Sunday, September 16, 2018

2018-09-10 Catchers who were postseason MVP's


Q.        Whose solo home run is the only blemish on the World Series ERA record of Madison Bumgarner?
Hint:     In his short time in the majors, he had produced 6 All-Star assignments (The last 5 of which he was a starter.); 4 Gold Glove awards and a Silver Slugger.
Hint:     By age 24,he had become the clear leader on his team.
Hint:     His first career home run in the majors came off Max Scherzer.
A.         SALVADOR PEREZ
-  Without the shot he hit in the 7th inning of G 1 of the 2014 WS, MadBum’s WS ERA would be 0.00.  (As it stands, it’s merely an ERA of 0.25 over 36 innings… the best of all time.)
-  Scherzer HR 29-Aug-2011
FCR -  Vince Granieri, Cincinnati
Incorrect guesses:  Clayton Kershaw, Alex Gordon, Bryce Harper, Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Trout, Eric Hosmer

MONDAY MAVEN
Q.        Who has the most career home runs and most career runs batted in the storied history of the Cincinnati Reds?
Hint:     It helps that he didn’t play for any other team in the majors.
Hint:     He did play captain on a different kind of team.
A.         JOHNNY BENCH  [SABR Bio]
-  389 HR; 1,376
-  With CIN 1967-83
-  Had a cameo role in a Mission Impossible episode.
FCR -  Danny Shilkett, Pensacola
Incorrect guesses:  Joey Votto, Frank Robinson, Ted Kluszewski, Tony Perez, Barry Larkin, George Foster

TUESDAY
Q.        Who passed Hank Aaron’s one-time record in a career offensive category without ever holding the record?
Hint:     He and his son were teammates of Hunter Pence.
Hint:     His most famous picture shows his grip on a baseball.
A.         IVAN RODRIGUEZ  [SABR Bio]
-  Son is Dereck Rodriguez, rookie pitcher for SFG, (…and, incidentally, team WAR leader as of 11Sep2018).
-  Aaron’s career record of grounding into 328 double plays was finally eclipsed by Cal Ripken who was passed last season by Albert Pujols.  However, Pudge moved into 2nd (behind Cal, but ahead of Hank) with his 1st DP hit into w/HOU 10-Apr-2009.  (He was a teammate of Pence’s there for 118 G.)
-  Held up the ball after tagging the Giants’ J.T. Snow to end G 4 for the final out of the 2003 NLDS.
FCR -  Mike Rainey, South Jordan, Utah
Incorrect guesses:  Buster Posey, Ken Landreaux, Richie Ashburn, Bobby Bonds

WEDNESDAY
Q.        Whose hitting streak one season set:
A.) The all-time record for his franchise;
B.) The all-time rookie record;
C.) The all-time record for players at his position:
D.) The all-time record for players from his home country; but
            wasn’t even the longest consecutive game hitting streak by a player that year?
Hint:     He hit the first regular-season home run for an expansion franchise
Hint:     “Blessed Saint James” is an accepted English translation of his name.
A.         BENITO SANTIAGO  [SABR Bio]
-  In 1987, Santiago hit safely in 34 straight G, 3 fewer than Paul Molitor.
-  1st HR for the Marlins was 12-Apr-1993, but didn’t come until the team had played 59 homerless innings.
-  benito’ = ‘blessed’; ‘san’, short for ‘santo’ meaning ‘saint’; ‘Diego’ is the equivalent of ‘James’ in Spanish.
FCR -  Adrian Fung, Toronto
Incorrect guesses:  Manny Sanguillen, Bobby Bonds, Ichiro Suzuki, “Pablo?”,

MIDWEEK BONUS
Q.        Who did Hall of Fame base stealer Lou Brock call “the best-throwing catcher in the game”?
Hint:     He nearly died at the hands of a teammate.
Hint:     His uncle broke the speed of sound.
A.         STEVE YEAGER  [SABR Bio]
-  Brock’s quote certainly has the ring of authority.
-  He is a cousin of pioneer pilot Chuck Yeager.
FCR -  Maureen Walsh, Tallahassee
Incorrect guesses:  Roy Campanella, Tim McCarver, Johnny Bench, Jerry Grote

THURSDAY
Q.        Whom did the Yankees obtain from the Twins as a backup for Thurman Munson?
Hint:     His first major league team had been the first American Team eliminated in 1969 in the new playoff format, coincidentally by the team he works for now.
Hint:     He pitched twice in games in the majors, once replacing the pitcher he had been catching the inning before.
Hint:     His reason for wearing his underpants outside of his uniform was very specific.
A.         RICK DEMPSEY  [SABR Bio]
-  Traded from MIN to NYY for Danny Walton 27-Oct-1972.
-  MIN lost 3 G to 0 in the 1969 ALCS, the first ever.  After a long playing career with BAL, he now does on-air commentary.
-  His pitching performances in 2 blowouts on 02-Jul-1991 and 03-Aug-1991 left him with a career 4.50 ERA.
-  Dempsey’s antics during rain delays were legendary, miming home runs and sliding on the wet tarp in his stocking feet, occasionally wearing his undies on the outside of his uniform as an homage to the promotion for Jockey by his more famous batterymate, Jim Palmer.
FCR -  Laurel Prieb, New York City
Incorrect guesses:  Butch Wynegar, Rick Cerone, Phil Roof, George Mitterwald, “Dipper”, Bill Sudakis

FRIDAY
Q.        Who is the only catcher in major league history to have more than 100 runs, more than 100 walks and more than 100 RBI in the same season?  (Reasonable minimums, as usual, apply.)
Hint:     He caught no-hitters in each league.
Hint:     He was signed by the same legendary scout who signed players Don Baylor, Curt Flood, Bobby Grich, Tommy Harper, Vada Pinson, Frank Robinson, Rusty Staub, Dave Stieb and Gorman Thomas.
Hint:     His high school graduated two other major leaguers with careers of 10+ years.
A.         DARRELL PORTER
-  In 141 G for KCR in 1979, Porter had 101 R, 112 RBI & 121 BB.
-  No-no’s = 14-May-1977 for Jim Colborn of KCR & 26-Sep-1983 for Bob Forsch of STL
-  Bobby Mattick, who also managed TOR in their early years.
-  Bobby Murcer and Mickey Tettleton also attended Southeast High School in Oklahoma City.
FCR -  Dennis Bartel, La Verne, California
Incorrect guesses:  Carlton Fisk, Ivan Rodriguez, Mike Piazza, Brian Downing, Mickey Cochrane, Johnny Bench

END-OF-THE-WORKWEEK BONUS
Q.        Which teammates loaned Al Leiter batting equipment to go to the plate in a postseason game, whereupon Leiter hit a double in his first major league at-bat?
Hint:     He was the only position player to have played for all 4 2005 LCS teams before 2005.
Hint:     It would not be entirely inaccurate to say that he cuts across borders.
A.         PAT BORDERS
-  Leiter’s 2b in the top of the 5th of the 4th game of the 1993 WS.  It would be almost 5 years before he hit another.
-  Borders had played with 1995 HOU, 1996 STL, 1996 CHW & 1996 ANA.
-  Played for TOR (across the border) and is currently manager of the Williamsport Crosscutters and well… you know… his name.
FCR -  Duncan Crowl, San Juan Capistrano, California
Incorrect guesses:  Ed Sprague, Gary Sheffield, Javy Lopez

SATURDAY
Q.        What former World Series MVP awardee was in uniform for a different Fall Classic that saw no fewer than six (6!) other eventual World Series MVPs participate?
Hint:     He owns a World Series record that was tied two decades later, but has never been bested.
Hint:     Only a few remember that he played for the Pirates.
Hint:     He was hit-by-pitch in double digits in five seasons in his career, including a year where he led the majors.
Hint:     He once honked at Homer.
A.         GENE TENACE  [SABR Bio]
-  Tenace for the bench coach for TOR in the 1993 WS.  Playing for the Blue Jays were Dave Stewart (1989 WS MVP), Jack Morris (1991 WS MVP), Pat Borders (1992 WS MVP) and Paul Molitor (1993 WS MVP).  Pitching for the Phillies was Curt Schilling (2001 WS MVP).  The Phil’s bullpen coach was the first ever person awarded the title, Johnny Podres (1955 WS MVP).  No other Series comes close.
-  In 1972, Tenace homered in his first two World Series at-bats, both off the Reds’ Gary Nolan.  Andruw Jones matched his feat in 1996 vs. NYY
-  His last season as a player for in 1983 for PIT.
-  91 career HBP; led MLB with 13 playing for SDP.
-  In season 17, episode #20, Homer Simpson painted his Springfield home’s curb with “74 Oakland A’s – Best Team Ever” whereupon Sal Bando and Tenace drive up and give an appreciative toot on the horn.
FCR -  Jerry Miller, Liberty Hill, Texas
Incorrect guesses:  Curt Schilling, Maury Wills, Paul Molitor, Javy Lopez, Mike Scioscia

WEEKEND EXTRA
Q.        What catcher began using his nick name when a fellow countryman pitcher with his exact name entered the league?
Hint:     Although they were teammates for 18 games, they were never a battery.
Hint:     He finished behind nine other players in the Rookie-of-the-Year voting, including a teammate.
Hint:     No catcher has ever hit more home runs in a season.
Hint:     He admits that his sister, owner of a Crossfit gym, has always been a better athlete.
A.         JAVY LOPEZ  [SABR Bio]
-  Javier Lopez Torres began using “Javy” when Javier Alfonso Lopez debuted.  Both are Puerto Rican.
-  Finished 10th in the 1994 NL ROY voting, behind Ryan Klesko, et al.
-  Hit 42 home runs in games where he played catcher in 2003.  The 43rd HR he hit was as a pinch-hitter on 20-Jul.
-  His sister, Elaine, former wife of slugger Juan Gonzalez, is also an elite volleyball player.
FCR -  Noah LaBelle, Southborough, MA
Incorrect guesses:  Johnny Bench, Mike Piazza, Ivan Rodriguez

SUNDAY
Q.        Who did Paul Bako replace as Greg Maddux’ personal catcher?
Hint:     Put in as a pinch-hitter, he was the 27th out of Randy Johnson’s perfect game.
Hint:     His sixth and final home run one season, was the one that set a new franchise record.
Hint:     He is the final player to qualify for this week’s theme.
A.         EDDIE PEREZ
-  Bako took over the Maddux assignment upon Perez’ retirement at the end of 2005.  The team added 7 more before the end of the season.
-  Final out of Johnson’s perfecto came 18-May-2004.
-  HR #208 for ATL was struck 22-Sep-1998.
FCR -  Kellen Nielson, Blanding, Utah
Incorrect guesses:  Javy Lopez, Henry Blanco


WEEKLY THEME – Catchers who won postseason MVP awards.



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

Catcher           Year   MVP Series         Team
Tenace........... 1972 WS..................... OAK

Bench............. 1976 WS..................... CIN

Yeager........... 1981 WS..................... LAD

Porter............. 1982 NLCS.................. STL
    "                   1982 WS..................... STL

Dempsey........ 1983 WS..................... BAL

Borders.......... 1992 WS..................... TOR

Lopez............. 1996 NLCS.................. ATL

E. Perez ........ 1999 NLCS.................. ATL

Santiago......... 2002 NLCS.................. SFG

Rodriguez....... 2003 NLCS.................. FLA

S. Perez......... 2015 WS..................... KCR



Incorrect theme guesses:

Monday  -  World Series MVPs
               -  Catchers who have been named World Series MVP.
               -  Most Gold Gloves as a catcher
               -  Catchers who homered in an All-Star Game

Tuesday-   Catchers who were MVP
               -  Catchers who won consecutive Gold Gloves

Wed        -  All Star catchers from PR










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