Q. Which
manager’s World Series move did the Boston Globe call, " the gutsiest move in history."?
Hint: #1
He had the nickname “America’s Guest” for the amount of time he spent in
ballpark press rooms.
Hint: #2
He is known by his middle name which itself is the result of a hospital
stay his grandmother had.
-
Ans. Smith’s move of CF Mickey Stanley
to shortstop for the World Series is widely admired as one of the savviest in
WS memory.
-
#1 During Smith’s time as the New
York Yankees’ superscout, we became well-known and well-liked for his
generosity of spirit and of time.
-
#2 Edward Mayo Smith resulted
because of his grandmother’s positive
experience at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
FCR - Tom
Veal, Spanaway, Washington
Incorrect guesses: Tommy Lasorda, Terry Francona, Connie Mack, Casey
Stengel, Dick Williams, Grady Little
TUESDAY — 22-Apr-2025
Q. Which
Maryland native was so overcome with emotion during his Hall of Fame induction
speech that he could not continue?
Hint: #1
He mentored a young Jackie Robinson and later recommended Larry Doby to
Bill Veeck.
Hint: #2
There are multiple theories behind the origin of his nickname, but what
is certain is that it stuck with him throughout his playing days.
A. JUDY JOHNSON [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Johnson, born in Snow Hill, Maryland. went into the Hall in
1975.
-
#1 In spite of his youthful appearance during his playing
days, he became an elder statesman for many young Negro
League players.
-
#2 “Judy” came from a comic strip
character or possibly a vaudeville routine or is possibly a corruption of his
middle name Julius.
FCR - Willis
Kern, Ft. Myers, Florida
Incorrect guesses: Buck O’Neil, Babe Ruth, Pee Wee Reese, Home
Run Baker, Jimmie Foxx
WEDNESDAY — 23-Apr-2025
Q. Which
Hall of Famer hit safely in all fourteen opening day games he played in?
Hint: #1
Al Rosen tied his record for All-Star Game runs-batted-in, but nobody
has even come close recently to his career All-Star Game RBI record.
Hint: #2
He once said, “All managers are losers.
They are the most expendable pieces of furniture on the face of the
earth.”
A. TED WILLIAMS [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Over those 14 Opening Day
appearances1939-42, 1946-60, Williams compiled a .449 batting avg & hit 3
HR.
-
#1 Williams (1946) & Rosen (1954) each had an ASG w/5 RBI, but only The Splendid Splinter accumulated
12 career All-Star
RBIs.
-
#2 Perhaps he was thinking of
Vice-Presidents?
FCR - Terry
Walters, Wabasha, Minnesota
THURSDAY
— 24-Apr-2025
Q. Which
BBTR pitcher had the lowest qualifying ERA in any of the first thirteen seasons
of the Deadball Era?
Hint: #1
He was the first native of Indiana to be elected to the Hal of Fame.
Hint: #2
His agrarian upbringing played a large part in the success of his Hall
of Fame pitching career.
A. MORDECAI BROWN [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Brown’s 1.04
ERA for CHC in 1906 was the best until Babe Ruth’s teammate, Dutch Leonard,
posted a 0.96 in 1914. Deadball Era = 1901-1919 .
-
#1 Brown was born in Nyesville, Indiana. Made it to the HOF
in 1945, the 1st of 12 Indianan HOFers.
-
#2 He got the nickname “Three
Finger” because of a childhood farming accident. He lost parts of two fingers on his right
hand which, counterintuitively, gave him an advantageous grip on the ball. It led his pitches to have some dramatic
movement, in fact, his curveball was said to be among the most unhittable ever.
FCR - Andy
Knobel, Columbia, Maryland
Incorrect guesses: Walter Johnson, Red Faber, Ed Walsh, Ed Walsh
FRIDAY — 25-Apr-2025
Q. Which
BLTR Pennsylvanian played for three different major leagues and managed in two?
Hint: #1
The year managed a team to a World Series championship, he tied for the
team lead in home runs hit.
Hint: #2
His name seems to indicate that he wasn’t meant to be a pitcher.
A. FIELDER JONES [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Jones played in the NL
(1896-1900), the AL (1901-1908) & the FL (1914-15). He managed in the AL (1904-08, 1916-18) &
the FL (1914-15).
-
#1 Jones led the “Hitless
Wonders” 1906 White Sox to a WS victory over the soon-to-be-semi-dynastic Cubs. In ‘06, Jones & Billy Sullivan each tied for the team lead with a brace of HR.
-
#2 He was named after his great
uncle, Fielder Alsor Jones, a Civil War general
who became an attorney and newspaper publisher after his military service.
FCR - Mike
McCroskey, Sugar Land, Texas
FRIDAY TWICE — 24-Apr-2025
Q. Who
was the only person to be a major league manager of both Nolan Ryan and Bert
Blyleven?
Hint: #1
He won the D-level League Wisconsin State Triple Crown in 1951 with the
Oshkosh Giants.
Hint: #2
He joined the Rockies’ coaching staff at the age of seventy-nine.
A. DAVE GARCIA [SABR Bio]
- Ans. Managed
Ryan w/CAL in 1977-78. Managed Blyleven w/CLE
in 1981-82.
-
#1 With Oshkosh he hit .369 with 23 home runs and 127 RBIs.
-
#2 Garcia held various coaching
and scouting positions with several MLB teams, including the SDP (1970-73),
CLE (1975-79), MIL (1983-84) & joined the Rockies as a coach in 2000 at the
age of 79 and stay through 2002.
FCR - Randall
Chandler, Germantown, Tennessee
Incorrect guesses: Chuck Tanner, Gene Mauch, Bobby Winkles, Don
Zimmer
TRI-FRI — 25-Apr-2025
Q. Which
Maryland native influenced the pitching fortunes of, among others,
Mike Boddicker,
Bert Blyleven,
Norm Charlton,
Doug Drabek,
Scott Erickson,
Mike Flanagan,
Steve Howe,
Jimmy Key,
Scott McGregor,
Mike Mussina,
Denny Neagle,
Jesse Orosco,
Jim Palmer,
Dan Plesac,
Rick Reuschel,
Arthur Rhodes,
John Smiley,
Zane Smith,
Steve Stone,
Frank Viola,
Tim Wakefield,
et al.
Hint: #1
He ended Cal Ripken’s consecutive-games-played streak.
Hint: #2
His team’s general manager told The Los Angeles Times, “If you want to
be the best, and we do, you’ve got to get the best people, and [he] is the best
pitching coach in baseball.”
Hint: #3
He developed a mantra that became a motto.
A. RAY MILLER [B-R Bio]
-
Ans. Born on April 30, 1945, in
Takoma Park, Maryland. He was the
pitching coach and/or manager of BAL, MIN & PIT.
-
#1 On 20-Sep-1998, Ripken approached Miller in his office to announce that he
was voluntarily ending his record streak at 2,632. Miller then tabbed rookie Ryan Minor to replace Ripken at third base that evening.
-
#2 Quote is from Syd Thrift, PIT
GM, upon signing Miller.
- #3 Quoth Miller, “Work fast. Change speeds.
Throw strikes.” Those six words were
even printed on T-shirts and are still quoted (or paraphrased) by pitching coaches.
FCR - Terry
Gans, San Carlos, California
Incorrect guesses: Mordecai Brown, Gene Mauch, Bill Virdon, George
Bamberger
SATURDAY
— 26-Apr-2025
Q. Who
hit more triples in one season than any other switch-hitter?
Hint: #1
He once had more RBI in a season than the number of games he played.
Hint: #2
His robust moustache helped offset his youthful appearance.
A. GEORGE DAVIS [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Davis had 27 triples in 1893. No other BBTR or BBTL had more, before or
since 1893.
-
#1 In 1897 Davis played in 131 G
for NYG & racked up 135 RBI.
-
#2 His moustache filled in handsomely,
helping him look the part.
FCR - Bill
Gemmell, York, Maine
Incorrect guesses: Mickey Mantle, Roger Connor
SUNDAY — 27-Apr-2025
Q. Who
was the first Hall of Famer raised in Washington, D.C.?
Hint: #1
He debuted with Baltimore, quickly establishing himself as a dominant hitter.
Hint: #2
His sobriquet is an example of baseball onomatopoeia.
A. JUD WILSON [SABR Bio]
-
Ans. Wilson was born in
Remington, Virginia (Fauquier County), but moved to Washington as a
teenager. He attended high school there in
“Deecee” (as locals call it).
-
#1 He debuted with the Baltimore
Black Sox in 1922 and immediately became one of the Negro Leagues' most feared
hitters.
-
#2 His nickname “Boojum” was said
to be the sound his line drives made as they hit outfield walls.
FCR - Gabe
Kinstlinger, Reisterstown, Maryland
Incorrect guesses: Hughie Jennings, Goose Goslin, Hank Aaron
WEEK’S FINALE
— 27-Apr-2025
Q. Who
was the first Puerto Rican-born manager in major league baseball history?
Hint: #1
Only after his final year did his career managing record dip below .500.
Hint: #2
He managed his national team in the World Baseball Classic.
A. EDWIN
RODRIGUEZ [Wiki Bio]
-
Ans. He managed the Florida
Marlins during parts of the 2010 & 2011 seasons.
-
#1 His record was 46-46 in
2010. His record in 2011 was 32-39
(.451) ending his career managerial record at 78-85 (.479). His bosses brought back 80-year-old Jack McKeon to finish the year.
-
#2 . He managed the Puerto Rican national
team in the 2013 & 2017 World Baseball Classic, leading the squad to the
silver medal in both tournaments. Rodriguez
was scheduled to manage the El Paso Chihuahuas in 2020 before the
season was cancelled due to Covid-19.
FCR - Kanya
Honoki, Nara, Japan
Incorrect guesses: Felipe Alou,
WEEK’S THEME
– Major league managers—in order—whose last names correspond with the 10 most
common last names, based on U.
S. Census Data:
10. Rodriguez,
Edwin
First
Correct Respondent identifying theme – Andy Knobel, Columbia, Maryland (after
Miller)
Incorrect
theme guesses:
Mon - Managers
who were succeeded by Billy Martin
Thurs - Cool
nicknames
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