2025-08-18 Those who were the "Players to be named later"

MONDAY  — 18-Aug-2025

Q.  Who hit .408, .395 and .373 in successive seasons, but never topped his league in batting.

Hint: #1  He did rank in the Top Ten in MVP voting each of those years?

Hint: #2  Babe Ruth said, “He was the most natural and graceful hitter who ever lived,” and modeled his own swing accordingly.

Hint: #3  He is the only player with more than twenty-five tiple and more than two hundred twenty-five hits in the same season.

A.  JOE JACKSON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In        1911, he hit .408, but… Ty Cobb hit .419,

1912, he hit .395, but… Ty Cobb hit .409, &

1913, he hit .373, but… Ty Cobb hit .389.

-  #1  Jackson ranked 9^th, 2^nd & 5^th in the Chalmers Most Valuable Player voting.  In

1911 behind DET’s Cobb who won his Triple Crown that year;

1912 behind BOS’s, Tris Speaker & his tremendous output on offense; &

1913 behind Walter Johnson whose career best WAR of 15.2 tells that story.

-  #2  Ruth gave praise like this to no other player.

-  #3  In 1912, Jackson had 26 3B & 226* H.  *Tied with Ty Cobb.

FCR -  Rob Shelton, San Antonio

Incorrect guesses:  George Sisler, Harry Heilmann, Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Manny Ramirez

 

 

TUESDAY  — 19-Aug-2025

Q.  Which first-ballot Hall of Famer was in the top five vote getters for American League MVP for five consecutive seasons yet never won the award?

Hint: #1  Getting recognized in the postseason, however, was another matter entirely.

Hint: #2  Since when Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle did it, he was the next American League player to hit forty home runs and knock in a hundred runs in his team's first one hundred and ten games of a season.

A.  DAVID ORTIZ  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In 2003-2007, he finished 5^th, 4^th, 2^nd, 3^rd & 4^th in AL MVP balloting.

-  #1  Ortiz was the deserving MVP of the 2004 ALCS when BOS survived being 0-3 vs. NYY to capture the AL flag.  He was also the MVP of the 2013 World Series.

-  #2  David Ortiz (110 g in 2006) (Roger Maris (106 g in 1961), Mickey Mantle (109 games in 1961)

FCR -  Dan McLaughlin, Floral Park, New York

Incorrect guesses:  Reggie Jackson, Eddie Murray, Jim Thome, Aaron Judge, Jason Giambi, Harmon Killebrew

 

 

WEDNESDAY  — 19-Aug-2025

Q.  Who is the only player to lead his league in steals twice and hit for the cycle thrice?

Hint: #1  As a college freshman, his 57 steals were more than the team totals of 158 of Division I’s 300+ teams.

Hint: #2  A fan plan helped him out of a serious slump.

A.  TREA TURNER  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Led the NL in SB in 2018 (43) & 2021 (34).  Hit for the cycle on 25-Apr-2017, 23-Jul-2019 and 30-Jun-2021.

-  #1  As a freshman at North Carolina State, he stole 57 bases.

-  #2  Watch here.

FCR -  Laura Peebles, Arlington,  Virginia

Incorrect guesses:  Billy Hamilton, Rajai Davis

 

 

 

THURSDAY  — 21-Aug-2025

Q.  Who was the first National League player to play against a team managed by his father?

Hint: #1  He was named his team’s Most Valuable Player the season they won their franchise’s first World Series championship.

Hint: #2  Chicago doesn’t blame him.

A.  MOISES ALOU  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  On Friday, 20-Jun-1997, FLA w/Moises playing CF, defeated MON, managed by Felipe, 2-1.

-  #1  In 1997 the Florida Marlins upset the favored Cleveland Indians in the WS.  Alou was acknowledged for his contributions all season long.

-  #2  In the 8^th inning of game #6 of the NLCS on 14-Oct-2003, CHC’s LF Alou had a bead on the fly ball hit by former FLA teammate Luis Castillo.  The ball drifted into foul by playable territory & as Alou prepared to make a certain catch, Cubs fan Steve Bartman deflected it trying to catch it and the ball fell harmlessly to the field.  Even if you think you know the rest of the story, here is an excellent description of what followed.

FCR -  Jaime Aron, Dallas

Incorrect guesses:  Luke Farrell, Tyler Nevin, Roberto Alomar, Eduardo Perez

 

 

FRIDAY  — 22-Aug-2025

Q.  Who, earlier this century, had a hitting streak of twenty-two games for a team that finished twenty-six games out of first place and didn’t even post a positive record during his streak?

Hint: #1  He was born near Seattle in Bellevue, Washington, because his father played for the Mariners at the time.

Hint: #2  He twice helped the Astros reach the World Series between their championship years.

Hint: #3  He was an All-Star five times.  He was a Silver Slugger winner as well the year he finished third in the league Most Valuable Player voting.

A.  MICHAEL BRANTLEY  [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  From 20-May- through 15-Jun-2012 for CLE, Brantley’s streak was 22 games.  His team was 12-10 in that period. For the year, CLE was 68-94, 4^th in the AL Central.

-  #1  His father Mickey Brantley, played for SEA 1986-1989.  Michel was born 15-May-1987.

-  #2  HOU won the WS in 2017 & 2022.  They lost the WS in 2019 & 2021.  Brantley’s last season was 2023 & he played for HOU, but was not on their postseason roster.

-  #3  Brantley made the AL All-Star Team 3 X w/CLE:  2014, 2017 & 2018 then 2 X w/HOU:  2019 & 2021 (Their AL pennant seasons).  Silver Slugger in 2014.  That same season, he finished behind only Mike Trout & Victor Martinez for AL MVP.

FCR -  Bill Rudolph, Collingswood, New Jersey

Incorrect guesses:  Jake Marisnick, Jose Altuve, Aaron Boone

 

 

SATURDAY — 23-Aug-2025

Q.  Who did Atlanta draft after he had just been voted the Washington state Gatorade Player of the Year and baseball All-State MVP?

Hint: #1He once finished second in Cy Young Award voting because that year’s winner had just set an all-time record that still stands.

Hint: #2  He was the last twentieth-century Pirates pitcher to throw back-to-back complete games.

Hint: #3  He once threw a perfect game in high school, striking out all but one of the twenty-one batters he faced.

A.  JASON SCHMIDT  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  He turned down college offers to sign with the Braves in 1991 after being drafted just ahead of Brad Radke, Derek Lowe & Steve Trachsel.

-  #1  Schmidt finished behind LAD’s Eric Gagne in 2003 NL CYA voting.  Gagne saved 55 that year to lead the NL, but went on to successfully convert a record 84 straight save opportunities.

-  #2  CGs:  27-Jun- & 02-Jul-1997.

-  #3  Attended and played for Kelso HS in Washington State.

FCR -  Terry Walters, Wabasha, Minnesota

Incorrect guesses:  Tim Wakefield

 

 

SUNDAY  —  24-Aug-2025

Q.  Who was the first pitcher since the Dead Ball Era to have three consecutive starts, each with at least six shutout innings and no more than two hits allowed?

Hint: #1  That same year, he led the majors in wins, but only finished third in Cy Young Award voting.

Hint: #2  For a period of more than six seasons, his moniker was also the name of a popular television channel.

A.  GIO GONZALEZ  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  In April 2012, Gonzalez pitched 20 innings, gave up 6 hits, 0 runs, 21 K's w/an ERA of 0.00.  The 3 starts were:  12-, 17- & 24-Apr-2012.  It last happened in 1918.  Surprisingly Gio’s feat has been matched five times since he did it.

-  #1  Led the majors w/ 21 W in 2012, but was a “bronze medalist” in the NL CYA voting behind R.A. Dickey & Clayton Kershaw.

-  #2  When Gonzalez played for WSN 2012-18,  he was, in fact, “Nat Gio”.  Although also headquartered in Washington, D.C., NatGeo (National Geographic) had no claim on him.

FCR -  John Franjione, Decatur, Georgia

Incorrect guesses:  Julio Urias, Andy Messersmith, Max Scherzer, Jake Arrietta, Dylan Cease, Don Drysdale

 

 

WEEK’S FINALE  — 24-Aug-2025

Q.  Which New York Mets prospect joined a team half-way through the season only to become the MVP of the team in their LCS victory that same year ?

Hint: #1  It’s not certain he even knows who Phil Rizzuto is.

Hint: #2  He played for six teams in is major league career, half of them situated by a bay.

A.  MARCO SCUTARO  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Scutaro played for SFG for the 1^st time on 28-Jul-2012, was asset in helping them secure the NL West Division title and then went 14 for 28 in the NLCS as the Giants won the pennant.

-  #1  With his Italian-origin family name Scutaro & with his hustle on the diamond, it would be surprising if at least a teammate or coach or two didn’t call him “Scooter”.  The 1950 AL MVP was Yankee Italian-American Phil Rizzuto who most sport writers preferred to call “Scooter”, [possibly because they couldn’t remember for sure whether his last name had 2 Z’s or 2 T’s.

-  #2  Scutaro played for OAK & SFG (San Francisco Bay) & BOS (The Bay in "the Bay State," a nickname for Massachusetts, refers to the many bays along its coastline, including Massachusetts Bay, Cape Cod Bay, Buzzards Bay, and Narragansett Bay.)

FCR -  Jon Symons, Winnipeg

Incorrect guesses:  Yoenis Céspedes, Scott Kazmir, Darryl Strawberry, Randy Myers

 

 

 

 

WEEK’S THEME – Players if note who were once PTBNL.

 

Alou............ August 16, 1990: the Pittsburgh Pirates sent Moisés Alou to the Montreal Expos to complete an earlier deal made on August 8, 1990.  August 8, 1990: The Pittsburgh Pirates sent a player to be named later, Willie Greene and Scott Ruskin to the Montreal Expos for Zane Smith.

 

Brantley...... October 3, 2008: the Milwaukee Brewers sent Michael Brantley to the Cleveland Indians to complete an earlier deal made on July 7, 2008.  July 7, 2008: The Milwaukee Brewers sent a player to be named later, Rob Bryson (minors), Zach Jackson and Matt LaPorta to the Cleveland Indians for CC Sabathia.

 

Gonzalez.... December 8, 2005: the Chicago White Sox sent Gio Gonzalez to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete an earlier deal made on November 25, 2005. November 25, 2005:  The Chicago White Sox sent a player to be named later, Daniel Haigwood (minors) and Aaron Rowand to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jim Thome and cash.

 

Jackson...... July 30, 1910: the Philadelphia Athletics sent Joe Jackson to the Cleveland Naps to complete an earlier deal made on July 23, 1910.  July 23, 1910: The Philadelphia Athletics sent a player to be named later and Morrie Rath to the Cleveland Naps for Bris Lord.

 

Ortiz............ September 13, 1996: the Seattle Mariners sent David Ortiz to the Minnesota Twins to complete an earlier deal made on August 29, 1996.  August 29, 1996: The Seattle Mariners sent a player to be named later to the Minnesota Twins for Dave Hollins.

 

Schmidt...... August 30, 1996: the Atlanta Braves sent Jason Schmidt to the Pittsburgh Pirates to complete an earlier deal made on August 28, 1996.  August 28, 1996: The Atlanta Braves sent a player to be named later, Corey Pointer (minors) and Ron Wright to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Denny Neagle.

 

Scutaro....... August 30, 2000: the Cleveland Indians sent Marco Scutaro to the Milwaukee Brewers to complete an earlier deal made on July 28, 2000.  July 28, 2000:  The Cleveland Indians sent a player to be named later, Kane Davis, Paul Rigdon and Richie Sexson to the Milwaukee Brewers for Jason Bere, Bob Wickman and Steve Woodard.

 

Turner......... June 14, 2015: the San Diego Padres sent Trea Turner to the Washington Nationals to complete an earlier deal made on December 19, 2014.  December 19, 2014:  The San Diego Padres sent a player to be named later and Joe Ross to the Washington Nationals.  The Tampa Bay Rays sent José Castillo, Ryan Hanigan, Wil Myers and Gerardo Reyes to the San Diego Padres.  The Washington Nationals sent Travis Ott (minors) and Steven Souza Jr. to the Tampa Bay Rays.  The San Diego Padres sent Jake Bauers, René Rivera and Burch Smith to the Tampa Bay Rays.

First Correct Respondent identifying theme – Randall Chandler, Germantown, Tennessee (after the Tre Turner question)

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

Tues    -  Players who had the most RBI in their final season

Thur        World Series winners who have finished top 5 of MVP voting but never won the award.

 

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