MONDAY — 24-Feb-2025
Q. Who
is the only pitcher to amass one hundred fifty extra-base hits as a batter?
Hint: #1
Many baseball experts agree that his age twenty-five season is the
single greatest pitching year in major league history.
Hint: #2
He is the only pitcher to start at least 600 games and who played for
only one major league team.
-
Ans. Johnson’s 157 XBH is 10 more
than the closest
candidate.
-
#1 In 1913, Johnson led the AL
& NL with a W/L record of 36-7 or .837. He had 243 K, 29
CG, 11 ShO & 346 IP among other bests.
-
#2 Johnson started 666 G for the
original AL Washington Senators.
FCR - Cliff
Beiser, Kissimmee, Florida
Incorrect guesses: Babe Ruth, Bob Gibson, Warren Spahn, Jack
Chesbro, Don Drysdale, Tom Seaver Christy Matheson, Grover Cleveland
Alexander, Smokey Joe Wood
MONDAY AGAIN — 24-Feb-2025
Q. Which
one-time Braves pitcher is the all-time leader in games started and games
completed?
Hint: #1
He was nicknamed “Dent” as a child.
Hint: #2
He won both games of a double header on the last day of his rookie
season.
-
Ans. Young started 815 G for 5
teams. In 749 of those, he went the distance. These records are extremely like never going
to be broken. He pitched for BSN in 1911. It was his last professional team.
-
#1 His full given name is Denton
True Young. “Dent” would come naturally
-
#2 Cy Young accomplished this
feat on 30-Sep-1890, pitching for the Cleveland Spiders of the National League.
He won both games of the doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Alleghenys,5-1
& 7-3. Box scores not found.
FCR - Kyle
Sammin, Cheltenham, Pennsylvania
Incorrect guesses: Warren Spahn
TUESDAY — 25-Feb-2025
Q. Which
pitcher holds the rookie record for wins in a season?
Hint: #1
He is the winningest pitcher who never threw a no-hitter.
Hint: #2
He became the first in the Modern Era to post pitching Triple Crowns in
successive seasons.
A. G. C. “Pete” ALEXANDER [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Alexander’s rookie record of
28-13 in 1911 for PHI, may never be broken.
-
#1 His wins record of 373 W is
tied for 3rd all-time, trailing only Monday’s answers. While he never had a no-no, he did throw 4
1-hitters in 1915.
-
#2 In 1915, Alexander’s record
showed: 31 W, a 1.22
ERA, & 241 K. In 1916,
they were 33 W, an ERA of 1.55 & 167 K.
FCR - Bill Rudolph, Collingswood, New Jersey
Incorrect guesses: Al Spalding, Hal Newhouser, Lefty Grove, Roger
Clemens, Warren Spahn, Mark Fidrych, Juan Marichal, Steve Carlton, Albert
"Chief" Bender, Christy Mathewson
TUESDAY AGAIN — 25-Feb-2025
Q. Who
was the first player to retire with more than five hundred career strikeouts
but fewer than three hundred career hits?
Hint: #1
He was the first pitcher to lead the American League in bases on balls
surrendered and strikeouts in the same season.
Hint: #2 He became the first in the Modern Era to post
pitching Triple Crowns in successive seasons.
A. LEFTY GROVE [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Grove the batter retired in
1941 w/202 H, 593 K.
-
#1 In his rookie season, 1925, pitching
for Connie Mack’s Philadelphia A’s, young Grove struck out 116
& walked 131.
-
#2 In 1930, he posted 28
W, a 2.54 ERA & 209 K. In 1931, his numbers were 31
W, a 2.06 ERA & 175 K.
FCR - Chris
Pesqueira, Medford, New York
Incorrect guesses: Bob Feller, Walter Johnson, C.G. Alexander,
Bobo Newsom, Nolan Ryan
WEDNESDAY — 26-Feb-2025
Q. Which
Hall of Fame pitcher was denied the chance to pitch in his first World Series
because of a personal grudge?
Hint: #1
His streak of twelve consecutive twenty-win seasons is the longest in
the twentieth century.
Hint: #2
He avoided pitching on Sundays.
A. CHRISTY MATHEWSON [SABR
Bio]
-
Ans. The New York Giants cruised
to a 106-win domination of the NL in 1904 with 33 of those wins belonging to Mathewson. However, because of acrid relationship
between NYG manager John McGraw & AL Founder/President
Ban Johnson, no postseason games
were held that year.
-
#1 From 1903 through 1914, Big
Six never won fewer than 22 g, with a .710 winning%, averaging 323 innings a
year & an ERA barely over 2.00.
-
#2 …in accordance with his
mother’s wishes.
FCR - Andy
Knobel, Columbia, Maryland
Incorrect guesses: Cy Young, Warren Spahn
THURSDAY — 27-Feb-2025
Q. Who
holds the record for the most innings pitched in one season in the Modern Era
while hitting a third of his team’s home runs that same year?
Hint: #1
He once lost twenty games while leading the league in ERA.
Hint: #2
He is the only American Leaguer to pitch two complete-game victories in
a day and do it twice.
-
Ans. In 1908, Walsh started 49
g, finished 42 of those and racked up an eye-watering 464
innings. On the 4th
of July, he hit the 3rd and last of his career home runs. Two teammates each had one apiece that year.
-
#1 In 1910, Walsh had a sparkling
ERA of 1.27 (his personal best) & a W/L record of 18-20.
-
#2 Walsh won both ends of 26-Sep-1905(1) & 26-Sep-1905(2). Then 3 years later, he managed to do it
again: 29-Sep-1908(1) & 29-Sep-1908(2).
FCR - Terry
Gans, San Carlos, California
Incorrect guesses: Wilbur Wood, Smoky Joe Wood, Joe McGinnity,
Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Jack Chesbro, Cy Young, Urban
Shocker, Cy Young
THURSDAY AGAIN — 27-Feb-2025
Q. Who
played for the Baltimore Orioles in their last year in the National League and
in the Baltimore Orioles in their first year in the American League?
Hint: #1
One season he led the majors in pitching victories but also had twenty losses
the same year.
Hint: #2
He was given the Brooklyn Superbas championship trophy due to his clutch
pitching.
-
Ans. He pitched for the NL
Orioles in 1899 (just before the NL
decided that 12 teams was too many) & for the AL Orioles in 1901, 1st year
of the AL.
-
#1 In 1903, McGinnity led
everybody in wins w/31 but hung in there to take the L in 20. Seems like he re-earned his nickname.
-
#2 With the Brooklyn Superbas'
victory in the 1900 Chronicle-Telegraph Cup, pitcher Joe McGinnity was honored
by his teammates in a unique way. Rather
than drawing straws or placing the cup it in a communal trophy case, the
Superbas voted to award it to McGinnity.
Iron Man had won 5 of 6 games down the stretch.
FCR - Bill
Rudolph, Collingswood, New Jersey
Incorrect guesses: Wilbur Wood, Jimmy Sheckard, Jack Chesbro, Wilbert
Robinson
FRIDAY — 28-Feb-2025
Q. Who was the first National League pitcher to
earn a victory in a major league All-Star game?
Hint: #1
He pitched for a high school baseball team, but he was never in high
school anywhere.
Hint: #2
He finished in the top two in league MVP voting for three consecutive
seasons.
A. DIZZY DEAN [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Dean was the winning pitcher
when the NL squad finally overcame Lefty Gomez in 1936.
-
#1 Dean, regarding his formal
education, he explained, “I got as far in school as the Second Reader, only I
didn't learn it all.”
-
#2 Dean was the NL MVP in 1934 as he led his Cards to
their 3rd WS championship. In
1935, he was a close
runner-up to the Cubs’ Gabby Hartnett. In 1936, he was 2nd
behind the Giants’ Carl Hubbell. He
never got even a single MVP vote after that.
FCR - Bill
Gemmell, York, Maine
Incorrect guesses: Carl Hubbell
FRIDAY AGAIN — 28-Feb-2025
Q. Which
pitcher got his twentieth win of the season by stealing home in the tenth
inning?
Hint: #1
He is the all-time American League leader in games started in one
season.
Hint: #2
After his baseball career, he worked as a college baseball coach, a
prison guard and a farmer.
A. JACK CHESBRO [SABR Bio]
- Ans. On
16-Jul-1904, Chesbro relieved NYY starter
Walter Clarkson (Baby brother of HOF John Clarkson) & pitched innings
8, 9 & 10. He came to bat in the 10th
., made his way to 3rd & stole home & the game off Detroit
reliever Ed Killian.
-
#1 He started an amazing 51 games in 1904. He also completed 48 of them,
another AL record.
-
#2 Chesbro was the baseball coach at Amherst
College in Massachusetts, a guard at Sing Sing prison in Ossining, New York, 30 miles north of NYC
on the Hudson River, but his real passion was to return to the agrarian
life he had grown up in.
FCR - Tom
Howell, Reno
Incorrect guesses: Ed Walsh
SATURDAY — 01-Mar-2025
Q. Which
Kansas City native was part of different American League teams that beat two
different New York City teams, playing different positions on each?
Hint: #1
After playing, he graduated to the Ivy League.
Hint: #2
He was once implicated in a scandal together with Ty Cobb.
A. SMOKY JOE WOOD [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Wood’s career year on the
mound in 1912, helped the Red Sox reach & win their 2nd
WS, beating John McGraw’s NYG. After arm troubles had him switch to the
outfield, he joined Tris Speaker’s CLE team, helping them reach and win their 1st
WS in 1920, in his final year on the mound in the majors. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri.
-
#1 He secured the position of
head baseball coach at Yale University and was there from
1924 to 1941.
-
#2 Cobb teammate Harry Heilmann showed
Tigers’ owner Frank Navin a letter written by Dutch Leonard that
implicated Smoky Joe Wood & Ty Cobb in betting on games, bringing the
scandal to light. Due to lack of
concrete evidence, Commissioner Judge Landis exonerated those involved.
FCR - Walt
Cherniak, (Smoky Joe-Woodbine, Maryland
Incorrect guesses: Tris Speaker, Casey Stengel
SATURDAY AGAIN — 01-Mar-2025
Q. Which
native Georgian began his sojourn in the majors with Cincinnati and ended it
with Pittsburgh , both in the National League, but flourished in the American
League?
Hint: #1
He helped his team win the first championship in any sport for their home
city, the fifth largest city in the United States.
Hint: #2
His son played more seasons in the majors than he did.
-
Ans. Bagby was born in Barnett,
Georgia in 1889. He debuted w/CIN in 1912 & retired after his 1923 year w/PIT. In his 7 years with
the Indians, his average WAR was 4.3 w/a high of 9.0.
-
#1 In 1920, Bagby’s 9.5 WAR headlined
the 1920 season for the Cleveland Indians’ 1st pennant, 1st WS flag. Cleveland’s population of 796,841 trailed
only those of New York, Chicago, Philadelphia & Detroit.
-
#2 Jim Bagby, Jr. played 10 seasons, 1938-47. His father played 9: 1912, 1916-23.
FCR - Jeff
Fink, Howell, New Jersey
Incorrect guesses: Mordecai Brown, Bob Feller, C. G. Alexander
SUNDAY — 02-Mar-2025
Q. Which
BBTR Iowan holds the record for the most shoutouts thrown by an American League
pitcher in a single season?
Hint: #1
He was in large part responsible for launching the Chicago Cubs long
march of World Series futility.
Hint: #2
He studied chemistry in college, even doing lab work during the baseball
season.
A. JACK COOMBS [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Born in Le Grande, Iowa, Coombs learned to
switch-hit at an early age. In 1910, throwing for Connie Mack’s WS champ Philadelphia A’s, he held opponents
scoreless 13 times.
-
#1 Coombs was the winning pitcher
in 3 of the 4 wins when PHA defeated CHC 4-1 in the 1910 WS. The Cubs would go on to lose that & their
next 6 Fall Classics, not winning 1 until the 21st century.
-
#2 Coombs studied chemistry at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
FCR - Josh
Murphy, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Incorrect guesses: Bob Feller
SUNDAY AGAIN — 02-Mar-2025
Q. Which
one-time Braves pitcher led the majors in losses just three seasons after he appeared
on the cover of Time magazine?
Hint: #1
Few people remember that he led the majors for three straight seasons in
home runs surrendered.
Hint: #2
He remained in the headlines long after his playing days.
A. DENNY McLAIN [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Pitching for DET in 1968, McLain set the record for wins in the Expansion
Era with 31 & was America’s hero. In
1971, he had 22 losses for WSA’s last year in Washington.
Time featured his story in their 13-Sep issue after his 29th
W. He played for ATL in 1972.
-
#1 McLain gave up 42,
35 & 31 HR 1966-68.
-
#2 Watch here. [Great visuals!]
FCR - Bill
Suphan, Scottsdale
Incorrect guesses:
WEEK’S THEME
– Pitchers with the most recent thirty-win seasons
Pitcher W
in Year Team WAR
Alexander....................... 30
in 1917*............ PHI............. 119.6
Bagby.............................. 31
in 1920.............. CLE.............. 30.8
Chesbro.......................... 41
in 1904.............. NYY.............. 42.7
Coombs......................... 31 in 1910.............. PHA.............. 26.7
Dean............................... 30
in 1934.............. STL.............. 46.2
Grove.............................. 31
in 1931.............. PHA............ 106.8
Johnson........................... 36
in 1913*............ WSH........... 166.9
Mathewson..................... 37
in 1908*............ NYG........... 106.7
McGinnity....................... 35
in 1904*............ NYG............. 59.0
McLain........................... 31 in 1968.............. DET.............. 19.3
Walsh.............................. 40
in 1908.............. CHW............ 66.5
Wood.............................. 34
in 1912.............. BOS............. 40.2
Young............................. 32
in 1902*............ BOS........... 163.6
*Had
additional 30-win seasons previously
First
Correct Respondent identifying theme – Bill Deane, Cooperstown (After
McGinnity)
[Didja
notice how many guys named Bill were the FCRs this week?]
Incorrect
theme guesses:
Tue - HOF
pitchers who never won the Cy Young award
-
All-time
leaders in pWAR
-
Pitchers
with most victories in MLB history
-
First
pitchers elected to the HOF
-
Pitchers
with 30 wins in a season since 1900
-
The
all-time leaders in career pWAR from the pre-Expansion Era
-
Most
wins in a season since 1900
Thurs- Won
30 games in a season since 1900 with the most career wins
-
30
or more win season and led league in WAR
-
Pitchers
who achieved a Quadruple Crown - led the league in wins, ERA, strikeouts, and
shutouts
-
Pitchers
who won 30 or more games in a season since 1900 and are in the Hall of Fame
If you know
someone who would enjoy receiving daily Horsehide Trivia questions, they need
only drop an email request to horsehidetrivia@aol.com.
Click here
=> THIS WEEK’s quiz, compete with
questions, answers and even the incorrect guesses.
Scroll back
to see previous Horsehide Trivia posts as far back as 2010. Quizzes before that may also be available
upon request.
Horsehide
Trivia encourages independent research. ⚾️
