Q. Who racked
up nearly 700 hundred stolen bases in his career without ever leading the
league in that category?
Hint: His snowman
got frozen on D-Day.
Hint: He’s the
only player at his position to twice win the MVP without skipping a season in
between.
A. JOE MORGAN [SABR
Bio]
- 689 career SB
- Uniform #8 retired
06-Jun-1998 by CIN.
- Second baseman won
MVP 1975 & 1976
FCR - Jeff Cohen,
Wantagh, New York
Incorrect guesses: Ernie
Banks, Nellie Fox, Honus Wagner, Ted Williams, Barry Bonds
MONDAY BONUS
Q. Who is the
only Cincinnati Red to homer in his first World Series at-bat?
Hint: His hit it
off the previous season’s World Series MVP.
Hint: Twice in his
career, he had a game where he hit three home runs and stole a base.
Hint: He made his
ML debut as a pinch hitter, wearing no number.
A. ERIC DAVIS
- WS HR 16-Oct-1990 off Dave Stewart
- 3 HR + SB = 10-Sep-1986, 03-May-1987
- Debuted w/CIN on 19-May-1984 since the only available road uniform didn't
yet have a number sewn on. Pinch-hit for
P. Bob Owchinko.
FCR - Mark Mapes, Madison, Wisconsin
Incorrect guesses: Chris Sabo, Vada Pinson, George Foster, Frank
Robinson
TUESDAY
Q. Who was the first Dominican Republic
native to homer in an All-Star game?
Hint: He was only the second Dominican player
ever to receive Hall of Fame votes.
Hint: He led the majors in doubles in his 2nd
and 3rd seasons in “The Show”.
Hint: After him, no other Astro was an All-Star starter until Craig Biggio.
A. CESAR CEDENO
- AS HR 1972, in the 6th inning right after he’d
replaced Willie Mays in CF
- Received votes for a .05% share in 1982 for HOF entry.
However, Further research has revealed that all of the following Dominicans
received a Hall of Fame vote before Cedeno did:
Felipe Alou 1980
Matty Alou 1980
Juan Marichal 1981, 82,
83
Rico Carty 1985
Jesus Alou 1985
Manny Mota 1988,
89
Rico Carty 1985
Cesar Geronimo 1989
CEDENO 1992 (Horsehide
Trivia’s archivist has now been enrolled in a Spanish immersion course.)
- Cedeno’s last AS appearance as a starter in 1973 and Biggio’s start in an AS G was in 1995. Here
are the All-Star bench players from HOU during that Interregnum:
1974 Cesar Cedeno, OF
1975 Bob Watson, 1b
1976 Cesar Cedeno, OF; Ken Forsch, P
1977 Juaquin Andujar-P
1978 Terry Puhl, OF
1979 Craig Reynolds, SS;
Joaquin Andujar, P; Joe Niekro, P; Joe Sambito, P
1980 Jose Cruz, OF; J.R. Richard, P
1981 Bob Knepper, P; Nolan Ryan, P
1982 Ray Knight, 3B
1983 Dickie Thon, SS; Bill Dawley, P
1984 Jerry Mumphrey, OF
1985 Jose Cruz, OF; Nolan Ryan, P
1986 Kevin Bass, OF; Glenn Davis, 1B; Mike
Scott, P; Dave Smith, P
1987 Mike Scott, P
1988 Bob Knepper, P
1989 Mike Scott, P; Glenn Davis, 1B
1990 Dave Smith, P
1991 Craig Biggio, C; Pete Harnisch, P
1992 Craig Biggio, 2B; Doug Jones, P
1993 Darryl Kile, P
1994 Jeff Bagwell, 1B;
Craig Biggio, 2B; Ken Caminiti, 3B; Doug Drabek, P; John Hudek, P
1995 Finally! An Astro starter!
FCR - Morris Buenemann, Florissant, Missouri
Incorrect guesses: Moises Alou, Nelson Cruz, Roberto
Clemente, Cesar
Geronimo
TUESDAY BONUS
Q. Who was the first player to appear as a
designated hitter in four different World Series?
Hint: He was also the first player to appear as a
designated hitter in three different World Series.
Hint: He was also the first player to appear as a
designated hitter in two different World Series.
Hint: His nickname “Skates” was properly earned.
A. LONNIE SMITH
- Smith was branded with the nickname
"Skates" due to his somewhat awkward footwork while playing the
outfield in baseball, and also because of his poor base running in the 1991
World Series. The baseball historian Bill James wrote about this nickname at
some length. He wryly stated that Smith should have had a post-retirement
career teaching (so-called) "defensive recovery and cost containment"
since he had excelled at recovering from defensive difficulties in the outfield
FCR - Michael Mattsey, Robinson, Illinois
Incorrect guesses: Chili Davis, Don Baylor
WEDNESDAY
Q. What college standout was selected first
overall in the 1975 Draft?
Hint: in his first professional season, he led
the league in hits, batting average, stolen bases, games played and won the
league’s MVP.
Hint: In his rookie season in the majors, he
broke a record that had been intact since 1910.
Hint: He once held the San Diego Padres’ records
for hits in a season as well as the club’s career records for triples and
steals until Tony Gwynn broke them all.
A. GENE
RICHARDS [Wiki]
- Chosen 1st round (1st) in
the MLB January Draft-Regular Phase out of South Carolina State University, one
slot ahead of classmate Willie Mays Aikens.
- He set the modern-day MLB rookie record of 56
stolen bases in 1977, eclipsing Rollie ‘Bunions” Zeider’s 1910 record by 7. Zeider had been tied by Sonny Jackson in 1966.
- Nuff said.
FCR - Steve Klitzner, North Miami Beach
Incorrect
guesses: Dave Winfield, Fred Lynn, Danny
Goodwin, Garry Templeton, Bill Almon, Garry Templeton,
Steve Garvey
MIDWEEK BONUS
Q. What three-time All-Star was the first
player to have 10 doubles, 10 triples, 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases in
each of his first four seasons in the majors?
Hint: He is still the only rookie with 700
at-bats in a season.
Hint: The first of his two career grand slams was
the first one Todd Worrell ever surrendered.
A. JUAN SAMUEL
- 10+ stats in each of 984-87; AS in 1984, 87
& 91
- 701 AB in 1984
- GS off Worrell 09-Jun-1986
FCR - . Dr. Richard K. Tharp, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Incorrect
guesses: Ichiro Suzuki, Otis Nixon,
Johnny Callison, Dave Cash
THURSDAY
Q. What former New York Yankee stole more
bases in the 1990s than any other major leaguer, not counting minor league
stats?
Hint: He stole five World Series bases during
that span, but didn’t bring home a ring.
Hint: In fact, he made the final World Series out
the first year he ever played in the postseason.
Hint: If you add in the bases his brother stole
then, it barely increases the total.
Hint: He was the older of the two, but he was
still a Junior.
A. OTIS NIXON
- Played for NYY in 1983.
- From 1990 through 1999, had 478 SB, none in
the minors
- Played for ATL in 1992 and was thrown out on
an ill-executed (or ill‑conceived) bunt for the final Series out. Played in 2 G for ATL in the 1999 WS, but
managed only 1 H and 0 SB.
- Younger brother Donell stole 47 bases in the
majors but only 5 1990-99.
- His full legal name is Otis Junior Nixon.
FCR - Kellen Nielson, Blanding, Utah
Incorrect
guesses: Kenny Lofton, Tim Raines, Aaron
Boone
THURSDAY BONUS
Q. Who was the first designated hitter in
Seattle Mariners’ history?
Hint: His lackluster performance one season ruined
another player’s chances with the Yankees.
Hint: He was drafted by three different teams (twice
in the first round) before he reached the majors and it wasn’t with any of
those three.
Hint: During his sixteen-year major league
career, he was released or granted free agency by seven major league
organizations and traded away by four more.
A. DAVE COLLINS
- He was also the first ever batter in SEA history 06-Apr-1977.
- When George Steinbrenner saw how few bases (13)
Collins stole in his one year as a Yankee (1982), the famously patient, wise
and practical Mr. Steinbrenner decided that be-stealing was not the way of
the future and so traded their top draftee, Otis Nixon before his 2nd season.
- Drafted by CIN in the 23rd round of the 1971 amateur
draft.
Granted Free Agency by CIN in 1981.
Released by DET in 1986.
Released by MON in 1987.
Granted Free Agency by CIN in 1987.
Granted Free Agency by CIN 1988.
Released by CIN in 1989.
Granted Free Agency by CIN.
Last played for STL in 1990.
FCR - Jason Hammon, Arlington, Texas
Incorrect guesses: Willie Horton, Kenny Lofton, Tony
Womack, Otto Velez, Ken Phelps, Rupert Jones
FRIDAY
Q. What former Dodger, drafted by the
Angels, batted jut ahead of Tony Gwynn in the lineup the season the Padres
first won the National League pennant?
Hint: The only year he got MVP votes was the year
he led he league in times caught stealing.
Hint: He attended the same community college
where Jackie Robinson’s Olympic medalist brother went.
A. ALAN WIGGINS
- Hit 1& 2 with Gwynn for SDP in 1984. Drafted
by CAL in the 1st round (8th overall) of the
1977 MLB January Draft. Only He, Dave
Righetti and John Shelby made it to the majors from that group. Released by CAL, he was signed by LAD & played in their farm system in 1979 & 80.
- CS 21 X in 1984. Finished 21st in MVP voting.
- Attended Pasadena City College where Mack
Robinson had attended (Yes. Jackie went
there too.)
FCR - Lincoln Mitchell, New York City
Incorrect
guesses: Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Derrell
Thomas, Steve Finley, Kurt Bevacqua
END-OF-THE
WORKWEEK BONUS
Q. Who is the only major leaguer born in
Honduras?
Hint: He helped set an MLB record because fourteen
players drafted by a single team from his draft reached the major leagues.
Hint: He put on base stealing clinics after his
playing career.
A. GERALD YOUNG
- 14 players from the 1982 MLB
June Amateur Draft
chosen by NYM made it to the Mets,
among them Dwight Gooden, Floyd Youmans, Roger McDowell, Greg Olson &
Rafael Palmeiro.
FCR - Bob Flynn, Chandler, Arizona
Incorrect guesses:
SATURDAY
Q. What former Cub finally got some MVP
votes when he led the league in triples?
Hint: That was good enough for him to tie with
the father of a future first-round Hall of Famer.
Hint: Years later, when he was given his release,
an All-Star teammate of his was so irritated that he walked off the team.
Hint: He then finished his career with a handful
of games for the Yankees.
Hint: His disapproving ally, however, never
played another game in the majors.
A. RODNEY
SCOTT
- 13 3b in 1980; His single MVP vote* was good for a tie with Ken Griffey, Sr.
et al. However, 6 other future Hall of Famers finished ahead of them and that was in
the NL alone.
- In May-1982, when Scott was released by
Montreal, Bill Lee was the teammate who staged the protest.
FCR - Penny Flowers, Savannah
Incorrect
guesses: Lance Johnson, Stan Hack, Phil
Cavarretta, Ryne Sandberg, Ron Santo, Roger Metzger
*Yes, the
word “some” was somewhat misleading.
WEEKEND BONUS
Q. Whose record for stolen bases in a
season by a New York Mets player did Jose Reyes break?
Hint: Reyes also has positions 3, 6, 13, 31 and 49
on that list. Our guy occupies 2nd
and 45th.
Hint: His nephew went hitless today, oh for four,
but his team won.
Hint: He was released by his final team in the
majors by showing up to camp weighing the equivalent in pounds to his career
RBI total.
A. ROGER
CEDENO [SABR
Bio]
- Had 66 SB in 199 for NYM. After falling just short of Cedeno’s team
record twice w/60 & 64, Reyes stole 78 in 2007.
- His nephew is Yangervis
Solarte who plays for SFG.
- Let go by BAL for
having a spring training weight of 274 lbs. on is 6’1” frame.
FCR - Barry Nelson, Guilderland, New York
Incorrect
guesses: Mookie Wilson, Bud Harrelson, Vince
Coleman, Lenny Dykstra, Felix Millan, Darryl Strawberry, Howard Johnson
SUNDAY
Q. What speedster made it to the majors in
spite of making 175 fielding errors over the previous three seasons in the minors?
Hint: He qualifies for inclusion in this week’s
theme because his stolen base total one year in the majors trailed only those
of Vince Coleman and Rickey Henderson.
Hint: His nickname matches exactly that of
another player in this week’s quiz.
Hint: He was generously called a utility player,
but mostly teams didn’t know where to play him in the field. In his five years in the majors, over the
span of 368 games, he played at least ten games at six different positions,
eight if you’re willing to count pinch-hitter and pinch-runner as “positions”.
A. ERIC YELDING
- Made 59 errors at multiple positions for the 1986
Ventura County Gulls; another 59 E dividing 1987 between the Myrtle Beach Blue
Jays and Double-A Knoxville Blue Jays; then in 1988 at AAA Syracuse, he got his
E total down to 35 and was headed for the Big.
- Had 64 SB w/HOU in 1990. Coleman had 77 & Henderson 65.
- Nickname “Cool Breeze”,
same as Rodney
Scott
FCR - Michael Ageno, San Francisco
Incorrect
guesses: U L Washington, Ron LeFlore,
Billy Hamilton, Deion Sanders, Claudel Washington,
Jeff Stone
WEEKLY THEME – Players
who stole more than 60 bases in a National League season without ever leading
the league.
Player SB Year Career
WAR
C. Cedeno 61 1977 52.8
Cedeno 66 1999 1.7
Collins 79 1980 15.8
Davis 80 1986 36.1
Morgan 67 1973, 75 100.6
Nixon 72 1991 16.6
Richards 61 1980 18.7
Samuel 72 1984 17.0
Scott 63 1980 4.0
Smith 68 1982 38.5
Wiggins 66,
70 1983, 84 7.1
Yelding 64 1990 -1.7
Young 65 1988 6.0
First
Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Ken Kirk, Corning, New York (after Yelding).
Incorrect theme
guesses:
Monday - Reds who went to high school in California
& played on championship teams
Tuesday - 20 HR/
50 SB club
Wed - Players with hit 20+ HRS in a season and also
stole 60+ bases in a season
Thu - Once over 60 SBs without ever leading the
league
Friday - Players with at least one year 50+ SBs and at
least one year 60+ SBs who never lead the league in SBs
Sunday - They have stolen 50 bases a season (some
years) but they all have a high percentage of caught stealing as compared to the
bases stolen.
-
National Leaguers signed by the same scout.
-
Players whose career best single season stolen base total was more
than 60, but who never led the league.
-
60+ steals in a season but didn’t lead the league in SB.
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