February 2-8, 2015 Player who filed for Bankruptcy

MONDAY

Q.         What major leaguer homered the most in the 1960s?

Hint:     Only Hank Aaron had more RBI over that same time span.

Hint:     He had nearly 1,000 fewer at bats than Aaron during that ten-year period.

Twint:    If you go to the Mall of America, you can find the chair he hit with the longest home run hit at Metropolitan Stadium.

Twint:    He is a double unique.

A.            HARMON KILLEBREW (393 HR 1960-69 [List]; 1,013 RBI to Aaron’s 1,107; 4,994 AB to Aaron’s 5,912; HR is said to have traveled 522 ft, it hit a chair that was later moved to MOA when Met was torn down in 2014; No other player in the annals of major league history has had a first name of Harmon nor a last name of Killebrew.)

FCR -    Chuck Durante, Dover, DE

Incorrect answers:  Frank Robinson, Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Eddie Mathews, Dave Kingman, Willie Stargell

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         What former Redbird was traded in spring training with another equally undistinguished player, but which player would be the MVP that season with their new team?

Hint:     All four players involved in the trade had long (10+ years) if unremarkable major league career with the one exceptional year noted above.

Hint:     He had an historic walk-off home run on a 13-pitch at-bat to give his eventual World Series winning team a key victory.

Hint:     With his last home run of that season, he victimized the same team with another three run extra-inning shot.

Hint:     He was a backup first baseman for the same team for nine seasons, which may not be a record, but is interesting in its own quiet way.

Twint:    After retirement he was a trustee for Sparky Anderson's C.A.T.C.H charity and helped manage the assets for the Detroit Tigers Clubhouse Scholarship Fund.

A.         DAVE BERGMAN (Attended Illinois State University, traded by the Philadelphia Phillies 24-Mar-1984 with Willie Hernandez to the Detroit Tigers for Glenn Wilson and John Wockenfuss; W-O HR 04-Jun-1984; 3-R W-O HR 07-Sep-1984)

FCR -    Doug Greenwald, San Francisco, CA

Incorrect answers:  Mike Matheny, Dick Groat, Ron Fairly, Dick Nen, Joe Carter

TUESDAY

Q.         Who was the last player to hit over .390 in a season while qualifying for the batting title?

Hint:     He has the fourth highest career batting average for players with a minimum of 10,000 plate appearances.

Hint:     The man he faced the most in the majors, with over 100 PA, a first-ballot Hall of Fame pitcher, never struck him out even once.

Twint:    On the other hand, he struck out 5 times in 18 plate appearances against an even more recent Hall of Fame inductee.

A.         TONY GWYNN (BA .394 1994; BA .338 behind only Cobb .366, Speaker .345 and Ruth .342; He faced Greg Maddux 107 times without a K, hitting .415, while he hit only .111 against Randy Johnson)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York, NY

Incorrect answers:  George Brett, Rod Carew, Joe Jackson, Ted Williams

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who was the first relief pitcher to reach 300 saves?

Hint:     That same year he was replaced in September by a rookie—a move that eliminated him from appearing in his team’s only World Series appearance.

Hint:     As if to prove the adage that “you can’t succeed if you don’t fail”, he is second all-time on the list of career blown saves.

Twint:    His father, an Ohio steel worker, was in the minors on the same team with Stan Musial.

A.         ROLLIE FINGERS (He created the 300 save club 21-Aug-1982; 02-Sep-1982 forearm injury sidelined him the rest of the season and rookie Pete Ladd took his spot as closer for the Milwaukee Brewers 1982 AL-pennant winning team; Career .491 W-L percent going 114-118; 109 BS to Goose Gossage’s 112; 1938 Williamson Colts roster shows Fingers and Musial, though no playing information for Fingers)

FCR -    Douglas Sher, Charleston, SC

Incorrect answers:  Dan Quisenberry, Troy Percival, Jeff Reardon, Rich Gossage, Lee Smith, Elroy Face, Trevor Hoffman, Dennis Eckersley

THURSDAY

Q.         Which San Francisco Giants pitcher was awarded a 2010 World Series ring at the official ring ceremony though he hadn’t played for the team in over 10 years?

Hint:     He achieved only one post-season win in his long career, but was able to strike out Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, and Al Oliver  in that game.

Hint:     Alas, he lost the last game of that series though he did manage to again strike out Clemente (twice), Stargell and Oliver.

Hint:     As young boys, he and brother Jim had plowed the family fields with a mule.

Twint:    Just out of high school, in an exhibition game arrange by major league scouts, he not only won the game, he struck out 17 consecutive batters at one point.

Twint:    The opposing pitcher was ex-major leaguer Tommy Byrne.

Twint:    He claims to be the world’s second most famous peanut farmer.

A.         GAYLORD PERRY (1971 last year as a SFG, while Mays, McCovey and Cepeda also were present 09-Apr-2011 - Marichal and Monte Irvin weren’t present, but got their ring at a later date; G1 1971 NLCS 5-4 over PIT; G 4 1971 NLCS lost 9-5, he gave up 7 ER; U.S. President Jimmy Carter was no doubt the world’s most famous peanut farmer.)

FCR -    Jeff Hare, Honolulu, HI

Incorrect answers:  Dave Dravecky, Mike Krukow, Barry Zito

FRIDAY

Q.         Who hit the most home runs in the 1993 World Series that ended with a Joe Carter walk-off home run?

Hint:     His performance matched those of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Barry Bonds for a single World Series.

Hint:     After that series, he never played 100 games in a season again.

Twint:    His son is engaged to a “Soprano”.

A.         LENNY DYKSTRA (4 HR 1993 WS, Carter and Molitor had 2 each; Reggie Jackson and Chase Utley hold the record of 5; 1994-96 GP 84/62/40 his final 3 years in the Bigs; His son Cutter Dykstra is engaged to Jamie-Lynn Sigler who played Meadow Soprano)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York, NY

Incorrect answers:  Paul Molitor

END-OF-WEEK BONUS

Q.         What pitcher struck out more batters in a season that any other National League right-hander in the 20^th century?

Hint:     His four World Series victories are shared among three different teams.

Twint:    His general manager once opined, "Every fif^th day [he] has the opportunity to go out and be a horse on the mound.  Unfortunately on the other four days he tends to say things which are detrimental to the club and clearly self-serving."

Twint:    Many have theorized that his continued public pugnacity has kept him from election to the Hall of Fame.

Twint:    It’s unlikely that any player has had his in-game hosiery more closely examined.

A.         CURT SCHILLING (319 Ks for the 1997 Phillies; WS W’s for 1993 Phillies—G 5, 2001 Diamondbacks—G 1, 2004 & 2007 Red Sox—G 2 & G 2; GM Ed Wade [Wade traded Schilling to ARI in July 2000.]; Blood was visible through his sanitary sock on the mound of G 6 of the 2004 ALCS as New England held its collective breath.  He sold that very sock at auction for over $90,000.)

FCR -    Ray Palen, Selden, NY

Incorrect answers:  Nolan Ryan, Warren Spahn, Randy Johnson, Tom Seaver, Roger Clemens, Kevin Brown, Robin Roberts, Bob Gibson

SATURDAY

Q.         Who led all third basemen in homers during the 1970s?

Hint:     He is the only player all-time to top Brooks Robinson for most assists in a season by a third baseman.

Hint:     He also holds the record for most double plays turned in a year from the hot corner.

Twint:    After catching a crucial famous Carl Yastrzemski foul pop-up, he admitted, “The toughest part of the play was not fainting.”

A.         GRAIG NETTLES (252 HR 1970-79 [Mike Schmidt had 235 1972-79.]; 412 assists 1971; 54 DP 1971; Various Yankee quotes; Quote after making the final out in the famous 1978 NYY/BOS playoff game)

FCR -    Eric Stone, Los Gatos, CA

Incorrect answers:  Mike Schmidt, Darrell Evans, Ron Santo, Buddy Bell, Ron Cey, Richie Hebner, Sal Bando

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         What Red Sox slugger got his 1,000^th RBI in the fewest games since Ted Williams?

Hint:     After hitting .385 one season in the minors, but dropped to .256 as a player/manager the next year.

Hint:     He played one game in the Mexican League, but left for personal reasons.

Twint:    He played for seven minor league teams before his major league debut, four minor league team during his career in The Bigs and seven teams afterward.

Twint:    He was his brother’s manager in the minors.

Twint:    He has been a commercially successful author multiple times.

A.         JOSE CANSECO (1,000^th RBI with his 320^th career HR off Bobby Witt on Flag Day 1996, his 1,296^th G; Hit .385 with the 2010 Laredo Broncos then managed and played with the 2011 Yuma Scorpions; Was 2/5 in a preseason G with the 2012 Quintana Roo Tigers of the Mexican League, but the league suspended him when he refused to undergo a drug test; Managed twin brother Ozzie in Yuma; “Strength Training for Baseball”, “”Juiced” & “Vindicated”, these last two being best-sellers)

FCR -    No one

Incorrect answers:  Fred Lynn, Bobby Doerr, Vern Stephens, Manny Ramirez, Boomer Scott, Jackie Jensen, David Ortiz, Dwight Evans

SUNDAY

Q.         Who is the only Chicago Cubs player to lead the National League in doubles more than once in the 20^th century?

Hint:     Despite this, he doesn’t even appear in the Cubs’s Top 10 for most doubles in a season.

Hint:     He held the major league single-season assists record at first base until Albert Pujols topped it by a single assist.

Twint:    He was the last Cub to win a batting title in the 20^th century.

A.         BILL BUCKNER (2B leader 1981,’83 with 35/382B; Led NL w/.324 in 1980; Pujols topped him with 185 1b A in 2009 and still holds the record.)

FCR -    Barry Nelson, Guilderland, NY

Incorrect answers:  Mark Grace, Billy Herman, Phil Cavarretta, Frank Chance, Derrek Lee

SUNDAY BONUS

Q.         Who is the only pitcher to win the American League MVP unanimously?

Hint:     Ironically, his first Major League appearance was a complete game win over the team that originally signed him.

Twint:    The last batter he ever faced in a major league game was Pete Rose.

Twint:    Though not in the Hall of Fame himself, his father-in-law is a member.

A.         DENNY McLAIN (Debut 21-Sep-1963 CG win 4-3 over CHW; Father-in-law Lou Boudreau, Married Sherry Boudreau [twice]; Faced Rose 12-Sep-1972, Rose singled.)

FCR -    Mark Kanter, Portsmouth, RI

Incorrect answers:  Nolan Ryan, Justin Verlander, Roger Clemens, Vida Blue, Dennis Eckersley, Hal Newhouser

BIG FINALE

Q.         Who tossed the famous ball to first for what should have been the first out in the 9^th inning of the 1985 World Series?

Hint:     He holds the Giants modern era record for the longest consecutive game hitting streak.

Hint:     For a while, he was the latest recipient of the coveted Willie Mac Award

Hint:     After a stint in the American League, he said, “I hate that damn league!  Every game lasts 3½ to 4 hours.  No wonder the fans are bored over there."

Twint:    His mouth proved to be his biggest enemy, costing him his job as a St. Louis local sports talk host.

A.         JACK CLARK (Clark fielded the ball and his toss was called late, though replay showed he made the throw in time; 1978 he hit safely in 26 consecutive, though George Davis hit 33 in 1893 to hold the franchise all-time record; In fact, he was the first ever to get the award in 1980 named after Willie McCovey.  He was only the latest one to get it until it was awarded to Larry Herndon in 1981; AL quote after he was traded by the NYY (where he spent one season) to the NL SDP; After seven shows he was fired for accusing Albert Pujols and Justin Verlander of using PED’s without proof)

FCR -    David Krassin, New York, NY

Incorrect answers:  Todd Worrell, Will Clark

WEEKLY THEME – Eleven players who have declared bankruptcy (There are surely others.)  http://www.drescherlaw.com/reports/bankruptcy-baseball-hall-of-fame.cfm

Buckner

Canseco

Clark       

Dykstra

Fingers

Gwynn

Killebrew

McLain

Nettles

Perry      

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Dave Washburn, Marietta, GA (after the Fingers Q.)

Incorrect theme guesses:   Saturday  - Players who struggled with cancer

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

January 26-February 1, 2015 Middle infielders who led their league in intentional bases-on-balls

MONDAY

Q.         Who was the first shortstop to hit forty home runs in one season?

Hint:     He had five such seasons.

Hint:     No other National League shortstop has ever done it even once.

Hint:     His one-time manager, Leo Durocher, specifically exempted him from The Lip’s famous (apocryphal) quote “Nice guys finish last”.

Twint:    You are dearly missed “Mr. Cub”.

A.         ERNIE BANKS (44 HR 1955; 44, 43, 47, 45 & 41 season 1955, 57-60; Durocher said of Banks  “Banks is one nice guy who finished first—but he had the talent to go with it.”; Died Friday 23-Jan-2015 of a heart attack just seven days before his 83^rd birthday.)

FCR -    Jerry Mora, Prescott, AZ           

Incorrect answers:  Alvin Dark, Alex Rodriguez, Pee Wee Reese, Vern Stephens

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         Whose Red Sox franchise record did Roger Clemens break when he struck out twenty batters in a single game?

Hint:     He was the first Red Sox pitcher to play two consecutive seasons without committing an error (minimum 50 chances per season).

Hint:     A paragon of tenacity on a poor-performing team, he lost ten or more games for six straight years, yet made the All-Star team in three of those seasons.

Hint:     He was a teammate of both Willie May and Mickey Mantle.

Twint:    He surrendered the last grand slam a New York Yankee pitcher ever hit.

Twint:    He is the only Red Sox pitcher to allow thirty home runs in a season for three consecutive years.

Twint:    In Chicago on the first of August 1962, he no-hit a White Sox team that had three future Hall of Famers.

A.         BILL MONBOUQUETTE (17 Ks 12-May-1961; Errorless 1963-64; Also a teammate of Ted Williams, Al Kaline, Carl Yastrzemski, Dick Williams, Eddie Matthews, Whitey Ford, Bobby Cox, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry; GS to Mel Stottlemyre 20‑Jul‑1965; 30+ HR allowed 1963-65;  No-hitter 01‑Aug‑1962)

FCR -    Charlie Vascellaro, Baltimore, MD

Incorrect answers:  Jim Lonborg, Ellis Kinder, Stu Miller

TUESDAY

Q.         Who has the lowest career batting average for any second baseman in the Hall of Fame? (At least 90% of games at second base).

Hint:     He won the first Gold Glove awarded to a National League second baseman.

Hint:     His greatest defensive skill was considered to be “The Pitcher’s Savior” – a term coined by the man who recruited him.

Twint:    Despite World Series heroics, including scoring the clinching run, it was the losing team’s second baseman that won that year’s WS MVP.

A.         BILL MAZEROSKI (.260 career BA; 1960 WS hit .320, with 5RBI’s besting even Clemente, and hit the only WS Game7 walk-off homer, yet Bobby Richardson of the losing NYY was series MVP; 1958 GG, Nellie Fox won 1957 when only one GG was awarded for the majors; Known for turning double plays, it was Branch Rickey that recruited Maz to the Bucs, and who coined the phrase that is now spoken as “A pitcher’s best friend”)

FCR -    Chuck Durante, Dover, DE

Incorrect answers:  Rabbit Maranville, Joe Morgan, Nellie Fox, Dal Maxvill, Johnny Evers

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who is the only player to triple twice in an All-Star game?

Hint:     He was the last first baseman to lead his league in triples (100 games minimum).

Hint:     No first baseman has even equaled that number of three-baggers since.

Hint:     Billy Martin once said of him, "He could bunt .330 if he tried."

Twint:    No player born outside the U.S. has more major league hits.

Twint:    Pitcher Alan Bannister quipped, “He is the only guy I know who can go 4-for-3.”

A.         ROD CAREW (ASG 11-Jul-1978; 16 3b in 1977; 3,053 H, 23^rd all-time’; B. 01-Oct-1945, Gatun, Canal Zone, Panama, has 3,053 H)

FCR -    Kevin Johnson, Broken Arrow, OK

Incorrect answers:  Don Mattingly, Stan Musial, Mickey Vernon, Vic Power, Ferris Fain, Lou Gehrig

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         Who was the first American League player to hit 25 home runs as a shortstop in his rookie season?

Hint:     He joined Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Wade Boggs as Red Sox batters who won consecutive American League batting titles.

Hint:     He joined another similarly elite group of Bosox when he collected ten RBI in a game.

Twint:    Some say he married up.  Some say she married up.  Seems to be working.

Twint:    His in-season, hard-core workout regimen impressed even long-time fitness enthusiasts.

A.         NOMAR GARCIAPARRA (30 in 1997; Batting champ 1999, 2000; 10-RBI G: 10‑May‑1999; Married to noted soccer player Mia Hamm since 22-Nov-2003; SI article, cover)

FCR -    Mike Massaroli, Staten, NY

Incorrect answers:  Vern Stephens, Gene Stephens, Dale Alexander, Rico Petrocelli, Miguel Tejada, Cal Ripken, Tony Conigliaro, Carl Yastrzemski, Dom DiMaggio, Ramon Martinez

THURSDAY

Q.         What St. Louis Cardinals speedster is the only player to lead the National League in triples for three straight years?

Hint:     He became the youngest player to have a 200-hit season.

Hint:     He is the only National Leaguer to have 100 hits from each side of the plate in the same season.

Twint:    Often viewed by management as a malcontent, it’s not inappropriate that he led the Outlaws to a league title.

A.         GARRY TEMPLETON (Triples titles:  1977-79; 200 H in 1977 @ age 21; 100+ from each side:  1979, 211 total; Traded away from STL after multiple obscene gestures, nevertheless, managed the AA 2010 Chico Outlaws to the championship of the Golden Baseball League)

FCR -    Douglas Sher, Charleston, SC

Incorrect answers:  Willie McGee, Vince Coleman, Ozzie Smith, Eckstein

FRIDAY

Q.         Who was the sweet-fielding shortstop on the last team in organized baseball to call Havana home?

Hint:     Ironically, Cuba was his native land but he had to work up to that AAA level after playing C ball in Tucson and A ball in Savannah.

Hint:     His team stayed right up to the very eve of Castro’s revolution, notwithstanding being wounded by gunfire earlier in the season by some over-exuberant Fidel acolytes.

Hint:     Opting for safety over glory, the team moved to become the Jerseys of Jersey City.  I’m confident their jerseys were very nice.

Twint:    His 118^th career home run was the only run scored in Jim Maloney’s first no-hitter.

A.         LEO CARDENAS (Havana Sugar Kings; Tucson Cowboys 1956 of the Arizona-Mexico League & the Savannah Redlegs of the South Atlantic League; Maloney no-hitter 19‑Aug‑1965)

FCR -    Chuck Durante, Dover, DE

Incorrect answers:  Zoilo Versalles, Jose Valdevieso, Elio Chacon, Felix Mantilla, Bert Campaneris

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         Who the Washington Senators’ lone representative to the 1958 All-Star game?

Hint:     Two Hall of Famers were on that team.

Hint:     A 1973 book claimed, “In fact, he may have looked more like a ballplayer than any other ballplayer who ever lived."

Hint:     He managed teams in the minors for 21 seasons finishing .500 or better 13 times.

Hint:     He was as good at one-liners as Lefty Gomez or Yogi Berra.  Judge for yourself:

            ~ “I managed good but, boy, did they play bad.”

            ~ “The main quality a great third base coach must have is a fast runner.”

            ~ “I got a big charge out of seeing Ted Williams hit. Once in a while they let me try to field some of them, which sort of dimmed my enthusiasm.”

            ~ “I think it’s a good idea [Little League baseball]; it keeps the parents off the streets.”

            ~ “There are three things the average man thinks he can do better than everybody else: build a fire, run a motel and manage a baseball team.”

Twint:    He played 5 season in the minors and 11 in the majors which prepared him well for his managing career.

A.         ROCKY BRIDGES (Quote from The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book, Brendan C. Boyd & Fred C. Harris)

FCR -    Richard Tharp, Gaithersburg, MD

Incorrect answers:  Roy Sievers, Wayne Terwilliger, Harmon Killebrew

SATURDAY

Q.         Who played in more games than any other Los Angeles Dodger?

Hint:     He replaced Maury Wills at shortstop mid-way through Wills’s final year.

Hint:     He replaced Tommy Lasorda 24 years later.

Hint:     In the minors he played in the outfield and infield and then, in the majors, the infield with Davey Lopes.

Twint:    His nickname was acquired when Walter Alston told Ken Boyer to teach him the ropes.

A.         BILL RUSSELL (2,181GP with LAD, 2^nd most for the franchise with Zack Wheat holding the franchise record w/2,322 G as a Brooklyn Dodger; 1972, Wills’ last year, Russell played 121 G at short; 1996 replaced Tommy mid-season; 1970 Spokane Indians, 1972-1981 LAD as part of the Garvey, Lopes & Cey long-lived infield; Nicknamed “Ropes”)

FCR -    Timothy Kearns, Washington, DC

Incorrect answers:  Davey Lopes, Steve Garvey

SUNDAY

Q.         Who set the National League record for reaching base by catcher’s interference the most times in a season?

Hint:     His father named him after a pinch hitter whose penultimate major league at bat was the most famous of his eleven-year career.

Hint:     He garnered a World Series ring one season though he never played a single postseason game in his career.

Hint:     He was once the second out in a rare 8-6-2-2 double play.

Twint:    He dismissed the assertion that he could be compared to his famous father.

A.         DALE BERRA (Catcher’s interference 7 X in 1983; Dale Mitchell struck out to end Don Larsen’s perfect game 5 1956 WS [Mitchell had 1 more AB in G 7.]; “We Are Family” 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates awarded him a ring for his 44 G that season, though he didn’t make the WS roster; 02-Aug-1985 Carlton Fisk tagged out Bob Meacham and Berra in rapid succession as they tried to make it home after a Rickey Henderson single and a blunder by Meacham; “You can’t compare me to my father.  Our similarities are different”.)

FCR -    Jason Hoagland, Columbus, OH

Incorrect answers:  Cookie Rojas, Cookie Lavagetto, Ron Hunt, Jason Kendall 

WEEKLY THEME – Middle infielders who led their league in intentional bases-on-balls

Player               Year     IBB

Banks               1960     28

                        1959     20

Mazeroski         1962     16

Russell             1974     25

Cardenas          1965     25

                        1966     18

Templeton         1985     24

                        1984     23

Garciaparra       2000     20

Berra                1983     19

Carew               1975     18

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one

Incorrect theme guesses:

Monday   -  Notable players who have died over the last year

               -  People who had an obituary on Horsehide Trivia

We archive our questions here:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/

Horsehide Trivia home page:  https://sites.google.com/site/tnfotobbpics/home/horsehide-trivia

January 19-25, 2015 Players whose college mascot was a reptile

MONDAY

Q.         Who was voted his league’s Most Valuable Player just after his team finished dead last in their division?

Hint:     He was the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner that season too.

Hint:     He won it narrowly, over a player who would end up with him in the Hall of Fame.

Twint:    He hit over 30 home runs in a season three times and stole over 30 bases in a season three times.

Twint:    They don’t synch up, however, and he is now forever denied membership in the exclusive 30/30 Club.

Twint:    He did make the 20/20 Club five times, though.

A.         ANDRE DAWSON (MVP 1987 w/CHC; 2^nd place Ozzie Smith)

FCR -    Bob Kimball, Sutton, MA

Incorrect answers:  Alex Rodriguez, Steve Carlton, Vladimir Guerrero, Ernie Banks, Dale Murphy, Ryne Sandberg

TUESDAY

Q.         Who was the first infielder to accomplish thirty home runs and thirty stolen bases in the same major league season?

Hint:     That very same season, he became the first player to hit thirty home runs from the leadoff position.

Hint:     Playing on a first-year expansion team, he led the entire league with 73 stolen bases.

Twint:    Willie Stargell was a teammate on his high school baseball team.

A.         TOMMY HARPER (31 HR, 38 SB in 1970 while playing; SEP 1969 73 SB; Attended Encinal High School)

FCR -    Blake Sherry, Dublin, OH

Incorrect answers:  Alfonso Soriano, Rickey Henderson, Alex Rodriguez, Chuck Carr, Tim Raines, Maury Wills

WEDNESDAY

Q.         Who was the first National League shortstop to win World Series Most Valuable Player Award?

Hint:     He once had two game winning bunts in a 17-day stretch, the second of which was a walk-off.

Hint:     Sixteen days after that, he hit a walk off grand slam.

Twint:    He is the only Cardinal to get three doubles in a World Series game, the third providing the margin of victory with an 8^th inning RBI.

A.         DAVID ECKSTEIN (2006 MVP, other SS to win: Jeter, Trammel & Dent won in the AL & Edgar Renteria won w/the Giants in 2010; 22-Jul-2005 walk off bunt, and game winning bunt 06-Jul-2005 top 9^th; 07-Aug-2005 to beat the Braves 5-3; 2006 WS G4 in the 3^rd, 7^th and 8^th 5-4 final)

FCR -    Dave Ramsden, Barcelona, Spain

Incorrect answers:  Cole Hamels, Maury Wills, Marty Marion, Ernie Banks, Juan Uribe, Honus Wagner, Jimmy Rollins, Zoilo Versalles, Dick Groat, Bill Russell, Phil Rizzuto, Ozzie Smith

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q.         During the two-season reign of Cincinnati’s Nasty Boys, which reliever accumulated the most total saves?

Hint:     He was the second Reds pitcher to hurl an immaculate inning.

Hint:     In his lone World Series victory, he handed a future Hall of Fame pitcher the final loss of that pitcher’s 0-2 World Series career.

Twint:    When, on the spur of moment he anointed himself team physician, he managed only to sever all his ties with the franchise.

Twint:    He managed this by opining on live television that a certain #1 overall draft pick should “suck it up” instead of complaining of elbow pain.

A.         ROB DIBBLE (1990-91: 42 SV, Myers 37, Charlton 3; Immaculate Inning:  04‑Jun‑1989, t8th vs SDP, downed Carmelo Martinez, Mark Parent, Garry Templeton, Pedro Borbon had done it 23‑June‑1979; He topped Dennis Eckersley in Game 2 of the 1990 WS; Speaking of ailing Stephen Strasburg in 2010, who not long thereafter needed Tommy John surgery, Dibble was fired as the Nationals color analyst)

FCR -    Terry Alan Martin, Carleton, MI

Incorrect answers:  Randy Myers, Norm Charlton, Will McEnaney, Eric Plunk

THURSDAY

Q.         Who was the first player to hit ten home runs during a season in which he collected fewer than fifty hits—and did it twice in his All-Star career?

Hint:     He was the first rookie to homer twice in his first World Series game.

Hint:     He twice led the American League in bases-on-balls and was an All-Star five times.

Hint:     He really did not like his nickname.

Twint:    He was an outfielder on a team that many believe to be the best of all time.

A.         CHARLIE KELLER (10 HR 49 H in 1945, 13 HR 36 H in 1947; Rookie WS HR 07‑Oct‑1939 1^st & 3^rd Abs;  MiLB POY 1953; Nicknamed “King Kong Keller” because of his power; Members of this [putative] All-time Outfield:  Keller, Joe DiMaggio and Tommy Heinrich.)

FCR -    Douglas Sher, Charleston, SC

Incorrect answers:  Gene Tenace, Andruw Jones

IN MEMORIAM

Q.         Who is “Mr. Cub”?

Hint:     No other player played more games in a Cubs’ uniform.

Hint:     He was the first National League player to win back-to-back MVP Awards.

Hint:     He was the first Chicago Cub to have his uniform number retired.

Hint:     He made his professional debut with the Kansas City Monarchs, after being signed to his first contract by future Hall of Famer, Cool Papa Bell.

Hint:     He never played in high school because his Dallas high school did not have a baseball team.

Hint:     He is the only Chicago Cub to amass 1,000 extra-base hits.

Hint:     He was the first player to win a Gold Glove Award for the Cubs.

Hint:     He finished ahead of Hank Aaron in the Rookie-of-the-Year balloting.

Hint:     He was one of only three shortstops named to the All-Century team.

Twint:    He was the first black to play for the Cubs.

Twint:    He was awarded the Presidential of Freedom in 2013 (…and by a White Sox fan no less!).

Twint:    Although he was the only player Sandy Koufax struck out three times on the day of Koufax’ perfect game against the Cubs, he was one of only four players to homer off Koufax seven times in his career.

A.         ERNIE BANKS (Be sure to look at the slide show: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/24/sports/baseball/ernie-banks-the-eternally-hopeful-mr-cub-dies-at-83.html?emc=edit_na_20150123&nlid=60651822&_r=0# also http://wgntv.com/2015/01/23/cubs-legend-ernie-banks-has-died/ http )

FCR -    Charlie Vascellaro, Baltimore, MD

FRIDAY

Q.         What notable DH had the privilege of managing his son in the majors?

Hint:     He debuted with the Reds, shortly after Johnny Bench did.

Twint:    He learned base running from Pete Rose and passed on his knowledge to George Brett.

A.         HAL McCRAE (Father of Brian McRae; Debut 1968)

FCR -    Bob Kimball, Sutton, MA

Incorrect answers:  Ken Griffey, Tony Perez, Bob Boone, Felipe Alou, Pete Rose

END-OF-THE-WEEK BONUS

Q:         Who is the only player in MLB history to be caught stealing four times in one game?

Hint:     After Willie Mays, he was the next Giant to lead the league in triples.

Hint:     He was the last San Francisco Giant to lead the league in hit-by-pitch.

Twint:    He spent his entire career with the Giants and was an opening day starter each one of those years.

A.         ROBBY THOMPSON (27-Jun-1986 on 3 hit and runs, though he did have 2 RBI in the victory; 1989 11/3B, Mays 20/3B 1957; 13HBP 1989; Played 2B 86-96)

FCR -    Josh Sullivan, Tomball, TX

Incorrect answers:  Bobby Bonds, Ron Hunt, Willie Kirkland, Ray Durham, Brett Butler

SATURDAY

Q.         Who took Larry Doby’s outfield position the first time Doby was traded from the Indians?

Hint:     He and the other player traded for Doby, along with one other, were the last of the original Senators to lead the league in games played.

Hint:     His rookie season saw his only All-Star appearance, and though he didn’t have an at bat, he replaced Ted Williams in leftfield.

Twint:    Eight years later he joined Williams as a Red Sox outfielder.

Twint:    His distant cousin with the same last name threw two no-hitters with the Royals.

A.         JIM BUSBY (25-Oct-1955: Traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Chicago White Sox for Jim Busby and Chico Carrasquel; GP155 in 1954, also Eddie Yost; 1951 ASG top 9^th, AL behind 8-3; Traded to BOS for the 1959 season; 4^th cousin of KCR  pitcher Steve Busby.)

FCR -    Dave Goss, Wind Gap, PA

Incorrect answers:  Gene Stephens, Jim Lemon

WEEKEND BONUS

Q.         Which All-Star shortstop hit only seven career home runs (minimum 1,000 games)?

Hint:     He was the first Mets shortstop to win a Gold Glove.

Hint:     It was the only one of his career.

Hint:     A weak hitter, he may be best remembered for his competition with the greatest hitter of all time.

Twint:    As a 19 year old, he had offers from the Yankees but took one with the Mets saying “I figured I could make that club fast.”

A.         BUD HARRELSON (16y career 7 HR, 1,533 G , AS 1970-1; GG 1971; Pete Rose, the hit king, and he had an infamous fight in the 1973 NLCS, the Rose-Bud Incident; SABR BIO quote, he wanted more playing time so he thought the Mets, coming off their 40-120 inaugural season in 1962, offered him the best shot)

FCR -    Greg Kelminson, Dallas, TX

Incorrect answers:  Walt Weiss, Ray Ordonez, Elio Chacon

SUNDAY

Q.         After Mark McGwire, who was the next Cardinal to lead the National League in bases‑on‑balls?

Hint:     The prior year he led the majors in runs, hits and doubles.

Hint:     In fact, he obliterated the franchise record for doubles in a season by a middle infielder.

Hint:     It was held in a tie by no less than Rogers Hornsby, Frankie Frisch and Sparky Adams.

Hint:     No player, active in the majors today, has ever had more doubles in a season.

Twint:    His high school team, with his dad as his coach, won a National Championship.

Twint:    His father also won the High School Baseball Coach of the Year Award.

A.         MATT CARPENTER (95 BB 2014; 2013 126R/199H/552B; He tied the three at 46 2B on 04-Sep-2013 and finished with 55; 2002 USA TODAY National Prep School Championship guided by his father Rick Carpenter)

FCR -    Jimmy Goggin, Williamsburg, VA

Incorrect answers:  David Eckstein, Albert Pujols, Tommy Herr, Edgar Renteria, Lance  Berkman

SUNDAY FINALE

Q:         Who held the record for most hits in a World Series for over 50 years?

Hint:     His Hall of Fame manager said of him “I hate his guts, but I want him on my team”.

Hint:     He played nearly equal numbers of games at second base, shortstop and third base accounting for nearly all of his more than 1400 career games.

Twint:    If not for his error in Game 5 of the World Series against the White Sox, it might have been 100 years between World Series Championships for the Southsiders.

Twint:    The only categories he ever led the league in were caught stealing and hit-by-pitch.

A.         BUCK HERZOG (12 h 1912 WS topped by Bobby Richardson’s 13 in 1964; Joe McCarthy and he were known for their mutual antagonism; 490 G @ 2B, 473 G @ 3B & 459 G @ SS G in 1,471 G 1908-20; Series tied 2-2, NYG leading 5-4 bottom 7^th, his error tied the game and let Game 4 slip away.  CHW took the next game to win the series 4-2 in 1917.  Their prior WS victory was 1906, and their next not until 2005; 28 CS in 1915 & 14 HBP in 1919.)

FCR -    Michael Berry, Culver City, CA

Incorrect answers:  Pete Rose, Gil McDougald, Bobby Richardson, Frankie Frisch, Eddie Collins, Mark Koenig, Yogi Berra, Babe Ruth                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

WEEKLY THEME – Players whose college mascot was a reptile

Carpenter          TCU                           Horned Frogs

Coleman           Florida A & M             Rattlers

Dawson            Florida A & M             Rattlers

Dibble              Florida Southern         Water Moccasins

Eckstein           Florida                       Gators

Harper              San Francisco State   Gators

Herzog              Maryland                    Terrapins

Keller                Maryland                    Terrapins

McCrae             Florida A & M             Rattlers

Stanley             Florida                       Gators

Thompson        Florida                       Gators

Also available:       Jake Arrieta, Ron Swoboda, Mark Ellis, Pete Donohue, Marquis Grissom, Danny Heep, Les Fleming, Lance Niekro, Mike Stanley plus a few lesser lights.

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – No one

Incorrect theme guesses:

Wed        -  Players who garnered MVP votes in their first year with a new team

Sun         -  Players who wore size 9 ½ cleats

               -  Players who have been all stars at 2 infield positions

We archive our questions here:  http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/

Horsehide Trivia home page:  https://sites.google.com/site/tnfotobbpics/home/horsehide-trivia