Horsehide Trivia: 2025-01-06 Teammates who hit grand slams in the same inning of a game

Q. On the Milwaukee Brewers, who is the only player to exceed two hundred hits in a year three times?

Hint: #1 He and a teammate both hit grand slams in the same inning once.

Hint: #2 He twice led the majors in runs batted in and both years finished fifth in most valuable player voting.

- Ans. Cooper hit 219 in 1980, 205 in 1982 & 203 in 1983.

- #1 On 12-Apr-1980, 2^nd inning, Cecil Cooper’s off BOS’s Mike Torrez with Don Money off of Chuck Rainey. Final score: 18-1

- #2 Led MLB in RBI w/122 in 1980 & w/126 in 1983.

FCR - Kit Kreiger, Vancouver

Incorrect guesses: Paul Molitor, Robin Yount, Henry Aaron

TUESDAY— 07-Jan

Q. Who won home run titles playing three different positions?

Hint: #1 He earned his first major league experience as a pinch-runner.

Hint: #2 He was last seen in the Sun River 2^nd Ward.

A. HARMON KILLEBREW [SABR Bio]

- Ans. 1959, '69-3B, 1962, '63-LF, 1964, '67-1B

- #1 1^st play in MLB = 23-Jun-1954

- #2 A practicing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints A/K/A “Mormon”, Killebrew regularly attended service in St. George, Utah in the Sun River 2^nd Ward until his death in 2011.

FCR - Bill Deane, Cooperstown

Incorrect guesses: Albert Pujols, Ryan Braun, Babe Ruth, Dave Kingman, Jimmie Foxx

WEDNESDAY — 08-Jan

Q. Who was the first player this century to play a complete All-Star Game?

Hint: #1 He won a World Series ring only in his twentieth and final campaign in the majors, having played for six other franchises.

Hint: #2 He was the first player to join the 30/30 club while playing in both leagues in the same season.

A. CARLOS BELTRAN [B-R Bio]

- Ans. Beltran started & played all 9 innings of the 2006 ASG.

- #1 Beltran’s last season was 2017 w/HOU helping them win their first WS Championship.

- #2 In 2004, Beltran had 15 HR & 14 SB w/KCR before being traded to HOU where he had 23 HR & 28 SB.

FCR - Lee Dembart, Hollywood, California

Incorrect guesses: Bryce Harper

WEDNESDAY BONUS — 08-Jan

Q. Which player had committed to attend Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia when he was drafted by a major league team?

Hint: #1 He retired from baseball early because he couldn't sleep at night when he was away from his wife and young family.

Hint: #2 He opened a family amusement center that bears his name in the Baltimore suburbs after he retired.

A. LARRY SHEETS [B-R Bio]

- Ans. Sheets was drafted by BAL in the 2^nd round of the 1978 MLB June Amateur Draft from Robert E. Lee HS, Staunton, Virginia.

- #1 He still had 8 good seasons in MLB, finishing with a 109 OPS+.

- #2 Players Fun Zone is still owned and operated by Sheets.

FCR - Jack Minnis, Laurel, Maryland

Incorrect guesses: Jimmie Foxx, Jason Bay, Erik Kratz

THURSDAY — 09-Jan

Q. Which three-time All-Star is the only player to hit a pair of home runs in a single game off each of five Hall of Fame pitchers?

Hint: #1 This former Dodger hit a home run in his first at-bat as a Yankee. It was his last home run in the majors.

Hint: #2 His nickname compared him to military ordnance.

A. JIM WYNN [SABR Bio]

- Ans. 2 HR/G off: Gaylord Perry....... 02-May-1969;

Fergie Jenkins..... 24-Aug-1969;

Phil Niekro........... 12-Apr-1970;

Nolan Ryan.......... 30-Aug-1970; &

Steve Carlton....... 24-Aug-1976.

- #1 NYY HR = 07-Apr-1977. Played for LAD 1974-75.

- #2 Small but extremely strong, it wasn’t difficult to see him as the “Toy Cannon”. Here’s a good example.

FCR - Gans Terry, San Carlos, California

Incorrect guesses: Darryl Strawberry, Frank Howard, Gorge Shuba

FRIDAY— 10-Jan

Q. Who was behind only Mark McGwire in home runs on the team the season where McGwire hit sixty-five of them?

Hint: #1 He and his son won an identical major league honor, though it is not thought to be hereditary.

Hint: #2 Although he was never an All-Star, he did join the 20/20 Club.

A. FERNANDO TATIS [SABR Bio]

- Ans. The 34 HR that Tatis hit in 1999 for STL amounted to just over half of McGwire’s total.

- #1 Physical injuries & an admitted poor attitude kept Tatis out of the majors 2004 through 2007, except for 28 G w/BAL in 2006. His strong season with NYM in 2008 earned the CPYA. He revived his career in New York after being out of MLB for several years and was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year. His son, Fernando Tatis, Jr. won the same honor in 2023.

- #2 In 1999, Tatis hit 34 HR and stole 20 bases.

FCR - Gabe Kinstlinger, Reisterstown, Maryland

Incorrect guesses: Ken Griffey, Matt Holliday, Ray Lankford

SATURDAY — 10-Jan

Q. Which sixteen-year major leaguer and one-year manager said in an interview, “The big league ballplayer has the easiest job there is.”?

Hint: #1 He was the catcher for more than a hundred of Hall of Famer Clark Griffith’s pitching starts.

Hint: #2 He played on six teams in the majors and with or for thirteen Hall of Famers.

Hint: #3 His well-deserved status as a Double Unique lasted for 4,133 days, until the advent of the American League.

A. MALACHI KITTRIDGE [BHD Bio ]

- Ans. The interview came 9 years after his playing days.

- #1 Kittridge and Griffith were teammates on the Chicago predecessor of the Cubs 1893 to 1897.

- #2 He shared a uniform with Cap Anson, Clark Griffith, Fred Clarke, Honus Wagner, Rube Waddell, Billy Hamilton, Kid Nichols, Vic Willis, Frank Selee, Ed Delahanty, Nap Lajoie, Addie Joss & Elmer Flick. His teams listed here.

- #3 Kittridge had DU status from his debut on 19-Apr-1890 until Malachi Hogan played his solitary game for the AL’s CLE on 13-Aug-1901. He went 1 for 4 w/1 K.

FCR - Bill Henry, East Greenwich, Rhode Island

Incorrect guesses:

SUNDAY — 10-Jan

Q. Which Rookie of the Year’s throwing talent prompted his team’s Canadian-born owner to say, “He had the best arm on this club since Jackie Jensen.”?

Hint: #1 His Hall of Fame teammate said of him, “He wants to win at everything—cards, ping pong, handball or baseball. He wants to be the first on the airplane and first on the bus.”

Hint: #2 He hit the first home run for his team in their first regular-season after they had moved to their new city.

A. BOB ALLISON [SABR Bio]

- Ans. AL ROY in 1959. Quote is from Calvin Griffith who was born in Montreal.

- #1 Quote is from teammate Harmon Killebrew.

- #2 HR = 11-Apr-1961 off NY’s HOF Whitey Ford.

FCR - Terry Walters, Wabasha, Minnesota

Incorrect guesses:

MONDAY 2 — 13-Jan

Q. Who holds the record for home runs hit by a native of the District of Columbia?

Hint: #1 He hit the first home run in Veterans Stadium.

Hint: #2 In his second year with his new team, he set a record for most consecutive errorless games played at his position.

A. DON MONEY [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Money was born in DC (most often referred to as “The District” by denizens of the greater capital area) & hit 176 HR for PHI & MIL in his 16-year MLB sojourn in the majors. Among DC natives, he also has the most RBI & K & trails only Maury Wills in career WAR for DC natives who played since the Deadball ERA.

- #1 1^st HR in The Vet was on 10-Apr-1971 off MON’s Bill Stoneman in the 6^th. It was the only HR hit there that day.

- #2 Playing for MIL in 1974, Money set the record for consecutive 76 games played at third base without committing an error. He would go on to complete an 86-game streak with no errors in 257 chances. Thar year, he had only 5 errors over 157 games at 3^rd, the record for fewest errors by a 3^rd baseman in a season w\150 G min. However, Money did not receive the Gold Glove that year. It went to Brooks Robinson for the 15th consecutive season.

FCR - John Farrell, Durham, North Carolina

Incorrect guesses: Milt Thompson, Maury Wills

TUESDAY 2 — 14-Jan

Q. Who is the self-described King of Bling in baseball, even in retirement?

Hint: #1 He was recruited to be Bluejay, but the Expos drafted him in the first round.

Hint: #2 He has an interesting tie with Hall of Fame manager Connie Mack.

A. CLIFF FLOYD [SABR Bio]

- Ans. He explains. Says the most important aspect of jewelry worn during a game is the assurance that it not ever fall off during a game; second—clarity.

- #1 The Creighton University Bluejays tried to persuade Floyd to come to college and play for them in Omaha, but MON took him in the 1^st round of the 1991 draft, 14^th overall, so he chose to go pro.

- #2 Floyd & Mack both have the given first name of Cornelius: Cornelius Alexander Mack & Cornelius Clifford Floyd.

FCR - Tom Galligan, Baton Rouge

Incorrect guesses: Tim Raines, Rickey Henderson, Tim Wallach, Pedro Martinez Ken Griffey, Jr., Warren Cromartie

WEDNESDAY 2 — 15-Jan

Q. Which of his future coaches did Nolan Ryan strike out in his first major league game?

Hint: #1 He played for a team that changed cities. He played for another team that would later change leagues.

Hint: #2 He spent forty-two years in professional baseball and played with and for Sparky Anderson.

A. DENIS MENKE [SABR Bio]

- Ans. In Queens, on 11-Sep-1966, Menke, starting shortstop for ATL & Ryan struck out Menke to end the 7^th inning. Menke was a coach for HOU 1983-1988. Ryan pitched there the same years.

- #1 Menke played 4 years for MLN & 2 for ATL. He played for HOU 1968-1971. HOU went from NL to AL in 2013.

- #2 Menke and Anderson played together on the 1962 Toronto Maple Leafs then Anderson was Menke’s manager in CIN 1972-1973.

FCR - Andrew Jett, Waxahachie, Texas

Incorrect guesses: Lee May, Pat Jarvis, Eddie Mathews

IN MEMORIAM — 16-Jan

Q. Who was “Mr. Baseball”?

Hint: #1 All his home runs one year were off Hall of Fame pitchers

Hint: #2 His first home run the following year was off a third Hall of Famer yet.

Hint: #3 Who was the first former player to host “Saturday Night Live”.

Hint: #4 That was not to be his last time on television.

Hint: #5 or in advertising on television.

Hint: #6 Concerning the traditional baseball establishment, he was Juuuuuust a bit outside.

A. BOB UECKER [SABR Bio]

- Ans. He is known to both casual & diehard baseball fans alike as “Mr. Baseball”.

- #1 In 1965, Uecker homered off Gaylord Perry on 05-May & off Sandy Koufax on 24-Jul.

- #2 On 29-Apr-1966, Uecker took Fergie Jenkins deep.

- #3 He was the host on Saturday, 13-Oct-1984. (Jack Morris & the Tigers had beaten the Padres in the 4^th G of the WS earlier that afternoon.)

- #4 Uecker appeared as sportswriter/sportscaster George Owens on the sitcom Mr. Belvedere on ABC from 1985-1990.

- #5 He appeared in the infamous beer commercials for Lite Beer from Miller.

- #6 Click here. Enjoy.

FCR - Dave Wise, Hyde Park, New York

THURSDAY 2 — 15-Jan

Q. Who was the first player to record three hits in one inning?

Hint: #1 He stayed on the good side of his Hall of Fame manager partly because he didn’t smoke, drink or break curfew.

Hint: #2 In the last year of his playing career, which was the first year of his managing career, he umpired thirty-five games in the National League.

A. TOM BURNS [Wiki Bio]

- Ans. 3 H/inning = 06-Sep-1883. They were all extra-base hits. No other major-league player had a three-hit inning until 1953.

- #1 Manager Cap Anson was partial to “clean-living” ball players. Anson actually put in writing that Burns would be his ideal successor.

- #2 Umped in 1892.

FCR - Bill Deane, Cooperstown

Incorrect guesses: George Wright, Harry Wright, Christy Mathewson

FRIDAY 2 — 17-Jan

Q. Who hit the first home run of the 1983 World Series?

Hint: #1 Less than two weeks after being traded to the Expos. He was named National League Player of the Week.

Hint: #2 He played with or for twenty-eight Hall of Famers in his eighteen seasons in the majors.

A. JIM DWYER [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Dwyer’s solo HR in the 1^st inning of G #1 was the Orioles’ only run in their only loss in that WS.

- #1 He was traded from STL to MON 25-Jul-1975. He was NL POW the week ending 03-Aug-1975 with a slash line of .478/.480/.826.

- #2 Dwyer shared uniforms with Hall of Famers…

… Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Mgr. Red Schoendienst, Ted Simmons & Joe Torre on STL in 1973 to ’75;

… Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Coach Larry Doby, Randy Johnson, Duke Snider & Larry Walker on MON in 1975-76, 77-78, 1989;

… Tom Seaver, Joe Torre (again) & Coach Willie Mays on NYM in 1976;

… Willie McCovey on SFG in 1978;

… Dennis Eckersley, Carlton Fisk, Tony Perez, Jim Rice & Carl Yastrzemski on BOS in 1979-80; and

… Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Cal Ripken, Coach/Mgr. Frank Robinson & Mgr. Earl Weaver 1981-88;

… Bert Blyleven, Steve Carlton, Coach Tony Oliva & Kirby Puckett on MIN in 1988-90.

FCR - Scott Morrissey, Hamilton, Ontario

Incorrect guesses: Fred Lynn, Ken Singleton, Tim Raines, Tony Perez, Gary Carter, Joe Morgan

SATURDAY 2 — 18-Jan

Q. Who grew up closer to the major league stadium where he played than any other player in the Modern Era (probably)?

Hint: #1 With only four home runs in his career, he is the least likely player to make this two-week theme. Not one of his round-trippers was a solo blast.

Hint: #2 He was drafted as, and began his professional career as, a second baseman. However, he became convinced that his path to the majors was at a position more in demand there, catcher.

A. STEVE CLEVENGER [Wiki Bio]

- Ans. Clevenger grew up in the 1200 block of James St. in the “Pigtown” section of South Baltimore, less than a mile away from Camden Yards. [Contrary to info on his Wikipedia page}. No official studies or surveys have been done, but no contrary claims been made. Further explanation here.

- #1 He hit HR of 2 (X2), 3 & 4 RBI, the last 2 hit as an Oriole.

- #2 Drafted by CHC in 2006, his first team was the Boise Hawks where Hawks manager Steve McFarland helped him make the transition to catcher the following season.

FCR - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Incorrect guesses: Moe Berg, Bob Ueker

IN MEMORIAM 2 — 19-Jan

Q. Who is the youngest position player ever to appear in a major league game*?

Hint: #1 The next year he became, and still is, the youngest ever to hit a major league home run.

Hint: #2 He was the penultimate player living who had played in MLB in the 1940s.

Hint: #3 In his last major league season, he finally got the chance to bat against his fellow former teenage major leaguer.

Hint: #4 In the minors, he set a league record for reaching base most times in a row.

A. TOMMY BROWN [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Brown was 16 years, 241 days old on 03-Aug-1944 when manager Leo Durocher put him in the lineup. The youngster responded with a double & an error at SS.

- #1 On 20-Aug-1945, Brown hit a solo homer off future teammate Preacher Roe. He was 17 years, 257 days old at the time. It was the only Dodger run in a lopsided loss.

- #2 Ninety-nine year old former MVP Bobby Shantz is now the final surviving player* from the 1940s.

- #3 Batting for CHC, Brown went 1-for-3 w/an RBI single facing Joe Nuxhall 30-May-1953(1). CHC played CIN 5 additional times that year, but Brown never batted against Nuxhall again.

- #4 “We were in New Orleans for a 3-game series. I went 4-for-4, 3-for-3, 3-for-3 & in between, I had six walks. That’s 16 straight times to reach base. Then we came to Nashville. They walked me the 1^st 4 times. That made it 20 in a row, a Southern Association record. A groundout ended the on-base streak.” ~ Tommy Brown, remembering how he set the Southern Association record of reaching base 20 times in a row.

*Players from the Negro Leagues have not been included in this calculation.

FCR - Michael Green, Las Vegas

Incorrect guesses: Felix Mantilla, Bobby Brown

SUNDAY 2 — 19-Jan

Q. Who shares space in his university’s Hall of Fame with, among others, Orel Hershiser, Doug Bair and NBA star Nate Thurmond?

Hint: #1 In spite of solid rookie season with a WAR topping 4 other rookies, he received not a single ROY vote.

Hint: #2 Except for mini-stints with the Blue Jays and Diamond acks one year, his entire eight-year major-league career was with his original team.

Hint: #3 He is married to a well-known design, style and lifestyle influencer.

A. NOLAN REIMOLD [B-R Bio]

- Ans. He set career records for home runs and RBIs for Bowling Green State University & is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame.

- #1 2009 AL ROY vote.

- #2 Reimold came up w/BAL in 2009 & played only for them until his last G in 2016. The only exception was when the O’s put him on waivers and TOR picked him up for 22 G then they put him on waivers & he signed with ARI to end the season after which he was released. He then finished his career with 2 years with BAL. Going from Orioles to Ducks didn’t prove fruitful.