Horsehide Trivia

Sunday, March 13, 2011

March 7-13, 2011 Players elected to the Hall of Fame in their second year of eligibility

MONDAY

Q. Who, according to his biographer Allen Barra, is the greatest catcher of all time?

Hint: Neither Hanna nor Barbara would likely disagree.

SABR Hint: He became a Vice President for Yoo-Hoo corporation principally due to his love of their beverage product.

Twint: He’s got ten rings (10!).

A. Yogi Berra (Barra’s book “Yogi Berra: The Eternal Yankee”; Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Yogi Bear with a name too close to be a coincidence; Yoo-Hoo)

First Correct Respondent - Art Springsteen, Sunapee, NH

TUESDAY

Q. Who pitched the first perfect game in the American League?

Hint: He didn’t win much serious hardware, but now he IS major hardware.

SABR Hint: Symmetrically, he spent eight years with the Spiders.

Twint: Holds the career record for pitching victories.

Twint: Holds the career record for innings pitched.

Twint: Holds the career record for games started.

Twint: Holds the career record for complete games.

Twint: Holds the career record for losses.

Twint: Holds the career record for batters faced.

A. Cy Young (05-May-1904; Cy Young Award, given to the league’s outstand pitcher each season; 511 W, 7,356 IP, 815 GS, 749 CG, 316 L, 29,565 BF)

FCR - Rick Zucker, St. Louis

WEDNESDAY

Q. Who holds the career record for assists by an outfielder?

Hint: Many consider him the best centerfielder ever to play.

SABR Hint: He holds the career record for doubles.

Twint: Until Craig Biggio also did the feat in 1998, he had been, for 86 years the only player to hit 50 doubles and steal 50 bases in the same season.

A. Tris Speaker (449 A; 792 2b; 50/50 in 1912)

FCR - Michael Daponde, Sacramento

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q. Who is the only second baseman to win a League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award and an All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award?

Hint: No second baseman has won more Gold Glove Awards.

Hint: Only one second baseman has won more Silver Slugger Awards.

SABR Hint: He hit .313 in 58 postseason games.

Twint: He once dated French professional tennis star Mary Pierce.

A. Roberto Alomar (ALCS MVP 1992, ASG MVP 1998; 10 GG; 4 SS)

FCR - Ira Kotel, Short Hills, NJ

THURSDAY

Q. Which player led the American League in triples in 457 at-bats one season and then in 508 at-bats the following year, had no triples at all?

Hint: He is the first player born in his state to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

SABR Hint: In a high school state tournament basketball game he once score 42 points and had 39 rebounds in a losing effort.

Twint: How he looked as a child is where he got his nickname.

A. Carlton Fisk (9 3b in 1972, 0 in ’73; Born in Vermont, but also claimed by New Hampshire since that is where his parents lived at the time of his birth. He is the only Hall of Famer from either state; “Pudge”)

FCR - John Rickert, Terre Haute

FRIDAY

Q. Which pitcher’s 2.74 ERA is the best career mark (minimum 3,000 IP) since the end of the deadball era (1920)?

Hint: He was the first left-handed batter to retire with more than 150 career hits without ever hitting a triple.

SABR Hint: This native New Yorker played his whole career for a New York team.

Twint: He has more losses than any pitcher in World Series history.

A. Whitey Ford (8 WS L)

FCR - John Burbridge, Elon, NC

SATURDAY

Q. Whose career World Series record for saves did Mariano Rivera break?

Hint: He was briefly a Cardinal.

Hint: His father was briefly in the Cardinals farm system.

SABR Hint: He earned a win during the game where Gaylord Perry got his 3,000^th strikeout.

Twint: He struck out Johnny Bench on a fake intentional walk in the World Series.

A. Rollie Fingers (01-Oct-1978; Ersatz IBB 1972 G 5)

FCR - Rich Klein, Plano, TX

SUNDAY

Q. Who was the first American League player to hit fifty doubles in a season?

Hint: His 86-point advantage gave him a batting title by the widest margin in history.

SABR Hint: He was the first New England native in the Hall of Fame.

Twint: He broke his hand trying to punch a Hall of Fame teammate, drawing a 5-week suspension without pay.

A. Napoleon Lajoie (51 2b in 1910; .426 in 1901 over Mike Donlin’s .̀340; Elmer Flick)

FCR - Joe Haardt, McLean, VA

WEEKLY THEME – Players elected to the Hall of Fame in their second year of eligibility.

2011 ROBERTO ALOMAR

1972 YOGI BERRA

1992 ROLLIE FINGERS

2000 CARLTON FISK

1974 WHITEY FORD

1937 Napoleon Lajoie

1937 Tris Speaker

1937 Cy Young

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Bill Deane, Cooperstown, NY (after the Speaker question)

Sunday, March 6, 2011

February 28-March 6, 2011 Lefties with 40 saves in a season.

MONDAY

Hint:

Twint: “Wild Thing”

A. Mitch Williams

First Correct Respondent - John Ricker, Terre Haute

TUESDAY

Hint:

Twint: “Rags”

A. Dave Righetti

FCR - David Krassin, New York

WEDNESDAY

Hint:

Twint: “Billy the Kid”

A. Billy Wagner

FCR - Alan Work, White Plains, NY

THURSDAY

Hint:

Twint: “Nasty Boy”

A. Randy Myers

FCR - Peter Mitchell, Mission Viejo, CA

FRIDAY

Hint:

Twint: Fifteen seasons; two All-Star games; one Cy Young Award.

A. Mark Davis

FCR - John Rickert, Terry Haute

SATURDAY

Hint:

Twint: Played almost every day.

A. Eddie Guardado

FCR - Al Blumkin, Brooklyn

SUNDAY

Hint:

Twint: T-Rex

A. Brian Fuentes

FCR - Judah Kaplan, New York

WEEKLY THEME – Lefties with 40 saves in a season.

Davis 44 in 1989

Fuentes 48 in 2009

Guardado 45 in 2002

Myers 53 in 1993; 45 in 1997

Righetti 46 in 1986

Wagner 44 in 2003; 40 in 2006

Williams 43 in 1993

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – David Krassin, New York (after the Wagner question)

Sunday, February 27, 2011

February 21-27, 2011 The 12 All-Star Games played in by Aaron, Mays & Musial

20-Feb-2011

MONDAY

Q. Which All-Star Game did the National League win on a home run by Stan Musial in the bottom of the 12^th inning?

Hint: Mickey Mantle also homered in the game.

SABR Hint: Arch Ward, impresario and originator of the All-Star Game concept, died on his way to the game.

Twint: A future NBA player struck out the side in the 12^th and got the win.

Twint: County Stadium, Milwaukee, WI

A. 1955 (Conley w/the W; Ward was actually buried on the day of the game; http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/1955-all-star-game-winning-bat-on-block/

First Correct Respondent – Phil Oppenheim, Sacramento

TUESDAY

Q. In which All-Star Game is a gust of wind a significant part of the game’s lore?

Hint: Facing Whitey Ford in the first inning, Willie Mays was put out for the first time in eleven at‑bats against him.

SABR Hint: It was the first time Mays had come to bat in an All-Star game in his home team’s park.

Twint: In his first All-Star appearance Sandy Koufax faced only Roger Maris, surrendering a single.

Twint: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA

A. 1961, first game (Pitcher Stu Miller balked at the exact moment one of Candlestick’s famous gusts of wind arose. To this day he denies any connection between the two events.)

FCR -

TUESDAY BONUS

Q. Which was the first All-Star Game played without an extra-base hit?

Hint: Billy O’Dell, pitching in his home team’s stadium, threw three perfect innings.

SABR HINT: Hall of Fame Early Wynn earned his only All-Star win.

Twint: Nellie Fox was the only player with more than one hit.

A. 1958 (O’Dell pitched the 7^th, 8^th & 9^th & got the save)

FCR - David Serota, Kalamazoo

WEDNESDAY

Q. Which was the first All-Star Game to end in a tie?

Hint: After a first inning home run, no other American League runner reached second base until the ninth inning.

SABR Hint: Only one American League pitcher gave up any hits in the game.

SABR Hint: He gave up five.

Twint: Fenway Park, Boston, MA

A. 1961, second game (Rocky Colavito with the 1^st inning HR; Don Schwall gave up 5 H)

FCR - Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q. In which All-Star Game did Mays, Mantle, Musial and Williams all homer?

Hint: It was the first year where 60% of radio and television All-Star Game revenues went to the players’ pension fund.

SABR Hint: Mays’s home run was his seventh consecutive hit off Whitey Ford.

Twint: Ken Boyer got three hits and denied three hits with sparkling plays at third base.

A. 1956

FCR - Al Blumkin, Brooklyn

THURSDAY

Q. Which All-Star Game was impacted by (also the cause of) the “Cincinnati Scandal”?

Hint: Commissioner Ford Frick named Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Stan Musial to replace George Crowe, Wally Post and Gus Bell respectively.

SABR Hint: Musial would have been the only non-Cincinnati starter according to the fans’ vote totals.

Twint: Minnie Minoso saved the game with a running catch in the outfield.

A. 1957

FCR - Larry Lamb, Kettering, OH

FRIDAY

Q. For which All-Star Game was Hank Aaron the first player unanimously chosen?

Hint: Whitey Ford was credited with a blown save.

SABR Hint: It was Willie Mays who sent Ford to the showers, with his 8^th consecutive hit off the New York native.

Twint: Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PA

A. 1959, first game

FCR - Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara

FRIDAY INSOUCIANCE

Q. Which was the first All-Star Game played entirely on the west side of the state of Missouri?

Hint: Bill Monbouquette surrendered Del Crandall’s only All-Star home run in the game.

SABR Hint: Bob Friend won the second of his two All-Star victories.

Twint: Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, MO

A. 1960, first game

FCR - Andrew Milner, Bryn Mawr, PA

SATURDAY

Q. Which All-Star Game was the first played in California?

Hint: Twenty-year-old pitcher Jerry Walker started for the American League, making his only All-Star appearance.

SABR Hint: Walker got the victory.

Twint: Musial was the only batter Walker walked.

A. 1959, second game

FCR - Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA

SATURDAY, BUT LATER ON…

Q. In which game did the Splendid Splinter make his final All-Star at-bat?

Hint: Williams pinch-hit for Minnie Minoso, stroked a single and was replaced by speedster Brooks Robinson.

SABR Hint: Stan Musial hit his record sixth All-Star home run in the game.

Twint: Vern Law was the second Pirate to earn an All-Star victory that year, a mere two days after his teammate Bob Friend.

Twint: Six different pitchers combined on the shut-out effort.

A. 1960, second game

FCR - Abbey Garber, Dallas

WEEKEND BONUS

Q. In which All-Star Game was the starting National League infield made up entirely of St Louis Cardinals?

Hint: It was the first year in five where only one All-Star Game would be played.

SABR Hint: Tom Haller’s brother made his first All-Star appearance.

Twint: Don Drysdale earned his only All-Star save.

A. Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OH, 1963 (Umpire Bill Haller also appeared in 1970, 75 & 81)

FCR - Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA

SUNDAY

Q. When did an American League player first win an All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award?

Hint: It would be 21 years before the American League again scored as many runs in an All‑Star game.

SABR Hint: This was the American League’s first win in five tries.

Twint: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

A. 1962, second game (ASG MVP Leon Wagner)

FCR - Randall Chandler, Germantown, TN

IN MEMORIAM

Q. Willie, Mickey and ________?

Hint: He hit more home runs than any other player in the decade of the 1950s.

Hint: He was the 10^th player to hit 400 home runs, but the first to hit his 400^th on color television.

Hint: He holds the record for the most home runs by one player off a single pitcher.

Hint: He hit the last home run at Ebbets Field.

Hint: He was the first Dodger to get a hit in Los Angeles.

Hint: He is the only player to hit four home runs in a World Series twice.

Twint: He wore the uniform number vacated by Gil Hodges when Hodges entered World War II.

Twint: He was the first player with 40 home runs and fewer than 100 RBI in the same season.

Twint: As a quarterback at Compton High School, he could reportedly throw a football 70 yards.

A. The Duke Duke Snider http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110227&content_id=16753578&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb (326 HR 1950-59; 14-Jun-1963; 19 HR off Robin Roberts; 22-Sep-1957 [off Roberts]; 1^st L.A. H 18‑Apr‑1958; 40+ HR & <100 RBI in 1957)

FCR - Leonard Levin,

WEEKLY THEME –

Stan Musial, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron each played in a record 24 All-Star Games. These are the twelve they played in together. Aaron was a reserve on 1962a, but didn’t get in.

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one

Sunday, February 20, 2011

February 14-20, 2011 AL MVP winners opposite Barry Bonds

14-Feb-2011

MONDAY

Q. During a break in a major league game, who took the microphone and publicly proclaimed himself, “…the greatest of all time!”?

Hint: Admittedly, he slipped a little and referred to himself in the first person. He was probably just excited.

SABR Hint: Nolan Ryan notched his 7^th no-hitter the same day.

Twint: His career record of 1,408 stolen bases will probably stand at least as long as Cy Young’s 749 complete games.

A. Rickey Henderson (Self-proclamation came when he passed Lou Brock on the career steal list. 01-May-1991; Usually refers to himself in the 3^rd person; Ryan)

First Correct Respondent - Dan Silverberg, Aventura, FL

TUESDAY

Q. Who was the oldest player to win the American League Most Valuable Player Award?

Hint: His career was with these teams in this sequence: Indians, Red Sox, Cubs, A's, Cardinals, Red Sox.

SABR Hint: He threw the 200^th no-hitter in major league history.

Twint: Ron Darling said, "He's the most amazing pitcher I've ever seen. He has the ability to throw a strike any time he wants. Nobody else can do that. Nobody."

A. Dennis Eckersley (AL MVP 1992 at age 38; inNo-hitter 30-May-1977)

FCR - Richard Nicholson, Richmond, VA

WEDNESDAY

Q. What Dominican grew up idolizing Cal Ripken and then got the chance to replace him?

Hint: His consecutive games played streak reached to over 40% of Cal’s total.

SABR Hint: That places him 5^th all-time.

Twint: He received a sentence of one year probation after he admitted that he’d lied to Congress.

A. Miguel Tejeda (1,152 G to Ripken’s 2,632; Record)

FCR - David Krassin, New York

THURSDAY

Q. What Dominican grew up idolizing Cal Ripken and is now in second place behind him for career home runs hit by a shortstop?

Hint: He has 14 seasons with 100 RBI, the most in history.

SABR Hint: He and Jose Canseco are both linked to Guy Ritchie.

Twint: He has signed the two most lucrative contracts in the history of major league baseball.

Twint: Yes, he DOES know how popcorn works, but it’s always nice to be shown.

A. Alex Rodriguez (344 HR @ SS; Both dated Madonna, Ritchie’s husband; Popcorn video)

FCR - Blake Sherry, Dublin, OH

FRIDAY

Q. Who leads a 110-year old franchise in 23 career offensive categories, but played for two other teams during his career, one of them twice?

Hint: This according to Baseball-Reference.

SABR Hint: He is one of only four players with a .300 batting average, 500 home runs, 1,500 RBI, 1,000 runs and 1,500 bases-on-balls.

Twint: He was a college teammate of Bo Jackson.

A. Frank Thomas (The other stat holders: Mel Ott, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams; played football with Jackson at Auburn University.)

FCR - Kevin Johnson, Broken Arrow, OK

SATURDAY

Q. Whose 44-game hitting streak against the Texas Rangers is the longest player‑versus‑team such stat since MLB began keeping track?

Hint: Jose Santiago said of him, "There's no way to pitch to him. The pitches haven't been invented to get that guy out."?

Hint: Frank Robinson said, ". He doesn't take a back seat to anyone I've ever seen play this game. Ever."

SABR Hint: He just signed with his fourth major league team.

Twint: He and his brother were once both intentionally walked in the same inning.

Twint: In 2009, he broke the record he had shared with Frank Robinson and Jeff Kent by stroking his 19^th Opening Day run batted in.

A. Vladimir Guerrero (Streak ended 05-Aug-2006 where he was 0 for 4 but w/ a BB & 3 R; BB w/bro Wilton 07-Jul-1999 [Turns out it WASN’T the same inning and Wilton’s walk wasn’t intentional. Other than that, my eyewitness account was completely reliable.])

FCR - Steven Young, Middletown, MD

IN MEMORIAM

Q. Who had the first at-bat in a major league game on the west coast?

Hint: He struck out.

Hint: His only All-Star appearance was the year before.

Hint: Doubling his previous career high, he led the American League in triples his first year there.

Twint: He was once traded for a player who had been Rookie of the Year in the National League.

A. Gino Cimoli Passed away this week. (15-Apr-1958; 15 3b in 1962; AS 1957; traded for Wally Moon)

FCR - Barry Mednick, Yorba Linda, CA

IN MEMORIAM 2

Q. Which manager did Joe Torre replace in New York?

Hint: As far as we know, he never fought Ali.

SABR Hint: His four years as a player in the majors were dwarfed by his 14 years in the minors.

Twint: He spent time in the minors on the rosters of the Triplets, the Raiders, the Barons, the Indians, the Missions and the Orioles.

Twint: …as well as the Mounties and another version of the Indians.

A. Joe Frazier Passed away this week. (Mets mgr. 1976-77)

FCR - Harvey Judkowitz, Miami

SUNDAY

Q. Whose long-standing hit record was broken this year by Matt Murton?

Hint: He led his league in at-bats seven out of his first ten seasons.

SABR Hint: As a young boy, his daily routine included throwing 50 pitches, fielding 50 infield balls and 50 outfield balls, and hitting 500 pitches, 250 from a pitching machine and 250 from his father.

Twint: He holds the major league single-season record for the most hits.

Twint: He hit the only inside-the-park home run in All-Star history.

A. Ichiro Suzuki (214 H in 144 games in the Japanese League [NPD]; 262 H in 2004);

FCR - P.L. Cohen, Brooklyn

WEEKLY THEME – The seven American League Most Valuable Award winners who won it the same seasons that Barry Bonds won it in the National League.

1990 Henderson Oakland A’s

1992 Eckersley Oakland A’s

1993 Thomas Chicago White Sox

2001 Ichiro Seattle Mariners

2002 Tejada Oakland A’s

2003 A-Rod Texas Rangers

2004 Guerrero Anaheim Angels

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one