Sunday, February 28, 2021

2021-02-22 Players whose college mascot was a Wildcat

MONDAY  —  22-Feb

Q.        Who was the catcher for David Cone's perfect game?

Hint: #1    He once turned down the volume on a famous teammate’s boombox in the clubhouse.  It was considered an act of bravery.

Hint: #2    He started where most advertisers on Madison Avenue want to start.

A.         JOE GIRARDI  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Cone’s perfecto 18-Jul-1999.

-  #1     When Girardi played for the Cubs, Sammy Sosa was famous for blasting his music in the Cubs’ old cramped Wrigley Field clubhouse.  Most teammates just tolerated it.  However, one day in 2002 Girardi turned down the volume on Sosa’s boombox and raised the volume on the main clubhouse stereo.  There were reports that the two then had to be separated.  But later they said there was no trouble and Girardi said they have a “fine” relationship.

-  #2     Girardi was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois, a city long held by marketing executives to best represent and, in a sense, speak for, the American consumer (“Will it play in Peoria?”).  Girardi attended high school at Spalding Catholic, to date, its only MLB alum.

FCR -  Tara Krieger, New York City

Incorrect guesses:  Jorge Posada, Jim Leyritz, Don Slaught

 

TUESDAY    23-Feb

Q.        Who is the only World Series MVP to be traded for a pitcher who threw a perfect game?  (This question is chronology-free.)

Hint: #1    He grew up in Milwaukie, but lived in Oregon.

Hint: #2    The first time he was ever in a major league stadium was as a major leaguer.

Hint: #3    He replaced Monday’s answer as a manager.

A.         SCOTT BROSIUS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Brosius was WS MVP in 1998 when NYY swept SDP.  He had been traded the year before for Kenny Rogers whose perfect game was 28-Jul-1994.

-  #1     Milwaukie (note spelling) is in Oregon, a suburb south of Portland.

-  #2     Debut 07-Aug-1991.  Had simply never attended an MLB G.

-  #3     Brosius replaced Girardi as manager of Team USA attempting to qualify for the Olympics in Tokyo.

FCR -  Michael Temple, Chicago

Incorrect guesses:  Boone, Aaron Boone, Ralph Terry

 

WEDNESDAY    24-Feb

Q.        Who is the only Yankee to lead the American League in RBI while hitting fewer than twenty home runs that same season?

Hint: #1    The previous year, he had led the league in home runs with fewer than twenty-five.

Hint: #2    He began and ended his MLB career in Philadelphia, but with different teams in different leagues.

A.         NICK ETTEN  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  In 1945 hit 111 RBI and 18 HR.

-  #1     Hit 22 HR in 1944.

-  #2     Began his career playing for PHA in 1938-39, teams that lost 99 & 97 G.  Finished playing for PHI in 1947.  They only lost 92 G.

FCR -  David Serota, Kalamazoo

Incorrect guesses:  Vic Power, Bob Meusel, Home Run Baker

 

MIDWEEK BONUS    25-Feb

Q.        Which Phillies outfielder hit the first home run the Washington Nationals ever surrendered.

Hint: #1    During his first five full seasons in the majors, he led the league in stolen bases, but it wasn’t until the year after that string that he led in times caught stealing.

Hint: #2    He shoved Fernando Vina the day after Albert Belle had flattened Vina with a forearm shiver to break up a double play.

A.         KENNY LOFTON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  1st WSN HR given up 04-Apr-2005.  It was 1 of only 2 Lofton hit that year.

-  #1     Led in SB 1992-96, even leading MLB every year of that streak but 1995.  CS 20 X in 1997 led the majors in that category for his only time in his 17-year, 622-SB career.

-  #2     Belle got Vina on 31-May-1996 because  Lofton’s action the following day 01‑Jun‑1996 was while emotions were still raw.

FCR -  Lee Dembart, Hollywood, California

Incorrect guesses:  Eric Young, Sr., Michael Bourn, Shane Victorino

 

THURSDAY    25-Feb

Q.        Who threw the first pitch at night in a game at Sportsmans Park?

Hint: #1    The first batter he ever pitched to in a major league game was Babe Ruth.  He struck him out on four pitches.

Hint: #2    He developed a submarine delivery after injuring his arm as a quarterback playing football in college where his nickname was Big Six.

A.         ELDEN AUKER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  1st night G at Sportsmans Park 24-May-1940.  His opposite number that night was Bob Feller who hit the 1st of his 8 career HR off Auker in the 3rd.

-  #1     Auker describes his 1st batter 10-Aug-1933.  [OK, here’s the truth:  Auker NEVER struck out Ruth in 8 career MLB PAs.  In fact, Ruth “owned” Auker going 5-7 (.714) with 2 HR.  Auker didn’t even face NYY in his ML debut.  The above audio interview is an incorrect remembrance. Maybe he faced The Babe in an exhibition game when he fanned him, but never did so in the regular season.]

-  #2     Played football for Kansas Agricultural and Mechanical College (today Kansas State University).  Hurt his arm in the 1st G in 1928 playing QB, but persevered and in 1931 as a halfback was voted All-Big Six Conference, hence his nickname.

FCR -  Terry Sloope, Cartersville, Georgia

Incorrect guesses:  Mort Cooper, Christy Mathewson, Johnny Vander Meer, Bob Feller, Ewell Blackwell, Walter Johnson

 

FRIDAY    26-Feb

Q.        Which Tri-Cities native was the winning pitcher of the first World Series game played at night?

Hint: #1    He once lost his bid for a no-hitter when a player doubled with one out in the ninth inning.

Hint: #2    His nickname has a double origin.

A.         BRUCE KISON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  After PIT starting P Luke Walker gave up 3 R in the 1st inning of G 4 of the 1971 WS, Kison entered & pitched 6⅓ scoreless innings.  Was Born in Pasco, Washington, which with the cities of Kennewick & Richland form the area known as the Tri-Cities.

-  #1     That double was by Ken Landreaux on 23-Apr-1980.  Incidentally, it was the 1st G of Landreaux’s 31-G hit streak, the longest one in the majors that year.

-  #2     He was called “Buster” honoring silent-film physical comedian Buster Keaton and the fact that he did not like batters to crowd the plate and would “bust” them inside, especially early in his career.

FCR -  Jim Casey, Savannah

Incorrect guesses:  Bill Bevens, Johnny Vander Meer, Dave McNally, Vinegar Bend Mizell, Kent Tekulve, Bruce Alison

 

T.G.I.F. SPECIAL    26-Feb

Q.        Which catcher was knocked out by a basket of produce thrown from the upper deck during the Tigers-Indians game?

Hint: #1            When Bob Feller struck out eighteen in a single game only he and one other teammate escaped the dreaded K.

Hint: #2            He was the first native of his state to receive a Hall of Fame vote.

A.         BIRDIE TEBBETTS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Tebbetts was not in the game but in the bullpen on 27-Sep-1940 when a fan, wanting to hide tomatoes, eggs, etc., from stadium police who were combing the stands for unruly fans throwing things, filled a basket with the garbage and threw it over a railing.  It landed on Tebbetts' head and knocked him cold.  When the police identified the culprit to Tebbetts he said he would handle the matter himself—and busted the fan in the nose!

-  #1     On 02-Oct-1938(1) DET came to play CLE.  Ace Bob Feller racked up 18 strikeouts, breaking his own Tribe 1-G record set 2 years earlier.  Roy Cullenbine and Tebbetts not only did not strike out but they were mostly responsible for the Tiger victory that day.

-  #2     Born in Vermont  (although he spent most of his years growing up in neighboring New Hampshire) , he received 8 HOF votes in 1958 and another 1 vote in 1960.

FCR -  Mark Pattison, Washington, DC

Incorrect guesses:  Mickey Cochran, Rudy York, Ray Hayworth, Matt Batts

 

SATURDAY    27-Feb

Q.        Which catcher/pinch-hitter’s lone hit deprived a future Hall of Famer of a no-hitter in his major league debut?

Hint: #1    He was double Del’ed before he reached the majors.

Hint: #2    In the majors, he played for one manager who took his team to the World Series every season he played for him

Hint: #3    His primary manager, however, managed 4 teams over 26 years yet never managed a single World Series game.

A.         CLAY DALRYMPLE  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Juan Marichal’s first game as a big leaguer was at Candlestick Park on a cool evening on 19-Jul-1960.  Marichal got his no-no on 15-Jun-1963, almost exactly 3 years after his near-miss debut.

-  #1     NL champs MLN invited Dalrymple to their 1959 spring training camp where he received catching tips from veteran catchers Del Crandall and Del Rice.

-  #2     He played under Gene Mauch PHI/1960-68 and for Earl Weaver BAL/1969-71.

FCR -  Bill Deane, Cooperstown

Incorrect guesses:  Del Unser, Del Crandell, Elston Howard, Smoky Burgess, Gus Triandos, Moe Berg, Johnny Blanchard

 

WEEKEND BONUS    27-Feb

Q.        Who recently became the first (and still only) player in Cleveland Indians history to reach a combination of 1,000 hits, 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases?

Hint: #1    In his sixth season in the majors, his team made it to the World Series only to face the team he grew up cheering for.

Hint: #2    He regularly sings between pitches when he’s on defense in the field.

A.         JASON KIPNIS  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  His final CLE totals are 1,120 H, 123 HR & 135 SB.

-  #1     In the 2016 WS, the Indians faced the Cubs.  Kipnis’ devotion to the Cubs as a fan was so strong, had to issue public statements assuring teammates, fans, friends and CLE management that he was completely focused on beating CHC.  Although the Indians lost the Series, he was true to his word and held his own, hitting .290 with a Series-leading 5 extra base hits and 18 total bases.

-  #2     He has a fondness for the songs of British songstress Adele and says that singing them helps him relax during the heat of competition.

FCR -  Mike Sparks, Sarasota

Incorrect guesses:  Michael Brantley, Kenny Lofton, Joe Carter, Jose Ramirez, Carlos Santana

 

SUNDAY    28-Feb

Q.        What pitcher set the record for innings pitched in relief when he relieved the starter with two outs in the first inning of a game and worked the next eighteen plus innings?

Hint: #1    The effort essentially cost him his career.

Hint: #2    He was a Double Unique for exactly 298 days.

A.         ZIP ZABEL  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  He beat Brooklyn & got his 5th W of the 1915 season on 17-Jun by pitching the final 18⅓ innings.

-  #1     After that game, Zabel only had a handful of start in the majors as he had begun to experience arm trouble as a result of that game.

-  #2     He debuted in 1913, but Zip Collins came along the very next year.  Double-Uniques listed here.

FCR -  Luis Belman, East Bernard, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Ernie Shore, Eddie Rommel, Zip Zane

 

WEEK’S FINALE    28-Feb

Q.        Whose sterling (platinum?) career MLB batting average of 1.000 came at the expense of All-Star Milt Pappas?

Hint: #1    He was kept on the roster for an entire season to keep him from being drafted by other MLB teams.

Hint: #2    An unspecified injury cut short his career.

A.         DAVE GRAY  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  On 20-Jun-1964, Gray entered the G in the 5th & pitched through the end of the G, except for 1 batter whom teammate Pete Charton came in & induced a fly out to CF.

-  #1     It, 1964, was his only season in the majors, kept on BOS under the terms of the Bonus Rule then in force.

-  #2     Classmates from high school referred to how together they, “…agonized over the injury that forced him out of baseball.”

FCR -  Mike Sparks, Sarasota

Incorrect guesses:  John Paciorek, Jeff Banister, Frank Leja

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – Players whose college mascot was a wildcat.

 

Auker.................. Kansas State

Brosius............... Linfield University

Dalrymple........... Cal State Chico

Etten................... Villanova University

Girardi................. Northwestern University

Gray.................... Weber State University

Kipnis.................. University of Kentucky

Kison.................. Central Washington University

Lofton.................. University of Arizona

Tebbetts.............. University of New Hampshire

Zabel................... Baker College

Wildcat” was a Broadway musical starring Lucille Ball.  It was her only Broadway show.

 

 

First Correct Respondent to Identify ThemeDavid Washburn, Marietta, Georgia

 

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Monday  -  Big 10 alumni who became managers

               -  Catchers who became Managers of the Year

               -  Former catchers who managed after their career

 

Tuesday -  Three World Series wins, one all star appearance

               -  Yankee managers born in the 2nd half of the 20th Century

               -  1998 Yankees opening day starting lineup

 

Wed        -  Yankees, only one All Star appearance

 

Sunday   -  One shot wonders

               -  Something to do with the Cubs

               -  Something to do with Harry Cary

               -  Something to do with Chicago

               -  Sweet Home Chicago

               -  Guys with sports equipment in their name

 

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This week’s quiz archived here:  http://horsehidetriviA.          blogspot.com/

 

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