Sunday, November 11, 2018

2018-11-05 Twenty-five HR in a season before age 21


Theme and questions this week are from reader David Washburn, Marietta, Georgia.

MONDAY
Q.        In 2018, who became the youngest player to hit a grand slam in a postseason game?
Hint:     He set a franchise record in 2018 by hitting 8 lead-off home runs.
Hint:     His father played six seasons of minor league ball in the Mets organization.
Hint:     His uniform number 13 has been anything but unlucky.
A.         RONALD ACUNA
-  His grand slam in game 3 of the 2018 NLDS against Walker Buehler came at 20 years, 293 days old; previous postseason record held by Mickey Mantle in game 5 of the 1953 World Series at age 21 years, 349 days.
-  His 8 leadoff home runs broke the previous Braves franchise record of 7 set by Marquis Grissom in 1997.
-  Ronald Acuna. Sr. was a right fielder in the Mets minor league system and had three seasons of at least 30 stolen bases but never played higher than AA ball.
-  Jr. wore No. 24 as a Braves minor leaguer in honor of fellow Venezuelan Miguel Cabrera but switched to No. 13 when reaching the majors since No. 24 was worn by Kurt Suzuki.
FCR -  Phillip Ross, Denver
Incorrect guesses:  Andruw Jones, Mookie Betts

TUESDAY
Q.        What player recorded his 3,000th career hit in his hometown of Baltimore?
Hint:     In his only World Series appearance, he batted .379 with two home runs as his team won in seven games but he was not the MVP winner.
Hint:     He was the first player in franchise history to hit two home runs in an inning.
Hint:     He once said, “I wasn’t meant to be a superstar.  I’m no Willie Mays or Mickey Mantle.”
A.         AL KALINE  [SABR Bio]
-  Born in Baltimore 19-Dec-1934.  On 24-Sep-1974 at Memorial Stadium, he hit a 4th‑inning double against Dave McNally for hit No. 3,000.
-  Mickey Lolich was the very deserving Series MVP (3-0, 1.67 ERA in three starts including a complete-game, 5-hit win in game 7).
-  He hit 2 HRs in the 6th inning of a 16-0 win against KCA on 17‑Apr‑1955 off Bob Spicer, the first in DET history.  Next Tiger to do it was Magglio Ordonez against the A’s in the 2nd inning 12-Aug-2007 at Comerica Park. (The A’s had moved by then.)
FCR -  Will McCracken, Bradenton, Florida
Incorrect guesses:  Cal Ripken, Roberto Clemente, Eddie Murray

WEDNESDAY
Q.        Who was the first player to hit a walk-off home run against the Yankees in a World Series game?
Hint:     He was a two-time National League home run champion and finished second in league MVP voting in both seasons.
Hint:     Ty Cobb once said of him, “I’ve only known three or four perfect swings in my time.  This lad has one of them.”
A.         EDDIE MATTHEWS  [SABR Bio]
- His 2-run HR in the bottom of the 10th inning of 1957 WS G 4 against Bob Grim gave the MLN a 7-5 win.  Spahn got the CG W.  Mathews’ only postseason homer.
- He won NL home run titles in 1953 (47) & 1959 (46) and was runner-up in NL MVP voting to Roy Campanella (’53) and Ernie Banks (’59) respectively.  He also received MVP votes in an additional 7 seasons.
FCR -  Larry Hayes, San Francisco  
Incorrect guesses:  Casey Stengel, Johnny Mize, Rogers Hornsby, Mel Ott, Bill Mazeroski, Duke Snider

THURSDAY
Q.             Who holds the MLB record for leading his team in home runs in 18 consecutive seasons.
Hint      He’s still his franchise all-time leader in RBIs and second in games, hits, total bases, doubles and walks.
Hint:     He’s the youngest player in MLB history to amass 1,000 RBIs.
A.         MEL OTT  [SABR Bio]
-  Led the New York Giants in home runs every season from 1928-45.
-  His 1,860 career RBIs are still a Giants franchise record, just one ahead of Willie Mays. Second in Giants history behind Mays in games (2,730), hits (2,876), total bases (5,041) & doubles (488) and 2nd behind Bonds in walks (1,708).
-  Reached the 1,000 RBI mark in 1936 at age 27 years, 94 days.
FCR -  Chaunce Venuto, Tooele, Utah
Incorrect guesses:  Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Willie Stargell, Stan Musial, Mike Schmidt, Barry Bonds

FRIDAY
Q.        Who is the only player elected to six All-Star Games each in both the American League and National League?
Hint:     In 2005, he became the fifth baseball player at the time to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Hint:     Jim Bouton, in Ball Four, replied “reluctantly” when asked how he would pitch to him.
A.         FRANK ROBINSON  [SABR Bio]
-  Six-time NL All-Star with the Reds (1956, 57, 59*, 61*, 62, 65); six-time AL All-Star with the Orioles (1966, 67, 69-71) and Angels (1974).  Replaced as a starter in the 1967 All-Star Game due to injury by Carl Yastrzemski and replaced on the AL roster by White Sox OF Ken Berry.  Six of one… half a dozen the other.
-  In 2005, joined Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams and Hank Aaron as players to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  It has since been awarded to Buck O’Neil, Stan Musial, Ernie Banks, Yogi Berra, Willie Mays and broadcaster Vin Scully.
*Was elected to both NL AS teams in each of 1959 & 61, but only played in one game each year:  2nd & 1st respectively.
FCR -  Maureen Walsh, Tallahassee
Incorrect guesses:  Hank Aaron, Gary Sheffield, Mark McGwire

SATURDAY
Q.        Who was the first player to win both the National League Rookie of the Year Award and the National League MVP Award unanimously?
Hint:     He was the first winner of the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.
Hint:     He once tied a major league record by hitting four doubles in a game.
Hint:     World Series MVP Lew Burdette said, “He was the toughest hitter I ever faced.”
A.         ORLANDO CEPEDA  [SABR Bio]
-  Unanimous winner of both the 1958 NL Rookie of the Year Award and 1967 NL MVP Award.  Only other NL player to win both unanimously was Albert Pujols (2001 NL ROY, 2009 NL MVP).  Frank Robinson was a unanimous ROY in 1956 in the NL and a unanimous MVP choice in the AL in 1966.
-  In 1973 with the Boston Red Sox, Cepeda batted .289 with 20 HRs and 86 RBIs in 142 games as DH.
-  Hit four doubles against the Royals on 08-Aug-1973.
-  An amazing quote considering that in his career, Burdette also faced Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, Frank Robinson, Willie McCovey, Harmon Killebrew, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, et al.
FCR -  Mary Shea, Milwaukee
Incorrect guesses: Willie McCovey, Jackie Robinson, Frank Robinson

SUNDAY
Q.        Who was the first player to win both the Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award and the Hutch Award?
Hint:     Despite leading his league in home runs one year, he only finished 33rd in MVP voting.
Hint:     In his only All-Star Game, he went 0-for-6 with two strikeouts.
Hint:     His younger brother played parts of five seasons in the majors.
A.         TONY CONIGLIARO  [SABR Bio]
-  Won the Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1969 and the Hutch Award in 1970, given to the player who "best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire" of Fred Hutchinson by persevering through adversity.
- led the AL with 32 home runs in 1965 but finished 33rd in MVP voting as the Red Sox finished 62-100.
- went 0-for-6 with 2 strikeouts and played all 15 innings of the 1967 All-Star Game at Anaheim.
- Billy Conigliaro, 2 years and 7 months younger than Tony, was an outfielder for BOS 1969-71, MIL in 1972 & OAK in 1973; had 3 at-bats in the 1973 WS.
FCR -  Mike Sparks, Sarasota
Incorrect guesses:  Bobby Tolan, Jason Giambi, Dave Kingman, Tommy John


WEEKLY THEME – Players who hit 25 home runs in a single season before turning 21.  David says, “Thanks to Ronald Acuna and his historic rookie season for inspiring this theme and giving us seven players to fit into it.”

Player         HRs     Year               DoB
Acuna......... 26...... 2018........ 18-Dec-1997.
Cepeda....... 25...... 1958........ 17-Sep-1937; Hit 25th 04-Sep, 13 days before turning 21.
Conigliaro.. 32...... 1965........ 07-Jan-1945.
Kaline......... 27...... 1955........ 19-Dec-1934.
Mathews..... 25...... 1952........ 19-Oct-1931.
Ott............... 42...... 1929........ 02-Mar-1909.
Robinson.... 38...... 1956........ 31-Aug-1935; Hit 25th 02-Aug, 29 days before turning 21.


First Correct Respondent to Identify ThemeSarah Grynpas, Toronto (after Mathews)

Incorrect theme guesses:

Tuesday -  “Juniors”
               -  Players with an OPS over 0.900 before being 21 years old
               -  Youngsters
               -  Players who hit 25 homers before turning 21
               -  Players who made the All-Star team as teenagers.       
               -  Players who made the All-Star team at age 20 or less.

Wed        -  21 homers before age 21
               - 

Thurs      -  Hall of Famers with 25 homers before age 21
               -  Players who led their team in home runs at age 20 (including ties)


Friday     -  500 home run club
               - 










No comments:

Post a Comment