Monday, April 5, 2021

2021-03-29 The 7 players whose last names have most often appeared as an answer in the New York Times Crossword puzzle

MONDAY  —  29-Mar

Q.        Which one time Detroit Tiger announcer has one of the four shortest last names of any Hall-of-Famer?

Hint: #1    He became the first player-manager to be ejected from both ends of a doubleheader.

Hint: #2    Bill James once called him the best player since the Baseball Writers launched their MVP Award in 1931 who never won the award.

A.         MEL OTT  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  He is tied with Ty Cobb for the shortest combined first-and-last names of any HOFer. 

-  #1     From 1924 to 1946 in the NL and from 1907 to 1952 in the AL, if a player or manager was ejected from the first game of a double header, they were automatically ejected from the second as well.  After that rule was lifted in the NL, New York Giants player-manager Mel Ott got himself separately tossed twice on 9-June-1946(1) & 9-June-1946(2).

-  #2     Source:  The New Bill James Historical Abstract (2001)

FCR -  Jeffrey Fink, Howell, New Jersey

Incorrect guesses:  George Kell, Larry Doby, Ty Cobb, Jimmie Foxx, Dizzy Dean

 

TUESDAY    30-Mar

Q.        Which Hall of Famer played in every World Series game between the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers?

Hint: #1    His first major-league manager retired from playing to open a position for him.

Hint: #2    He was promoted from Colonel to Captain.

A.         PEE WEE REESE  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Reese played in 7 Fall Classic for the Dodgers, all vs. NYY, for a total of 44 G.

-  #1     In spring training in 1940, Dodgers’ player-manager Leo Durocher stated “Reese?  He’ll do.  I’ll be the bench manager.”

-  #2     Branch Rickey named Reese (whose second nickname was “the Little Colonel”) as team captain in 1949.  “The Captain” became his third nickname.

FCR -  Abbey Garber, Dallas

Incorrect guesses:  Duke Snider, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Ralph Houk

 

WEDNESDAY    31-Mar

Q.        Which one-time Oakland A’s player had the most at-bats for the Atlanta Braves in the 1960's?

Hint: #1    He led the majors in hits in the “Year of the Pitcher”.

Hint: #2    He led a successful effort to have the Commissioner’s Office hire a representative for Latino players. 

A.         FELIPE ALOU  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Alou had 2,378 AB for ATL 1966-69.  Played for OAK 1970-71.

-  #1     Led the MLB with 210 hits in 1968, tied w/Pete Rose.

-  #2     In December 1965, Commissioner William Eckert hired Bobby Maduro as a representative in the Commissioner’s Office after Alou complained publicly that Latino players were ostracized and misunderstood.

FCR -  Jeff Kallman, Las Vegas

Incorrect guesses:  Rico Carty, Marry Alou, Hank Aaron

 

THURSDAY    01-Apr

Q.        Which hitter led his league in bases on balls for the first and only time during his age 40 season?

Hint: #1    Though he is in the top twenty all-time in RBI, he never once won an RBI crown in any season of his 20+ year career.

Hint: #2    Some of his career stats will change despite his being inducted into the Hall of Fame 42 years ago.

A.         WILLIE MAYS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In 1971, he had 112 bases-on-balls.  It was the only year he walked more than 100 times.  His career total of 1,464 places him at 22nd just ahead of Jimmie Foxx.

-  #1     Seems he was always the player being batted in.  His 2,062 R rank 7th all-time.

-  #2     Thanks to MLB’s recent recognition of Negro League stats in 2020, Mays will receive credit for statistics generated with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948.  His career stats will change slightly.  Subject to the certification of available box scores, it appears he'll get credit for 16 additional hits (including one more HR).  However, his career BA will see a drop from .302 to .301.

FCR -  Steven Coleman, Belleville, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Darrell Evans, Tris Speaker, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Tony Perez, Ken Caminiti, Bill Dahlen

 

FRIDAY    02-Apr

Q.        Who played his only career game at third base during the Philadelphia A's last game ever?

Hint: #1    His uniform number is almost an avatar for his profile.

Hint: #2    He is the only catcher to win the MVP in consecutive seasons.

A.         YOGI BERRA  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  A’s last game domiciled in Eastern Standard Time = 26-Sep-1954

-  #1     #8

-  #2     MVP 1954 & 55.  Had also won in 1951.  None by wide margins.

FCR -  Mark Kanter, Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Incorrect guesses:  Mickey Cochrane, Ernie Lombardi

 

SATURDAY    03-Apr

Q.        Who set the National League record with at least forty home runs a record eight times?

Hint: #1    He once missed out on a Triple Crown by .007 points in batting average.

Hint: #2    He broke Ernie Lombardi’s career record for the most times grounding into double plays.

A.         HENRY AARON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Hit 40+ HR in 1957, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1969, 1971 & 1973.  Later tied by Barry Bonds.

-  #1     In 1963, Aaron led the NL in HR w/44, led the majors w/130 RBI with a very respectable .319.  LAD’s Tommy Davis, however, hit .326 to lead the NL & MLB.  In Aaron’s career, he led 4 X in HR, 4 X in RBI & twice in BA, just never bunched them up in a single season.

-  #2     Held the GIDP career record of 328 for 26 years until Cal Ripken passed his career total in 2000.  Current record holder is Albert Pujols.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Mike Schmidt, Johnny Mize, Ralph Kiner. Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, Sammy Sosa

 

SUNDAY  —  04-Apr

Q.        Who was the last player to amass at least 425 Total Bases in a season?

Hint: #1    He was the starting right fielder for the last game at Old Comiskey Park and the starting right fielder for the first game at New Comiskey Park.

Hint: #2    He once scored the only run needed a no-hitter and he did it for the hitless team.

Hint: #3    He twice hit two triples in a game in the same season.

A.         SAMMY SOSA  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Got 425 TB in 2001.  It’s the highest total in 53 years and the 7th highest all-time.

-  #1     Sosa, playing for the White Sox, started in RF for the last game at Old Comiskey Park (30-Sep-1990) then started in RF for the 1st game at New Comiskey Park (18-Apr-1991).

-  #2     On 01-Jul1990, The White Sox scored 4 X to beat NYY’s Andy Hawkins.  CHW scored on a combination of walks and errors and Sosa’s R was the first.  The CHW starter Greg Hibbard allowed 4 H, but none scored.

-  #3     In 1990, on each of 14-Apr & 11-Jul, Sosa banged out a duo or trios.

FCR -  Steven Wright, Naperville, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Minnie Minoso

 

 

Theme and Questions this week submitted by reader Dan Schoenholz <dschoenholz@sbcglobal.net> of Walnut Creek, CA.

 

WEEKLY THEME – The seven players whose last names have most often appeared as an answer in the New York Times Crossword since its inception in 1942, in descending order.  Ott is #1, having been penciled in over 400 times.

 

Dan Adds, “Crossword constructors rely inordinately on short entries, preferably with common letters, to make their grids as smooth as possible.  ALOU in puzzles is often clued by referring to the Alou brothers or to some subset of the brothers and son/nephew Moises; for purposes of this theme.  Felipe was credited with an appearance any time the clue referred to him specifically or the brothers collectively.  Matty, Jesus and Moises were bench payers this week to keep the theme from being too, you know… ‘Alou-heavy’.”

 

Note:  As if you needed an example, check out 60-Down in Monday’s L.A. Times crossword.

 

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

 

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Monday  -  Youngest players to hit a home run

               -  Hall of Famers who died before the age of 50

               -  Hall of Famers who have been featured on postage stamps

               -  Hall of Famers who played for one team their entire career

 

Tuesday -  Hall of Fame players who later became broadcasters

               -  Shortest Hall of Famers

               -  NL Hall of Famers who played for just one team

               -  Hall of farmers who went on to become announcers

 

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