Sunday, April 24, 2022

2022-04-18 Pitchers with 50 career shutouts in the expansion era

MONDAY  —18-Apr

Q.  Which pitcher had a statue of him unveiled last week at Citi Field?

Hint: #1  He was the first “Baseball Digest” Player of the Year.

Hint: #2  He and Walter Johnson are the only major league pitchers with career numbers of 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts and a sub-3.00 ERA.

A.  TOM SEAVER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  His bronze and stainless structural steel likeness made its debut at Citi Field on Friday, hours before the Mets’ 2022 opener on 15-Apr-2022.

-  #1 BBD POY 1969.

-  #2  Stats for Johnson & Seaver

FCR -  Steve Klitzner, North Miami Beach

Incorrect guesses:  Bob Feller, Christy Mathewson, Nolan Ryan

 

TUESDAY  —19-Apr

Q.  Which pitcher has the most career strikeouts of anyone who didn’t reach the 4,000 strikeout total?

Hint: #1  One of only three pitchers ever to win a major league game before his twentieth birthday and after his fortieth.

Hint: #2  He is tied for giving up the third most home runs ever in a single season.

A.  BERT BLYLEVEN  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  At 3,701 K, Blyleven trails only Nolan Ryan (5,714), Randy Johnson (4,875), Roger Clemens (4,672) and Steve Carlton (4,136).

-  #1  Only Blyleven, Mike Morgan & Herb Pennock won MLB Gs before turning 20 and after turning 40.

-  #2  Robin Roberts gave up 46 HR in 1956.  Blyleven tied him in 1987.  They were joined at that level in 2011 when Bronson Arroyo also surrendered 46.  [Note:  In 1986, Blyleven gave up 50 HR and is the current record holder.]

FCR -  Dave Williams, Glastonbury, Connecticut

Incorrect guesses:  Walter Johnson, Gaylord Perry, Robin Roberts, Steve Carlton, Greg Maddux, Jim Kaat, Sam McDowell

 

WEDNESDAY  —20-Apr

Q.  Which pitcher’s record for the number of balks in a season did Dave Stewart break?

Hint: #1  He once stuck out nineteen batters in a losing cause.

Hint: #2  He was the first pitcher to make more than $150,000 in a season.

A.  STEVE CARLTON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Carlton balked 11 X in 1979, but Stewart balked 16 X in 1988.  Carlton, however, owns the MLB records for career balks at 90.

-  #1  Pitching for STL on 15-Sep-1969, Carlton K’ed 19 but gave up 4 R and lost.

-  #2  Pulled down $165,000, 1st in 1973.

FCR -  Dave Jackson, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Incorrect guesses:  Sam McDowell, Sandy Koufax

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —20-Apr

Q.  Whose brother was the first to win one of the three Cy Young awards in the family?

Hint: #1  A one-time Atlanta Brave, he was the last pitcher to have four straight seasons throwing three hundred innings in each of those years.

Hint: #2  In none of those seasons did he even lead the league.  However, just before that, he had led the majors in innings pitched for consecutive seasons.

A.  GAYLORD PERRY  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Gaylord’s brother Jim won the AL CYA w/MIN in 1970 as Gaylord finished 2nd in the NL for that award.  However, the younger brother won it twice, the 1st to do so in each league:  1972 pitching for CLE then 1978 pitching for SDP.

-  #1  1972-1975, Perry had years of 342⅔, 344, 322⅓ & 305⅔ innings respectively.

-  #2  While still with his original club, SFG, he led the majors in IP in 1969 & 1970 w/325⅓ & 382⅔.

FCR -  Dave Williams, Glastonbury, Connecticut

Incorrect guesses:  Phil Niekro, Jim Perry, Joe Niekro, Greg Maddux, Ramon Martinez

 

THURSDAY  —21-Apr

Q.  Who had fifteen separate seasons of two hundred strikeouts in each one?

Hint: #1  He surrendered ten grand slams in his career, four in the National League and six in the American League.

Hint: #2  He ended his career as BB King.

A.  NOLAN RYAN  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  He had 9 additional years with 100+ Ks and 1 more w/92.

-  #1  1st GS to Joe Pepitone in 1970, the final 1 to Dan Howitt in 1993.

-  #2  Handed out an astounding 2,795 walks.  In second place is Steve Carlton with 962 fewer.

FCR -  Stephen Klatsky, Washington, DC

Incorrect guesses:  Randy Johnson, Tom Seaver

 

FRIDAY  —22-Apr

Q.  Who was the only American League player to collect two RBI in the World Series without getting a hit?

Hint: #1  He is the last pitcher to start 500 games playing his entire career for one team.

Hint: #2  Every time he led the league in ERA, he won the Cy Young Award.

A.  JIM PALMER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In G #2 of the 1971 WS, Palmer, in consecutive innings, educed walks of Bruce Kison and Bob Veale, and score each time thanks to the efforts of the subsequent Oriole batters.

-  #1  Started 521 G for BAL 1965-1984.

-  #2  Led the AL in ERA in 1973 (2.40) & 1975 (2.09).  Won CYA in 1973, 1975 & 1976.

FCR -  Jeffrey Fink, Howell, New Jersey

Incorrect guesses:  Bob Gibson, Whitey Ford, Bob Feller, Mickey Lolich, Hal Newhouser, Walter Johnson

 

SATURDAY  —23-Apr

Q.  Whose world-leading 2.20 ERA one season didn’t even merit a single vote for the Cy Young Award or for MVP?

Hint: #1  His WHIP also led both leagues that year.

Hint: #2  In more than 1,500 plate appearances in the majors, he never hit a home run and only had one triple.

A.  DON SUTTON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  His win/loss record of 13-5 wasn’t as impressive in 1980 as Felix Hernandez’ 13-12 was exactly 30 years later.

-  #1  Sutton’s WHIP was 0.989 that year.

-  #2  He had 1,559 PS & 1,354 AB.  Hit his triple 11-Sep-1970 in San Francisco off Juan Marichal.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother

Incorrect guesses:  Joe Horlen, Hoyt Wilhelm, Pedro Martinez, Juan Marichal, Curt Schilling, David Cone

 

SUNDAY  —24-Apr

Q.  Which hurler took the loss in Crosley Field’s last MLB game?

Hint: #1  He claimed to have mastered the curve by age ten and the screwball by fifteen and very few people now doubt any of his claims.

Hint:  #2..He had more career complete games that wins.

Hint: #3  He took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in his major league debut.

A.  JUAN MARICHAL  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Crosley Loss = 24-Jun-1970

-  #1  From 1996 to 2000, Marichal served in the cabinet of Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernández as his country’s Minister of Sports and Physical Education & is still one of the most respected citizens of the DR.

-  #2  CG 244; W 243

-  #3  Debut = 19-Jul-1960.  The Phillies’ redoubtable Clay Dalrymple pinch hit for catcher Cal Neeman batting 8th & singles for their only H of the G.

FCR -  Greg Gits, Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Claude Osteen, Joe Nuxhall, Phil Niekro, Jim Maloney

 

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – Pitchers with 50 career complete-game shutouts in the expansion era.

 

Pitcher                 ShOs                  WAR

Blyleven................... 60................... 94.5

Carlton..................... 55................... 90.2

Marichal................... 52................... 62.9

Palmer..................... 53................... 68.5

Perry........................ 53................... 90.0

Ryan........................ 61................... 81.3

Seaver..................... 61................. 109.9

Sutton...................... 58................... 66.7

 

 

First Correct Respondent identifying themeJoseph Cohen, Holden, Massachusetts

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Tues    -  Hall of Famers who were known by shortened versions of their middle names

            -  HOF with at least 3500 Ks

            -  HOF players who left and returned to their original franchise

            -  Pitchers with the most 200 strikeout seasons

            -  Hall of Fame pitchers with 60 or more shutouts in their career

            -  Opening Day starts for at least three different teams

 

Wed     -  Pitchers with the most Opening Day starts

            -  Most pitching win in the1970s

            -  Pitchers with more than 3,000 strikeouts who have pitched multiple no hitters

            -  Pitcher with 20 or more seasons

            -  Pitchers with 20 or more seasons and at least 10 (or some number) of opening day starts

            -  The top 6 strikeout leaders of all time in reverse order

            -  Half of famers who pitched at least 290 innings in a season from 1970 to the present

            -  Pitchers with the most Ks in the 1970s

            -  Pitchers with at least 3000 strikeouts and 200 complete games

 

Thur     -  Pitchers with the largest number of matchups against a #1 Starter

            -  Lowest ERA's in the 1970s

            -  Expansion era HOF pitchers who lost 200+ games

            -  Pitchers with at least 3000 strikeouts and 4500 innings pitched

            -  Pitchers with 3000 or more strikeouts, all in the Hall of Fame

            -  Pitchers with over 100 victories and 2000 strikeouts between 1970 and 1980

            -  3,000 or more career strikeouts and 50 or more career shutouts

 

Fri        -  Pitchers with 20 or more complete games in a season

            -  The last pitchers to win 20 or more complete games in a season

            -  Hall of Famers with the most strikeouts and shutouts in the 1970s

            -  Pitchers with 50 or more shutouts who have given up at least 300 Home Runs

            -  Pitchers with 50 or more shutouts who have given up at least 200 Home Runs

            -  Pitchers with the most IP in 1970-79

            -  Hall of Fame pitchers who…

            -  HoF pitchers with career batting averages lower than their career eras

            -  Batting averages without the decimal [that] are lower than their win totals

            -  MLB’s IP leaders of the 1970s.

 

 

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Sunday, April 17, 2022

2022-04-11 Afraid I'm a little short

MONDAY  —11-Apr

Q.  Who ascribed his success at the plate to “…hitting them (batted balls) where they (opposition fielders) ain’t”?

Hint: #1  He had the highest career batting average for games all played in the nineteenth century.

Hint: #2  He once started a forty-four game hitting streak beginning on Opening Day.

Hint: #3  That same season, he had a streak of two or more hits in eleven consecutive games.

A.  WILLIE KEELER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  One of baseball’s most famous quotes, it still holds true today.

-  #1  Keeler batted .381 from 1892 through 1900.

-  #2  44 G w/a H = 1897

FCR -  Michael Schneider, Wilmington, Delaware

Incorrect guesses: 

 

TUESDAY  —12-Apr

Q.  Which teammate of Lou Gehrig’s moved into third place on the consecutive-games-played list while Gehrig was setting the all-time record?

Hint: #1  No one in the history of the game put bat on ball better than he did.

Hint: #2  In one of his best seasons he led the majors in doubles.

A.  JOE SEWELL  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Sewell’s streak was 1,103 G, but he never passed Everett Scott, another Gehrig teammate whose 1,307 G stood as the standard until surpassed by The Iron Horse.

-  #1  Sewell struck out 114 X in his 14-year MLB career, coming to bat 8,333 X.  In 9 seasons of 100+ G, his K total was in single digits.  (No, really!)

-  #2  Hit 45 2b in 1924 for CLE, tying w/Harry Heilmann of DET.

FCR -  Ed Smith, Gouverneur, New York

Incorrect guesses:  Joe DiMaggio, Everett Scott, Bob Meusel, Earle Coombs, Tony Lazzeri, Red Rolfe, Frank Crosetti

 

WEDNESDAY  —13-Apr

Q.  Which Yankee broadcaster was known to mark certain plays in his scorebook with “WW”?

Hint: #1  As a player, he md history by being the first American League player to wear a batting helmet in a regular-season game.

Hint: #2  He partnered with Yogi Berra to open a bowling alley.

A.  PHIL RIZZUTO  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  The uber-honest Scooter used the WW notation to admit that he “Wasn’t Watching”.

-  #1  Became a safety-conscious leader in 1953.  Ralph Kiner was the contemporary leader in the NL.

-  #2  It was an enormous 40-lane bowling alley in Clifton, New Jersey.  They didn’t work too hard on the name.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Joe Garagiola

 

WEDNESDAY AGAINSDAY  —13-Apr

Q.  Which Hall of Fame player/manager’s teams only began really winning once he pulled himself off the field?

Hint: #1  He earned a law degree, but his very famous law professor advised that baseball was really where his talent lay.

Hint: #2  One of his nicknames was “Rabbit”.

Hint: #3  He took his Double Unique status to the grave.

A.  MILLER HUGGINS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Huggins managed STL 1913-1917, only once with a winning season and all but the last season as player/manager.  He then managed NYY for 12 years, 1918-1929, lodging a record under .500 only twice, winning 6 AL pennants and 3 WS.

-  #1  He got a degree and career advice from future U.S. president William Howard Taft at the University of Cincinnati.

-  #2  His speed was well-known by the time he reached the majors.

-  #3  Huggins died of blood poisoning toward the end of the 1929 season, still managing NYY.  His D-U status seems secure for years to come.

FCR -  Warren Kent, Whitehall, Michigan

Incorrect guesses:  Walter Maranville, Hughie Jennings, Frankie Frisch, Connie Mack, Rogers Hornsby, Leo Durocher

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —13-Apr

Q.  Which outfielder, who broke in with Kansas City, stole at least one hundred bases in each of four seasons in his major league career?

Hint: #1  Only Ted Williams, Babe Ruth and John McGraw have a higher career on-base percentage.

Hint: #2  Over his fourteen-year career that straddled two centuries, he scored more times than the number of games he played in.

A.  BILLY HAMILTON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  His first team was the 1888 Kansas City Cowboys of the American Association.  Hamilton stole 111, 102, 111 & 100 bases in 1889, 1990, 1991 & 1894 respectively, leading the majors in each case.

-  #1  His .455 rank 4th all-time.

-  #2  1,594 G & 1,697 R, an average of 1.06 per G 1888-1901.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Rickie Henderson, Willie Wilson, Otis Nixon, Cool Papa Bell

 

THURSDAY  —14-Apr

Q.  Who was Ted Williams’ last minor league manager?

Hint: #1  He led the league in bases-on-balls in five of the first six full seasons in the Bigs.

Hint: #2  The Yankees offered him their manager position after the death of Miller Huggins.

A.  DONIE BUSH  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Bush managed Williams on the Minneapolis Millers in 1938.

-  #1  Led in BB 1909-1912, 1914.

-  #2  Bush turned down NYY because he had committed to manage for Comiskey in Chicago.

FCR -  David Skelton, Woodway, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Frank Shellenback, Art Fletcher, Eddie Yost, Hughie Jennings, Lefty O’Doul, Joe McCarthy

 

THURSDAY ONCE MORE —14-Apr

Q.  Who is the only player to make more than 5,000 career putouts as a shortstop?

Hint: #1  “He is the greatest player to enter baseball since Ty Cobb arrived,” said Boston Braves manager George Stallings.

Hint: #2  On the page that lists the players with the most games played at shortstop in baseball‑reference, his photo is the first one in black & white.

A.  RABBIT MARANVILLE  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Has 5,139 PO @ SS.  Bill Dahlen is considerably far back in 2nd place w/4,856.

-  #1  Stallings’ Braves won the 1914 WS.  It was their only modern championship before they moved to Milwaukee.

-  #2  Look here.

FCR -  Evan Thompson, Mesa

Incorrect guesses:  Honus Wagner, Lou Boudreau, Joe Tinker,

 

FRIDAY  —15-Apr

Q.  Which one-time teammate of Zip Zabel was the first player to lead his league in home runs and triples in the same modern era season?

Hint: #1  No one else has ever hit more triples in a single postseason.

Hint: #2  No other National League player hit more career inside-the-park home runs.

A.  TOMMY LEACH  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In 1902, Leach tied CIN’s Sam Crawford for the major league lead in triples w/22.  Leach led the NL w/6 HR the same year although there were no fewer than 9 AL batters who had more and 6 who had as many.  Leach and Zabel were teammates on CHC 1912-14.

-  #1  Leach’s 4 3b in the 8-G 1903 WS has never been equaled.  He hit 2 in G1, 1 in G4 & 1 in G5.  4 3b was the total 3b output of BOS, PIT’s opponent that year and they didn’t get their 4th until G8.

-  #2  He hit 48 IPHR, all as an NL player.

FCR -  Ed Smith, Gouverneur, New York

Incorrect guesses:  Frank Schulte, Vic Saier, Harry Lumley, Jesse Burkett, Sam Crawford, Joe Tinker

 

T.G.I.F.SPECIAL —15-Apr

Q.  Who was the first player to throw out three players at home plate in one game?

Hint: #1  He led the National League in stolen bases as a rookie then led the majors in walks three years later.

Hint: #2  When he retired, he ranked behind only Billy Hamilton in career bases on balls.

A.  BILLY HOY  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  19-Jun-1889 for WHS

-  #1  82 SB in 1988, 117 BB in 1891, bot j w/WHS

-  #2  Retd. in 1902 w/1,006 BB.  (Hamilton had 1,189)

FCR -  Mark DeLodovico, Rockville, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Harry Hooper, Charlie Gehringer, Roy Thomas, Richie Ashburn, Barry Bonds

 

SATURDAY  —16-Apr

Q.  Which Angels’ shortstop hit three home runs in a game?

Hint: #1  After switching leagues, he hit for the cycle in the first week with his new team and led his new league in triples that year.

Hint: #2  He also finished in the Top 10 in MVP voting and never received another MVP vote in his fourteen-year major league career.

A.  FREDDIE PATEK  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  3 HR = 20-Jun-1980

-  #1  For 1971 KCR, Patek hit for the cycle on = 09-Jul & finished the year w/11 3b which led the majors.

-  #2  He finished 6th in 1971 AL MVP voting.

FCR -  James Cook, Warrensburg, Missouri

Incorrect guesses:  Adam Kennedy, David Eckstein, Jim Fregosi, Dickie Thon, Gary DiSarcina

 

SUNDAY  —17-Apr

Q.  Which shortstop became a close friend of baseball’s all-time shortstop?

Hint: #1  He was one of the players responsible for the demise of a major league team.

Hint: #2  He played in the first modern World Series.

A.  CLAUDE RITCHEY  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Ritchey was a teammate of the great Honus Wager twice.  They were involved in enough infield assignment changes that they often played in the same game.  Ritchey played mostly at 2nd and Wagner became iconic at SS.

-  #1  Ritchey, Wagner, Fred Clarke and others were “transferred” from the NL Louisville club to Pittsburgh.  It is well-described here.

-  #2  Played for PIT in 1903.

FCR -  Joe Cohen, Holden, Massachusetts

Incorrect guesses:  Freddy Parent, Jimmy Collins, Bones Ely, Otto Kruger

 

THIS WEEK’S FINAL QUESTION  —17-Apr

Q.  Who was the first American League player to lead the league in at-bats four times?

Hint: #1  Two thirds of his career home runs were inside the park.

Hint: #2  He married the nurse who cared for him when he was hospitalized with typhoid fever.

A.  EDDIE FOSTER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Playing for WSH, Foster led the AL 4 X in AB = 1912, 1914, 1915, 1918 w/616, 618, 616 & 519 respectively.  In none of those seasons did he lead in G played.  The 1918 season was shortened because of WWI.

-  #1  4 of his 6 career HR were the type where you really have to hurry.

-  #2  Contracted typhoid fever in April 1913 and a nurse named Mary Chrismond in

FCR -  Joe Cohen, Holden, Massachusetts

Incorrect guesses:  Jesse Burkett, Rabbit Maranville, Sam Crawford, Doc Cramer

 

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – Players who measured 5'6" or less, who appeared in 1,500 or more games:

 

Player                   Height                MLB G                      WAR

Maranville................ 5'5".................... 2,670...................... 43.9

Leach...................... 5'6".................... 2,156...................... 47.1

Keeler...................... 5'4".................... 2,123...................... 54.2

Bush........................ 5'6".................... 1,946...................... 39.3

Sewell..................... 5'6".................... 1,903...................... 54.7

Hoy.......................... 5'6".................... 1,797...................... 32.5

Ritchey.................... 5'6".................... 1,672...................... 34.7

Rizzuto.................... 5'6".................... 1,661...................... 42.2

Patek....................... 5'5".................... 1,650...................... 24.1

Hamilton.................. 5'6".................... 1,594...................... 63.2

Huggins................... 5'6".................... 1,586...................... 35.4

Foster...................... 5'6".................... 1,500...................... 24.1

 

First Correct Respondent identifying themeMark Warren, Hydes, Maryland (after Rizzuto)

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Mon     -  Players with 600 or more hits in their first three seasons

 

Tues    -  Hall of Fame batters with lowest career strikeout rates

            -  Players with long hitting streaks and consecutive games streaks

            -  Most consecutive games without a strikeout.

            -  Lowest strikeout rates among Hall of Famers

            -  Players with the lowest Strikeout/AB in his career

            -  Ballplayers with lowest career strikeout percentage

 

Wed     -  Hall of Fame shortstops who played for the Yankees

            -  Hall of Famers who wore a uniform for the Yankees and have double letters in their surnames.      

            -  Double letters in one of their given names, and their surname

            -  Shortest Hall of Famer by position

            -  5'6" or shorter and under 160 lbs.

            -  Shortest members of the Hall of Fame to wear a Yankees/Highlanders uniform

            -  Shortest members of the Hall of Fame to wear a Yankees/Highlanders uniform 

            -  Shortest non-pitcher members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame

            -  Hall of Fame position players with the fewest career home runs

            -  New York Yankee Hall of Famers who were 5'6" or shorter

            -  Hall of Famers who are 5' 6" or shorter

            -  Hall of Famers who were 5’7” or shorter

            -  Hall of Fame position players with the fewest career home runs

 

Thu      -  HOFers 5’6” or shorter

            -  HOF shortest infielders

            -  Short players (5'6" or less) with at least 3000 putouts

            -  Shortest players that played the most seasons in MLB

            -  Players called Rabbit sometime during careers

 

Fri        -  Shortest players that spent the most "years" actively involved in baseball

            -  Shortest players that spent the most "years" actively involved in baseball who all continued active in baseball after they retired, coach, manager, scout or broadcaster

 

Sat       -  5'6" or shorter to have more than 500 career walks

            -  Players 5' 6" or shorter who led majors (or league) in some offensive category

 

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

 

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