have a statue outside Jacobs Field.
A.         BOB FELLER (Ryan’s 4th, Feller had 3 (Cy Young and Addie Joss had two, including a perfect game for each); The statue remains, but Jacobs Field became Progressive Field in 2008
FCR -  David Eisenberg, Royal Palm Beach, FL
Incorrect answers:  Allie Reynolds, Randy Johnson, Virgil Trucks, Sandy Koufax, Cy Young, Lefty Grove

TUESDAY
Q.        Who was the first left-handed throwing pitcher to win the Rookie of the Year Award in either league?
Hint:     In his sophomore season, he had more strikeouts than did any other pitcher in a season in that decade.
Twint:  His broadcasting career lasted over four times longer than his playing career.
A.         HERB SCORE (1955 AL ROY; 263 K in 1956; Played 1955-1962 = 8 yrs, At the mic 1964-1997 = 34 yrs.)
FCR -  Kevin Johnson, Broken Arrow, OK
Incorrect answers:  Sam McDowell, Steve Carlton, Vida Blue, Whitey Ford, Gary Peters, John Matlack, Fernando Valenzuela

WEDNESDAY
Q.        What American League hurler had the most strikeouts in a season in the 1960s?
Hint:     Only Sandy Koufax had a better season in the majors in that span.
Hint:     After eleven years of service with his original team, including being an All-Star six times, he was traded for a future Hall of Famer.
Twint:  He got his nickname suddenly.
A.         SAM McDOWELL (325 K in 1965 [Koufax w/382 in ‘65]; Traded in 1971 for Gaylord Perry [& Frank Duffy]; Nickname “”Sudden Sam”)
FCR -  Neil Cohen, Brooklyn, NY
Incorrect answers:  Rick Wise, Whitey Ford, Wilbur Wood, Luis Tiant, Jim Lonborg, Dean Chance, Jim Kaat, Bob Feller, Mickey Lolich

MIDWEEK BONUS
Q.        What pitcher accumulated 1,248 strikeouts from 1980 through 1985, the most in the majors over that period?
Hint:     He never reached triple-digits in any other season of his twelve-year career.
Hint:     Four times was in the top ten in Cy Young Award voting, once finishing second.
Twint:  He once was suspended for five days for shoving umpire Steve Rippley, arguing a call that eventually went his way.
Twint:  He was the first Cincinnati Reds pitcher to surrender four home runs in a single inning.
A.         MARIO SOTO (Career 1977-88; 5-day suspension for actions in G 27-May-1984; 4 HR 29-Apr-1986, 4th inn. by Expos Andre Dawson, Hubie Brooks Tim Wallach & Mike Fitzgerald
FCR -  Richard Tharp, Gaithersburg, MD
Incorrect answers:  Fernando Valenzuela [1,032], Dave Stieb [980], Luis Tiant [146], Mike Scott [423]. Rick Reuschel [405], Len Barker [796], J.R. Richard [119], Nolan Ryan [1,174], Mark Langston [286], Steve Carlton [1,237], Bert Blyleven [793], Bret Saberhagen [258], Dennis Eckersley [635], Randy Johnson [0],

THURSDAY
Q.        Who was the first pitcher to collect 200 strikeouts in each of his first three seasons in the majors?
Hint:     He holds the record for most career balks in All-Star competition.
Twint:  He has a nephew in the 500 home run club.
A.         DWIGHT GOODEN (Ks 1984: 276, 1985: 268, 1986: 200; Gary Sheffield 509 HRs; AS balks 1986, 1988)
FCR -  Cappy Gagnon, South Bend, IN
Incorrect answers:  Clayton Kershaw, Stu Miller, Steve Carlton, Hideo Nomo, Tom Seaver

FRIDAY
Q.        Who is the only pitcher to throw no-hitters both before and after he was with the New York Mets, but not while?
Hint:     He is the only rookie to lead his league in strikeouts in the 1990s.
Twint:  He was the first to hit Ichiro Suzuki with a pitch in the majors.
A.         HIDEO NOMO (No-hitters 17-Sep-1996 & 04-Apr-2001, w/NYM 1998; 236 K in 1995; Ichiro HBP 02-May-2001)
FCR -  Rich  Klein, Plano, TX
Incorrect answers:  David Cone, Tom Seaver, Pedro Martinez

END-OF-THE-WEEK BONUS
Q.        Who, at the tender age of twenty, gave what many baseball historians consider the greatest single-game pitching performance of all time?
Hint:     His name became an unfortunate sentence for the opposing team.
Hint:     He still holds the record for most total strikeouts by a pitcher in consecutive games.
Twint:  He was the run-away winner for Rookie of the Year Award.
Twint:  He and Nolan Ryan each once came within one strikeout of having twice as many strikeouts as hits allowed in a season.
A.         KERRY WOOD ([06-May-1998, 9-inning, 1-hitter] 5th MLB start; Kerry Wood = "Carry wood" […your bats, back to the bat rack]; 1998 NL  ROY; BB/H ratio 1998 233/117, Nolan Ryan 1991 102/203)
FCR -  David Girdany, Somerset, PA
Incorrect answers:  Carl Spooner, Dwight Gooden, Bob Feller, Vida Blue, Addie Joss, Sandy Koufax, Clayton Kershaw, Early Wynn

SATURDAY
Q.        Against what hurler did Adam Dunn tie and then break the single-season record for strikeouts by a batter?
Hint:     He was drafted out of high school by the Yankees as compensation for their being unable to sign Tyrell Godwin.
Twint:  He and Kerry Wood accompanied Adam Greenberg to the Cubs' training room to watch over him after Greenberg suffered a concussion when he was hit in the back of the head with the first pitch he saw in the majors.
A.         MARK PRIOR (Dunn Ks 30-Sep-2004; Godwin; Greenberg story)
FCR -  No one
Incorrect answers:  Adam Wainwright, David Price, Tim Lincecum, Jaba Chamberlain, Stephen Strasburg

WEEKEND BONUS
Q.        What rookie pitcher, on a dare by his teammates, walked on his hands from the pitchers' mound to the centerfield fence, not faltering the whole way?
Hint:     He still regularly does standing back-flips in the clubhouse.
Twint:  Four years after leading his league in winning percentage, he led the league in losses.
A.         TIM LINCECUM (2008 18-5, .783, 2012 10-15)
FCR -  No one
Incorrect answers:  Jarrod Dyson, Rob Summers, Huston Street

SUNDAY
Q.        Who gave up smokeless tobacco after his Hall of Fame coach succumbed to its ravages?
Hint:     He was the subject of one of the most devastating benchings in recent memory.
Twint:  He started today and got a no-decision as Nats won.  (I was there!)
A.         STEPHEN STRASBURG (Tony Gwynn coached Strasburg at San Diego State.  Gwynn died from complications arising from cancer; Strasburg was taken out of the rotation at the end of the 2012 season; Today’s box:  http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_08_24_sfnmlb_wasmlb_1&mode=box
FCR -  Bill Carle, Lee’s Summit, MO
Incorrect answers:  Justin Mortenson, Mike Trout, Dan Uggla, Josh Beckett, Chuck Schilling


WEEKLY THEME – Most strikeouts by a pitcher in his first 100 career starts (top 10)

Lincecum        755
Gooden           749
Nomo              742
Prior                734
Wood               717
Score              716
McDowell        705
Feller               699
Strasburg        690
Soto                 688



First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Steve Bonfield, Calgary, AB

Incorrect theme guesses:

Tuesday
               -  20-game winning Indians pitchers who led the league with the most strikeouts but in different seasons that they led the league in strikeouts
               -  Cleveland Indian pitchers who led the league in strikeouts

Thursday - Youngest players to reach 500 strikeouts



We archive our questions here:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/



Monday, August 18, 2014

August 11-17, 2014 Questions supplied by the late Clem Comly

Clem Comly, our friend and colleague passed away recently.  Clem was a tireless researcher a dyed-in-the-wool Phillies fan, yet as kind a person as you’d ever want to know.  For years he forwarded to Horsehide Trivia interesting baseball facts that he had come across during his research.  Many were too esoteric even for our readers or didn’t fit in with any sort of theme.  However, to honor Clem and give your baseball brains a run for their money, this entire week will be comprised of questions he sent in. We’re not sure if he would be more pleased if you missed them than if you got them.

MONDAY
Q.         All three of the Alou brothers debuted with the Giants.  What other franchise did they also all play for at some point in their careers?
A.         Oakland A's (Felipe 1970-71, Matty 1972, Jesus 1974)
FCR -    Chuck Durante, Dover, DE
Incorrect answers:  NYY, PIT, SDP, MTL, STL, ATL, NYM, CHC, PHI, HOU

MONDAY EXTRA
Q.         Who was the last Philadelphia Athletic voted AL MVP?
A.         BOBBY SHANTZ (1952)
FCR -    Mark Kanter Portsmouth, RI
Incorrect answers:  Jimmie Foxx, Chuck Klein, Mickey Vernon, Lefty Grove, Al Simmons, Farris Fain, Eddie Collins

TUESDAY
Q.         Who started his career with a record 17 straight 11+ win seasons?
A.         DON SUTTON (1966-1982)
FCR -    Davan Mani, Sandy Springs, GA
Incorrect answers:  Greg Maddux, Tom Seaver, Walter Johnson, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Cy Young, Mel Harder, Mickey Lolich, Robin Roberts, Nolan Ryan

TUESDAY TUFFY
Q.         Name the three Hall of Famers who pitched for the Indians in the 1954 World Series.
A.         BOB LEMON, HAL NEWHOUSER, EARLY WYNN (Bob Feller did not pitch in that WS)
FCR -    Daniel Solzman, Louisville, KY
Incorrect answers:  Feller, Satchel Paige, Al Lopez, Hoyt Wilhelm, Sal Maglie, Mike Garcia

WEDNESDAY
Q.         From 1960-66 11 pitchers received Cy Young Award votes but only three pitched in the American League. Who were these three AL Cy Young Award vote recipients?
A.         WHITEY FORD (1961 winner), FRANK LARY (1961 3rd place finisher), DEAN CHANCE (1964 winner)
FCR -    Gene Rudzinski, Buffalo, NY
Incorrect answers:  Mudcat Grant, Jim Kaat, Jim Palmer, Jim Bunning, Camilio Pascual, Allie Reynolds, Dick Bosman, Ralph Terry, Luis Arroyo, Sam McDowell, Dick Radatz, Bo Belinsky, Milt Pappas, Jim Perry, Gary Peters, Wally Bunker, Bob Turley, Jim Lonborg, Chuck Estrada, Jim Bouton, Jim Monbouquette, Dave McNally

MIDWEEK BONUS
Q.         Charlie Manuel is the most recent person to manage both the Indians and Phillies. Name the three other men to manage both teams.
A.         STEVE O'NEILL(CLE 1936-37, PHI 1953-54), PAT CORRALES (CLE 1984-87, PHI 1982-83), TERRY FRANCONA (CLE 2013-14, PHI 1997-2000)
FCR -    Jim Lovelace, Kent, OH
Incorrect answers:  Frank Robinson, John McNamara, Jeff Torborg, Tris Speaker, Mike Hargrove, Jim Lefebvre, Joel Skinner, Bob Skinner, Eddie Sawyer, Gene Mauch, Jim Fregosi

THURSDAY
Q.         Which Brooklyn native played only a single game for the Dodgers, going 0-1 while hitting into a double play as a pinch-hitter for Carl Furillo on 01-May-1949?
A.         CHUCK CONNORS (Rifleman replaces Reading Rifle:  box
FCR -    Frank Workman, Lake Forest Park, WA
Incorrect answers:  Jack McKeon, Walt Alston, Johnny Berardino

THURSDAY THUNDER
Q.         Johnny Sain was one of the most famous pitching coaches in major league history. For which teams did he coach?  (You must get all of them for full credit.)
A.         1959 Athletics; 1961-63 Yankees; 1965-66 Twins; 1967-69 Tigers; 1970-75 White Sox; 1977, 85-86 Braves
FCR -    Terry Alan Martin, Carleton, MI
Incorrect answers:  Many

FRIDAY
Q.         Which four states are represented by teams in the Texas League?
OK (Tulsa Drillers), and
FCR -    Leonard Levin, Providence, RI
Incorrect answers:  New Mexico, Louisiana, Illinois, California, Kansas, Arizona

FRIDAY FRUSTRATOR
Q.         Who was the last pitcher to win at least 20% of his manager’s career games won (minimum 500 managerial wins)?
A.         JIM KAAT (112 of Sam Mele's 524 wins)
FCR -    No one
Incorrect answers:  Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Walter Johnson, Steve Carlton, Christy Mathewson, Jim Palmer, Christy Mathewson

SATURDAY
Q.         Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx and Ted Williams are the only 500 home run club members to pitch in the majors. FOUR (not three) other members of the 400 home run club have also pitched in the majors. Name them.
A.         JOSE CANSECO (29-May-1993)
FCR -    Victor Piacentile, Yorktown Heights, NY
Incorrect answers:  Dave Winfield, Jason Giambi, Rocky Colavito, Andre Dawson, Chipper Jones, Carl Yastrzemski, Bill Terry, Billy Williams, Eddie Mathews, Wade Boggs

SATURDAY NIGHT RECORDED
Q.         What Hall of Fame pitcher's only statistical "black ink" came when he led the American League in intentional bases-on-balls and games finished in 1952?
A.         SATCHEL PAIGE
FCR -    Cappy Gagnon, South Bend, In
Incorrect answers:  Hoyt Wilhelm, Whitey Ford, Bob Lemon, Bob Feller, Bobby Shantz, Early Wynn

SUNDAY
Q.         Which are the only teams to play a major league game in Hawaii?
A.         St. Louis Cardinals & San Diego Padres (19-Apr [1] & [2] and 20-Apr-1997)
FCR -    Bob Muse, San Diego, CA
Incorrect answers:  PIT, LAD, SFG

SUNDAY SURPRISE
Q.         Which three teammates had the most (total) career hits the last time they appeared together in the lineup?
A.         TY COBB, TRIS SPEAKER and EDDIE COLLINS (11,013 collective hits on 30-Aug-1928 [all three appeared in the game as unsuccessful pinch-hitters])
FCR -    Andrew Milner, Bryn Mawr, PA
Incorrect answers:  Yount, Molitor, Gantner, Pete Rose, Tony Perez & Dave Concepcion; Jeter, Alex Rodriguez &, Ichiro; Murray, Ripken & Palmeiro; Cobb, Speaker & Barry; Gwynn, Henderson & Magadan; Yount, Molitor & Dave Parker; Rose, Perez & Vinson; Rose, Perez & Morgan; Rose, Bowa& Schmidt

CLEM'S FAVORITE
Several years ago Clem told us that this was his favorite trivia question. We haven’t heard differently, so we conclude our memorial week with:
Q.         Who is the only player to appear in 100 games in a season at each of the four infield positions?
A.         DENIS MENKE (1b: 1971; 2b: 1968; 3b: 1972-73; SS: 1964, 66-67, 69-70)
FCR -    Bill Deane, Cooperstown, NY
Incorrect answers:  Jim Gantner, Rollie Zeider, Hubie Brooks, Cesar Tovar, Gil MacDougald, Honus Wagner, Pete Rose


WEEKLY THEME – Questions supplied by the late Clem Comly.


We archive our questions here:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/