Monday, September 27, 2021

2021-09-20 American League MVP Outfielders from expansion teams

MONDAY        20-Sep

Q.        Who was the first number one overall draft pick to hit 500 career home runs?

Hint: #1    Only he has hit a home run that stuck the warehouse beyond right field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on the fly.

Hint: #2    He is the last player to lead the American League in home runs for three straight years in the twentieth century.

A.         KEN GRIFFEY, Jr.  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Drafted 1st pick, 1st round 1987 MLB June Amateur Draft.  Griffey hit his 500th on 20-June-2004.  Alex Rodriguez, the only other overall #1 draft pick in the 500 HR Club, joined it during the 2007 season.

-  #1     Warehouse HR during 1993 ASG HR Derby

-  #2     Led AL in HR 1997 (56), 98 (56), 99 (48).

FCR -  John Null, Sugar Land, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Boog Powell, Eddie Murray, Alex Rodriguez, Reggie Jackson, Mark McGwire, Harmon Killebrew, Miguel Cabrera

 

TUESDAY       21-Sep

Q.        Who is the only player to win his league’s MVP playing a middle-infield position and later win it playing the outfield?

Hint: #1    In his only World Series, he hit .414 with an on-base percentage of .452, slugged .621, had eighteen total bases and an OPS of 1.072 and yet was not the MVP of that Fall Classic.

Hint: #2    His brother owns an unbreakable major league record.

A.         ROBIN YOUNT  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  AL MVP in 1982 at SS; AL MVP in 1989 playing CF.

-  #1     Stats were for him on the losing side of the 1982 Series where MIL fell to STL and the Cards’ catcher Darrell Porter was voted MVP. (Porter slashed a rather pedestrian .286/.310/.464.)

-  #2     His brother, Larry Yount, P for HOU, was announced as a relief pitcher entering the G to begin the 9th, injured himself warming up, left and never saw MLB action again.

FCR -  Thomas Hablitzel, Hudson, Ohio

Incorrect guesses:  Billy Ripken, Dom DiMaggio, Joe DiMaggio

 

WEDNESDAY 22-Sep

Q.        Who is the only player to be voted All-Star Game MVP in consecutive years?

Hint: #1    He led his league in WAR in four of his first five seasons.

Hint: #2    He is an avid amateur meteorologist.

A.         MIKE TROUT  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  ASG MVP = 2014 & 2015

-  #1     2012-13, 2015-16 Trout led the AL in WAR each year w/10.5, 8.9, 9.6 & 10.5 respectively.

-  #2     Says he’d like to like to pursue a career in the study of weather after his baseball days.  Listen here.

FCR -  Joe O’Neill, London, Ontario

Incorrect guesses:  Dave Parker, Cal Ripken, Michael Young

 

MIDWEEK BONUS     22-Sep

Q.        After Cecil Cooper in 1980, who was the next player to compile three 15+ game hitting streaks in the same season?

Hint: #1    He was the last player to bat .600 in an American League postseason series (minimum 15 PA).

Hint: #2    His first and final games in the majors were against the Oakland A’s.

A.         ICHIRO SUZUKI  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  In his rookie MLB season,2001, Ichiro thrice strung together 15-G hitting streaks:  04-Apr thru 20-Apr (15); 22-Apr thru 18-May (23); & 03-Aug thru 24‑Aug (21).

-  #1     He hit .600 in the 2001 ALDS

-  #2     Debut = 02-Apr-2001; Swan song = 21-Mar-2019

FCR -  Glenn Guzzo, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Incorrect guesses:  Paul Molitor, Fred Lynn, Rod Carew, Wade Boggs

 

THURSDAY    23-Sep

Q.        Of which one-time Baltimore Oriole did Hall of Famer Frank Robinson say, “No pitcher can ever feel safe or comfortable releasing the ball toward him.  He doesn't take a back seat to anyone I've ever seen play this game.  Ever.”?

Hint: #1    A two-time All-Star pitcher claimed this:  I’m telling you, the Devil himself would be afraid to pitch to that guy.”

Hint: #2    He missed joining the 40/40 club by one home run.

A.         VLADIMIR GUERRERO  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Robinson managed him in Montreal 2002-03.  Guerrero ended his career with BAL in 2011.

-  #1     Quote is from Jose Mesa.  More here.

-  #2     In 2002 for MON, he had 40 SB & 39 HR.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Don Baylor, Davey Johnson, Boog Powell, Bobby Bonds, Eddie Murray, Albert Belle, Reggie Jackson, Ichiro Suzuki, Alfonso Soriano

 

FRIDAY           24-Sep

Q.        Which one-time Tiger is the only player to hit two home runs on Opening Day twice and do it in two separate decades?

Hint: #1    He shares an unfortunate distinction with Roger Maris and Dale Murphy.

Hint: #2    He strode to the batter’s box accompanied by the “Imperial March” (Darth Vader’s theme music).

Hint: #3    His nickname was George.

A.         JUAN GONZALEZ  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  OD HR X 2 = 05-Apr-1993 & 02-Apr-2001.  He spent the 2000 season w/DET.

-  #1     Maris, Murphy & Gonzalez are the only qualifying players to receive exactly two MVPs and not receive Hall of Fame enshrinement.

-  #2     Vader’s theme – listen here.  Chuck Morgan, Rangers’ EVP, PA voice and music czar since 1983 explained that, “Lord Vader was always imposing strolling to the plate, finishing his career as the Rangers’ all-time leader in homers, RBI and intimidation.  It was perfect, because Juan was always very, very bad news for the other team.”

-  #3     Igor is the Russian equivalent of George.

FCR -  Michael Caragliano, Flushing, New York

Incorrect guesses:  George Bell, Barry Bonds, Kirk Gibson

 

T.G.I.F.SPECIAL         24-Sep

Q.        Who was the first major leaguer thrown out stealing twice in an inning?

Hint: #1    He was the first manager to lead the Colorado Rockies to the postseason.

Hint: #2    Craig Biggio broke his modern era record for being hit by a pitch the most time in a career.

A.         DON BAYLOR  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  2 CS in 9th inning 15-Jun-1974.  CS 2B, but safe on E4.  Then stole 3B, then thrown out trying to steal home.  Baylor was the 1st, but 2 CS in 1 inning has been done by 12 different players.

-  #1     COL, a Wild Card in 1995, fell to the eventual WS Champion ATL in the NLDS.

-  #2     Baylor ended with 267 HBP.  Biggio ended at 285.

FCR -  Adrian Fung, Toronto

Incorrect guesses:  Cling Hurdle, Eric Young           

 

SATURDAY    25-Sep

Q.        Who set a record of sorts in the All-Star Game Home Run Derby by drilling, at one point in the first round thirteen home runs on thirteen straight swings?

Hint: #1    The year he won his league’s MVP, he did not lead in home runs, RBI, runs, hits double, triples, OPS+ or total bases.

Hint: #2    He broke Ty Cobb’s record for most total bases in a single American League game.

A.         JOSH HAMILTON  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Hamilton belted 28 HR in the 2008 HRD opening round in Yankee Stadium, including 13 in 13 swings at 1 point; 7traveled at least 500 feet, including a 518-foot blast off the back wall of the bleachers.  His record for most in 1 round has been eclipsed, but not his amazing string.

-  #1     In 2010, he did however lead the AL & majors in batting average (.359), slugging (.633), OPS (1.044) & WAR (8.7) and was an overwhelming MVP selection.

-  #2     Cobb’s 16 TB on 05-May-1925 had been tied 7 times, but on 08-May-2012 vs. BAL in Camden Yards, Hamilton hit 4 HR & a 2B & racked up 18 TB.  Shawn Green of LAD holds the MLB record at 19.

FCR -  Vanessa Ruth Swenson, Athens, Georgia

Incorrect guesses:  Bryce Harper, Ken Griffey, Jr.

 

SUNDAY         25-Sep

Q.        To whom did Bret Saberhagen surrender three Opening Day home runs?

Hint: #1    Of the more than 800 major leaguers born in the Dominican Republic, he was the first to win a league MVP.

Hint: #2    He was sensitive about how his name was spelled (and pronounced).

A.         GEORGE BELL  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Reigning AL MVP Bell hit 3 solo HR playing DH & batting cleanup on 04 -Apr-1988 at Kaufman Stadium.  They were the only earned runs given up by KCR that day.

-  #1     Bell was 1987 AL MVP. To date, the DR has sent 826 players to the majors.

-  #2     He got angry at anyone who called him “hor′hay” or spelled it Jorge.

FCR -  David Krassin, New York City

Incorrect guesses:  Vlad Guerrero, Miguel Tejada, Tuffy Rhodes, Jorge Bell, Carlos Delgado, Sammy Sosa

 

WEEK’S FINALE        26-Sep

Q.        Who was the first #1 overall draft selection to win an RBI title in the majors?

Hint: #1    He was drafted just ahead of J.R. Richard and he later played for the Mariners.

Hint: #2    He was the first league MVP from an expansion team.

A.         JEFF BURROUGHS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Drafted #1 in 1969, his 118 RBI in 1974 led the AL.

-  #1     Richard was #2 in the 1969 Draft.  Burroughs played RF for SEA in 1981.

-  #2     AL MVP in 1974 [See chart below.]

FCR -  Steven Wright, Naperville, Illinois  

 


WEEKLY THEME – American League MVP Outfielders from expansion teams.

 

 

MVP    Lg        Name                Team             1st Year        WAR

1979.... AL....... Baylor............... CAL................ 1961.......... 28.5

1987.... AL....... Bell................... TOR................ 1977.......... 21.2

1974.... AL....... Burroughs......... TEX................ 1961.......... 17.8

1996.... AL....... Gonzalez........... TEX................ 1961.......... 38.7

1998                                             "

2004.... AL....... Guerrero........... ANA............... 1961.......... 59.5

 

1997*.. AL....... Griffey.............. SEA................ 1977.......... 83.8**

2010 ... AL....... Hamilton.......... TEX................ 1961.......... 28.2

2001.... AL....... Suzuki.............. SEA................ 1977.......... 60.0

2014*.. AL....... Trout................ LAA................ 1961.......... 76.2**

2016                                             "

2019                                             "

1989.... AL....... Yount............... MIL................ 1969.......... 77.3**

 

*Unanimous vote

**Franchise high

 

 

First Correct Respondent to Identify ThemeKen Kirk, Corning, New York (After Hamilton)

 

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Monday  -  Players with the most seasons played without a World Series appearance (whole career in World Series-era)

 

Tuesday -  Players nicknamed Kid

               -  Players who were the first to wear a specific team’s hat on their HoF plaque

               -  Hall of Famers whose nickname is "kid"

               -  Players who made their first appearance in the majors before the age of 20

               -  First MVP's for the American League Expansion teams

               -  Hall of Famers whose brothers played in the majors

               -  Hall of Famers who debuted at the earliest age

               -  Hall of Famers from expansion teams to win an MVP award

 

Wed        -  Players who won MVP awards, Gold Gloves, and played in the All-Star game in the same season

               -  CF to win MVP

               -  American League MVP winners who were center fielders

               -  Center fielders who won MVP awards, Gold Gloves, and played in the All-Star game in the same season

               -  Expansion franchise leaders in WAR who have won MVP awards

               -  Post-expansion All-Stars that made major league debut as teenagers

 

Thurs      -  MVP outfielders who have never won a world series

               -  The most recent outfielders to win American League MVP

 

Friday     -  Outfielders, MVPs, 3 or more silver slugger awards

 

Sat          -  AL outfielders who won MVP, started in the All-Star game and won a Silver Slugger all in the same year.

 

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