2026-=10-12 Mormon (LDS) players who have played in the World Series

MONDAY  — 16-Mar-2026

Q.  Who had the most American League runs batted in in the decade 1960-69?

Hint: #1  This Hall of Fame Double-Unique had 9,833 plate appearances in his twenty-two major league career, but is credited with exactly zero (0) sacrifice bunts.

Hint: #2  When he retired, only he and Babe Ruth had piled up twenty or more months with at least ten home runs each.

A.  HARMON KILLEBREW  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Killebrew’s RBI total 1960-1969 was 1,013.  Rounding out

the top 5 were       836 Brooks Robinson

                              831 Norm Cash

                              775 Rocky Colavito

                              767 Carl Yastrzemski

The MLB leader and only player ahead of Killebrew was Hank Aaron with 1,107.  (For Double-Unique explanation, click here.)

-  #1  Among HOF players with 9, 000+ PA, Killebrew is tied with Jim O’Rourke, Vladimir Guerrero & Frank Thomas for having 0 SH.

-  #2  Ruth did it 24 times, Killebrew 21.  Since then, Mark McGwire (21 months), Sammy Sosa (21) & Barry Bonds (20) have joined the list with 20 or more months of at least 10 HRs.

FCR -  Kurt Schumann

Incorrect guesses:  Mickey Mantle, Carl Yastrzemski, Al Kaline

 

 

TUESDAY  — 13-Oct-2026

Q.  Which New York Yankee outfielder is the only player ever to reach base twice on interference from two different catchers in the same game?

Hint: #1  He earned  his first All-Star selection, his first Gold Glove and his first Silver Slugger Award all in the same season.

Hint: #2  This Double-Unique speedster is the only Boston Red Sox player to lead the American League three times in stolen bases.

A.  JACOBY ELLSBURY  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  On 28-Jul-2015, Ellsbury clipped the glove of Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos in the 1^st plate appearance of the game.  Then the game became a NYY blowout & in the 9^th Ellsbury’s bat caught the glove of replacement catcher Tomás Telis.  For having merely done it twice in a game, he’s tied with Ben Geraghty (1936), Pat Corrales (1965, twice), Dan Meyer (1977), Bob Stinson (1979) & David Murphy (2010), but, of course, they all did it with the same catcher.

-  #1  It turns out that 2011 had the only GG, SS & AS selections of his career.  That year was also the season he received his first MVP votes.  He finished 2^nd behind only Justin Verlander.  He received MVP votes again in 2013.

-  #2  Ellsbury led in SB with 50 in 2008, 70 in 2009 & 52 in 2013.

FCR -  Dan Schoenholz, Walnut Creek, California

Incorrect guesses:  Jackie Jensen, Esix Snead

 

 

WEDNESDAY  — 14-Oct-2026

Q.  Whose salary arbitration record did Don Mattingly break?

Hint: #1  This former Minnesotan finished in the top five in Cy Young Award voting, but was never the top vote-getter.

Hint: #2  He led the American League in Wild Pitches in six separate seasons, thrice leading the majors.

A.  JACK MORRIS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Morris won $1.85 million on Friday, 13-Feb-1987, breaking Wade Boggs’ previous arbitration record of $1.35 million.  Mattingly was awarded $1.975 million on Tuesday, 17-Feb, 4 short days later.

-  #1  In CYA voting, he finished:  3^rd in 1981, 3^rd in 1983, 5^th in 1986, 4^th in 1991 & 5^th in 1992.  He also finished 7^th in 1984 (when teammate Willie Hernández was the winner) & 9^th in 1987.  Morris was not only born & raised in Minnesota, he pitched the Twins to a World Series championship in 1991.

-  #2  Morris led the AL in WP w/18, 14, 15, 24, 15 & 13 in 1983, ’84, ‘85, ’87, ’91 & 1994 respectively.  His career WP total is 206, tied for 13^th on the all-time list.

FCR -  Joel Gross, Dunwoody, Georgia

Incorrect guesses:  Bert Blyleven, Charlie Hough, David Goltz, Andy Messerssmith

 

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  15-Oct-2026

Q.  Who last pitched eighteen innings in a single major league game?

Hint: #1  He won a Cy Young Award receiving twice as many votes as the Hall of Fame runner-up did that year.

Hint: #2  His son homered off Jack Morris in a major league game.

A.  VERN LAW  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  On 19-Jul-1955 in Pittsburgh, starter Law surrendered a solo HR to the game’s 3^rd batter, Eddie Mathews, & an unearned run in the 4^th, then pitched 14 consecutive scoreless innings.  Teammate Bob Friend took over for Law in the 19^th, gave up 1 run, got 3 outs & got the win when the Pirates scored twice in their half of the inning.

-  #1  Law won the 1960 eCYA with eight 1^st-place votes to Warren Spahn’s four.

-  #2  Law’s son Vance played for 11 seasons in the majors.  Playing for the White Sox, the younger Law hit the 9^th of his 71 MLB HRs off Morris on 08-Aug-1983(2).

FCR -  James McDonald, Essex, Connecticut

Incorrect guesses:  Harvey Haddix, Roger Clemons, Billy Pierce

 

 

FRIDAY — 16-Oct-2026

Q.  Who was the first American Leaguer voted by the fans to start an All-Star game in his first year in the majors?

Hint: #1  His nickname was two steps removed from Steamboat Willy’s creator.

Hint: #2  The Angels drafted him as compensation for the Yankees signing free agent Don Baylor.

A.  WALLY JOYNER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Joyner was the AL’s starting first baseman for the 1986 All-Star game in Houston’s Astrodome.  It was the only All-Star appearance of his career.

-  #1  Walt Disney’s first theme park was Disneyland in Anaheim, California.  Mocking the eponymous park, a popular 1983 Hollywood movie worked into the light plot fun destination called Wally World.  Joyner’s team played next door to the original, so calling him Wally World seemed like a natural progression.

-  #2  MLB rules attempt to make unfair deals fair.  Joyner was the Angels’ 3^rd-round selection, No. 67 overall, in the 1983 draft, using the pick received from the Yankees as compensation for their signing Baylor.  Ironically, it was Don Mattingly defeated by Joyner in the 1986 All-Star voting.  Baylor and Mattingly were teammates for the next 3 seasons, during which Baylor played exactly a total of one game at first base.

FCR -  Thom Frohnhoefer, U,S, Armed Forces, Hohenfels, Germany

Incorrect guesses:  Mike Trout, Walt Weiss, Fred Lynn

 

 

SATURDAY  — 17-Oct-2026

Q.  Which church-going reliever was arrested with the devil one night when scuffling at a bar in Houston?

Hint: #1  He was only noticed by major league teams when scouts came to see the play of his college teammates.

Hint: #2  He is one of only three pitchers with at least seventy-five starts, seventy-five wins and three hundred saves.

A.  RICK AGUILERA  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  On 18-July-1986, Aguilera went out with teammates Tim Teufel*, Ron Darling & Bob Ojeda to celebrate the birth of Teufel’s son.  The evening’s festivities ended after midnight with all four arrested at Cooter’s in Houston.  Aguilera was charged with hindering an arrest, a charge that was later dropped.

-  #1  Recruited to play infield for BYU, Aguilera’s better-known teammates were Cory Snyder and Wally Joyner.  In college, Aguilera impressed no one with his foot speed.  In fact, one of his coaches got a little poetic & said, “ He ran like a tombstone.”  (Ouch!)

-  #2     Player                    GS       SV         W   Stathead result

Dennis Eckersley. 361..... 390..... 197

José Mesa............. 95..... 321....... 80

Rick Aguilera.......... 89..... 318....... 86

*Teufel is German for devil.

FCR -  Sean McCormick, New York City

Incorrect guesses:  Calvin Schiraldi, Dennis Eckersley, John Smoltz, Billy Wagner, Hoyt Wilhelm, Lindy McDaniel

 

 

SUNDAY  — 18-Oct-2026

Q.  Which young infielder was acquired by major league teams where he had little chance of starting because he was stuck behind some stars, notably Rabbit Maranville, Pie Traynor and Tony Lazzeri.

Hint: #1  He became locally famous even before he made the majors.  His hometown, knowing of his professional advancement held a “Day” in his honor when his minor league team rode in to play the local nine.

Hint: #2  He was the first alumnus of his now Big 12 Conference university.

A.  SPENCER ADAMS  [RIP Bio]

-  Ans.  The Pirates and Yankees signed him, but his playing time was limited.  Other Hall of Fame teammates of Adams include Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Max Carey, Walter Johnson, Goose Goslin, Stan Coveleski, Sam Rice, Bucky Harris & George Sisler.

-  #1  Adams was playing for the PCL Seattle team in 1922 when he was feted.  Ogden’s Mayor, Frank Francis, presented him with a gold watch worth $205.97 (oddly precise) & was given several flower bouquets.  He thanked the hometown crowd by knocking a couple of base hits (and committing a couple of costly fielding errors in the Bees win).

-  #2  Adams was a student at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.  (Referred to as “The U” practically since its founding in 1850.)

FCR -  Steve Berman, Wanaque, New Jersey

Incorrect guesses:  Bucky Harris, Ray Morehart, Doc Farrell

 

 

 

 

THEME:  Mormon (LDS) players who have played in the World Series

 

 

Player                      World Series                  WAR

Killebrew...................... 1965.......................... 60.4

 

Morris................ 1984, 1991*, 1992............... 43.5

 

Joyner........................... 1998.......................... 35.8

 

Law................................ 1960.......................... 32.3

 

Ellsbury................... 2007, 2013..................... 31.0

 

Adams..................... 1925, 1926..................... -0.8

 

Aguilera................... 1986, 1991..................... 21.8

 

 

 

Additional qualifiers include:

Kelly Downs.................. 1989........................... 4.5

Dennis Eckersley 1988, 1989, 1990................ 62.1

Doug Fister.................... 2012.......................... 19.6

Jeremy Guthrie.............. 2014.......................... 18.5

Bryce Harper................. 2022.......................... 56.9

Ken Hunt....................... 1961........................... 1.1

Bruce Hurst................... 1986.......................... 34.2

Dane Iorg.................. 1982, 1985...................... 0.3

Jeff Kent........................ 2002.......................... 55.4

Ray Knight.................... 1986*......................... 13.2

Brad Thompson............. 2006........................... 0.4

Jaret Wright................... 1997........................... 4.4

 

*World Series MVP

 

 

 

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme – Randall Chandler, Germantown, Tennessee (after Morris)

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Tues    -  Double-uniques whose first names were other players’ last names

-   Players who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

 

Sat       -  Some sort of LDS or BYU theme

 

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2026-10-05 Rookies who hit multiple home runs in their regular-season MLB debut

MONDAY  — 05-Oct-2026

Q.  Which Cuban native was the first American League player in the Expansion Era to hit three triples in one game?

Hint: #1  He set a record by playing in eleven no-hit games.

Hint: #2  He once threw his bat in a playoff game after the pitcher hit him in ankle with a pitch.

A.  BERT CAMPANERIS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  On 29-Aug-1967, Campaneris tripled off each of CLE’s George Culver, Sonny Siebert & Stan Williams, but the A‘s lost in 10 innings.  Triple triples has been done since by 4 additional AL players.  Campaneris was born 09-Mar-1942 in Pueblo Nuevo, Cuba.

-  #1   Amazingly, Campy was on the winning side in 5 no-hitters in:

                    04-Jul-1983 (Dave Righetti)

                    22-Sep-1977 (Bert Blyleven)

                    28-Sep-1975 (Vida Blue, Glen Abbott, Paul Lindblad & Rollie Fingers)

                    08-May-1968 (Catfish Hunter)

                    21-Sep-1970 (Vida Blue)

He also played in these 6 no-hitters when he was not on the winning side:

                    14-May-1977 (Jim Colborn)

                    28-Jul-1976 (Blue Moon Odom & Francisco Barrios)

                    19-Jul-1974 (Dick Bosman)

                    30-Jul-1973 (Jim Bibby)

                    13-Aug-1969 (Jim Palmer)

                    03-Jul-1970 (Clyde Wright)

 

-  #2  In the 7^th inning of game #2 of the 1972 ALCS, Detroit’s relief pitcher Lerrin LaGrow threw a pitch that hit Campaneris in the ankle.  Campy wad so angry that he flung hit bat mound-ward, fortunately hitting no one.  Watch here.

FCR -  Mary Hums, Louisville

Incorrect guesses:  Tony Oliva, Minnie Minoso

 

 

TUESDAY  — 06-Oct-2026

Q.  Who was the first post-WWII American League Baltimore Oriole to have a season qualifying batting average of .320 or higher?

Hint: #1  He began his career in the majors with a franchise that would move cities before he was through and ended their season in last, 46 games out of first place.  His last team was an outfit that had famously relocated just a few years before, but was now so loaded with stars that he only able to play in 18% of the schedule and add 0.1 WAR.

Hint: #2  He played for seven teams (6 franchises) in his twelve MLB seasons and racked up an impressive number of teammates whose plaques are now on display in Cooperstown.

A.  BOB NIEMAN  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In 388 AB in 1956, Nieman hit .322.

-  #1  Nieman debuted in 1951 with the St. Louis Browns who would move to Baltimore 3 years later.  He ended with the San Francisco Giants, who had begun its west coast stay 4 seasons prior, & ending that year as NL champs.

-  #2  Nieman wore the uniforms SLB, BAL, DET, CHW, STL, CLE & SFG.  Nieman’s teammates included Satchel Paige, Larry Doby, Al Kaline, Hal Newhouser, Nellie Fox, Minnie Minoso, George Kell, Dick Williams, Brooks Robinson, Luis Aparicio, Hoyt Wilhelm, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Red Schoendienst, Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal & Gaylord Perry    not to mention Eddie Gaedel*.

*Gaedel’s contract had been voided before Nieman joined the team.

FCR -  Greg Wells, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania

Incorrect guesses:  Bob Boyd, Paul Blair, Luis Aparicio

 

 

IN MEMORIAM  — 07-Oct-2026

Q.  Which Pennsylvania multi-sport high school phenom received a signing bonus offer from each major league team?

Hint: #1  Pitching for Cleveland, he trails only Bob Feller in career strikeouts for the franchise.

Hint: #2 At the height of his career, Sports Illustrated put him on its cover and asked whether he threw faster than Sandy Koufax.

Hint: #3 In one start, he temporarily became a second baseman before returning to the mound and finishing with fifteen strikeouts.

Hint: #4 He once threw consecutive one-hit shutouts.

Hint: #5 He was a six-time All-Star who twice struck out more than three hundred batters in a season.

Hint: #6 After alcoholism helped end his playing career, he spent decades helping other professional athletes overcome addiction and depression.

A.  SAM McDOWELL  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  McDowell played football, basketball, baseball & ran track at Pittsburgh's Central Catholic High School.  As a high-school senior, he did not allow a single earned run in 63 innings while striking out 152.  There were 16 major league baseball teams in 1960.  He had 16 offers.

-  #1  Feller retired with 2,581 K after 18 seasons in MLB, all spent with CLE.  McDowell was with the Indians for 11 years & struck out 2,159 with them, behind only Feller.  In 3^rd place is a distant total of 1,461 held by Corey Kluber.

-  #2  Click here for SI cover.

-  #3  SABR Article on his brief move to 2^nd base.

-  #4  In his starts on 25-Apr-1966 & 01-May-1966, McDowell held the A’s & White Sox to one hit apiece, no runs, no bullpen help required.  McDowell outhit CHW on his own that day—he had 2 hits at the plate.

-  #5  All-Star in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970 & 1971.  He was the only pitcher besides Nolan Ryan with multiple 300-K seasons in the 1960s & 1970.  He had 325 K in 1965 & 304 in 1970.

-  #6  He was also the Keynote Speaker at SABR’s convention in Clevland in 1990.

FCR -  Ken Edwards, Ferrisburgh, Vermont

Incorrect guesses: 

 

 

THURSDAY  — 08-Oct-2026

Q.  Which Home Run Derby contestant set a record for the longest and shortest within a half hour of each other?

Hint: #1  He is the only player to hit six home runs in the first four games of his major league career.

Hint: #2  He once had a season that, while not peculiar in any way, features a combination of accomplishments that only he can claim this century:  35+ home runs, 25+ stolen bases, 40+ doubles, 5+ triples, 100+ runs batted in.

A.  TREVOR STORY  [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  Story hit a 518-foot home run in the first round of the 12-Jul-2021 Home Run Derby in Coors Field on , breaking Aaron Judge's Statcast-era Derby record of 513 feet from 2017.  Billionaire-to-be Juan Soto hit a 520-footer approximately 20 minutes later, breaking Story's brand-new record!   A.) Record for length; B.) Record for shortest time such a record was held.

-  #1  To wit:  04-Apr-2016 (2 HR); 05-Apr-2016 (HR); 06-Apr-2016 (HR); 08-Apr-2016 (2 HR).  Note that only the last of these games was played in Denver.

-  #2  His totals in 2018 include 37 HR, 27 SB, 42 2B, 6 3B & 108 RBI.

FCR -  James Farrell, Massapequa, New York

Incorrect guesses:  Harmon Killebrew, Ken Griffey Jr

 

 

FRIDAY  — 09-Oct-2026

Q.  Which BBTR utility player from Princeton is credited with the career record “range factor per game” for his games played third base?

Hint: #1  Photographs show him playing defense bare handed.

Hint: #2  He was also the first player to have four hits, including two home runs, in his first major league game.

A.  CHARLEY REILLY  [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  Reilly, a BBTR was born in the city  of Princeton, New Jersey.  His career RF/G at 3^rd base is 3.81.  For comparison, here is the same stat for some of the game’s greatest third basemen:

Frank Baker............... 3.43

Brooks Robinson....... 3.20

Ron Santo.................. 3.13

Stan Hack.................. 3.10

Mike Schmidt............. 3.00

Graig Nettles.............. 2.95

Nolan Arenado........... 2.79

Scott Rolen................ 2.75.

-  #1  Click on his name above.

-  #2  On the day of his inaugural MLB game, 09-Oct-1889, he had 4 hits 2 of which were home runs, the first one off the highly-lauded pitcher Gus Weyhing.

FCR -  Bill Deane, Cooperstown

Incorrect guesses:  Junior Caminero

 

 

SATURDAY  — 10-Oct-2026

Q.  Who replaced Glenn Sherlock as the Mets’ catching coach?

Hint: #1  Not only did he homer on the first pitch he saw in the majors, he hit his team’s first home run in his first full season the next year.

Hint: #2  He is the only player who has been able to finish a season with twenty or more home runs yet have an OPS under .600.

A.  J.P. ARENCIBIA  [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  Arencibia took over as the Mets’ catching coach in 2026.  Sherlock had been in the position since 2023 & retired following the 2025 season.

-  #1  The Jays’ first HR of 2011 was in the 4^th inning of the first game on 01-Apr-2011 in Toronto.

-  #2  Who knew?  Click here.  His 2013 line was 21 HR, .592 OPS.  No other player has finished a major-league season with 20+ HR with an OPS below .600.

FCR -  John Michael Pierobon, Fort Lauderdale

Incorrect guesses: 

 

 

SUNDAY  11-Oct-2026

Q.  Which former Orioles’ assistant hitting coach tied Mitchell Page’s 1977 mark by amassing 15 RBI in his first ten MLB games?

Hint: #1  He finished 3^rd in Rookie of the Year voting in his first full year in the majors but finished ahead of future MLB stalwarts Bengie Molina, Adam Kennedy & Barry Zito.

Hint: #2  He passed an esoteric record by hitting more career home runs than Jamie Quirk.

A.  MARK QUINN  [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  Quinn’s 15 RBI in 1^st 10 MLB games:  From 14-Sep-1999(2) to 24-Sep-1999.  He added a 16^th the next day.  Michell’s record was itself a tie since Dale Alexander had 15 RBI in his 1^st 10 games in 1929.  Quinn was the BAL asst. hitting coach in 2016.

-  #1  2000 ROY vote

-  #2  Quinn’s 45 career HR passed Quirk’s for the most MLB HR by a player whose last name starts with Q.  He was passed by Carlos Quentin in 2008.  Quentin sailed past the mark with 145 HR by the time he retired.

FCR -  Jaston Winston, Riverside, California

Incorrect guesses:  Carlos Quentin

 

 

THEME:  Rookies who hit multiple home runs in their regular-season MLB debut.  Many thanks to Ed Baranoski for helping assemble this list.

 

Rookie                 #         Date               for             Opp.                             WAR

Campaneris.. 2......... 23-Jul-1964...... KCA.. @... MIN...... 53.1

Story.............. 2........ 04-Apr-2016...... COL.. @... ARI....... 35.4

Nieman.......... 2........ 14-Sep-1951..... SLB... @... BOS..... 17.6

Reilly............. 2........ 09-Oct-1889...... COL (AA).. PHA........ 6.8

Quinn............. 2...... 14-Sep-1999(2).... KCR......... ANA........ 3.3

Arencibia....... 2........ 07-Aug-2010..... TOR......... TBR........ 1.0

 

And three (3 !) more who did it in 2926…

Joshua Báez........ 3..... 15-Aug-2026.... STL... @... CHC...... 0.1

Chase DeLauter... 2..... 26-Mar-2026.... CLE.. @... SEA...... 3.5

José Fernández... 2..... 31-Mar-2026.... ARI........... DET...... 0.2

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme – Steve Berman, Wanaque, New Jersey (on Tuesday)

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Click here => THIS WEEK’s quiz, compete with questions, hints, answers & even incorrect guesses.

 

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