MONDAY — 08-Feb
Q. Who
is the only pitcher to win more than one Cy Young Award pitching for the
Minnesota Twins?
Hint: #1 He
owns the best win/loss percentage of any pitcher from his native country (50
decisions minimum)
Hint: #2 His
rate of strikeouts per nine innings is the highest in the 120-year-old history
of his franchise.
Hint: #3 His
career Adjusted ERA+ is tied with Christy Mathewson’s, just ahead of
Pete Alexander’s.
A. JOHAN SANTANA [B-R Bio]
- Ans. AL CYA in 2004 & 2006, both unanimously
- #1 W-L % = .641 on 139 W & 78 L, best
among qualifying Venezuelans
- #2 Career K/9 IP = 9.497. Franchise of Senators/Twins began in 1901
#3 His career ERA+ is 136
FCR - Tony Nicolo,
Norfolk, Virginia
Incorrect guesses: Frank
Viola, Bert Blyleven, Camilo Pascual
MONDAY DOUBLED — 08-Feb
Q. Who was the
winner of the “greatest game ever pitched”?
Hint: #1 He
took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in his first major league start.
Hint: #2 He
was inducted into the Hall of Fame the same year as his former manager.
A. JUAN MARICHAL [SABR Bio]
- Ans. On 02-Jul-1963 , Marichal benefitted
from a 16th-inning HR from Willie Mays to beat MLN’s ace Warren Spahn 1-0. Many people call this pitching duel the “Greatest”.
- #1 On 19-Jul-1960, in Marichal’s MLB
debut, he held PHI
hitless until pinch-hitter Clay Dalrymple singled w/2 outs in the
8th.
- #2 Entered the HOF in 1983 w/Walter
Alston. Marichal pitched for LAD under
Alston in 1975.
FCR - Kevin Decker,
Hillsborough New Jersey
Incorrect guesses: Lew
Burdette, Warren Spahn, Jack Morris
MONDAY TREBLED — 08-Feb
Q. Which
one-time Boston Red Sox hurler won more games in a season than any pitcher in
the history of the Yankees’ franchise?
Hint: #1 He won his
twentieth game that year by stealing home in the tenth inning.
Hint: #2 He
was the first Modern Day pitcher to be able to claim win-loss percentage titles
in the American League and the National League.
A. JACK CHESBRO [SABR Bio]
- Ans. Chesbro’s record in 1904 was 41
W & 12 L the highest one-year win total for any pitcher on any team in the
Modern Era. The team was known as the
Highlanders in those days. Chesbro
played for BOS for 1 G at the end of his career.
- #1 On 16-Jul-1904, having entered in the
8th, ended the G with his slide home.*
- #2 In 1902 w/PIT, his record was .824. In his 1904 season, his first w/NYY, his
record was .774.
FCR - Carter Cromwell,
San Francisco
Incorrect guesses: Carl
Mays, Cy Young, Al Spalding, Lefty Grove, Waite Hoyt, Smokey Joe Wood,
Red Ruffin, Pedro Martinez
*Reader Andrew Tarwerdi did a deep dive and found the
following: “The New York Sun
from July 17, 1904 has a more detailed explanation of the play. It appears that Chesbro had made it to the
plate safely, but [teammate 2nd baseman] Jimmy Williams put
the ball in play to the shortstop just to make sure. So what was an attempted steal was apparently
nullified by the ball being put in play; thus Chesbro is credited with a run
scored in the box score but no stolen base.”
TUESDAY — 09-Feb
Q. Who was the pitcher whose win stopped the
Braves skid after they’d lost ten straight to start the season?
Hint: #1 He surrendered infielder Al Newman’s only career
home run.
Hint: #2 Although he only pitched in eleven games for
the 1990 Pirates, his 1.30 ERA help them win their first division title in
eleven years.
A. ZANE SMITH [B-R Bio]
- Ans. In
1988, ATL lost its 1st 10 G of the season. Smith
was the winning P in the 11th G, their first W.
- #1 On
Sunday afternoon, 06-Jul-1986, switch-hitting Expo 2nd baseman Al Newman, batting 8th, hit a Zane Smith
pitch over the left field wall in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. It was little remarked on by anyone except
Newman since that was the game where ATL 1st baseman Bob Horner hit 4 HR.
- #2 PIT
won the NL East in 1990. PIT’s
previous win was their WS title in 1979.
FCR - Steve Klitzner, N. Miami Beach
Incorrect guesses: Bob Walk. Tim Wakefield, Kent
Tekulve
TUESDAY DOUBLED — 09-Feb
Q. Who has been a Roberto Clemente Award
nominee for each of the previous five season, including for teams in each
league?
Hint: #1 A one-time Texas Ranger, he has been an
All-Star in each league and has won three Silver Slugger awards.
Hint: #2 He once turned down a multi-million dollar
offer just prior to having one of the worst seasons of his career.
A. IAN DESMOND [B-R Bio]
- Ans. Nominated
for Clemente award in 2016 by TEX and for each of his 4 seasons with COL, including 2020 even though he opted out of
playing due to COVID-19 concerns. He was
also nominated in 2011 while with WSN.
- #1 Was
an All-Star w/WSN in 2012 & w/TEX in 2016. SS
winner 2012-14.
- #2 Before
the start of the 2015 season, WSN offered Desmond a 7-year, $107 million
extension offer. He declined. He had such
faith in his abilities that thought he could get more from another
team as a free agent. His next team
offered a one-year $8 million-deal. He has never made up the money he lost by turning down WSN’s generous offer.
FCR - Sam Bogen, Manhattan Beach, California
Incorrect guesses: Adrian Beltre, Nelson Cruz
WEDNESDAY — 10-Feb
Q. Which double-unique one-time All-Star is
the career stolen base leader for the Angels franchise?
Hint: #1 He tied the American League record for most
hits in a nine-inning game, which included the very rare walk-off triple
Hint: #2 He has played 250 games at each of three
positions.
Hint: #3 He has a nominal connection to the person
who was the answer to the Tuesday Doubled question.
Hint: #4 Jimmy Carter, before he was president, once
spotted a UFO in this player’s small hometown.
Hint: #5 His brother was a major league scout.
A. CHONE FIGGINS [B-R Bio]
- Ans. Has
280 SB but Mike Trout at 201 has an outside chance to catch him. [See all Double Uniques here.]
- #1 6-hit
G = 18-June-2007. Watching speedy Reggie Willits and the fast Figgins
circle the bases probably felt like being at a track meet!
- #2 Has
played 640 G at 3B, 279 AT 2b & 253 in CF.
- #3 Desmond
is Chone’s given first name.
- #4 In
1969, before he was even governor of Georgia, Carter and a handful of witnesses
saw an object in the crepuscular sky of Leary, Georgia. Population at the time was fewer than 800
souls and although Figgins was born there 9 years later the population has
continued to shrink.
- #5 His
brother is Demetrius Figgins who scouted for the Angels in the 21st
century aughts.
FCR - Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois
Incorrect
guesses: Rennie Stennett, Albie Pearson,
Sixto Lezcano, Ian Kinsler, Darin Erstad, Gary Pettis
MIDWEEK BONUS —
10-Feb
Q. Which Braves 26-year-old rookie was the
Rookie of the Month his first two months in the majors, playing mostly
different positions each month?
Hint: #1 He did get some Rookie of the Year votes,
but not enough to win the award.
Hint: #2 Some say his facial hair is to offset a
rather youthful countenance.
Hint: #3 Much is made of the fact that before
focusing on baseball, he worked as a janitor.
A. EVAN GATTIS [B-R Bio]
- Ans. In
April 2013, he played catcher in all but 3 G.
In May, only C 6 G, splitting the rest between LF and DH. In his 1st year in the majors, he
played 48 G in LF, 42 at C, 4 at 1st
- #1 He
had one lonely vote for ROY which eft him tied for 7th w/Nolan
Arenado.
- #2 Beards of varying lengths are what he usually
sports, but even without, he is a commanding presence.
He appears in the “9 Most Outrageous Beards In the MLB”.
- #3 He
uses his old I.D. badge as his Twitter photo. He had
despaired of his baseball dream. His
story is told here.
FCR - Kellen Nielson, Blanding, Utah
Incorrect
guesses: Ralph Garr, Jason Heyward
THURSDAY — 11-Feb
Q. Who is the only player to record the
first-ever hit at two major league ballparks, turning the trick within three
days of each other?
Hint: #1 He happily usurped a normally elected
position.
Hint: #2 His delight at dissecting the game seems to
be no less exuberant than how he played it.
Hint: #3 His production in his only World Series
would have probably been enough for victory except for his butter-fingered
teammate pitchers.
A. SEAN CASEY [B-R Bio]
- Ans. On 06-Apr-2001 at MIL’s new home, Miller Park (now called American Family Field.), Casey singled off Jeff D'Amico in the 2nd inning.
Then on 09-Apr-2001, at PIT’s christening of PNC Park, Casey homered off Todd Ritchie in the top of the 1st, part of a
4-for-4, 5 RBI day.
- #1 His
friendly attitude with every runner who reached first base brought on the
sobriquet of “The Mayor”.
(Actually, his friendly demeanor is exhibited everywhere with everyone!)
- #2 He
approaches his assignments as analyst on television’s MLB
channel with seemingly limitless elan.
- #3 In
the 2006 WS, Casey’s slash line was .529/.556/1.000. but the DET pitching staff made committed five errors
which contributed to eight unearned runs in STL’s 5-game series win.
FCR - Mark DeLodovico, Rockville, Maryland
Incorrect
guesses: Torii Hunter, Doug Glanville
FRIDAY — 12-Feb
Q. When Mike Trout broke into a major
league lineup, he was the youngest player in MLB. In his second year, he was still the youngest
on his franchise. Who was the
second-youngest there that year?
Hint: #1 The only MVP votes he ever received was when
he led the league in hits for the Diamondbacks.
Hint: #2 He has been a major leaguer for less than a
decade, but ha already played full seasons for four teams after the Angels.
Hint: #3 He once stole second then he tried to steal
third but somehow wound up "stealing" first. Then he got thrown out trying to steal second
again—all in a span of five pitches!
A. JEAN SEGURA [B-R Bio]
- Ans. Segura
played exactly 1 G for the Angels in 2012 where he was younger
than everyone else on the team (22 yrs. – 129 days) … except Trout who was born
a full year later (07-Aug-1991).
- #1 Had
203 H for ARI in 2016, his only year with them. Finished 13th in MVP voting.
- #2 Has
worn the uniform of MIL (478 G), ARI (153), SEA (269) & PHI (198).
- #3 Base
running demonstration
= 19-Apr-2013
FCR - Fred Worth, Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Incorrect
guesses: Steve Finley, Jacob Turner
T.G.I.F. BONUS — 12-Feb
Q. For which outfielder did the Montreal
Expos trade future Hall of Famer Tim Raines?
Hint: #1 A teammate of his had won the Rookie of the
Year Award the year before his own rookie qualifying season and he
was headed toward that same honor when, during a work stoppage when
no games were played, it was discovered that he had been playing with a broken
wrist.
Hint: #2 In the Puerto Rican Winter League one year,
he led the league in home runs and was named MVP of their All-Star game.
A. IVAN CALDERON [SABR Bio]
- Ans. On 23-Dec-1990,
in a trade that also involved 3 pitchers, MON sent Tim Raines to CHW for Calderon.
- #1 His
broken wrist was discovered during the 2-day work stoppage in 1985. Not only had his SEA teammate Alvin Davis won
the AL ROY in 1984, another teammate, Mark Langston, had finished 2nd !
- #2 Winter
league success was in 1985.
FCR - Adrian Fung, Toronto
Incorrect
guesses: Darryl Strawberry,
SATURDAY — 13-Feb
Q. Whose presence on the Italian team was
protested by team Netherlands?
Hint: #1 He comes from the Tiger but his birth
certificate confirms his Italian citizenship.
Hint: #2 On a single day early in this century, he
and three other starting Venezuelan pitchers won their starting assignments, a
feat never done before or since.
A. GIOVANNI
CARRARA [B-R Bio]
- Ans. He
pitched for Italy in the 2007 European Baseball Championships where Italy finished 7th
of 12 teams.
- #1 Carrara
was born of Italian parents in El Tigre, Venezuela.
- #2 Carrara
combined with fellow Venezuelan pitchers Omar Daal, Kelvim Escobar, & Freddy García, all won their
respective starts that day, 15-Aug-2001:
I. Carrara, of LAD, routing MON, 13–1;
II. Daal, of PHI, visiting MIL, 8–6;
III. Escobar, of TOR, over OAK, 5–2; &
IV. García, playing for SEA, versus BOS, 6–2.
1st time in MLB history that 4
pitchers from a single country outside the U.S. won their respective starts the
same day.
FCR - Adrian Fung, Toronto
Incorrect
guesses:
WEEKEND BONUS — 13-Feb
Q. Which LOOGY made his major league debut
in the same ballpark where his manager was known to hock loogies?
Hint: #1 His career ERA is the lowest of any pitcher
born in the Equality State.
Hint: #2 Untamed steeds are the hallmarks of both his
birthplace and his alma mater.
- Ans. Debuted
06-Sept-1969 at Fenway Park with Ted Williams at the helm of WSA. Southpaw
Dukes fashioned his brief major league career around his ability to retire
lefty batters—they hit just .107 career against him, thus a LOOGY (Left-Handed
One Out Guy). Williams occasionally spat loogies as a message of contempt after being booed.
- #1 His
cumulative major league 2.70 ERA is the lowest among Wyoming natives.
- #2 Wyoming’s automobile license plates bear the
distinctive “bucking bronco” image and Santa Clara
University’s teams are nicknamed the Broncos.
FCR - John Hill, Atlanta
Incorrect
guesses: Dick Ellsworth, Tom Browning,
Rigo Beltran
SUNDAY — 14-Feb
Q. Who was the first major league catcher
born south of the equator in the Western Hemisphere?
Hint: #1 He recently won his first World Series ring,
contributing a double in the process.
Hint: #2 His father-in-law once surrendered a famous
grand slam.
- Ans. B.
19-Jul-1987 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, then the largest city in the Americas.
- #1 Won
the WS* with WSN in 2019.
- #2 Hs
father-in-law in Atlee Hammaker who gave up the only
grand slam
in All-Star game history when Fred Lynn homered in the bottom of the 3rd
in 1983. Gomes
married Jenna Hammaker whom he met when they were students at the
University of Tennessee.
*Gomes can be seen
here, dead center ¾ the way up the photo.
FCR - Adrian Fung, Toronto
Incorrect
guesses:
SUNDAY BONUS
Q. Which one-time Texas Ranger hit into
Randy Velarde’s unassisted triple play?
Hint: #1 He was MVP of his league in the minors five
years before.
Hint: #2 He had a spectacular “cup of coffee”.
A. SHANE
SPENCER [Wiki Bio]
- Ans. TP 29-May-2000
- #1 1995
MVP of the Florida State League playing for the Tampa Yankees
- #2 In
1998, his 1st MLB season, he hit .373 with 10 HR accompanied by a
slugging percentage of .910 in 27 G for NYY. For
good measure, he added 2 HR in the LDS vs. TEX & went 1 for 3 as NYY
defeated SDP in the 1998 WS.
FCR - Lee Dembart, Hollywood, California
Incorrect guesses:
WEEK’S FINALE
— 14-Feb
Q. Which irascible righty is the only National
League pitcher to win five consecutive Opening Day games for the same team?
Hint: #1 He was brought to the majors for good by a
Hall of Fame Iowan.
Hint: #2 The year he led the league in ERA+, it
wasn’t even the best mark he had posted in that category.
Hint: #3 He coached baseball at competing Ivy League
institutions.
A. JOHN
CLARKSON [SABR Bio]
- Ans. 5
OD W’s = 1888-92 Boston Beaneaters. He
frequently scuffled with opponents and teammates alike.
- #1 After
Clarkson’s 1882 single-victory debut season for the NL’s Worcester Ruby Legs
followed by two full seasons in the minors, Cap Anson “re-discovered”
Clarkson who went on to win 327 more games in the majors.
- #2 Led
the NL in ERA+ in 1889 w/150 for BSN but had posted a 163 for Anson and the 1885 CHC, trailing both Tim Keefe’s 174
and Mickey Welch’s 164.
FCR - Benny Barkenfarkle, Bakersfield
Incorrect guesses: Greg Maddux
WEEKLY THEME – Random players
whose first names are variations of “John”. Here are the most common ethnic/country
origin of each version, like:
Chone - African
Evan - Welsh
Gianni - Italian
Giovanni - Italian
Ian - Scottish
Ivan - Slavic
Jack - Irish
Jan - Czech, Polish
Johan - Germanic, Dutch
John - English
Juan - Spanish
Sean - Irish
Shane - Irish
Yan - Portuguese
Zane - American
First
Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Warren Kent, Whitehall, MI (After
Smith)
Incorrect theme
guesses:
Monday - Pitchers
who threw the first no-hitter for expansion teams
- Pitchers
who threw the first no-hitter for expansion franchises
- First
pitcher of each Latin American country to play in an All Star game
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someone who would enjoy receiving Horsehide Trivia, please refer them to this
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here: http://horsehidetriviA. blogspot.com/
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independent research.
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