November 25-December 1, 2013 Bulldog Alumni

MONDAY

Q.         What MVP-winner won Gold Glove Awards for his play at third base with the Braves and Cardinals?

Hint:     He was a candidate to replace Frank Robinson as manager of the Washington Nationals, but he withdrew himself from consideration.

Twint:    He was the hitting coach for the Braves from 2002-2010.

A.         Terry Pendleton (1991 MVP, GG 1987, 89 for STL & 1992 for ATL)

FCR -    Matthew Repplinger, Denver, CO

Most common incorrect answers:  Joe Torre, Ken Boyer

MONDAY EXTRA

Q.         Which modern era pitcher has the highest career winning percentage with an amazing .7171?

Hint:     He had the fewest number of innings pitched (253) for a starting pitcher who won a league MVP until Justin Verlander won the award with 251.

Hint:     He holds the Yankee team record for single season ERA.

Twint:    He doesn’t look like a potato.

A.         Spud Chandler (Al Spaulding’s .7950 was prior to 1900; 1943 MVP; 1.64 ERA 1943; Spurgeon Ferdinand Chandler nickname “Spud”.

FCR -    Don Harrison, Fairfield, CT

Most common incorrect answers:  Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry, Roger Clemens, Bobby Shantz, Pedro Martinez, Mike Mussina

TUESDAY

Q.         Who caught the final out of the 1969 World Series?

Hint:     Gil Hodges successfully argued that this player was hit by a pitch, pointing to a black mark on the ball as proof.

Q:         As a result, he scored the first run for the team in what proved to be a comeback from a 3-run deficit.

Twint:    He also scored the go-ahead run on a Ron Swoboda double that would clinch the team’s first World Series championship.

A.         Cleon Jones (box Game 5 1969 WS; Shoe-polish incident was controversial as the ball skipped into the dugout prior to Hodges emergence, prompting some to say that Gil Hodges had scuffed the ball.  Replays were inconclusive.)

FCR -    Christopher Bell, New York, NY

Most common incorrect answers:  Ron Swoboda, Al Weiss, Tommy Agee, Ed Charles

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         What former Blue Hose hurler made his major league debut in Yankee Stadium on Babe Ruth Day?

Hint:     The encouraging letters he received from Connie Mack during recuperation from a near-lethal wound in Italy during World War II were what made him know he could make it to the majors.

Hint:     It took him a year just to be able to walk again, but he began playing catch while still on crutches.

Hint:     Even with all the other service men returning, he still signed a professional contract and promptly won the pitching Triple Crown in the South Atlantic League.

Twint:    He was as famous for something a baseball did to him as what he ever did to a baseball.

A.         Lou Brissie (Attended Presbyterian College, 28‑Sep‑1947, Ruth passed the following year; On Opening Day 1948 in Fenway Park, Ted Williams lined a pitch off the metal plate in Brissie’s leg.  Concern by all ensued and although he won the game, Brissie spent the night in a Boston hospital.)

FCR -    Tim Doherty, Los Angeles, CA

Most common incorrect answers:  Bert Shepard, Monty Stratton

TUESDAY EXTRA

Q.         Who broke Mariano Rivera’s record of being the quickest to reach 200 career saves?

Hint:     He did it against the team’s dreaded rival—the New York Yankees.

Hint:     He struck out Seth Smith to end the 2007 World Series.

Twint:    Ever outspoken, he declared that Yasiel Puig’s making the All-Star team as a rookie was “a joke” and “and injustice”.

Twint:    He commented on his current team’s struggles, saying, “I didn’t come here for this.”

A.         Jonathon Papelbon (200^th save in 359^th appearance vs Moe needing 382; 07-Jun-2011; Game 4 2007 box; Smith K 28‑Oct-2007; Comments)

FCR -    Jerry Miller, Thousand Oaks, CA

Most common incorrect answer:  [None]

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who finished second to teammate Kevin Mitchell in the National League MVP voting?

Hint:     That same year he lost the batting crown to Tony Gwynn by less than one point on the last day of the season after leading much of the year.

Hint:     The outgoing message on his home answering machine begins, “The Thrill is gone… “

Addint: He was in the first class of players inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

A.         Will Clark (1989 MVP vote; Gwynn went 3 for 4 to get to .3361 over Clark’s .3333; Nickname “Will the Thrill”; 2006 College HOF)

FCR -    Charlie Vascellaro, Baltimore, MD

Most common incorrect answers:  Jeff Kent, Matt Williams, Keith Hernandez

WEDNESDAY EXTRA

Q.         Who played the most major league games in the 1990s?

Hint:     He was the first Texas Rangers player to receive an hundred bases-on-balls in three consecutive seasons.

Hint:     He was also the first to do it in two consecutive seasons. [NOT SO!  Reader Clem Comly pointed out that the first two such Texas seasons are owned by Mike Hargrove 1977-78.  Sorry to mislead.]

Addint: He should never be confused with Raffy Mercedez.

A.         Rafael Palmeiro (1,526 G 1990-99; 100+ BB 2000-03)

FCR -    Matt Adams, Mundelein, IL

Most common incorrect answers:  Juan Gonzalez, Will Clark, Brian Downing

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Which pitcher was credited with winning the clinching game of the 2006 World Series?

Hint:     He shouldered his team’s only team loss in that series.

Hint:     His high school is just ten miles from the Reagan presidential library.

Hint:     In a different World Series, he gave up a 12^th inning walk-off homer to Alex Gonzalez.

Addint: In his first two seasons with the Tigers, he led the league in hitting batters with pitches.

Addint: After the 2003 season, he was traded for Kevin Brown.

A.         Jeff Weaver (STL over DET 4-1 2006 WS; Game 4 2003 WS; HBP 17 and 15 1999-2000; 2003 NYY trade Weaver plus cash and two players to the Dodgers for Brown)

FCR -    Dave Washburn, Marietta, GA

Most common incorrect answers:  Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright 

THURSDAY

Q.         Who started Game 7 of the 1986 World Series for the winning New York Mets?

Hint:     He also won Game 4 after having lost the Series opener.

Hint:     He the final post-season game in his National League career, a result that would lead to one of the most famous walk-off homers in World Series history.

Addint: He won the pitcher’s Gold Glove the year prior to Greg Maddux’s 13 consecutive-year GG streak.

A.         Ron Darling (1986 WS stats; lost G7, 1988 NLCS that sent the Dodgers to the WS where Kirk Gibson hit the G1 walk off; GG 1989

FCR -    Dave Washburn, Marietta, GA

Most common incorrect answers:  Sid Fernandez, Dwight Gooden

THURSDAY EXTRA

Q.         Who broke Rolando Arrojo’s record for pitching wins in a season?

Hint:     Soul patch goatee.

Addint: He pitched the only no hitter in the history of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Addint: He faced the minimum of 27 batters when the one walk in the game was eliminated by a double play.

Addint: He was the 2008 American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player.

A.         Matt Garza  (Arrojo was tied with teammates Edwin Jackson and James Shields with 14 W for Devil Rays season record, Garza got 15 W in 2010; Beard; No-no 26-Jul-2010; 1998 Orlando Arrojo 14W, Garza 15W, Price 19W)

FCR -    Jimmy Goggin, Williamsburg, VA

Most common incorrect answer:   David Price

FRIDAY

Q.         Who holds the Kansas City Royals career pitching record for strikeouts?

Hint:     He also holds the team record for most consecutive scoreless inning in one season.

Hint:     He was Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 1990.

Addint: No American League Rookie pitcher in the past 22 seasons has had a better ERA than his 2.76 ERA.

Addint: He was once pulled on opening day by his manager after pitching 6.2 innings of no-hit ball because the manager “had no interest in letting his pitcher throw too many pitches” that early in the season.

A.         Kevin Appier (1458K; 33 scoreless in 1993, while Greinke split 38 over the 2008-9 season; Sporting News RPOY history; pulled by Bob Boone 25-Apr-1995 strike delayed opening day, 0 H,  2BB, 98 P)

FCR -    Jim McCoy, Melrose, MA

Most common incorrect answers:  Mark Gubicza (2^nd), Dennis Leonard (3^rd), Bret Saberhagen (4^th), Paul Splittorff (5^th)

FRIDAY EXTRA

Q.         What BLTR giant was born in California’s city of mercy?

Hint:     In separate years, he was drafted by the Giants, Yankees and Mariners.

Hint:     He is in a starting rotation that features two Cy Young Award winners.

Addint: He was a Blue Devil before he was a pro.

A.         Doug Fister (6’8”, b. Merced, California; SFG 49^th round in 2003 draft, NYY 6^th round in 2005 draft, SEA 7^th round in 2006 draft; 2013 DET teammates Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer; Merced College Blue Devils)

FCR -    Mark Hayne, Dumfries, VA

Most common incorrect answers:  Barry Zito, Madison Bumgarner, Cole Hamels

SATURDAY

Q.         Who was the last pitcher to face Reggie Jackson in the majors?

Hint:     He also threw the last pitch in Toronto's Exhibition Stadium.

Hint:     Most people don’t know that he managed the White Sox.

Addint: K-Rod broke his record.

A.         Bobby Thigpen (Jackson AB 04‑Oct‑1987 [Jackson singled.]; TO last P 28‑May‑1989 [Gave up a walk-off HR to George Bell in the 10^th.]; Manage the 2007 & 2008 Bristol White Sox of the rookie-class Appalachian League; Set the record for S in a season @ 57 in 1990, Francisco Rodriguez had 62 in 2008.)

FCR -    Steve Schwartz, Chico, CA

Most common incorrect answers:  Don Cooper, Ron Schueler

SATURDAY EXTRA

Q.         Who set an opening day record when he was hit by pitches three times?

Hint:     He was the first gaijin to hit a sayonara grand slam.

Hint:     Ironically, he holds the record for the most home runs by someone who never hit a grand slam in the majors.

Addint: Although he’s not a pitcher, many Baltimoreans believe should be compared to Ray Sadecki and Doyle Alexander. What post-expansion player once left his mitt on the field between innings to share with his opposite number during a major-league game?

Hint:     He was born in Kansas City because that’s where his father was employed at the time.

A.         Glenn Davis (3 HPB 09‑Apr‑1990; Japanese League walk-off GS for the 1985 Hanshin Tigers; 190 MLB HR; Sadecki and Alexander on the bad side of lopsided trades—he underperformed for BAL, after being traded for Curt Schilling, Pete Harnisch and Steve Finley)

FCR -    Larry Creeden, Boulder City, NV

Most common incorrect answers:  Tuffy Rhodes, Randy Bass

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         What post-expansion player once left his mitt on the field between innings to share with his opposite number during a major-league game?

Hint:     He was born in Kansas City because that’s where his father was employed at the time.

Addint: His only seasons with the Mets were impaired with labor difficulties.

A.         David Segui (Shared equipment with Mark Grace in Canada 12‑Jul‑1995; Father Diego Segui, played for KCA 1962-65, 67; NYM 1994-95)

FCR -    Richard Tharp, Gaithersburg, MD

Most common incorrect answers:  John Mayberry Jr., Brian McRae

SUNDAY

Q.         Who, with Sam Mertes, made the first duo of teammates in the 20^th century each to collect fifty stolen bases in the same season?

Hint:     Lou Gehrig’s biographer called him "the greatest third baseman ever to wear a Giant uniform".

Hint:     He served as a basketball coach at the Naval Academy.

Addint: He’s one of only six District of Columbia natives with 1,000 games in the major leagues.

A.         Art Devlin (1905 Giants: Devlin had 59 SB, Mertes 52; Sportswriter Frank Graham with quote; Played football at Georgetown)

FCR -    Bob Wilber, Spokane, WA

Most common incorrect answers:  Fred Lindstrom, Buck Herzog

SUNDAY EXTRA

Q.         What future member of the Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Fame was given a three-week tryout by the Senators without pay so he could retain his amateur status?

Hint:     In the season immediately following his major league career, he won both the Canadian-American League's Most Valuable Player and Manager of the Year awards.

Hint:     His ancestors were, among others, Basque.

Addint: He owned restaurants and clubs in Missouri’s largest metropolitan areas.

A.         Frenchy Bordagaray (1931 Sacramento Senators; 1946 Trois-Rivieres Royals of the Class C Can‑Am League; He also had, as you might expect, French ancestry; Restaurateur in St. Louis and Kansas City)

FCR -    Al Blumkin, Brooklyn, NY

Most common incorrect answers:  Sal Maglie, Rusty Staub

WEEKLY THEME – Selected Bulldog alumni

Appier                Fresno State

Chandler            Georgia

Clark                    Mississippi State

Darling                Yale

Davis                   Georgia

Devlin                 Georgetown

Bordagaray       Fresno State

Garza                  Fresno State

Jones                  Alabama A & M

Palmeiro            Mississippi State

Papelbon           Mississippi State

Pendleton         Fresno State

Segui                   Louisiana Tech

Thigpen              Mississippi State

Weaver              Fresno State

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Makoto Ozawa, Scarsdale, NY (after the Jones 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

November 18-24, 2013 Players with 10 stolen bases in World Series play

MONDAY

Q.         Who was “The Freshest Man on Earth”?

Hint:     He is the career leader for errors at third base.

Hint:     He was the first man from New Hampshire to make it to the majors.

Hint:     As third base coach, he would run up and down the baseline hurling invectives at the pitcher.

Twint     Because of this, the rules were changed and the coaching box created.

Twint:    He once turned a somersault to evade a tag, landing perfectly on the base.

A          Arlie Latham (SABR BIO; 822 E, Billy Nash 2^nd with 615; Somersault multiple versions of the story including pulling the trick over Cap Anson, scoring the winning run by evading the tag at home plate, and pulling off a bunt single)

FCR      Makoto Ozawa, Scarsdale, NY

Most common incorrect answer:  Red Rolfe

TUESDAY

Q.         Who is the career National League stolen base leader?

Hint:     He made his major league debut in the same game as did teammate and future Rookie of the Year Ken Hubbs.

Hint:     Ten days later, he became the last pinch-runner in a game at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Twint:    He is one of the very few players to win the Roberto Clemente Award, the Lou Gehrig Award and the Hutch Award.

Twint:    He became the first active player to have an award named after him.

A.         Lou Brock (938 NL SB; Debut 10‑Sep‑1961; PR 20‑Sep‑1961 for Cuno Barragan; MLB Awards:  Clemente, Gehrig, Hutch;  Lou Brock Award for annual NL SB leader, begun in 1974)

FCR -    Blake Sherry, Dublin, OH

Most common incorrect answers:  Maury Wills, Vince Coleman

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who was the starting first baseman for the first team in the modern era to win back-to-back World Series?

Hint:     He also managed the team.

Hint:     He argued that Merkle had committed a boner, and that the winning run hadn’t scored.

Twint:    He and his teammates essentially won the argument, and the game was replayed with his team beating the Giants and eventually winning the pennant by one game over them.

Twint:    He was the final man in a famous poem about a gonfalon bubble.

A.         Frank Chance (1907-08 Cubs; Managerial record; Merkle Bonehead Play; “Tinkers to Evers to Chance”)

FCR -    Matt Repplinger, Denver, CO

Most common incorrect answers:  Rogers Hornsby, Bill Terry, Fred Clarke, Connie Mack

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         What Hall of Famer had a broadcasting career that lasted more than three times longer than his playing career?

Hint:     He was the mystery guess of the first-ever episode of “What’s My Line?”

Twint:    In 1999, the minor league Staten Island Yankees named their mascot "Scooter the Holy Cow" after him.

A.         Phil Rizzuto (13 years playing: 1941-42, 1946-56, 40 years broadcasting: 1957-96; WMY episode 02-Feb-1950 [the day I was born])

FCR -    Tim McCarthy, Washington, DC

Most common incorrect answers:  Ralph Kiner, Dizzy Dean, Herb Score, Joe Garagiola, Waite Hoyt, Harry Heilman, Jerry Coleman

THURSDAY

Q.         Who was the first Columbia University graduate elected by the writers to the Hall of Fame?

Hint:     He holds the career record for sacrifice hits—an astonishing 512.

Hint:     At Connie Mack’s suggestion, he made his major league debut under the name of “Eddie Sullivan” in order to help him keep his amateur status.

Twint:    The ruse failed, and he was disqualified from playing ball his final year of college.

Twint:    He and owner Tom Yawkey were responsible for the Red Sox becoming the last team in the majors to integrate.

A.         Eddie Collins (Columbia undergrad 1903-07, HOF BBWAA 1939, beating Lou Gehrig by a few months and Monte Ward by a few years; Jack Daubert second at 392 SH; He and Yawkey had a sham tryout for Jackie Robinson and other black player in 1945.  Robinson would later call Yawkey “One of the most bigoted guys in baseball”, which hurt the Red Sox who were the last to integrate in 1959)

FCR -    Dave Johnson, Swarthmore, PA

Most common incorrect answer:  Lou Gehrig

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         Who replaced Don Fehr as the Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association?

Hint:     He will be succeeded by for former Tigers slugger Tony Clark.

Hint:     He received his law degree from Harvard Law School.

Hint:     He negotiated the deal that insured 21 years of labor peace in the majors.

Twint:    He spoke out against players whose PED use was well-documented.

Twint:    He was arbitration counsel for the National Hockey League Players Association.

A.         Michael Weiner (Obit; Clark’s career; NHLPA)

FCR -    Andy Milner, Bryn Mawr, PA

FRIDAY

Q.         Who holds the record for the most major league home runs hit in the 19^th century?

Hint:     He was a key part of the Gothams becoming the Giants.

Hint:     As a left-handed rookie third baseman, he committed 60 errors in 83 games.

Hint:     That was not the most errors he had in a season.

Twint:    His career home run record stood until Babe Ruth eclipsed it in 1921.

Twint:    He was the career home run record holder for 26 years.

A.         Roger Connor (138 HR hit 1880-97; 6’3” a giant in his day; 71 E in 1884)

FCR -    Dave Johnson, Swarthmore, PA

Most common incorrect answer:  Ed Delahanty

SATURDAY

Q.         Who stole Max Carey's long-standing consecutive stolen bases record with his 32^nd consecutive steal in 1975?

Hint:     He added six more before he was caught.

Hint:     He’s the last Rhode Island native to receive a Hall of Fame vote.

Twint:    He is currently a coach with his sixth major league team (although his continuing there is anything but certain).

Twint:    He has a record of 144-195 in his three years as a major league manager.

A.         Davey Lopes (32^nd SB 09‑Aug‑1975, Carey’s record was set in 1922, Four others have since passed that mark and Vince Coleman is the current record holder at 50 in a row; 2 HOF votes in 1993; Coach for TEX, BAL, SDP, WAS, PHI, LAD; Managed MIL 2000‑02.)

FCR -    Rich Klein, Plano, TX

Most common incorrect answers:  Tony Womack, Jerry Remy

SUNDAY

Q.         What Hall of Famer and Penn State alumnus ended his career just after the pitching mound distance was increased to 60’6”?

Hint:     He had a hand in the birth and demise of two separate major leagues.

Hint:     The three major league teams he managed finished in second place half the years he managed, but never won a title.

Twint:    After an appropriate interval off 84 years, Jim Bunning matched a feat of his.

A.         Monte Ward (Retired after the 1894 season, mound distance increased for the 1893 season; Famously managed BWW of the Players League in 1890 and was business manager of BTT of the Federal League in 1914; Pitched a National League perfect game 17‑Jun‑1880, Bunning’s perfecto 21‑Jun‑1964.)

FCR -    Jason Hoagland, Columbus, OH

Most common incorrect answer:  Harry Wright

WEEKLY THEME – Player with ten World Series stolen bases

Thief                  SBs    World Series

Brock                 14       1964, 67, 68

Chance               10       1906, 07, 08, 10

Collins                14       1910, 11, 13, 14, 17, 19

Connor*              12       1888, 89

Latham*              28       1885, 86, 87, 88

Lopes                10       1974, 77, 78, 81

Rizzuto               10       1941, 42, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55

Ward*                 16       1888, 89

*Pre-modern era

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Makoto Ozawa, Scarsdale, NY

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

November 11-17, 2013 Pirates who received Cy Young Award votes

MONDAY

Q.         Who was the first Cy Young Award winner not to win more than twenty games in his award-winning season?

Hint:     Sixteen years in the majors and he only played for one team.

Hint:     His son, also a former major leaguer, was baseball coach at a NCAA D-1 university.

Hint:     His nickname was “The Deacon” but he was really an elder.

Twint:    He was the only pitcher in the 1950s to throw 18 innings in a single game.

Twint:    The MLB ELO rater has him just ahead of Mike Boddiker.

A.         Vern Law (CYA 1960, 20-9; Pittsburgh Pirates; Head baseball coach at Brigham Young University, Son Vance served as from 2000 to 2012; Elder is a priesthood rank in the Mormon church; ELO rating #253 among pitchers)

FCR -    Steve Bonfield, Calgary, AB

Most common incorrect answer:  Tom Seaver

MONDAY BONUS

Q.         Who was the losing pitcher in the game where Bream slid safely into home?

Hint:     You know full well what game I mean!

Hint:     His son has been a major league pitcher for four seasons with Toronto.

Twint:    He is currently the pitching coach for the Single-A Hillsboro Hops.

A.         Doug Drabek (1992 NLCS, G 7, Son Kyle Drabek; Hillsboro Hops)

FCR -    Mark Pattison, Washington, DC

Most common incorrect answer:  Stan Belinda

TUESDAY

Q.         Off which pitcher did Pete Rose get the first of his 4,256 hits?

Hint:     He got more hits than Rose did that day.

Hint:     He played for the Yankees when they finished last and the Mets when they had an even worse record.

Hint:     He once led the league in ERA pitching for a last-place team.

Twint:    He was a Boilermaker in his own home town and was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.

A.         Bob Friend (Rose hit, a 3b, 13‑Apr‑1963; 1966 NYY 70‑89, 1966 NYM 66‑95; 2.83 ERA for the 60-94 1955 Pirates; Purdue Boilermakers, West Lafayette, IN; IBBHOF0

FCR -    Makoto Ozawa, Scarsdale, NY

Most common incorrect answers:  Eric Show, Lindy McDaniel

TUESDAY BONUS

Q.         What 6’ 7” hurler led the National League in winning percentage in his third full year, but also led in home runs surrendered?

Hint:     He owns the record for the most pitching wins AND losses at Three Rivers Stadium.

Hint:     He attended La Salle Academy in lower Manhattan and led his team to a basketball championship in 1971.

Twint:    He was the “Candy Man”, but he wasn’t John Candiotti or Sammy Davis, Jr.

A.         John Candelaria (W-L % .800 in 1977, 29 HR; 60‑47 @ Three River Stadium; La Salle Academy)

FCR -    Ira Kotel, Short Hills, NJ

Most common incorrect answers:  Bruce Kison, Kent Tekulve, Jim Bibby

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who led the National League in win-loss percentage in “the year of the pitcher”?

Hint:     Two years after he was a World Series hero, he set a record for the worst pitching WAR in history.

Twint:    He had a condition so pronounced that subsequent victims were said to have had his “disease”.

A.         Steve Blass (18-6, .750 [Bob Gibson was .710.] in 1968; 2 W in 1971 WS followed by WAR of ‑ 4.00 in 1973; His “disease” was the sudden and persistent inability to throw straight.)

FCR -    Dan Silverberg, Aventura, FL

Most common incorrect answers:  Bob Gibson, Nelson Briles, Juan Marichal, Bob Moose

WEDNESDAY BONUS

Q.         Whose record for career National League pitching appearances did John Franco break?

Hint:     Franco also broke his record for appearances without ever starting a game.

Hint:     He had a sixteen-year major league career, but only one All-Star Game.

Hint:     He never got into the game.

Twint:    Ban Johnson, Jim Tracy and Terry Mulholland attended the same college he did.

Twint:    His coach at that college became the winningest baseball coach in NCAA III history.

A.         Kent Tekulve (1,050 G to Franco’s 1,119; AS 1980; Marietta College, Marietta, OH; Coach Don Schaly)

FCR -    Tony Nicolo, Portsmouth, VA

Most common incorrect answer:  Elroy Face

THURSDAY

Q.         Who was the first pitcher to toss a no-hitter for the Texas Rangers?

Hint:     He was a rookie when he did it.

Hint:     He was traded to the Rangers from the Cardinals just six weeks prior.

Twint:    His nephew played football against my son in high school in Phoenix.

Twint:    This same nephew fourteen years in the NBA, leading it three times in games played.

A.         Jim Bibby (No-no 07‑Jul‑1973; Nephew Mike Bibby)

FCR -    Frank Workman, Lake Forest Park, WA

Most common incorrect answer:  [none]

THURSDAY BONUS

Q.         Who was the first pitcher to win three consecutive Silver Slugger awards?

Hint:     He was the first pitcher to start a game as designated hitter on an American League team.

Hint:     As a child, he developed a debilitating osteomyelitis after being impaled by a pair of rusty scissors while on a slip and slide.

Twint:    After his career in the majors, he became a very good professional golfer, and won the American Century Celebrity Golf Classic eight times.

Twint:    He earned over a million dollars on various golf tours.

A.         Rick Rhoden (Consecutive SS 1984-86, Mike Hampton won 5 1999-2003; 11-Jun-1988 DH start batted 7^th; He wore a brace until age 12; 8 ACCGC wins; golf history and earnings)

FCR -    Makoto Ozawa, Scarsdale, NY

Most common incorrect answers:  Don Robinson, Rick Reuschel

FRIDAY

Q.         Who had twenty saves in each of four straight seasons, right after the save became an official stat?

Hint:     He became the 5^th starting pitcher for the Houston Astros when Don Larsen was traded to Baltimore?

Hint:     Though he had some success as a starter, it wasn’t until his skipper Danny Murtaugh put him in as a reliever that he started to thrive in the majors.

Twint:    His mastery of the palm ball was largely responsible for his longevity in the Bigs.

A.         Dave Giusti (20+ saves 1970-73); 1965 trade of Larsen near the end of his career back to the franchise he broke in with)

FCR -    John Rickert, Terre Haute, IN

Most common incorrect answers:  Roy Face, Kent Tekulve, Dick Radatz, Bruce Kiso006E

FRIDAY BONUS

Q.         Who was named as an injury replacement for Jose Contreras for the 2006 AL All-Star team?

Hint:     He was once traded in a poof with Boof for the least liked man in baseball.

Hint:     Seven years later, he no-hit the team with that the disliked player played on.

Hint:     He won Rookie of the Month honors in consecutive months in his first complete season in the majors.

Twint:    He was the AAA International League Rookie of the Year in 2005.

Twint:    He and Mariano Rivera were named the Comeback Players of the Year this season.

A.         Francisco Liriano (2006 ASG; Traded w/Boof Bonser & Joe Nathan for A.J. Pierzinski 14‑Nov‑2003; No-hit CWH 03‑May‑2011; AL ROM Jun & Jul 2006; IL MVP with Rochester; CBPOY)

FCR -    Jared Wexler, Hackensack, NJ

Most common incorrect answer:  Jason Schmidt

END-OF-THE-WEEK BONUS

Q.         Who was the first pitcher to win a game for the Pirates in their last World Series appearance?

Hint:     In that game, he relieved Burt Blyleven in the seventh inning and proceeded to load the bases with three walks.

Hint:     He gave up Mike Schmidt’s 500^th career home run.

Twint:    In 1990 he became the first pitcher in twenty years to hit a pinch-hit homer.

Twint:    He was the loser in the first nine-inning no-hitter ever pitched at Veteran’s Stadium.

A.         Don Robinson (Game 2, 1979 WS vs. BAL; 18-Apr-1987 500^th homer; pinch hit 19-Jun-1990 vs SDP; Terry Mulholland no-no 15-Aug-1990 vs SFG;

FCR -    John Read, Shaker Heights, OH

Most common incorrect answers:  Kent Tekulve, Bruce Kison

SATURDAY

Q.         After being traded to the New York Yankees, what pitcher was named American League Comeback Player of the Year?

Hint:     He tied Catfish Hunter for the second most wins on the team that year.

Hint:     Unusual for a pitcher in the modern era, he pinch-ran 43 times in his time with the Pirates, fifteen times for Hall of Famers.

Hint:     His first name is not a nickname, contrary to popular belief.

Twint:    He was traded after being suspended the prior year for refusing to pitch from the bullpen.

Twint:    The Yankees were forced to accept him in the trade, but as a result were able to acquire Willie Randolph.

A.         Dock Ellis (Sporting News Comeback Award 1976; Pinch-ran for Stargell 9, Mazeroski 5, Clemente 1;  Doc Medich sent to PIT for Ellis, Ken Brett and Randolph)

FCR -    Terry Alan Martin, Wyandotte, MI

Most common incorrect answer:  Doc Medich

SATURDAY BONUS

Q.         Who was the last left-handed pitcher to earn twenty victories in a season for the Pirates in the twentieth century?

Hint:     He appeared in 63 games in his rookie season.

Hint:     He was converted to a starter the next year and his ERA dropped from 5.76 to 3.25.

Hint:     He surrendered the only home run of Tom Glavine’s career.

Twint:    He broke his pitching arm while warming up to start a game in 1997.

Twint:    He was traded shortly thereafter.

A.         John Smiley (20-8 in 1991; 63 G in 1987; Glavine’s HR 10‑Aug‑1995; Broken humerus 20‑Sep‑1997 Esteban Loaiza started in his place)

FCR -    Steve Bonfield, Calgary, AB

Most common incorrect answer:  John Candelaria

SUNDAY

Q.         What pitcher was awarded the win in the game that ended Pete Rose’s 44-game hitting streak?

Hint:     Though Gene Garber is best remembered for striking Rose out in the 9^th, it was this pitcher’s fantastic snag of a Rose line drive in the second inning that was a key to ending the streak.

Hint:     It was his rookie year with the Braves and he started with seven consecutive victories in games where he got a decision, finishing the season 9-3.

Twint:    He finished with nine or more wins only three other times in his thirteen-year career, ending with a 78-90 record.

Twint:    He was drafted by Atlanta as the sixth pick of the 1^st round of the 1974 amateur draft.

A.         Larry McWilliams (01-Aug-1978 Gene Garber struck Rose out in the 9th; 1978 game log; career stats;

FCR -    Damian Begley, New York, NY

Most common incorrect answers:  Bob Walk, Rick Mahler, Pascal Perez

SUNDAY BONUS

Q.         What lefty lost a no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth inning by the first home run of Joe Ferguson’s career?

Hint:     He led the Southern League in strikeouts before being called up to begin a nine-year major league career.

Hint:     Ferguson hit 121 more.  (Not that day.  That would be a record.)

Twint:    His middle name is not “Sky”.

A.         Luke Walker (Ferguson HR 18‑Jul‑1971; 197 K in the Southern League in 1965)

FCR -    David Girdany, Somerset, PA

Most common incorrect answer:  Bob Veale

WEEKLY THEME – The only Pittsburgh Pirate pitchers who have ever received Cy Young Award votes.  Only Law and Drabek have won the award and no Pirates received even a token vote between 1992 and 2013.  (That might help explain a certain drought.)

Pitcher           Year    Vote Pts    1^st-Pl vts    Pos      Winner        Team

Bibby             1980         28            0          3^rd                  Carlton        PHI

Blass              1972         35            0          2^nd         Carlton        PHI

Candelaria      1977         17            1          5^th         Carlton        PHI

Drabek           1990       118          26          1^st                  Drabek        PIT

                     1992           1            0          5^th                  Maddux      CHC

Ellis                1971           9            0          4^th         Jenkins        CHC

Friend             1958           3            3          3^rd         Turley         NYY

Giusti             1974           1            0          9^th         Marshall      LAD

Law               1960           8            8          1st        Law            PIT

Liriano           2013           3            0          9^th         Kershaw      LAD

McWillliams    1983           7            0          5^th                  Denny         PHI

Rhoden          1986           2            0          5^th                  Scott           HOU

Robinson        1978           1            0          8^th         G. Perry       SDP

                     1970           8            0          4^th         Gibson         STL

Smiley            1991         26            0          3^rd                  Glavine        ATL

Tekulve          1979         14            1          5^th         Sutter          CHC

                     1978         12            0          5^th         G. Perry       SDP

Walker           1970           1            0         10^th         Gibson         STL

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Andrew Pregler, Syracuse, NY (after the Candelaria 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