2021-07-05 The last players to wear iconic uniform numbers subsequently retired for an earlier players

 MONDAY  —05-Jul

Q.  Who won the 1981 ALCS MVP?

Hint: #1    Though he won only two Gold Glove Awards, his career defensive WAR is fifth-best all-time for his position.

Hint: #2    He’s the last man to lead the league in homers with fewer than 35 in a full season.

A. GRAIG NETTLES  [SABR Bio]

-   Ans. He hit .500 with 9 RBIs in a 3-game NYY sweep over his former manager, Billy Martin, and the “Billy Ball” Oakland A’s.

-   #1   Nettles is 5^th all-time in career defensive WAR for third basemen with 21.4.  Nettles got his GGs in 1977 &’78, as well as national recognition for his stellar play at 3B during the 1978 WS.

-   #2   Nettles hit 32 homers to lead the AL in 1976.

FCR -  Tony Nicolo, Norfolk, Virginia

Incorrect guesses:  Tony Armas, Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Reggie Jackson

 

TUESDAY  —06-Jul

Q.  Which player finished first then second in the MVP voting in consecutive seasons, then signed with the team that knocked his team out of the playoffs both years?

Hint: #1    Though his new team was known for its jewelry, he played well for them for seven years yet never got a ring with them.

Hint: #2    There is no truth to the rumor that as a child his younger brother was afraid of slides.

A. JASON GIAMBI  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.      Giambi won the AL MVP in 2000, finished second to Ichiro in 2001 and in both years’ postseasons his A’s were knocked out of the playoffs by the NYY in the ALDS.

-   #1   Giambi signed with the Yankees in Dec. 2001, a season after their 26^th championship, and was granted free agency in Nov. 2008, a season before their 27^th championship.  With Giambi, NYY was 2-5 in postseason series, getting knocked out in the ALDS in 2002, 2005, 2006 & 2007.  (Giambi missed the 2004 postseason after being diagnosed with a tumor in July.)

-   #2   In Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS, his younger brother, Jeremy, infamously didn’t slide on a Terrence Long double to right and was tagged out at home by Jorge Posada.  A slide would’ve tied the score, 1-1.  The play reads: RF-SS-C.  No amount of research has been able to uncover just who this unsung SS is.

FCR -  Quentin Wittrock, Coon Rapids, Minnesota

Incorrect guesses:  Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs, Terry Pendleton, Don Baylor

 

WEDNESDAY  —07-Jul

Q. Who started two All-Star Games in his rookie season then never appeared in another one in his fifteen-year career?

Hint: #1    He was born in Oxford but moved to Albany and declined a scholarship to play at Cal.

Hint: #2    He played in the majors two seasons before his rookie year.

A. RON HANSEN  [SABR Bio]

-   Ans.     During his rookie season with the Orioles, he was selected for both Midsummer Classics, on 11-Jul- and 13-Jul-1960, the starting SS in both games.  He went 1-2 and 2-4 but the NL won both G.  His MLB career was 1958-72.

-   #1   B. 05-Apr-1938 in Oxford, Nebraska, a burg of barely more than 1,000 souls at the time.  At 2 years of age moved with his family to Albany, California, a town just north of Berkeley.  Signed with BAL before the 1956 season as an amateur free agent instead of attending college.

-   #2   Played in each of 1958 & 1959, 12 & 2 G respectively, keeping his rookie status.

FCR -  Michael Temple, Chicago

Incorrect guesses:  Billy Moran, Norm Cash, Mark Fidrych, Bill Monbouquette, Tommy Davis

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —07-Jul

Q.  Which one-time Colorado Rockies player was the first National League switch-hitter with 200 career home runs?

Hint: #1    He and a teammate both went 30/30 in the same season.

Hint: #2    In his first five seasons, he won a World Series ring while playing for each of two different teams.

A. HOWARD JOHNSON  [SABR Bio]

-   Ans.     Johnson finished with 228 HR (209 in the NL), 168 from the left side and 60 from the right.  Spent the penultimate season of his 14-year career COL.

-   #1   IN 1987, playing for NYM Johnson hit 36 HR & had 32 SB.  Teammate Darryl Strawberry hit 39 HR & had 36 SB.  Johnson went 30-30 three times: in 1987, 1989 and 1991.

-   #2   He played on the championship-winning 1984 Tigers (he went 0-1 in the postseason) and 1986 Mets (0-7).

FCR -  Brian Miner, Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Incorrect guesses:  Andres Galarraga, Larry Walker, Ellis Burks, Tim Raines, Lance Berkman

 

THURSDAY  —08-Jul

Q.  What one-time All-Star is from the home state of one U.S. president but was recently publicly hugged by a different U.S. president?

Hint: #1    He won a ring in the majors but also brought one with him to the Bigs.

Hint: #2    He was honored as the first-ever recipient of the Brooks Wallace Award.

A. KURT SUZUKI  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.     Suzuki was born and raised in Hawaii, Barack Obama’s native state.  When the 2019 WSN visited the White House after winning the World Series, Suzuki quickly put on a red “Make America Great Again” cap and was hugged awkwardly from behind by Donald Trump.  He was on the 2014 AL AS team.

-   #1   His defense and hitting were key in helping WSN to the top in 2019.  Was also the main catcher on the 2004 NCAA College World Series champions, Cal State Fullerton.

-   #2   The Brooks Wallace Award has been given annually since 2004. Until 2008 it was presented to the nation's most outstanding player.  In 2009 the recipient list was changed to include only shortstops.  It is named after former Texas Tech SS & assistant coach Brooks Wallace, who died of cancer in 1985 at the age of 27.

FCR -  Warren Kent, Whitehall, Michigan

Incorrect guesses:  Curtis Granderson

 

THURSDAY TWICE  —08-Jul

Q.  Who is the only player to hit for the cycle in a major league postseason game?

Hint: #1    He had hit for the cycle three years earlier in the regular season.

Hint: #2    Three times has he been nominated by his team for the coveted Roberto Clemente Award.

Hint: #3    Ya gotta love his nickname.

A. BROCK HOLT  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.     He racked up a cycle in G 3 of the 2018 ALDS against the NYY on 08-Oct-2018.  In his 6 AB that day, he went: groundout, single, triple, unassisted, ground-rule double, HR.  His team was already up by 3 before he got his first hit; after his last hit, they were up by 15.  The crowning blow was hit in the 9^th inning off a 79-mph fastball “hurled” by NYY backup catcher Austin Romine as his Sawks eked out a 16-1 W.

-   #1   His cycle  in the regular-season was on 16-June-2015 vs. ATL.

-   #2   Nominee representing BOS for the Clemente award in 2015, 2016 & 2018.

-   #3   His teammates called him “Brock Star”.

FCR -  Len Levin, Providence

Incorrect guesses:  Bob Watson, Darrell Evans, Dwight Evans, Orlando Hudson

 

THURSDAY THRICE  —08-Jul

Q.  Who holds the MLB record for most hits in an extra-inning game he did not start?

Hint: #1    He once pinch-hit for a future Hall of Famer in a World Series game.

Hint: #2    He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the NFL draft.

Hint: #3    Who was once picked by a Chicago newspaper as the second-best-looking major leaguer.

A. TOM PACIOREK  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.     On 08-May-1984, in a game between the CHW & MIL, Paciorek replaced Ron Kittle in left field in the 4^th inning.  The game lasted 25 innings and Paciorek was 5-9.

-   #1   PH for Don Sutton in the 1974 WS, G 5, 6^th inning.

-   #2   Was picked in the 9^th round of the 1968 NFL draft, 240^th overall, having played as a defensive back at the University of Houston.

-   #3   Finished behind Jim Palmer.

FCR -  Nary a soul

Incorrect guesses:  Bill Lee, Jake Long, Don Hahn, Mark Grace, Keith Hernandez

 

FRIDAY  —09-Jul

Q.  Whose first appearance in the Majors came in relief of a pitcher who was making the second-to-last appearance of his Hall of Fame career?

Hint: #1    Although never on the same team in the majors, he and Tom Seaver played for the same Hall of Fame coach.

Hint: #2    After baseball cut short by injuries, he became well-known as a creator of miniature lead military figures.

Ans.     RAY LAMB  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.     Lamb’s 1^st G was for LAD against STL on 01-Aug-1969.  He relieved future HOF Don Drysdale in the B3^rd after only 2+ innings of work.  The first batter he faced, future HOF Joe Torre, doubled to drive in 2.

-   #1   He and Seaver were teammates in 1965 at the University of Southern California playing for coach Rod Dedeaux who, upon his retirement, was the winningest baseball coach in NCAA history. Dedeaux was enshrined into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

-   #2   Lamb’s work became famous in the fantasy role-playing game market.  Reviewers gave his works high praise, using phrases like “excellent detail”, “excellent pieces” & “truly gorgeous”.  Writing in Dragon magazine, reviewer Kim Eastland called Lamb “…one of the world's greatest miniature sculptors.”

FCR -  Randall Reilly, Madison, Wisconsin

Incorrect guesses:  Curt Schilling

 

T.G.I.F. BONUS  —09-Jul

Q.  Which Rookie of the Year winner racked up a decent 4.5 WAR in his initial season but had a cumulative 4.4 WAR when he retired?

Hint: #1    He broke the American League rookie record for stolen bases, but never held it himself.

Hint: #2    He coached for three major league teams after his playing days.

A. PAT LISTACH  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.     After a disappointing 6-year career, Listach called it quits, never achieving  either his rookie numbers or his potential, owing principally to injuries.

-   #1   He broke Donie Bush’s American League rookie stolen base record in 1992 but did it the same season Kenny Lofton—the same Kenny Lofton he had beat out for ROY.

-   #2   Listach coached from 2009-2014 for WSN, CHI & HOU,

FCR -  Philip Trostler, Norwich Connecticut

Incorrect guesses:  Rich Coggins, Lou Whitaker

 

SATURDAY  —10-Jul

Q.  Which one-time Tiger was the first New York Yankee position player to wear uniform number thirteen?

Hint: #1    Originally signed by the Cleveland Indians as a catcher.

Hint: #2    In his first season in the majors, he hit more doubles than singles.

Hint: #3    On his first professional team, he convinced the manager that he could pitch and was given a starting assignment.  The result was historic.

Hint: #4    No other player with his last name has ever made it to the majors.

A. CLIFF MAPES  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.     Outfielder Mapes wore #13 for NYY in 1948.  Pitchers Spud Chandler (1937) and Lee Stine (1938) preceded Mapes as #13s for NYY.

-   #1   CLE moved him to the outfield.  He debuted in the majors w/NYY who used him in 29 of his 53 G that year, as a pinch-hitter.

-   #2   In 1948, Mapes hit 11 doubles and only 9 singles, making him one of only eleven players to ever have more doubles than singles (Min 90 PA)

-   #3   Pitching for the Flint Gems in 1940, Mapes surrendered HR to each of the 1^st five (!) batters he faced in his only pitching assignment.  Amazingly, manager Jack Knight allowed to complete 3 innings.

-   #4   Mapes is of Welsh origin.

FCR -  Joe Haardt, McLean, Virginia

Incorrect guesses:  Spud Chandler, Curt Blefary, Mike Pagliarulo, Frank Crosetti, Duke Sims, John Wockenfuss, Torey Lovullo, Mike Egan, Bill Tuttle, Jim Leyritz, Lee Stine

 

WEEKEND BONUS  —10-Jul

Q.  Which future San Francisco Giant was drafted by one Chicago team only to be drafted by the other Chicago team the following year?

Hint: #1    He finished behind Roberto Alomar in the Rookie of the Year voting.

Hint: #2    He once hit a three-run World Series home run off the previous World Series’ MVP.

A. DAMON BERRYHILL  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.     Berryhill was drafted by the CHW in the 13^th round of the 1983 MLB January Draft-Regular Phase and didn’t sign to play college ball for another year.  Drafted by CHC in the 1^st round (4^th overall) of the 1984 MLB January Draft-Regular Phase, he signed and became a pro.  He finished his career w/SFG.

-   #1   NL ROY voting in 1988 saw CIN’s Chris Sabo selected for the award.  SDP’s Alomar finished 5^th w/Berryhill tied for 6^th.

-   #2   His WS HR was courtesy of TOR’s HOF Jack Morris in the 6^th inning of G 1 of the 1992 WS.  ATL won the game, 3-1, but lost the series in 6.

FCR -  Greg Gits, Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Kevin Maas, Mark Grace

 

SUNDAY  —11-Jul

Q.  Who gave up Johnny Bench’s first career home run during his own major league debut?

Hint: #1    He has three Topps rookie cards, each four years apart.

Hint: #2    He never played in the Federal League, but he did join The Feds.

A. JIM BRITTON  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.     The G on 20-Sep-1967 was Bench’s 22^nd in the majors.  Britton started & pitched 5⅓ innings that day, gave up 6 ER & took the L.

-   #1   In the 1964 Braves rookie card, #94, Britton is paired with Larry Maxie.  In the 1968 Braves rookie card, #76, Britton is paired with Ron Reed.  In 1972, a card of Braves “Rookie Stars”, ‘Jimmy’ Britton, is pictured with Tom House & Rick Kester on card #351, but it’s a different Jim Britton, a relief pitcher who never made out of the minors.

-   #2   After his baseball career, Britton served as a special agent with the FBI.

FCR -  Stephen Wright, Naperville, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Larry Colton, Tom Seaver

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – The last players to wear iconic uniform numbers subsequently retired for an earlier players.

 

Berryhill wore No. 8 for the CIN (1995) which was retired for Joe Morgan in 1998.  7 players wore No. 8 after Morgan.

 

Britton wore No. 41 for the ATL (1967) which was retired for Eddie Mathews in 1969. Only Britton wore 41 after Mathews.

 

Giambi wore No. 25 for the CLE (2013-2014), which was retired for Jim Thome on August 18, 2018.  Two players wore 25 after Thome.

 

Hansen wore No. 4 for the CHW (1963-1969), which was retired for Luke Appling in 1975.  Five got #4 after Appling.

 

Holt wore No. 26 for the BOS (2013-2015), which was retired for Wade Boggs on 26‑May‑2016.  13 (!) guys wore No. 26 after Boggs.

 

Johnson wore No. 5 for the DET (1982), which was retired for Hank Greenberg in 1983.  Again, 13 players wore No. 5 after the first Hammerin’ Hank.

 

Lamb wore No. 42 for the LAD (1969), which was retired for Jackie Robinson in 1972. Only Lamb wore this iconic number after Jackie.

 

Listach wore No. 4 for the MIL (1996), which was retired for Paul Molitor in 1999.  Only Listach wore No. 4 after Molitor.

 

Mapes wore No. 3 for the NYY (1948), which was retired for Babe Ruth that same year. 7 guys wore it after Ruth.  (Mapes not only wore Ruth’s 3 and Mantle’s 7 for the Yankees, but Hank Greenberg’s No. 5 for the Tigers.  More on Mapes here.)

 

Nettles wore No. 9 for the NYY (1973-1983), which was retired for Roger Maris on 21‑Jul‑1984.  Four guys wore 9 after Maris.

 

Paciorek wore No. 53 for the LAD (1970), which was retired for Don Drysdale in 1973. Paciorek and Drysdale are the only guys to wear 53 for the Dodgers.

 

Suzuki wore No. 24 for the OAK (2008), which was retired for Rickey Henderson in 2009.  6 guys wore No. 24 after Rickey.

 

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Warren Kent, Whitehall, Michigan (after Lamb)

 

Seattle’s Erik Lundegaard came up with the idea and research for this week’s questions and theme.

 

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Monday  -  Former Yankees to play for the Alaska Goldpanners of the Alaska Baseball League

 

Tuesday -  Players who are products of the California State University system

               -  Older brother who homered in the same game as his younger brother

 

Wed        -  Yankee first basemen

               -  Yankees who had brothers that played in the Majors

 

Sat          -  Players who wore 42 before it was retired for Jackie Robinson

               -  Players who wore numbers if Hall of Famers before they were retired

               -  Players who swiped retired numbers of Hall of Famers

 

Sunday   -  Players who wore numbers retired for other players

 

 

Why were such iconic numbers given out to subsequent players? I’d divide the reasoning into the following categories:

 

Phase 1: Wait, we’re supposed to retire numbers?

This is the big one.  The first jersey number to be retired was Lou Gehrig’s #4 in 1939, because he was dying of ALS and subsequent retirements were often tinged with tragedy.  (Fred Hutchinson, Reds; Jim Umbricht, Astros.)  Retiring a number to honor the player for his on-field achievements didn’t really become a thing until the 1970s.  Prior to that, only 16 numbers for 10 teams had been retired.  In the 1970s alone, 28 numbers were retired.  Even then some teams were slow to adopt.  The Tigers didn’t retire a number until 1980 (Al Kaline), the Cubs until 1982 (Ernie Banks) and the Red Sox until 1984 (Ted Williams, Joe Cronin).  But the tardiest of the original 16 teams was the Athletics, who didn’t get around to retiring a number until 1991 (Jim “Catfish” Hunter).  Currently, the only franchise without a retired number (besides Jackie’s) is the Miami Marlins.

 

Phase 2: Oops. Hey, give that number back.

These seem merely mistakes by clubhouse managers—often at the end of a season.  A minor-leaguer would be promoted in September, probably with many others, and the clubhouse manager would hand him an iconic one before realizing his error and asking for it back.  This is how Ray Lamb wound up wearing Jackie Robinson’s #42 in the fall of 1969.  Bill Plaschke of The LA Times wrote about the mix-up in 2019.  At that point, the Dodgers hadn’t retired any numbers, and the organization was focused on creating its own identity in LA rather than the Brooklyn “Dem Bums” one.  Even so, clubhouse manager Nobe Kawano asked for it back, knowing it would be retired.  Oddly, a year later, the same thing happened when Tom Paciorek was given the #53 of Don Drysdale, who had just retired.  The error seemed to have been realized sooner by the Braves organization when Jim Britton got Eddie Mathews’ #41 in the fall of 1967.  Britton wore two numbers for the Braves that season (41, 42) but only pitched two games.

 

Phase 3: That jerk? Oh, we’re never retiring his number. … Oops.

Is that the thinking that went on with management when certain franchise players spurned them for greener pastures—or pinstripes?  After 11 seasons with the Red Sox, for example, Wade Boggs signed with the Yankees in Dec. 1992 and two years later Wes Chamberlain was wearing his old #26.  According to the Hartford Courant back then, Chamberlain didn’t ask for #26, he just got it from clubhouse manager Joe Cochrane.  Then, in a fit of passive-aggressiveness, the team let just about anyone wear it—13 players in 20 years is some kind of record—before taking it away from Brock Holt so it could finally be retired for Boggs in 2016.  For the Brewers, apparently, it wasn’t that Paul Molitor left them for more money and a ring in Toronto in 1992; it’s that after this dalliance he signed with Minnesota rather than back with Milwaukee.  The following spring, the Brewers then gave Molitor’s #4 to non-roster invitee Wes Weger, who didn’t even make the team.  Listach only got it after asking for Molitor’s permission.  “He plays hard and respects the game,” Molitor said of Listach. “I’m flattered he wants to wear my number.”

 

Phase 3, Part 2: This guy’s not good enough to … Oops.

I assume this is a lot of the more recent examples: Bert Blyleven with the Twins, Ron Santo with the Cubs, Willie Horton and the Tigers.  The player retired or left and everyone thought, “Sure, he was good, but not that good.”  Then, like Blyleven and Santo, he was a late addition to the Hall of Fame.  [Heh-heh, sorry.. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  ].  That said, the thin line between “not good enough” and “this reprobate?” can be treacherous to navigate.”  Example: How did the Rangers not know in 2003 that Ivan Rodriguez’ number should be retired?  But there they went, giving it to any Mark (DeRosa), David (Murphy) or DeLino (DeShields).

 

Overall, most teams are pretty bad at realizing their legacy in real time.  The Cubs let other players wear Ron Santo’s 10, Billy Williams’ 26 and Fergie Jenkins’ 31.  Along with the Jackie Robinson and Don Drysdale snafus, the Dodgers loaned out Pee Wee Reese’s 1 (to 4 guys), Duke Snider’s 4 (three), and Roy Campanella’s 39 (three).  One team proficient at recognizing its legacy, though, is the Baltimore Orioles.  They’ve retired five numbers (5, 8, 20, 22, 33), and no one wore those numbers after the honorees did (Brooks, Cal, Frank, Jim, Eddie).

 

For those interested in a deeper dive yet, here’s each team’s retired numbers.  The bullet points indicate if the retired number was worn after the honoree.

 

~ Erik Lundegaard

 

 

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