MONDAY — 02-Jun-2025
Q. Which
catcher caught four shutouts in one World Series?
Hint: #1
He introduced the use of shin guards as well as other protective
equipment for catchers.
Hint: #2
His nickname was based on the place where he claimed to have been born.
Hint: #3
He had such a quick temper that SABR describes him as “…inherently
tactless.”
-
Ans. In the 1905 World Series,
all five games were complete-game shutouts. Christy Mathewson threw three of
them, Joe McGinnity tossed the fourth—and Bresnahan was behind the plate for
all four Giants victories, as well as for their lone loss in G #2.
-
#1 A New York Times article from
1907 said, ”On Opening Day, Bresnahan created somewhat of a sensation when he
appeared behind the bat for the start of play, by donning cricket leg guards.” He was also an early adopter of the padded
chest protector and batting helmet. Interesting
addition details here.
-
#2 Bresnahan regularly insisted
that he was born in Tralee, Ireland—his parents’ home town. In fact, he was born & died in Toledo,
Ohio. The nickname “The Duke of Tralee”,
however, stuck.
-
#3 His long history
of ejections as a player & manager attest to his combative
personality.
FCR - Mary
Shea, Milwaukee
Incorrect guesses: Ray Shawk, Chief Meyers
TUESDAY — 03-Jun-2025
Q. Which
Hall of Famer once had a seven-for-seven day?
Hint: #1
He once caught all three games of a tripleheader, then caught both games
of a doubleheader the following day.
Hint: #2
The fact that he stole 196 bases in his career would catch most fans by surprise.
A. WILBERT ROBINSON [SABR
Bio]
-
Ans. Better known for managing
Brooklyn to 2 National League pennants, “Uncle Robbie” also had a day at the
plate that will likely never be forgotten.
On 10-Jun-1892(1), while catching for the NL Baltimore Orioles, he went
7-for-7 with 6 singles, a double & 11 RBI in a 9-inning win over the St.
Louis Browns (NL). Click here for details.
-
#1 According to Baseball’s 1st
Stars, Robinson once caught all 3 games of a tripleheader, then both ends
of a doubleheader the next day. (Additional source welcome.)
-
#2 Listed at 5'8" tall &
weighing 215 pounds in his playing days, Robinson did not likely appear as a
threat on the basepaths. Perhaps that lulled
opposition into paying less attention than they should have?
FCR - Ted
Cox, Chicago
Incorrect guesses: Ray Schalk, Chief Myers, Mickey Cochrane,
Buck Ewing
TUESDAY TWICE — 04-Jun-2025
Q. Who
is the only person in MLB history to spend his entire playing career with one
team and entire managing career with another team with 10+ years in both places?
Hint: #1
…and never had to relocate his family.
Hint: #2
As a player, he helped his team win three division titles, four
postseason berths and two World Series championships.
Hint: #3
As a manager, he led his team to six division titles, four second-place
finishes, seven postseason spots and the only World Series title in that
franchise’s history.
A. MIKE SCIOSCIA [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Scioscia was being drafted LAD
in 1976 & played 13 years for them, 1980 to 1992. After attempts to get on with other teams, he
& retired on 02-Aug-1994, just before the 1994 strike. He managed the LAA for 19 years, through two
franchise name changes but remained with one team.
-
#1 With both clubs in Southern
California, he never had to move his family or leave the region, & so never
brought a title home to his native Philadelphia.
-
#2 As a player, Scioscia helped
LAD to division titles in 1983, 1985 and 1988, with World Series wins in 1981
and 1988.
-
#3 As manager of the Angels, he
led them to six division titles and their first and only World Series title in
2002.
FCR - Fred
Worth, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Incorrect guesses: Walter Alston, Tom Kelly, Bobby Cox
WEDNESDAY — 04-Jun-2025
Q. Which
Ivy-League grad had attended Carl Yastrzemski's final game as a young Red Sox
fan?
Hint: #1
He (Not Yaz) was the first catcher to wear the Fox Sports Catcher-Cam.
Hint: #2
This catcher once tripled twice in one game a month after he was thrown
out three times trying to steal in another game.
Hint: #3
He got his 1,000th career hit during the game in which he
tied the National League record for most times grounding into double plays in a
season.
A. BRAD AUSMUS [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Ausmus was 14 when he
attended Yaz’s final
game on 02-Oct-1983 at Fenway Park. Yaz, age 44 & 41 days,
went 1-for-3. Ausmus went on to earn his
degree in government from Dartmouth College.
-
#1 He was the first to wear the
Fox Sports Catcher-Cam in a game, 02-Aug-1997, sample viewable here. here.
-
#2 G w/2 3b = 06-Jul-1999. G w/3 CS = 12-Jun-1999 (14 innings).
-
#3 Milestone H game = 21-Sep-2002; 30
GIDP, tied with Ernie Lombardi in 1938.
FCR - Adam
Foldes, New York City
Incorrect guesses: Ron Darling, Jason Kendall, Carlton Fisk, Ivan
Rodriguez, Evan Gattis, Craig Biggio
MIDWEEK BONUS — 04-Jun-2025
Q. Who
is the only native of the state of Utah to become a major league manager?
Hint: #1
He oversaw the major league efforts of four Cy Young Award winners, four
Rookies of the Year, seven MVPs and seven players who are now in the Hall of
Fame as well as those of the first Japanese-born player to play in the majors.
Hint: #2
He was one baseball’s most infamous sign stealers.
A. HERMAN FRANKS [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Franks was born in the mining
community of Price, UT on 04-Jan-1914. He managed SFG for 4 seasons
& CHC for 3.
-
#1 Franks managed SFG for 4
seasons: 1965-1969 & managed CHC for 3: 1977-1979. (Full list of the notables he managed, available
on request.)
-
#2 It was Franks in the center
field bleachers with a telescope during the 1951 NL
pennant race.
FCR - Jesse
Asbury, Norman, Oklahoma
Incorrect guesses: Jim Tracy, Charley Fox, Alvin Dark, Bobby
Mitchell
THURSDAY — 05-Jun-2025
Q. Which
one-time member of the New York Metropolitans would play thirteen straight
seasons in the same city in his next assignment?
Hint: #1
He became the first catcher to play directly behind the batter on every
play.
Hint: #2
He was the first president of the Baseball Players Protective
Association.
A. CHARLES ZIMMER [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Zimmer caught 6 games for NYP f the AA in 1886. He played in Cleveland from 1887 to 1899, for
the Blues in 1887 & 1888 then for the Spiders from 1889 through 1898, the
edge of their demise.
-
#1 Zimmer was with Cleveland
(American Association) in 1887 when he became the
first catcher to play directly behind the batter on every play. Previously,
catchers would move farther back of the plate with runners on base.
-
#2 Nearly 100 players attended
the first meeting in June 1900 &
elected Zimmer. CHW player/manager Clark
Griffith was later name vice president.
FCR - Steven
Wright, Naperville, Illinois
Incorrect guesses: Nat Hicks, Buck Ewing
FRIDAY — 06-Mar-2025
Q. What
former manager's son represented the winning side in the first arbitration case
in which a player was awarded $10M + ?
Hint: #1
He, not his son, holds a masters degree
in Athletic Administration from Montclair State.
Hint: #2
He replaced John Roseboro behind the plate in the third inning in San
Francisco on 22-Aug-1965.
A. JEFF TORBORG [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Jeff Torborg’s son, Greg Torborg in the Alfonso
Soriano's case vs. Washington Nationals.
-
#1 Montclair State University is in Essex County New Jersey.
-
#2 Some say it was a scar on the game.
FCR - Dan
Schoenholz, Walnut Creek, California
Incorrect guesses: Doug Camilli, Yogi Berra, Dick Dietz
NOTE:
Torborg died earlier this year.
Here is a very nice tribute: https://ripbaseball.com/2025/01/29/obituary-jeff-torborg-1941-2025/
SATURDAY — 07-Mar-2025
Q. Which
Down Easter is the only manager to lead the Red Sox to back-to-back World
Series titles?
Hint: #1
He is the only pre-expansion manager to win back-to-back World Series
titles yet not be elected to the Hall of Fame.
Hint: #2
As a player, he received American League Most Valuable Player votes the
year teammate Tris Speaker won the award.
A. BILL CARRIGAN [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. BOS WS wins: 1915, 1916.
Carrigan was born, raised & died in Lewiston,
Maine.
-
#1 Carrigan’s luck with the voters:
Hall of Fame vote
1937 BBWAA ( 2.5%)
1938 BBWAA ( 1.5%)
1939 BBWAA ( 0.7%)
1945 BBWAA ( 1.2%)
-
#2 Carrigan tied for 18th
in the 1912 AL MVP vote.
FCR - Art
Mugalian, Minneapolis
Incorrect guesses: Jake Stahl, Jack Berry
WEEKEND BONUS — 07-Mar-2025
Q. Which
former Tiger, who fits this week’s theme, played fifteen years in the majors for
seven different teams?
Hint: #1
Among his teammates from fourteen countries during his career were four
Cy Young Award winners; Three Platinum Glove winners; Eight Rookies of the
Year; Two future managers; Eight World Series MVPs; Four All-Star Game MVPs;
Seven league Most Valuable Players; and… Eight players who have since
been elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Hint: #2
He is the first professional baseball player to appear on Dancing
with the Stars.
A. DAVID ROSS [Wiki
Bio]
-
Ans. Ross attended Auburn
University (the Tigers) before playing in MLB with the
Dodgers, Pirates, Padres, Reds, Red Sox, Braves & Cubs.
-
#1 [Details
available upon request.] Corrections
welcome.
-
#2 In March 2017, Ross was paired with professional
dancer Lindsay Arnold. They finished as runners-up to winners Rashad
Jennings & Emma Slater.
FCR - Steve
Murfin, Olney, Maryland
Incorrect guesses: Dave Stewart, Johnny Damon, Octovia Dotel, Cito
Gaston
SUNDAY — 08-Mar-2025
Q. Which
former Bluejay was the only member of the U.S. team in both the Pan American
Games and Intercontinental Cup in 1987?
Hint: #1
He became a big-league manager and guided his expansion club to eighty-five-win
seasons in five of his seven full years at the helm.
Hint: #2
He led them to their first postseason in more than two decades.
A. SCOTT SERVAIS [Wiki Bio]
-
Ans. He hit .380/.405/.577 that
summer, trailing only Mike Fiore in average & better than Tino Martinez or
Frank Thomas. Servais played for the
Creighton University Bluejays.
-
#1 As Seattle Mariners manager,
Servais led them to records of 86-76 (2016), 89-73 (2018), 90-72 (2021 & 2022) & 88-74 (2023) and to their first
playoff berth in 21 years.
-
#2 After their dramatic 2001 division title,
everybody went home at the end of the regular season until 2022, an interregnum
of 21 years.
FCR - Douglas
Greenwald, San Francisco
Incorrect guesses: Cito Gaston,
WEEK’S FINALE — 08-Jun-2025
Q. Who
won the Manager of the Year Award just a few weeks after he had been fired as a
manager?
Hint: #1
In his only All-Star game as a player, he was the only player on either
team, starter or reserve, who didn’t see any action on the field.
Hint: #2
He was the catcher for both Dwight Gooden’s no-hitter and David Cone’s
perfect game.
A. JOE GIRARDI [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. After leading the 2006 Florida Marlins to a much-better-then-expected 78-84 record
in his first year as a major league manager, Marlins owner, Jeffrey Loria fired Girardi just 2
days after the end of the season.
-
#1 In the 2000 ASG, Girardi only watched from the sidelines.
-
#2 Gooden’s = 14-May-1996; Cone’s = 18-July-1999.
FCR - D.J.
Pisano, Cape Town, South Africa
Incorrect guesses:
WEEK’S THEME
– Men who have caught a no-hitter and managed a no-hitter
Theme idea sent by: David
Washburn, Marrietta Georgia: Tue, Feb 23, 2021, 8:16 am
Name Caught Managed WAR
Ausmus........... Roy Oswalt,
Billy Wagner,
et al..... Taylor Cole, Felix Peña
...................................... 11-Jun-2003............................. 12-Jul-2019
Bresnahan.................... Wiltse Hooks......................... Jimmy Lavender
...................................... 04-Jul-1908........................... 31-Aug-1915(1)
Carrigan................... Smokey Joe Wood
..................................... 29-Jul-1911(1)
...................................... Rube Foster............................. Rube Foster
...................................... 21-Jun-1916............................. 21-Jun-1916
.................................... Dutch Leonard......................... Dutch Leonard
..................................... 30-Aug-1916........................... 30-Aug-1916
Franks........................... Tex Carlton............................ Gaylord Perry
...................................... 30-Apr-1940............................ 17-Sep-1968
Girardi........................ Dwight
Gooden...................... Anibal
Sanchez
.................................... 14-May-1996.......................... 06-Sep-2006
..................................... David
Cone*
..................................... 18-July-1999
Robinson........................ Ed Seward............................. Dazzy Vance
..................................... 26-Jul-1888........................... 13-Sep-1925(1)
....................................... Bill Hawke
..................................... 16-Aug-1893
Ross............................... Jake Arrieta.............................. Alec Mills
...................................... 21-Apr-2016............................ 13-Sep-2020
Scioscia................... Fernando Valenzuela..................... Ervin Santana
...................................... 29-Jun-1990............................. 27-Jul-2011
...................................... Kevin Gross............................ Jered Weaver
..................................... 17-Aug-1992........................... 02-May-2012
Servais........................... Darryl Kile............................. James Paxton
...................................... 08-Sep-1993............................ 08-May-2018
Torborg....................... Sandy Koufax......................... Wilson Alvarez
..................................... 09-Sep-1965*........................... 11-Aug-1991
....................................... Bill Singer
...................................... 20-Jul-1970
...................................... Nolan Ryan
..................................... 15-May-1973
Zimmer........................... Cy Young.............................. Chick Fraser
...................................... 18-Sep-1897............................ 18-Sep-1903
*Perfect
game. Cy Young’s next no-hitter
was a perfecto.
First
Correct Respondent identifying theme – Joe Haardt, Bethany Beach, Delaware
(after Scioscia)
Incorrect
theme guesses:
Mon - Players
who pioneered a new piece of equipment
Tues - HOF
catchers
-
Catchers
week
-
Players
who caught 10+ years and managed 10+years
-
Catchers
who have won pennants as both a player and as a manager
Wed - Former
“Dodger” catchers who became managers
-
Catchers who managed
Thur - Catchers
who played for a team, then managed another franchise that played in (or once
played in) that city
-
Catchers
who managed in the same city for a different team
Fri - Catchers
who played 10+ years, later managed, had a year that he was over 50%
successful in stolen bases.
-
Catchers
who managed a team they had played on
-
Catchers
who caught multiple no-hitters
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Click here
=> THIS WEEK’s quiz, compete with
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upon request.
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