Monday, June 25, 2018

2018-06-18 Members of both the Hall of Fame AND the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame


Q.        Who followed his father into the majors as a right-handed, switch-hitting second baseman?
Hint:     He once finished third for a batting title only because two of his teammates finished ahead of him.
Hint:     He once won Gold Gloves in the same three straight years that his double play partner also won Gold Gloves at shortstop.
A.         ROBERTO ALOMAR  [SABR Bio]
-  Sandy Alomar, Sr. was also BBTR 2b.
-  1993 AL batting race ended = John Olerud .363, Paul Molitor .332, Robby .326
-  With CLE 1999-2001 teamed with Omar Vizquel for GGs.  (Robby’s last, not Omar’s)
FCR -  Sarah Grynpas, Toronto
Incorrect guesses:  Bret Boone, Maury Wills

TUESDAY
Q.        Who is the only Rookie-of-the-Year-Award winner who never played any position other than shortstop for his entire career?
Hint:     He led his league in stolen bases for his first nine (9!) seasons in the majors.
Hint:     For five of those seasons, he led the majors!
Hint:     He won Gold Gloves for two different teams.
A.         LUIS APARICIO  [SABR Bio]
-  AL ROY 1956; 2,599 G.
-  Led in SB 1956-1964
-  Won 7 GGs playing for CHW.  Won 2 playing for BAL.
FCR -  Sarah Grynpas, Toronto
Incorrect guesses:  Bret Boone, Maury Wills, Ozzie Guillen, Omar Vizquel, Gary Templeton

TUESDAY BONUS
Q.        Since the end of the Korean War, who is the only pitcher to throw a full-game no-hitter against the New York Yankees?
Hint:     He led the league in ERA as a rookie and then seven years and two teams later, led the majors with an impressive 2.19.
Hint:     In his second season, he hit two doubles and followed that up with only one more in the rest of his twenty-plus-year career.
A.         HOYT WILHELM  [SABR Bio]
-  No-no = 20-Sep-1958.  Wilhelm had been with the O’s less than a month.  The lineup of the losing team that day careers containing 3 Hall of Famers, 8 MVP awards,17 Gold Gloves, 73 All-Star appearances and the losing P was Don Larsen.  Korean War armistice signed 27-Jul-1953.  [Note the use of the singular in the question.]
-  ERA of 2.43 in 1952 .  He finished 2nd in the ROY voting, behind Joe Black and 4th in the MVP voting.
-  Two 2b in 1953 and a final one in 1966.
FCR -  Larry Hayes, San Francisco
Incorrect guesses:  Catfish Hunter, Bob Feller

WEDNESDAY
Q.        Who is the only major leaguer to hit 50 doubles in a season 1954 to 1976 inclusive?
Hint:     His last name is the 27th most common in the U.S., but 1st among those enshrined of the Hall of Fame.
Hint:     He played for 5 teams and managed 5 teams.
Hint:     He serves currently as Honorary President of the American League.
A.         FRANK ROBINSON  [SABR Bio]
-   51 doubles in 1962 for CIN
-   Robinsons in the Hall:  Brooks, Frank, Jackie & Wilbert (Actually tied for 1st w/Johnson & Williams)
-   Played for CIN, BAL, LAD, CAL & CLE.  Managed CLE, SFG, BAL, MON & WSN.
FCR -  Bill Deane, Cooperstown
Incorrect guesses:  Hank Aaron, Dusty Baker, Dick Williams, Mickey Mantle

MIDWEEK BONUS
Q.        Who is the only pitcher to walk as a batter twice with the bases loaded in a World Series game?
Hint:     He is the only Hall of Fame pitcher who homered in the big leagues as a teenager.
Hint:     He surrendered Gorman Thomas’ first major league home run.
A.         JIM PALMER  [SABR Bio]
-  2 bases loaded BB = 11-Oct-1971
-  Teenage HR = 16-May-1965, 19 years, 7 months, 1 day old
FCR -  Charles Riordan, Bethesda
Incorrect guesses:  Catfish Hunter, Lefty Gomez, Don Sutton

THURSDAY
Q.        Who was the first Mets first baseman to drive in 100 runs in a season?
Hint:     For 20 consecutive years his RBI production in the majors never dropped below 75 in any season.
Hint:     He was the first Cleveland Indian to DH in a World Series game.
A.         EDDIE MURRAY
-  100 RBI in 1993 for NYM
-  75+ RBI 1977-1996
-  DH’ed for CLE in the 1995 WS, 1st time in G 3, 24-Oct
FCR -  Naftali Greenwood, Kiryat, Arba, Israel
Incorrect guesses:  John Olerud, Gil Hodges, Carlos Delgado, Keith Hernandez

FRIDAY
Q.        Which member of the 3,000-hit club required the most career at-bats to join?
Hint:     He was the first shortstop in American League history to hit 30 home runs, bat .300 and have 100 RBI in a season.
Hint:     Had a full-scale basketball court in his home and regularly dunked on opponents. (recently sold to Orioles outfielder Adad Jones)
A.         CAL RIPKEN  [SABR Bio]
-  3,000th came in his 10,804th AB
-  In his 2nd MVP season of 1991, he had 34 HR, 114, RBI and hit .323.  Also led the majors with 368 total bases.
FCR -  Charles Riordan, Bethesda
Incorrect guesses:  A-Rod, Robin Yount, Dave Winfield, Barry Larkin, Derek Jeter

SATURDAY
Q.        Whose two-toned statue is seen as you approach one of America’s favorite ballparks?
Hint:     He was inducted to the Hall of Fame on the same day as a fellow native of his home state who played the same position and for the same team and during the same years.
Hint:     He twice led the majors in games played during the regular season with 163.
A.         BROOKS ROBINSON  [SABR Bio]
-  Statue across the street from Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
-  In HOF 1983 w/George Kell who shared 3rd base duties w/BAL 1956 & 57.  Both were born in Arkansas—Brooks in Little Rock, Kell in Swifton.
-  Played 163 G in 1961, tied with Rocky Colavito then 1964, tied w/Leo Cardenas & Leon Wagner
FCR -  Phillip Ross, Denver
Incorrect guesses:  Willie Mays, Billy Williams, Ernie Banks, Maury Wills

SUNDAY
Q.        Who managed the team that had the first ever sweep in American League Championship Series play?
Hint:     The Sporting News named him Manager of the Year twice in the next decade.
Hint:     He explained his success that year and in subsequent years with, “My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like ‘C’mon!,’ ‘Get hold of one!’ or ‘Let’s go!.’”
Hint:     Pitchers managed by him collected a total of twenty-two 20-game winning season during his time as their manager.
A.         EARL WEAVER  [SABR Bio]
-  BAL swept MIN in 1969 ALCS.
-  TSN MOY in 1977 & 79.
FCR -  Scott Matteson, Shawnee, Kansas
Incorrect guesses: 

WEEK’S FINAL QUESTION
Q.     Why do   Vladimir Guerrero
Whitey Herzog,
Reggie Jackson,
George Kell,
Tim Raines,
Robin Roberts,
Jim Thome and
Dick Williams
not qualify for this week’s theme?
Hint:     Some of them might qualify one day.  Reggie has no chance.
FCR -  R.D. Lerner, Silver Spring, Maryland
Incorrect guesses: 


WEEKLY THEME – Members of the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame who are also enshrined in Cooperstown

Name              HOF         B’more HOF
Alomar.................. 2013......... 2011
Aparicio................ 1984......... 1982
Murray.................. 2003......... 1999
Palmer.................. 1990......... 1986
Ripken.................. 2007......... 2003
Robinson, B......... 1983......... 1977
Robinson, F......... 1982......... 1977
Weaver................. 1996......... 1983
Wilhelm................ 1985......... 2002
Note:  We missed Lee McPhail, who proudly occupies spots on both lists.

First Correct Respondent to Identify ThemeR.D. Lerner, Silver Spring, Maryland

Incorrect theme guesses:

Monday  -  AL Gold Glove winners who had the most at their position.
               -  HOF’ers who failed to run out what turned out to be a game and ALDS ending double play.

Tuesday -  Players whose fathers managed in the Latin American winter leagues
               -  Players who won multiple Gold Gloves for multiple teams.
               -  Hall of Famers who played with the Orioles but went in the Hall representing a different team

Wed        -  Players who hit a HR is first MLB at bat.

Sunday   -  Oriole Players whose jerseys have been retired and or Oriole Hall of Famers










Sunday, June 17, 2018

2018-06-11 All-Star players selected in a draft round later than 10th


Q.        Who is the only pitcher to throw more no-hitters in the majors than did Sandy Koufax?
Hint:     He also played in more seasons in the majors than did Rickey Henderson.
Hint:     He also gave up fewer hits per 9 innings than any pitcher in major league history.
A.         NOLAN RYAN  [SABR Bio]
-     7 no-hitters to Koufax’ already-amazing 4
-     27 big-league seasons to Henderson’s absurdly-long 25
-     6.56 hits per 9 innings pitched.  Clayton Kershaw was once headed toward this mark, but has been trending down (up) since the end of 2016.
FCR -  Samuel Bass, Decatur, GA
Incorrect guesses:  Randy Johnson, Walter Johnson

TUESDAY
Q.        Who is the only major league All-Star ever born in Washington state’s second-most populous city?
Hint:     He was the only 2nd-baseman to hit 30 home runs in consecutive seasons in the 20th century.
Hint:     Roberto Alomar broke his record for the most Gold Glove awards won by a second baseman.
A.         RYNE SANDBERG

-  B. 18-Sep-1959 in Spokane (spoh-KANNꞋ), behind only Seattle in size
-  30 HR in 1989, 40 in 1990
-  Alomar won 10 GGs as compared to Sandberg’s amazing 9.
FCR -  Michael Green, Las Vegas
Incorrect guesses:  Jeff Kent, Bobby Doerr, Joe Gordon

WEDNESDAY
Q.        What former Wildcat passed Lee Smith to become the career MLB saves leader?
Hint:     Of all pitchers with 50 or more career saves, he ranks 3rd all-time with an 89% success ratio.
Hint:     Played his entire career with only one kidney and was the recipient of the Hutch Award.
A.         TREVOR HOFFMAN..[SABR Bio]
-  Passed Smith on 24-Sep-2006 w/479th career S.  Attended the U. of Arizona.
-  Ranking behind only Mariano Rivera and Joe Nathan in career S %.
-  Had a kidney removed at 6 weeks of age.  Hutch Award in 2004.
FCR -  Kellen Nielson, Blanding, Utah
Incorrect guesses:  Mariano Rivera

THURSDAY
Q.        Who owns the highest single-season batting average in the history of the Lost Angeles Dodgers?
Hint:     He beat John Smoltz by 40 rounds and Smoltz is a scratch golfer.
Hint:     LeBron may have copied him when he “took his talents…”.
A.         MIKE PIAZZA  [SABR Bio]
-  Hit .362 in 1997
-  Hall of Famer selected in the 62nd round, 40          rounds further back, for a Hall of Famer, than Smoltz who was taken in the 22nd round, the previous high.
-  Went from LAD and “took his talents to South Beach” (at least for 5 G).
FCR -  Sarah Grynpas, Toronto
Incorrect guesses:  Tommy Davis, Matt Kemp

FRIDAY
Q.        Who has won more Gold Gloves at first base than any other player?
Hint:     According to a bio in Sports Illustrated, his childhood and youth were a nightmare because his father pushed him so hard to succeed.
Hint:     Now he teams with Clyde (not the camel) to create the corniest TV commercials in the Tri-State Area.
A.         KEITH HERNANDEZ  [SABR Bio]
-  11 GG
-  Article by William Nack kin SI.  Others wrote.
-  TV ads for men’s hair product with Walt “Clyde” Frazier
FCR -  Jesse Asbury, Norman, Oklahoma
Incorrect guesses: 

FRIDAY BONUS
Q.        Who has the second-most Gold Gloves of any first baseman?
Hint:     His boss today supplanted him as the most popular player on his team.
Hint:     His once-popular restaurant finally closed its doors.
A.         DON MATTINGLY  [SABR Bio]
-  9 GG
-  Currently manager of MIA, partly owned by Derek Jeter
-  “23” closed 12 years ago this month
FCR -  Barry Nelson, Guilderland, New York
Incorrect guesses:  Wes Parker, Ryne Sandberg, George Scott

END-OF-THE-WORKWEEK BONUS
Q.        What future former Yankee lost a National League batting title when his manager benched him to protect his numbers, only to see Bill Madlock go 4-for-4 and take the title by 3 points?
Hint:     In high school, where a Cooperstown Hall of Famer was also an alum, baseball was his fourth-best sport.
Hint:     It was not uncommon for him to participate in a track meet and high school baseball game literally simultaneously.
Hint:     The 151st of his career 152 home runs was by far the most famous.
A.         KEN GRIFFEY  [SABR Bio]
-  1976 Griffey hit .336 to Madlock’s .339.  He never came close again.  Played for NYY 1982-86.
-  Stan Musial was a teammate at Donora High School.  Football, track and basketball were Griffey’s priorities.
-  In the 1st inning of the game on 14-Sep-1990 in SoCal, Griffey homered, knocking in the game’s first batter, Harold Reynolds.  The next batter was his son, Jr., who looked at 3 Kirk McKaskill balls before homering to deep left-center.
FCR -  Mark Hayne, Dumfries, Virginia
Incorrect guesses:  Rennie Stennett

SATURDAY
Q.        Who was the first future manager to be a member of the Baseball Digest All-Rookie Team?
Hint:     He was the first player in the now 45+-year-old history of his franchise to get 200 hits in a season.
Hint:     Led the league in plate appearances the same year he played every one of the 162 games on the schedule.  Never did either again in his 18 years as a player in the majors.
Hint:     Jack Morris gave him his 2,500th hit in the majors, but he was the 2,500th strikeout victim of Nolan Ryan.
A.         BUDDY BELL
-  2nd year the award was given, 1972, Bell made it for CLE.  Managed DET, COL & KCR 1996-2007.
-  200 H in 1979.  No Ranger or Senator (2.0) had done it before.
-  Same season had 200 H.
-  Ryan’s K #2,500 12-May-1978; H #2,500 off Morris, 04-Apr-1989 (Opening Day of Bell’s last season)
FCR -  Dan Silverberg, Aventura, Florida
Incorrect guesses:  Joe Torre, Paul Molitor, Lou Piniella, Toby Harrah, Robin Ventura, Dave Martinez

SUNDAY
Q.        What Big Apple native was the first Seattle Mariner to collect six hits in one game?
Hint:     The next season, he became the first 21st-century Mariner to hit a home run and steal home in the same game?
Hint:     He was the first out of the first triple play ever turned at Tropicana Field.
Hint:     His beautiful home in the northwest recently made news.
A.         RAUL IBANEZ
-  6 H = 22-Sep-2004 ; B. 02-Jun-1972 New York, NY
-  HR/SBH = 12-Sep-2005
-  TP  = 02-Sep-2006
-  Issaquah home for sale at $4.4 mil.
FCR -  John Burbridge, Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania
Incorrect guesses:  Dave Valle, Edgar Martinez

WEEK’S FINALE
Q.        Who won the Rookie of the Year Award the same season George Brett came in 3rd in ROY voting?
Hint:     He won the first game of the World Series and scored the winning run in the second game, contributing in his team’s first ever World Series championship.
Hint:     He was the first post-WWII National League right fielder to handle eleven fielding chances in one game.
Hint:     His father played in the Negro Leagues and was a teammate of Satchel Paige.
A.         BAKE McBRIDE  [SABR Bio]
-  1974 NL ROY; Brett was 3rd in AL ROY voting.
-  1980 WS
-  11 chances = 11-Sep-1978
-  “They called my father ‘Bake’.  I didn’t know why.  They started to call me Little Bake and it’s been Bake all my life,” he said.
FCR -  Mike Sparks, Sarasota
Incorrect guesses:  Gary Matthews


WEEKLY THEME – All-Stars originally drafted later than the 10th round.

Player             Year         Round        Pick*         MLB Yrs     Career WAR
Bell................. 1969......... 16th......... 15/375............. 18........... 66.3
Griffey............ 1969......... 29th......... 13/682............. 19........... 34.5
Hernandez..... 1971......... 42nd.......... 1/785............. 17........... 60.4
Hoffman......... 1989......... 11th......... 20/299............. 18........... 28.1
Ibanez............ 1991......... 54th......... 14/1,375.......... 19........... 20.4
Mattingly......... 1979......... 19th......... 20/473............. 14........... 42.4
McBride.......... 1970......... 37th........... 5/811............. 11........... 22.7
Piazza............ 1988......... 62nd.......... 2/1,390.......... 16........... 59.6
Ryan............... 1965......... 12th......... 20/295............. 27........... 81.8
Sandberg....... 1978......... 20th......... 20/511............. 16........... 68.0
*Pick number in that round/Overall pick in that draft

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one.

Incorrect theme guesses:

Monday  -  Starters whom began career as relief pitchers

Tuesday -  First ballot HOFers who played in both 80s and 90s
               -  Famous Ryne/Ryans