Sunday, May 29, 2011

May 23-29, 2011 Managers with 1,000 career wins with multiple stints with the one team


MONDAY
Q.         Whom is Tony LaRussa likely to pass next year in career managerial wins?
Hint:     He was the Darth Vader of New York’s “Evil Empire” before Yankees won their first championship.
SABR Hint:       As a player, he trails only Ted Williams and Babe Ruth in career on-base percentage.
Twint:    He hired and later released Victory Faust.
A.         John McGraw (2,763 W, LaRussa has 2,666 as of today; OBP; Faust)
First Correct Respondent - Will McCracken, Bradenton, FL

TUESDAY
Q.         Who was the first to win the Manager of the Year awards in both leagues?
Hint:     He’s also had knees replaced on both sides.
SABR Hint:       He is the only man (player, manager or coach) to be ejected from two World Series games.
Twint:    His uniform number 6 will be retired 12-Aug-2011 in Atlanta.
A.         Bobby Cox (MGROY AL 1985, NL 1991 et seq.; WS ejewwdunkctions G #3 1992, G #6 1996;
FCR -    J.R. Richardson, Clarksville, MD

TUESDAY DOUBLE
Q.         Who was the manager of the Twins in their first American League Championship Series?
Hint:     As a player, he was the first player to have two hits in an inning on Opening Day.
SABR Hint:       It was also the first major league game of his career.
SABR Hint:       That game was also the career debut of his teammate and fellow NoCal native, Jackie Jensen.
Twint:    A scheme with a chance for atonement in the plot of “Ocean’s 13” was named for him.
A.         Billy Martin (1969 ALCS; 18-Apr-1950)
FCR -    Bob Kimball, Washington, DC

WEDNESDAY
Q.         Who got each of his five World Series championship rings at the end of a seven-game series?
Hint:     Ryne Sandberg broke his National League record for fielding percentage.
SABR Hint:       He was a Giant for one year and one day.
Twint:    His brother Paul was the first baseman for Montreal the year Jackie Robinson joined the team.
A.         Red Schoendienst (WS 1946, 57, 64, 67, 82; . 9994 in 1956 for second basemen; 1946 Royals)
FCR -    No one

IN MEMORIAM
Q.         What pitcher was the first 20-game winner for the Kansas City Royals?
Hint:     He was their choice in the 25th round of the draft a year before the franchise existed as a team.
Hint:     He never pitched for any other franchise.
Hint:     He made a smooth transition to the broadcast booth and was a favorite there with fans.
SABR Hint:       He is still the winningest pitcher in the history of the Kansas City Royals 27 years after his retirement.
Twint:    Known as a Yankee killer, he was 2-0 with a 2.68 ERA in four ALCS against New York.
FCR -    Alan Work, White Plains, NY

MIDWEEK BONUS
Q.         Who led the National League in stolen bases as a rookie even though he only played in 85 games?
Hint:     He was twice the Sporting News Manager of the Year, the awards coming a decade apart.
SABR Hint:       As a manager, he often held court with the press from his rocking chair.
Twint:    He worked at McGovern’s Men’s Store in Chester, PA in the off-season.
A.         Danny Murtaugh (Rookie year 1941; TSN MOY 1960, 1970)
FCR -    Kenny Fink, Ocala, FL

THURSDAY
Q.         Who holds the record for the most RBI in a season without a home run?
Hint:     Honus Wagner said, “No one compared with him as a shortstop.”
SABR Hint:       He was the first baseball coach at the University of Georgia.
Twint:    He was the best man at John McGraw’s wedding.
Twint:    He became a major leaguer when his minor league team joined the National League.
A.         Hughie Jennings (121 RBI in 1896; UGA coach 1895-97; McGraw, then 23, married Minnie Doyle, the daughter of prominent Baltimore politician Michael Doyle, on February 3, 1897.  Jennings was a pall bearer at her funeral a mere two years later. Louisville Colonels joined NL 1982)
FCR -    Phil Oppenheim, Sacramento

THURSDAY EXTRA
Q.         Which player was elected to the Hall of Fame sixteen years after his brother?
Hint:     He was the second oldest player in the league in his rookie year.
Hint:     The oldest player only had a single game in the majors.
SABR Hint:       He was the oldest player in all but one of his remaining major league seasons.
Twint:    His father was a professional bowler.
A.         Harry Wright (HOF 1953, younger brother George HOF 1937; Oldest player in 1871 Nate Berkenstock)
FCR -    Kenny Fink, Ocala, FL

FRIDAY
Q.         Who was the youngest manager ever to lead a team to a World Series championship?
Hint:     He played semi-pro ball in the off-season until his team’s management discovered it.
SABR Hint:       He won the first job in the majors after hitting .214 as a call-up the year before.
Twint:    He set World Series records for a second baseman in chances, put-outs and double plays.
A.         Bucky Harris (27 in 1924; Call up 28-Aug-1919)
FCR -    Bill Garrod, Edgewood, WA

SATURDAY
Q.         Who is the only former Cub to have his ashes sprinkled onto the soil of Wrigley Field?  [I’ve since learned that Ron Santo received the same honor.]
Hint:     He bought the first ball hit into the centerfield bleachers of the Polo Grounds for $25, from the fan who caught it.
SABR Hint:       He was part of the college of coaches, but was never the “head coach”.
SABR Hint:       He had been the manager of the team the year prior.
Twint:    His sunny disposition earned him his nickname.
A.         Charlie Grimm (29-Apr-1953; HR by Joe Adcock’ “Jolly Cholly”)
FCR -    Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara

WEEKEND BONUS
Q.         Which manager was once fired by Charlie Finley for being “too nice”?
Hint:     He started his managerial career in Lewiston, Idaho.
SABR Hint:       He got to the postseason in his 14th season as a major league manager.
SABR Hint:       He managed another five seasons in the bigs, but never again in the postseason.
Twint:    One year, his team had the best record in the majors, but they didn’t make the playoffs.
A.         John McNamara (Fired by Finley 1970; 1959 Broncos, 1986 Red Sox; 1981 Reds)
FCR -    Randall Chandler, Germantown, TN

SUNDAY
Q.         Who managed during a change of venue for two major league teams?
Hint:     He suffered a heart attack during spring training 1949.
SABR Hint:       He once said, of his team's inflated ERA, "It's not big if you look at it from the standpoint of the national debt."?
Twint:    One of his rookie starters pitched a no-hitter on a day when the pitcher was so sick that he had to beg this manager to start.
A.         Bill Rigney (Giants NYC to SF, Angels from Los Angeles to California [You know what I mean.]; No-hitter by Bo Belinsky 05-May-1962)
FCR -    Phil Oppenheim, Sacramento


WEEKLY THEME – Managers with 1,000 career wins with multiple stints with the one team.

Cox                  Braves        1978-81; 90-2010
Grimm              Cubs          1932-49; 60
Harris                Senators     1924-28; 35-42; 50-54
Jennings           Giants         1924; 25 (See McGraw)
Martin               Yankees     1975-78; 79; 83; 85; 88
McGraw            Giants         1902-32 (with brief interruptions in 1924, 25 & 27)
McNamera        Angels        1983-4; 96
Murtaugh          Pirates        1957-64; 67; 70-71; 73-76
Rigney              Giants         1956-60; 76
Schoendienst    Cardinals    1965-76; 80; 90
Wright               Phillies        1890 (2X)

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one

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