MONDAY —20-Feb
Q. Who
was Yogi Berra’s tutor at catcher when Yogi first joined the Yankees?
Hint: #1
He was the first major league catcher to catch a minimum of one hundred games
for thirteen straight seasons.
Hint: #2
He once knocked himself out celebrating a Yankees pennant.
- Ans. Yogi
always generously gave Dickey a lot of credit for his formation and skills
behind the plate.
- #1 Dickey’s
13 100-G seasons = 1929-1941. That
record has since been broken several times.
- #2 NYY won the AL pennant on
the last day of the 1949 season, beating
BOS, with whom they’d been
tied in the standings. Dickey, by then a
coach, celebrated with over 68,000 fans, bumped his head on the dugout &
needed medical attention. Of note, there
had been 72 recorded injuries on NYY that year. When Tommy Henrich caught a foul for the
season's last putout, Dickey became #73.
FCR - Gregg
Bernstein, Oakland
Incorrect guesses: Bill Terry, Charlie Silvera
TUESDAY —21-Feb
Q. Who is the only
catcher to win an American League batting title?
Hint: #1 In his
senior year in high school, he became the only athlete ever to be selected as
the USA Today High School Player of the Year in two sports.
Hint: #2 He was asked
to leave his T-ball league for hitting the ball too hard for the other players.
- Ans. Mauer won batting titles in 3 of his 1st
5 full years in the majors. In 2006 (.347),
2008 (.328) & 2009 (.365).
- #1 Honored as national POY by USA Today in football in
2000 as a quarterback and baseball in 2001
as a catcher.
- #2 Hey!
Whaddaya gonna do? T-ball league at the age of four, because he was hitting the
ball too hard.
FCR - Mischa Gelman,
Pittsburgh
Incorrect guesses: Mickey
Cochrane, Bubbles Hargrave, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, Ivan Rodriguez
WEDNESDAY — 22-Feb
Q. Who is the only Hall
of Famer to hit fifty home runs in a season twice yet have fewer than four
hundred for his career?
Hint: #1 He led the
majors in strikeouts as a rookie, but never had triple-digit strikeouts in any
subsequent season.
Hint: #2 He never
played for the Yankees, but had a relative who did.
- Ans. Kiner hit 51 HR in 1947 and 54 HR in 1949.. His career HR total after playing for exactly
10 season is 369.
- #1 Had 109 K in 1946 then averaged
fewer 72 K over the next 9 seasons.
- #2 Actually who does. He is the second cousin twice removed of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who had a contract
with NYY through 2023.
FCR - Sean McCormick,
New York City
Incorrect guesses: Brady
Anderson, Prince Fielder, Hank Greenberg, George Foster, Aaron Judge, Prince
Fielder
MIDWEEK BONUS — 22-Feb
Q. Who
led the National League in doubles even though his Hall of Fame-destined
teammate had forty-one?
Hint: #1
He was a World Series champion twice, but with different teams.
Hint: #2
He suffered through a broken finger, pleurisy & bruised ribs during one
season, before sitting out the next with a more serious concern.
A. RED SCHOENDIENST [SABR
Bio]
-
Ans. In 1950, Stan Musial hit 41. Schoendienst had 43. Turns out they are BOTH in the Hall.
-
#1 His Cards won the WS in 1946. Traded to the Braves, he was a key part of
the team that brought Milwaukee its only championship in 1957.
-
#2 His broken finger, etc.,
happened in the 1958 campaign. His pleurisy, etc., happened in the 1958 campaign. In 1959, his doctor confirmed that Schoendienst
had developed tuberculosis & probably had been playing with it for years. Nevertheless, he soldiered on & played until
1963.
FCR - George
Alfano, Redlands, California
Incorrect guesses: Pete Reiser, Steve Garvey, Lance Berkman,
Dave Parker, Tris Speaker, Enos Slaughter, Keith Hernandez, Buster Posey, Andres
Galarraga
THURSDAY — 23-Feb
Q. Who is
the only Texas Ranger to pound out two hundred hits for five straight seasons?
Hint: #1
He led the majors in hits twice, once during the streak in the question.
Hint: #2
This one-time L. A. Dodger was awarded the MVP of the Midsummer Classic
one year.
A. MICHAEL YOUNG [Wiki
Bio]
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-
Ans. Young had 200+ a year
2003-2007. No other Ranger has had even two
such seasons, consecutive or not.
-
#1 Led MLB in H 2005 (221)
& 2011 (213).
-
#2 He was awarded the Ted
Williams All-Star Game MVP after hitting a game-winning two-run triple in the ninth inning.
FCR - Elliott
Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois
Incorrect guesses: Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton,
FRIDAY — 24-Feb
Q. Poised
to match The Babe with five games left, who couldn’t take advantage of the last
eight pitchers he faced that season?
Hint: #1
Although he was fifty-four years younger than the only other Hall of
Famer who shared his birthday, he was elected to Cooperstown eight years sooner.
Hint: #2
He was the first American League player to register for the first
peacetime draft.
A. HANK GREENBERG [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. After his 2-HR G on 27-Sept-1938(2), Greenberg had 58 HRs,
just 2 shy of Ruth’s record output of 1927. But Hank was stymied by an octet of
hurlers whose aggregate ERA for 1938 was 4.86.
-
#1 Born on 01-Jan-1911,
Greenberg was inducted into the HOF in 1956. Fellow New Year’s Day baby Tim Keefe (b.1857) had to wait until 1964 before being enshrined.
-
#2 On 16-Sept-1940, the US instituted
the Selective Service Act of 1940, which required all men between the ages of
21 and 45 to register for the draft. Greenberg,
then 29 years old, voluntarily signed up one month later. He was honorably discharged by Congress two
days before Pearl Harbor (as were any other men over the age of 28), but he re-enlisted
on 01-Feb-1942. He volunteered for
service in the Army Air Force, becoming the first major league player to do so.
His total military term of service was 47
months, the longest of any major league player.
FCR - Sarah
Grynpas, Toronto
Incorrect guesses: Jimmie Foxx, Hank Aaron
T.G.I.F. SPECIAL— 24-Feb
Q. Who was
said to have the fastest hands in baseball history?
Hint: #1
He appeared also to be baseball history’s fastest editor.
Hint: #2
His middle infield counterpart drove in a record number for a single
World Series and even won that WS’ MVP yet was completely overshadowed by him.
A. BILL MAZEROSKI [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. When asked how he used to
get rid of the ball so quickly on double-play pivots, Mazeroski couldn’t
actually explain it, saying: “It just happened. I didn’t catch the ball. The ricochet would hit right there (left palm)
and this (right hand) would be down here and, boom, it would go like that. It’s quicker than anybody else ever did it. I don’t know how. I’ve never seen too many do it like me.” An 8-time Gold Glove winner, his career total
of 1,706 twin killings is a major league record, and by a considerable
margin.
-
#1 Mazeroski realized, while
standing at the podium during his Cooperstown enshrinement, that his
self-prepared acceptance speech wasn’t really the one he wanted to give.. He transitioned instantly from a full dozen pages to a succinct
moving speech that lasted just under 2½ minutes. Watch it here. (Grab a hankie.)
-
#2 Yankee’s 2B Bobby Richardson,
owner of just 26 RBI during the entire regular season, drove in a record 12 RBI
in the 1960 Fall
Classic (including 6 in G3), but his heroics were almost instantly
forgotten with 1 famous swing of the bat.
FCR - Mark
Hayne, Dumfries, Virginia
Incorrect guesses: Omar Vizquel, Tony Kubek, Phil Rizzuto
SATURDAY — 25-Feb
Q. Which
onetime Cleveland Indian designated hitter brought a dramatic end to the
longest game in American League history?
Hint: #1
He was only the second player since Cap Anson to have a one hundred RBI
season after the age of forty.
Hint: #2
He was born less than forty miles from the birthplaces of two other Hall
of Famers also famous for hitting home runs.
A. HAROLD BAINES [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. On the 753rd pitch
of the G, the 25th inning, that
ended on 09-May-1984 (It had begun on 08-May.), Baines, playing for
the CHW, homered off MIL’s Chuck Porter,
becoming the only player to homer after the 22nd
inning of a game.
-
#1 Baines had 103 RBI in 1999. He had turned 40 during spring training that
year. He finished the year playing for CLE.
-
#2 Baines was born in Easton, MD which
is only 8.4 miles from Trappe, MD (Home Run Baker) and 36.3 miles from
Sudlersville, MD (Jimmie Foxx).
FCR - David
Krassin, New York City
Incorrect guesses: Jim Thome, Albert Belle, Eddie Murray, Julio
Franco, Dave Winfield
— 25-Feb
Q. Who
was the first major leaguer to ground into more than thirty double plays in a
season?
Hint: #1
He was coach for an expansion team in their inaugural season.
Hint: #2
He was the first to cycle twice for his team, an original American
League franchise.
A. BOBBY DOERR [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. 31 GIDP in 1949
for BOS.
-
#1 Was a coach for TOR 1977-1981.
-
#2 Cycles 17-May-1944(2) & 13-May-1947
FCR - Joseph
Cohen, Holden, Massachusetts
Incorrect guesses: Jim Fregosi, Billy Hitchcock, Jim Rice, Jackie
Jensen, Ernie Lombardi, Rogers Hornsby, Goose Goslin
WEEK’S FINALE — 26-Feb
Q. Who
was the first American Leaguer to score six runs in a nine-inning game?
Hint: #1
He led the majors in hits in his rookie season.
Hint: #2
Although his heritage is Croatian, many have mistaken him for a Pole.
A. JOHNNY PESKY [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. On 08-May-1946 in Fenway, Pesky scored
in all six of plate appearances.
-
#1 Had 205 H in
1942 then did 3 years of military service.
When he returned, he picked where he’d left off with 208 in 1946
& 207 in 1947.
-
#2 Born in Portland, OR to
Croatian immigrants, Pesky was honored by BOS on 27-Sept-2006, his 87th
birthday, by naming Fenway’s right field foul pole “Pesky’s Pole”. Its nickname was originally attributed to
Pesky by broadcaster Mel Parnell, a former teammate. Parnell was poking some fun at Pesky’s lack of
power. He had just 17 career HR, 6 at Fenway. Parnell claimed that every one of those 6 went
out just past the right-field foul pole, the shortest distance for a home run
in MLB. The distance is disputed with
claims ranging from 295’ to 302’.
FCR - David
Raglin, McLean Virginia
Incorrect guesses: Joe Vosmik, Ted Kluszewski, Carl Yastrzemski,
Mel Ott, Al Simmons, Ichiro Suzuki, Ted Simmons, Hal Trosky, George Sisler
WEEK’S THEME – Lowest
career WAR for an MLB player whose uniform number has been retired, among those
with the same retired number.
Uni# Player Team Ceremony WAR
1..... Doerr......................... Red Sox............. 21-May-1988.............. 51.5
2..... Schoendienst............. Cardinals............ 11-May-1996.............. 44.5
3..... Baines...................... White Sox............ 20-Aug-1989.............. 38.8
4..... Kiner.......................... Pirates.............. 19-Sep-1987.............. 48.1
5..... Greenberg................... Tigers............... 12-Jun-1983............... 55.5
6..... Pesky......................... Red Sox ............ 28-Sep-2008.............. 34.3
7..... Mauer.......................... Twins................ 15-Jun-2019............... 55.2
8..... Dickey....................... Yankees............. 22-Jun-1972............... 56.4
9..... Mazeroski................... Pirates.............. 07-Aug-1987.............. 36.5
10.... Young........................ Rangers............. 31-Aug-2019.............. 24.70
First
Correct Respondent identifying theme –
Incorrect theme guesses:
Mon - Catchers
highlighted in the book Heroes Behind the Mask: Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Mickey
Cochrane, Bill Dickey, Gabby Hartnett, Joe Torre, Elston Howard, Roger Bresnahan,
Johnny Kling and Ernie Lombardi
Tues - Catchers
with the highest career batting average
-
Catchers with career BA of .300 or higher
-
Catchers in the modern era to hit > .345 in a season
-
Catchers with lifetime Batting Average of .300 or greater
-
Catchers whose JAWS is above 45
-
MVP catchers
-
Catchers with a lifetime BA of .300 or better that played for only
one MLB team
Wed - Players
with single digit retired numbers
Thur - All
had their number retired and will make up a list of #s 1 thru 10C
Fri - Players
with retired numbers 1-10, who had either worn more than one number, or the
same number on different uniform styles for his only team.
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No. Player Team Date WAR
1... Ozzie Smith............... Cardinals... September
26, 1996.............. 76.9
1... Lou Whitaker.............. Tigers............. August
6, 2022................... 75.1
1... Pee Wee Reese......... Dodgers............ July
1, 1984..................... 68.4
1... Richie Ashburn.......... Phillies.......... August
24, 1979.................. 64.2
1... Bobby Doerr.............. Red Sox.......... 21-May-1988.................... 51.5
2... Charlie Gehringer...... Tigers............. June 12, 1983................... 84.8
2... Derek Jeter................ Yankees.......... May
14, 2017.................... 71.3
2... Nellie Fox................... White Sox........ May
1, 1976..................... 49.5
2... Red Schoendienst..... Cardinals......... 11-May-1996.................... 44.5
3... Babe Ruth.................. Yankees......... June
13, 1948................. 183.1
3... Alan Trammell........... Tigers............ August
26, 2018.................. 70.7
3... Harmon Killebrew...... Twins................ May 4, 1975..................... 60.3
3... Bill Terry.................... Giants.............. April
5, 1983..................... 56.5
3... Earl Averill.................. Guardians........ June
8, 1975.................... 51.5
3... Dale Murphy.............. Braves............ June
13, 1994................... 46.5
3... Harold Baines............ White Sox........ 20-Aug-1989.................... 38.8
4... Lou Gehrig................. Yankees........... July
4, 1939................... 113.6
4... Mel Ott....................... Giants.............. July
17, 1948.................. 110.8
4... Luke Appling.............. White Sox........ June
7, 1975.................... 77.6
4... Paul Molitor................ Brewers.......... June
11, 1999................... 75.6
4... Duke Snider............... Dodgers............ July
6, 1980..................... 65.9
4... Joe Cronin................. Red Sox................. 1984........................... 64.7
4... Ralph Kiner................ Pirates............. 19-Sep-1987.................... 48.1
5... George Brett.............. Royals............. May
14, 1994.................... 88.6
5... Jeff Bagwell............... Astros........... August
26, 2007.................. 79.9
5... Joe DiMaggio............. Yankees.......... April
18, 1952.................... 79.2
5... Brooks Robinson....... Orioles............ April 14, 1978.................... 78.5
5... Johnny Bench............ Reds............. August
11, 1984.................. 75.1
5... Lou Boudreau............ Guardians........ July
9, 1970..................... 63.3
5... Hank Greenberg........ Tigers............... 12-Jun-1983..................... 55.5
6... Stan Musial................ Cardinals... September
29, 1963............ 128.6
6... Al Kaline..................... Tigers............ August
17, 1980.................. 92.9
6... Joe Torre................... Yankees........ August
23, 2014.................. 57.5
6... Tony Oliva................. Twins............... July
14, 1991.................... 43.0
6... Steve Garvey............ Padres............ April
16, 1988.................... 38.0
6... Johnny Pesky............ Red Sox........... 28-Sep-2008.................... 34.3
7... Mickey Mantle........... Yankees.......... June
8, 1969.................. 110.2
7... Ivan Rodríguez........... Rangers........ August
12, 2017.................. 68.7
7... Craig Biggio............... Astros........... August
17, 2008.................. 65.5
7... Joe Mauer.................. Twins............... 15-Jun-2019..................... 55.2
8... Joe Morgan................ Reds................ June
6, 1998.................. 100.4
8... Carl Yastrzemski....... Red Sox......... August 6, 1989................... 96.5
8... Cal Ripken Jr............. Orioles........... October
6, 2001.................. 95.9
8... Yogi Berra.................. Yankees.......... July
22, 1972.................... 59.4
8... Willie Stargell............. Pirates........ September 6, 1982................ 57.5
8... Bill Dickey.................. Yankees........... 22-Jun-1972..................... 56.4
9... Ted Williams.............. Red Sox........ September
1960................ 122.0
9... Reggie Jackson......... Athletics.......... May
22, 2004.................... 74.0
9... Enos Slaughter.......... Cardinals.... September
6, 1996................ 57.8
9... Minnie Minoso............ White Sox........ May
8, 1983..................... 53.8
9... Roger Maris............... Yankees.......... July
21, 1984.................... 38.2
9... Bill Mazeroski............ Pirates............. 07-Aug-1987.................... 36.5
10. Chipper Jones............ Braves............ June
28, 2013................... 85.2
10. Ron Santo.................. Cubs.......... September
28, 2003.............. 70.5
10. Phil Rizzuto................ Yankees......... August
4, 1985................... 42.2
10. Michael Young........... Rangers........... 31-Aug-2019.................... 24.7