MONDAY — 11-Nov
Q. Who
is the only player in the Expansion Era to have more than 420 total bases in a
season?
Hint: #1
He is the only player to hit twenty home runs in a single calendar month
in the majors.
Hint: #2
The 145th and 146th home runs of his career were
hit in the same inning.
A. SAMMY SOSA [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Sosa’s 425 Total Bases in
2001 is the most in a year since Stan Musial posted 429 in 1948.
-
#1 In July of 1998, Sosa went
deep and hopped 20 times.
-
#2 On 16-May-1996, in the 7th
inning, Sosa led off with a HR to RF off HOU’s Jeff Tabaka. Then, 2 outs later, Sosa victimized Jim
Dougherty, going to LF-CF.
FCR - Jimmy
Goggin, Williamsburg, Virginia
Incorrect guesses: Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds,
Carlos Bertran, Robinson Cano
MONDAY MATTERS — 12-Nov
Q. Who
is the only player to receive the Platinum Glove Award an unthinkable six years
running?
Hint: #1
He was the first player to win a Gold Glove Award in his rookie season.
Hint: #2
Not too bad with the bat either.
He led the National League in
home runs three times, led in doubles once and led the majors in RBI twice.
A. NOLAN ARENADO [B-R
Bio]
-
Ans. From 2017 through 2022,
Arenado was acknowledged as the finest defensive
player in the entire National League. 4 X w/COL & 2X w/STL. This year’s
winners.
-
#1 Arenado won the NL GG for 3B from
his 1st season, 2013 and didn’t stop winning for 10 years—through
2022.
-
#2 NL HR leader 2015 (42),
2016 (41) & 2018 (39); in 2B in 2017 (43). MLB RBI leader 2015 (130) &
2016 (133).
FCR - Jake
Rinloan, Chico, California
Incorrect guesses: Jim Rice, Bengie Molina
TUESDAY — 12-Nov
Q. Which
six-time Silver Slugger Award winner has been voted MVP of a postseason series
and the league MVP in the same season?
Hint: #1
He has played for teams in two leagues without changing positions or
cities.
Hint: #2
He has more postseason home runs than either Derek Jeter or David Ortiz.
A. JOSE ALTUVE [BR
Bio]
-
Ans. Altuve won the SS in 2014-2018,
2022. He was MVP of the 2019 ALCS & of the 2017 AL
season.
-
#1 He played for the NL Houston
Astros 2011-2012. Has played for the AL
Houston Astros 2013-2024.
-
#2 Altuve = 27 HR in postseason
play; Jeter = 20; Pujols = 19. Full list.
FCR - Jake
Hicks, Stevenson, Alabama
Incorrect guesses: Sammy Sosa, Carlos Beltran, Kyle Schwarber, Jimmy
TUESDAY THE 2nd TIME — 12-Nov
Q. Who
was the National League home run leader the season the Yankees first played in
the World Series?
Hint: #1
He is the only twentieth-century second baseman of six feet four inches
or taller with 1,000 games in the majors and at least 100 at second base.
Hint: #2
There is controversy surrounding his election to the Hall of Fame.
A. GEORGE KELLY [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Kelly’s 23 HR paced
the NL in 1921, setting a new Giants franchise record. (There’s no purpose mentioning who led the
other league that year.)
-
#1 Teammates called him “Long
George Kelly” or “High Pockets Kelly”. He
stood out at least for his height. For example.
-
#2 Kelly was elected to the
Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. However, his selection
is controversial. With his modest career
WAR (25.9), most now say he was undeserving of the recognition & was only
elected by the Veterans Committee in 1973 because it consisted of his former Giants
teammates, Frankie Frisch & Bill Terry, themselves gaining HOF status only
after 7 & 15 votes respectively.
FCR - David
Holtz, Northridge, California
Incorrect guesses: Rogers Hornsby, Jeff Kent, Dave Bancroft, Frankie
Frisch
WEDNESDAY — 13-Nov
Q. Who
was the first player after Carl Yastrzemski to lead his league in all three
legs of the Triple Crown?
Hint: #1
He hit forty home runs for the team who released him right after the
season. He was picked up by another team
and promptly hit forty for them.
Hint: #2
He is the only player to be hit-by-pitch each of the first three games
in a season.
A. ANDRES GALARRAGA [SABR
Bio]
-
Ans. In 1993 w/COL, Galarraga led
MLB in BA: w\.370. In 1996,
Galarraga’s 47 HR led the NL. His
150 RBI led the NL & the Majors, completing all 3 stats
needed for a TC, if it were done that way.
-
#1 He hit 41 HR but was released
on 27-Oct-1997 by COL. ATL signed him 20-Nov-1997
& the following season he hit 44 HR for them.
-
#2 Was plunked playing for ATL by
former teammates on COL. On 03-, 04-, & 05-Apr-2000,. He was drilled by Pedro
Astacio, Rolando Arrojo & Brian Bohanon respectively.
FCR - Chris
Connor, Allen, Texas
Incorrect guesses: Miguel Cabrera, Frank Robinson, Manny Ramirez
THURSDAY — 14-No
Q. Who
is the only player to win the silver Slugger Awards at two positions in the
same season?
Hint: #1
This six-time All-Star was the next player to hit four home runs in a
game after Scooter did it.
Hint: #2
He signed with a new team the very next season and proceeded to lead the
majors in Runs-Batted-In and Total Bases and help lead his new team to a World
Series Championship.
A. J.D. MARTINEZ [B-R
Bio]
-
Ans. In 2018, he became the first
player in MLB history to win the award at 2 different positions in a single
season. He won the SS as both an
outfielder & as a DH playing for the BOS.
-
#1 Scotter Gennett hit 4 HR in a
G on 06-Jun-2017 for CIN. Three months later Martinez had a great day
on 04-Sep-2017 when he hit 4 out at
Chavez Ravine. Martinez was an AS in 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 & 2023.
-
#2 After being granted fee agency
by ARI after the season in 2017, he signed with BOS & became an
important part of their WS run, trailing only MVP
Mookie Betts in WAR for the year & finishing 4th in the MVP
voting himself.
FCR - Gabe
Kinstlinger, Reisterstown, Maryland
Incorrect guesses: Shohei Ohtani, Josh Hamilton, Eddie Mathews
FRIDAY — 15-Nov
Q. Which
one-time San Francisco Giants utility infielder/outfielder is the only Baseball
America Minor League Player of the Year from the Tennessee Smokies?
Hint: #1
His teammates dubbed him “Sparkles”.
Hint: #2
The year he won his first NL MVP, he led the senior circuit in WAR and helped
his team win an award they had not won since radio was widely available.
A. KRIS BRYANT [B-R
Bio]
-
Ans. The Smokies are an AA affiliate of CHC &
Bryant won the award in 2014. W/SFG, he
played 26 G at 1B & 30 G in the OF, all positions.
-
#1 Other nicknames he has had to
abide are “Silk” & KB.
-
#2 CHC won the WS in 2016, their
1st since 1908. Bryant’s WAR
was 7.3 & his MVP was 1-vote shy of
being unanimous.
FCR - Jesse
Asbury, Norman, Oklahoma
Incorrect guesses: Ernie Banks, Joey Amalfitano
FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL — 15-16-Nov
Q. Which
former Spinner holds the Toronto Blue Jays record for being hit by a pitch the
most times in one season?
Hint: #1
His final stop as a pro was as a Bluefish.
Hint: #2
“Ahoy! I see trouble ahead!”
A. SHEA HILLENBRAND [Wiki Bio]
-
Ans. Hillebrand was plunked 22
X in 2005, which led the majors. In 1996,
he played 72 games for the Low-A Lowell
Spinners in the New York–Penn
League.
-
#1 He called it a career in 2012 after
playing in the Atlantic
League, batting .194 for the Bridgeport Bluefish.
-
#2 Hillenbrand is perhaps
infamously remembered for an off-the-field controversy during his time with TOR.
In 2006, he wrote, "This is a
sinking ship" on the clubhouse bulletin board, criticizing the team's
management & atmosphere. The
incident led to a confrontation with manager John Gibbons & to Hillenbrand’s
eventual release from the team.
FCR - Mark
DeLodovico, Rockville, Maryland
Incorrect guesses:
SATURDAY — 16-Nov
Q. Who is
the winningest manager in the history of the Toledo Mud Hens?
Hint: #1
He was the Detroit Tigers’ manager for their final season at Tiger
Stadium.
Hint: #2
He was Phil Niekro's 3,000th career strikeout victim.
A. LARRY PARRISH [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Parrish led Toledo for 9
seasons: 2003-06; 2008-10 & 2014-15. His record is highlighted by
back-to-back Governors' Cup championships in 2005 &
2006.
-
#1 Parrish led DET for 2 years,
1998 & 1999, the latter being the last year of that storied baseball domicile.
-
#2 K’ed by Knucksie on 04-Jul-1984, 4th inning;
advanced to 1B on PB. Six Rangers struck
out, no one more than once.
FCR - Vince
Guerrieri, Elyria, Ohio
Incorrect guesses: Jim Leyland, Sparky Anderson, Brad Ausmus,
Alan Trammell, Buddy Bell, Lance Parrish
SATURDAY BONUS — 16-Nov
Q. Which
former Dodger and Platinum Glove Award winner hit two home runs in his second
major league game?
Hint: #1
He was one of the rare players to receive and sign a ten-year contract.
Hint: #2
In four separate seasons, he finished fifth, fourth, third and second in
league MVP voting.
A. MANNY MACHADO [B-R
Bio]
-
Ans. In the G on 10-Aug-2012, Machado homered off KCR’s
Luke Hochevar in the 5th and 6th innings. In 2013, he also won the Platinum
Glove Award, recognizing him as the best overall defensive player in
the entire American League regardless of position. He played for LAD in 2018, helping them reach
the World Series.
-
#1 In February 2019, Machado
signed a 10-year, $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres.
-
#2 He finished 5th (2016), 4th (2015), 3rd (2020) & 2nd (2022).
FCR - Scott
Kent, Celina, Texas
Incorrect guesses: Trea Turner, Adrian Gonzalez, Adrian Beltre
SUNDAY — 17-Nov
Q. Which
one-time Tiger wore a hat size greater than Bruce Bochy’s?
Hint: #1
He was the next batter to homer in each of seven consecutive games after
Barry Bonds did it.
Hint: #2
He led his avian college team to the NCAA tournament twice.
A. KEVIN MENCH [Wiki Bio]
-
Ans. Boche’s is famously 8⅛, but
Mench’s is 8¼ ! [To determine hat size,
divide the circumference of the skull in inches by π (3.14159, etc.) &
round up to the nearest ⅛".] Mench also
played for the Hanshin Tigers of the Japan Western League in 1990.
-
#1 His rampage of 7 straight Gs w/a
HR = 21-; 22-; 23-; 24-; 25-; 26-; & 28-Apr-2006. Bonds’s string was 12-20-Apr-2004.
-
#2 A native of Delaware, Mench
led the U. of Delaware Blue Hens to the NCAA tournament
in 1998 & 1999.
FCR - Mark
Hayes, Dumfries, Virginia
Incorrect guesses:
SUNDAY EXTENDED — 17-Nov
Q. Which
Sooner had the most American League strikeouts over his first five full years
prior to 1950?
Hint: #1
He was only the second player on the home team to hit a home run into
the upper deck of Municipal Stadium in Cleveland.
Hint: #2
He had his best day, however, in his last year in the majors and on the
road to boot.
-
Ans. Seerey was born in Oklahoma,
the “Sooner State” & posted K totals of 99, 97,
107, 66 & 102, totaling 465.
-
#1 This HR feat had only been done
previously by fellow Indians outfielder Jeff Heath. The other players to do it are Rudy York, Ted
Williams, George McQuinn & Dale Mitchell.
-
#2 On 18-Jul-1948, Seerey was playing
for the White Sox against the A’s in Shibe Park in Philadelphia. He went deep four (4!) times at the expense
of some better-than-average pitching.
Also, during that game he also qualified for this week’s theme.
FCR - Bill
Rudolph, Collingswood, New Jersey
Incorrect guesses: Pete Incaviglia, Allie Reynolds.
WEEK’S
FINALE — 17-Nov
Q. Who broke Cody Bellinger’s record for most
home runs in a calendar month by a National League rookie?
Hint:
#1 In August of that season, he became
the first player in MLB history to hit 7 home runs in his first 10 games.
Hint:
#2 In his first complete season in the
majors, he set MLB records for… most home runs in his first career 12, 14, 16,
17 & 25 games.
Hint: #3 He received not a single vote for
consideration as the National League Rookie of the Year.
A. ARISTEDES
AQUINO [B-R Bio]
- Ans. The
Cincinnati Reds’ Aquino broke the rookie mark of 13 HR in a month set by LAD’s Bellinger in June 2017, by hitting 14 in August
2019.
- #1 On 10-Aug-2019, he hit three home runs in the game against
the Chicago Cubs, becoming the first player in MLB history to hit seven home
runs in their first 10 career games.
- #2 Elias
Sports says Aquino in 2019 hit the most home runs of any player in his…
First 12
career games (8);
First 14
career games (9);
First 16
career games (10);
First 17
career games (11); &
First 22
career games (12).
- #3 The
year was filled with excellent rookie performances.
Sure, but ZERO votes?
FCR - Bruce McClure, New London, New Hampshire
Incorrect
guesses: Ronald Acuna Jr., Juan Soto,
Kris Bryant, Yasiel Puig, Jeff Francoeur, Pete Alonso, Patrick Wisdom
WEEK’S THEME
– Players who hit home runs in each of three consecutive innings in one game
Player/Date Inn/P Inn/P Inn/P Team Opp
Altuve 1 2 3 HOU TEX
5-Sep-2023 Eovaldi Eovaldi-b Eovaldi-c
Aquino 2 3 4 CIN CHC
10-Aug-2019 Hendricks Hendricks-b Maples
Arenado 4th 5th 6th COL SDP
19-Jul-2017 Richard Q’bush Q’bush-b
Bryant 7 8 9 CHC WSN
17-May-2019 Miller Barraclough Grace
Galarraga 6 7 8 COL SDP
25-Jun-1995 Sanders Blair Valenzuela
Hillenbrand 4 5 6 ARI COL
7-Jul-2003 Jennings Jennings-b Cruz
Kelly 3 4 5 NYG CHC
17-Sep-1923 Aldridge Aldridge-b Aldridge-c
Machado 1 2 3 BAL CHW
07-Aug-2016 Shields Shields-b Albers
Martinez* 7 8 9 ARI LAD
4-Sep-2017 Baez Fields Font
Mench 5 6 7 TEX LAA
30-Jun-2005 Peralta Woods Woods-b
Parrish 3 4 5 MON ATL
30-Jul-1978 Boggs Skok Skok-b
Seerey* 4 5 6 CHW PHA
18-Jul-1948 Savage Schieb Schieb-b
Sosa 3rd 4th 5th CHC COL
10-Aug-2002 Chacon Chacon-b Corey
*Hit a 4th HR
in the same game.
First
Correct Respondent identifying theme – Warren Kent, Whitehall, Michigan
(after Hillenbrand)
Tues - Players
who won particular awards exactly six times
If you know
someone who would enjoy receiving daily Horsehide Trivia questions, they need
only drop an email request to horsehidetrivia@aol.com.
Click here
=> THIS WEEK’s quiz, compete with
questions, answers and even the incorrect guesses.
Scroll back
to see previous Horsehide Trivia posts as far back as 2010. Quizzes before that may also be available
upon request.
Horsehide
Trivia encourages independent research. ⚾️
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60401585/1000929928.jpg.1531873090.jpg){kind=link}
