MONDAY — 23-Mar-2026
Q. What 18-time All-Star made his major league
debut the season before his hometown got a big league team?
Hint:
#1 Though he never hit thirty home runs
in a season, he was the youngest player in history to hit three home runs in a
game.
Hint:
#2 This ten-time Gold Glover finished
second in MVP voting twice, losing out to a different New York Yankees catcher
both times.
- Ans.
Baltimore native Kaline played his first big league game in 1953 and
became the team’s starting right fielder
in 1954, the year the St. Louis Browns moved east and became the Baltimore
Orioles.
- #1
Twenty-year-(and 119 days)-old Kaline left the yard three times against the Kansas
City A’s in April 1955. Eddie Matthews is the only other player with a
three-homer game to his credit before his 21st birthday, though he was 231 days
older than Kaline when he did.
- #2 In
1955, Kaline was a runner-up to Yogi Berra for AL MVP; in 1963,
he was voted second-best behind Elston Howard.
FCR - Andy McCue, Riverside, California
Incorrect
guesses: Willie Mays, Robin Yount, Brooks
Robinson
TUESDAY — 31-Mar-2025
Q. Whose Texas Rangers team record for most
times hit-by-pitch did Shin-Soo Choo break in 2019?
Hint:
#1 He and Alex Rodriguez are tied for
ninth most homers by a Rangers batter.
Hint:
#2 He won his second American League
Gold Glove despite playing only 37 games in the field for his AL squad.
A. IAN KINSLER [B-R Bio]
- Ans.
In eight seasons in Arlington, Kinsler took one for the team 57 times. Of Choo’s 152 career HBPs, 71 occurred while
he was in a Texas uniform.
- #1
Kinsler and A-Rod each hit 156 dingers for Texas, one behind Nelson Cruz
for eighth place.
- #2 At
the 2018 trade deadline, the Boston Red Sox acquired Kinsler from the Los
Angeles Dodgers, where he’d played 91 games at second base. Kinsler’s previous Gold Glove had been awarded
in 2016.
FCR - Michael
Berry, Culver City, California
Incorrect
guesses: Rafael Palmeiro, Ivan Rodriguez,
Carlos Gomez
WEDNESDAY — 25-Mar-2025
Q. What former White Sox southpaw shares the
record with Kenny Lofton and Josh Donaldson for most different franchises
played for in the postseason?
Hint:
#1 When he and Jamie Moyer took the
mound against each other in 2007, they fell about a year-and-a-half shy of the
oldest pitching matchup in history.
Hint:
#2 He threw a perfect game for the same
team and in the same stadium as a fellow alumnus from his high school had
decades earlier.
A. DAVID WELLS [SABR Bio]
- Ans.
Wells had postseason appearances with the TOR, CIN, BAL, NYY, BOS & SDP with 3 WS and 2 rings.. Lofton went to the playoffs with CLE, ATL, SFG,
CHC, NYY & LAD. The 2015 AL MVP
Donaldson did it with OAK, TOR, CLE, ATL, NYY & MIL. They have now been joined by Max Scherzer with
DET, WSN, LAD, NYM, TEX & TOR as well as Fernando Rodney with DET, WSN,
TBR, CHC, ARI & OAK. It's
interesting to note that Wells & Lofton even faced each other in postseason
play, in the 1998 ALCS & the 2003 ALDS. Wells pitched for CHW in 2015.
- #1
Wells and Moyer were a combined 88 years, 307 days when the San Diego
Padres and Philadelphia Phillies started them head-to-head on 21-Jul-2007. When
Don Sutton and Phil Niekro had faced off in 1987, their ages totaled 90 years, 135 days.
- #2
Wells and Don Larsen, graduates of Point Loma High School in San Diego,
California, threw perfect games for the Yankees in Yankee Stadium in 1956 and
1998, respectively. The baseball field at Point Loma High is named after Wells.
FCR - Michael McCroskey, Sugar Land, Texas
Incorrect
guesses: Randy Johnson, Kenny Rogers,
Frank Viola, Jack McDowell, Jon Lester, Edwin Jackson, Mark Buerhle
MIDWEEK
BONUS 02-Apr-2025
Q. What right-handed hurler helped set the tone
for his team’s dominant, World Series-winning season by throwing a no-hitter on
the season debut of NBC’s Game of the Week in a game that the network had
selected to spotlight the pitcher from the opposing team?
Hint:
#1 He credits a college teammate’s father
with helping him develop his pitching to the point that he was drafted after
his junior year.
Hint:
#2 He worked as a color commentator for
each of the three teams he won World Series titles with.
A. JACK MORRIS [SABR Bio]
- Ans.
In April 1984, Morris no-hit CHW to give the DET their fourth of nine straight wins to start a
season. NBC chose that game to air
because producers wanted to focus on Chicago’s newly acquired Tom Seaver. However, the White Sox rotation shifted
because of a rain delay earlier in the week, and Seaver didn’t play, starting
the following afternoon instead.
- #1
Vern Law, 1960 Cy Young winner & father of Vance Law, worked with
Morris & the rest of the BYU pitching staff in the 1970s.
- #2
Morris spent time as a broadcaster for the Tigers, Twins & Blue Jays.
FCR - Marc Kell, Columbia, Maryland
Incorrect
guesses: Burt Hooton
THURSDAY — 02-Apr-2026
Q. Who scored the first run in the history of
Three Rivers Stadium?
Hint:
#1 His first career hit came off future
Hall of Famer Bob Gibson.
Hint:
#2 In pursuit of his World Series ring,
he hit three postseason home runs off three future Hall of Famers.
A. RICHIE HEBNER [SABR Bio]
- Ans.
On 16-Jul-1970, Hebner had the stadium’s 1st H, a 1-out
single off CIN’s starter Gary Nolan, then scored 2 batters later on an Al
Oliver single.
- #1 In
the top of the eighth inning of the 1969 season opener, Hebner singled off Gibson in his fifth
major-league plate appearance.
- #2 As
part of the 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates’ Championship squad, Hebner homered off
Juan Marichal in Game 3 of the NLCS, Gaylord Perry in Game 4, and Jim Palmer in Game 2 of the World Series.
FCR - Steve Berman, Wanaque, New Jersey
Incorrect
guesses: Tony Perez, Bob Robertson, Tommy
Agee, Matty Alou, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell
FRIDAY — 03-Apr-2026
Q. When Ronel Blanco no-hit the Toronto Blue
Jays on 01-Apr-2024, whom did he surpass as the pitcher to throw a no-hitter the
earliest in a season?
Hint:
#1 His no-hitters caused some ironic
grumbling among Mets fans.
Hint: #2 He was
the third player in the history of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame to be
elected on his first ballot.
Hint: #3 He was the first Japanese pitcher to be named
an Opening Day starter. It was his first
game with his new team. He (they) won
that one.
A. HIDEO
NOMO [SABR Bio]
- Ans. In
his season debut for the Boston Red Sox on 04-Apr-2001, Nomo no-hit the
Baltimore Orioles, making him the fourth player in major league history to toss
no-hitters in both leagues. He’d previously no-hit the Colorado Rockies while pitching
for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1996.
- #1 Nomo
had now pitched no-hitters both before & after he played for the Mets, who
at that time had not had no-hitter from any Met. pitcher.
- #2 Prior
to Nomo, Sadaharu Oh & Victor Starfin were the only first-ballot inductees.
- #3 In 2000. Nomo’s only season with DET.
FCR - William Neusidl, Easton, Pennsylvania
Incorrect
guesses: Bob Feller
T.G.I.F.
SPECIAL — 03-Apr-2025
Q. What two-time Silver Slugger was the second
player to boast three 30-30 seasons?
Hint:
#1 He earned two World Series rings in a
three-year span despite failing to collect a hit in either of those
postseasons.
Hint: #2 He
and Ripper Collins are the only switch hitters to win NL Home Run titles on the
Modern Era.
- Ans. In
1989, Johnson joined Willie Mays and Bobby Bonds as the only players with two
30-30 seasons to their credit. With his
third 30-30 season two years later, he surpassed Mays to join Bonds as the only
players with three or more. In the
ensuing years, Barry Bonds (5), Alfonso Soriano (4), and José Ramírez (3) have
joined that list.
- #1
Johnson went hitless in eight postseason at-bats for DET in 1984 & in1986 for
NYM. He collected his 1st and
only playoff hit in 1988, going 1-for-18 in a 7-game NLCS loss to the LAD.
- #2
Johnson’s 38 homers in 1991 set the NL record for switch hitters. Since then, that total has been surpassed six
times (Lance Berkman, 45 in 2006 and 42 in 2002; Chipper Jones, 45 in 1999;
Carlos Beltran, 41 in 2006; Todd Hundley, 41 in 1996 & Ken Caminiti, 40 in
1996), but none of those totals lead the NL. Collins won the 1934 home run title with STL with 35,
a record in this category that stood until Johnson hit 36 in 1987. In 1890, switch-hitter Walt Wilmot who led the NL in HRs
with 13 in 1890 with Chicago
FCR - Gary Wolcott, Annandale, Virginia
Incorrect
guesses:
SATURDAY — 04-Apr-2026
Q. What former Nationals infielder spoiled Rich
Hill’s no-hit bid with a lead-off, walk-off homer in extra innings?
Hint:
#1 He got the first out of the first
triple play in PNC Park history.
Hint:
#2 His uncle won World Series rings in
both the American and National League.
A. JOSH
HARRISON [B-R Bio]
- Ans.
Harrison, who played for Washington in 2020-21, cleared the fence at PNC
Park to lead off the 10th inning on 23-Aug-2017, giving Pittsburgh a 1-0 win over the Dodgers.
Hill, who’d lost his shot at a perfect game to a ninth-inning error, threw only
99 pitches in the complete-game loss.
- #1 In
a day game played 14-Sep-2014, with runners at first & second, Cubs
batter Matt Szczur smashed a hard grounder to Harrison at third. He stepped on the bag & threw to Neil
Walker to start the 5-4-3 triple play.
- #2
Harrison’s uncle, John Shelby, played centerfield for the 1983 Baltimore
Orioles and 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers.
FCR - Gabe Kinstlinger, Reisterstown, Maryland
Incorrect
guesses: Josh Bell, Gary Sheffield
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y
NIGHT! S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT! 04-Apr-2026
Q. What former Mariners infielder is the only
major leaguer to have multiple five-hit games on his birthdays?
Hint:
#1 In another five-hit game, he missed a
chance to hit for the cycle because after going single-triple-single-homer, he
belted another home run instead of a double.
Hint:
#2 Albert Belle rang this player’s bell
and was handed a five-game suspension for breaking up a double play it with a
serious forearm shiver that sent him flying.
A. FERNANDO VINA [SABR Bio]
- Ans.
Vina had four five-hit games in his career, two of which came on 16-Apr-1998 & 16-Apr-2000, his 29th and 31st birthdays.
Another came 10 days before his 32nd. Brant Brown is the only other player with a
five-hit game on his birthday.
- #1 It
was the only multi-homer game of Vina’s career.
- #2
While fielding an Eddie Murray ground ball in the 8th inning
of the game on 31-May-1996, Vina blocked the running lane from first to
second base. Belle collided with the much smaller Vina, leading with his left
forearm, but adding his right for emphasis.
The impact left Vina laid out in the based path and, while not completing
the DP, he held the ball & recorded the out. Belle elucidates.
FCR - Anthony Jablonski, Evanston, Illinois
Incorrect
guesses: Jose Vidro, Joey Cora, Alex
Rodriguez, Brett Boone
SUNDAY — 05-Apr-2026
Q. In 2025, German Marquez became the 17th
pitcher in the Modern Era to finish a season with 16 or more wins losses
and an ERA over 6.00. Who is the only
pitcher to do it twice?
Hint:
#1 In his 13-year career, he made only
one All-Star team. The following season,
he surrendered a National League-record 48 home runs.
Hint:
#2 He claimed to own more than 2,000
suits and that he’d never worn any of them more than once.
Hint:
#3 According to his nickname, he’d be
five hours behind Greenwich.
- Ans.
In 2000 (7-16, 6.65 ERA) & 2005 (5-16, 6.99 ERA)
- #1
Lima was selected for the 1999 NL All-Star roster & pitched the 6th
inning, surrendering a single to Shawn Green & retiring the 3 other batters
he faced. In 2000, batters took him yard
48 times, two shy of the major league record of 50 set by Bert Blyleven in 1986. In doing so off Lima, batters scored 152
runs, 145 of them earned.
- #2
Arriving at Mets Spring Training camp in 2006, Lima explained that he
gave his old suits to his brothers, who wore the same sizes that he did.
- #3 His
appearances were called “Lima Time” an expression said to have been invented the
Huston Astro announcers circa 1999. It
took no time at all to catch on with the fans & was enthusiastically
embraced by the man himself.
FCR - David Skelton, Woodway, Texas
Incorrect guesses: Bobo Newsom, Livan Hernandez
WEEK’S
FINALE — 29-Mar-2025
Q. Which rookie catcher, drafted out of Norway,
boasted to Sports Illustrated, “Every time I catch, we draw 50,000
people”?
Hint:
#1 He went to two All-Star games, each
as a bullpen coach and won a World Series ring.
Hint:
#2 In his only major league managerial
stint, he replaced Don Baylor and was replaced by Dusty Baker.
Hint:
#3 He hit only one home run in the
majors, but it proved to be a game winner.
A. BRUCE KIMM
[SABR Bio]
- Ans.
Kimm, a catcher drafted by the CHW out of Norway High School in Norway, Iowa, (also the Alma Mater
of major leaguers Mike Boddicker & Hal Trosky) formed a bond with fellow
rookie Mark Fidrych in 1976 & was behind the plate for every game of The
Bird’s Rookie-of-the-Year-winning season.
- #1 Kimm was bullpen coach for the FLA when they
won the World Series in 1997. He was
also the NL All-Star bullpen coach in 1988 and 1998.
- #2 In
2002, the 34-49 CHC fired Baylor & promoted Kimm, who’d been managing the AAA Iowa
Cubs, but he failed to turn the team around, going 33-45 the rest of the
season.
- #3
Kimm’s solo home run came in the eighth inning of a tie game on 17-Aug-1976, giving DET a 3-2 win, earning Fidrych a win
and handing CAL starter Frank Tanana a loss. Fidrych and Tanana finished second
and third, respectively, behind BAL Jim Palmer in Cy Young voting.
FCR - Alan Makovsky, Washington, DC
Incorrect guesses: Arndt Jorgens, Duke Sims
THEME: The last Detroit Tigers
players who wore retired uniform numbers before they (the numbers) were officially
retired
Big
THANKS to Baltimore’s JAKE BELL for this week’s theme and questions.
Uni # Retired to
Honor Last Tiger to Wear It (Year)
6....... Al Kaline........................... Kaline
(1954-1974)
11....... Sparky Anderson............. Kimm
(1977)
47....... Jack Morris....................... Morris
(1977-1990)
2....... Charlie Gehringer............ Hebner
(1980-1982)
5....... Hank Greenberg.............. Johnson
(1982)
16....... Hal Newhouser................ Wells
(1993-1995)
23....... Willie Horton.................... Nomo
(2000)
42....... Jackie Robinson.............. Lima
(2001-2002)
10....... Jim
Leyland...................... Vina
(2004)
3....... Alan Trammel................... Kinsler
(2014-2017)
1....... Lou Whitaker.................... Harrison
(2019)
First
Correct Respondent identifying theme – Warren Kent, Whitehall, Michigan
(after Morris on Wed.)
If you know
someone who would enjoy receiving daily Horsehide Trivia questions, have them
click here: Horsehide Trivia or do it on their behalf.
Click here => THIS WEEK’s quiz, compete with questions, hints, answers & even incorrect guesses. Then 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.
⚾️
