October 1-7, 2012 Players with an RBI in the 2002 All Star Game (7-7 tie)

01-Oct-2012

MONDAY

Q:         What player holds the career record for both bases on balls and intentional bases on balls?

Hint:     Despite the fact he surpassed 600 career home runs, he only led the league twice in single seasons.

Hint:     He has third best career at-bat-to-home run ratio, behind only those of Mark McGwire and Babe Ruth.

Twint:    He also holds the all-time record for the highest single season slugging percentage.

Twint:    Unlike his home run record, he led the league seven times in slugging percentage.

A.            Barry Bonds (2,558 BB, 688 IBB; Career HR 762, 43 HR in 1993 and 73 in 2001; AB/HR McGwire/Ruth/Bonds: 10.61/11.76/12.92; Slugging % 2001 .8634, led 1990, 92, 93, 2001, 02, 03 & 04)

FCR – Derek Norin, Arlington, VA

TUESDAY

Q:         Which player did Tommy Lasorda draft in the 62^nd round in 1988, merely as a favor to the player’s father?

Hint:     Despite this, he won Rookie of the Year in 1993.

Hint:     Having hit over .300 ten times in his career, he is arguably the best offensive catcher in baseball history.

Twint:    He and Roger Clemens are not best friends.

Twint:    He coached for Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, the 2009 Baseball World Cup and the 2010 baseball European Championship.

A.            Mike Piazza (Mike Piazza’s father Vince childhood friends with Lasorda, Schwarz, Alan, "Piazza Calls It Quits After 16 Years and 427 Homers". New York Times 21-May-2008; Career highlights and milestones; Beaned by Clemens 08-Jul-2000 and avoided Clemens’ projectile 2000 WS.  Coaching history)

FCR – Steven Young, Middletown, MD

WEDNESDAY

Q:         Which “clubhouse problem” player was traded to the Dodgers in 2008 after helping Boston win two World Series after their championship drought of 86 years?

Hint:     He was also the 2004 World Series Most Valuable Player.

Hint:     He and David Ortiz were considered one of the most fearsome tandems during the Boston seasons of 2004-2007.

Twint:    In each of his 8 year stints with Boston and Cleveland, and his 3 year career with the Dodgers, he hit over .300.

Twint:    However, in his limited time at Tampa Bay in 2011, he only managed a .059 BA.

A.            Manny Ramirez (.312/.313/.322/.059 Cleveland/Boston/LA/TB http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ramirma02.shtml   Clubhouse problem, Ortiz battery mate: www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Manny_Ramirez)

FCR – Ron Kaufman, Thornhill,  ON

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q:         After the worst complete season of his career in 2010, which switch-hitter was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for their Championship 2011 season?

Hint:     Selected 16th overall in the 1997 amateur draft by the Astros, he signed for a $1 million bonus.

Hint:     In 2009, he matched teammates Carlos Lee and Alex Rodriguez as the only three players to hit 20 home runs per year from 2000-2009.

Twint:    In 2012 he a poked this jab at Selig: "I feel basically like the commissioner extorted Jim Crane into moving the Astros."

Twint:    He also criticized Selig for moving an Astros vs. Cubs game to Miller Field because of Hurricane Ike, where Carlos Zambrano blanked the Astros with a no hitter.

A.            Lance Berkman (.248 2010 BA HOU/NYY with career avg of .299 prior to this from http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/berkmla01.shtml .  Other hints/twints referenced from www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Lance%20Berkman)

FCR – Peter Cottrell, Gaithersburg, MD

THURSDAY

Q:         Who leads active players with a career OBP of .4189?

Hint:     In 2000 he led the majors in batting average (.372), slugging percentage (.698), OPS (1.162), doubles (59) and RBI (147), and the National League in hits (216).

Hint:     That same year, he missed the triple crown finishing 10^th in the majors with “only” 42 home runs.

Twint:    In his fourteen complete seasons in the majors, he has only once failed to hit .300.

Twint:    He ended his 2012 season August 6^th electing to have season- (and possibly career-) ending hip surgery.

A.            Todd Helton (OBP active leaders; .256 in 2010; Hip surgery)

FCR – David Matchett, Toronto

THURSDAY BONUS

Q:         In 2002 which player led the majors in plate appearances, at-bats, runs, stolen bases and total bases and hits?

Hint:     Despite 46 home runs in 2006, he had the unusual circumstance of having fewer than 100 RBI due his status as a lead-off hitter.

Hint:     His home run total that year still stands as a franchise record for one season.

Twint:    He is one of only four players to ever hit forty home runs and steal forty bases in a season.

Twint:    He also hit forty doubles that year, creating the first 40‑40‑40 club.

A.         Alfonso Soriano (Turns out he *only* led the NL in steals that year.  46 HR record for Montreal/Washington)

FCR – Judah Kaplan, Teaneck, NJ

FRIDAY

Q:         Who has the best fielding percentage for a shortstop in MLB history (with at least 10 years’ experience)?

Hint:     In 2007, passed Ozzie Smith for most career double plays.

Hint:     He won eleven Gold Gloves at shortstops, nine consecutively with the Indians, and three years later two consecutively with the San Francisco Giants.

Hint:     The White Sox allowed him to wear retired #11 with the permission of Luis Aparicio.

Twint:    In 2008, he passed Aparicio in career games at shortstop.

Twint:    In 2009, he also passed Aparicio for most career hits by a player born in Venezuela.

Twint:    Two days ago, he played the final of his 2,968 major league games.

A.            Omar Vizquel (Career Fielding % .9847 24 yrs.  Tulowitzki .9852 with 7 years play http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/fielding_perc_ss_career.shtml Other hints: http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Omar%20Vizquel)

FCR – Diane Firstman, Queens, NY

BEGINNING OF THE WEEKEND BONUS

Q:         Who is the only player to hit a Grand Slam this century in the World Series?

Hint:     On April 13, 2009, he and Jermaine Dye hit their 300th homers in the majors, the first teammates to do so in the same game.

Hint:     They managed the feat in back-to-back at-bats.

Twint:    On May 27^th, 2012, he became the second player after his former teammate Frank Thomas to have hit 400 homers as a member of the White Sox.

Twint:    In 2004, he won the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award

A.            Paul Konerko (WS GS: http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Grand_slam Other hints: http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Paul%20Konerko

FCR – Robert Workman, Ashburn, VA

SATURDAY

Q:         In his first home run of the 2007 season, which Brewer catcher hit an 11^th inning walk off home run?

Hint      Born in LaCrosse, WI, he hit the home run on June 27^th, LaCrosse Day at Miller Park.

Hint:     The next day, he tied a franchise record with 7 RBI in one game including a grand slam and a 2 run homer.

Twint:    He was a replacement player during the 1994 MLB strike and was barred from ever joining the player’s union.

Twint:    Also as a consequence, his name does not appear on any of the official merchandise from his 2001 Arizona Diamondback World Series winning team.

A.            Damian Miller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damian_Miller

FCR – Randall Chandler, Germantown, TN

SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL

Q:         In 1995 which player finished 2^nd in Rookie of the Year voting to Marty Cordova of the Twins?

Hint:     In 2003 he won All-Star Game MVP and won the Home Run Derby, the first to do so since Cal Ripken, Jr. in 1991.

Hint:     He is one of only seven players to have a 30 home run season with more home runs than walks.

Twint:    He established the Angels team record for grand slams with eight.

Twint:    He established the Angels team record for RBIs in a game with ten.

Twint:    He now works for Fox Sports West as an Angels pregaBillme and postgame reporter.

A.            Garret Anderson (2000 35 HR/ 24 BB; 8^th GS 21-Aug-2007; 10 RBI, same game; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garret_Anderson)

FCR – Wayne McCombs,, Claremore, OK

SUNDAY

Q:         Who replaced Cal Ripken, Jr. after his last season in the majors?

Hint:     In 2001, after a dismal start, the Blue Jays put his name on waivers and were stunned when the Baltimore Orioles claimed him, putting him directly into their line-up.

Hint:     He then went three for four with a home run in his first game with his new team against his former teammates.

Twint:    He is perhaps best remembered for his highly unorthodox open batting stance where he stood at the back of the box almost directly facing the pitcher.

Twint:    In 2004 with the Expos and weakened by mononucleosis, he went into a severe slump that included a record tying major-league record five strike outs in a 9-inning game.

A.            Tony Batista (2001 taken off waivers by the Orioles, and he started at 3^rd base 2002 after Ripken retired.  All hints/twints: http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Tony%20Batista)

FCR – Bill Kreifeldt, Midvale, UT

THEME:  Players with an RBI in the 2002 All Star Game (7-7 tie).

AL –

Ramirez      1 RBI 4^th inning 1b off     Odalis Perez

Soriano       1 RBI 5^th inning HR off     Eric Gagne

Anderson    1 RBI 7^th inning FC off     Mike Remlinger

Batista        1 RBI 7^th inning 1b off     Byung-Hyun Kim

Konerko      2 RBI 7^th inning 2b off     Byung-Hyun Kim

Vizquel       1 RBI 8^th inning 3b off     Robb Nen

NL –

Piazza         1 RBI 2^nd inning FC off    Derek Lowe

Helton         1 RBI 3^rd inning 1b off     Roy Halladay

Bonds        2 RBI 3^rd inning HR off    Roy Halladay

Miller          1 RBI 5^th inning 2b off     Mark Buehrle

Berkman     2 RBI 7^th inning 1b off     Kazuhiro Sasaki

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara

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

September 24-30, 2012 Batters who totaled 100 major league home runs during the 19th century

MONDAY

Q.         Who hit .440 in a major league season?

Hint:     Seriously, he hit .440.

Hint:     Four additional batters hit over .400 that year.

Hint:     No fluke that.  He hit over .350 the year before and the year after.

Twint:    He ended with a career .300+ average in four different major leagues.

A.         Hugh Duffy (.440 in 1894; .363 in 1893, .353 in 1895;.326 in 14 years in the National League, .336 in a year in the American Association, .320 in the Players League’s only season, & .302 in the American League’s inaugural season)

FCR      J.R. Richardson, Clarksville, MD

TUESDAY

Q.         Who was the first National League player with 200 hits in a season?

Hint:     He did it in only 127 games.

Hint:     He once hit 165 RBI in a season where he only played 119 games.

Twint:    He established a record of hitting two bases-loaded triples in one game against Indianapolis, a mark that has been tied but not broken.

Twint:    His great-grandfather served under Washington in the Revolutionary War.

A.         Sam Thompson (203 H in 1887 [N.B. Tip O’Neill hit 225 in 124 G in the AA the same year.]; 165 RBI in 1895; Colonel William Washington, George Washington's nephew)

FCR -    John Rickert, South Bend, IN

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Which Hall of Famer had the highest OPS+ of any 19^th century player?

Hint:     He was the first (THIRD, actually) player to win back-to-back batting titles?

Hint:     In fact, he won league batting titles while playing for four different teams.

Hint:     "[He] really was a great hitter, one of the most powerful batters of all time. . . I don't think I ever saw a stronger hitter." — John McGraw

Twint:    Two years before he came to the majors, he accidentally killed catcher Johnny Quigley in a collision at home plate.

A.         Dan Brouthers (Batting titles w/Buffalo Bisons, NL 1882 [.382], 1883 [.374], Boston Beaneaters, NL 1889 [.373], Boston Reds, AA 1891 [.350]), Brooklyn Superbas, NL 1892 [.335]; Quigley accident 07-Jul-1877)

FCR -    Blake Sherry, Dublin, OH

THURSDAY

Q.         According to a long-standing legend, from what player did the Giants derive their name?

Hint:     He was the first to hit a home run completely out of the Polo Grounds.

Hint:     He hit it off a Hall of Famer, the premier pitcher of his day.

Twint:    Five years earlier, almost to the day, he was the first to win a game with a grand slam with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Twint:    After baseball, he became a school inspector in the town where he was born.

Twint:    He won the 1893 "Popular Player" competition held in New York City, receiving a gold watch and charm he treasured until his death nearly 40 years later.

A.         Roger Connor (New York Gothams became the Giants  in 1885 because of Connor at 6’3” & 220 lbs. as well as other players; HR 11-Sep-1886 off Charley Radbourn; GS 10‑Sep‑1881; Waterbury, CT

FCR -    Mark DeLodovico, Rockville, MD

FRIDAY

Q.         Who is the only player to lead his league in home runs and triples in his rookie season?

Hint:     He changed his name so his mother would not see his name in box scores.

Hint:     Only he, Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds have held the career as well as the single-season home run records.

Twint:    Many baseball historians maintain that he is the best player not yet in the Hall of Fame.

A.         Harry Stovey (1880 14 3b, 6 HR; Ne “Stowe”.  Mom was embarrassed that he was a baseball player. [John Rickert made the very sensible point that the person who hit the first ever major league home run, Ezra Sutton , was at that moment the career and season record holder.  To insure his standing, he hit a second one in the same game 04‑May‑1871.  Several readers pointed out that and Charley Jones also deserves that distinction, not to mention the 3 tied at the end of the 1^st MLB season, 1871:  Lip Pike, Fred Treacey & Levi Meyerle.]  HOF potential)

FCR -    Barry Zamoff, Washington, DC

SATURDAY

Q.         Who is the only pitcher to hit for the cycle?

Hint:     He also did it as a position player.

Hint:     He received the first recorded intentional bases on balls.

Hint:     He played for three Chicago National League teams with three different names without ever playing for the Cubs.

Hint:     In separate incidents, he slugged two reporters and a train conductor.  (Those were probably not the only such incidents.)

Twint:    After his career, he wrote (probably) an article stating, "Baseball is not a permanent business. Look in the newspapers and you will see that a baseball player 35 years of age is considered an old man."

A.         Jimmy Ryan (Cycle as P 28-Jul-1888; Cycle as fielder 01-Jul-1891; IBB 1896 from Jouett Meekin; White Stockings 1885-89, Colts 1890-97, Orphans 1898-1900 [The team has been the Cubs since 1903.])

FCR -    Paul Hirsch, Danville, CA

SUNDAY

Hint:     Who tied the major league record for errors in a game and then, a month later, tied the major league record for most runs in a game?

Hint:     It was during his rookie season.

Hint:     He played thirteen straight years for the New York Giants but never played under John McGraw.

Hint:     Once, with major league games being played on adjacent fields, he hit a game-winning, 13^th-inning home run that landed in the middle of the Players League game.

Hint:     Cranks at both games cheered him on.

Twint:    He is the Giants’ franchise career leader in triples and stolen bases.

Twint:    "In the early days of the Giants the name of (his) was on the lips of every baseball fan, and to this day the old-timers talk about the long drives which Silent Mike used to make in Harlem." - from his obituary in the New York Times

A.         Mike Tiernan (162 3b, 428 SB; 5 E 16-May-1887, 6 R 16-Jun-1887; HR 12-May-1890 off Kid Nichols)

FCR -    Rick Fink, Lefty Fink’s better son*, Edison, NJ

*At least that’s the word on the street.

WEEKLY THEME – Batters who totaled 100 major league home runs during the 19^th century

Brouthers          106

Connor             138

Duffy                102

Ryan                 100

Stovey              122

Thompson        127

Tiernan              106

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara, CA

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

September 17-23, 2012 Active Tweeters who debuted in 2012

MONDAY

Q.         Who is the only Rangers pitcher with 200 strikeouts this season?

Hint:     During his first spring training he was caught smoking and gambling, both illegal due to his age.

Hint:     He was named to the All-Star team this year, but did not appear.

Hint:     He was named Asia Series MVP in 2006.

Twint:    His father played college soccer for Eckerd College.

A.         Yu Darvish (205K)

FCR -    Mark Kanter, Portsmouth, RI

TUESDAY

Q.         Whom did the Red Sox call up when Kevin Youkilis went on the Disabled List with a back injury in 2012?

Hint:     He filled in admirably, leading to Youk’s trade to Chicago.

Twint:    His first Major League home run was a game-tying grand slam over the Green Monster.

A.         Will Middlebrooks (HR 06-May-2012)

FCR -    Michael Daponde, Sacramento

WEDNESDAY

Q.         With Chase Utley injured, whom did the Phillies turn to as their starting second baseman on Opening Day 2012?

Hint:     In June he tested positive for a banned steroid, earning a 50 game suspension.

Twint:    He was given the 2011 Paul Owens Award as the best position player in the Phillies’ minor league system.

A.         Freddy Galvis

FCR -    Greg Gosselin, Arlington, VA

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who was the first native of Canada’s Province of Quebec chosen in the first round of the Major League draft?

Hint:     As a minor leaguer he was traded for Cliff Lee.

Twint:    He pitched for Team Canada in the 2006 World Jr. Championship, 2007 World Cup & 2009 WBC.

Twint:    During his lone WBC appearance he escaped a bases-loaded jam by retiring Kevin Youkilis, Curtis Granderson & David Wright in order.

A.         Phillippe Aumont (11^th overall pick in the 2007 draft; traded [with J.C. Ramirez and Tyson Gilles] for Lee 16-Dec-2009)

FCR -    Frank Workman, Lake Forest Park, WA

THURSDAY

Q.         Whose first Major League hit, after an 0-6 start, was a game-winning 3-run home run against Jonathan Papelbon on 07-May?

Hint:     With that homer he became the first player whose first major league hit was a home run off of a pitcher with over 200 career saves.

Twint:    His iron glove caused the Mets to move him from second base to the outfield at the start of the season.

A.         Jordany Valdespin

FCR -    Leanne Rohrbach, Minnapolis, MN

FRIDAY

Q.         Who was the first player called up under the 24-hour taxi squad roster extension included in the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement?

Hint:     After Dennis Tankersley in 2002, he was the next pitcher to get his first major league win and hit his first major league home run on the same day.

Hint:     The Pirates claimed him off waivers after the 2011 season, then waived him days later when they signed Erik Bedard.

Hint:     He was twice drafted by the Mets, but did not sign either time.

Twint:    He was the Padres’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2008.

A.         Jeremy Hefner (CBA; taxi squad 23-Apr-2012; W & HR 29-May-2012; picked up by PIT 18‑Nov‑2011, waived by PIT 09-Dec-2011; drafted by NYN 2004 [46^th round] & 2005 [48^th round])

FCR -    Mike McCroskey, Sugar Land, TX

SATURDAY

Q.         What pitcher was the key to the trade bringing Adrian Gonzalez to Boston?

Hint:     He got a hit in his first game in the majors and got his second one last (Friday) night.

Hint:     Upon completion of the Boston trade, he immediately became the top player in the Padres’ minor league system.

Hint:     He gave up a football scholarship at University of Tennessee to sign with the Red Sox.

Hint:     Even though he was only the 30^th overall pick, he received a $3M signing bonus.

Twint:    His father is a former major league catcher.

A.         Casey Kelly (traded BOS-to-SDN 06-Dec-2010; 1^st H 27-Aug-2012; 2^nd H 21‑Sep‑2012; Drafted & signed by BOS 2008; son of Pat Kelly)

FCR -    Mark Kanter, Portsmouth, RI

EQUINOX EXTRA

Q.         Who was the first UCLA player to be named Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball magazine?

Hint:     He holds the school record for most career innings pitched, wins and strikeouts.

Hint:     He struck out seventeen batters in his first nine professional innings pitched.

Twint:    He was the first player from the 2011 draft class to make his major league debut.

A.         Trevor Bauer (CBPoY 2011; 373.3 IP, 34 W, 460 K; debut 28-Jun-2012)

FCR -    Mitchell Below, Oakland

SUNDAY

Q.         Who was the top-ranked Diamondbacks prospect in the 2011 Baseball America mid-season prospect rankings?

Hint:     He was the player to be named later in the trade that brought Dan Haren to the Angels.

Twint:    He was named Diamondbacks Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2011.

A.         Tyler Skaggs (19^th-ranked prospect)

FCR -    Jeff Fink, Howell, NJ son of Lefty Fink

GRAND FINALE

Q.         Which minor leaguer was traded straight-up for Orlando Cabrera at the 2011 trading deadline?

Hint:     He was a draft-and-follow pick in 2005, signing in 2006 for $220K.

Hint:     He missed all but 10 games of the 2007 season when he dislocated his throwing shoulder, requiring reconstructive surgery.

Twint:    In 2009 he was named the best outfield arm and best hitting prospect in the California League.

A.         Thomas Neal (traded for Cabrera 30-Jul-2011)

FCR -    Paul Rupright, Cleveland

WEEKLY THEME – Active Tweeters who debuted in 2012

Aumont             @P_Aumont17

Bauer                @BauerOutage

Darvish             @FaridYu

Galvis               @Tooc13FG

Hefner              @JeremyHefner17

Kelly                 @IamCaseyKelly

Middlebrooks    @16WMBrooks

Neal                  @TdaddyNeal

Skaggs             @TylerSkaggs23

Valdespin         @Jordany023

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one

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

September 10-16, 2012 Last active players of a franchise after relocation

MONDAY

N.B.  This week’s questions, hints and theme come to us from Mark Pattison, resident of the nation’s capital.  (No, not Ottawa.)

Q.         Who was “The Killer”?

Hint:     He was the first player to clear the left-field roof at Tiger Stadium.

Twint:    He was an All-Star at three different positions.

A.         Harmon Killebrew (Tiger Stadium HR:  03-Aug-1962 off Jim Bunning; ASS pos. 1b, 3b, OF)

FCR -    Arieh Siegal, Austin, TX

MONDAY AGAIN

Q.         Disney’s famous VW was adorned with a certain number because it was the uniform number of which player?

Hint:     A fellow Hall of Famer once said of his preferred approach when at the plate against him, “Hit him before he hits you.”

Twint:    One of his high school baseball teammates was actor Robert Redford.

A.         Don Drysdale (“Herbie” of The Love Bug, 53; Quote from Orlando Cepeda; Van Nuys HS)

FCR -    Jim Casey, Savannah, GA

TUESDAY

Q.         Which Hall of Famer was the first rookie to hit three home runs in one game?

Hint:     He is one of only a handful of Hall of Famers to retire as a World Series champion.

Twint:    His on-field, in-game fight with Frank Robinson was noted for its mano-a-mano viciousness.

A.         Eddie Mathews (3 HR 27-Sep-1952; HOF ret. WS champs: Joe DiMaggio, Johnny Mize; Fight w/Robinson 15-Aug-1960)

FCR -    Bill Garrod, Edgewood, WA

TUESDAY AGAIN

Q.         What pitcher won 318 major league games primarily as a knuckleball artist?

Hint:     He is the only pitcher to hurl a shutout for his 300^th big-league win.

Twint:    He gave up the only homer that his brother, also a knuckleball specialist, ever hit in the majors.

A.         Phil Niekro (ShO 06-Oct-1985; HR to Joe 29-May-1976)

FCR -    Steven Young, Middletown, MD

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who succeeded Bobby Thomson in centerfield?

Hint:     Many believe he might have broken Babe Ruth’s career home run record were it not for the conditions in the ballpark he called home over 12 seasons.

Twint:    In the 1960s he made a TV public service announcement warning kids against blasting caps. “Remember now, don’t touch them.”

A.         Willie Mays (Candlestick Park 1960-72; PSA)

FCR -    Fred Brillhart, Mechanicsburg, PA

WEDNESDAY AGAIN

Q.         Who was the first of the tandem who hit back-to-back inside-the-park homers in an American League game?

Hint:     He once played an entire doubleheader at shortstop without a single fielding chance.

Twint:    He can be considered the best palindromic position player in big-league history. (Yes, better than Robb Nen.)

A.         Toby Harrah (Consec. IPHRS w/Bump Wills off Mike Torrez, 27-Aug-1977 off the Yankees’ Mike Torrez [Done in the NL 23‑Jun‑1946 by Marv Rickert and Eddie Waitkus both off Nate Andrews, Thanks to Blake Sherry for that one.] ; Double-header: 25-Jun-1976a & 25-Jun-1976b; Palindrome)

FCR -    Bill Carle, Lee’s Summit, MO

THURSDAY

Q.         Who captained his team to five consecutive division titles?

Hint:     His kid brother also played in the majors and though their careers were of sixteen and nine years respectively, they only overlapped by 53 days.

Twint:    He is now the CEO of Middleton Doll Co., makers of hand-painted collectible dolls.

A.         Sal Bando (Oakland, 1971-75; Overlap with Chris 13-Aug through 03-Oct-1981; Middleton)

FCR -    Arieh Siegal, Austin, TX

THURSDAY AGAIN

Q.         What nephew of All-Star Larry Bowa is on a team with two other players with his same last name?

Hint:     He was selected 3^rd in the 1996 draft by the Yankees, right after they took Eric Milton and Jason Coble.

Twint:    His on-base percentage is in the top ten among active players.

A.         Nick Johnson (Bowa, 2012 Orioles: Steve Johnson, Jim Johnson; Milton, Coble; .3989 OBA)

FCR -    Bob Kimball, Washington, DC

FRIDAY

Q.         Who was the first player to lead each existing major league in triples?

Hint:     His record of 27 triples as a rookie has stood for over a century.

Twint:    He should not be confused with the manager of the same name who concluded his managerial career more than a decade before our mystery man’s playing career began.

Twint:    He should also not be confused with the manager of the same name who seemed to be missing an “m”.

A.         Jimmy Williams (Pittsburgh, NL, 1899, 28; Baltimore, AL, 1901-02, 21 each year; Mgr. Jimmy Williams; Jimy Williams; )

FCR -    Bill Garrod, Edgewood, WA

FRIDAY AGAIN

Q.         Who twice in a three-week period spoiled the Indians’ Mike Garcia’s no-hit bids?

Hint:     He was his team’s lone representative in the 1957 All-Star Game.

Hint:     It was the only All-Star selection in his eleven-year career and he never got in the game.

Twint:    It was inevitable that he got caught up in the A’s-Yankees trade winds of the late 1950s.

A.         Joe DeMaestri (Garcia’s one-hitters: 16-May- & 05-Jun-1954; ’57 Kansas City A’s; Trade 11‑Dec‑1959: Traded by Kansas City with Kent Hadley and Roger Maris to New York for Hank Bauer, Don Larsen, Norm Siebern and Marv Throneberry)

FCR -    Wayne McCombs, Claremore, OK

SATURDAY

Q.         Who is part of the only father-son set who respectively led their major league in losses in a season?

Hint:     He is the only starting pitcher in major league history to have a 3-foot-7-inch tall teammate.

Twint:    He is one of only six major leaguers with the middle name Xavier.

A.         Duane Pillette (Father Herman, 19 L 1923, Duane 14 L 1951; Short teammate the day he started:  Eddie Gaedel on 19-Aug-1951; Middle name w/X: Fran Healy, Francis Healy, Jeff Pfeffer, Carney Flynn, Jimmy Myers)

FCR -    Tom Zocco, Rocky Hill, CT

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Who, with seeming gladness, traded in his birth name of Claude for the moniker he was known by throughout his professional career?

Hint:     After he retired, he earned a degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, only the second ex-big leaguer ever to do so.

Twint:    He made his major league debut as a third baseman.

Twint:    In a dozen subsequent seasons after a position shift, he never bettered his third base fielding percentage, but equaled it three times.

A.         Skip Lockwood (Ret. 1980, MIT 1983, Art Merewether, 1925; Fldg % @ 3b 1.000)

FCR -    Jason Carbone, Newark, DE

SUNDAY

Q.         Who led the American League in stolen bases in Ty Cobb’s first full season in the majors?

Hint:     His last at-bat in the majors was the groundout that capped Addie Joss’ perfect game.

Twint:    He should not be confused with the pitcher of the same name in the early 1960s.

Twint:    Nor should he be confused with the 1980 independent presidential candidate nor the 1980s country singer who share the same name.

A.         John Anderson (39 SB in 1906; Joss’s perfecto 02-Oct-1908; John Anderson; John B. Anderson, John D. Anderson)

FCR -    Damian Begley, New York

WEEKLY THEME – Last active players of a franchise after relocation

Anderson     06-Oct-1903      1901 Milwaukee Brewers->St. Louis Browns

Bando          19-Nov-1976      (breaks three-way tie of November 1) free-agency granting with Joe Rudi and Bert Campaneris by virtue of his later signing with a different team)

DeMaestri     11-Dec-1959      1954 Philadelphia->Kansas City A’s

Drysdale      05-Aug-1969      1957 Brooklyn->Los Angeles Dodgers

Harrah          08-Dec-1978      1971 Washington Senators->Texas Rangers

Johnson       31-Jul-2009       2004 Montreal Expos->Washington Nationals

Killebrew      16-Jan-1975      1960 Washington Senators->Minnesota Twins

Lockwood    22-Oct-1973      1969 Seattle Pilots->Milwaukee Brewers

Mathews       31-Dec-1966      1952 Boston->Milwaukee Braves (Was still with team when it transferred from Milwaukee to Atlanta)

Mays            11-May-1972     1957 New York->San Francisco Giants

Niekro          07-Oct-1983      1965 Milwaukee->Atlanta Braves

Pillette          08-Jul-1955       1953 St. Louis Browns->Baltimore Orioles

Williams       11-5-1907          1902 Baltimore Orioles->New York Highlanders->Yankees

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Arieh Siegal, Austin (after the Harrah question)

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