Sunday, May 28, 2023

2023-05-22 First BBWAA MVP at each position

MONDAY  —22 May

Q.  Which pitcher has the highest career WAR for any Hall of Famer in the Modern Era who was born east of the Mississippi River?

Hint: #1  He was the first pitcher to lead the American League in bases on balls and strikeouts in the same season.

Hint: #2  He is the only Red Sox pitcher to hit a grand slam in a game he lost.

A.  LEFTY GROVE  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  WAR of 113.3, [MD] trailing only Johnson (152.4 [KS]) & Alexander (116.2 [NE]) https://stathead.com/tiny/vZIhun.

-  #1  In his rookie season of 1925 he matched his 116 K w/131 BB.

-  #2  Grove accounted for ⅔ of his team’s runs when he hit George Blaeholder’s pitch over the fence in Shibe Park on the sunny (I’m guessing) Saturday afternoon of 27-Jul-1935.  Three other BOS pitchers have hit grand slams:  Babe Ruth on 20-May-1919, Wes Ferrell on 12-Aug-1936(1) & Ellis Kinder on 06-Aug-1950(1), They, however, were each victorious.

FCR -  Jason Winston, Riverside, California

Incorrect guesses:  Babe Ruth, Josh Beckett, Roger Clemens, Christy Mathewson, Cy Young, John Clarkson, Smokey Joe Wood

 

 

TUESDAY —23-May

Q.  Which slugger hit thirty home runs in twelve straight seasons?  (Yes.  I know that in some of those seasons he hit even more!)

Hint: #1  He was the youngest player ever to play catcher in more than one major league game.

Hint: #2  He retired with the highest slugging career average for a right-handed batter.

A.  JIMMIE FOXX   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Hit 30+ HR 1929-1940.  (Only in 1931 did he hit only 30.)  Later this mark was bettered by Alex Rodriguez & Albert Pujols who had 13 straight 30-HR years.

-  #1  On 26-May-1925, in his 3rd major league G, Foxx replaces Bill Lamar (LF) playing C batting 3rd but did not come to bat.  He would  not turn 18 until October of that year.

-  #2  Foxx’s career .609 SLG was eclipsed by Mule Suttles’ .620 when MLB finally recognized the legitimacy of the statistics of the Negro Leagues.

FCR -  Sean Moore, Hollis, New Hampshire

Incorrect guesses:  Hank Greenberg, Albert Pujols, Barry Bonds, Johnny Bench, Babe Ruth, Gary Carter

 

 

WEDNESDAY  — 24-May

Q.  Which former Oakland A’s coach sat on the Board of Directors of the Baltimore Orioles?

Hint: #1  As a player and by the slimmest of margins, he beat Al Simmons’ record for the most RBI in a major leaguer’s first ten seasons.

Hint: #2  He led the majors in triples as a rookie, but he changed his uniform number the next year and never led again in triples, not even the league.

A.  JOE DiMAGGIO   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  DiMaggio coached the A’s in hitting for 2 seasons, 1968-69.  He was on the BAL board during the ownership period of Edward Bennett Williams, 1977-88.

-  #1  From 1936 through 1948 DiMaggio racked up 1,277 RBI.  He missed three years of play due to military service, 1943-45.  Simmons had 1,276 RBI 1924-1933.

-  #2  Had 15 3b in 1936.  He even averaged double figures per season, but never led again.  He wore #9 as a rookie then #5 for the rest of his career.

FCR -  Lou Charlip, Rockville, Maryland

Incorrect guesses: 

 

 

MIDWEEK BONUS — 24-May

Q.  Who was the first player to appear as the designated hitter in a World Series game for two different teams?  (Not in the same year.  That would be a record!)

Hint: #1  He hit the first double in the history of Seattle’s Kingdome.

Hint: #2  He was once thrown out stealing twice in the same inning.

A.  DON BAYLOR   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Baylor DH’ed for BOS in the 1986 WS & for MIN in 1987.

-  #1   Doubled in Seattle on 07-Apr-1977, 5th batter.  It was also that stadium’s 1st H of any kind.

-  #2  In the 9th inning of a tie G on 15-Jun-1974 in Memorial Stadium, playing for BAL, Baylor was put in to pinch run.  He was thrown out attempting  to steal 2nd base.  He was called out, however … he stayed on 2nd due to an error by future Hall of Fame infielder Ron Santo.  Baylor promptly stole 3rd.  Then in a perhaps foolish attempt to put the Birds ahead, he broke for home & was thrown out again, this time for good.  Extra innings ensued.  Research found no other parallel instance.

FCR -  John Michael Pierobon, Fort Lauderdale

Incorrect guesses:  Reggie Jackson, Nelson Cruz, Roberto Kelly, Paul Molitor, Gene Tenace, Dave Winfield, Edgar Martinez, Reggie Sanders

 

 

THURSDAY — 25-May

Q.  Who was an AA in 1918?

Hint:  #1  He lamented BBs.

Hint:  #2  The last team he ever managed were the CCs.

Hint:  #3  His most famous pitching duo were both DDs.

Hint:  #4  He never made EEs in the post-season.

Hint:  #5  The initials of his full name and nickname are FFF & FF.

Hint:  #6  One of his most memorable teams was the GG.

A.  FRANKIE FRISCH   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Assuredly one of Fordham College’s finest all-around athletes, Frisch was a slashing half-back in football, named a College All-American his senior year.

-  #1  Derived from his complaints as a manager, one of his signature lines as a radio broadcaster was, “Oh, those bases on balls!”

-  #2.  A player-manager for STL, Frisch then skippered the Pirates & finally the Chicago Cubs.

-  #3.  The only WS champion team Frisch skippered were led in 1934 by the pitching brothers Dizzy & Daffy Dean.

-  #4  Frisch is the only non-Yankee to appear in 50 pre-Expansion Era WS games in history.  Over those pressure-packed games, the slick-fielding Frisch never committed more than one error in any single one of them.

-  #5  Christened Frank Francis Frisch, his nickname was The Fordham Flash.

-  #6  His rough-and-tumble 1934 World Champion Cardinals were The Gashouse Gang.

FCR -  Eric Savage Short Hills, New Jersey

Incorrect guesses:  Branch Rickey, Fat Freddie Fitzsimmons, Fats Fothergill, Ferris Fain, Ford Frick, Casey Stengel

 

 

FRIDAY — 26-May

Q.  Which backstop won a Most Valuable Player Award before and after the baseball writers took over the voting process?

Hint: #1  A Hall of Fame umpire called him, “…a shortstop with shin-guards and a chest protector.”

Hint: #2  In college, he boxed and played football and the saxophone.

A.  MICKEY COCHRANE   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Won MVP in 1928 w/PHA & in 1934 w/pennant-winner DET.  Lou Gehrig (1927 and 1936) is the only other player to be so honored.

-  #1  Umpire Billy Evans (HOF 1973) was the author of that assessment.  Few people, then or now, disagree with him.

-  #2  Cochrane played the most major league games (1,482) of anyone who attended Boston University.  His career G played total is exactly half of all of the other BU alumni’s G combined.

FCR -  Terry Sloope, Cartersville, Georgia

Incorrect guesses:  Roy Campanella, Ernie Lombardi

 

SATURDAY — 26-May

Q.  Whose record for the most hits in a player’s first five full seasons did Ichiro Suzuki break?

Hint: #1  He was the first player to hit a home run in the All-Star game and in the World Series during the same season.

Hint: #2  His beaning inspired Larry McPhail to investigate the use of batting helmets.

A.  JOE MEDWICK   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Medwick had 1,064 from 1933 thru 1937.  From 2001-05, Ichiro had 1,130.

-  #1   Hit a HR off Lefty Gomez in the 1st inning of the 1934 ASG (his 1st) then again in the 1934 WS (also his 1st) in G 1.

-  #2  Medwick was hit in the head with a pitch on 18-June-1940.  Helmets came into use on gradually well before it was a requirement.  It was not until December 1970 that MLB enforced strictly mandatory use of the batting helmet for all batters.  Veteran players, however, were allowed some discretion.  Some researchers credit Roger Bresnahan for using a protective headpiece as early as 1908.

FCR -  Mark DeLodovico, Rockville, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Lou Gehrig, George Sisler, Dizzy Dean, Pete Reiser, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra

 

 

SUNDAY — 28-May

Q.  Who holds the National League’s single-season record for most bases on balls by a third baseman?

Hint: #1  He was once one of two ejectees in the same at bat.

Hint: #2  He was the second third baseman to have 100 RBI in six seasons in the majors.

A.  BOB ELLIOTT  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Elliott ambled his way to first on free passes 131 times in 1948.  It is more than 40 walks more than his next highest total and is the only official black ink on his stat page.

-  #1  Elliott was ejected by umpire Augie Donatelli for arguing a strike call during a 7th inning at-bat against the Cardinals at Sportsman's Park on 23-Aug-1952.  Teammate Bobby Hofman was sent up to complete Elliott's at-bat, but after Hofman took exception to the single pitch he saw get called for strike three, he too was given the thumb by Donatelli.

-  #2  Elliott matched Pie Traynor’s mark with 100+ RBI in 1943-1945, 1947-1948 & 1950.  Traynor actually did Elliott 1 better with 7 such seasons.

FCR -  Mike Sparks, Sarasota

Incorrect guesses:  Eddie Mathews, Pie Traynor, Mike Schmidt, Jeff Bagwell, Home Run Baker, Chipper Jones, Ron Santo, Ken Boyer

 

WEEKEND BONUS — 27-May

Q.  Who is the sole senior circuit slugger in history to record three seasons of four hundred total bases each?

Hint: #1  His assists one year are still the most ever in a single season by an outfielder in the Modern Era.

Hint: #2  No National  Leaguer has ever had more extra base hits in a single season.

A.  CHUCK KLEIN   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Klein had 445 TB in 1930 [4th highest all time]; 420 in 1932; & 405 in 1929 (Hornsby had 409 that year.) 

-  #1   Including leading the majors in 1930 in R, 2B & TB, Klein had 44 OF assists.  No one else in the 20th or 21st centuries has had even 40.

-  #2  His NL mark of 107 XBH in 1930 was tied by  Barry Bonds in 2001.  The left-handed hitting Klein’s home park in 1930 was Baker Bowl, which featured a cozy right field with a 60’ high tin fence only 281 feet down the line & barely 300' to the power alley.  Those dimensions helped Klein set records both offensively & defensively.  Few question, however, the Hall of Fame worthiness of this super star.

FCR -  Terry Sloope, Cartersville, Georgia

Incorrect guesses:  Stan Musial, Ron Santo, Willie Mays, Larry Walker

 

WEEK’S FINALE  — 28-May

Q.  Who beat out a fellow St. Louis player for an equally-appropriate nickname?

Hint: #1  Among White Sox managers since the Black Sox scandal, he has posted the highest career winning percentage.

Hint: #2  Shohei Ohtani broke one of his long-standing records, but probably wishes he hadn't.

A.  MARTY MARION   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Marion played for both the St. Louis Cardinals and Browns for 13 seasons and was dubbed “Mr. Shortstop” for his fielding prowess.  Ozzie Smith, he of 15 remarkable seasons with the Cardinals had to settle for “The Wizard of Oz”.

-  #1   With a record of 179-138 over 2+ seasons (1954-56), Marion’s W-L% of .565 ranks behind only Fielder Jones (.592 / 1904-1908), Clark Griffith (.581 / 1901-1902) and Pants Rowland (.578 / 1915-1918).

-  #2  In 1944, Marion posted the lowest batting average (.267) among position-player MVPs during their winning year until Ohtani hit just .257 in his 2021 MVP season.

FCR -  Richard Tharp, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Al Lopez

 

 

 

WEEK’S THEME – First BBWAA MVP at each position

 

Pos  MVP               Year                Team           Yr WAR     WAR

P – Grove.......... 1931 AL......... PHA............ 10.0.. 106.8

1B- Foxx........... 1932 AL......... PHA............ 10.4.... 93.0

CF- DiMaggio.... 1939 AL......... NYY.............. 8.3.... 79.1

DH- Baylor........ 1979 AL......... CAL.............. 3.7.... 73.8

2B- Frisch.......... 1931 NL.......... STL............... 4.0.... 71.8

C – Cochrane..... 1934 AL......... DET.............. 4.5.... 55.4

LF- Medwick...... 1937 NL.......... STL............... 8.4.... 54.4

3b- Elliott.......... 1947 NL......... BSN.............. 9.3.... 50.9

RF- Klein.......... 1932 NL.......... PHI............... 7.5.... 46.7

SS- Marion........ 1944 NL.......... STL............... 4.6.... 31.9

 

First Correct Respondent identifying themeSarah Grynpas, Toronto (after DiMaggio)

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Mon     -  Pitchers with multiple immaculate innings

            -  Pitchers with 100 wins for two franchises

 

Tues    -  Hall of Famers on the 1928 A's

            -  All players played for both Athletics and Red Sox franchises

            -  All Triple crown winners for every team from Philadelphia

 

Wed     -  First AL MVP (BBWAA era) for each position

 

Wed     -  Hall of Famers in the starting lineup for Ted Williams' first game (BOS vs NYY, April 20, 1939)

 

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Sunday, May 21, 2023

2023-05-15 Players whose single MVP vote prevented the winner from being unanimous

MONDAY  — 15-May

Q.  Who led the majors in runs scored in five of his first ten years as a major leaguer?

Hint: #1  Nobody in major league history hit into more double plays.

Hint: #2  In his rookie season, he had a successful sacrifice bunt.  Two decades later it is still the only one he ever hit.

A.  ALBERT PUJOLS  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  His 1st 10 seasons were 2001-2010.  He led MLB in R in 2003 (137), 2003 (133), 2005(129), 2009 (124) & 2010 (115).  Only Ted Williams had a more prolific career-beginning streak, leading the AL in R in 6 of his 1st 8 seasons, 5 of those leading MLB.

-  #1  Joe Torre holds the single-G record (4), Jim Rice owns the single-season mark in1984 (36), but Alberto led the league 4 X in GDP, 3 of those leading the Bigs, finishing with an impressive 426.

-  #2  In the 7th inning on 16-Jun-2001, Pujols bunted teammates J.D. Drew & Placido Polanco & to 2nd & 3rd base.  They both scored 2 batters later.  In some 13,000 subsequent PAs, the subject never came up again.

FCR -  Tal Smith, Sugar Land, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Cal Ripken, Jim Rice, Miguel Cabrera, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Reggie Jackson, Albert Pujols, Hank Aaron, Rickey Henderson

 

TUESDAY — 16-May

Q.  Whose career record did Jim Thome avoid by retiring?

Hint: #1  He (not Thome) struck out more than one hundred times per season for eighteen of his twenty-one years as a major league batter, yet was elected to the Hall of Fame on his first ballot.

Hint: #2  He is the only batter Cesar Tovar ever struck out.

A.  REGGIE JACKSON   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Jackson has held the career record for Ks by a batter since passing Willie Stargell in 1982.  He finished with a whopping 2,597.  At the end of the 2012 season, Thome had long ago left Adam Dunn behind & was within 54 of Jackson.  He chose that time to retire.  A partial season, even, of 55 AB (based on Thome’s average K pace over his final two seasons) would easily  have put him as the new leader.  And really?  Who doesn’t think Reggie is a more fitting title holder anyway?

-  #1  Jackson’s K record did not take any glimmer off his stardom.  Most fans and writers realize that this is a record held once by Babe Ruth & Mickey Mantle & is the price some pay for offensive greatness.

-  #2  On 22-Sep-1968, Twins manager Cal Ermer let his versatile star Cesar Tovar play all nine positions in a single game, starting on the mound in the 1st.  They played OAK that day.  Jackson was the 2nd batter & he made Tovar look like a hidden talent.

FCR -  Chris Betsch, New Albany, Indiana

Incorrect guesses:  Albert Pujols, Jeff Liefer, Willie Stargell, Rick Monday, Mickey Mantle

 

WEDNESDAY  — 17-May

Q.  Who was the first National League player since at least 1901 to hit a walk-off home run in his first major league game?

Hint: #1  He belongs to one of the most exclusive statistics “clubs” in baseball history as only he, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron are members.

Hint: #2  He is the first player to hit his five hundredth home run outside of the United States.

Hint: #3  His mother played on his native country’s national softball team.

A.  MIGUEL CABRERA   [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  On 20-Jun-2003, 20-year-old rookie Cabrera homered in the bottom of the 11th to send the home crowd home happy.

-  #1  Only those three players managed to collect 3,000 hits of which at least 500 were home runs & maintained a .300 career batting average.  Cabrera is still an active major leaguer.  However, he is (in the baseball vernacular of the day) scuffling in his 21st,self-proclaimed final season.  Still, this club membership seems secure since Cabrera would have to go 0-for-his-final 263 AB for his career BA to dip below .300.

-  #2  Miggy’s 500th HR came in Toronto on 22-Aug-2021 off Steven Matz.

-  #3  His mother Gregoria “Goya” played shortstop & batted cleanup for Venezuela’s national softball team.

FCR -  Rich Lerner, Silver Spring Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas, Albert Pujols, Rafael Palmeiro, Seiya Suzuki

 

MIDWEEK BONUS — 17-May

Q.  Which Texas hurler, who used to wear a Stetson hat, was a double Cy Young Award winner?

Hint: #1  He owned an .800 winning percentage in postseason play.

Hint: #2  Four times in a period of six seasons, he finished among the majors’ Top Ten in lowest qualifying ERAs, including leading MLB one year with a sub-2.00 number.

A.  JACOB deGROM   [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Here he is wearing his Stetson hat.  He attended Stetson University in Florida.  CYA wins in 2018 & 2019 (Each was only 1 vote away from unanimous.).

-  #1  He owns 2 NLDS wins, 1 NLCS win & 1 NLWC win.  Also has 1 WS loss.

-  #2  In 2018, deGrom’s 1.70 ERA led all qualifying pitchers.  In 2015, his 2.55 finished 6th; in 2019, his 2.43 trailed only the 2.32 of LAD’s Hyun Jin Ryu; in 2020, his 2.38 was good for 6th among MLB pitchers.

FCR -  Sean McCormick, New York City

Incorrect guesses:  Roger Clemens, Dizzy Dean, Roy Halladay, Clayton Kershaw, Gaylord Perry Fergie Jenkins

 

THURSDAY— 18-May

Q.  Which rookie and future Hall of Famer had a season with more than one hundred runs, more than two hundred hits, a batting average higher than .320, more than three hundred fifty total bases but was not a unanimous Rookie of the Year?

Hint: #1  He hit the first home run ever by a designated hitter.

Hint: #2  He was the first player on his team to total three hundred doubles.

A.  TONY OLIVA  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In Oliva’s 1st complete season, 1964, he had a debut for the ages.  His totals 109 R, 43 2B & .323 avg., led the AL while his 217 hits and 374 TB both led the majors.  [All except the batting average, were career highs.]  However, in that year’s AL ROY polling, BAL’s SP Wally Bunker got a vote so Oliva’s honor was a landslide instead of unanimous.  He also received enough AL MVP votes to finish 4th.

-  #1  On 06-Apr-1973, Oliva homered off fellow future Hall of Famer, Catfish Hunter in the 1st inning on Opening Day in Oakland.

-  #2  He led the AL in 2b 4 X & reached 300 2b in 1973.  His Twins total of 329 trails only those of Joe Mauer (428) & Kirby Puckett (414).

FCR -  Dan Greder, Ames, Iowa

Incorrect guesses:  Ichiro Suzuki, Orlando Cepeda, Ron Blomberg, Al Kaline, Dick Allen, Frank Robinson, Jim Rice

 

FRIDAY — 19-May

Q.  Which former White Sox outfielder is the only position player to hit a grand slam in Baltimore Orioles postseason history?

Hint: #1  He is the first batter to hit  a home run against the Colorado Rockies.

Hint: #2  One of the eight teams he played for in the majors is making sure he doesn’t forget his time with them.

A.  BOBBY BONILLA  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  On 01-Oct-1996 in OPACY, vs. CLE.  Watch the other two BAL postseason grand slams here Debuted & played 75 G w/CHW in 1986.

-  #1  In COL’s 1st G ever on 05-Apr-1993, Bonilla took David Nied deep in the 5th inning.

-  #2  Bonilla played for NYM for 5 years and has a contract that pays him approximately $1,000,000 annually through 2035.  Details here.

FCR -  Richard Tharp, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Eddie Murray, Harold Baines, Don Buford, Dave McNally, Sammy Sosa, Ichiro Suzuki

 

SATURDAY — 20-May

Q.  Which versatile fielder played at least two hundred games at each of five different positions during his major league career?

Hint: #1  Although he was never named an All-Star, he did receive MVP votes in five straight seasons.

Hint: #2  In one game, he played all nine positions.  He began on the mound and the first batter he faced had played all nine positions in one game three years earlier.

A.  CESAR TOVAR   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Tovar had 200+ at each OF position & 200+ more each at 3B & 2B.

-  #1  Had AL MVP votes 1967-1971.

-  #2  Tovar did all 9 on 22-Sep-1968 & got SS Bert Campaneris to pop out for the G’s 1st out.  Campy played all 9 on 08-Sep-1965.

FCR -  Mike Sparks, Sarasota

Incorrect guesses:  Jimmy Rollins, Bert Campaneris, Zoilo Versailles, Jose Oquendo, Tony Phillips

 

WEEKEND BONUS — 20-May

Q.  Who set records when he hit seven home runs and racked up a tidy .724 slugging average in one year’s postseason play?

Hint: #1  In the offseason, he trained with a former Heisman Trophy winner who is also his neighbor.

Hint: #2  He was traded from the team that won the World Series the year after they granted him free agency.

A.  DANIEL MURPHY   [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  These (and additional) stats made him the MVP of the 2015 NLCS, when NYM beat CHC to win the NL pennant for the first time in 15 years.

-  #1  Ex-quarterback and former baseball minor league hopeful Tim Tebow was (is?) Murphy’s enthusiastic workout partner in 2017.    Those workouts seem to have paid off for Murphy as he’s still playing, this time for the 2023 Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League and hitting a robust .391.

-  #2  The Washington Nationals released Murphy 29-Oct-2018.  WSN won the WS in 2019.

FCR -  Michael Schneider, Wilmington, Delaware

Incorrect guesses:  Randy Arozarena, David Ortiz, Christian Yelich, Billy Hatcher, Hideki Matsui, Carlos Beltran, Reggie Jackson, Troy Glaus, Jason Werth, Chase Utley

 

SUNDAY  — 21-May

Q.  After Ewell Blackwell in 1947, who was the next Reds pitcher to earn twenty wins in a season?

Hint: #1  He played for the Braves in two different cities.

Hint: #2  He played with some of the best players of his era.

A.  JOEY JAY   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Jay helped his team capture the NL flag in 1961 with a record of 21-10, 4 of which were shutouts in his first season with them.

-  #1  Played for MLN 1953-55 & 1957-60.  Finished his career with 9 G w/ATL in 1966.

-  #2  A sampling of teammates includes the likes of Hank Aaron, Felipe Alou, Lew Burdette, Rico Carty, Eddie Mathews, Phil Niekro, Joe Nuxhall, Milt Pappas, Tony Perez, Frank Robinson, Pete Rose, Red Shoendienst, Enos Slaughter, Warren Spahn & Joe Torre.  It was a time that many consider to be the Golden Age of baseball.

FCR -  Greg Gits, Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Jim Maloney, Bob Purkey 

 

WEEK’S THEME – Players whose single MVP vote denied the winner unanimity (in the BBWAA era).

 Year/Lg      MVP               [votes]     WAR/yr  Runner-up         [#]                  WAR/yr             WAR

1990/NL..... Bonds............. [23]...... 9.7..... Bobby Bonilla..... [1]................... 4.0.................. 30.2

2009/AL..... Mauer............. [27]...... 7.8..... Miguel Cabrera... [1]................... 5.1.................. 67.1

2018/NL..... Yelich............. [29]...... 7.3..... Jacob deGrom.... [1]................... 9.9.................. 44.6

1982/AL..... Yount.............. [27].... 10.5..... Reggie Jackson.. [1]................... 3.1.................. 73.9

1961/NL..... F. Robinson... [15]...... 7.7..... Joey Jay.............. [1]................... 4.5.................. 14.0

2016/NK.... Bryant............. [29]...... 7.3..... Daniel Murphy.... [1]................... 4.5.................. 20.4

2010/NL..... Votto............... [31]...... 7.0..... Albert Pujols....... [1]................... 7.5.................. 101.5

1965/AL..... Versalles ....... [19]...... 7.2..... Tony Oliva.......... [1]................... 5.4.................. 43.0

1967/AL..... Yastrzemski... [19].... 12.4..... Cesar Tovar........ [1]................... 2.4.................. 28.2

First Correct Respondent identifying themeWarren Kent, Whitehall, Michigan (after deGrom)

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Tues    -  Players with 3 home runs in a playoff game

            -  Members of the 500 HR club that hit more HR on the road than at home

 

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