Monday, January 22, 2018

2018-01-15 Pitchers who won the All-Star game when it was played in their home parks

Q.        Among 20th-century Hall of Famer pitchers, who trails only Whitey Ford in career win/loss percentage?
Hint:     He was the first righthander with 300 strikeouts and a sub-2.00 ERA in the same season since Walter Johnson.
Hint:     As youngsters growing up in meager circumstances, he and his brothers needed a ball for their games, they sometimes “borrowed” a head from one of their sisters’ dolls.
A.         PEDRO MARTINEZ
-           W/L % = .6865 (Ford’s .6901)
-           In 1997, 305 K & 1.90 ERA. (Johnson in 1910 & 12)
-           Brother Ramon also became a major leaguer.
FCR -  David Johnson, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Incorrect guesses:  Juan Marichal, Bob Gibson, Dizzy Dean, Christy Mathewson

TUESDAY
Q.        What pitcher, in only his second full season, pitched and won the first-ever regular-season major league game played at night in the state of New York?
Hint:     He is the major leaguer with whom the term “back-to-back” is most often associated.
Hint:     He got hooked on baseball listening to the Giants sweep the Yankees in the World Series.
A.         JOHNNY VANDER MEER  [SABR Bio]
-           First night G at Ebbets Field 15-Jun-1938 was also Vander Meer’s 2nd consecutive no-hitter.
-           1922 WS = NYG over NYY 4-0-1
FCR -  Joe Haardt, McLean, Virginia
Incorrect guesses:  Harry Gumbert, Don Newcombe, Harvey Haddix, Wilbur Wood, Tommy John, Charlie Hough

WEDNESDAY
Q.        Who is the only Dodgers pitcher to throw a no-hitter during the 1980’s?
Hint:     He was the last pitcher to give up a World Series hit to Reggie Jackson.
Hint:     He was the first left-handed pitcher to win 200 career games without ever winning 20 games in a season.
A.         JERRY REUSS  [SABR Bio]
-  No-hitter 27-Jun-1980
-  Jackson’s last WS H, G 5 25-Oct-1981; 2nd inning ground-rule 2b
-  Ended with 200 wins; had 18 in a season 3 times
FCR -  Til Strudwick, Baltimore
Incorrect guesses:  Fernando Valenzuela, Rick Honeycutt, Hideo Nomo

MIDWEEK BONUS
Q.        Who is the only pitcher to homer in four consecutive games played?
Hint:     He also holds the record as the youngest player ever to pitch in a World Series game.
Hint:     At age 15, he pitched his team to the Babe Ruth League national championship. In that tournament, he no-hit a team from New Orleans, walking seven, striking out 10 and not allowing a ball to be hit out of the infield.
A.         KEN BRETT  [SABR Bio]
-  Home run games:
09-Jun-1973 off SDP’s Bill Greif
18-Jun1973 off NYM’s Ray Sadeki
23-Jun-1973 off MON’s Tom Walker
-  WS appearance G 4 08-Oct-1967 [19 yrs 1 mo.]
-  The El Segundo (CA) All-Stars captured the 1964 Babe Ruth League national championship.
FCR -  Steven Elsberry, Windsor Heights, Iowa
Incorrect guesses:  Dwight Gooden, Madison Bumgarner, Don Drysdale, Rick Ankiel, Mike Epstein, Bob Feller, Bob Gibson, Don Gullett, Jim Palmer

THURSDAY
Q.        Who was the first player to earn Minor League Player of the Year honors twice?
Hint:     Who was the first Red Sox P to allow 30 home runs in a season.
Hint:     Among many choices, he chose to become a Cougar.
Hint:     He likely violated NCAA rules while in college.
A.         GENE CONLEY  [SABR Bio]
-  “Sporting News” MLPOY 1951 & 1953
-  Gave up 33 HR for BOS 1961, his career high
-  Accepted cash and the use of an automobile from grateful alumni
FCR -  Scott Matteson, Shawnee, Kansas
Incorrect guesses:  Bruce Hurst

FRIDAY
Q.        Who was the first pitcher to win two Opening Day games for the Expos?
Hint:     He was the only 20th century pitcher to suffer 20 losses in a season for the Expos.
Hint:     He once suffered a cracked rib while breaking up a double play as a pinch-runner.
Hint:     He surrendered Pete Rose’s 3,000th career hit.
A.         STEVE ROGERS [SABR Bio]
-  Won Opening Day starts in 1982 & 1983 (But that was after he lost Opening Day starts in 1976, 78 & 80.)
-  Was 15-22 in 1974 to lead the majors in losses.
-  Cracked Rib 30-Aug-1981
FCR -  Victor Piacentile, Yorktown Heights, New York
Incorrect guesses:  Bill Stoneman, Steve Renko, Jerry Koosman, Randy Jones, Bill Gullickson, Roger Craig

SATURDAY
Q.        Who was the first pitcher to earn 99 career saves for the Orioles?
Hint:     He was the first to appear in 70 games in a season for them.
Hint:     He once pitched 1/27th of a no-hitter.
Hint:     He surrendered Mickey Mantle’s 500th home run.
A.         STU MILLER
-  Exactly 99 career saves for BAL
-  Led the majors w/71 appearances w/BAL in 1963
-  Pitched the last out after Steve Barber has retired 26 Tigers on 30-Apr-1967.  Unfortunately, it was not in a victorious effort, due to Barber’s having issued 10 bases-on-balls.
-  Mantle’s 500th 14-May-1967
FCR -  Barry Kramer, Baltimore
Incorrect guesses:  Hoyt Wilhelm, Dick Hall, Pete Richert, Tippy Martinez, Moe Drabowsky, Tracy Stallard, Eddie Watt, Gregg Olson, Milt Pappas

FAUX SUNDAY
Q.        Who was the last man on the mound when the Commissioner called the All-Star game a draw?
Hint:     Ironically, he had been the first native of his home county to earn a pitching win in an All-Star game?
Hint:     Until 2017, he was the all-time leader of career pitching victories for natives of his country.
A.         FREDDY GARCIA
- In the 2002 ASG he had finished pitching the bottom of the 11th when innovation struck.
-  W in the 2001 ASG.
-  Passed by Felix Hernandez for most career pitching victories by a Venezuelan when The King got his 157th on 25-Jul vs. BOS.
FCR -  Rick Tharp, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Incorrect guesses:  Vincente Padilla, Bert Blyleven

SUNDAY
Q.        Who leads all left-handed pitchers for career WAR for the Toronto Blue Jays?
Hint:     He was the first pitcher to make 3 consecutive Opening Day starts for T.O.
Hint:     He was the first Blue Jays to earn a pitching victory in the All-Star game in Toronto.
A.         JIMMY KEY
-  Key = 30 WAR in 9 yrs.
-  O.D. starts 1987-89
-  ASG W 1991
FCR -  Vince Granieri, Cincinnati
Incorrect guesses:  Dave Stieb, David Wells


WEEKLY THEME – Pitchers who won an All-Star Game played in their home park.

Pitcher           Team      Park                                   Date
Vander Meer.. CIN..... Crosley Field.................... 06-Jul-1938
Conley............ MLN... County Stadium............... 12-Jul-1955
Miller.............. SFG.... Candlestick Park.............. 11-Jul-1961
Brett............... PIT..... Three Rivers Stadium...... 23-Jul-1974
Reuss............. LAD.... Dodger Stadium............... 08-Jul-1980
Rogers........... MTL.... Olympic Stadium.............. 13-Jul-1982
Key................. TOR... SkyDome......................... 09-Jul-1991
Martinez......... BOS... Fenway Park.................... 13-Jul-1999
Garcia............ SEA.... Safeco Field..................... 10-Jul-2001


First Correct Respondent to Identify ThemeDavid Washburn, Marietta, Georgia (after Reuss)

Incorrect theme guesses:

Monday  -  Brother combinations with the greatest combined career win totals.
              
Tuesday -  Pitchers who started an MLB All-Star Game in their home ballpark.

Wed        -  Pitchers who lost no hitters in the ninth inning









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