August 1-7, 2011 Hall of Famers who died the same year they were inducted

MONDAY

Q.         Who was the first commissioner of baseball?

Hint:     He was the son of a Civil War doctor and named this son after the battle site where he was wounded.

SABR:  Two of his brothers represented the state of Indiana in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Twint:    He enrolled in Cincinnati's YMCA School of Law after covering court cases for the Logansport (IN) Journal.

A.         Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis (Commissioner 1921-44)

First Correct Respondent - Patrick Fazzone, Arlington, VA

TUESDAY

Q.         Which manager converted Babe Ruth from pitching to the outfield?

Hint:     Before Terry Francona did it in 2004, he was the last manager to lead the Red Sox to a World Series Championship.

SABR:  He also managed the Tigers, preparing them for Ty Cobb.

Twint:    He is credited with discovering Honus Wagner.

A.         Ed Barrow

FCR -    Dave Williams, Glastonbury, CT

WEDNESDAY

Q.         What National League President was responsible for bringing baseball to the west coast?

Hint:     The NLCS championship trophy is name in his honor.

SABR:  His son, now honorary NL president, performs his only duty in that role when he presents the trophy named for his father to that year’s pennant winner.

Twint:    He was the first Reds General Manager to win back-to-back pennants.

A.         Warren Giles (1939-40)

FCR -    Chris Bell, New York City

THURSDAY

Q.         Who was the shortstop on the first fully professional baseball team?

Hint:     Two of his sons became golf champions.

SABR:  He is the only person to play at the top level of cricket and baseball.

Twint:    His son Beals won an Olympic Gold Medal in tennis in 1904.

A.         George Wright (Cricket 1883-84)

FCR -    Jim McCoy, Melrose, MA

FRIDAY

Q.         Who was the first pitcher to win a major league game before turning 20 and after turning 40?

Hint:     He was farm director of the Red Sox before becoming General Manager of the Phillies.

SABR:  Connie Mack’s son Earle caught a no-hitter thrown by this (at the time) first baseman, bringing him to the attention of the Tall Tactician.

Twint:    In 1915, he was given his outright release by the A’s after coming within one out of throwing the first Opening Day no hitter.

A.         Herb Pennock (14-Apr-1915 lost the no-hitter when Harry Hooper hit a scratch single)

FCR -    J.R. Richardson, Clarksville, MD

SATURDAY

Q.         Who leads all shortstops in career putouts?

Hint:     Pete Rose broke his National League longevity record in 1986.

SABR:  He played in two World Series, fourteen years apart. [Not “won”.  Sorry.]

Twint:    His managerial career lasted less than two months.

A.         Rabbit Maranville (SS Putouts; 23 years in the senior circuit; WS 1914 & 1928; Mgr. of the Cubs)

FCR -    Kenny Fink, Ocala

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Who holds the record for career losses by a lefty?

Hint:     Steve Carlton broke his National League left-handed longevity record in 1986.

SABR:  Upon his Hall of Fame election, he said, “They’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel, aren’t they?”

Twint:    He was considered the best golfer among baseball players during his career.

A.         Eppa Rixey (251 L; 21 years in the NL)

FCR -    Bradley Curtis, Roseville, CA

SUNDAY

Q.         Who holds the record for appearing in the most East-West All-Star Games?

Hint:     As a pitcher, he holds the record for the most strikeouts in a game in both the Puerto Rican League and the Negro National League (II).

SABR:  He landed on Utah Beach, Normandy on D-Day.

Twint:    Immediately following his military discharge in February 1946, he threw an Opening Day no-hitter.

A.         Leon Day (7 E-W ASG; 18, 19 Ks; No-no for the Newark Eagles)

FCR -    Rod Nelson, Detroit

WEEKLY THEME – Hall of Famers who died the same year they were inducted.

Barrow        1953      Bio

Day             1995      Bio

Giles           1979      Bio

Landis         1944      Bio

Maranville    1954      Bio

Pennock      1948      Bio

Rixey          1963      Bio

Wright         1937      Bio

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one

July 25-31, 2011 Top Ten Career Inside-The-Park Home Run Totals

MONDAY

Q.         Who retired with major league career records for games played, at bats, runs, hits, total bases, and batting average?

Hint:     That last one is still his and is likely to be his for some time to come.

SABR Hint:       He was the highest-paid player during his career but became a millionaire from his investments.

Twint:    He was peachy.

A.         Ty Cobb (G 3,035, AB 11,434, R 2,246, H 4,189, TB 5,854, AVG .366; Coca-Cola was the investment that paid the biggest dividends early for him; “Georgia Peach” was his nickname.)

First Correct Respondent - David Krassin, New York

TUESDAY

Q.         Who is the career leader in outfield assists?

Hint:     He twice had 35 in a season.

SABR Hint:       He got a World Series championship as a player/manager after winning two as a player.

Twint:    His career record of 792 career doubles seems safe.

A.         Tris Speaker (A 449; 35 A in 1909 & 1912; WS 1920, 1912, 1915)

FCR -    Charlie Brown, Washington, DC

TUESDAY 2’SDAY

Q.         Who was the first native of Pennsylvania in the Hall of Fame?

Hint:     He had, according to Lee Sinins' Sabermetric Baseball Encyclopedia, the greatest single offensive National League season in the 20^th century.

SABR Hint:       Jack Dunn, the same Jack Dunn who signed Babe Ruth to his first professional contract, gave up his first homer in the majors.

Twint:    His ERA of 0.00 is the lowest of any player in the Hall of Fame.

A.         Honus Wagner (HOF 1936; 1908 season; Dunn HR 27-Aug-1997 [N.B.  It cleared the fence.])

FCR -    Dave Williams, Glastonbury, CT

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who is the only player/manager to win the National League Most Valuable Player award?

Hint:     The last major league uniform he wore was that of an expansion team.

SABR Hint:       His career major league average was over 100 points higher than he hit in 857 at-bats in the minors.

Twint:    Born in Winters, he hated winters.

A.         Rogers Hornsby (NL MVP 1925; Coach NY Mets 1962; b. Winters, TX)

FCR -    Kenny Fink, Ocala, FL

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who was the first native of Brooklyn to make the Hall of Fame?

Hint:     His actual size is disputed by researchers.

SABR Hint:       His record of 206 singles in a season stood for over 100 years.

Twint:    Apparently the opposing defenses often positioned themselves poorly against him.

A.         Willie Keeler (HOF 1939; listed variously at 5'4" to 5'7"; 206 singles in 1898 broken by Ichiro Suzuki in 2004)

FCR -    Al Hurley, Columbia, MD

THURSDAY

Q.         Who was the first native of West Virginia elected to the Hall of Fame?

Hint:     He played for ten seasons in the minors after a sixteen-season career in the majors.

SABR Hint:       He was once on a St. Louis Cardinals team that featured four additional Hall of Famers, but finished in fifth place.

Twint:    He was once ejected from both ends of a double header.

Twint:    He was so disliked by a major league team he coached for that the players did not vote him a World Series share.  The team's Hall of Fame manager then made it up out of his own pocket.

A.         Jesse Burkett (Minors; 1900 St. Louis Cardinals had John McGraw, Cy Young, Bobby Wallace and Wilbert Robinson; Ejections 1897; Coach 1921 NY Giants managed by John McGraw)

FCR -    Michael Miller, Dublin, OH

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         Who was hailed as the "Japanese Nolan Ryan"?

Hint:     He was sold to the Padres by his Japanese team, but stated he’d only play for the Yankees.

Hint:     In the history of Nippon Professional Baseball, he had thrown the fastest pitch ever in a game until his record was eclipsed in 2005.

Hint:     …registering 158 on the radar gun.

SABR Hint:       He played for the Tigers after his major league career.

Twint:    He won two World Series rings, but he never played in either Series.

Twint:    His father’s given name was Ichiro.

A.         Hideiki Irabu (Chiba Lotte Marines; KPH, not MPH; Hansin Tigers; Marc Kroon was the speedier pitcher, WS 1998, 99)

FCR -    Prisco Panza, Milford, CT

FRIDAY

Q.         What Hall of Famer leads all first basemen in putouts and total chances?

Hint:     Only Eddie Murray played more games at first.

Hint:     He never played on a pennant winner, and only one team he played for finished as high as second place.

SABR Hint:       He was the umpire in the first Federal League game in Kansas City.

Twint:    His umpiring career lasted exactly one game.

A.         Jake Beckley (1b putouts; G @ 1b; 2^nd place team: the 1893 Pirates; Ump on 16-Apr-1914 )

FCR -    Tim Phares, Laurel, MD

SATURDAY

Q.         Who was the president of the Baseball Players’ Fraternity which sued for improved playing conditions?

Hint:     Even though he trails him by a lot, he trails only Eddie Collins in career sacrifice hits.

Hint:     Gil Hodges broke his record for games at first base by a Dodger.

SABR Hint:       The new, livelier ball didn’t mean the same results for everyone.  This guy’s career season for triples and home runs came two years into the live ball era.

Twint:    He played his final game against his doctor’s advice and died less than a week later.

A.         Jake Daubert (“Union” rep in 1913; 1,026 G @ 1b; Sac Hits; 3b/HR 1922; d. 09-Oct-1924)

FCR -    Kenny Fink, Ocala

SUNDAY

Q.         Which 20^th century home run leader led the league with the fewest homers?

Hint:     He had the first modern World Series base hit and run scored.

Hint:     He was driven in on that run by Honus Wagner.

SABR Hint:       He was the oldest player interviewed for “The Glory of their Times”.

Twint:    He roomed with Dummy Hoy on the road.

A.         Tommy Leach (6 HR in 1902; WS 01-Oct-1903; 86 at the time of the interview; TGOTT)

FCR -    Bill Garrod, Edgewood, WA

WEEKLY THEME – Top ten career inside-the-park home run totals.  Thanks go to David Vincent for this data.

Beckley   39      Bio

Burkett     55      Bio

Cobb       47      Bio

Daubert   30      Bio

Hornsby   32

Keeler      30      Bio

Leach      48      Bio

Roush      31      Bio

Speaker   38      Bio

Wagner    47      Bio

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one

July 18-24 Sluggers who were standout pitchers in college

MONDAY

Q.         What Gopher was drafted by MLB, the NBA and the ABA?

Hint:     His birth wasn’t necessarily the shot heard round the world, but it was the same day.

SABR Hint:       He trails only Tony Gwynn in career Total Bases for the Padres even though he only played eight of his 22 major league seasons there.

Twint:    He had the winning hit in the 1992 World Series.

A.         Dave Winfield (University of Minnesota Gophers, The Padres drafted him with the 4^th overall pick in the MLB draft, the others were the Minnesota Vikings (NFL), the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) and the Utah Stars (ABA); 24-Oct-1992)

First Correct Respondent - David Krassin, New York

TUESDAY

Q.         Who owns the highest [single season] American League batting average since its first season?

Hint:     Ichiro brought his name to the forefront recently.

SABR Hint:       He hit eighteen triples for three consecutive seasons.

Twint:    It was his American League record of consecutive games with a hit that Joe DiMaggio broke in 1941.

A.         George Sisler (.420 in 1922; Ichiro Suzuki broke his record for hits in a season of 257 in 1920.  Ichiro had 262 in 2004; 41 straight games—1922)

FCR -    Rod Nelson, Detroit

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who hit a home run once every 10.61 at bats, the lowest at-bats-per-home-run ratio in baseball history?

Hint:     Babe Ruth is second at second at 11.80.

SABR Hint:       He still holds the major league record for home runs by a rookie.

Twint:    He was a special kind of brother.

A.         Mark McGwire (49 HR in 1987; He was, with Jose Canseco, a Bash Brother.)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York

THURSDAY

Q.         Who was the first American League player to collect eight runs-batted-in during a single game in the 1980s?

Hint:     He was also the last National League player to collect eight runs-batted-in during a single game in the 1970s.

SABR Hint:       His .204 batting average was the lowest ever by a league home run champion.

Twint:    In his second ever game in the majors, he pinch-hit for a Hall of Famer and hit a double and a grand slam.

Twint:    In his first ever game in the majors, he pinch-ran for the same Hall of Famer.

A.         Dave Kingman (8 RBI 16-Apr-1984; 8 RBI 14-May-1978; 37 HR in 1982; 31-Jul-1971, Willie McCovey; 30-Jul-1971)

FCR -    John Rickert, Terre Haute

FRIDAY

Q.         Who is the only player in MLB history to hit 35 doubles in ten consecutive seasons?

Hint:     He is the only player in the majors to have 100-plus extra base hits in consecutive seasons.

SABR Hint:       He is still the career leader of his franchise in almost every offensive category.

Twint:    He opted for baseball when he was injured and Peyton Manning was placed ahead of him on the depth chart.

A.         Todd Helton (35 2b 1998–2007 [Read Fred Worth pointed out that Bobby Abreu also hit 35 doubles each year for a decade.]; 103 EBH 2000, 105 in 01)

FCR -    Steven Young, Middletown, MD

SATURDAY

Q.         Who was the last player to lead the league in doubles, batting average, on-base percentage, OPS+ and intentional bases-on-balls the year his team won the World Series?

Hint:     He was Rickey Henderson’s teammate on three different major league teams.

SABR Hint:       He hit for the cycle in both leagues.

Twint:    Both times he hit for the cycle, he hit his only triple of that season.

A.         John Olerud (1993; With Henderson on the Blue Jays 1993, the Mets 1999, Mariners 2000; Cycles 11-Sep-1997, 16-Jun-2001)

FCR -    David Matchett, Toronto

SUNDAY

Q.         Who hit the pink bat first home in major league history?

Hint:     He led the National League in outfield assists his first two years in the league.

Hint:     In 1995 he won the Golden Spikes Award, Rotary Smith Award and the College World Series Outstanding Player Award.

SABR Hint:       After Albert Hall in 1987, he was the next Brave to hit foot he cycle.

Twint:    His first post-season home run was inside-the-park.

A.         Mark Kotsay (Cycle 14-Aug-2008; IPHR 04-Oct 2006)

FCR -    Bill Garrod, Edgewood, WA

WEEKLY THEME – Sluggers who were standout pitchers in college.

Helton         University of Tennessee

Kingman     University of Southern California

Kotsay        Cal State Fullerton

McGwire     University of Southern California

Olerud        Washington State University

Sisler          University of Michigan            Bio

Winfield      University of Missesota          Bio

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Dave Williams, Glastonbury, CT (after the Sisler question)

July 11-17, 2011 Questions Missed at SABR 41

MONDAY

Q.            Yogi Berra won ten World Series championships, to lead all players.  Who is the only other player with nine?

A.            Joe DiMaggio (1936-39, 41, 47, 49-51)

First Correct Respondent - Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara

TUESDAY

Q.            What catcher leads all active players in career doubles?

A.            Ivan Rodriguez (572—21^st all-time)

FCR -      Dave MacEntee, Beacon, NY

TUESDAY BONUS

Q.            What 12-time All-Star infielder and former MVP switched from doing television color commentating for the MLB TV channel to ESPN in February of this year?

A.            Barry Larkin

FCR -      Rod Nelson, Detroit

WEDNESDAY

Q.            Who was the manager of the 1972 Albuquerque Dukes?

A.            Tommy Lasorda

FCR -      Jeff Korell, Van Nuys, CA

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.            What former Rookie of the Year Award winner was a member of the College Baseball Hall of Fame inaugural class?

A.            Bob Horner (ROY1978, CBHOF 2007)

FCR -      Jim Moyer, Ellicott City, MD

THURSDAY

Q.            Which Angel holds the franchise record for the most RBI (10) in a game?

A.            Garret Anderson (21-Aug-2007)

FCR -      Jim Casey, Savannah

BASTILLE DAY ALORS

Q.            What was the first team to win 100 games and not win its league championship?

A.            1909 Chicago Cubs (104 Wins- Pirates 110)

FCR -      Kenny Fink, Ocala

FRIDAY

Q.            What catcher did Dan Gladden bowl over in the 1991 World Series?

A.            Greg Olson

FCR -      Judah Kaplan, Silver Spring, MD

END-OF-THE-WEEK BONUS

Q.            The Bowie Bears, representing what city, won the first Texas state high school baseball title?

A.            El Paso (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1187581/index.htm)

FCR -      Paul Vastola, Fanwood, NJ

SATURDAY

Q.            What player holds the record for career double plays by a catcher?

A.            Ray Schalk (226)

FCR -      Dave MacEntee, Beacon, NY

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.            Who were the last two player/managers to face each other in the World Series?

A.            Frankie Frisch & Mickey Cochrane (1934 WS, Tigers and Cardinals)

FCR -      Jimmy Goggin, Williamsburg, VA

SUNDAY

Q.            The father of what current diminutive Dodger surrendered Alex Rodriguez’ first major league home run?

A.            Dee Gordon (Tom Gordon, HR 12-Jun-1995)

FCR -      Jimmy Goggin, Williamsburg, VA

SUNDAY EXTRA TIME

Q.            Who was the only league home run champion to wear uniform #1?

A:            Tommy Holmes (1945)

FCR -      Dave MacEntee, Beacon, NY

WEEKLY THEME –             Un- or incorrectly-answered questions from the Trivia Contest at the 41^st convention of the American Society of Baseball Research, held in Long Beach, California 07- & 09-Jul-2011.

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one 

July 4-10, 2011 Hall of Famers with consecutive games played streaks of 700 games

04-Jul-2011

MONDAY

Q.         Whom did Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick call "Baseball's Perfect Knight"?

Hint:     He is the only player in history with 600 doubles, 100 triples and 400 home runs.

SABR Hint:       He was the first National Leaguer to win three MVP awards.

Twint:    He was the first player to receive 300 Hall of Fame votes.

A.         Stan Musial (725 2b, 177 3b, 475 HR; MVP 1943, 46, 48; 317 HOF votes in 1969)

First Correct Respondent – Gregg Gaylord, Chicago

TUESDAY

Q.         Who was the first Cub to win the Rookie of the Year award?

Hint:     He got twice as many votes as Joe Torre.

SABR Hint:       He finished second in the MVP voting twice and both times to the same Hall of Famer.

Twint:    He was the only batter to work to a full count against Sandy Koufax in Koufax's perfect game.

A.         Billy Williams (ROY 1962; MVP votes 1970, 72 Johnny Bench; Koufax game 09-Sep-1965)

FCR -    Jim Casey, Savannah

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Which Hall of Famer replaced Ray Chapman in the Indians' lineup following Chapman’s untimely death in 1920?

Hint:     In his entire fourteen-year career in the majors, only twice did he strike out in a game more than once.

SABR Hint:       One of his brothers played briefly in the majors, but another brother played for twenty years in the bigs, even making an All-Star squad.

SABR Hint:       His cousin of the same last name enjoyed a thirteen-year career with three All-Star appearances.

Twint:    He was Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Alabama while preparing for medical school.

A.         Joe Sewell (debut 10-Sep-1920; 2Ks each by Cy Warmoth in 1923 and Pat Caraway on 26‑May‑1930)

FCR -    Mark Jones, Birmingham

SABR 41 BONUS

Q.         Who was the only rookie selected to the 1948 National League All-Star team?

Hint:     The Cleveland Indians tried to sign him when he was still in high school.

SABR Hint:       He finished 3^rd in the second ever BBWA Rookie of the Year vote.

Twint:    He is the only player in the Hall of Fame who had a twin sister.

A.         Richie Ashburn

FCR -    J.R. Richardson, Clarksville, MD

THURSDAY

Q.         Who was the first player to win the MVP and gold Glove awards in the same season?

Hint:     He once hit a bloop double that hit his own glove in shallow centerfield.

SABR Hint:       He had the most at-bats during the decade of 1951-60.

Twint:    He missed gaining Hall of Fame election by a mere 2 votes in 1985.

A.         Nellie Fox (MVP GG 1959; 2b 04-Aug-1950)

FCR -    Dave MacEntee, Beacon, NY

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         What famously hard-nosed manager once said, “I don’t know anybody who refused the World Series checks I helped them get.”?

Hint:     He managed the Red Sox , A’s and Padres to league championships.

Hint:     Hall of Famer Bill McKechnie is the only other one to manage that feat.

Hint:     He won two World Series championships with the A’s.

Hint:     As a player, he drove in Gil Hodges and Roy Campanella with his first career home run.

SABR Hint:       As a player, he hit as many home runs off Billy Pierce and Whitey Ford as he did off any other pitchers.

SABR Hint:       A year after winning the American League pennant, he stripped Carl Yastrzemski of his captaincy with the Red Sox.

SABR Hint:       He and Lou Piniella are the only managers in history to lead four teams to seasons of 90 or more wins.

Twint:    He went to school in Pasadena, but it wasn’t Cal Tech.

Twint:    He converted Rollie Fingers from a starter to a reliever.

Twint:    Fingers entered the Hall of Fame on the strength of his record as a reliever.

A.         Dick Williams (Pasadena High School)

FCR -    Kenny Fink, Ocala

FRIDAY

Q.         Which former shortstop was the only National League first baseman to record 22 putouts in a game?

Hint:     He attended the same high school as did Norah Jones and Edie Brickell.

SABR Hint:       It was also the high school of Negro Leaguer Bill Blair.

Twint:    He was a letterman and standout in football, basketball and track in high school, where he graduated in 1950.

A.         Ernie Banks (22 PO 09-May-1963 w/Dick Ellsworth pitching; Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas, TX)

FCR -    J.J. McCoy, Washington, DC

SATURDAY

Q.         Whose 220 hits in a season are the most by a player who walked 100 times in the 20^th century?

Hint:     He stole home for his first career stolen base.

SABR Hint:       His 31 strikeouts with 49 home runs are the fewest strikeouts in a 40 homer season.

Twint:    He made his final All-Star team appearance as an injury replacement for George Case.

A.         Lou Gehrig (220H/101 1930; SB 24-Jun-1925; K/HR 1931; AS 1939)

FCR -    Kenny Fink, Ocala

SUNDAY

Q.         Who led the league in sacrifice flies the year his team finished last, 34.5 games out of first place?

Hint:     He led or tied for the lead nine times in his career for games played in a season.

SABR Hint:       He holds the American League record for winning Most Valuable Player Awards the most years apart.

Twint:    He twice won the All-Star game Most Valuable Player Award.

A.         Cal Ripken (10 SF for 1988 Orioles; MVPs 1983, 1991;  AS MVPs 1991, 2001)

FCR -    Jim Casey, Savannah

WEEKLY THEME – Hall of Famers with consecutive games played streaks of 700 games (I guess Lou and Cal had three each!)

Players   Games   From                           Date Ended

Ashburn            730      07-Jun-1950     to     26-Sep-1954

Banks               717      26-Aug-1956    to     22-Jun-1961

Fox        Bio      798      07-Aug-1955    to     03-Sep-1960

Gehrig    Bio    2,130      01-Jun-1925     to     30-Apr-1939

Musial               895      15-Apr-1952     to     22-Aug-1957

Ripken   Bio    2,632      30-May-1982    to     19-Sep-1998

Sewell    Bio    1,103      13-Sep-1922    to     30-Apr-1930

Williams          1,117      22-Sep-1963    to     02-Sep-1970

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara (after the Sewell question)