2022-10-24 Starting pitchers who, on the occasion of their birthday, were gifted 15 runs of support by their teammates

 

Thanks to John Rickert of Terre Haute, Indiana for this week’s theme and questions

MONDAY  —24-Oct

Q.  What former Diamondback was the most recent pitcher to both strike out twenty hitters in a game and throw a no-hitter in another?

Hint: #1  He is one of only three pitchers known to have thrown more than two immaculate innings.

Hint: #2  One of his most distinguishing characteristics is his heterochromia iridum.

A.  MAX SCHERZER  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  He threw a no-hitter 20-Jun-2015 & K’d 20 11-May-2016.  Randy Johnson was the first (and only other) pitcher in this century to notch this combo.

-  #1  An immaculate inning is one where the pitcher strikes out all three batters on a total of 9 pitches.  Scherzer's innings were the 5^th on 14-May-2017(2), the 6^th on 05-Jun-2018 & the 6^th on 12‑Sep‑2021.  The throwers who thrice threw immaculate inning are Scherzer, Chris Sale & Sandy Koufax.

-  #2  Heterochromia iridum is a condition where each of a person’s eyes have a different color.  Max has one blue eye and one brown, but for a brief, but fantastic moment in time, he added a 3^rd color.  Read it here.

FCR -  Preston Salisbury, Starkville, Mississippi

Incorrect guesses:  Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling

 

 

TUESDAY  —25-Oct

Q.  Who holds the major league record for most consecutive strikeouts without issuing a walk?

Hint: #1  The last time he pitched to his brother-in-law, he gave up a homer on an 0-2 pitch.

Hint: #2  A former number one draft pick, he later signed the largest free-agent contract for a pitcher.

A.  GERRIT COLE  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  He struck out 61 consecutive batters in 2021 between bases on balls.

-  #1  Pitched to brother-in-law SFG’s Brandon Crawford 22-May-2018.  Crawford hit a 2-run HR for the Giants’ only runs in an11-2 loss.  It wasn’t the first time they faced each other in a game, but it as the last.  Crawford’s sister Amy is Cole's wife.

-  #2  On 18-Dec-2019 he signed a 9-year $324 million contract with NYY.  He was the first overall pick in 2011 by PIT.

FCR -  Rob Sheinkopf, Las Vegas

Incorrect guesses:  Jose Berrios, Corbin Burnes, Steven Strasbourg

 

 

WEDNESDAY  —26-Oct

Q.  Who set the Major League record for the longest streak of seasons with 10 or more wins and 9 or fewer losses?

Hint: #1  He won the Comeback Player of the Year award the same year he won the Hutch award.

Hint: #2  He didn’t hit his first major-league home run until he was thirty-four years old and thereafter hit one every other season of his career.

A.  TIM HUDSON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  He had 7 straight such years 1999-2005.  Zack Greinke matched that mark 2011 thru 2017.

-  #1  He won both those awards in 2010.  The Hutch Award is given each year to a Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the honor, courage and dedication of well-respected MLB player & manager Fred Hutchinson, both on and off the field.

-  #2  His HR total was 4 in his 17 year career.  His 3^rd career HR had some help.

FCR -  Leonard Levin, Providence

Incorrect guesses:  Warren Spahn, Jon Lester, Steve Carlton, Gaylord Perry, Bret Saberhagen, Rick Reuschel, Tommy John, Whitey Ford, Clayton Kershaw, CC Sabathia, Hoyt Wilhelm

 

 

THUSDAY  —27-Oct

Q.  Among Vanderbilt University alumni, which pitcher won the most games in the majors?

Hint: #1  In his debut as a Yankee, he took a no-hitter into the 9^th inning.

Hint: #2  The first of his two career home runs was a grand slam.

A.  SCOTT SANDERSON  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Sanderson won 163 & David Price is 2^nd w/157.

-  #1  1^st NYY G = 10-Apr-1991.  DET leadoff hitter, Tony Phillips got their lone hit, a double.

-  #2  GS = 11-Sep-1982 vs. CHC’s Randy Martz.  His 2^nd & final HR was a solo shot.

FCR -  Matt Clairmont, New Minas, Nova Scotia

Incorrect guesses:  Sonny Gray, David Price, Stan Bahnsen, Doyle Alexander, Al Leiter, A.J. Burnett

 

 

FRIDAY  —28-Oct

Q.  Who threw the first documented immaculate inning in extra innings?

Hint: #1  In his second year in the majors, he led the league in complete games with a total that would have led the majors in any season in the last four decades

Hint: #2  After pitching his first two games in the major leagues he refused to pitch batting practice and was suspended then released.

Hint: #3  His sartorial choices contributed to his nickname.

A.  HOLLIS “Sloppy” THURSTON  [DD.com Bio]

-  Ans.  His immaculate inning was the 12th inning on 22-Aug-1923.

-  #1  He had 28 CG in 1924.  Rick Langford in 1980 was the last pitcher with 28 CG.  Langford was a victim of Billy Martin’s sadistic overuse of starters.

-  #2  After just about a month into the 1923 season with the Browns and after only 2 appearances, Thurston was suspended by manager Lee Fohl for refusing to pitch batting practice.  He was immediately waived and then claimed by CHW in May.

-  #3  Thurston was always neatly outfitted, so his nickname is completely ironic, a bit like calling the largest Sumo competitor “Tiny”.

FCR -  Chandler Vinson, Knoxville

Incorrect guesses:  John Clarkson

 

 

SATURDAY   —29-Oct

Q.  Which ex-pitcher had his his post-playing career as a letter carrier thwarted because so many people wanted to stop and talk baseball with him.

Hint: #1  He twice had 16-0 complete game shutout wins

Hint: #2  He pitched eight years in the majors, all for one team, but had five different managers, one of them in two separate stints.

A.  TOM BREWER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Following his postal stint, most of Brewer’s post-baseball career was spent as a probation officer for the South Carolina Probation Office, from which he retired after 25 years.

-  #1  Brewer’s 2 16-0 W : 27-May-1955 & 03-Sep-1956(2), the former being his 1^st W that year.

-  #2  His BOS Mgrs. Were Lou Boudreau (1954), Pinky Higgins (1955-59, 1960-61), Rudy York (1959), Billy Jurges (1959) & Del Baker (1960).

FCR -  Mark DeLodovico, Rockville, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Ron Guidry, Carlos May, Tom Hall

 

 

SUNDAY  —30-Oct

Q.  Which BLTR Auburn alum was instrumental in possibly preventing the Yankees from breaking their own record?

Hint: #1  One of his Topps cards refers to him both as “Nick” and “Willie”.

Hint: #2  He was an inaugural enshrinee in his sport-rich county’s Sports Hall of Fame and was inducted into his state’s Sports Hall of Fame a few years later.

A.  WILLARD NIXON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.    He had attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute (later Auburn University) to play baseball for the Tigers in 1947-48.  He batted left and threw right.  In 1954, NYY finished 2^nd to CLE for the AL pennant, 8.0 G back.  It was the first time in 6 years the Bronx Bombers had not won the AL flag, indeed had not won the WS.  Nixon won all 4 of his starts that year against them in ’54.  Had those not been Sawks’ wins, the Yankees might have been significantly closer to catching the hot, pitching-rich Indians.  His obituaries refer to him as a “Yankee Killer”.

-  #1  His 1953 Topps card #30, has this on the back.

- #2  In 1971, Nixon was among the seven people chosen for the inaugural class of the Rome-Floyd County Sports Hall of Fame then inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

FCR -  Joseph Cohen, Holden, Massachusetts

Incorrect guesses:  Nick Etten

 

WEEK’S FINALE  —30-Oct

Q.  Which Detroit hurler received the gift of serendipity on his thirtieth birthday?

Hint: #1  Although a Traveler he was born and died in the same town.

Hint: #2  His only career home run came in his third-to-last career at bat.

Hint #3  The second and third batters he faced in the major leagues became Hall of Famers.

Hint: #4  The last two batters he faced in The Bigs also were players now enshrined in Cooperstown.

A.  KYLE “Skinny” GRAHAM  [Wiki Bio] (Not to be confused with Arthur William “Skinny” Graham)

-  Ans.  On 14-Aug-1929, Graham started for DET at home against NYY. 

-  #1  Played for the Little Rock Travelers in 1923, Graham was born and died in Oak Grove, Alabama.

-  #2  HR = came in his third-to-last career AB, in the 2^nd G on 10-Sep-1929(2) at New York, a solo shot to deep RF in the 3^rd off George Pipgras.

-  #3  In his MLB debut on 03-Sep-1924, the 1^st 3 batters Graham faced were Heinie Groh, Frankie Frisch & Ross Youngs.

-  #4  The final two batters he faced in his career, on 12-Sep-1929, were Jimmie Foxx and Al Simmons.

FCR - 

Incorrect guesses:  George Mullin, Hal Newhouser

 

 

WEEKLY THEME –   Starting pitchers who, on the occasion of their birthday, were gifted 15 runs of support by their teammates

 

Pitcher                        Game                          Score                    WAR

Brewer....................... 03-Sep-1956(2)........... 16-0........................ 13.9

Cole........................... 08-Sep-2019.............. 21-1........................ 33.7

Graham..................... 14-Aug-1929.............. 17-13...................... -0.3

Hudson...................... 14-Jul-2006................ 15-12...................... 57.9

Nixon......................... 17-Jun-1953............... 17-1.......................... 9.2

Sanderson................ 22-Jul-1979(2)............. 15-5........................ 27.7

Scherzer.................... 27-Jul-2017................ 15-2........................ 71.7

Thurston................... 02-Jun-1925............... 15-16...................... 15.8

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme –

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Mon     -  Highest strikeout-to-walk ratio of any pitcher (post-1900) with 3,000 or more strikeouts

 

Tues    -  Pitchers with multiple all star appearances for 2 teams other than the team that drafted them

-   Pitchers who have surrendered a first inning home run in a Wild Card game

-   Highest-paid players from the 2022 MLB season

 

Wed     -  Pitchers with a better than .700 win percentage in the AL only (minimum 400 innings)

-   Pitchers who have beaten all 30 MLB teams in the past 10 years

 

Thurs   -  20 game winners who lost 6 or fewer games, in the 2000's

-   Career he leaders among pitchers

 

Fri        -  Pitchers who have given up home runs to 3 straight batters in the same inning

 

Sun      -  Pitchers with various home runs allowed records (most home runs in a game, most consecutive home runs to start a game, most home runs in an inning, All-Star career home run record achieved against pitcher)

 

 

 

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2022-10-17 48+ home runs in a season but not an All-Star that year

MONDAY  —17-Oct

Q.  Who hit more home runs in the 1960s than any other player?

Hint: #1  The college he attended boasts basketball Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor among is alumni.

Hint: #2  He hit his 500^th career home run the day SABR was founded.

A.  HARMON KILLEBREW  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Between 1960-1969, he hit 393 HR, just ahead of Hank Aaron’s 375.

-  #1  The College of Idaho was also known as Albertson College.

-  #2  Hit his 500^th HR on 10-Aug-1971 in Metropolitan Stadium off Mike Cuellar.

FCR -  Glenn Guzzo, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Incorrect guesses:  Frank Robinson, Ernie Banks, Mickey Mantle, Eddi Mathews, Henry Aaron, Willie McCovey, Frank Howard

 

TUESDAY  —18-Oct

Q.  Who is the only Hall of Famer native to a state that was admitted to the Union after the Cubs’ penultimate World Series championship?

Hint: #1  He once had a date with actress Elizabeth Taylor.

Hint: #2  He owns a home run record that is often listed among the most unbreakable records.

A.  RALH KINER [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Kiner was born in Santa Rita, New Mexico.  New Mexico was granted full statehood 06‑Jan‑1912.  There are yet to be any Hall of Famers who were born in Arizona, Alaska or Hawaii.  After the age of 4, Kiner lived in California.

-  #1  Pirates part-owner Bing Crosby, knowing that Kiner was both a Southern Californian and a highly-paid, highly-eligible bachelor, set him up to squire a teenage Elizabeth Taylor to the 1949 premiere of the movie Twelve O’Clock High.  It was their only date.

-  #2  Kiner led (or tied for) the National League lead in home runs for his first SEVEN consecutive years in the majors.  In all but the first one, he led the majors.  From 1946 through 1952, he hit 23, 51, 40, 54, 47, 42 & 37 HR.  In 1947 & 48, he tied with NYG’s Johnny Mize.  In 1952, he tied with the NL MVP, the Cubs’ Hank Sauer.

FCR -  David Krassin, Lo Angeles

Incorrect guesses:  Mickey Mantle, Sam Crawford

 

TUESDAY TWICE  —18-Oct

Q.  Who hit more home runs in a single season than any other batter for the American League franchise in Cleveland, Ohio?

Hint: #1  He has hit forty or more home runs in a season for three different major league franchises.

Hint: #2  He hit twenty-five one year for a fourth team.

A.  JIM THOME  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Thome hit 52 HR in 2002 for the Indians.

-  #1  Thome hit 40, 49 & 52 HR for CLE; 47 & 42 for PHI; & 42 for CHW.  Alex Rodriguez (SEA, TEX, NYY) & Nelson Cruz (MIN, SEA, BAL) are the others to turn this trick.

-  #2  He hit 25 HR in 2010 for MIN.  He also hit 3 for BAL, but 0 for LAD.

FCR -  Vince Guerrieri, Elyria, Ohio

Incorrect guesses:  Ralph Kiner, Albert Belle, Rocky Colavito, Frank Thomas

 

WEDNESDAY  —19-Oct

Q.  Who hit one hundred home runs at the beginning of his MLB career faster than anyone else ever had?

Hint: #1  No National Leaguer besides Sammy Sosa and he have more consecutive seasons with at least one hundred thirty runs batted in.

Hint: #2  He once hit a pinch-hit, game-tying homer then stayed in the game to hit a game-winning extra-inning home run just hours after returning from a hospital emergency room visit prompted by a stomach ailment.

A.  RYAN HOWARD  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Hit his 1^st 100 in just 325 G.  The second faster was Pete Alonso who hit his 1^st 100 in 347 games.

-  #1  He had 4 seasons w/130+ RBI (2006-2009).  Sammy Sosa’s years were (1998-2001).

-  #2  2 HR G = Mothers’ Day, 14-May-2006, accounting for all of his team’s runs that day.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Albert Pujols, Mel Ott, Alex Rodriguez, Ralph Kiner, Mark McGwire, Eddie Mathews, Frank Robinson

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —19-Oct

Q.  Which former Tiger is the only player to hit fifty home runs in the same season he hit fifty doubles?

Hint: #1  He needed another 0 to reach fifty steals that year.

Hint: #2  He coordinated with Fernando Vina once to famously clear the base path.

A.  ALBERT BELLE  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Belle hit 50 HR and 52 2B in 1995.  Belle played for the LSU Tigers in college.  Earned 3 varsity letters in each of 3 seasons at LSU (1985-87) & led the Tigers to the school’s first College World Series appearance in 1986.  Still holds the school career records for RBI (172), HR (49) &TB (392).

-  #1  He had 5 SB in 1995.  [Adding 0 to 5 = 50, right?]

-  #2  Belle broke up a double play attempt when Eddie Murray hit a grounder to Vina at 2^nd base.  Vina had plans to tag Belle out.  Belle had a different solution in mind & barreled into Vina who stood no chance.

FCR -  Steven Harmon, Sacramento

Incorrect guesses:  Hank Greenberg, Cecil Fielder, Prince Fielder, Miguel Cabrera

 

THURSDAY  —20-Oct

Q.  Who won a home run title one year with the Dodgers, led the majors in doubles with the Red Sox in a different year and in a third season, had more hits than anyone else in MLB while playing for the Rangers?

Hint: #1  He finished his career with more hits than George Brett, more doubles than Wade Boggs, more home runs than Willie Stargell and more RBI than Frank Thomas, yet he is not in the Hall of Fame.

Hint: #2  He once had a season with two hundred hits without hitting a triple.

Hint: #3  When he broke into the majors, he was the youngest player in either league.

A.  ADRIAN BELTRE  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Hit 48 HR for LAD in 2004; hit 49 2B in 2010 for BOS; & had 199 H for TEX in 2013.  All three stats led the majors in those years.

-  #1  Beltre becomes Hall of Fame eligible in 2024.

-  #2  He had 200 H in 2004 and had one of his 5 years without a triple, the same year.  Only five other MLB players have ever combined for this unusual combination:  Miguel Tejada, who did it twice, Mike Sweeney, Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera & Derek Jeter.

-  #3  Became a regular w/LAD in 1998, just 11 weeks after turning 19.

FCR -  Charlie Riordan, Chevy Chase, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Manny Ramirez, Julio Franco, Reggie Smith, Gary Sheffield, Carlos Beltran, Adrian Gonzalez

 

FRIDAY  —21-Oct

Q.  Who was the first Dodger to have a three home run day at Dodger Stadium?

Hint: #1  He was the first player this century to get six hits and score six times in a nine-inning game.

Hint: #2  He became the first player for a team outside the U.S. to have a 30/30 season.

A.  SHAWN GREEN  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  On 15-Aug-2001, Green hit 3 HR off Expo pitching, the 176^th, 177^th & 178^th HR of his career.  Four visiting players had previously accomplished this feat: Willie Stargell, Ken Caminiti, Claudell Washington & Dave Kingman (who did it twice!).

-  #1  He had a great day against Milwaukee pitching on 23-May-2002.  He also had 7 RBI that day.

-  #2  Green had a season with 35 HR & 35 SB in 1998 playing for TOR.  Vladimir Guerrero (2001 & 2002 for MON) & Jose Cruz (2001 for TOR) are the only other players from Canadian teams to achieve 30/30 seasons.

FCR -  Dave Williams, Glastonbury, Connecticut

Incorrect guesses:  Tommy Davis, Raul Mondesi, Tim Wallach, James Outman, Hee-Seop Choi

 

SATURDAY  —22-Oct

Q.  Which home run champ’s father was a twenty-year scout for major league teams?

Hint: #1  He was originally drafted out of high school in the twenty-ninth round by the Washington Nationals.  Rather than sign, he opted to play for a university.

Hint: #2  He modeled his playing style after Gary Sheffield and Milton Bradley.

A.  KHRIS DAVIS  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Davis’ father is Rodney Davis, but his mother might have been even more instrumental in his baseball development.  Davis’ 48 HR led the majors in 2018.

-  #1  Rather than sign w/WSN in 2006, Davis chose to attend Cal State Fullerton for their successful baseball program.  They had been crowned NCAA Division I baseball champs in 2004, just two years prior.

-  #2  Observers vouch that he came close, doing a fine imitations of both Sheffield and Bradley.

FCR -  Kyle Sammin, Cheltenham, Pennsylvania

 

WEEKEND BONUS —22-Oct

Q.  Who trails only George Foster for home runs hit by a Cincinnati Reds Player in a season?

Hint: #1  His most positive contribution to major league All-Star history is one hit-by-pitch.

Hint: #2  He played in the postseason most recently in 2022.

A.  EUGENIO SUAREZ  [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  With 49 HR in 2019, Suarez tied Ted Kluszewski for 2^nd place on that list for CIN.

-  #1  HBP by Charlie Morton in the 7^th inning of he 2016 ASG, but only got as far as 2^nd base.

-  #2  Was instrumental in helping SEA reach the postseason for the 1^st time in 21 years, and was 2^nd in team WAR behind only Julio Rodriguez.

FCR -  Melannie Jay, Philadelphia

Incorrect guesses:  Nick Castellanos, Ted Kluszewski

 

SUNDAY  —23-Oct

Q.  Who was suspended in the minors for attacking the opposing team with a bat in his hand?

Hint: #1  He was a surprise World Series MVP for a team that was a surprise World Series champion.

Hint: #2  The only season in his nine-year career where he got MVP consideration was the year he led the league in strikeouts.

A.  JORGE SOLER  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Details of fracas here.

-  #1  Was the 2021 WS MVP w/ATL.  ATL began the 2021 season as +1000 underdogs to win the WS. HOU were an even longer shot to win it all at +2500.

-  #2  Had 178 K in 2019 & was tied for 21^st in AL MVP voting, despite his 48 HR.  In the current system, his lone MVP vote in 2019 was the lowest for any player with as many as 48 HRs in that season.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Donna Clendenon, Cody Bellinger, Jose Offerman, Jose Rijo 

 

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – Batters who hit at least forty-eight home runs in a season but did not make the All-Star team that year.

 

Batter            Year          HR                   Etc.                 Year WAR     Career WAR

Beltre............. 2004.............. 48............. MVP 2, SS............. 9.6................. 93.5

Thome........... 2001.............. 49............. MVP 7.................... 5.6................. 73.1

                        2002.............. 52............. MVP 7.................... 7.4

Killebrew........ 1962.............. 48............. MVP 3.................... 2.8................. 60.3

Kiner.............. 1947.............. 51............. MVP 6.................... 8.1................. 48.1

Belle.............. 1998.............. 49............. SS, MVP 8............. 7.1................. 40.1

Green............ 2001.............. 49............. MVP 6.................... 7.0................. 34.7

Suarez........... 2019.............. 49............. MVP 15.................. 3.4................. 18.1

Howard.......... 2008.............. 48............. MVP 2.................... 1.8................. 14.7

Davis*............ 2018.............. 48............. MVP 8.................... 2.9................. 10.8

Soler*............. 2019.............. 48............. MVP 21.................. 3.5................... 4.0

*Never named to any AS team during MLB career.

 

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme –

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Mon     -  Hall of Famers who never played in the World Series

            -  Player scouted by Buck O’Neil?

 

Tues    -  Career leaders for at-bats per home run

-   Players with the letters 'ki' in their names who have at least 250 career Home Runs

-   Players who hit 35+ HR in a season with fewer than 100 RBI

 

Wed     -  Players who have hit 40 home runs in four or more consecutive seasons

 

Thur     -  Players who hold a team record for home runs

 

Sun      - 45 or more Hr, 100 or more RBI, BA less than 300 in a season

 

 

 

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