MONDAY
Q. Who was the first relief pitcher to save 150 games for the Yankees? (Not in the same season. That would be a record.)
Hint: He led the American League in saves three times.
Twint: From 1975 through 1985, pitching for four different teams, he only once recorded an ERA over 2.90.
Twint: He surrendered George Brett’s famous “pine tar” home run.
A. Rich Gossage (Brett HR 24-Jul-1983)
First Correct Respondent – Elkan Katz, Philadelphia
TUESDAY
Q. Who is the only pitcher Kirk Gibson faced in the 1988 World Series?
Hint: He was the first pitcher with 150 career wins and 150 career saves.
Twint: He is the first pitcher to achieve 40 saves in a season four times.
A. Dennis Eckersley (15-Oct-1988; 197 W 390 S)
FCR - Dave Serota, Kalamazoo, MI
WEDNESDAY
Q. Who was the second relief pitcher elected to the Hall of Fame?
Hint: It wasn’t always about the facial hair.
Twint: He is the only pitcher to win an MVP award for an expansion team.
A. Rollie Fingers (HOF election 1992, Hoyt Wihelm 1985; Sported [sports] an ostentatious handlebar moustache; 1981 MVP playing for Milwaukee)
FCR - Richard Nicholson, Richmond, VA
MIDWEEK BONUS
Q. Whose season save total, set over 25 years ago, still stands as his franchise’s record?
Hint: His delivery style was more iconic than his facial hair.
Hint: He is the only relief pitcher to finish behind another relief pitcher in the MVP voting. [Not quite true, he was actually third.]
Twint: When he set his team’s season saves record, it was also the all-time major league record.
Twint: He rivals Lefty Gomez as baseball’s all-time quotester.
A. Dan Quisenberry (45 S in 1983, tied in 1993 by Jeff Montgomery; Threw with a submarine delivery; 1984 3rd to Willie Hernandez; sample of quotes)
FCR - Andrew Milner, Bryn Mawr, PA
IN MEMORIAM
Q. Which Hall of Fame broadcaster was the voice of the Seattle Mariners from their inception through the 2010 season?
Hint: My, oh my!
Hint: He worked for the Armed Forces Network in Los Angeles and New York before anchoring himself in the L.A. market in the late 1960s and early 1970.
Twint: Before working for the Mariners, he was a broadcaster for UCLA football.
Twint: His home run call was, "It will fly away!"
Twint: In 2008, he was honored with the Ford Frick Award, the broadcasters’ equivalent of the Hall of Fame.
A. Dave Niehaus, who passed away Wednesday afternoon (http://www.komonews.com/sports/107096913.html)
FCR - Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA
THURSDAY
Q. What BRTL pitcher titled his autobiography “Screwball”?
Hint: He was the first pitcher to collect five career LCS saves.
Hint: He once collaborated on a syndicated comic strip.
Twint: Few people outside of his family called him Frank Edwin and yet it was as a mammary mauler that he got his nickname in the first place.
A. Tug McGraw (Bats right, throws left; Comic strip “Scroogie”)
FCR - Fran Zimniuch, Philadelphia
FRIDAY
Q. Who made his major league debut as a replacement for Barry Bonds?
Hint: The Division III college where he played baseball now competes in Division I.
Hint: A $500,000 donation from his foundation to their program resulted in their field being named after him.
Twint: He was a two-time Academic All-American in college.
A. Joe Nathan (Debut 21-Apr-1999 when Bonds went on the DL; SUNY Stonybrook; Save It Foundation, Joe Nathan Field)
FCR - P.L. Cohen, Brooklyn
SATURDAY
Q. Who was signed as a free agent by the Yankees, released by them, re-signed by them and then re-released by them all in the same season?
Hint: He managed one win and one save that season.
Twint: After admitting to using cocaine, he was suspended for 60 days near the end of his career.
Twint: It’s unlikely he pities fools.
A. Al Holland (1986; nicknamed Mr. T.)
FCR - No one
SUNDAY
Q. Who was the first modern pitcher to appear in 50 games for ten consecutive seasons?
Hint: They were his first ten seasons in the majors.
Hint: He fell three appearances shy of making it 11 seasons in a row.
Hint: He very recently earned yet another World Series ring.
Twint: He had a teammate who was a monster of a Spartan.
A. Ron Perranoski (1961-70; Special assistant to SF Giants GM Brian Sabean since 2000; Dick “Monster” Radatz at Michigan State)
FCR - Raymond Cunningham, Wallkill, IL
WEEKLY THEME – Relief pitchers who received Cy Young Award votes, but finished behind their own teammates who won the award.
Pitcher Year Placed Teammate Team
Eckersley 1990 5th Bob Welch A’s
Fingers 1978 8th Gaylord Perry Padres
Gossage 1978 5th Ron Guidry Yankees
Holland 1983 6th John Denny Phillies
McGraw 1980 6th Steve Carlton Phillies
Nathan 2004 4th Johan Santana Twins
Nathan 2006 5th Johan Santana Twins
Perranoski 1970 7th Jim Perry Twins
Quisenberry 1985 3rd Bret Saberhagen Royals
First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one
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