2022-01-24 Players who won multiple batting titles, but hit below .300 for their careers

This week’s theme and questions are thanks to the good offices of multiple-time SABR National Trivia champion, Michael Caragliano.

 

MONDAY  —24-Jan

Q.  Which player has won the Most Valuable Player awards as a San Francisco Giant?

Hint: #1  He’s the all-time leader in walks as well as in walks of the intentional variety.

Hint: #2  …and he has the most career home runs too.

A.   BARRY BONDS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans. Has 5 SFG MVPs: 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 + 2 more as a Pirate.

-  #1  2,558 & 688 BB & IBB, respectively

-  #2  762 HR

FCR -  Doug Christy, Sarasota

Incorrect guesses:  Willie Mays, Hank Aaron

 

TUESDAY  —25-Jan

Q.  Who was the first American League player to collect 3,000 hits and 400 home runs?

Hint: #1  It probably helped that he also racked up the most at-bats in American League history.

Hint: #2  Despite his power, he needed 2,294 games finally to clout three home runs in one game.  His grandson, however, only needed 70 games to accomplish that.

A.  CARL YASTRZEMSKI  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Has 3,319 H and 453 HR (since joined by Cal Ripken and Alex Rodriguez).

-  #1  Has 11,988 career ABs.

-  #2  Yaz’s 1^st 3-HR game = 19-May-1976; Mike Yastrzemski’s 1^st 3-HR G = 16-Aug-2019.

FCR -  Eric Savage, Short Hills, New Jersey

Incorrect guesses:  Ted Williams, Al Kaline, Al Simmons

 

WEDNESDAY  —26-Jan

Q.  Who is the most recent National League player to reach the 30-30 club?

Hint: #1  He is the only player to collect two cycles against the same team in one season.

Hint: #2  He was the last batter to ever face Roy Halladay.

A.  CHRISTIAN YELICH  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Hit 44 HR and had 30 SB in 2019, joining the 30-30 club two weeks after Ronald Acuna did.

-  #1  Hit for the cycle 29-Aug-2018 and 17-Sep-2018, both against CIN.

-  #2  Halladay walked Yelich 23-Sep-2013, then walked off the mound with an arm injury.

FCR -  David Skelton, Woodway, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Freddie Freeman, Trea Turner, Ronald Acuna, Cedric Mullins, Fernando Tatis, Ozzie Albies

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —26-Jan

Q.  Who was the first National League rookie to hit two home runs in a World Series game?

Hint: #1  He was once traded straight-up for a pitcher who never appeared in another major league game.

Hint: #2  He hit for the cycle in the “Ryne Sandberg Game”.

A.  WILLIE McGEE  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  WS HR X 2 = 15-Oct-1982

-  #1  McGee was traded by NYY to STL for Bob Sykes 21-Oct-1981.

-  #2  “The Sandberg Game” =  23-Jun-1984.

FCR -  Andrew Milner, Bryn Mawr, PA

Incorrect guesses:  Andruw Jones

 

THURSDAY  —27-Jan

Q.  Whose double was Tim McCarver dissecting when the World Series was abruptly disrupted?

Hint: #1  He was credited with his first major league hit three months before his major league debut.

Hint: #2  His six blasts were enough to win the first All-Star Home Run Derby.

Hint #3  Even though he led National League right fielders in errors seven times he is probably best remembered for two throws he made in one game.

A.  DAVE PARKER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  On 17-Oct-1989, as McCarver was breaking down tape of Parker’s G 2 double off Rick Reuschel during ABC’S pre-game show for G 3, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck.

-  #1  Parker’s major league debut came on 12-Jul-1973.  He appeared as a pinch hitter and singled in a G at Wrigley Field that had been suspended on April 21^st and resumed on July 26^th, 2 weeks after his debut.

-  #2  1985 ASG HRD in Minneapolis

- #3   Gunned down Jim Rice and Brian Downing in the 1979 ASG.

FCR -  Mark Kanter, Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Incorrect guesses:  Frank Thomas, Jose Canseco, Willie McGee

 

FRIDAY  —28-Jan

Q.  Which one-time Chicago White Sox player is credited with the highest lifetime pinch-hitting average?

Hint: #1  In his lone season playing for the team that replaced his hometown team, he led them in Triple Crown stats.

Hint: #2  He was the only player who got to watch Jim Bouton taking notes in Seattle and Houston.

Hint:  #3  He once had a season so outstanding that he finished third in the Most Valuable Player voting, with more votes than ten players now enshrined in Cooperstown.

A.  TOMMY DAVIS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Finished w/ a .320 career BA as a pinch hitter.  Played 132 G for CWH in 1968, leading them in RBI.

-  #1  The Brooklyn native hit .302 with 16 home runs and 73 RBI for NYM in 1967.

-  #2  Davis played with Bouton for both the Seattle Pilots and Houston Astros in 1969, the season he was immortalized by Bouton in “Ball Four”.

-  #3  Was 3^rd w/3 MVP votes in 1962 behind teammate Maury Wills and SFG Willie Mays, but ahead of Frank Robinson, Don Drysdale, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Orland Cepeda, Roberto Clemente, Ernie Banks Juan Marichal, Sandy Koufax & Eddie Mathews.  Davis’ 153 RBI total that season was higher than every other player’s between 1950 and the PED era.

FCR -  Rich Klein, Plano, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Tommy Harper, Lenny Harris, Manny Mota, Smokey Burgess, Minnie Minoso, Don Mincher

 

T.G.I.F. SPECIAL  —28-Jan

Q.  Who was the first Philadelphia A’s player to score a run for a manager other than Connie Mack?

Hint: #1   He had a .400 OBP every season in his career except one… when it was .399

Hint: #2  He was the first baseman in a history-making quartet of All-Star infielders.

A.  FERRIS FAIN  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In the 9^th inning on 17-Apr-1951, Fain scored for new A’s skipper Jimmy Dykes (their 2^nd!).

-  #1  1954, the only sub-.400 OBP in his 9-year career

-  #2  Fain, Nellie Fox, Chico Carrasquel & George Kell were AS infielders on CHW in 1954. It was the first time 4 infielders from the same team were named to an All-Star Game.

FCR -  Sarah Grynpas, Toronto

Incorrect guesses:  Mickey Vernon, Stuffy McInnis, George Kell, Jimmie Foxx, Bill White, Chuck Klein, Ernie Banks

 

SATURDAY    —29-Jan

Q.  Who participated in the most career double plays at first base?

Hint: #1  Only a certain Chicago shortstop appeared in more games in the pre-expansion era without appearing in a World Series game.

Hint: #2  He got his only World Series ring just days after his final career game as a player.

A.  MICKEY VERNON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  2,044 DPs

-  #1  Only Luke Appling appeared in more pre-expansion games with nary a World Series game among them (2,422 to 2,409 for Vernon)

-  #2  Vernon was the first base coach for PIT in 1960 after playing 9 G for them.  He had also coached for them during that season.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Stuffy McInnis, Frank Chance, Don Mattingly, Mark Grace, Billy Williams, Frank Thomas, Phil Cavarretta, Fred McGriff

 

SUNDAY  —30-Jan

Q.  Who once led American League second basemen in fielding percentage, then led league first basemen in fielding percentage the following season?

Hint: #1  He is the only American League player to bat in fewer than forty teammates the season he won the league batting title.

Hint: #2  During his only major league managerial experience, he replaced a Hall of Famer and was, in turn, replaced by a Hall of Famer.

A.  PETE RUNNELS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Had .986 at 2B in 1960; .995 at 1B in 1961.

-  #1  Hit .320 in 1960 w/ only 35 RBI.

-  #2  Named BOS manager for the final 16 G in 1966, replacing Billy Herman.  Even though Runnels had a .500 managing record, he was replaced by Dick Williams when the season ended,.

FCR -  Jason Winston, Riverside, California

Incorrect guesses:  Joe Gordon, Carney Lansford, Rod Carew, Lou Boudreau, Nap Lajoie, Billy Goodman, Harvey Kuenn, DJ LeMahieu

 

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – Players who won multiple batting titles, but hit below .300 for their careers

 

Player                           Titles                          Career BA                 WAR

 

Bonds.................... 2002, 2004................ .298.................... 162.7

Davis..................... 1962, 1963................ .294..................... 20.5

Fain....................... 1951, 1952................ .290..................... 27.3

McGee.................. 1985, 1990................ .295..................... 34.2

Parker................... 1977, 1978................ .290..................... 40.1

Runnels................. 1960, 1962................ .291..................... 29.8

Vernon.................. 1946, 1953................ .286..................... 35.5

Yastrzemski........... 1963, 1967, 1968....... .285..................... 96.5

Yelich ................... 2018, 2019................ .292..................... 33.4

 

Note: Keep an eye on DJ LeMahieu (2016, 2020).  He enters 2022 with a .300 lifetime average.

 

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme – Warren Kent, White Hall, Michigan (after Fain)

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Monday  -  Guys we all knew did 'roids but never failed a test

               -  Imminent Hall of Fame vote announcement

               -  Guys who will drop off the HOF ballot after this year

               -  Most successful MLB families

               -  Biggest cap sizes in MLB history

               -  Players who finished one vote shy of being unanimous MVP selections.

 

Tuesday -  400 home run club without winning a WS

               -  Players who have never won a World Series

               -  Most regular-season games played in a career without winning a World Series

 

Wed        -  All-Star LF Who have had a three home run game

               -  MVP winners who were one vote short of being unanimous

               -  MVP winning lefty hitting leftfielders

               -  Left fielders to win MVP

               -  Players who won a batting title and MVP in the same year

               -  Players who won the MVP and hit a home run in the World Series the same season

               -  Players who won the MVP and hit more than one home run in the postseason the same season

 

Thurs      -  Outfielders that won an MVP and batting title in the same year

               -  Outfielders who won an MVP and have two or more batting titles

 

Friday     -  Two-time batting champs

               -  Left fielders with more than one batting title

 

Sat          -  Players who wished they had played on better teams

               -  Players who have won multiple batting titles and have multiple All Star appearances who were high school basketball standouts

               -  Batting champions with no postseason appearances

               -  Guys who won exactly two batting titles

 

Sunday   -  1B batting champs with few HR’s

               -  2-time batting champs who aren’t in the HOF

 

 

 

If you know someone who would enjoy receiving daily Horsehide Trivia questions, have them start here.

 

This week’s quiz archived here:  http://horsehidetriviA.         blogspot.com/

 

Horsehide Trivia encourages independent research.

~ Bruce

 

2022-01-17 Players with fifty games in center field and first base in the same season

MONDAY  —17-Jan

Q.  Which player, active in 2021, but with fewer than ten seasons in the majors, has won a Rookie of the Year Award, a Most Valuable Player Award, an LCS MVP Award, has played in sixty-six postseason games and owns a World Series ring?

Hint: #1  Oh, I forgot to mention the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards and his being an All-Star.

Hint: #2  His father played a couple of games for the Angels.

A.  CODY BELLINGER  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  ROY in 2017; MVP in 2019; 2018 NLCS MVP; WS w/LAD in 2020.

-  #1  GG & SS in 2019; AS in 2017 & 2019.

-  #2  Father Clay Bellinger finished his career in Anaheim w/2 G after 3 seasons as a utility man with NYY.

FCR -  Matt Dicker, Chicago

Incorrect guesses:  Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Bryce Harper, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor, Rafael Devers, Kris Bryant

 

TUESDAY  —18-Jan

Q.  After Heinie Zimmerman in 1912, who was the next Chicago Cub to win a batting title?

Hint: #1  He hit for the cycle in his first professional game.

Hint: #2  He was the first manager to be fired during Spring Training.

A.  PHIL CAVARRETTA  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Cavarretta led the majors in 1945 with a .355 batting average

-  #1  With the B-level Peoria Tractors at age 17 in 1934, Cavarretta played RF & hit for the cycle in his 1^st G with them.

-  #2  He got fired during spring training in 1954 after frankly admitting that his Cubs were unlikely to finish above 5^th place.  (They finished in 7^th place.)

FCR -  Tony Hughes, Woodbridge, Virginia

Incorrect guesses:  Bill Madlock, Billy Williams, Bill Buckner, Rogers Hornsby, Stan Hack, Kiki Cuyler

 

 

WEDNESDAY  —19-Jan

Q.  Which one-time San Francisco Giant often wore nothing on his back during games?

Hint: #1  In the twentieth century, he was the oldest player to win his first batting title.

Hint: #2  Twice he was on teams where he and eight other teammates had one hundred hits in the same season.

A.  AL OLIVER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Oliver had uniforms with “0” when he played for FG, LAD, TOR, PHI, MON & TEX.  He played for SFG in 1984.

-  #1  1^st & only BA title was in 1982 when he hit .331 for MON.  That distinction has since been claimed by other players who were older for their 1^st.

-  #2  Teams w/9 100-H players = 1972 PIT & 1976 PIT

FCR -  Joe Merrill, Montpelier, Vermont

Incorrect guesses:  Dick Groat, Barry Bonds, Bill Terry Lefty O’Doul, Matty Alou, Ted Williams, Bill Mueller

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —19-Jan

Q.  Who was the first native of the Dominican Republic to win a batting title in the majors?

Hint: #1  He was the only player to steal a base against the Cincinnati Reds in the 1972 World Series.

Hint: #2  Almost exactly a decade earlier, Whitey held him at third.

A.  MATTY ALOU  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In 1966 Alou hit .342 for PIT and led the majors.

-  #1  In the 8^th inning of G 2 of the 1972 WS, Alou stole 2^nd off Tom Hall & Johnny Bench.

-  #2  He might have scored the tying run from 1B in the 9^th inning of G 7 on Willie Mays’s double of the 1962 WS.  Third base coach Whitely Lockman went by the conservative “book” and held Alou at 3^rd.  McCovey lined out and the G end 1-0 and the WS ended NYY 4-SFG 3.

FCR -  Art Mugalian, Minneapolis

Incorrect guesses:  Herb Washington, Felipe Alou, Marty Alou, Bert Campaneris, Rico Carty, Jesus Alou, Frank Taveras, Tony Perez

 

THURSDAY  —20-Jan

Q.  Who singled off Bob Feller in his first at-bat of the only All-Star game he ever played in?

Hint: #1  He was called "Hippity" by the press, but tabbed "Cotney" by friends and teammates.

Hint: #2  His hometown, his high school and his college all had the same name.

Hint: #3  Played with or for an amazing twenty-six Hall of Fame teammates, coaches and managers during his time in the majors.

Hint: #4  His bother played in the NFL.

A.  JOHNNY HOPP  [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  Started in CF in the 1946 ASG.

-  #1  Cotney because of his blond "cotton-top" hair as a youth.  Hippity because, well…

-  #2  Born and raised in Hastings, Nebraska; attended Hastings High School; attended Hastings College.

-  #3  Played with and/or for Joe Medwick, Johnny Mize, Enos Slaughter, Stan Musial, Billy Southworth, Red Schoendienst, Billy Herman, Warren Spahn, Ralph Kiner, Honus Wagner, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Casey Stengel, Bill Dickey, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, George Kell, Hal Newhouser, Rick Ferrell, Phil Rizzuto, Ted Lyons, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson & Duke Snider.

-  #4  Brother Harry Hopp, was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1941 and played in the NFL until 1947.

FCR -  Tal Smith, Sugar Land, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Clint Courtney, Ben Chapman, Dave Concepcion

 

FRIDAY  —21-Jan

Q.  Which BBTL infielder/outfielder was Curt Schilling's 3,000^th career strikeout victim?

Hint: #1  He was recruited to play football at Notre Dame.

Hint: #2  His father had also played in the majors.

A.  NICK SWISHER  [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  Curt’s K = 30-Aug-2006.  Swisher whiffed thrice that day.

-  #1  A 3-sport athlete in high school, Swisher chose to play baseball at Ohio State.

-  #2  Father Steve caught for 3 NL teams over 9 seasons.

FCR -  Jim Lubell, Hillsboro, Oregon

Incorrect guesses:  Darrel May, John Mayberry, Jr.,

 

T.G.I.F. SPECIAL —21-Jan

Q.  Which player came out of Angels Camp, but never played for the Angels in the majors?

Hint: #1  On Opening Day one year, he set a new major-league record for first basemen, committing three errors in the same inning.

Hint: #2  He actually got MVP votes playing for a last-place team.

Hint: #3  It’s interesting that his remarkable nickname is not batrachian but piscatorial.

A.  GEORGE METKOVICH  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Metkovich was born in the town of Angels Camp, California, but played his last MLB G in 1954, 7 years before LAA became a major league franchise.

-  #1  Playing for BOS on 17-Apr-1945 in Yankee Stadium, Metkovich made 3 errors in the 7^th inning, 2 on 1 play!

-  #2  In 1952, with his 1.3 WAR, landed 2 votes in the NL MVP race, finishing tied for 38^th, next to last.  Teammates Murray Dickson and Ralph Kiner also received votes that year.

-  #3  Metkovich’s home town, in Calaveras County, is home to the famous annual frog jumping contest, where Mark Twain’s literary career was launched.  The nickname we know him by is from his Boston teammates.  After Metkovich stepped on a catfish trying to pull the hook out of its mouth, a barbed fin went through the crepe sole of his shoe and incapacitated him during 1940 Spring training.

FCR -  Bill Henry, East Greenwich, Rhode Island

Incorrect guesses:  Bob Brenly

 

SATURDAY  —22-Jan

Q.  Under whose managerial guidance did an American League Most Valuable Player winner set a single-season record for runs driven in for his new team?

Hint: #1  He was invited to train with the U.S. Olympic speed skating team, having won eight national championships as a youngster.

Hint: #2  He set a minor league (perhaps professional) record when he stole seven bases in one game.

A.  LEE MAZZILLI  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Mazzilli was manager of BAL in 2004 when Miguel Tejada had 150 RBI.

-  #1  Declined the invitation to focus on baseball.

-  #2  Had 7 SB for Class A Visalia on 08-Jun-1975, just 2 years after being drafted in the 1^st round by NYM.  (On 26-May-1977, an 18-year-old Rickey Henderson stole 7 bases against the Fresno Giants, setting a California League record that still stands.)

FCR -  Mark DeLodovico, Rockville

Incorrect guesses:  Eddy Alvarez, Cap Anson

 

SUNDAY  —23-Jan

Q.  Which player was caught stealing exactly once in each of ten consecutive seasons?

Hint: #1  He was the first to hit for the cycle and the first to homer three times in a game for his young franchise.

Hint: #2  His All-Star game single sent Pete Rose crashing into Ray Fosse in 1970.

A. JIM HICKMAN [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  1 CS in 1964-73

-  #1  1^st cycle for NYM = 07-Aug-1963; 1^st 3-HR G = 03-Sep-1965.

-  #2  1970 ASG 14-Jul-70 Riverfront Stadium.  It was Hickman’s only All-Star appearance in his 13-year MLB career.

FCR -  Mark Kanter Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Incorrect guesses:  Nate Colbert, Cesar Cedeno, Amos Otis

 

WEEK’S FINALE  —23-Jan

Q.  Which third baseman once completed a double play by throwing out a batter who had just struck out?

Hint: #1  He was one-for-one in All-Star competition, his hit coming off a two-time MVP and future Hall of Famer.

Hint: #2  The teams he played in included those in Montreal, Oakland and Milwaukee.

A.  BERT HAAS  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Haas was playing third base and there were runners on first and third.  The batter K’d, but the ball eluded the C.  The runner on 3^rd was out trying to score.  The alert Haas threw the ball to 1^st to get the batter out, since he had not advanced after the 3^rd strike. Baseball-reference notes that it's rare for a batter who has struck out to be thrown out at 1^st, by the 3^rd baseman, completing a double play.

-  #1  Pinch-hitting for Ewell Blackwell in the 1947 ASG, Haas singled off Hal Newhouser.

-  #2  Haas played for the 1940 Montreal Royals, the 1951 Oakland Oaks & the 1938 Milwaukee Brewers.

FCR -  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Incorrect guesses:  Sal bando

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – Players with fifty games in center field and first base in the same season.

 

Player             Year            Team             G@1^st           G@CF          WAR

 Alou................ 1971........... STL................ 57................ 73.............. 23.0

Bellinger......... 2018........... LAD............... 78.............. 110................ 16.7

Cavarretta...... 1942........... CHC............... 61................ 67............... 37.0

Haas............... 1947............ CIN................ 53................ 61................ 5.4

Hickman......... 1970........... CHC............... 74................ 53................ 13.0

Hopp.............. 1946........... BSN............... 68................ 58................ 26.4

Mazzilli........... 1980........... NYM............... 92................ 66................ 15.6

Metkovich....... 1944........... BOS............... 50................ 83.................. 6.0

Joe Pepitone...1966........... NYY............... 119................ 55.................. 9.8 

Oliver.............. 1973............ PIT................ 50.............. 109  ................ 43.6

Swisher.......... 2008.......... CHW............... 71................ 79   ................ 21.4

Note:  Pepitone not included in week's questions.

 

FCR identifying theme – Philip Trostler, Norwich, Connecticut  (after Cavarretta)

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Monday       -   Most total bases by a rookie in a single postseason

 

Tuesday   -     Never made the top 5 (or some other number) in the MVP vote except the year they won

 

Wed         -     Players who played first base and outfield only on defense

 

 

If you know someone who would enjoy receiving daily Horsehide Trivia questions, Have them start by clicking here.

 

This week’s quiz archived here:  http://horsehidetriviA.         blogspot.com/

 

Horsehide Trivia encourages independent research.

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