Sunday, February 26, 2023

2023-02-20 Lowest career WAR per Retired number 1-10

MONDAY  —20-Feb

Q.  Who was Yogi Berra’s tutor at catcher when Yogi first joined the Yankees?

Hint: #1  He was the first major league catcher to catch a minimum of one hundred games for thirteen straight seasons.

Hint: #2  He once knocked himself out celebrating a Yankees pennant.

A.  BILL DICKEY  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Yogi always generously gave Dickey a lot of credit for his formation and skills behind the plate.

-  #1   Dickey’s 13 100-G seasons = 1929-1941.  That record has since been broken several times.

-  #2  NYY won the AL pennant on the last day of the 1949 season, beating BOS, with whom they’d been tied in the standings.  Dickey, by then a coach, celebrated with over 68,000 fans, bumped his head on the dugout & needed medical attention.  Of note, there had been 72 recorded injuries on NYY that year.  When Tommy Henrich caught a foul for the season's last putout, Dickey became #73.

FCR -  Gregg Bernstein, Oakland

Incorrect guesses:  Bill Terry, Charlie Silvera

 

 

TUESDAY  —21-Feb

Q.  Who is the only catcher to win an American League batting title?

Hint: #1  In his senior year in high school, he became the only athlete ever to be selected as the USA Today High School Player of the Year in two sports.

Hint: #2  He was asked to leave his T-ball league for hitting the ball too hard for the other players.

A.  JOE MAUER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Mauer won batting titles in 3 of his 1st 5 full years in the majors.  In 2006 (.347), 2008 (.328) & 2009 (.365).

-  #1  Honored as national POY by USA Today in football in 2000 as a quarterback and baseball in 2001 as a catcher.

-  #2  Hey!  Whaddaya gonna do?  T-ball league at the age of four, because he was hitting the ball too hard.

FCR -  Mischa Gelman, Pittsburgh

Incorrect guesses:  Mickey Cochrane, Bubbles Hargrave, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, Ivan Rodriguez

 

WEDNESDAY  — 22-Feb

Q.  Who is the only Hall of Famer to hit fifty home runs in a season twice yet have fewer than four hundred for his career?

Hint: #1  He led the majors in strikeouts as a rookie, but never had triple-digit strikeouts in any subsequent season.

Hint: #2  He never played for the Yankees, but had a relative who did.

A.  RALPH KINER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Kiner hit 51 HR in 1947 and 54 HR in 1949..  His career HR total after playing for exactly 10 season is 369.

-  #1  Had 109 K in 1946 then averaged fewer 72 K over the next 9 seasons.

-  #2  Actually who does.  He is the second cousin twice removed of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who had a contract with NYY through 2023.

FCR -  Sean McCormick, New York City

Incorrect guesses:  Brady Anderson, Prince Fielder, Hank Greenberg, George Foster, Aaron Judge, Prince Fielder

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  — 22-Feb

Q.  Who led the National League in doubles even though his Hall of Fame-destined teammate had forty-one?

Hint: #1  He was a World Series champion twice, but with different teams.

Hint: #2  He suffered through a broken finger, pleurisy & bruised ribs during one season, before sitting out the next with a more serious concern.

A.  RED SCHOENDIENST   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In 1950, Stan Musial hit 41.  Schoendienst had 43.  Turns out they are BOTH in the Hall.

-  #1  His Cards won the WS in 1946.  Traded to the Braves, he was a key part of the team that brought Milwaukee its only championship in 1957.

-  #2  His broken finger, etc., happened in the 1958 campaign.  His pleurisy, etc., happened in the 1958 campaign.  In 1959, his doctor confirmed that Schoendienst had developed tuberculosis & probably had been playing with it for years.  Nevertheless, he soldiered on & played until 1963.

FCR -  George Alfano, Redlands, California

Incorrect guesses:  Pete Reiser, Steve Garvey, Lance Berkman, Dave Parker, Tris Speaker, Enos Slaughter, Keith Hernandez, Buster Posey, Andres Galarraga

 

 

THURSDAY  — 23-Feb

Q.  Who is the only Texas Ranger to pound out two hundred hits for five straight seasons?

Hint: #1  He led the majors in hits twice, once during the streak in the question.

Hint: #2  This one-time L. A. Dodger was awarded the MVP of the Midsummer Classic one year.

A.  MICHAEL YOUNG   [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  Young had 200+ a year 2003-2007.  No other Ranger has had even two such seasons, consecutive or not.

-  #1  Led MLB in H 2005 (221) & 2011 (213).

-  #2  He was awarded the Ted Williams All-Star Game MVP after hitting a game-winning two-run triple in the ninth inning.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton,

 

 

FRIDAY — 24-Feb

Q.  Poised to match The Babe with five games left, who couldn’t take advantage of the last eight pitchers he faced that season?

Hint: #1  Although he was fifty-four years younger than the only other Hall of Famer who shared his birthday, he was elected to Cooperstown eight years sooner.

Hint: #2  He was the first American League player to register for the first peacetime draft.

A.  HANK GREENBERG   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  After his 2-HR G on 27-Sept-1938(2), Greenberg had 58 HRs, just 2 shy of Ruth’s record output of 1927.  But Hank was stymied by an octet of hurlers whose aggregate ERA for 1938 was 4.86.

-  #1   Born on 01-Jan-1911, Greenberg was inducted into the HOF in 1956.  Fellow New Year’s Day baby Tim Keefe (b.1857) had to wait until 1964 before being enshrined.

-  #2  On 16-Sept-1940, the US instituted the Selective Service Act of 1940, which required all men between the ages of 21 and 45 to register for the draft.  Greenberg, then 29 years old, voluntarily signed up one month later.  He was honorably discharged by Congress two days before Pearl Harbor (as were any other men over the age of 28), but he re-enlisted on 01-Feb-1942.  He volunteered for service in the Army Air Force, becoming the first major league player to do so.  His total military term of service was 47 months, the longest of any major league player.

FCR -  Sarah Grynpas, Toronto

Incorrect guesses:  Jimmie Foxx, Hank Aaron

 

 

T.G.I.F. SPECIAL— 24-Feb

Q.  Who was said to have the fastest hands in baseball history?

Hint: #1  He appeared also to be baseball history’s fastest editor.

Hint: #2  His middle infield counterpart drove in a record number for a single World Series and even won that WS’ MVP yet was completely overshadowed by him.

A.  BILL MAZEROSKI   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  When asked how he used to get rid of the ball so quickly on double-play pivots, Mazeroski couldn’t actually explain it, saying: “It just happened.  I didn’t catch the ball.  The ricochet would hit right there (left palm) and this (right hand) would be down here and, boom, it would go like that.  It’s quicker than anybody else ever did it.  I don’t know how.  I’ve never seen too many do it like me.”  An 8-time Gold Glove winner, his career total of 1,706 twin killings is a major league record, and by a considerable margin.

-  #1  Mazeroski realized, while standing at the podium during his Cooperstown enshrinement, that his self-prepared acceptance speech wasn’t really the one he wanted to give..  He transitioned  instantly from a full dozen pages to a succinct moving speech that lasted just under 2½ minutes.  Watch it here.  (Grab a hankie.)

-  #2  Yankee’s 2B Bobby Richardson, owner of just 26 RBI during the entire regular season, drove in a record 12 RBI in the 1960 Fall Classic (including 6 in G3), but his heroics were almost instantly forgotten with 1 famous swing of the bat.

FCR -  Mark Hayne, Dumfries, Virginia

Incorrect guesses:  Omar Vizquel, Tony Kubek, Phil Rizzuto

 

 

SATURDAY — 25-Feb

Q.  Which onetime Cleveland Indian designated hitter brought a dramatic end to the longest game in American League history?

Hint: #1  He was only the second player since Cap Anson to have a one hundred RBI season after the age of forty.

Hint: #2  He was born less than forty miles from the birthplaces of two other Hall of Famers also famous for hitting home runs.

A.  HAROLD BAINES  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  On the 753rd pitch of the G,  the 25th inning, that ended on 09-May-1984 (It had begun on 08-May.), Baines, playing for the CHW, homered off MIL’s Chuck Porter, becoming the only player to homer after the 22nd inning of a game.

-  #1  Baines had 103 RBI in 1999.  He had turned 40 during spring training that year.  He finished the year playing for CLE.

-  #2  Baines was born in Easton, MD which is only 8.4 miles from Trappe, MD (Home Run Baker) and 36.3 miles from Sudlersville, MD (Jimmie Foxx).

FCR -  David Krassin, New York City

Incorrect guesses:  Jim Thome, Albert Belle, Eddie Murray, Julio Franco, Dave Winfield

 

 

— 25-Feb

Q.  Who was the first major leaguer to ground into more than thirty double plays in a season?

Hint: #1  He was coach for an expansion team in their inaugural season.

Hint: #2  He was the first to cycle twice for his team, an original American League franchise.

A.  BOBBY DOERR   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  31 GIDP in 1949 for BOS.

-  #1  Was a coach for TOR 1977-1981.

-  #2  Cycles 17-May-1944(2) & 13-May-1947

FCR -  Joseph Cohen, Holden, Massachusetts

Incorrect guesses:  Jim Fregosi, Billy Hitchcock, Jim Rice, Jackie Jensen, Ernie Lombardi, Rogers Hornsby, Goose Goslin

 

 

WEEK’S FINALE — 26-Feb

Q.  Who was the first American Leaguer to score six runs in a nine-inning game?

Hint: #1  He led the majors in hits in his rookie season.

Hint: #2  Although his heritage is Croatian, many have mistaken him for a Pole.

A.  JOHNNY PESKY   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  On 08-May-1946 in Fenway, Pesky scored in all six of plate appearances.

-  #1  Had 205 H in 1942 then did 3 years of military service.  When he returned, he picked where he’d left off with 208 in 1946 & 207 in 1947.

-  #2  Born in Portland, OR to Croatian immigrants, Pesky was honored by BOS on 27-Sept-2006, his 87th birthday, by naming Fenway’s right field foul pole “Pesky’s Pole”.  Its nickname was originally attributed to Pesky by broadcaster Mel Parnell, a former teammate.  Parnell was poking some fun at Pesky’s lack of power.  He had just 17 career HR, 6 at Fenway.  Parnell claimed that every one of those 6 went out just past the right-field foul pole, the shortest distance for a home run in MLB.  The distance is disputed with claims ranging from 295’ to 302’.

FCR -  David Raglin, McLean Virginia

Incorrect guesses:  Joe Vosmik, Ted Kluszewski, Carl Yastrzemski, Mel Ott, Al Simmons, Ichiro Suzuki, Ted Simmons, Hal Trosky, George Sisler

 

WEEK’S THEME – Lowest career WAR for an MLB player whose uniform number has been retired, among those with the same retired number.

 

Uni#    Player                     Team                   Ceremony               WAR

1..... Doerr......................... Red Sox............. 21-May-1988.............. 51.5

2..... Schoendienst............. Cardinals............ 11-May-1996.............. 44.5

3..... Baines...................... White Sox............ 20-Aug-1989.............. 38.8

4..... Kiner.......................... Pirates.............. 19-Sep-1987.............. 48.1

5..... Greenberg................... Tigers............... 12-Jun-1983............... 55.5

6..... Pesky......................... Red Sox ............ 28-Sep-2008.............. 34.3

7..... Mauer.......................... Twins................ 15-Jun-2019............... 55.2

8..... Dickey....................... Yankees............. 22-Jun-1972............... 56.4

9..... Mazeroski................... Pirates.............. 07-Aug-1987.............. 36.5

10.... Young........................ Rangers............. 31-Aug-2019.............. 24.70

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Mon     -  Catchers highlighted in the book Heroes Behind the Mask:  Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Mickey Cochrane, Bill Dickey, Gabby Hartnett, Joe Torre, Elston Howard, Roger Bresnahan, Johnny Kling and Ernie Lombardi

 

Tues    -  Catchers with the highest career batting average

-   Catchers with career BA of .300 or higher

-   Catchers in the modern era to hit > .345 in a season

-   Catchers with lifetime Batting Average of .300 or greater

-   Catchers whose JAWS is above 45

-   MVP catchers

-   Catchers with a lifetime BA of .300 or better that played for only one MLB team

 

Wed     -  Players with single digit retired numbers

 

Thur     -  All had their number retired and will make up a list of #s 1 thru 10C

 

Fri        -  Players with retired numbers 1-10, who had either worn more than one number, or the same number on different uniform styles for his only team.

 

 

 

If you know someone who would enjoy receiving daily Horsehide Trivia questions, Have them start by clicking here.

 

Click here to see this week’s quiz (and all previous weeks’ quizzes):  http://horsehidetriviA.           blogspot.com/

 

Horsehide Trivia encourages independent research.  ⚾️

No.      Player  Team   Date    WAR

1... Ozzie Smith............... Cardinals... September 26, 1996.............. 76.9

1... Lou Whitaker.............. Tigers............. August 6, 2022................... 75.1

1... Pee Wee Reese......... Dodgers............ July 1, 1984..................... 68.4

1... Richie Ashburn.......... Phillies.......... August 24, 1979.................. 64.2

1... Bobby Doerr.............. Red Sox.......... 21-May-1988.................... 51.5

 

2... Charlie Gehringer...... Tigers............. June 12, 1983................... 84.8

2... Derek Jeter................ Yankees.......... May 14, 2017.................... 71.3

2... Nellie Fox................... White Sox........ May 1, 1976..................... 49.5

2... Red Schoendienst..... Cardinals......... 11-May-1996.................... 44.5

 

3... Babe Ruth.................. Yankees......... June 13, 1948................. 183.1

3... Alan Trammell........... Tigers............ August 26, 2018.................. 70.7

3... Harmon Killebrew...... Twins................ May 4, 1975..................... 60.3

3... Bill Terry.................... Giants.............. April 5, 1983..................... 56.5

3... Earl Averill.................. Guardians........ June 8, 1975.................... 51.5

3... Dale Murphy.............. Braves............ June 13, 1994................... 46.5

3... Harold Baines............ White Sox........ 20-Aug-1989.................... 38.8

 

4... Lou Gehrig................. Yankees........... July 4, 1939................... 113.6

4... Mel Ott....................... Giants.............. July 17, 1948.................. 110.8

4... Luke Appling.............. White Sox........ June 7, 1975.................... 77.6

4... Paul Molitor................ Brewers.......... June 11, 1999................... 75.6

4... Duke Snider............... Dodgers............ July 6, 1980..................... 65.9

4... Joe Cronin................. Red Sox................. 1984........................... 64.7

4... Ralph Kiner................ Pirates............. 19-Sep-1987.................... 48.1

 

5... George Brett.............. Royals............. May 14, 1994.................... 88.6

5... Jeff Bagwell............... Astros........... August 26, 2007.................. 79.9

5... Joe DiMaggio............. Yankees.......... April 18, 1952.................... 79.2

5... Brooks Robinson....... Orioles............ April 14, 1978.................... 78.5

5... Johnny Bench............ Reds............. August 11, 1984.................. 75.1

5... Lou Boudreau............ Guardians........ July 9, 1970..................... 63.3

5... Hank Greenberg........ Tigers............... 12-Jun-1983..................... 55.5

 

6... Stan Musial................ Cardinals... September 29, 1963............ 128.6

6... Al Kaline..................... Tigers............ August 17, 1980.................. 92.9

6... Joe Torre................... Yankees........ August 23, 2014.................. 57.5

6... Tony Oliva................. Twins............... July 14, 1991.................... 43.0

6... Steve Garvey............ Padres............ April 16, 1988.................... 38.0

6... Johnny Pesky............ Red Sox........... 28-Sep-2008.................... 34.3

 

7... Mickey Mantle........... Yankees.......... June 8, 1969.................. 110.2

7... Ivan Rodríguez........... Rangers........ August 12, 2017.................. 68.7

7... Craig Biggio............... Astros........... August 17, 2008.................. 65.5

7... Joe Mauer.................. Twins............... 15-Jun-2019..................... 55.2

 

8... Joe Morgan................ Reds................ June 6, 1998.................. 100.4

8... Carl Yastrzemski....... Red Sox......... August 6, 1989................... 96.5

8... Cal Ripken Jr............. Orioles........... October 6, 2001.................. 95.9

8... Yogi Berra.................. Yankees.......... July 22, 1972.................... 59.4

8... Willie Stargell............. Pirates........ September 6, 1982................ 57.5

8... Bill Dickey.................. Yankees........... 22-Jun-1972..................... 56.4

 

9... Ted Williams.............. Red Sox........ September 1960................ 122.0

9... Reggie Jackson......... Athletics.......... May 22, 2004.................... 74.0

9... Enos Slaughter.......... Cardinals.... September 6, 1996................ 57.8

9... Minnie Minoso............ White Sox........ May 8, 1983..................... 53.8

9... Roger Maris............... Yankees.......... July 21, 1984.................... 38.2

9... Bill Mazeroski............ Pirates............. 07-Aug-1987.................... 36.5

 

10. Chipper Jones............ Braves............ June 28, 2013................... 85.2

10. Ron Santo.................. Cubs.......... September 28, 2003.............. 70.5

10. Phil Rizzuto................ Yankees......... August 4, 1985................... 42.2

10. Michael Young........... Rangers........... 31-Aug-2019.................... 24.7

No comments:

Post a Comment