MONDAY —29-My
Q. Who replaced
Casey Stengel as manager of the Mets?
Hint: #1
He is the masked catcher gracing the cover of the first issue of Sport
Illustrated.
Hint: #2
He was traded for another team’s coach, completing the only
coach-for-coach swap in major league history.
- Ans. Halfway
through the 1965 season Stengel had to retire after his hip operation. Westrum took over on 24-Jul as NYM beat PHI 8-1 at
Shea. Westrum managed the team through the
end of the 1967 season with a 142-237
record, at .375, an improvement over Casey’s .302 there.
- #1 SI
of 16-Aug-1954, with Eddie Mathews at
the plate & umpire Augie Donatelli.
More here.
- #2 He was
traded from SFG to NYM for coach Cookie Lavagetto. After
the 1963 season, Mets 1B coach Cookie Lavagetto was recovering from an
operation & asked to be moved closer to his home near Oakland, California. After mutual discussions with their teams, he &
Westrum agreed to the trade that accommodated Lavagetto, who went to the
cross-bay San Francisco Giants. That
brought Westrum back to New York with the Mets after he had played his entire
11-year MLB career with the New York Giants.
FCR - Nick Loret de Mola, Sacramento
Incorrect guesses: Yogi Berra, Manny Sanguillen Gil Hodges, Ralph Houk
TUESDAY —30-May
Q. Who caught the first
no-hitter for the San Francisco Giants?
Hint: #1 He was one
of the best at throwing out would-be base stealers but set a mark of futility
of his own on the base paths.
Hint: #2 As a six-time
All-Star, he had any offers within the game at the time of his retirement, but
he chose to return home to Tennessee and get involved in community affairs.
- Ans. On 15-Jun-1963, Juan Marichal threw a
1-0 no-hitter at the Houston Colt 45s.
- #1 In 1959, Bailey threw out 60.4% of base
stealing attempts (29 of 48), but 4 years later, he attempted to steal 6 times
and was thrown out 6 times.
- #2 He served for 12 years on the Knoxville,
Tennessee city council from 1983 to 1995 and, worked for United States
Congressman Jimmy Duncan. The Lonas
(Bailey’s middle name) family had long been active in the politics of Knox
County.
FCR - Andy McCue,
Riverside, California
Incorrect guesses: Dick Dietz, Bob Schmidt,
Tom Haller, Buster Posey
WEDNESDAY — 31-May
Q. Who was the first
National League player to walk six times in one game?
Hint: #1 Very few players have won the Rookie of the Year
Award and been voted Most Valuable Player unanimously. He missed being in that small group by a single
vote.
Hint: #2 He was the
first Thirty/Thirty man for his franchise.
- Ans. On 20-Aug-1999, in a 16-inning G,
Bagwell had 6 BB (2 of them IBB) in 8 PA.
- #1 In
1994, Bagwell was a unanimous NL MVP, w/28 1st-place
votes. In 1991, his NL ROY year, he missed a
unanimous vote by the 1 cast for PIT’s promising rookie, Orlando
Merced. According to Jack Lang, the then
executive secretary of the BBWAA, the lone vote for Merced was cast by
trailblazing (sic) sportswriter Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun Times. Only Frank Robinson, Orlando Cepeda, Albert Pujols
& Mike Trout have been both ROY & MVP unanimously.
- #2 In both 1997& 1999, Bagwell exceeded 30
HR & 30 SB.
FCR - Mark DeLodovico,
Rockville, Maryland
Incorrect guesses: Barry
Bonds, Dick Allen, Willie Mays, Bryce Harper, Walt Wilmot, Andre Dawson,
Frank Robinson, Eric Davis
MIDWEEK BONUS — 31-May
Q. Who
is the only player to win the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award, the
Championship Series MVP Award and World Series MVP Award in the same season?
Hint: #1
He remains the only player to hit two home runs completely out of Dodger
Stadium.
Hint: #2
He was the two hundredth member of the Hall of Fame.
A. WILLIE STARGELL [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. In 1979 Stargell ran the MVP
table
-
#1 Willie Stargell’s Chavez Ravine HRs for distance: 05-Aug-1969 & 08-May-1973. The 1969 HR was not only the 1st ever hit by anyone out of
Dodger Stadium. It remains the farthest
ever hit
there. The ball cleared every part of Dodger Stadium &
some of the parking lot.
-
#2 HOF in 1988.
FCR - Adrian Fung, Toronto
Incorrect guesses: Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, Kirk Gibson,
Mike Trout
THURSDAY — 01-Jun
Q. Whose
power hitting was called “The Laser Show” if he did say so himself?
Hint: #1
He sequenced his first two major awards much as did Cal Ripken, Willie
Mays, Ryan Howard, et al.
Hint: #2
Although he was once named
the Wilson Sporting Goods Overall American League Defensive Player of the Year,
the league’s Platinum Glove (awarded by Rawlings Sporting Goods) that year went
to Manny Machado.
A. DUSTIN PEDROIA [B-R
Bio]
-
Ans. “Laser Show”
-
#1 These all followed their ROY as the MVP within
the next 325 G. Also on that list are Kris Bryant,
Buster Posey,
Jackie Robinson, Shohei Ohtani, Johnny Bench, Jose Canseco, Mike Trout, Cody
Bellinger & of course Fred Lynn & Ichiro Suzuki.
- #2 DPOY for 2013; Platinum
Gloves. Pedroia is a
4-time Gold Glove winner.
FCR - Jaime Aron, Dallas
Incorrect guesses: Julio Rodriguez, Mike Trout
FRIDAY — 02-Jun
Q. Who
was the first player to hit a pinch-hit grand slam on Opening Day?
Hint: #1
He was once famously traded for a player with his same first name. It was hailed as “baseball's first even swap of superstars”
Hint: #2
He finished his seventeen-year career in the majors with the same team
he had played for before his two years of military service.
A. BOBBY MURCER [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Pinch-hitting for NYY DH
teammate Dennis Werth on 09-Apr-1981, Murcer homered with the bases full.
-
#1 On 22-Oct-1974, after 8 years with the NYY,
Murcer was traded to SFG for Bobby Bonds.
The trade was all the more notable because each was among the
highest-paid players in MLB. Indeed, it was the first swap of players who were both earning
$100,000+. (Murcer-$110,000; Bonds-$100,000.)
- #2 Although offered a larger signing bonus by
LAD, Murcer signed with NYY. He had
light duty for them in 1965-66 then had 2 years of military duty. When he returned, he was a Yankee regular for
6 years, 4 X an All-Star & winning a GG.
He returned to NYY for his final 4½ seasons, only one which was as a regular player.
FCR - Lincoln
Mitchell, New York City
Incorrect guesses: Ron Northey
SATURDAY — 03-Jun
Q. Which
one-time Oriole hit into a triple play on 8/8/88?
Hint: #1
That was the only season in nine straight he did not reach 100 RBI.
Hint: #2
Over a stretch of twelve seasons, he averaged 107 RBI, most in the
majors in that period, yet only once did he lead the majors in a single year.
A. JOE CARTER [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Playing for CLE on the symmetrical
date of 08-Aug-1988, with nobody out and Ron
Washington & Willie Upshaw on base, Carter came to bat against MIN’s
Allan Anderson. Carter drove a fly to deep
eft field that must have looked difficult to catch, but fleet-footed Dan
Gladden raced to the wall, leapt, made the catch
& threw to Steve Lombardozzi at 3rd B to retire Washington
before he could get back. Lombardozzi
then threw to Gene Larkin at 2nd B to retire Upshaw & complete
the triple play. The focus of that day
was to have been on the Chicago Cubs who were scheduled to play the first night
game in their 102 years operating as a major league franchise. Weather intervened so they made history the following night, beating the
Mets 6-4. Carter played for BAL for 85 G
in his last year, 1998, briefly reunited with Roberto Alomar from the 1992-93
TOR championship team.
-
#1 Carter ended the 1988 season
with 98 RBI. That set the pace for CLE,
by 23, but 11 players in MLB had 100+ that season.
-
#2 With 121 RBI in 1986,
Carter led the majors. With 1,281
RBI between 1986 & 1997, his total led all comers over that span of
seasons.
FCR - Susan Nelson, Moscow, Tennessee
Incorrect guesses: Eddie Murray, Albert Belle, Justin Turner, Ken Phelps, Gary Alexander
WEEKEND BONUS— 04-Jun
Q. Who broke up a no-hitter with two outs in the 9th
inning with a pinch-hit home run?
Hint: #1
He provided sparks in preventing his
team from setting history.
Hint: #2
He took out a full-page ad in his team’s hometown newspaper to thank the
fans for their support.
A. BOBBY HIGGINSON [B-R
Bio]
-
Ans. On
27-Sep-1998, in the
last G of the season for both teams, Higginson broke the heart of rookie Roy
Halladay (who had just turned 21 & was making just his 2nd MLB
appearance) by going "oppo taco” on the
first pitch he saw. Halladay’s reaction.
-
#1 In DET's infamous 119-loss
season, 2003, they had 2 games left in their season & with
defeats in either of them, they would have either tied or exceeded the 1962
Mets’ team record for the most losses in
the Modern Era. In game 161, Higginson
helped the Tigers roar back from an 8-1 deficit by scoring runs in both the 7th
& 8th innings of their eventual walk‑off win. In their season finale, Higginson homered in
the 1st inning for their 1st run. He then ripped a lead-off double to ignite a
7-run uprising in the 7th on their way to avoiding infamy.
-
#2 After enduring several late-career
surgeries, fan favorite “Higgy” formally bid adieu to
his many Motown fans upon his retirement via the Detroit Free Press.
FCR - Michael Berry, Culver City, California
Incorrect guesses: Gary
Alexander, Juan Samuel, Cookie Lavagetto
SUNDAY — 04-Jun
Q. Whose batting average is the highest ever for a
rookie season?
Hint: #1
In Babe Ruth’s final game, he patrolled the
same piece of outfield turf.
Hint: #2
He was the first player to produce the margin of victory in a World
Series Game Seven by hitting a home run.
A. GEORGE WATKINS [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. In
1930, as a 30-year old rookie, Watkins mounted a BA of .373. Only 14 NL/AL freshmen have hit
.350+ in their debut year. Note: Many of us were
under the impression that Shoeless Joe Jackson
held this distinction. However, when Jackson
hit .408 in 1911, it was his fourth season in the majors and he was no
longer a rookie. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksjo01.shtml.
-
#1 The Babe’s farewell
G was 30-May-1935. Ruth played LF only for
the bottom of the 1st inning for BSN that
afternoon before retiring for good.
Watkins was LF for PHI that
day.
-
#2 In G7 of the 1931 WS, Watkins’ 2-R HR
proved to be the difference in STL’s 4-2 clincher.
FCR - Bill
Deane, Cooperstown
Incorrect guesses: Paul Waner, Lloyd Waner, Wally Berger, Joe
Medwick, Joe DiMaggio, Joe Jackson, Roberto Clemente, Oscar
Charleston, Casey Stengel, Al Kaline, Heinie Manush, Bob Johnson
WEEK’S
FINALE —
XX-Mo
Q. Who didn’t play
baseball at his high school, yet was signed to a professional contract
primarily on the basis of hitting six home runs in the only nine games he
played in junior college?
Hint:
#1 Playing in a ballpark so spacious
that no player hit 100 career home runs while playing there, he was that
franchise’s first-ever home run champion.
Hint:
#2 Never esteemed for his glove work, he
made his most memorable catch at… home.
A. BILL MELTON [Wiki Bio]
- Ans. Growing
up, Melton needed to work after school &during summers instead focusing on
sports. After he gave up high school
football & graduated, he turned to baseball & was discovered by former
MLB-pitcher-turned-scout “Sloppy" Thurston. Thurston had an eye for long ball hitters (He
had previously signed Ralph Kiner.), & inked Melton to a pro contract after
Melton displayed his prodigious power playing at Citrus College (Glendora, CA).
- #1 The
design & dimensions of roomy Comiskey Park were strongly influenced by former White Sox superstar
pitcher Ed Walsh. The
original dimensions of 365’ down each line, 395' to both power alleys & 455' to dead center, made
it one of the most difficult parks to homer in.
With more reachable distances in place during Melton’s time on the South
Side, he went deep 33 X in both 1970 & 1971, the latter total being more
than those of Reggie Jackson or Norm Cash & leading the AL that season.
- #2 While
putting up shingles on his wet patio roof in 1972, Melton slipped & fell
from the top of an 8'‑ladder while trying to
break his 4-year-old son's fall from the same roof. Melton saved his son from serious injury, but
ruptured a pair of disks in the accident. He would never be the same as a power hitter
again. Melton finished regularly in the top 10 in the AL for
errors by a 3rd baseman almost every year.
FCR - Tom
Cleary, Macungie,
Pennsylvania
Incorrect
guesses: Kevin Mitchell, Roy Sievers, Joe DiMaggio, Frank Howard, Harmon
Killebrew
WEEK’S THEME – Batters
who homered thrice in one game on June 24.
24-06 of: Batter Career
WAR
1931 — Watkins........................................ 10.4
1950 — Westrum........................................ 12.6
1956 — Bailey............................................ 27.2
1965 — Stargell.......................................... 57.6
1969 — Melton.......................................... 18.7
1970 — Murcer.......................................... 32.1
1989 — Carter............................................ 19.5
1994 —Bagwell.......................................... 79.9
2000 — Higginson..................................... 23.1
2010 — Pedroia.......................................... 51.9
June 24 is the most prolific date on the entire
calendar for 3-HR games.
Incorrect theme
guesses:
Mon - Catchers who had an inside-the-park home run
Tues - Pre-expansion
era catchers who hit 3 Home Runs in a game
- Catchers who hit three homers in one game
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