MONDAY —13-Dec
Q. Which moundsman
was famously named for one U.S. president and portrayed by another?
Hint: #1
Only Cy Young and Walter Johnson notched more career victories.
Hint: #2 In
1915 he had the fifth most shutouts of any major league season ever.
A. PETE ALEXANDER [SABR Bio]
- Ans. HOF Alexander’s birth name
is Grover Cleveland Alexander, Grover Cleveland being the 22nd
& 24th U.S. president.
Alexander was born in the middle of Cleveland’s first term. A biopic of Alexander came out of Hollywood
in 1952 entitled “The Winning
Team” with the pitcher played by a young Illinois
actor who later became the 40th U.S. president. (Reagan almost got top billing.) Audiences like it well enough.
- #1 Alexander
is tied with Mathewson at 373 W. Young
had 511, Johnson 417.
- #2 Alexander’s
1915 season saw him shutout opponents 12 times, but few were prepared for what
he did the following season when he racked up the all time record: 16 (tied with George Bradley’s 1876 effort).
FCR - John Bath, Gahanna, Ohio
TUESDAY —14-Dec
Q. Which lefty threw a still standing major
league record 513 strikeouts in his rookie season?
Hint: #1 Among his twenty-nine victories that same
year were a no-hitter, five shutouts, three one-hitters and four two-hitters.
Hint: #2 He was famous as a pickoff artist, with a
wicked underhand delivery.
Hint:
#3 As a youngster, he worked in a glass factory.
A. MATT KILROY [SABR Bio] [Thorn/Wulf Bio]
- Ans. Had
513 Ks for the 1886 American Association Baltimore Orioles. When he pitched, there were many differences from
the modern game. BBs were 6 balls and
the pitcher was only 50 feet from home plate.
It was also the last season batters could request a high pitch or a low
pitch. Nonetheless, his record will
stand… um, forever?
- #1 He
had other no-hitters in his 10-year career, but the 1 he threw as a rookie was
the only one that went 9 innings.
- #2 Underhand
pickoff throws are now disallowed in MLB.
- #3 He
grew up in Philadelphia, the son of Irish immigrant parents.
FCR - Jerry Wolper, Pittsburgh
Incorrect guesses: Cy Young, Eddie Plank, Rube Waddell
IN MEMORIAM —15-Dec
Q. Which bi-lingual baseball executive was in the
front office in Milwaukee for that city’s only World Series championship; in
Arizona for theirs; with the White Sox for their most recent one; and with the
Orioles for their turnaround success in the late 1990s?
Hint: #1 He has been thrice voted MLB Executive of the
Year.
Hint: #2 He drafted Hank Aaron’s first contract; He
signed Tony La Russa to his first managing job; He signed pitcher Mike Mussina
to his first professional contract.
Hint:
#3 He is the second recipient of the
Baseball Hall of Fame's Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. O’Neil himself was the first.
Hint:
#4 He is the architect of the MLB’s Arizona
Fall League.
Hint:
#5 Minor League Baseball recognized him
as “The King of Baseball”.
Hint:
#6 He founded the Professional Baseball
Scouts Foundation.
Hint:
#7 He has been an integral part of the
success of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) who has an award
for scouts named in his honor.
Hint:
#8 The Arizona chapter of SABR is named
in his honor.
A. ROLAND HEMOND [SABR Bio] [SABR Obit]
- Ans. +
#1-8: Please click on the Bio & Obit
above. You’ll be glad you did.
FCR - Adrian Fung, Toronto
WEDNESDAY —15-Dec
Q. Which pitcher threw two no-hitters in the
same season at age 35?
Hint:
#1 Both games were 1-0 shutouts.
Hint:
#2 In his first season as a
professional, he set a league record with 418 strikeouts.
Hint:
#3 He was the last pitcher to win an
Opening Day game for the St. Louis Browns.
A. VIRGIL TRUCKS [SABR Bio]
- Ans. No-hitters: 15-May, then after going 3-13 in his next 16
decisions, he recorded his 2nd on 25-Aug-1952. Born 26-Apr-1917.
- #2 K
record set w/1938 Andalusia Bulldogs of the Class D Alabama-Florida League. It might also have been 420. Sources differ.
- #3 He
beat his old team DET 10-0 on 14-Apr-1953.
FCR - Vince Guerrieri, Elyria, Ohio
Incorrect
guesses: Allie Reynolds, Johnny Vander
Meer, Dizzy Dean, Satchel Page, Bobo Holloman, Hoyt Wilhelm, Bobo Newsome
MIDWEEK BONUS —15-Dec
Q. Who founded the Hill of Dreams baseball
academy in the Dominican Republic?
Hint: #1 He married the daughter of Juan Marichal.
Hint:
#2 As a rookie, he was a teammate of Ken
Griffey, Sr. He became a teammate of Ken
Griffey, Jr. when he staged a comeback in 2001.
Hint: #3 He had a small role in the 2008 very
underrated baseball movie Sugar.
- Ans. In
1999, Rijo opened a baseball academy built on a hillside near his hometown of
San Cristobal called Lomo del Sueno, or, Hill of Dreams. “I
know a lot of dreams are going to come true there,” he said. The complex included 7 ball fields, 10 indoor
batting cages, 1 track, 2 weight rooms, 2 dining rooms, 4 locker rooms, &
housing for 600. “I can pass on all the
knowledge that I learned about the game to those kids,” he said. In its 1st 2 years, his academy
helped nearly 100 youths sign minor-league contracts. It is now run by CIN & NYY.
- #1 They
are no longer together.
- #2 Played
w/Sr. in 1984 on NYY. On 17-Aug-2001, warming up in the bullpen, he caused such an ovation at Cinergy Field that his new teammate, Ken Griffey, Jr. had to back out of the batter’s box until the
applause died down. Read more here.
- #3 He
played the part of Alvarez in Sugar, essentially doing his real-life job. His appearance was virtually a cameo.
FCR - Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois
Incorrect
guesses: Mario Soto
WEDNESDAY LATE —15-Dec
Q. Which Hall of Famer was targeted as the most
qualified candidate to break major league's color line before he was drafted
into the military in 1942?
Hint: #1 He used the assumed name “Jimmy Nelson” to
protect his amateur status while attending university where he planned a career
in dentistry.
Hint
#2 There is a beautiful statue of him in
a park named for him in his hometown.
Hint: #3 He was the only player to steal any bases for
his team in his first World Series.
Hint:
#4 He played with six future Hall of
Fame teammates before arriving in the majors and three more thereafter.
A. MONTE IRVIN [SABR Bio]
- Ans. He served but came back well to a fine career, joining
the MLB NYG in 1949.
- #1 Attended
Lincoln University in Chester County, Pennsylvania only
briefly.
- #2 The
statue & park are in Orange, New Jersey.
- #3 He
stole both bases for NYG in the 1951 WS, including a steal of home in the 1st
inning of the 1st G. of his 1st MLB WS.
- #4 Playing
for the Newark Eagles 1938-43, 45-48, he played with Ray Dandridge,
Willie Wells, Mule Suttles, Leon Day, Biz Mackey & Larry Doby. With NYG, Willie Mays & Hoyt Wilhelm
were teammates 1951-55. In 1956 on CHC, he
played with Ernie Banks.
FCR - John Laycock, Sykesville, Maryland
Incorrect
guesses: Larry Doby, Satchel Paige
THURSDAY —16-Dec
Q. Which Pirate was punished for refusing to
play after Robert Kennedy was assassinated?
Hint: #1 Ichiro Suzuki broke his record for plate
appearances in a season.
Hint: #2 He was the first National League player to
win Most Valuable Player and Gold Glove awards in the same season.
A. MAURY WILLS [SABR Bio]
- Ans. Punishment
on 10-Jun-1968. The RFK assassination
had taken place 4 days earlier 06-Jun-1968.
That’s the date of G he sat out.
Research continues to determine the nature & extent of PIT’s
punishment.
- #1 Wills
had 759 PA in 1962. Pete Rose tied that
in 1976. Ichiro had 762 in 2004, but
Pete Rose, & Dave Cash also broke it and before Ichiro did. Jimmy Rollins’ 778 in 2007 in the
current standard.
- #2 NL
MVP & GG @ SS = 1962.
FCR - Andy McCue, Riverside, California
Incorrect
guesses: Roberto Clemente, Dave Cash, Al
Oliver, Bill Mazeroski, Dave Parker, Dick Groat
FRIDAY —17-Dec
Q. Who was the first player to hit an inside-the-park
in Toronto's Exhibition Stadium?
Hint: #1 Ike made the team he managed, change parks.
Hint: #2 He is the only batter in Red Sox history with
a Sam Horn.
A. CECIL COOPER [SABR Bio]
- Ans. 05-May-1977, 5th inning
- #1 Managing
HOU in 2008, Cooper & the team moved to Milwaukee’s
Miler Park for 2 G, 14- & 15-Sep-2008 because of Hurricane Ike.
- #2 You
can blame this one on Nolan Ryan. On Flag Day 1972, in a 15-inning G, the Angel’s Ryan struck out
10, 6 of which were Cooper’s. A 6 K
performance by a batter was christened a “Sam Horn” by BAL teammate Mike Flannagan for Horn’s 6K 17-Jul-1991 vs. KCR.
FCR - Matt Clairmont, New Minas, Nova Scotia
Incorrect
guesses: Kelly Gruber, Toby Harrah, Bump
Wills
T.G.I.F. SPECIAL —17-Dec
Q. Which one-time Yankee catcher had three
brothers who played in the majors?
Hint: #1 He was in the majors in uniform for
thirty-nine seasons with only small hiatuses.
Hint:
#2 He regularly sing in a quartet with
teammates as they traveled by train to away games.
Hint: #3 He was well-known as a peacemaker with a
steady, calming disposition.
A. STEVE O’NEILL [SABR Bio]
- Ans. His
brothers, Jack O'Neill, Jim O'Neill, Mike O'Neill also had MLB careers. Steve’s playing career was longer that those
of his brothers’ combined, 17 to13 (4+4+5).
He played for NYY in 1925.
- #1 Baseball career: Player
1911-1928; manager 1935-1954; coach 1935, 41, 49, 50.
- #2 Ray
Chapman, Joe Graney, Joe Evans and/or Doc Johnston were the other regulars.
- #3 He
regularly inserted himself between combatant in conflicts on or off the field. Nevertheless, he was tossed from 8 G as a player and 9 as a manager.
FCR - Bradford Altman, Chula Vista, California
Incorrect
guesses: Bill Dickey, Frankie Crosetti, Joseph Molina, Birdie Tebbetts, Ralph
Houk
SATURDAY —18-Dec
Q. Which former Met surrendered a grand slam to
Mets reliever Jack Hamilton for Hamilton’s only career homer?
Hint: #1 He threw all four shutouts recorded by the
1962 Mets staff, each the first game of a double-header.
Hint: #2 He had the most career pitching victories for
the Mets before Tom Seaver had a chance at it.
A. AL JACKSON [SABR Bio]
- Ans. Pitching
for STL on 20-May-1967, Jackson gave Jack his only dinger, a doozy. It was 4 of his 7 career RBI.
- #1 Recorded
4 of his career 14 ShO that year on
29-Apr(1)- over PHI;
22-Jun(1)- over HOU;
27-Jul(1)- over STL; &
28‑Aug(1)-1962 over PHI.
- #2 Jackson
had managed 43 W in his 6 years w/NYM.
Seaver breezed past that mark in 1969 on his way to 198 for the
Miracles.
FCR - Mark Kanter, Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Incorrect
guesses: Jay Hook, Jack Fisher, Jerry
Koosman, Roger Craig, Jack Graney
SATURDAY STRETCHED —18-Dec
Q. Which current infielder of Haitian descent
has averaged 244 strikeouts per 162 games played, over his seven year career?
Hint: #1 He has only played for one team in the majors.
Hint: #2 He finished high in the Rookie of the Year
voting.
Hint:
#3 He represented his team his team well
with a two-out RBI in the All-Star game.
A. MIGUEL SANO [B-R Bio]
- Ans.
The most Ks he had in any one season was 183 in 2021, but he led the
majors in 2020 w/90. Sano
was born in San Pedro de
Macorís, DR, to Haitian parents.
- #1 All
7 seasons have been w/MIN.
- #2 3rd
in 2015 AL ROY vote behind Carlos Correa and Francisco
Lindor.
- #3
Played in the 2017 ASG, helping the AL win 2-1.
FCR - Wesley Story, Richmond, Texas
Incorrect
guesses: Trevor Story
SUNDAY —19-Dec
Q. Which one-time Oakland A’s player was the first
native of Panama to be named to a National League All-Star team?
Hint: #1 The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers
shows his lifetime batting average of .296 as the fourth-highest by a
catcher since World War II and tenth highest for all catchers in Major League
history. (Reasonable minimums apply)
Hint: #2 He was once traded, straight across, for a
manager.
A. MANNY
SANGUILLEN [SABR Bio]
- Ans. Played
for OAK in 1977.
1st ASG = 1971. Did
not see action that year but was on the NL squad 2 X more and got a H in the 1972 ASG despite playing behind Johnny Bench. Born in Colon, Panama.
- #1 EOBC rankings.
- #2 In Nov
1976, traded to OAK for mgr Chuck Tanner. (Not
precisely “straight across” since PIT threw in $100,000.) Sanguillen then returned to PIT in 1978 and played
for Tanner for 3 seasons.
FCR - Frank Ittner, Atlanta
Incorrect
guesses: Carlos Ruiz, Ivan Rodriguez
WEEK’S FINALE —19-Dec
Q. Who led the Baltimore Orioles in games,
at-bats, hits and doubles in the 1929 season?
Hint: #1 Five of his siblings were born in Germany,
but he was born in Detroit.
Hint: #2 He was born a century before nine-eleven.
A. GEORGE
LOEPP [SABR Bio]
- Ans. For
the 1929 AA international League O’s, Loepp played 164 G, had 630 AB, 197 H
& 40 2B and was just off Al Bools HR total of 31, hitting 27 himself.
- #1 13
kids in all. See below.
- #2 Born
11-Sep-1901.
FCR - Steven Wright, Naperville, Illinois
Incorrect
guesses: Joe Houser, Charlie Gehringer, Del
Pratt, Johnny Frederick, Heinie Manush, Germany Schaefer
WEEKLY THEME – Players
from families of 13 children, i.e., players with exactly 12 siblings
Player Birth order Career WAR
Alexander.................. 6th of 13.................. 116.0
Cooper.................... 13th of
13.................... 36.0
Irvin.......................... 8th
of 13.................... 32.1
Jackson................... 13th of 13...................... 5.6
Kilroy....................... 7th of
13.................... 23.2
O’Neill.................... 10th of
13.................... 26.3
Rijo......................... 11th
of 13.................... 34.9
Sanguillen................. 7th of 13.................... 27.6
Trucks....................... 4th of
13.................... 42.4
Wills......................... 7th
of 13.................... 39.6
Loepp...................... 10th of
13..................... -0.3
Sano.......................... 1st
of 13...................... 8.4
There are
no doubt others.
First
Correct Respondent identifying theme – Warren Kent III, Whitehall, Michigan
(after O’Neill)
Incorrect theme
guesses:
Monday - Pitchers
with 100 wins for two franchises.
- Pitchers
who have won multiple Triple Crowns
- Pitchers
who won 20 games in a season for three different teams
- Players
with documented alcohol issue
Tuesday - Pitchers
with pWARs above 10 in their rookie years
Thurs - Players
who set records, that most likely will never be broken
Sunday - Players
from Central or South America or the Caribbean who played in
an All Star Game
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