Sunday, August 9, 2020

2020-08-03 Outfielders over whose heads postseason-series-clinching, walk-off home runs were hit


MONDAY  —  03-Aug
Q.        Who was the only manager to lead the Mets and the Yankees to league championships?
Hint:     He led the league in an offensive category only once in his nineteen-year MB playing career and that was not in his MVP season.
Hint:     As a child, he and his friends built a baseball diamond near the city dump.
A.         YOGI BERRA  [SABR Bio]
-  Managed NYY 1964 + 1984-85; managed NYM 1972-75.  Won NL flag in 1973.  Won AL flag in 1964.
-  He was the AL leader in 1950 in at-bats per strikeout by a wide margin w/49.8.  In fact he led the majors that year, also by a wide margin.  Won AL MVPs in 1951, 1954 & 1955, in each case by narrow margins.
-  The city dump as then located, in St. Louis.  One of his childhood friends went on to play in the majors for 9 seasons, Joe Garagiola.
FCR -  Jeff Cohen, Wantagh, New York
Incorrect guesses:  Joe Torre, Casey Stengel, Davey Johnson

TUESDAY    04-Aug
Q.        Who is the only post-WWII player to collect more RBI than the number of games he played that season and do it in back-to-back seasons? (100 RBI min.)
Hint:     He is the only American League player to receive four intentional bases-on-balls in a single game since Roger Maris in 1962.
Hint:     He has played for both the Bisons and the Rhinos.
A.         MANNY RAMIREZ  [SABR Bio]
-  In 1999, he played in 148 G and had 165* RBI.  The following season, he plated 122 in just 118 G. had 169 in 154 Gin 1932 and 163 RBI in 149 G in 1933.  (Ted Williams almost satisfies this 1949-1950, but falls just 3 short of the 100 RBI minimum in ’50.)
-  DET mgr. Phil Garner gave Manny first base on purpose 4 X on 05-Jun-2001 at Fenway in the 8th, 10th, 14th & 16th innings.  It proved a wise strategy in that Manny was stranded on base each time when the batter(s) behind him ended the inning and the threat.  BOS still won the game when teammate Shea Hillenbrand homered in the bottom of the 18th.
-  In 2000, he played for the Buffalo Bisons for 5 G in a rehab assignment and in 2013 he played 49 G for the EDA Rhinos of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.
*Highest season RBI total for any player since Jimmie Foxx had 175 in 1938.
FCR -  Daniel Wilson, St. Paul
Incorrect guesses:  George Brett, Barry Bonds, Josh Hamilton, Rocky Colavito, Mark McGwire, Aaron Judge, Ted Williams, Albert Belle, Bobby Bonds

TUESDAY TWICE     04-Aug
Q.        A career offensive statistical combination of 300+ home runs, 400+ doubles, 100+ triples and 300+ stolen bases was achieved by only two players.  Which one was not voted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot?
Hint:     His 6th career leadoff home run was also the one that placed him in the 300/300 club.
Hint:     He played for eight franchises during his nineteen years in the majors and won Gold Gloves for three different teams.
Hint:     He twice led the National League in triples, ten years apart.
A.         STEVE FINLEY [B-R Bio]
-  Finley’s numbers:  304 HR, 449 2B, 124 3B & 320 SB.  Also in the club?  Willie Mays, who had 660 HR, 523 2B, 140 3B & 338 SB.  Finley’s 1st HOF ballot was a disheartening 0.7% in 2013 and so didn’t even qualify for a 2nd year of voting.
-  300th HR 14-Jun-2006.  He was met at home plate by his 13-year-old son Austin after  rounding the bases.
-  Won a GG for SDP (1995, 96), ARI (1999, 2000, 2004) & LAD (2004).  His other teams were BAL, HOU, LAA, SFG & COL.
-  NL 3b leader in 1993.  Had 13 w/HOU & in 2003 when he had 10 w/ARI.
FCR -  Bill Deane, Cooperstown
Incorrect guesses:  Ricky Henderson, Bobby Bonds, Luke Easter, Mike Trout, Andre Dawson, Kenny Lofton, Tim Raines, Bobby Richardson

WEDNESDAY    05-Aug
Q.        Which former Cincinnati Reds infielder-outfielder was the first player to accumulate 1,000 at-bats as a designated hitter?
Hint:     He played for only two teams in the majors, but he coached for six.
Hint:     His last year as a player was his first as a coach and with the same team.
A.         HAL McRAE  [B-R Bio]
-  Began DH’ing from the start of the DH in 1973 the year after he was traded to the AL, w/1,426 of his career 2,084 G at DH.
-  Played for CIN & KCR, a total of 19 seasons.  Coached w/KCR, MON, CIN, PHI, TBD & STL, a total of 15 years coaching.  He also managed for KCR 1991-1994 & TBD 2001-2002.
-  Played with KCR 1973-1987; began coaching with KCR in 1987.
FCR -  Steven Wright, Naperville, Illinois
Incorrect guesses:  Rico Carty, Wayne Krenchicki, Chili Davis, Lee May, Frank Robinson, Tony Perez, Richie Hebner, Deron Johnson, Ken Griffey, Sr.

MIDWEEK BONUS    05-Aug
Q.        Which All-Star and Gold Glove winner is the only New York Yankee to lead the American League in triples in the expansion era?
Hint:     He is a proud recipient of the Kevin Lawn Award.
Hint:     He is a former Cougar, but did not attend BYU, Washington State or the University of Houston.
A.         BRETT GARDNER  [B-R Bio]
-  Led AL in triples w/10 in 2013.  AS in 2015.  GG in 2016.
-  The Kevin Lawn Award is given to the best minor league hitter and pitcher of the previous year in the Yankees’ organization.  Gardner won in 2009.
-  Played baseball as he attended the College of Charleston.
FCR -  Warren Kent, Whitehall, Michigan
Incorrect guesses:  Willie Randolph, Mickey Rivers, Hank Bauer, Don Mattingly, Bobby Murcer, Bernie Williams, Dave Winfield

THURSDAY    06- Aug
Q.        Who beat out Bob Horner and Robin Ventura when he was named NCAA Player of the Century in 1999?
Hint:     He still holds the NCAA record for most home runs and most RBI in single collegiate season.
Hint:     His record for strikeouts by an MLB rookie batter was broken by the Cubs’ Kris Bryant.
A.         PETE INCAVIGLIA  [B-R Bio]
-  Baseball America’s balloting honored Incaviglia based on (among other things) his college career .398 batting average, 324 RBIs and .915 slugging percentage. His 100 homers are still an NCAA record.  He finished with a flourish, hitting 48 HR & w/143 RBI in 1985 in 75 G for Oklahoma State.
-  Incavigilia’s record of 185 K by a qualifying rookie in 1986 was surpassed by Bryant’s 199 in 2015.  Aaron Judge currently holds the record after he struck out 208 times in 2017 (while he was also setting the since-broken rookie HR record).  All three led the AL in Ks in the seasons that they set these rookie marks.
FCR -  Adrian Fung, Toronto
Incorrect guesses:  Phil Nevin, Jeff Burroughs, Bobby Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, Fred Lynn, Barry Bonds, Jason Jennings

FRIDAY    07-Aug
Q.        Who was the last batter to hit a postseason home run off Cooperstown’s sole unanimously-elected inductee?
Hint:     He was one of three .400-hitting college baseball teammates named All-American.
Hint:     Unusual for a non-pitcher, he underwent two Tommy John Surgeries before reaching the majors.
A.         JAY PAYTON  [B-R Bio]
-  Payton’s 9th inning 3-run HR on 22-Oct-2000 was the final HR postseason clout surrendered by Mariano Rivera.  Payton’s dinger constitutes exactly 50% of all the postseason HRs Rivera surrendered in his 96 G/141 IP postseason career.  The other had been by CLE’s Sandy Alomar, Jr. in G 4 of the 1997 ALDS.
-  Payton often batted cleanup and thumped a robust .434 during the 1994 NCAA baseball season for Georgia Tech University.  Fellow MLB First Round Picks Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Varitek hit .427 and .426 respectively for the Ramblin’ Wreck.
-  Besides the two TJS (plus a third elbow scope) done on his right throwing arm, Payton also had major work done on his left shoulder.  These injuries are figured to have delayed his MLB debut by 4½ years.
FCR -  John Michael Pierobon, Fort Lauderdale
Incorrect guesses:  Will Middlebrooks, Will Clark, Robin Ventura, Lance Berkman, Albert Bell, Pat Burrell

T.G.I. Effects  07-Aug
Q.        Which Baltimore Orioles rookie only joined his club in mid-May one year, but went on a tear so torrid that he earned league Rookie of the Month honors in June?
Hint:     Although his rookie season was also highly successful, his bobblehead day scheduled for the next season went on without him.
Hint:     The sound of his last name can give certain grain farmers great apprehension.
A.       NOLAN REIMOLD  [B-R Bio]
-  Called up by BAL on 14-May-2009, he quickly earned AL Rookie Player of the Month for June 2009 after slashing .320/.420/.520 with 5 HR. 
-  After struggling through the first 29 games of 2010 while hitting only .205, Reimold was demoted to the minors two weeks before his 26-May-2010 bobblehead day.
-  Surname pronounced RYE-mold.  Poisonous rye mold is one of the few plant diseases that can cause direct damage to humans when ingested.
FCR -  Tony Nicolo, Norfolk, Virginia
Incorrect guesses:  Josh Towers, Brian Reimold, Terry Crowley, Matt Wieters, Curt Blefary

SATURDAY    08-Aug
Q.        Who was the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 National Baseball Congress World Series, playing for the Kansas Stars, the first former major leaguer to win the title since 1965?
Hint:     In his senior year in high school, he was named the Texas Player of the Year.
Hint:     His father is Texas' all-time winningest high school baseball coach’
Hint:     Although he hit fewer than 35 career MLB HRs, his victims included five Cy Young Award winners.
A.         RYAN LANGERHANS  [B-R Bio]
-  During his senior season in 1998, Langerhans batted .512, was named to the All-State team, was selected as a Nike All-American, was selected to play in the 1998 Texas High School All-Star Game and was named Texas Player of the Year.
-  His father is John Langerhans who amassed a 613-200 coaching record over a 28-year career and was inducted into the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2007.
-  33 total MLB HRs, including one each off CYA winners Jake Peavy, Johan Santana, Roy Halladay, Rick Porcello and Zack Greinke.
FCR -  Warren Kent, Whitehall, Michigan
Incorrect guesses:  Roger Clemens

WEEKEND BONUS    08-Aug
Q.        Who had his only career multiple-HR games in back-to-back-to-back contests?
Hint:     His father and his high school teammate’s father were teammates in the majors.
Hint:     He and that high school teammate missed being teammates again in the majors by one season.
Hint:     Yet another major leaguer was his teammate, this time in college.
A.         JEFF DaVANON  [B-R Bio]
-  In 2003, DaVanon clubbed two HRs in each of three straight games on 01-Jun, 03-Jun & 04-June.  This concentrated hot streak tied the AL record for most homers in three consecutive games, previously set by Tony Lazzeri, Gus Zernial, Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez.
-  Jeff attended Bellaire (TX) HS with Jose Cruz, Jr.  Their fathers, Jerry and Jose, Sr., were teammates on the 1975 and 1976 Houston Astros.
-  Cruz played for the Diamondbacks in 2005 and DaVanon played for them in 2006.
-  DaVanon and Jim Rushford played together at San Diego State shortly before Tony Gwynn became the coach there.
FCR -  No one
Incorrect guesses:  Barry Bonds, Jack Clark

SUNDAY    09-Aug
Q.        Who homered in his major league debut  but died less than 150 days later?
Hint:     His team mourned him with light. 
Hint:     He was sought out by the Canadian national baseball team to play in the World Baseball Classic.
Hint:     At the age of five, he self-coined his prophetic nickname.
A.         OSCAR TAVERAS  [B-R Bio]
-  First HR on 31-May-2014.  Taveras and his girlfriend perished in an automobile accident 26-Oct-2014.  He was 22.
-  The Cardinals used their home stadium lights to pay tribute to his life.
-  Of dual Dominican-Canadian citizenship, the Canuck joueurs de baseball tried luring Taveras to play for them in the 2013 WBC.  The Cardinals nixed that offer, figuring Taveras would have plenty of other chances to represent Team Canada
-  According to his father, Oscar started to call himself "El Fenómeno, at about age five".  That’s Spanish for "The Phenomenon".  His father remembered his young son exclaiming, “I’m going to make you the happiest dad in the world.  I want to be a star.  I want to be a major leaguer.  I’m the phenomenon.  I’m the best!”
FCR -  Joe O’Neill, London, ON
Incorrect guesses:  Ken Hubbs, Greg Halman, Sixto Lezcano


WEEKLY THEME – Outfielders over whose heads MLB’s 11 postseason-series-clinching, walk-off home runs were hit.

Observer         Pos Tm        HR by, His Team                         Event
Berra              LF NYY        Bill Mazeroski, PIT                     1960 WS G 7
McRae            RF KCR       Chris Chambliss, NYY               1976 ALCS G 5
Incaviglia        LF PHL        Joe Carter, TOR                        1993 WS G 6
Finley              CF ARI         Todd Pratt, NYM                        1999 NLCS G 4
Ramirez          LF BOS        Aaron Boone, NYY                    2003 ALCS G 7
DaVanon        LF LAA         David Ortiz, BOS                       2004 ALDS G 3
Langerhans    LF ATL         Chris Burke, HOU                      2005 NLDS G 4
Payton            LF OAK        Magglio Ordonez, DET              2006 ALCS G 4
Taveras          RF STL         Travis Ishikawa, SFG                2014 NLCS G 5
Reimold          LF BAL         Edwin Encarnacion, TOR          2016 AL WC G
Gardner          LF NYY        Jose Altuve, HOU                      2019 ALCS G 6

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Preston Salisbury, Starkville, Mississippi



Incorrect theme guesses:

Monday  -  Players who've had cartoon characters named for them
               - 
Tuesday -  All had 19 year careers and all have at least signed contracts with two teams ostensibly in the same city

Wed.       -  Players with 2000+ hits and 1000+ RBIs

Sunday   -  Players who put their teams ahead before losing a series-winning homer
               -  Players who hit walk off home runs to win a championship.
               -  Who was due to start the next inning after famous walk off homers?

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