26-Dec-2016 - 01-Jan-2017 Questions most often answered incorrectly in 2016

MONDAY

Q.        Who was the first Atlanta Brave to reach the 200 hit mark in a season?

Hint:     It was enough to lead the majors.

A.         FELIPE ALOU (18-Mar-2016)

- 218 H, 1966 - the year they moved to Atlanta from Milwaukee.

FCR -  Rich Klein, Plano, TX

Incorrect answers:  Ralph Garr, Ron Gant, Rico Carty, Matty Alou, Joe Torre, Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Dale Murphy

TUESDAY

Q.       Who is the only player to finish in the top 10 in the National League both batting average and home runs in the same season 12 times during his career?

Hint:     As a result, he is the only player to rank in the top 30 in career hits, singles, doubles, triples and home runs.

A.         STAN MUSIAL

FCR -  Dave Johnson, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Incorrect answers:  Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Albert Pujols, Larry Walker, Todd Helton, Johnny Mize, Roberto Clemente

WEDNESDAY

Q.       Which Newfie manqué played for the Royals before he played with the Cubs?

Hint:   Once, after hitting a home run, he slid into second base, cartwheeled to third base then crawled home.

A.         CHUCK CONNORS

- Parents had moved from Newfoundland shortly before he was born in the U.S.  Played for the 1945-46 NBL’s Rochester Royals.

- HR antics were in the PCL in 1952, playing for the AAA Los Angeles Angels.

FCR -  Stephan Bonfield, Calgary

Incorrect answers:  Jimmy Piersall, Willie Wilson, Bill Schuster, Stan Musial, Ben Zobrist, Frank Baker, Nap Lajoie

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.       What batter won a home run title the same year his strikeout total was in single digits?

Hint:   His franchise from sought greener pastures just a year after he managed the team.

A.       TOMMY HOLMES

- Hit 28 HR’s in 1945 and struck out exactly nine (9!) times.  Both marks paced the NL that season.

- Holmes was player/manager for part of 1951 and managed the team in 1952 but did not play.  Braves moved from Boston to Milwaukee in 1953

FCR -  Fred Brillhart, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Incorrect answers:  Lloyd Waner, Ted Williams, Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron

THURSDAY

Q.        Who was the first Giants player to achieve the pitching triple crown?

Hint:     He won 4 of the 6 games for the victorious Giants when they won their first postseason series.

A.         TIM KEEFE

- 1888 led NL with ERA 1.74, 35 Wins, and 335 K’s.

-The World Series prior to 1903 were exhibition games.  Still, the Giants beat the Cards 6-3 in 1889.

FCR – Scott Matteson, Shawnee, Kansas

Incorrect answers: Carl Hubbell, Christy Mathewson, Juan Marichal, Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner, Amos Rusie

FRIDAY

Q.       Who was the first bench coach in Diamondbacks history?

Hint:   He was the first manager for the Portland Sea Dogs.

Hint:   He never played pro ball and, in fact, was cut from his college team.

A.       CARLOS TOSCA

-     Diamondbacks bench coach 1998-2000 (Glenn Sherlock began at the same time as Tosca, but does not, of course, satisfy the hints.)

-     Portland Sea Dogs manager 1994-96

-     Joined & cut from University of South Florida team in 1975

FCR -  Gary Sarnoff, Alexandria, Virginia

Incorrect answers:  Robin Yount, Glenn Sherlock, Kevin Boles

SATURDAY

Q.        What future New York Yankee hit .401 for the San Francisco Seals in 1925?

Hint:     He was not born in the United States.

A.         PAUL WANER

- Played for NYY in 1944 & 1945; averaged .378 over his three seasons with Seals.

- Born in the Oklahoma Territory 16-Apr-1903, over 4 years before Oklahoma was granted statehood 16-Nov-1907.

FCR -  Richard Tharp, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Incorrect answers:  George Sisler, Tony Lazzeri, George Selkirk, Joe DiMaggio, Lefty O’Doul

NEW YEAR’S BONUS

Q.        Who was the first native of Canada to be selected to a National League All-Star team?

Hint:     He had double-unique status for a decade.

A.         GOODY ROSEN

- All-Star team in 1945.  Game not played due to World War II.

- The majors had never seen another Goody or another Rosen.  He was therefore “Double Unique”* for almost exactly 10 years until Al Rosen’s debut.

FCR -  Steve Berman, Bergenfield, New Jersey

Incorrect answers:  Fergie Jenkins, Claude Raymond, Larry Walker, George Selkirk, Tip O’Neill

SUNDAY

Q.        Who is credited with inventing the pregame clubhouse meeting?

Hint:     His obituary had these words, "He did not allow the platitudes of the multitudes to turn his head".

A. BUCK EWING

FCR -  Jeff Kallman, Las Vegas

Incorrect answers:  John McGraw, Bill Terry, Connie Mack, Bucky Harris

WEEKLY THEME – Select Horsehide Trivia questions most often answered incorrectly by our readers in 2016.  (This week was scant improvement.)

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – [null set]

Questions archived here:  http://horsehidetriviA.       blogspot.com/

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

* "Double unique" is a silly thing I came up with 20 years ago, inspired by a colleague at work.  Having been cursed with a brutally pedestrian name, I have long been fascinated with those whose monikers make them immediately recognizable. A former colleague of mine named Theda Wamboldt got me thinking about people who don’t really need a last name because their first name is unique, at least in certain circles. But what if their last name is unique too?!  And what if they could easily be identified by either name?  They are Double Unique.

This list uses the names found in the SABR database and on www.baseball-reference.com.  If the spelling differs, e.g., MacPhee and McPhee, they are counted as separate and eligible for the list.  Additions or edits are always welcome.

Much work remains to be done, including the 2016 edits, but here is the list:  Double Uniques.  Pay particular attention to the second tab.

P.S.  Ms. Theda has gotten married since those days.  Her new last name?  You guessed it… Smith!

~ Bruce Brown