Horsehide Trivia: 2021-05-31 Modern catchers with no fewer than 25 stolen bases in a season

MONDAY —31-May

Q. Whose record for doubles by a catcher did Jonathan Lucroy break in 2014?

Hint: #1 He was the catcher for Kenny Rogers’ perfect game.

Hint: #2 Twelve years later, he and Rogers were the first teammates this century to form a starting battery in the All-Star Game.

Hint: #3 He is one of only three catcher to hit a triple in the All-Star game.

A. IVAN RODRIGUEZ [SABR Bio]

- Ans. I-Rod had hit 47 2B in 1996, but Lucroy, catching for MIL in 2014, hit 53 2B. (Lucroy never hit half that many in any other season.)

- #1 Rogers’ perfecto = 28-Jul-1994

- #2 2006 ASG. Both played for DET that year.

- #3 3B by Cs in ASG play = Rollie Hemsley in 1935, Gabby Hartnett in 1936 & I-Rod in 2004.

FCR - Justin Seibel, Irvine, California

Incorrect guesses: Gary Carter, Ernie Whitt, Jim Sundberg, Delino DeShields

TUESDAY —01-Jun

Q. Which ex-Pirate has led the National League in five times in plate appearances?

Hint: #1 He led the majors five times in being hit by a pitch.

Hint: #2 His son is an active major leaguer.

Hint:.#3 After his playing career, he went into the hospitality industry.

A. CRAIG BIGGIO [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Played for the Seton Hall Pirates in college. Led NL in PA in 1992, 95, 97-99. In 95 & 99 also led MLB.

- #1 Is 2^nd all-time in career HBP w/285. Leader Jennings has 287.

- #2 Son Cavan plays for TOR.

- #3 Biggio’s is a sports bar/restaurant located in (where else?) Houston featuring baseball-themed Tex-Mex comfort food.

FCR - Jason Winston, Riverside, California

Incorrect guesses: Juan Pierre

IN MEMORIAM —02-Jun

Q. Who was the first relief pitcher to win the Cy Young Award?

Hint: #1 He was born in Michigan, went to high school in Michigan, college in Michigan, got a PhD in Michigan and played his first game in the majors in Michigan for a team based in Michigan.

Hint: #2 He holds the American League record for most pitching appearances in a single season.

Hint: #3 He also holds the record for most pitching appearances in a major league season.

Hint: #4 No other pitcher has ever pitched more innings in relief in a single season.

Hint: #5 During his slightly more than two seasons with the Dodgers he pitched in exactly half of their games.

Hint: #6 His first game with the Dodgers was in the same game where Hank Aaron hit his 715^th career home run.

Hint: #7 He was famous for the same pitch favored by Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell.

Hint: #8 He spoke at the same SABR conference as Jim Bouton.

A. MIKE MARSHALL [Obit]

- Ans. CYA in 1974

- #1 B. in Adrian, MI, just over the border from Toledo, OH; Attended Adrian High School; Attended Michigan State University as an undergraduate, but where he also received his doctorate. Was signed by DET; and his 1^st G was 31-May-1967 at Tiger Stadium.

- #2 90 G for MIN in 1979 2 years before the end of his major league career.

- #3 An amazing 106 G in 1974 for LAD. No pitcher has come within 10 G in any season in the 46+ years since.

- #4 Pitched 208⅓ innings in 1974 w/o a GS.

- #5 Made 194 appearances over 388 G w/LAD 1974-76.

- #6 LAD Debut = 08-Apr-1974. He had 3 IP in relief of Al Downing.

- #7 He was handy with the screwball.

- #8 Address the gathered SABR crowd in 2006 in Seattle at SABR 36. Listen here.

FCR - Evan Thompson, Mesa

Incorrect guesses: Rich Gossage, Sparky Lyle, Bruce Sutter

WEDNESDAY —02-Jun

Q. Who was the first Pirates rookie to be named to the National League All-Star team?

Hint: #1 In the minors, he was the voted the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Hint: #2 His dad was something of a major league rarity.

Hint: #3 He once had a game with five hit in five at-bats, including two doubles, without scoring a run or batting in a teammate.

A. JASON KENDALL [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Was in the 1996 ASG, backing up Mike Piazza. Entered the game on defense in the bottom of the 9th.

- #1 Was MVP of the AA Southern League, playing for the Carolina Mudcats in 1995.

- #2 His father, Fred Kendall, caught for SPD for 10 seasons.

- #3 5-5 G = 03-May-1999

FCR - Mark Hayne, Dumfries, Virginia

Incorrect guesses: Barry Bonds, Jason Bay, Neil Walker

THURSDAY —03-Jun

Q. Which Hall of Fame catcher unfailingly sent letters and later made phone calls of congratulations to every catcher who caught a no-hitter until his death in 1970?

Hint: #1 Until Pudge Rodriguez, he was the only Hall of Fame catcher to receive a perfect regular-season game.

Hint: #2 Although he never won the award, four times he received Most Valuable Player votes, once finishing third.

A. RAY SCHALK [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Well admired during his playing days and perhaps even more so in the years after.

- #1 Caught Charlie Robertson’s perfecto 30-Apr-1922.

- #2 Got AL MVP votes in 1913, 1914, 1922 & 1925.

FCR - Walt Cherniak, Woodbine, Maryland

Incorrect guesses: Roger Bresnahan, Jay Clarke, Al Lopez, Ernie Lombardi, Gabby Hartnett

FRIDAY —04-Jun

Q. Which catcher, in just his second major league game, knocked out the opposing pitcher in a collision at the plate?

Hint: #1 When he took a year off to dominate another sport, his team did not reach the postseason for the first time in four seasons. When he returned and suited up for them a year later, they found themselves once again playing in October.

Hint: #2 Before his own major league debut, his brother had pitched for three National League teams.

A. JOHNNY KLING [SABR Bio]

- Ans. The rookie Cubs backstop knocked out Giants’ pitcher Win Mercer on 12-Sep-1900, the 1^st G of a double-header.

- #1 During the 1908-09 off-season, Kling won the world pocket billiards championship, and chose to retire from baseball to pursue a career as a pool shark. When he couldn’t equal his success the following year, he returned to the Cubs and they won the NL pennant, as they had in 1906, 07 & 08, winning the WS in 1907 & 08.

- #2 Brother Bill Kling had an undistinguished career, pitching for the Phillies, Orioles and Colonels.

FCR - Adam Foldes Alexandria, Virginia

Incorrect guesses: Walker Cooper, Rick Ferrell, Tom Haller, George Halas

SATURDAY —05-Jun

Q. Who ended Greg Minton's record streak of consecutive innings without surrendering a home run?

Hint: #1 Minton did not take it well.

Hint: #2 He (not Minton), in two different stints, managed the Senators.

A. JOHN STEARNS [SABR Bio]

- Ans. HR = 02-May-1982 8^th inning. Minton’s previous home run surrendered was to Joe Ferguson on 06-Sep-1978 5^th inning, 269⅓ innings previous. Minton broke the record of 247⅓ homerless innings set by Dale Murray 1974-6. Even longer homerless stretches of innings were seen in the deadball era when precious few HR were hit.

- #1 After the Stearns G, Minton said, “I thought about tackling him as he rounded 3^rd, but then I remembered that he’s strong and once played [college] football.”

- #2 Was manager of the AA Harrisburg Senators 2006, 08, 09.

FCR - Barry Nelson, Guilderland, New York

Incorrect guesses: Jonathan Lucroy, Steve Henderson

SUNDAY —06-Jun

Q. Which player’s son was the Phillies’ third-base coach in 2019?

Hint: #1 He was ejected from major league games as a player, manager and coach.

Hint: #2 He is the last to qualify for this week’s theme.

A. JOHN WATHAN [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Wathan’s son Dusty Wathan has been PHI’s 3^rd-base coach 2018 to present.

- #1 Ejection data*

- As player:

Date Team Umpire Issue