Monday, April 4, 2022

2022-03-28 Stole home twice in one game

MONDAY  —28-Mar

Q.  Who was the only infielder elected to the Hall of Fame with the first class?

Hint: #1  He was on the losing side in the first modern World Series.

Hint: #2  He was the first player in the twentieth century to reach 3,000 hits.

A.  HONUS WAGNER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Was elected to the Hall in 1936 w/Cobb, Ruth, Johnson & Mathewson.  Played 86% of his G in the IF, more than 75% of the time at SS.

-  #1 In the 1903 WS, his Pirates were bested by Boston, 5-3.

-  #2  Got his 3,000th H 08-Jun-1914.

FCR -  Brett Moore, Studio City, California

Incorrect guesses:  Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins, Rogers Hornsby, Nap Lajoie, Jimmie Foxx

 

MONDAY; MONDAY —28-Mar

Q.  Whose .333 career batting average is the highest among Hall of Famers who never won a batting title?

Hint: #1  No other player played more major league games at second base.

Hint: #2  Lou Brock tied his record for most career World Series stolen bases.

A.  EDDIE COLLINS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  That includes seasons of .369, .365 & .360.

-  #1  2,650 G @ 2B

-  #2  Collins had 14 WS SB.  Brock tied him in 1968.

FCR -  Abbey Garber, Dallas

Incorrect guesses:  Napoleon Lajoie, Frankie Frisch, Charlie Gehringer

 

TUESDAY  —29-Mar

Q.  Who has the highest career batting average for two American League franchises?

Hint: #1  In his first one thousand major league at-bats, he racked up 389 hits.

Hint: #2  Babe Ruth called him “… the most natural and graceful hitter who ever lived!

A.  JOE JACKSON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In 6 seasons each, Jackson accumulated career BA’s of .375 & .340 for CLE & CHW respectively.  For CLE, Tris Speaker is in 2nd place 21 points behind.  Taking the silver on the South Side is Eddie Collins at .331.

-  #1  A record he still holds.

-  #2  There were (are) many who agree with Ruth’s assessment.

FCR -  Richard Marston, Newport Beach, California

Incorrect guesses:  Rogers Hornsby, Tris Speaker, Nap Lajoie, Eddie Collins, Paul Waner, Ty Cobb

 

TUESDAY WELD  —29-Mar

Q.  Which major league umpire had once, as a player, knocked an umpire out after a disputed third strike call?

Hint: #1  As a player, this five-tool Phillie had his finest season one year too early for the kind of recognition he would have merited today.

Hint: #2  He ended his career playing for the Baltimore Orioles under manager Jack Dunn.

A.  SHERRY MAGEE  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Magee decked home plate ump Bill Finneran in the G on 10-Jul-1911 and was suspended for the rest of the season.  He was reinstated in August after a successful appeal.  Magee umpired 148 G in the NL in 1928.

-  #1  In 1910 Magee led the NL in BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, OPS+, TB and led the majors in R & RBI.  The first Most Valuable Player recognition was awarded in 1911.  Magee played for PHI the first 11 seasons of his career in the majors, 1904-1914.

-  #2  Played for AA Baltimore in 1925 & 26.

FCR -  Chris Betsch, New Albany, Indiana

Incorrect guesses:  Billy Sunday, Butch Henline, Bill McGowan, Chuck Klein

 

WEDNESDAY  —30-Mar

Q.  Even though Ty Cobb led all National Leaguers and American Leaguers with 274 total bases one year, he did not lead the majors.  Who did?

Hint: #1  No player, outside of Hall of Famers, ever hit more career triples.

Hint: #2  He once had a hit in each of ten consecutive at-bats.

A.  ED KONETCHY  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Playing for the Pittsburgh Rebels of the Federal League, Konetchy banged out 278 total bases in 1915.

-  #1  Had 182 career 3b, tied for 15th w/Jesse Burkett

-  #2  !) H = 28(2)-, 29- & 30-Jun-1919.

FCR -  Ed Smith, Gouverneur, ,New York

Incorrect guesses:  Pinky Higgins, Fran Schulte, Sam Crawford, Kevin Youkilis

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —30-Mar

Q.  Who was the first infielder to lead the majors in triples in the modern era?

Hint: #1  His disposition led to his nickname.

Hint: #2  He was the first Giant to win a Most Valuable Player award.

A.  LARRY DOYLE  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Hit 25 3b in 1911.

-  #1  He was called Laughing Larry Doyle.  Here’s a sample.

-  #2  Chalmers MVP in 1912.

FCR -  Lee Dembart, Hollywood, California

Incorrect guesses:  Rogers Hornsby, Jim Bottomley, Frankie Frisch, Willie Mays, Jesse Burkett

 

THURSDAY  —31-Mar

Q.  Whose inside-the-park home run off Christy Mathewson is often overlooked because of Fred Merkle’s base-running gaffe?

Hint: #1  He and Craig Counsel each collected three sacrifice hits in a single World Series.  (Not in the same one.)

Hint: #2  He managed two different Chicago-based major league teams.

A.  JOE TINKER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In the 5th inning of the G on 23-Sep-1908, Tinker, known for his speed, circled the bases scoring the Cubs’ only R.  Merkle’s unfortunate exuberance and the events that followed, are what history remembers.

-  #1  Joe Tinker (1906), Craig Counsell (2001)

-  #2  Managed CHI (FL) 1914-15 and CHC NL (1916).

FCR -  George Alfano, Redlands, California

Incorrect guesses:  Johnny Evers, Frank Chance, Al Bridwell

 

FRIDAY  —01-Apr

Q.  Which second baseman of French-Canadian ancestry, had his promising career curtailed when his team obtained Rogers Hornsby in a trade?

Hint: #1  He was sold after a mere four games in his major league career then did well enough right away with his new team to garner a few Most Valuable Player votes.

Hint: #2  Twenty others received MVP votes that season, including a teammate of his who was having a Hall of Fame career.

Hint: #3  His diminutive height led to an encounter with his new team’s clubhouse attendant.

A.  DOC GAUTREAU  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Both his parents had immigrated from tiny Sorel, Quebec.  His size made more sense in the middle infield rather than at catcher where he had played in high school and college.

-  #1  After 7 unproductive AB w/PHA, Gautreau was sold to the Braves where his 68 G and .269 BA at 2B helped him place 20th in the 1925 NL MVP lineup, 14 places behind double play partner Dave Bancroft.

-  #3  Braves’ attendant Jitney” Goss was at his usual post at the room’s entrance when Doc came along to join his teammates in pre-game preparations.  When he approached the door, Goss did not recognize him and inquired loudly, “Where do you think you’re going?”  Gautreau responded that he was headed to the dressing room.  The clubhouse gatekeeper bellowed, “Like Hell you are.”  Fortunately someone set Goss straight, saying “That’s Doc Gautreau.”  “It is?”  Goss responded incredulously.  “I thought he was one of the kids who sells peanuts.”

FCR -  Andre da Costa, Stittsville, Ontario

Incorrect guesses:  Frankie Frisch, Freddie Maguire, Frenchy Bordagaray, Pete Cote, Leo Durocher, Mel Kerr

 

SATURDAY  —02-Apr

Q.  Which utility player was so useful that playing for four American League team, he distributed his time at each position like this:?            RF      59%

SS      13%

LF       11%

2b       10%

CF        5%

3b         2%

P           1%

1b         0.4%

Hint: #1  He was traded straight across for a player who holds a record that some people consider to be beyond reach—one of history’s most one-sided trades.

Hint: #2  His career pitching record in the majors does not contain a loss.

A.  BILL BARRETT  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Playing for PHA, CHW, BOS & WSH, he totaled 674 G.

-  #1  In 4 of his 1st 5 G as a rookie, because of his amateur success, he was used as a pitcher.  With his ERA sitting at 7.20, Connie Mack decided that Barrett would be better off at another position & after 31G that he’d be better off on a different team.  On 26‑Apr‑1930, he was traded by BOS to WSN for Earl Webb.

-  #2  On 21-Jun-1921, Barrett was called on to relieve the A’s Slim Harris.  He pitched 1 inning and got the W.

FCR -  Randall Chandler, Germantown, Tennessee

Incorrect guesses:  Jim Fregosi, Cesar Tovar, Tony Phillips

 

SUNDAY—03-Apr

Q.  Which one-time Phillie was the penultimate first baseman to lead the American League in triples? (Min 60% of G at 1b)

Hint: #1  He won Gold Gloves at first base for three different teams.

Hint: #2  He once to hit a leadoff and walkoff home run in the same game.

A.  VIC POWER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  10 3b in 1958 playing for KCA & CLE.  Played 18 G for PHI in 1964.  Rod Carew led in AL 3b in 1977 playing 1st base for MIN.

-  #1  Won GG for CLE (1958, 59, 60, 61); for MIN (1962, 63); & LA (1964)

-  #2  2 HR = 07-May-1957, both off the Orioles’ Hal Brown

FCR -  Russ Walsh, Morrisville, Pennsylvania

Incorrect guesses:  Justin Morneau, Bill White, Jim Spencer, Eddie Waitkus, Roy Hartzell

 

WEEK’S FINALE —03-Apr

Q.        Which BLTR outfielder scored the first-ever run at Fenway Park?

Hint: #1  He played in three leagues in his five-year major league career.

Hint: #2  When a correction about his lineage came to light, a collectors’ card of him deflated (tanked) seriously and permanently.

A.  GUY ZINN  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  20-Apr-1912.  Zinn was the first batter and drew a walk.

-  #1  Played for NYY (AL), BSN (NL) & Baltimore (FL) 1911-15.

-  #2  Zinn was believed to be the only Jewish player in the Federal League.  When this was found to be inaccurate, his baseball card took a deep dive. 

FCR -  Lee Dembart, Hollywood, California

Incorrect guesses:  Honus Wagner, Hugh Bradley, Hugh Duffy, Duffy Lewis, Jake Stahl, Marty Krug, Eddie Collins

 

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – Modern era players who stole home twice in a single game

 

Player       Team        Date                               Pitcher(s)                  WAR

Barrett........... CHW....... 01-May-1924......... Jim Lindsey, Joe Shaute......... 6.0

Collins........... PHA........ 06-Sep-1913.......... Fred Anderson.................... 124.4

Doyle............. NYG........ 18-Sep-1911.......... Howie Cmtz, Babe Adams..... 45.1

Gautreau....... BOS........ 03-Sep-1927(1)....... Jesse Petty.............................. 0.9

Jackson......... CLE......... 11-Aug-1912.......... Iron Davis.............................. 62.2

Konetchy....... STL......... 30-Sep-1907.......... Gus Dorner............................ 46.5

Magee............ PHI.......... 20-Jul-1912........... Jim Moroney, Joe Vernon..... 59.4

Power............ CLE......... 14-Aug-1958.......... Bill Fischer, Frank Lary......... 15.3

Tinker............ CHC........ 28-Jun-1910.......... Rube Benton, Myst. Walker.... 53.2

Wagner.......... PIT.......... 20-Jun-1901.......... Ed  Doheny......................... 130.8

Zinn............... NYY........ 15-Aug-1912.......... Jean Dubuc............................. 1.0

First Correct Respondent identifying themeWarren Kent, Whitehall, Ohio (after Magee)

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Mon     -  Players who hit a double for hit No. 3,000

            -  Players who have a grand slams after the age of 40

            -  Players with both 3,000+ hits and 500+ stolen bases

            -  MLB Hall of Famers with the fewest home runs and more than 3,000 hits

            -  HOFers who retired at the age of 43

            -  Members of baseball's 3000 hit club by end of 1925

 

Tues    -  HOF 2nd basemen

            -  Players featured on the Louisville Slugger letter

            -  Stole second third and home in one inning game

            -  Stole second third and home in one inning

 

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