Monday, May 13, 2024

202r-05-06 Mems of the 300/300 club (HR/SB)

MONDAY  — 06-May

Q.  Which avian-nicknamed five-tool player stayed and starred on the team that drafted him for eleven seasons then left to join a less successful team but won the league Most Valuable Player in his first year with the new team?

Hint: #1  In spite of a career that included being Rookie of the year, MVP, eight times an All-Star, eight times a Gold Glove winner, four times a Silver Slugger and a Home Run Derby winner, he was not elected to the Hall of Fame until his ninth (9th!) year on the ballot.

Hint: #2  He once received five (5!) intentional bases-on-balls in a single game.

A.  ANDRE DAWSON   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Dawson played for MON 1976-86; CHC 1987-92; BOS 1993-94; & FLA 1995-96.  NL MVP in 1987 w/CHC.

-  #1  Elected to the Hall in 2010 receiving 77.1% of votes possible after not having the 75% required each year 2002-2009 with percentages ranging from 45.3% in 2002 to 67.0% in 2009.

-  #2  In a 16-inning G on 22-May-1990, CIN manager Lou Piniella chose to put Dawson on 5 X &.  Neither Ted Williams, nor Barry Bonds nor anyone else ever received that many in 1 G.  Excellent write-up here.

FCR -  D.J. Kuzma, Alpharetta, Georgia

Incorrect guesses:  Joe Medwick, Chick Hafey, Birdie Tebbetts, George Crowe, Robin Roberts, Frank Robinson

 

 

TUESDAY  — 07-May

Q.  Who, in his thirteenth season as a major leaguer, hit two home runs in one inning, the second one a grand slam, against the team he would be playing for the very next season?

Hint: #1  He was the batter hit by pitch to end the possibility of  a perfect game for Pedro Martinez.

Hint: #2  He was the first player to collect ten RBI in a National League Division Series.

A.   REGGIE SANDERS   [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  In a G on 20-Aug-2003, PIT embarrassed STL in St. Louis 14-0, Sanders hit a solo HR after the 1st 2 batters had done the same.  Then with those same 2 teammates plus another on base, Sanders homered again.  Watch it here.  Sanders played for  STL 2004 & 2005 helping them reach the postseason both years.

-  #1  In the 8th inning on 13-Apr-1994, Pedro Martinez’ bid for a perfect game was ended when a pitch struck Sanders.  Wrongly thinking the HBP had been intentional, Sanders charged at Martinez on the mound.

-  #2  Sanders had 10 RBI in his career’s last LDS in 3 G in 2005.

FCR -  David Ramsden, Barcelona, Spain

Incorrect guesses:  Paul Molitor, Jim Thome Bip Roberts, Gary Sheffield

 

 

WEDNESDAY  — 08-May

Q.  Which batter struck out more times in one season than anyone else in the history of the Giants franchise?

Hint: #1  In the Expansion Era, for a single Giants season, he tops the lists for most runs scored, not to mention at-bats and plate appearances.

Hint: #2  By the time he had racked up his fifth thirty/thirty season, only four other players had even done it once.

A.  BOBBY BONDS   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Bonds. Sr. had 189 K in 1970.  He’s also in 2nd, 4th, 10th (tied with himself) & 12th place on that list.

-  #1  In spite of spending only 7 of his 14 major league seasons w/SFG, Bonds Sr. had 134 R in 1970, & had 663 AB & 745 PA the same season

-  #2  Stealing 30 bases & hitting 30 HR in the same season was first done in 1922 by Ken Williams of the Browns.  Willie Mays did it twice.  Hank Aaron & Tommy Harper each added one.  Bonds Sr did in 1969, 1973, 1975, 1977 & 1978.

FCR -  Chris Betsch, New Albany, Indiana

Incorrect guesses:  Barry Bonds, Willie Mays

 

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  — 08-May

Q.  Who is the only player to win MVPs in consecutive seasons playing for different teams?

Hint: #1  He is the only player to homer in six consecutive games twice in one season.

Hint: #2  He was the third runner out in Mickey Morandini’s unassisted triple play.

Hint: #3  Few remember that he won the Gold Glove award eight times.

A.  BARRY BONDS   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Bonds was NL MVP for PIT in 1992 then for SFG in 1993.

-  #1  In 2001, Bonds hit 6 HR on April 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 & 18 then on May 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22.  (Looks like it was shaping up to be pretty good year for him, eh?)

-  #2  On 20-Sep-1992 in Philadelphia in the 6th inning, PIT’s Jeff King lined out to 2B Morandini who tagged 2nd base to get Andy Van Slyke and then Bonds as he arrived from first.

-  #3  Won NL OF GG 1990-1994, 1996-1998.

FCR -  Rich Lerner, Silver Spring, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Eddie Murray, Alex Rodriguez, Frank Robinson

 

 

THURSDAY  — 09-May

Q.  Tony LaRussa, Robin Yount and who played shortstop at eighteen years old for an American League team in the Expansion Era of the 20th century?  [Played all Gs @ SS.]

Hint: #1  He is the only American League shortstop to hit more than forty home runs in a season.

Hint: #2 After his playing career he (and a partner) attempted to purchase a franchise in the WNBA.

A.  ALEX RODRIGUEZ   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  LaRussa played for KCA in 1963; Yount played for MIL in 1974; A-Rod played SS for SEA in 1994.

-  #1  He hit 42 HR in 1999 & 41 in 2000 for SEA.  He hit 57 HR for TEX in 2002.

-  #2  Rodriguez & billionaire Marc Lore attempted to purchase the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx and the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves.  After extended negotiations Rodriguez & Lore each now own 20% of the Timberwolves franchise with 60% remaining with the original owner.

FCR -  Tom Nealis, Baltimore

Incorrect guesses:  Rico Petrocelli, Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken

 

 

FRIDAY — 10-May

Q.  Whose legacy has special places for Joe Nuxhall, Warren Spahn, Jack Curtis, Curt Simmons, Dob Nottebart and Mike Corkins?

Hint: #1  Of the seventeen players with more than 1,835 career runs batted in, he is the only one who never led his league in RBI for a season.

Hint: #2  He is the only player ever traded for Charlie Williams.

A.  WILLIE MAYS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  These 6 pitchers were, in order, the ones who surrendered Mays’s 100th, 200th, 300th, 400th, 500th & 600th career HRs.

-  #1  Although finishing in the Top Ten in RBI production in the majors 11 X, he never was #1 in any year.  He did, however, lead the Giants in RBI in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958t, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 & 1966.

-  #2  11-May-1972: Traded by SFG to NYM for Charlie Williams & $50,000.

FCR -  David Skelton, Woodway, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Rafael Palmeiro

 

 

SATURDAY — 11-May

Q.  Which one-time Angel twice led the Senior Circuit in triples, but for different teams?

Hint: #1  Only he and Willie Mays have 120+ career triples, 2,500+ hits and five or more Gold Gloves in centerfield.

Hint: #2  Bell’s Palsy nearly derailed his athletic career.

Hint: #3  He has twice been the coach of the Brazilian National Baseball team.

A.   STEVE FINLEY  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Finley led the NL in 3B in 1993 for SDP w/13 & in 2003 for ARI w/10.  He played for LAA in 2005.

-  #1  Finley = 124 3B; 2,548 H & CF GG in 1995, 96, 99, 2000 & 2004.  Mays = 141 3B; 3,293 H & beaucoup CF GG.  Only Mays & Tris Speaker played more G in CF.

-  #2  In spring training of 1993, Finley was diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a viral infection of a nerve in his upper neck, resulting in numbness that prevented him from closing his left eye.

-  #3  Finley coached the Brazilian national team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers and managed them in the 2023 WBC Qualifiers.

FCR -  Fred Worth, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Incorrect guesses:  Fred Lynn, Jim Edmonds, Ken Griffey Jr, Devon White, Don Baylor

 

 

 

SUNDAY  — 12-May

Q.  Who followed his father’s advice and gave up a promising volleyball career to focus on baseball?

Hint: #1  The year he played for the Rangers, he was a teammate of a player with whom he was (and is) often confused.

Hint: #2  He is listed as one of the twenty wealthiest baseball players of all time, based on his net worth.

A.   CARLOS BELTRAN  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Beltran was 17 years old when he began to focus on baseball.

-  #1  Playing for TEX in 2016, he was a teammate of Adrian Beltre.  Both are very likely candidates for HOF induction.

-  #2  Figures from Celebrity Net Worth, Forbes & The Richest, WealthyGorilla.com created a compilation that included Beltran.

FCR -  Tony Monti, Whitestone, New York

Incorrect guesses:  Scott Servais!

 

 

 

WEEK’S THEME – Members of the Career 300/300 “Club”, 300+ HR & 300+ SB.

 

Player                 HR      SB                    Joined

Beltran........... 435..... 312........... w/SB 15-Jun- 2012

 

Bonds Jr......... 762..... 514........... w/HR 27-Apr-1996

 

Bonds Sr......... 332..... 461........... w/HR 02-May-1979

 

Dawson.......... 438..... 314........... w/SB 23-May-1991

 

Finley............. 304..... 320........... w/HR 14-Jun-2006

 

Mays.............. 660..... 339........... w/SB 08-Apr-1969

 

Rodriguez....... 696..... 329........... w/SB 14-Aug-2010*

 

Sanders.......... 305..... 304........... w/HR 10-Jun-2006

*Pitcher also hit a HR in that G.

 

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme – Warren Kent, Whitehall, MI (after Sanders)

 

If you know someone who would enjoy receiving daily Horsehide Trivia questions,  they need only drop an email message to horsehidetrivi@aol.com.

 

This site has this week’s quiz compete with incorrect guesses as well.  Scroll back and you’ll find has this week’s quiz complete with incorrect guesses as well.  Scroll back and you’ll find Horsehide Trivia quizzes posted back to 2010. Quizzes before that may also be available upon request.

 

Horsehide Trivia encourages independent research.  ⚾️

Sunday, May 5, 2024

2024-04-29 Select teammates of Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn.

 

MONDAY  — 29-Apr

Q.  Who was the first player to sign a contract totaling over one hundred million dollars?

Hint: #1  He played in the World Series for two separate teams and played for four different teams in All-Star competition.

Hint: #2  He was the first non-Atlanta Brave National Leaguer to be named Pitcher of the Year by Baseball Digest.

A.  KEVIN BROWN   [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  His contract was forv$105,000,000 starting with the 1999 season negotiated by his agent Scott Boras.

-  #1  WS =1997 FLA & 1998 SDP.

-  #2  BB Digest POY 2001.

FCR -  Dylan Meek, Collinsville, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Roger Clemens, Catfish Hunter, Dean Chance, Andy Messersmith, Catfish Hunter, Nolan Ryan, Max Scherzer

 

 

TUESDAY  — 30-Apr

Q.  Who was the first player to hit a grand  slam in All-Star competition?

Hint: #1  He was the first player to win a League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award playing for the losing team.

Hint: #2  He trails only Stan Musial in number of career home runs hit in All-Star games.

A.  FRED LYNN   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Lynn is the ONLY player to hit a GS in the ASG.  Came to bat in the 1993 ASG against Atlee Hammaker with the bases loaded made history with his HR.

-  #1  Lynn was the MVP as his CAL team lost to MIL.

-  #2  He hit 4 ASG HR to the 6 HR by Musial.

FCR -  Donald Howell, Allison Park, Pennsylvania

Incorrect guesses:  George Brett, Henry Aaron, 1983!

 

 

WEDNESDAY  — 01-May

Q.  Whose eight shutouts in a season is a record for a rookie pitcher in the Live Ball Era?

Hint: #1  He is the most recent pitcher to throw twenty complete games in a season.

Hint: #2  He was the last left-handed pitcher to win the National League Gold Glove award in the twentieth century.

A.  FERNANDO VALENZUELA  [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  8 ShO in1981.

-  #1  20 CG in 1986.

-  #2  GG also in 1986.

FCR -  Mark DeLodovico, Rockville, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Tim Lincecum, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine

 

 

WEDNESDAY TWICE — 01-May

Q.  Who was the last American League second baseman in the twentieth century to collect as many as one hundred runs batted in in a single season?

Hint: #1  His father and brother played in the majors.

Hint: #2  He and another famous player were teammates on three (3!) different teams in the majors.

A.  ROBERTO ALOMAR  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  120 RBI in 1999 playing for CLE.

-  #1  Father Sandy Alomar played for 15 years & for 6 MLB teams.  Brother Sandy Alomar, Jr. played for 20 years for 7 teams in 1988-2007.

-  #2  Joe Carter and Alomar were teammates on:

          1.) SDP in 1990,

          2.) TOR 1991-95 &

          3.) BAL in 1998.

FCR -  Jason Winston, Riverside, California

Incorrect guesses:  , Bret Boone, Robinson Canoe, Bob Boone

 

 

WEDNESDAY THRICE  — 01-May

Q.  Which one-time Baltimore Oriole is the only Vancouver native with more than two hundred pitching saves?

Hint: #1  He anchored one of the most stunning upsets in World Series history.

Hint: #2  He once shared a League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award with a teammate.

A.  RANDY MYERS   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Myers was born in Vancouver, Washington & retired from MLB in 1998 w/347 career saves, 14th most all-time.  Played for BAL in 1996-97.

-  #1  Myers was the pitcher who recorded the last out of the 1990 WS, sweeping the highly acclaimed OAK “Bash Brothers” team.

-  #2  Myers & fellow bullpen denizen Rob Dibble shared 1990 NLCS MVP honors for their work in helping CIN secure the NL pennant.

FCR -  Mark DeLodovico, Rockville, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Tug McGraw, Tim Belcher

 

 

THURSDAY  — 02-May

Q.  Whose record for his team’s career stolen bases did Brady Anderson break?

Hint: #1  After setting his original team’s career record for stolen bases, he (not Anderson) added two more steals for another team before retiring.

Hint: #2  He led the league in triples in his first full season in the majors, tied with a certain second baseman who  is today in the Hall of Fame.

Hint: #3  He is well known for his service to his community and his country.

A.  AL  BUMBRY  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Bumbry ended with 252 SB for BAL, but Anderson passed him with his 253rd in 1999.

-  #1  Of Bumbry’s career 254 SB. Only the final 2 were for SDP in 1985.

-  #2  Bumbry had 11 3B in 1973, tied for MIN’s Rod Carew.

-  #3  He was discharged in 1971 as a first lieutenant after serving a year in Vietnam where he was decorated with the Bronze Star.  He is popular as a speaker around Maryland & has a reputation as the first one with his hand up when volunteers for service are needed.

FCR -  Dan Schoenholz, Walnut Creek, California

Incorrect guesses:  Harold Baines, George Sisler, Luis Aparicio

 

 

FRIDAY — 03-May

Q.  Which former Chicago Cub collected one hundred RBI in consecutive seasons for different teams…twice?

Hint: #1  He is the teammate who convinced Barry Bonds to start using maple bats.

Hint: #2  He was the first 30/30 player for one of the franchises he played for.

A.  JOE CARTER   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans. He had 105 RBI for 1990 CLE then 115 in 1991 SDP; 115 RBI for 1991 SDP then 108 in 1992 for TOR.  He had played for CHC in 1983.

-  #1  Bonds went exclusively maple in 1998.  They were teammates that year on SFG.  Carter was the first player to use bats made by the Original Maple Bat Corp.

-  #2  Carter was the first 30/30 player for CLE in 1987 with 32 HR + 31 SB.

FCR -  Greg Wells, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania

Incorrect guesses:  Bobby Bonilla, Aramis Ramirez, Howard Johnson, Sammy Sosa, Bill Madlock, Moises Alou, Miguel Tejada, Jeff Kent, Rafael Palmeiro

 

 

SATURDAY — 04-May

Q.  Which one-time Texas Ranger was born just north of Tyrol?

Hint: #1  He was the winning pitcher in the deciding game of the NCAA College World Series.

Hint: #2  He was a mainstay of an expansion team that reached the postseason for the first time when he appeared in sixty-two games, finished twenty-nine of them and recorded ten saves.

Hint: #3  He broke this record for appearances two years later with a number that is still the franchise best.

A.  CRAIG LEFFERTS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Lefferts was born in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, just north of the southern German border.  Tyrol or Tyrolia is the name of the region of the ancient kingdom which would now occupy modern Austria.  [Mostly used in the adjective form, “tyrolian alps”.]  His father was a US Air Force officer.  The family moved to Sacramento, Japan, Topeka, Cape Cod & San Diego before settling in the Tampa Bay area.  Lefferts played for TEX in 1993.

-  #1  Playing for the University of Arizona in the 1980 College World Series, he beat the University of Hawaii in the championship Game.

-  #2  The San Diego Padres came into existence in 1969, but 1984 was their 1st time in the postseason and they went all the way to the World Series.

- #3  In 1986, Lefferts pitched in 83 G for SDP, leading MLB that year and setting the Padre standard.

FCR -  Richard Klee, North Hollywood, California

Incorrect guesses:  Tom Henke

 

 

SUNDAY  — 05-May

Q.  Who is the only major leaguer who played on a team that won baseball's major league World Series and played on a college basketball team that won the NCAA Division-1 championship?

Hint: #1  After his major league debut, he played for two years in the minors before assuming his status as regular in the majors.

Hint: #2  Although his number of saves was modest, at his peak he was among the leagues’ leaders in appearances and games finished.

A.  TIM STODDARD  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  The 1983 Orioles were the WS champs, a team on which Stoddard was 2nd in G finished & 3rd in G played & saves during the season.  He also played on NC State’s 1974 NCAA title team.

-  #1  Played exactly one inning in 1975 for Chicago’s South Siders.  He re-debuted w/BAL in 1978 & was a regular after that.

-  #2  Stoddard never led in G or SV for MLB, but was regularly on the Top Ten list in those categories for the AL 1980-87.

FCR -  Michael Schneider, Wilmington, Delaware

Incorrect guesses:  Ron Reed, Andrew Miller, Kenny Lofton, Gene Conley, Don Stanhouse, Dick Groat, Tom Niedenfuer, Mike Marshall, Ben McDonald

 

 

 

WEEK’S THEME – Select (i.e., cherry-picked) players who were teammates of both Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn.  From an idea submitted to me in December 2006 by Trivia Master Mike Caragliano, Flushing, NY, who said, “In anticipation of the 2007 Hall of Fame ballot results, this team is comprised of teammates of first-ballot locks Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn.  For two guys who didn't move anywhere for two decades, they shared a lot of outstanding teammates."

 

 

Player                w/Cal               w/Tony                          WAR

Alomar................. 1996-98................. 1988-90................... 67.0

Brown..................... 1995...................... 1997..................... 67.8

Bumby................. 1982-84.................... 1985..................... 24.5

Carter..................... 1998...................... 1990..................... 19.5

Lefferts................... 1992 ............. 1984-87; 90-92............... 8.9

Lynn.................... 1985-88.................... 1990..................... 50.2

Myers.................. 1996-97............... 1992, 1998................ 15.3

Stoddard.............. 1982-83................. 1985-86..................... 4.6

Valenzuela............. 1993.................... 1995-97................... 41.5

Additional teammates of Gwynn & Ripken include:

Ricky Bones............... 6.9

Juan Bonilla............... 2.4

Jarvis Brown............. -0.3

Pat Clements............. 3.3

Storm Davis............. 17.2

Luis DeLeon............... 3.2

Steve Finley............. 44.2

Mike Griffin................. 0.8

Gene Harris.............. -1.0

Stan Jefferson.......... -0.3

Terry Kennedy......... 21.6

Chuck McElroy.......... 8.7

Keith Moreland.......... 3.5

Mike Pagliarulo........ 10.6

Mark Parent............... 1.7

Mike Oquist................ 3.1

Heathcliff Slocumb..... 5.5

Pete Smith................. 5.0

Mark Thurmond......... 4.5

Tim Worrell................ 8.7      Did I miss any?

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme – Noooo-body!  ¯\_()_/¯

(I recognize the chronological incongruity of this particular theme, but once in a while you’ve got to dig past the first layer.)

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Mon     -  Players with colors in their last names

 

Wed     -  Players who played for the Padres with the highest WAR not in the HOF

-   Players who played for both the Padres and the Orioles

 

 

 

If you know someone who would enjoy receiving daily Horsehide Trivia questions, they need only drop an email message to horsehidetrivi@aol.com.

 

This site has this week’s quiz compete with incorrect guesses as well.  Scroll back and you’ll find has this week’s quiz complete with incorrect guesses as well.  Scroll back and you’ll find Horsehide Trivia quizzes posted back to 2010. Quizzes before that may also be available upon request.

 

Horsehide Trivia encourages independent research.  ⚾️