MONDAY 20-Sep
Q. Who was the first
number one overall draft pick to hit 500 career home runs?
Hint: #1 Only
he has hit a home run that stuck the warehouse beyond right field at Oriole Park
at Camden Yards on the fly.
Hint: #2 He
is the last player to lead the American League in home runs for three straight
years in the twentieth century.
A. KEN GRIFFEY, Jr. [SABR Bio]
- Ans. Drafted 1st pick, 1st
round 1987 MLB June Amateur Draft. Griffey hit his 500th on 20-June-2004. Alex Rodriguez, the only other overall #1
draft pick in the 500 HR Club, joined it during the 2007 season.
- #1 Warehouse HR during 1993 ASG HR Derby
- #2 Led AL in HR 1997 (56), 98 (56), 99 (48).
FCR - John Null,
Sugar Land, Texas
Incorrect guesses: Boog
Powell, Eddie Murray, Alex Rodriguez, Reggie Jackson, Mark McGwire, Harmon
Killebrew, Miguel Cabrera
TUESDAY 21-Sep
Q. Who is the only player to win his
league’s MVP playing a middle-infield position and later win it playing the
outfield?
Hint: #1 In his only World Series, he hit .414 with
an on-base percentage of .452, slugged .621, had eighteen total bases and an
OPS of 1.072 and yet was not the MVP of that Fall Classic.
Hint: #2 His brother owns an unbreakable major league
record.
A. ROBIN YOUNT [SABR Bio]
- Ans. AL MVP in 1982 at SS; AL MVP in 1989 playing CF.
- #1 Stats
were for him on the losing side of the 1982 Series where MIL fell to STL and the Cards’ catcher Darrell Porter was
voted MVP. (Porter slashed a rather pedestrian .286/.310/.464.)
- #2 His
brother, Larry Yount, P for HOU, was announced as a relief pitcher entering
the G to begin the 9th, injured himself warming up,
left and never saw MLB action again.
FCR - Thomas Hablitzel, Hudson, Ohio
Incorrect guesses: Billy Ripken, Dom DiMaggio, Joe DiMaggio
WEDNESDAY 22-Sep
Q. Who is the only player to be voted
All-Star Game MVP in consecutive years?
Hint: #1 He led his league in WAR in four of his
first five seasons.
Hint: #2 He is an avid amateur meteorologist.
A. MIKE TROUT [B-R Bio]
- #1 2012-13,
2015-16 Trout led the AL in WAR each year w/10.5, 8.9,
9.6 & 10.5 respectively.
- #2 Says
he’d like to like to pursue a career in the study of weather after his baseball
days. Listen here.
FCR - Joe O’Neill, London, Ontario
Incorrect
guesses: Dave Parker, Cal Ripken, Michael
Young
MIDWEEK BONUS 22-Sep
Q. After Cecil Cooper in 1980, who was the
next player to compile three 15+ game hitting streaks in the same season?
Hint: #1 He was the last player to bat .600 in an
American League postseason series (minimum 15 PA).
Hint: #2 His first and final games in the majors were
against the Oakland A’s.
A. ICHIRO SUZUKI [B-R Bio]
- Ans. In
his rookie MLB season,2001, Ichiro thrice strung together 15-G hitting streaks: 04-Apr thru 20-Apr (15); 22-Apr thru 18-May (23); & 03-Aug thru 24‑Aug (21).
- #1 He
hit .600 in the 2001 ALDS
- #2 Debut
= 02-Apr-2001; Swan song = 21-Mar-2019
FCR - Glenn Guzzo, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Incorrect
guesses: Paul Molitor, Fred Lynn, Rod
Carew, Wade Boggs
THURSDAY 23-Sep
Q. Of which one-time Baltimore Oriole did Hall
of Famer Frank Robinson say, “No pitcher can ever feel safe or comfortable
releasing the ball toward him. He
doesn't take a back seat to anyone I've ever seen play this game. Ever.”?
Hint: #1 A two-time All-Star pitcher claimed this: “I’m telling you,
the Devil himself would be afraid to pitch to that guy.”
Hint: #2 He missed joining the 40/40 club by one home
run.
A. VLADIMIR GUERRERO [SABR Bio]
- Ans. Robinson
managed him in Montreal 2002-03. Guerrero ended his
career with BAL in 2011.
- #1 Quote
is from Jose Mesa. More here.
- #2 In
2002 for MON, he had 40 SB & 39 HR.
FCR - Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois
Incorrect
guesses: Don Baylor, Davey Johnson, Boog
Powell, Bobby Bonds, Eddie Murray, Albert Belle, Reggie Jackson, Ichiro Suzuki,
Alfonso Soriano
FRIDAY 24-Sep
Q. Which one-time Tiger is the only player
to hit two home runs on Opening Day twice and do it in two separate decades?
Hint: #1 He shares an unfortunate distinction with
Roger Maris and Dale Murphy.
Hint: #2 He strode to the batter’s box accompanied by
the “Imperial March” (Darth Vader’s theme music).
Hint: #3 His nickname was George.
A. JUAN GONZALEZ [SABR Bio]
- Ans. OD HR
X 2 = 05-Apr-1993 & 02-Apr-2001. He
spent the 2000 season w/DET.
- #1 Maris,
Murphy & Gonzalez are the only qualifying players to receive exactly two
MVPs and not receive Hall of Fame enshrinement.
- #2 Vader’s
theme – listen here. Chuck
Morgan, Rangers’ EVP, PA voice and music czar since 1983 explained that, “Lord
Vader was always imposing strolling to the plate, finishing his career as the
Rangers’ all-time leader in homers, RBI and intimidation. It was perfect, because Juan was always very,
very bad news for the other team.”
- #3 Igor
is the Russian equivalent of George.
FCR - Michael Caragliano, Flushing, New York
Incorrect
guesses: George Bell, Barry Bonds, Kirk
Gibson
T.G.I.F.SPECIAL 24-Sep
Q. Who was the first major leaguer thrown
out stealing twice in an inning?
Hint: #1 He was the first manager to lead the
Colorado Rockies to the postseason.
Hint: #2 Craig Biggio broke his modern era record for
being hit by a pitch the most time in a career.
A. DON BAYLOR [SABR Bio]
- Ans. 2
CS in 9th inning 15-Jun-1974. CS 2B,
but safe on E4. Then stole 3B, then
thrown out trying to steal home. Baylor
was the 1st, but 2 CS in 1 inning has been done by 12 different players.
- #1 COL,
a Wild Card in 1995, fell to the eventual WS Champion ATL in the NLDS.
- #2 Baylor
ended with 267 HBP. Biggio ended at 285.
FCR - Adrian Fung, Toronto
Incorrect
guesses: Cling Hurdle, Eric Young
SATURDAY 25-Sep
Q. Who set a record of sorts in the All-Star
Game Home Run Derby by drilling, at one point in the first round thirteen home
runs on thirteen straight swings?
Hint: #1 The year he won his league’s MVP, he did not
lead in home runs, RBI, runs, hits double, triples, OPS+ or total bases.
Hint: #2 He broke Ty Cobb’s record for most total
bases in a single American League game.
A. JOSH HAMILTON [B-R Bio]
- Ans. Hamilton belted 28 HR
in the 2008 HRD opening round in Yankee Stadium, including 13
in 13 swings at 1 point; 7traveled at least 500 feet, including a 518-foot
blast off the back wall of the bleachers. His record for most in 1 round has been
eclipsed, but not his amazing string.
- #1 In
2010, he did however lead the AL & majors in batting average (.359),
slugging (.633), OPS (1.044) & WAR (8.7)
and was an overwhelming MVP selection.
- #2 Cobb’s
16 TB on 05-May-1925 had been tied 7 times, but on 08-May-2012 vs. BAL in Camden Yards, Hamilton hit 4 HR
& a 2B & racked up 18 TB.
Shawn Green of LAD holds the MLB record at 19.
FCR - Vanessa Ruth Swenson, Athens, Georgia
Incorrect
guesses: Bryce Harper, Ken Griffey, Jr.
SUNDAY 25-Sep
Q. To whom did Bret Saberhagen surrender
three Opening Day home runs?
Hint: #1 Of the more than 800 major leaguers born in
the Dominican Republic, he was the first to win a league MVP.
Hint: #2 He was sensitive about how his name was
spelled (and pronounced).
A. GEORGE
BELL [B-R Bio]
- Ans. Reigning
AL MVP Bell hit 3 solo HR playing DH & batting
cleanup on 04 -Apr-1988 at Kaufman Stadium. They were the only earned runs given up by
KCR that day.
- #1 Bell
was 1987 AL MVP. To date, the DR has sent 826 players
to the majors.
- #2 He
got angry at anyone who called him “hor′hay” or spelled it Jorge.
FCR - David Krassin, New York City
Incorrect
guesses: Vlad Guerrero, Miguel Tejada,
Tuffy Rhodes, Jorge Bell, Carlos Delgado, Sammy Sosa
WEEK’S FINALE 26-Sep
Q. Who was the first #1 overall draft
selection to win an RBI title in the majors?
Hint: #1 He was drafted just ahead of J.R. Richard
and he later played for the Mariners.
Hint: #2 He was the first league MVP from an
expansion team.
A. JEFF
BURROUGHS [SABR Bio]
- Ans. Drafted
#1 in 1969, his 118 RBI in 1974 led the AL.
- #1 Richard
was #2 in the 1969 Draft.
Burroughs played RF for SEA in 1981.
- #2 AL
MVP in 1974 [See chart below.]
FCR - Steven Wright, Naperville, Illinois
WEEKLY THEME – American
League MVP Outfielders from expansion teams.
MVP Lg Name Team 1st Year WAR
1979.... AL....... Baylor............... CAL................ 1961.......... 28.5
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1987.... AL....... Bell................... TOR................ 1977.......... 21.2
1974.... AL....... Burroughs......... TEX................ 1961.......... 17.8
1996.... AL....... Gonzalez........... TEX................ 1961.......... 38.7
2004.... AL....... Guerrero........... ANA............... 1961.......... 59.5
1997*.. AL....... Griffey.............. SEA................ 1977.......... 83.8**
2010 ... AL....... Hamilton.......... TEX................ 1961.......... 28.2
2001.... AL....... Suzuki.............. SEA................ 1977.......... 60.0
2014*.. AL....... Trout................ LAA................ 1961.......... 76.2**
1989.... AL....... Yount............... MIL................ 1969.......... 77.3**
*Unanimous vote
**Franchise high
First
Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Ken Kirk, Corning, New York (After
Hamilton)
Incorrect theme
guesses:
Monday - Players
with the most seasons played without a World Series appearance (whole career in
World Series-era)
Tuesday - Players
nicknamed Kid
- Players
who were the first to wear a specific team’s hat on their HoF plaque
- Hall
of Famers whose nickname is "kid"
- Players
who made their first appearance in the majors before the age of 20
- First
MVP's for the American League Expansion teams
- Hall
of Famers whose brothers played in the majors
- Hall
of Famers who debuted at the earliest age
- Hall
of Famers from expansion teams to win an MVP award
Wed - Players
who won MVP awards, Gold Gloves, and played in the All-Star game in the same
season
- CF
to win MVP
- American
League MVP winners who were center fielders
- Center
fielders who won MVP awards, Gold Gloves, and played in the All-Star game in
the same season
- Expansion
franchise leaders in WAR who have won MVP awards
- Post-expansion
All-Stars that made major league debut as teenagers
Thurs - MVP
outfielders who have never won a world series
- The
most recent outfielders to win American League MVP
Friday - Outfielders,
MVPs, 3 or more silver slugger awards
Sat - AL
outfielders who won MVP, started in the All-Star game and won a Silver Slugger
all in the same year.
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