2022-05-18 Perfect game but eliminated from Hall of Fame consideration on their first ballot or before

MONDAY  —16-May

Q.  Before R.A. Dickey, who was the last right-handed pitcher to win twenty games in a season for the New York Mets?

Hint: #1  Before Roger Clemens, he was the last pitcher to win twenty games in a season for the New York Yankees.

Hint: #2  He won a Cy Young Award but not while playing for either of those two teams.

Hint: #2  When he won his first World Series ring, it wasn’t with any of those three teams.

A.  DAVID CONE  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Cone was 20-3 in 1988 for NYM.  Dickey’s record was 20-6 in his CYA year 2012.

-  #1 Cone was 20-7 in 1998 for NYY.  Clemens was 20-3 in in his CYA year 2001.

-  #2  Cone’s CYA was in 1994, pitching for KCR.

-  #3  Cone was an important part of the 1992 TOR WS champs.

FCR -  Jeff Cohen, Wantagh, New York

Incorrect guesses:  Frank Viola, Al Leiter, Mel Stottlemyre, Tom Seaver, Pedro Martinez, Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling, Mark Leiter

 

TUESDAY  —17-May

Q.  Who was the last twentieth-century pitcher to earn the victory in both games of a double header?

Hint: #1  He got his 100^th career win during the game he notched his 1,000^th career strikeout.

Hint: #2  He once started the All-Star Game replacing Pedro Martinez.

A.  DAVID WELLS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  17-Jul-1989(1) & 17-Jul-1989(2)

-  #1  19-Jul-1997.  It was also his 2^nd career shutout.

-  #2  2000 ASG.  Martinez, though on the team, was not able to play that day.

FCR -  Bill Deane, Cooperstown

Incorrect guesses:  MIke Mussina, Wilbur Wood, Kevin Brown, Wes Stock, Phil Niekro, Randy Johnson 

 

WEDNESDAY  —18-May

Q.  Which former New York Met is the oldest pitcher ever to appear as a starter for the American League in an All-Star game?

Hint: #1  He was the last American League pitcher to compile a forty-inning consecutive scoreless streak in the twentieth century.

Hint: #2  He is the only player to win a Gold Glove pitching for the Texas Rangers.

A.  KENNY ROGERS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Started the 2006 ASG @ 41 years 243 days.  It was his 4^th & final ASG appearance.  He pitched in 12 G for NYM in 1999.

-  #1  Scoreless inning streak 05-May to 01-Jun-1995.

-  #2  Won GGs for TEX in 2000, 2002, 2004 & 2005.   He also won 1 in 2006 playing for DET.

FCR -  Mark DeLodovico, Rockville, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Nolan Ryan, Bartolo Colon, Orel Hershiser, Gaylord Perry, R.A. Dickey

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —18-May

Q.  Who surrendered home runs to both Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds?

Hint: #1  The year he led the majors in ERA and shutouts was only the second time in his more than twenty-year career that he received any votes at all for the Cy Young Award votes or the Most Valuable Player Award.

Hint: #2  According to Sports Illustrated, he once suffered "Samsonitis" when he hurt his arm tossing luggage onto the team bus.

A.  DENNIS MARTINEZ  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Bonds père took him deep on 20-Jun- & 30-Sep-1979.  Bonds fils did it on 14-Aug-1989.  Note:  Mike Morgan, Jesse Orosco, Rick Reuschel, Frank Tanana also did this.

-  #1  In 1991, he had MLB’s best ERA at 2.39 and the most shutouts w/5, one-upping the AL’s Roger Clemens.  He was 5^th in NL CYA voting & tied for 20^th in NL MVP voting that year.

-  #2  If he were to accept his role as President, he needed to come up to speed faster on the art of delegation.

FCR -  Jesse Asbury, Norman, Oklahoma

Incorrect guesses:  Satchel Paige, Jim Kaat, Tom Seaver, Frank Tanana, Bret Saberhagen, Phil Niekro, Don Sutton, David West

 

THURSDAY  —19-May

Q.  Which California native came in to finish the no-hitter begun by another California native for their California-based team in a game played in (wait for it…) California?

Hint: #1  The pitching coach who brought him to professional maturity was the same former player who had helped Nolan Ryan become dominant.

Hint: #2  He was advised by teammate Rod Carew to seek help from a professional hypnotist to help him overcome a case of the pitching doldrums.

A.  MIKE WITT  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Playing for the California Angels on 11-Apr-1990 in Anaheim, Witt came in to relieve Mark Langston who had no-hit SEA for 7 innings.  Witt pitched 2 perfect innings to complete the game.

-  #1  Tom Morgan coached the pitchers for the Angels, Padres & Yankees 1972-83.  He had pitched in MLB 1951-63.

-  #2  Witt achieved dramatic improvement working with Dr. Harvey Misel.

FCR -  Brett Moore, Studio City, California

Incorrect guesses:  Paul Lindblad, Tom Seaver

 

THURSDAY THANX  —19-May

Q.  Which pitcher led the majors in earned runs surrendered two years in a row beginning the year after he threw a no-hitter?

Hint: #1  In the second of those seasons, he also led all big league pitchers in losses.

Hint: #2  He was the president of his class at an Ivy League school.

Hint: #3   He was the first athlete named to that university’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

A.  LEE RICHMOND  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  No-hitter in 1880; ERs given up 1881 & 1882.

-  #1  Had 33 L in 1882 w/TOR.

-  #2  At Brown University in Rhode Island, Richmond got a degree in math.

-  #3  He lived and retired in his native Toledo.

FCR -  Dave Jackson, Chapel HIll, North Carolina

Incorrect guesses:  Frank Viola, Barry Zito

 

FRIDAY  —20-May

Q.  Who was the last Cleveland pitcher to lead the American League in strikeouts in consecutive seasons?

Hint: #1  Due to his size, one of his managers called him “The Big Donkey”.

Hint: #2  He is the only major leaguer ever traded for Rick Behenna.

Hint: #3  He now coaches at Notre Dame.

A.  LEN BARKER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Led the AL in Ks 1980 (187) & 1981 (127).

-  #1  Nickname bestowed by CLE manager Dave Garcia.  He was more often called “Large Lenny”.  He played at 6”5”, 225 lbs.

-  #2  On 28-Aug-1983 CLE traded Barker to ATL for players to be named later and $150,000.  ATL sent Rick Behenna, Brett Butler & Brook Jacoby to the CLE to complete the trade.

-  #3  He coaches at Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio

FCR -  Dave Jackson, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Incorrect guesses:  Sam McDowell, CC Sabathia, David Wells, Mike Garcia, Jeff Samardzija, Herb Score

 

SATURDAY  —20-May

Q.  Who has thrown more shoutout games than any other native of the state of Wyoming?

Hint: #1  He finished his career much as Hall of Famers Harmon Killebrew and Orlando Cepeda did.

Hint: #2  The last career home run he hit in the majors, was off Orel Hershiser, in a game he won.

A.  TOM BROWNING  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Browning racked 12 ShO during his 12 year career.  He is also that state’s pitching wins leader, w/123.

-  #1  All 3 spent their final season playing for KCR.  Cepeda in 1974, Killebrew in 1975, & Browning in 1995.

-  #2  HR 19-Jun-1993, the 2^nd of his 2-dinger career.

FCR -  Erik Lundegaard, Seattle

Incorrect guesses:  Jim Kaat, Dennis Martinez, Dick Ellsworth, Dennis Leonard

 

SUNDAY  —21-May

NOTE:  Today’s answer DOES qualify for this week’s theme.  Sorry for yesterday’s inaccuracy.

Q.  Who threw the first perfect game caught by a Hall of Fame catcher?

Hint: #1  It was the first perfect game thrown in an away game.

Hint: #2  He appeared on TV game show six days after Don Larsen’s World Series perfect game.

A.  CHARLIE ROBERTSON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Robertson threw to Ray Schalk on 30-Apr-1922.  2 other HOF perfect G catchers:

Yogi Berra & Ivan Rodriguez.

-  #1  Pitching for CHW, Robertson’s perfecto was thrown at Tiger Stadium.

-  #2  Appeared on What's My Line?, Episode 332, 14-Oct-1956.  Charlie Robertson, age 60, is the first guest on the CBS TV show (1950-1967).  A panel of celebrities tried to guess the identity of each guest who signs in at a blackboard. Robertson signs in as C.C. Robertson.  The 1^st panelist asked, guesses Robertson's secret immediately.  Then anticlimactically, the panel must guess the current occupation of Charlie Robertson.  Watch the episode here.  Scroll to 3:00.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Jim Bunning, Don Larsen, Sandy Koufax

 

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – Eligible pitchers who threw a perfect game but were eliminated from Hall of Fame consideration on their first ballot or before.

 

Pitcher              Perfecto                HOF Voting results        WAR

Barker.................. 15-May-1981.............. Never on a ballot..................... 12.6

Browning.............. 16-Sep-1988.............. 1/515 in 2001 (0.2%)............... 19.8

Cone.................... 18-Jul-1999................ 21/539 in 2009 (3.9%)............. 62.3

Martinez............... 28-Jul-1991................ 15/506 in 2004 (3.2%)............. 48.7

Richmond............. 12-Jun-1880............... 0/78 in 1936............................. 11.6

Robertson............ 30-Apr-1922 .............. Never on a ballot....................... 6.4

Rogers................. 28-Jul-1994................ 1/571 in 2014 (0.2%)............... 50.5

Wells.................... 17-May-1998.............. 5/596 in 2013 (0.9%)............... 53.5

Witt....................... 30-Sep-1984.............. 0/487 in 1999........................... 21.6

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme –

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Mon     -  Players with the most World Series rings with not all of them coming with the Yankees

 

Tues    -  Pitchers who threw perfect games in May

            -  Pitchers to throw a perfect game in the AL

 

Wed     -  Pitchers who tossed a perfect game AND played for the Yankees in their career

            -  No-hitters (or perfect) by players who played for the Yankees at some point in their career

            -  They all threw perfect games.

            -  Pitchers that have thrown perfect games with DH

            -  Perfect games at home

            -  Former NY Mets pitchers who won Cy Young awards for other teams

            -  Pitchers mentioned in the Baseball Project song "Harvey Haddix"

            -  Pitchers who have thrown a perfect game at home since 1990

            -  Pitchers who threw a perfect game, in which their teammates hit at least one home run

            -  Perfect game hurlers who pitched for at least 5 teams

            -  Perfect game hurlers who had two different stints with the same team

            -  Perfect game hurlers who were on new teams within two years after their perfecto

            -  Perfect games since 1990

            -  Pitchers who pitched for both the Mets and Yankees

            -  Non-Hall of Famers who pitched a perfect game

            -  Perfect game hurlers who pitched for at least 5 teams

            -  Perfect games in the 80s and 90s

            -  Pitchers who pitched a perfect game who pitched for the Yankees

 

Thu      -  Perfect game hurlers from the twentieth century not in the Hall of Fame

            -  Perfect game throwers who made an All-Star team but not the Hall of Fame

            -  Pitchers who pitched perfect games involving teams that have moved

            -  Pitchers who pitched perfect games in the last two decades of the 20^th-century

 

Fri        -  Perfect game throwers who never had another no-hitter

            -  First 10 pitchers to throw a perfect game and not be elected to baseball hall of fame

 

Sat       -  Perfect game pitchers in the 80s and 90s, including the 1880s

            -  Perfect games under 100 pitches

            -  Something to do with perfect games

            -  None of them are in the HOF.

 

Sun      -  Pitchers whose only no-hitter was a perfect game.

 

 

 

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2022-05-08 Non-Hall of Famers with SABR chapters named for them

MONDAY  —09-May

Q.  Whose spot in the lineup did Henry Aaron take when he broke in with the Braves?

Hint: #1  He (not Aaron) led the majors in triples the last year the original eight National League teams were at their original home cities.

Hint: #2  Ironically, he almost signed with the Dodgers.

A.  BOBBY THOMSON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In 1954 Thomson broke his ankle in spring training.  Aaron broke in and played 122 G, all but 11 in LF.

-  #1  Thomson hit 14 triples in 1952, the only serious black ink of his 15-year MLB career.  The next year the Braves left Boston for Milwaukee.  BSN became MLN.

-  #2  While at Curtis High School on Staten Island, Thomson played for a local amateur team called the Dodger Rookies.  BRO & NYG both offered him a contract, but he grew up a Giants fan.  His very name still causes discomfort in Dodger fans.

FCR -  Timothy Brownlee, Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Incorrect guesses:  Bill Bruton, Sid Gordon, Sam Jethroe, Tommy Holmes, Andy Pafko

 

TUESDAY  —10-May

Q.  Which manager has the most MLB playoff appearances without a World Series win?

Hint: #1  He’s credited with co-inventing the high five.

Hint: #2  He was working as a stockbroker when a former MVP convinced him to get back in the game.

A.  DUSTY BAKER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  MLB managers Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa & Joe Torre are the only ones with more postseason appearances than Baker’s 11.

-  #1     Baker hit his 30^th home run of 1977 for LAD and as he completed his HR circuit, his on deck teammate Glenn Burke held his palm over his head and Baker spontaneously slapped his lofted hand.  Baker returned the favor almost immediately because Burke then homered himself!  The gesture caught on quickly and is now an exuberant action seen worldwide almost every day.

-  #2     He worked as a stockbroker for a year after his playing days, but Al Rosen (the unanimous 1953 AL MVP, then SFG’s GM) said he saw Dusty as a field manager. After some coaching assignments, the Giants became Baker’s first managing job.

FCR -  Matt Van Hoose, Springfield, Virginia

Incorrect guesses: 

 

TUESDAY Bis  —10-May

Q.  Other than Frank Robinson, who won his Rookie of the Year and MVP in different leagues?

Hint: #1  His number was retired 3 months before his death.

Hint: #2  No less a player than Mike Schmidt considered him a mentor.

A.  DICK ALLEN  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  ROY w/PHI in 1964; MVP w/CHW in 1972.

-  #1  #15, retired by PHI on 03-Sep-2020.

-  #2  They were teammates in 1975 & 76.  Schmidt said Allen was a gentleman, a leader & a great teammate.

FCR -  Quentin Wittrock, Coon Rapids, Minnesota

Incorrect guesses:  Mark McGwire

 

WEDNESDAY  —11-May

Q.  Which pitcher won the first World Series game where “Take Me Out To the Ballgame” was played before the game?

Hint: #1  A Hall of Fame teammate called him “mule ears.”

Hint: #2  He was losing pitcher in the first night game at Sportsman’s Park.

A.  ELDEN AUKER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  He was the winning pitcher in the 4^th game of the 1934 WS, beating STL’s Bill Walker.  It was Auker’s only W in the Series, as he, and the Tigers, lost G 7.  The song has become a staple at baseball games at every level.

-  #1     In his autobiography “Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms”, he describes joining DET, where player/manager Mickey Cochrane used to tease him by saying now that he, Cochrane, won’t have the biggest ears on the team.

-  #2     1^st G at Sportsmans’ Park = 14-May-1940, vs Bob Feller of the Indians.  The Browns lost 3-2.

FCR -  Phillip Ross, Denver

Incorrect guesses:  Mort Cooper 

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —11-May

Q.  Which former major leaguer was shot and killed by robbers after he cashed fellow employees’ paychecks?

Hint: #1  He is the only player to hit a home run over the centerfield scoreboard in Buffalo's Offermann Stadium.

Hint: #2  As reported in Sports Illustrated, he was once fined at a game in Minneapolis for opening the gates to kids who couldn’t afford tickets.

A.  LUKE EASTER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Died 29-Mar-1979.  Read the story here.

-  #1   HR on 14-Jun-1957 playing for the Bisons of Buffalo.

-  #2   It was a minor league game.  The incident was recounted by Daniel Cattau in the 09-Apr-1979 issue of Sports Illustrated.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Lyman Bostick, Joe Hauser

 

THURSDAY  —12-May

Q.  Who was the first catcher to homer twice in a major league inning?

Hint: #1  He was the home team’s catcher for the first major league game Vin Scully ever called.

Hint: #2  He’s partly responsible for the rule against basemen distracting the batter at the plate.

A.  ANDY SEMINICK  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In the 8^th inning on 02-Jun-1949, Seminick went deep 2 X off CIN Ps Ken Raffensberger (off whom he had already homered in the 2^nd) & Kent Peterson.  Seminick, John Boccabella & Bengie Molina are the only catchers ever to homer twice in an inning.

-  #1  Scully’s 1^st = 18-Apr-1950, BRO vs. PHI at Shibe Park.  Phillies won.

-  #2  Giants player Eddie Stanky used to like to wave his arms to distract batters.  On 12‑Jul‑1950, Seminick got so sick of it that when Giants manager Leo Durocher wouldn’t stop it, Seminick slid into Stanky, causing a full brawl between the teams.  Commissioner Frick eventually ruled players aren’t allowed to distract the batter by waving their arms.  Read the full story here.

FCR -  Randall Chandler, Germantown, Tennessee

Incorrect guesses:  Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Ernie Lombardi, Joe Pignatano, John Roseboro, Dixie Howell

 

FRIDAY  —13-May

Q.  Who is the most recent major leaguer to debut at age seventeen?

Hint: #1  In the first inning of his first game, he struck out a player who was named for the same person that his own high school was named for.

Hint: #2  He preceded and succeeded the same MLB manager.

A.  LARRY DIERKER  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Debuted for the Colt 45s on 22-Sep-1964.  (He turned 18 that day, but had been on the roster earlier at 17.)

-  #1  In the 1^st, he struck out Willie Howard Mays (Jr). who was named for his father who in turn was named for President William Howard Taft.  Dierker was at the time a very recent alum of William Howard Taft HS in Woodland Hills, California.

-  #2  Managing HOU, Dierker collapsed with grand mal seizure during the G on 13-Jun-1999.  Bench coach Matt Galante guided the team until Dierker’s return 23-Jul.

FCR -  Victor Piacentile, Yorktown Heights, New York

Incorrect guesses:  Lew Krausse, David Clyde, Rod Miller, Bud Black, Joe Nuxhall, Art Houtteman, Jay Dahl

 

SATURDAY  —14-May

Q.  Who was the first player to enlist for active duty in World War I?

Hint: #1   He caught the last seventeen innings of the only 26 inning game in regulation history.

Hint: #2  He had the most extra base hits in his team’s first World Series.

A.  HANK GOWDY  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  It’s what he’s probably best remembered for.  As a result, his name came up on 17 rounds of BBWAA ballots for the Hall, despite relatively unimpressive stats.

-  #1  01-May-1920, Brooklyn Robins vs Boston Braves, Gowdy caught the last 17 innings. Both pitchers pitched complete games (!!!). The score was 1-1, called on account of darkness. Both runs happened before Gowdy’s stretch behind the plate.

-  #2  In 1914 when the Miracle Braves beat the A’s.  Gowdy hit a series-best .545 and hit 2 doubles, a triple & HR.  Had the WS MVP existed then, he likely would have won it.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Chief Meyers, Rowdy Elliott, Eddie Grant

 

WEEKEND BONUS  —14-May

Q.  Who batted in the most runs in the first American League tiebreaker playoff game?

Hint: #1  He cost a certain Hall of Famer a lot of ketchup.

Hint: #2  Though not a pitcher, he holds the record for the longest ball ever thrown.

A.  KEN KELTNER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In the tiebreaker G on 04-Oct-1948 for the AL pennant, he had 3 RBI for CLE in the 8-3 win.

-  #1   He made 2 great defensive plays that are credited with ending Joe DiMaggio’s famous 56-G hit streak.  Had the streak gone on for one more game, DiMaggio would have received a $10,000 endorsement from Heinz.

-  #2  In August 1938, he threw 12 balls off Cleveland’s Terminal Tower.  At 138 MPH, only 2 were caught.  The 52-story, 708-foot drop is a record.

FCR -  Andrew Milner, Bryn Mawr, PA

Incorrect guesses:  Tommy Henrich, Bobby Doerr, Lou Boudreau, Rocky Colavito

 

SUNDAY  —15-May

Q.  Who was the first player to face Babe Ruth in a major league game?

Hint: #1  He’s the first person inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame who was also honored by Cooperstown.

Hint: #2  He became the first former player to become a play-by-play announcer.

A.  JACK GRANEY  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Graney led off for CLE on 11-Jul-1914 when they faced BOS.  Ruth got the win, 4-3.

-  #1   He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984, their 2^nd year of operation and he was honored by The Hall with the Ford Frick Award in 2022.

-  #2   After retiring from baseball in 1922, he became the play-by-play announcer for Cleveland, the first former player to do so.

FCR -  Michael Green, Las Vegas

Incorrect guesses:  Waite Hoyt, Nap Lajoie

 

AND FINALLY…  —15-May

Q.  Who wrote and published “Baseball Briefs”?

Hint: #1  He is the only one of this week’s answers who is interred in Arlington National Cemetery.

Hint: #2  He shares a salient feature with both of Horsehide Trivia’s founders.

A.  BOB DAVIDS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Davids wrote numerous freelance articles on baseball for The Sporting News between 1951 and 1965.  When it reduced the baseball coverage, Davids began his own baseball publication, Baseball Briefs.

-  #1  Passed away 10-Feb-2002 and because of his three decades plus of government service at the highest levels, was buried with other of the nation’s heroes at Arlington.

-  #2  All 3 have been know by their middle names their entire lives:  Terry Scott Brandon, Douglas Bruce Brown and Leonard Robert (“Bob”) Davids.

FCR -  Wayne McCombs, Claremore, Oklahoma

Incorrect guesses:  Hank Gowdy

 

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – Non-Hall of Famers with SABR chapters named for them

 

Allen............... Philadelphia Chapter (Co-named w/Connie Mack)

Auker.............. Central Florida Chapter

Baker.............. Sacramento Chapter

Davids............ Washington DC Region

Dierker........... Houston Chapter

Easter............. Rochester NY Chapter

Gowdy............ Columbus Ohio Chapter

Graney........... Cleveland Ohio Chapter

Keltner............ Wisconsin Chapter

Seminick........ Central Florida Chapter

Thomson........ UK Chapter

 First Correct Respondent identifying theme – Susan Keiser, Philadelphia (After Allen)

This week’s quiz was submitted by Toronto’s Sarah Grynpas. 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 Mon     -  MLB players born in Scotland

 

Tues    -  Hank Aaron’s outfield teammates with 200+ career HRs

            -  Players who batted behind Hank Aaron

 

Thu      -  Players with unique last names

            -  Players for whom SABR chapters are named

            -  SABR chapters named after players who were from the area (born there or lived there)

 

Fri        -  SABR chapters named after local area players who played interesting and prominent roles in baseball history

 

 

 

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