May 4-10, 2015 Mothers' Day Walk-Offs in the Pink Bat era

MONDAY

Q.         Who is the only Florida (or Miami) Marlin ever to lead the league in home runs?

Hint:     Since his debut, no other National Leaguer has hit more home runs.

Hint:     There is proof, solid proof, that, unlike his “namesake”, he actually exists.

Twint:    He was once a “Mike”.

A.         GIANCARLO STANTON (2014 NL leader 37 HR; 160 HR since 08-Jun-2010 second only to AL sluggers Miggy C. (186) and Joey Batts (192); Nickname: “Bigfoot”; 2010-11 he played under the name “Mike” Stanton)

FCR -    Andrew Distler, New York, NY

Incorrect answers:  Miguel Cabrera, Fred McGriff

TUESDAY

Q.         Who is the only player to win an MVP for the Cincinnati Red and never appear in a World Series with them?

Hint:     Only he, Barry Bonds and Rogers Hornsby have led the NL in on-base percentage for four consecutive years.

Hint:     He is the only Red to thrice lead the NL base-on-balls.

Hint:     And that was in consecutive years.

Twint:    After not missing a single game one season, the next year he missed 100 games, having to quell concerns about his attitude by saying “I didn’t elect to be injured”.

Twint:    He was probably referring to some quirk of the parliamentary system.

A.         JOEY VOTTO (2010 NL MVP, Reds not in WS since his 2007 debut; ; NL OBP leader 2009-13, Bonds 2001-4, Hornsby 1920-25 for a record 6 consecutive years; BB lead: 2011-13  110/94/135 – tied with Dan Uggla 2012; 2013 played in all 162 games, but only 62 games in 2014; He is Canadian.)

FCR -    Alex Griffel, Great Neck, NY

Incorrect answers:  Barry Larkin, Frank Robinson, Ernie Lombardi, George Foster, Ted Kluszewski, Vada Pinson

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who was the first slugger since Mark McGwire to hit a home run in the first four games of the season?

Hint:     He is the most recent player with seven RBIs in a game to account for all of his team’s runs.

Hint:     He is the most recent Ranger to appear in the All-Star Game home run derby.

Twint:    He made the last out in the last one game Wild Card playoff.

A.         NELSON CRUZ (1-, 2-, 3-, 4-Apr-2011, McGwire March 31-Apr 4 1998; Tied by Chris Davis 2013; 07-Sep-2014 7RBIs 7-5 BAL over TBR; 2009 HR Derby, finished 2^nd to Prince Fielder; 163^rd game Rangers lost 5-2 to Tampa 30-Sep-2013)

FCR -    Pat Goodson, Cheyenne, WY

Incorrect answers:  Josh Hamilton, Chris Davis, Adrian Beltre, Prince Fielder

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who is the only player to appear in every one of his team's regular-season games in 2013 and 2014?

Hint:     He only missed two games in 2012.

Hint:     He is the only player to hit a walk-off homer on a one-pitch appearance by Jose Mesa.

Hint:     His first big league homer was a grand slam.

Twint:    He doesn’t wear a red cape with black polka-dots, but if you say his name really fast, you might wonder…

A.         HUNTER PENCE (His streak was broken this season; 2012 PHI 101 G, SFG 59G; b13 03-Jul-2007 5-4 HOU over PHI; First HR 05-May-2007; Spoken quickly, his name sounds like “Captain Underpants” – a superhero character in a children’s novel that wears underpants and a red cape with black polka-dots.)

FCR -    Alex Griffel, Great Neck, NY

Incorrect answers:  Evan Longoria, Adrian Gonzalez

THURSDAY

Q.         Who, along with Pedro Martinez and a bottle of Welch’s Sparkling Grape Juice, gave what is considered the world’s largest toast at a single venue?

Hint:     His greatest contribution to baseball may have been getting walked by “Mo’” and subsequently lifted for a pinch runner.

Hint:     He was (is) a self-proclaimed “idiot”.

Twint:    “Got heeem!”

A.         KEVIN MILLAR (Celebrating Fenway’s 100^th Anniversary on 20-April-2012 before 32,904 “participants”; Down 3-0 in the 2004 ALCS, he managed a Game-4 9^th inning lead-off walk (against Mariano Rivera) that led to PH Dave Roberts famous steal of 2^nd followed by a game tying hit that tied the score. The Sox came back to win the game and the ALCS; He called his 2004 Red Sox teammates “idiots” – a name quickly adopted by his fellow players, fans and the press; His enthusiastic signature phrase from “Intentional Talk”, on MLB Network)

FCR -    Joseph Brunn, Washington, DC

Incorrect answers:  Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller, Mark Grace, Bill Lee

TGIF BONUS

Q.         Among the regular starters, which player for the World Champion 2007 Red Sox went the entire regular season without being hit by a pitch?

Hint:     Also, he didn’t receive an intentional base on balls the same season.

Hint:     Perhaps this was because he wasn’t feared as an offensive threat.

Twint:    The same season, however, his base stealing did contribute as he led the team in the category.

Twint:    As a result, he and Coco Crisp became the first Red Sox duo to each steal over 25 bases in the same season since 1914.

Twint:    ¡Mes mas caliente!

A.         JULIO LUGO (Red Sox 2007 stats; 2007 stats all lowest for starters that season; 33 SB – the second highest season total of his career (39 in 2005); 1914 Tris Speaker (42) and Al Janvrin (25) accomplished the feat; Julio also means July in Spanish.)

FCR -    Bob Flynn, Chandler, AZ

Incorrect answers:  Jason Varitek, Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz

FRIDAY

Q.         Who replaced Jose Reyes at shortstop after Reyes was granted free agency?

Hint:     He lost the starting job the year after that, but regained it this past season, only to lose it again this season.

Hint:     When he came up to the majors, he was the 3^rd youngest player.

Twint:    His only 2012 homer was a lead-off home run against Matt Cain, who had pitched a perfect game just seven weeks earlier.

A.         RUBEN TEJADA (Reyes free agent end of 2011 season went from NYM to MIA; Omar Quintanilla started 2013 NYM; 2015 NYM Wilmer Flores is the regular SS; HR off Cain: 01‑Aug‑2012.)

FCR -    Michael William Newman, Fairfield, CT

Incorrect answers:  Wilmer Flores

START-OF-THE-WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Who is the only player to hit 30 homers in a season with a batting average under .200?

Hint:     He averaged over 200 strikeouts per season.  (Tom Seaver only averaged 190!)

Hint:     Only one player, with his suspect total of 57, has hit more home runs in a season for the Arizona franchise.

Twint:    He.is the only slugger in the past 40 years to lead his league in strikeouts 4 consecutive seasons.

A.         MARK REYNOLDS (2010 BA .198 with 32 HR; 201 K/162 G avg.; 44 HR in 2009 vs. Luis Gonzalez w/57 in 2001; K leader 2008-10 ARZ and 2011 BAL since Reggie Jackson 1968-71.)

FCR -    Mike Massaroli, Staten Island, NY

Incorrect answers:  Mark Trumbo, Adam Dunn, Dave Kingman, Rob Deer, Richie Sexton, Matt Williams, Graig Reynolds, Gorman Thomas, Brady Anderson

SATURDAY

Q.         Who was the only opposing player never retired in either of Justin Verlander’s no hitters?

Hint:     He had the lowest batting average, OBP, OPS and fewest total bases of the Brewers starters in their first National League postseason.

Hint:     His first homer as a regular starter resulted in the bat earning a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Twint:    Two years after leaving the Brewers, he had a perfect performance.

A.         BILL HALL (12-Jun-2007 issued 3 BB in 3 PA, 07-May-2011 all players retired at least once [Hall did not play.]; 2008 Brewers lost LDS 3-1 to eventual WS Champion PHI; 2006 he became the regular starting 3B and his first HR was the Opening Day for the new STL Busch Stadium 10-Apr-2006; 28-May-2010 he pitched a perfect 9^th inning for BOS with 11 pitches and only one ball in a 12-5 loss to KCR)

FCR -    Mark Pattison, Washington, DC

Incorrect answers:  Prince Fielder, J.P. Arencibia, Rickie Weeks, Justin Verlander

MOTHERS’ DAY BONUS

Q.         Who was called up to the majors to replace the injured Mike Piazza?

Hint:     He proceeded to hit six home runs in his first seven games with the team.

Hint:     He joined Adam Dunn and Jason Giambi as the only players this century to lead their leagues the same year in strikeouts and bases on balls.

Twint:    He led his league three consecutive years in strikeouts.

Twint:    He now runs a baseball academy in New Jersey with his father.

A.         JACK CUST (Joined the A’s 06-May-2007; 2008 Cust 197 K/111 BB, 2003 Giambi 140 K/129 BB, 2012 Dunn 222 K/105 BB; Led AL in Ks 2007-09; Diamond Nation Management)

FCR -    John Michael Pierobon, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Incorrect answers:  Mike Jacobs, Jason Phillips, Todd Hundley

SUNDAY

Q.         Other than Andrew McCutcheon, who was the only other position player from the Pirates to make the 2014 All-Star Team?

Hint:     His batting average led the Bucs that same season.

Hint:     He also led in triples and doubles.

Twint:    In 2014 he was featured on the MLB Channel’s “Plays of the Week” with plays made while playing 4 different positions.

Twint:    J-Hay

A.         JOSH HARRISON (Tony Watson pitched 0.1 innings and all Pirates got playing time; 2014 PIT STATS .315BA, 38 2B/7 3B; nicknamed J-Hay)

FCR -    Timothy Kearns, Washington, DC

Incorrect answers:  Neil Walker, Russell Martin, Tony Watson, Pedro Alvarez, Starling Marte

Due to circumstances related to today’s action, we are required to add additional players that fit this week’s theme.

SUNDAY 1^st ADD ON

Q.         Who was the White Sox third baseman since Robin Ventura to make the Topps Rookie All-Star team?

Hint:     Among position players, he had only the second highest vote total for Rookie of the Year despite having a higher batting average, OBP, SLG, and more HR, RBI’s and walks.

Hint:     He and his father played quarterback for the same private Atlanta High School.

Hint:     He led the team to its only undefeated season, breaking his father’s single season record for touchdown passes by one.

Twint:    He went on to become a Bulldog, and his junior year was SEC Player of the Year – the 4^th shortstop to do so.

Twint:    He had an angelic dalliance.

A.         GORDON BECKHAM (Topps Rookie 3B AS Robin Ventura 1990, Beckham 2009; Elvis Andrus was 2^nd overall despite the weaker offensive performance, and Beckham was 5^th, but 2009 ROY Andrew Bailey and two other pitchers took 1^st, 3^rd and 4^th place; Both he and his father attended The Westminster Schools; attended U. of Georgia and was SEC POY 2009; On CHW his whole 7-year career save 26 games last year with LAA)

FCR -    No one

Incorrect answers:  Joe Crede

SUNDAY 2^nd ADD ON

Q.         Of the currently active National League catchers (min 200 career games), who has the lowest career batting average this century?

Hint:     Despite his weak offensive production, he once literally ripped the cover off a ball getting a single when the fielder’s throw “dribbled” to first.

Hint:     The previous year he had a cup of coffee appearing in three games, striking out in his only at bat.

Twint:    He came up to the majors his official rookie season to replace a catcher who had a suitcase dropped on his wrist by his wife.

A.         MARTIN MALDONADO (BA.219, 222G from 2011-current; He was brought up 2012 – his official rookie season – when Jonathan Lucroy suffered a wrist fracture due to a “luggage incident”; 17-Sep-2011 faced Travis Woods t9th; 18-Aug-2014 he hit the ball to the PIT 3B Pedro Alvarez who would have easily thrown him out if not for the mangled ball cover)

FCR -    Alex Griffel, Great Neck, NY

Incorrect answers:  Yasmani Grandal

SUNDAY – 3^rd & FINAL ADD ON

Q.         Who is the last player to qualify for this week’s theme?

Hint:     He is the only San Francisco Giant to go yard off Boone Logan.

Hint:     As of today, this is the only homer off Boone this season.

Hint:     Last year he became a utility infielder, helping the Giants to replace the injured Marc Scutaro.

Twint:    He was a Lancer, as was Damion Easley and over a dozen other major leaguers.

Twint:    One man’s opinion, but he doesn’t LOOK like a major leaguer.

A.         MATT DUFFY (Logan’s HR log from 15-Apr-2015, b8 in a losing cause for SFG; Duffy stayed with the team this year and last as an ample utility fielder; KCR v DET only in the 2^nd inning; Attended)

FCR -    Alex Griffel, Great Neck, NY

Incorrect answers:  Joe Panik

WEEKLY THEME – Guys with walk-off hits on Mothers’ Day in the pink-bat era, beginning in 2006.

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No on

Player                      Pink Bat/Mother’s Day Walk-off Hit

Millar             14-May-2006

Hall                14-May-2006        HR with his mother in the stands

Cust              13-May-2007

Cruz               13-May-2007

Lugo              13-May-2007

Pence            09-May-2010

Votto             13-May-2012        Grand Slam

Harrison         13-May-2012

Stanton          13-May-2012        Grand Slam

Reynolds       11-May-2014

Tejada           11-May-2014

Beckham       10-May-2015

Maldonado    10-May-2015

Duffy             10-May-2015

Incorrect theme guesses:

Wed.   -  All Star players with the lowest batting average against the Red Sox

           -  Current players who have hit walk-off Home Runs against the Yankees

Horsehide Trivia blog has the questions and answers from this week as well as from previous weeks:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/

Horsehide Trivia home page:  https://sites.google.com/site/tnfotobbpics/home/horsehide-trivia

Apr 27-May 3, 2015: Yankees who have appeared on "Saturday Night Live"

MONDAY

Q.         Who called Dave Winfield “Mr. May”?

Hint:     He is also quoted as saying "Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next."

Hint:     Ironically, he also said: “I will never have a heart attack.  I give them.”

Twint:    It turns out “The Boss” was, sadly, wrong about that statement.

A.         GEORGE STEINBRENNER (The two men later reconciled; Quote in reference to how he ran the NYY; Heart attack quote was supposedly his “favorite line”;Steinbrenner passed away from a heart attack July 13, 2010 from NY Times Obit )

FCR -    Brad Sherry, Dublin, OH

Incorrect answers:  Reggie Jackson, Billy Martin

TUESDAY

Q.         Whose clutch-catch of a Jackie Robinson pop-up is credited as the series-saving play of a World Series?

Hint:     The next year he led the World Series by batting .500 in 24 a-bats, claiming the “unofficial” MVP crown.

Hint:     Though he was only 20 years old, he was still one of the “Nine Old Men”.

Twint:    He wasn’t too friendly with marshmallow salesmen.

A.         BILLY MARTIN (1952 WS Game 7, b7 bases full catch preserving NYY 4-2 win; There was no official WS MVP until 1955; Casey Stengel managed the Minor League Oakland Oaks, known as the Nine Old Men, to a PCL Championship.  The next year he was ascended to NYY skipper; he “sucker punched” a marshmallow salesman who kept quiet until Martin was fired by Steinbrenner in 1979)

FCR -    Dave Serota, Kalamazoo MI

Incorrect answers:  Bobby Richardson, Yogi Berra, Dusty Rhodes

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who has the most career hits by an American League player who played for only one team in that league?

Hint:     His career ended when his manager made a slashing motion at his throat.

Hint:     He once missed 91-games spanning two parts of different seasons with a fractured ankle, missed another 17 days with a quad sprain, and then hit a home run on the first pitch thrown to him.

Hint:     It was the only homer he hit that season.

Twint:    “Seeing Home” was a goal he certainly achieved.

A.         DEREK JETER (3,465 H, all with the NYY, Musial has more hits for one team (STL) at 3,630 in the NL; Mgr. Girardi made the motion after Jeter finished his career hustling out an infield single; HR on return 28-Jul-2013; Jeter Publishing put out Seeing Home: The Ed Lucas Story.  A true story soon to be a “major motion picture”.)

FCR -    Arieh Siegal, Austin, TX

Incorrect answers:  Carl Yastrzemski, Ty Cobb, Nap Lajoie, Paul Molitor, Kirk Gibson, George Sisler

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Whose perfect game set the mark for the team with the most perfect games?

Hint:     It was the last perfect game of the 20^th Century.

Hint:     He appeared in six games in five World Series and pitched in over 29 innings without yielding a home run.

Twint:    He took a strike and converted it into a Cy Young Award.

A.         DAVID CONE (NYY three perfect games Larsen (‘56WS), Wells 17-May-1988, Cone 18-Jul-1999; It would be five years (2004) before Randy Johnson threw the next perfecto; WS ’92, ’96, 98, 99, 2000 went 2-0; 1994 work-stoppage year AL CY winner)

FCR -    Victor Piacentile, Yorktown Heights, NY

Incorrect answers:  Greg Maddux, David Wells, Sandy Koufax, Catfish Hunter, Felix Hernandez

THURSDAY

Q.         Who replaced Donny Baseball at first base?

Hint:     Later he replaced Big Mack at the #3 position.

Hint:     The Machine then took over.

Twint     Despite not being on the winning team, he was the first MVP of the Baseball World Cup.

A.         TINO MARTINEZ (Mattingly retired 1995, with Tino joining the NYY 1996; He joined the Cardinals in 2002 to replace an aging Mark McGwire, and by 2004, he was gone and Pujols moved full time from the outfield to first base; Up, it was known as the Amateur World Series.  USA finished 2^nd to Cuba)

FCR -    Dean Kloner, New York, NY

Incorrect answers:  Will Clark, Paul O’Neill

FRIDAY

Q.         Who was the first Blue Jays pitcher to earn fifteen victories in a season before the All-Star break?

Hint:     He and Jack Morris are the only Blue Jays to win twenty games in a season with an ERA over 4.00.

Hint:     He is the last of two Pointer Dogs to pitch perfect games in the majors.

Twint:    He and Marge had their issues.

A.         DAVID WELLS (15^th W 8-Jul-2000, 2000 ASG 11-Jul-2000; 1992 Morris 21-6 w/4.04 ERA, 2000 Wells 20-8 w/4.11; Don Larsen also attended Point Loma High School in San Diego; Wells, a known free spirit, Wells bristled under the tight, autocratic misguided leadership of Reds owner Marge Schott)

FCR -    Judah Kaplan, Teaneck, NJ

Incorrect answers:  Mark Buehrle, Dave Stieb, Roy Halladay, Dennis Martinez, Pat Hentgen, Juan Guzman, Roger Clemens

SATURDAY

Q.         Who led the Twins in games, homers, doubles, RBIs, on-base percentage, walks, OPS+ and strikeouts the last season they won the World Series?

Hint:     When he retired, only two switch-hitters had more career home runs.

Twint: He is the first native of Jamaica to play in the majors.

Twint:    He is currently the hitting coach for the Red Sox.

A.         CHILI DAVIS (1991 Twins, with Puckett leading in BA, hits and runs; 350 HR, Mantle & Murray led the pack.  Davis retired in 1999.  Since then, switch-hitters Lance Berkman, Chipper Jones, Carlos Beltran & Mark Teixeira have passed him on the list. Debut 10‑Apr‑1981)

FCR -    Charles Saeger, Minneapolis, MN

Incorrect answers:  Paul Molitor, Kirby Puckett, Harmon Killebrew, Kent Hrbek, Chuck Knoblauch. Tony Olivia, Joe Mauer, Gene Larkin

SUNDAY

Q.         Who was the pitcher in the first All-Australian battery in the majors?

Hint:     No other left-handed pitcher ever made more appearances in a season for the Montreal/Washington franchise.

Hint:     In the middle of his career in the majors, he once had an ERA of 17.47.

Hint:     That same year, he gave up no runs and only one hit with no walks over eight post-season games to help his team capture their first World Series in 18 years.

Hint:     In thirteen career postseason appearances involving seven series, he gave up NO runs and only two hits.

Twint:    He ended up with two rings, but then the bombers gave him up with a homer and a boomer to get a rocket.

A.         GRAEME LLOYD (1^st Aussies: 14-Apr-1993; 84 G in 2001; Bad ERA/good postseason w/1996 NYY; WS Rings NYY of 1996 & 98, traded with David Wells and Homer Bush for  Roger Clemens)

FCR -    Doug Greenwald, San Francisco, CA

Incorrect answers:  Grant Balfour, Mark Hutton

WEEKLY THEME – Yankees who have appeared on Saturday Night Live

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Dave Washburn, Marietta, GA

Incorrect theme guesses:

Monday   -  Biggest gas bags in BB history

               -  Baseball figures who were convicted felons

               -  Native Clevelanders who owned successful sports franchises in other cities.

Tuesday   -  Yankees to appear in commercial

               -  People with a plaque in Yankee Stadium Monument Park

Wed        -  leading characters of The Evil Empire! (George as the Emperor, Billy as the Mini-Darth Vader, Jeter as a Storm Trooper)

               -  Baseball figures who have hosted Saturday Night Live

Thursday  -  New York Yankees who have appeared in TV commercials

Saturday  -  Players who ended up playing for the New York Yankees in the 1990s

               -  People affiliated with the New York Yankees during perfect games with multiple WS rings and are not yet in the HOF

           

Questions archived here:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/

Horsehide Trivia home page:  https://sites.google.com/site/tnfotobbpics/home/horsehide-trivia

April 20-26, 2015: Baseball Hall of Famers whose last name can be spelled with one hand on a conventional keyboard using conventional two handed typing.

This week’s questions, hints and answers come to us from reader Brian Wood of Pacific Grove, California.

MONDAY

Q.        Who was the first manager in the expansion era to lead teams from each league to the World Series?

Hint:     Bill James rates him as the greatest World Series catcher of all time.

Hint:     He is the only catcher to win a league MVP in consecutive seasons.

Twint:   Quack!

Twint:   Yoo-Hoo!

A.         YOGI BERRA (NYY 1964, NYM 1973 [6 other have done it Dick Williams, Tony LaRussa, Joe McCarthy, Alvin Dark, Sparky Anderson, Jim Leyland]; MVP 1954, 55); AFLAC commercial, Yoo-Hoo VP and spokesman)

FCR -   Victor Piacentile, Yorktown Heights, NY

Incorrect answers:  Mickey Cochrane, Sparky Anderson, Ned Hanlon, Bill Dickey, Joe Torre, Gabby Hartnett

TUESDAY

Q.        Who owes a famous batting title to Steve Brye?

Hint:     One of his high school teammates made it to the Bigs, but today is a Christian minister with advanced degrees in Biblical Studies.

Hint:     His Brooklyn-born brothers all played professional baseball.

Hint:     He shares something in common with fellow Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Tom Seaver, Rube Waddell and Sparky Anderson.

Twint:   Home life was “second” to none.

A.         GEORGE BRETT (Twins outfielder Steve Brye misplayed a Brett-batted fly ball into an inside-the-park HR in last AB of season.  Runner up [by .001] Hal McRae then lined out; Scott McGregor was a teammate at El Segundo HS; Brothers Ken,        All were named George; Grew up in El Segundo [“The Second”], California).

FCR -   Mark Kanter, Portsmouth, RI

Incorrect answers:  Joe Torre, Joe DiMaggio, Hal McRae

WEDNESDAY

Q.        What Hall of Famer is named after the doctor who delivered him?

Hint:     He matched a feat accomplished last by a Dodger Hall of Famer in 1918.

Hint:     He is the all-time leader in WAR for his 115-year-old franchise.

Twint:   No one born outside the U.S. has more career hits.

Twint:   He admits to being a Zonian.

A.         ROD CAREW (Rodney Cline Carew named for physician Dr. Rodney Cline who delivered baby Carew on a train traveling in the Panama Canal Zone; He equaled Zach Wheat’s feat of 1918 in winning a batting title w/0 HR, Carew won AL batting title in 1972 w/HR; 3,053 H [Ichiro Suzuki would need 203 hits to break this record.]).

FCR -   Mike Erickson, San Diego, CA

Incorrect answers:  Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Duke Snider, Rickey Henderson

THURSDAY

Q.        What former San Francisco Giant holds the record for most career games played at catcher in the National League?

Hint:     Signed letter of intent to play quarterback at UCLA, but opted for baseball instead.

Hint:     He remains the only player to hit two home runs in both an All-Star game and a World Series game.

Hint:     He once threw out Lenny Randle three times in one game.

Twint:   He was the Florida Marlins broadcaster 1993-96.

Twint:   He, Ted Williams and Ken Griffey, Jr, have a legitimate claim to the same nickname.

A.         GARY CARTER (2,056 G; 2 ASG HR: 1981, 2 WS HR G 4, 1986; Randle 3X CS 15‑Apr‑1978; Nickname was the “Kid.”)

FCR -   Saul Wisnia, Newton Center, MA

Incorrect answers:  Bob Boone, Benito Santiago, Tom Haller, Dick Deitz

THURSDAY BONUS

Q.        Whose sharp eye caused a pennant-dependent game to be replayed?

Hint:     Too old for military service when hostilities broke out, he went to Europe as athletic director for the Knights of Columbus.

Hint:     He often broke out hostilities all on his own.

Hint:     Some say it’s possible he sidled into the Hall.

Twint:   He skippered the Cubs and the White Sox, but only broke .500 when he also played while managing.

Twint:   Was honored in Ogden Nash’s “Line-Up for Yesterday”.

A.         JOHNNY EVERS (In one of the finals games of the 1908 pennant race, Evers alerted the umpires to Fred Merkle's baserunning error in a game against the New York Giants, which became known as "Merkle's Boner".  Al Bridwell hit what appeared to be the game-winning RBI single for the Giants, while Merkle, the baserunner on first base, had gone into the clubhouse without touching second base.  Evers called for the ball.  The umpires huddled and ruled Merkle out.  League president Harry Pulliam ruled the game a tie, with a makeup to be played.  The Cubs won the makeup game, thereby winning the pennant.; Nash line:  “E is for Evers, his jaw in advance; Never afraid to Tinker with Chance”, appearing in Sport Magazine; Nicknamed the crab, not because he walked sideways, but because he always seemed to be crabby; His managerial record:  http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/eversjo01.shtml)

FCR -   Bill Deane, Cooperstown, NY

Incorrect answers:  Billy Martin, Joe Tinker, Hank O’Day, Connie Mack, Leo Durocher, Enos Slaughter, Buddy Harreleson

FRIDAY

Q.        Who was saved from baseball ignominy by arm trouble and the flu?

Hint:     He was the last pitcher to win three games in a six-game World Series.

Hint:     He and his rotation mates each won over 20 games one season.

Twint:   One of only six pitchers to win 100 games in both the dead-ball and live-ball era.

Twint:   Last legal spitballer in the American League at the time of his retirement.

A.       RED FABER (Arm trouble and flu were the ostensible reasons he did not pitch in the 1919 Black Sox World Series; Last spitball season for him:  1933, [Burleigh Grimes would later be traded to the AL in 1934.]; 20-game winners in , symmetrically enough, in 1920: 23-13, with Eddie Cicotte 21-10, Lefty Williams 22-14, and Dickie Kerr 21-9)

FCR -   Scott Matteson, Shawnee, KS

Incorrect answers:  Dave McNally, Jim Palmer, Dean Chance, Lou Burdette, Randy Johnson, Joe McGinnity, Tommy John, Jack Coombs, Stan Coveleski, Bob Feller

END-OF-THE-WEEK BONUS

Q.        Who is tied with Elston Howard for playing on the most losing World Series teams?

Hint:     His nickname comes from his prowess in a different sport.

Hint:     He later worked for Hillerich & Bradsby.

Hint:     A future Hall of Fame pitcher was sent to the minors by a future Hall of Fame manager for not throwing at him.

Twint:   Statues dedicated to him stand outside ballparks in Louisville and Brooklyn.

Twint:   He teamed with both Dizzy Dean and Curt Gowdy.

A.         PEE WEE REESE (Most losing WS, 6, in 1941, 49, 51, 52, 53, 56 [Howard’s were in 1955, 57, 60, 63, 64, 67.]; Marbles champion as a boy; Casey Stengel ordered Warren Spahn to throw at Reese in an exhibition game (as Spahn tells it); Statues outside Louisville Slugger Stadium, erected 2000 & Mets class A stadium, Brooklyn’s MCU Park, formerly KeySpan Park, built 2005; CBS & NBC Game of the Week)

FCR -   Mike McCroskey, Sugar Land, TX

Incorrect answers:  Jackie Robinson, Ted Simmons, Duke Snider, Gil McDougald

SATURDAY

Q.        What hurler came to stardom following a path similar to Patrick Ewing’s?

Hint:     His uniform was guaranteed to be dirty every time he played.

Hint:     Lost his bid for a perfect game with one out in the ninth, but decided to keep that title anyway.

Hint:     He is a known oenophile.

Twint:   Shared a nickname with a funnel-shaped-hat-wearing television character.

A.         TOM SEAVER (Signed by Braves in 1966, but Commissioner William Eckert declared Seaver ineligible. After Seaver’s father threatened a lawsuit, Eckert allowed other teams to bid on him and match the Braves’ offer with the Mets, Phillies, all Indians doing so. The Mets then won the lottery as did the NY Knicks with Patrick Ewing in the first NBA Lottery in 1985; His pitching motion had his right knee dip into the dirt on the pitching mound with each delivery; The Perfect Game was about the next-to-last game of the 1969 World Series, in which Seaver beat the Orioles in 10 innings (Rod Gaspar scored the winning run on a bunt by J.C. Martin).  There are references to other events in Seaver's life as well., 1970. Look at the Mets Championship Season of 1969, wrapped around a game Seaver pitched on July 9th that year against the Cubs where rookie OF Jim Qualls broke up a perfect game in the top of the 9th inning with one out; Owns Seaver Vineyards, Napa, CA; Tom Terrific, shown on the Captain Kangaroo Show.)

FCR -   Dan Silverberg, Aventura, FL

Incorrect answers:  Mike Mussina, Johnny Sain

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.        Who was the first second baseman to have twelve assists in a game?

Hint:     He finished his career with 2,107 hits, all in the National League (except, of course, for the 188 that he hit in his short-lived Players League!).

Hint:     He once held the record for career postseason hits.

Twint:   He is credited with inventing the pitcher’s mound.

Twint:   He apparently didn’t need it in 1879 with a pitching record of 47-19 with 239 strikeouts.

A.         MONTE WARD (26 hits in 1888-89)

FCR -   Andrew Distler, New York, NY

Incorrect answers:  Frankie Frisch, Junior Gilliam, Joe Morgan

SUNDAY

Q.        What Missouri native was sometimes as red as the tomatoes he grew at his home ballpark?

Hint:     Before Joe Torre, he was the last to manage an American League team to 100 victories in consecutive seasons.

Hint:     He managed his team before and after they won the World Series.

Hint:     Also managed them when they won the World Series.

Twint:   He popularized turning his cap around when discussing the finer points of play with the game’s arbiters.

Twint:   He and Stan Musial left us on the same day.

Twint:   His last day was spent on the Love Boat.

A.         EARL WEAVER (Born in St. Louis, Turned red when arguing with umpires; 102 W in 1979, 100 W in 1980; Managed the Baltimore Orioles after 1982 season with the Orioles who won it all in 1983. He came back 1985-86; Passed away 19-Jan-2013 aboard the Orioles fantasy cruise, Celebrity Silhouette in the Caribbean Sea).

FCR -   Bill Deane, Cooperstown, NY

Incorrect answers:  Red Schoendienst, Whitey Herzog, Are Howe, Casey Stengel

WEEKLY THEME – Theme: Baseball Hall of Famers whose last name can be spelled with one hand on a conventional keyboard using conventional two handed typing.

Berra

Brett

Carew

Carter

Evers

Faber

Reese

Seaver

Ward

Weaver

Notes:

-Pete Hill & Bowie Kuhn are then only two who use right hand only to spell last name, the other 10 use left hand only.

-Johnny Evers has first name right hand only, last name left hand (legal name of John still all right hand), Middle name Joseph uses both

-Pete Hill—Pete uses both hands, but legal 1st name is John which uses right hand only, so both 1st & last legal names use right hand only (middle name Preston uses both)

-Monte Ward's legal first name is John, so right hand only for John, left hand only for Ward, middle name Montgomery uses both

-Red Faber has first & last name left (though legal first name of Urban uses both)

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme –

Incorrect theme guesses:

Tuesday  -  Catchers who were managers and are in the HOF.

Questions archived here:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/

Horsehide Trivia home page:  https://sites.google.com/site/tnfotobbpics/home/horsehide-trivia