2020-09-28 National Leaguers with Unanimous MVP votes

MONDAY  —  28 Sep

Q.        Whose lead in career intentional bases on balls actually laps the field?

Hint:     Of the six all-time best seasons of OPS, he has three.  Babe Ruth has the other three.

Hint:     Only he and Jose Pagan played 500 games each for both the Giants and Pirates.

A.         BARRY BONDS  [SABR Bio]

-  Bonds owns twice as many career IBBs as does the player in 2^nd place, Albert Pujols, 688 to 312.

-  Bonds owns OPS seasons 1, 2 & 4.  Ruth has 3, 5 & 6.

-  Bonds had 1,010 G w/PIT then 1,976 w/SFG.  Pagan played 655 w/SFG then 625 G w/PIT.

FCR -  Preston Salisbury, Starkville, Mississippi

Incorrect guesses:  Barry’s kid, Ted Williams

TUESDAY  —  29 Sep

Q.        Who is the only left-handed pitcher with a scoreless innings streak record of more than 45?

Hint:     He is the only pitcher to win the National League MVP more than once.

Hint:     He did not have to wait five years after retiring before being elected to the Hall of Fame.

A.         CARL HUBBELL  [SABR Bio]

-  Hubbell’s streak of 45⅓ scoreless innings was from 13-Jul to 01-Aug-1933.  Only right-handers Orel Hershiser (59 IP in 1988), Don Drysdale (58 in 1968), Walter Johnson (55 2/3 in 1913), Jack Coombs (53 in 1910), Bob Gibson (47 in 1968) and Zack Greinke (45 2/3 in 2015) have posted longer streaks.

-  The BRTL All-Star was voted NL MVP in 1933 & 1936 besting, respectively, Hall of Famers Chuck Klein and Dizzy Dean.

-  Played last in 1943.  Entered the Hall in 1947.  The requirements to make the ballot for the Hall of Fame have changed throughout the years.  The 1955 HOF election was the first to use the current 5-year waiting period.

FCR -  Steve Klitzner North Miami Beach

Incorrect guesses:  Sandy Koufax, Steve Carlton, Hal Newhouser, Randy Johnson, Bob Gibson, Orel Hershiser, Cal Hubbard

 

WEDNESDAY  —  30 Sep

Q.        Whose record for the most home runs in the month of April did Alex Rodriguez tie in 2007?

Hint:     He is the only National Leaguer to amass more than 250 RBI in his first two seasons in the majors.

Hint:     It wasn’t until his eleventh season in the majors that he had fewer than 100 RBI in a year.  That year he had 99.

A.         ALBERT PUJOLS  [SABR Bio]

-  Pujols hit 14 HR in April of 2006.  In 2019, both Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich each totaled 14 HR by the end of April, but each had hit 4 of his in March.

-  130 RBI in 2001 + 127 in 2002.

-  2001-2010 100+ RBI each, averaging 123.  99 RBI in 2011

FCR -  Jim Carruthers, Richmond, Virginia

Incorrect guesses:  Willie Stargell, Mel Ott, Zach Wheat, Tony Perez, Hack Wilson

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —  30 Sep

Q.        ​Which batter led the majors in bases on balls in the pandemic-truncated 2020 season, his second time to do so?

Hint:     He is only the third Home Run Derby winner to do so in his team’s home park.

Hint:     His brother won a national collegiate championship with USC.

A.         BRYCE HARPER  [B-R Bio]

-  Harper walked 49 in 2020.  Also led in 2018 w/130.

-  HRD winner 2018 in Nationals Park.  Ryne Sandberg/Cubs (1990 at Wrigley Field) and Todd Frazier/Reds (2015 at Great American Ball Park) were the other local heroes who thrilled their hometown fans.

-  Older brother Bryan Harper pitched for the South Carolina University Gamecocks when they won the NCAA championship in 2011.  He played for 9 years in the minors, mostly in the Washington Nationals’ organization.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Todd Frazier, Carlos Santana

 

THURSDAY  —  01-Oct

Q.        Who is the only 20^th-century National League player to hit home runs in four consecutive trips to the plate in one game?

Hint:     As a teenager, he was a lifeguard at the aquatic club run by his parents.

Hint:     He is the last player to lead a league in home runs more than four times.

Hint:     Regarding his physical prowess, an All-Star teammate once opined, “To have his body, I’d trade him mine and my wife’s and I’d throw in some cash.”

A.         MIKE SCHMIDT  [B-R Bio]

-  HRs in 5^th, 7^th, 8^th & 10^th on 17-April-1976

-  His parents are Joseph Jack Schmidt and Lois Jane Philipps who managed the Philipps Aquatic Club founded by Lois' great-grandfather Charles A. Philipps.

-  Led the NL in HR 8 times.

-  Quote from Pete Rose who was Schmidt’s teammate on PHI 1979-83.

FCR -  Jeff Fink, Howell, New Jersey

Incorrect guesses:  Joe Adcock, Shawn Green, Mark McGwire, Mark Whiten, Jimmie Foxx, Ralph Kiner, Mel Ott, Eddie Mathews, Pat Seerey, Alex Rodriguez

 

FRIDAY  —  02-Oct

Q.        Which one-time Hawks player was major league baseball’s highest-paid player the year after he’d played his last game?

Hint:     Drafted by one team, traded to another, he now leads the latter in fourteen offensive categories—including home runs, RBI and walks—won Rookie of the Year, won an MVP, won a Gold Glove and won the Silver Slugger three times.  To the surprise of no one, he was never traded again.

Hint:     He was the first National Leaguer to walk six times in a game.

Hint:     He was a soccer star in high school and college.

A.         JEFF BAGWELL  [SABR Bio]

-  Made $19, 369,019 in 2006, most of any player according to baseball-reference.  Last game was in the 2005 WS, G 4.  Played for the Hartford University Hawks before being drafted.

-  Drafted by BOS in the 4^th round of the 1989 amateur draft. Signed 10-Jun-1989.  After 2 years in the minors, was traded by BOS to the HOU for P Larry Andersen.

-  6 BB – 20-Aug-1999, 16-inning G

-  Played soccer for Xavier HS in Middletown, CT and Hartford U.

FCR -  Steve Klitzner, North Miami Beach

Incorrect guesses:  Bryce Harper

 

IN MEMORIAM  —  02-Oct

Q.        Which one-time Bluejay set the all-time record for strikeouts in a single World Series?

Hint:     He is also in second place on that same list.

Hint:     He is also in fifth place on that same list.

Hint:     He was afflicted with rickets, asthma and a heart murmur as a child.

Hint:     He is the last National League pitcher to hit .300 in the same season he won 20 games and the Cy Young Award.

Hint:     He is the only pitcher to record 30 strikeouts in a single World Series and he did it twice.

Hint:     His ERA of 1.12 in 1968 is the best since the Deadball Era and the fourth-best all-time.

Hint:     He and fellow Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins once played basketball for the Harlem Globetrotters.

Hint:     He won two Cy Young Awards, one of them unanimously.  The second one was a single vote from also being unanimous.

Hint:     In separate seasons, he hit a home run in the World Series after not having hit one during that regular season.

Hint:     He was the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award for a team with a losing record.

Hint:     He once faced three more batters after suffering a broken leg when hit by a line drive.

Hint:     He knocked down Reggie Jackson in an Old-Timers game. 

A.         BOB GIBSON  [SABR Bio]

-  Attended Creighton University (Bluejays) in his hometown of Omaha.  35 K in 1968 WS; 31 K in 1964 WS; 26 K in 1967 WS (tied w/ C. Schilling)

-  23-7 in 1970 hitting .303 and won his 2^nd CYA.

-  31 strikeouts in 1964 vs NYY and 35 Ks in 1968 vs. DET.

-  His is the only color picture on the page of history’s best Single-Season Leaders & Records for Earned Run Average.

-  WS HRs 1967 & 1968

-  CYA in 1970 for STL (4^th place w/76-86 record)

-  Missed 52 days after being hit by a line drive off the bat of Roberto Clemente.

-  Jackson had had the temerity to homer off Gibson in an Old-Timers’ game the previous year.

FCR -  Sarah Grynpas, Toronto

Incorrect guesses:  Steve Carlton

 

SATURDAY  —  03-Oct

Q.        Who is the only player to switch-hit home runs in a game three times in a week?

Hint:     The following year, he became the first to switch-hit homers in a game four times in a season.

Hint:     He was the first third baseman in the history of his franchise to win a Gold Glove.  Then he kept winning them.

Hint:     He had the names of his three daughters tattooed on his chest.

Hint:     He was unrepentant about using performance-enhancing drugs.

A.         KEN CAMINITI  [SABR Bio]

-  HR from each side on 16-, 17-* & 19-Sep-1995.

-  In 1996 he switch-hit HR on 01-, 21- & 28-Aug; also 11-Sep.

-  GG for SDP in 1995, 1996 & 1997.  Chase Headley joined him in 2012.

-  In 2016, daughters Kendall, Lindsey and Nicole threw out the first pitch(es) at the G where he was posthumously inducted to the Padres Hall of Fame.

-  Caminiti said, “They (the fans) come to the arena to watch gladiators.  Do they want to see a bunch of guys chocking up on the bat against pitchers throwing  82 miles an hour or do they want to see the ball go 500 feet?  They want to see warriors!”

*Only National League player to switch-hit HR in games on consecutive days.

FCR -  Evan Thompson, Mesa

Incorrect guesses:  Chipper Jones, Dick Allen

 

SUNDAY  —  04-Oct

Q.        Who was voted MVP the year after he won a Comeback Player of the Year Award?

Hint:     He led the league in home runs one season (neither of the two above) and nobody noticed.

Hint:     He spent his rookie signing bonus on his father's funeral.

Hint:     He came within an inning of being history’s first designated hitter.

A.         ORLANDO CEPEDA  [SABR Bio]

-  United Press International CPY = 1966; NL MVP 1967.  Only Cepeda & Albert Pujols have won a unanimous Rookie of the Year and a unanimous MVP in the NL.  (In the AL, Frank Robinson & Mike Trout have also done this.)

-  Led the NL w/46 HR in 1961 as Maris and Mantle zeroed in on Babe Ruth’s season record of 60.  Cepeda’s teammate Willie Mays was a distant 2^nd in the NL w/40.

-  He was unanimously voted Rookie of the Year in 1958, but was still not as famous a baseball players as his father “El Toro” Cepeda was in Puerto Rico.  His father’s passing hit him hard.

-  In a game between BOS and NYY, Ron Blomberg drew a walk in the top of the 1^st inning.  Cepeda was the first batter in the bottom of the 2^nd.  He struck out.

FCR -  Steven Wright, Naperville, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Willie Stargell, Don Baylor, Dick Allen, Cecil Cooper, Boog Powell

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – National League players voted MVP with 100% of the first-place votes

 

Year         Player

1994........ Bagwell

2002........ Bonds

1996........ Caminiti

1967........ Cepeda

2015........ Harper

1936........ Hubbell

2009........ Pujols

1980........ Schmidt

 

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – David Washburn, Marietta, Georgia (After Pujols)

 

 

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Monday  -  Prima donna

               -  Players who made their major league debuts in suspended games.

               -  Players who have cheated and desecrated baseball history

               -  500 hr club not in HOF

               -  Father & Son All-Stars

 

Tuesday -  Giants MVP award winners

               -  Top Giants career WAR

               -  Players who won MVP, AP Male Athlete of the Year & Sporting News MLB Player of the Year in the same season

               -  Best final seasons

               -  Final seasons with WAR over 3

 

Wed        -  Most seasons leading his league in WAR

               -  Giants Hall of Famers

 

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This week’s quiz archived here:  http://horsehidetriviA.         blogspot.com/

 

Horsehide Trivia encourages independent research.

 

2020-09-21 Gussie Moran's 10 Handsomest baseball players

MONDAY  —  21-Sep

Q.        Who joined former catcher Wes Westrum and retired umpire Augie Donatelli to re-create a famous photo?

Hint:     Born in Texas, he grew up in California, but owns a baseball geography record that can never be broken.

Hint:     He led the majors in strikeouts as a rookie, fanning that year more than any player had in either league for the previous eight seasons.

A.         EDDIE MATHEWS  [SABR Bio]

-  They gathered in Milwaukee in 1979 to simulate Sports Illustrated magazine’s first-issue cover on its 25^th anniversary.

-  He is the only player in the 20^th century to play for a franchise in each of the three cities where it was domiciled.  Played for the Braves in Boston in 1952, the Braves in Milwaukee 1953-65 and the Braves in Atlanta in 1966.

-  K’d 115 X in 1952 but had the 3^rd-best WAR on the team among position players.

FCR -  John Hill, Atlanta

Incorrect guesses:  Vic Wertz, Billy Meyer, Eddie Shoemaker, Dave Kingman

 

TUESDAY  —  22-Sep

Q.        What former Michigan State basketball player led not only his league but the majors in Wins, Games Started, Games Completed, Innings Pitched and Batters Faced for each of FOUR consecutive seasons?

Hint:     During that period, his team finished fourth, third, fourth and fourth.

Hint:     He led his team in WAR for the first three of those campaigns, but slipped to second in the fourth season, just behind a fellow Hall of Famer.

A.         ROBIN ROBERTS  [SABR Bio]

-  From 1952 through 1955, Roberts was the best pitcher in baseball.  He also led the majors in strikeouts during 2 of those seasons.  In college, Roberts was twice elected captain of the Spartan basketball team but was merely a walk-on for the baseball team.

-  That :Phillies team had the misfortune of playing against some strong NL competition.

-  Richie Ashburn led PHI in WAR in 1955.

FCR -  Frank Ittner, Atlanta

Incorrect guesses:  Mike Marshall, Carl Hubbell, Derek Lowe

 

WEDNESDAY  —  23-Sep

Q.        Who has more career strikeouts than any other pitcher in the storied history of the Pittsburgh Pirates?

Hint:     He surrendered the first of Pete Rose’s 4,256 major league hits, a triple.

Hint:     He was the first National Leaguer to be the winning pitcher twice in an All-Star game.

A.         BOB FRIEND  [SABR Bio]

-  1,682 K.  Never led the league although was in the top ten 4 X = 1956, 57, 58 & 1960.

-  1^st Rose H = 13-Apr-1963

-  Won ASG in 1956 & 1960.

FCR -  David Skelton, Woodway, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Vern Law, Bob Veale, Jim Bunning, Elroy Face, John Candelaria

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —  23-Sep

Q.        Who is the only Red Sox player to collect six hits in a nine-inning game?

Hint:     He led the majors in sacrifice flies and doubles in the same season.

Hint:     He won Gold Gloves for outfield play for different teams.

Hint:     In the minors, he once took out a squirt gun to “clean off the plate” for the umpire after striking out on a called strike three.  History does not recall the results of this action.

A.         JIM PIERSALL  [SABR Bio]

-  6 H = 10-Jun-1953

-  In 1956 he had 40 2B & 12 SF for BOS.

-  GG for BOS in 1958 & for CLE in 1961 THURSDAY — 24-Sep:

 

THURSDAY — 24-Sep:

Q. What one-time Milwaukee Brave was the WAR leader on the first American League team to win more than 110 games in a single season in the 20th century?

Hint:     He also led the league in hitting (batting average) that year.

Hint:     He tied his franchise’s record the day he collected fifteen total bases in a game.

A.         BOBBY AVILA  [SABR Bio]

-  WAR of 7.1 for CLE in 1954, 111-43.  That team boasted 4 HOF pitchers.

-  Hit .341 to lead the AL.  Coincidentally, in the WS that year, he faced the NL’s batting titlist.

-  15 TB = 20-Jun-1951 (3 HR + 2B + H), tying the CLE record Pat Seerey had set on 13-July-1945.  Then on 10-Jun-1959, Rocky Colavito did them both one better.

FCR -  Mark Kanter, Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Incorrect guesses:  Joe Adcock, Al Rosen

 

FRIDAY  —  25-Sep

Q.        Whose major league debut was to replace his player/manager on a team that would soon win the World Series?

Hint:     He was the last 20^th-century Detroit Tiger to have back-to-back four-hit games.

Hint:     He was the first major leaguer to have a son and grandson play in the majors.

Hint:     He was the second one too.

A.         RAY BOONE  [SABR Bio]

-  Called up to CLE in 1948 and replaced Lou Boudreau B 5^th 03-Sep-1948.

-  4 H X 2 = 11-, 12-Jul-1957  (Placido Polanco did it for DET on 10-, 11-Sep-2005)

-  Son Bob Boone played in MLB 1972-1990.  Bob’s son Brett debuted 19-Aug-1992.  Bob’s son Aaron debuted 20-Jun-1997.

FCR -  Mike Sparks, Sarasota

Incorrect guesses:  Gus Bell, Mickey Cochrane, Bob Boone, Burt Shotton, Bucky Harris

 

T.G.I.F. SPECIAL  —  25-Sep

Q.        What former major league fastballer, in spite of being appointed to federal government positions, was, according to the New York Times, “…viewed as a rustic innocent.”?

Hint:     He surrendered Hank Aaron's 61^st and 161^st career home runs.

Hint:     He surrendered Gil Hodges’ National-League-record-tying twelfth career grand slam.

Hint:     His nickname, supposedly geographically-based, was fudged a little.

Hint:     He was appointed as an executive director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

A.         VINEGAR BEND MIZELL  [SABR bio]

-  In 1968,1970 & 1972 Mizell was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for North Carolina and then he was named by President Ford as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development in March 1975.  President Reagan appointed Mizell in 1982 as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Governmental and Public Affairs..  NYTimes reference is from his obit there.

-  Aaron’s HR #61 = 01-Sep-1956; #161 = 25-Jun-1959. 

-  Hodges’ record was passed by Hank Aaron and is currently held by Willie McCovey.

-  Mizell was born in Leakesville, Mississippi, but at the time, his family lived in nearby  Vinegar Bend, Alabama, the source of his nickname.  (I don’t see what’s wrong with “Leakesville Mizell”!)

-  Mizell had been a Republican U.S. congressman representing the Fifth District in North Carolina but lost his seat following President Nixon’s resignation.  He remained active in government and President George H. W. Bush appointed him to the Council of P.F. & S.  The current co-chairs is are Misty May-Treanor, Mariano Rivera and Herschel Walker.  In 2010 it was re-named President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition (PCSFN).  The fact that “executive” was in his title tells you exactly how much work he did.

FCR -  Mark Pattison, Washington, DC

Incorrect guesses:  Larry Jackson, Bob Friend, Jim Bunning

 

SATURDAY  —  26-Sep

Q.        Who was the first Pittsburgh Pirate player to lead the league in triples after World War II?

Hint:     He didn’t make the All-Star team or get any MVP votes until he was traded to Cincinnati.

Hint:     He knocked in Willie Mays ahead of him when he homered in his 2^nd All-Star game.

Hint:     He homered off Sal Maglie to break off Maglie’s attempt to tie the record for consecutive scoreless innings for a National League pitcher.  Maglie finished one out shy of tying Carl Hubbell’s 45⅓ scoreless innings.

A.         GUS BELL  [B-R Bio]

-  Tied w/Stan Musial at 12 triples each in 1951.

-  Bell’s 8th inning heroics weren’t enough.  The NL fell to the AL 11-9in the 1954 ASG on 13-July-1954 in the highest scoring contest in All-Star Game history.

-  Traded on 14-Oct-1952, 3 days after the WS, by PIT to CIN for Cal Abrams, Gail Henley and Joe Rossi.  Made the NL AS squad in 1953, 54, 56 & 57.

-  HR off Maglie on 13-Sep-1950 was a mere 257-feet.  It hit off the RF foul pole at the Polo Grounds.  It was only Bell's 7^th in the majors.

FCR -  Michael McCroskey, Sugar Land, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Frank J. Thomas, Don Hoak, Dick Groat, Joe Adcock, Dale Long, Dave Parker, Gene Freese

 

WEEKEND BONUS  —  26-Sep

Q.        Which middle infielder had a nine-year major league career, played only for one team and whose first and last seasons were capped by playing in the World Series?

Hint:     And he appeared in four additional World Series in between!

Hint:     After a hiatus, he found himself back in uniform on the field, this time managing, but in the other league.

Hint:     As stated in the title of his autobiography, he was successful in the air and on the air.

A.         JERRY COLEMAN  [SABR Bio]  [B-R Bio]

-  Played for NYY 1949-1957.

-  Played in WS 1949, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1956 & 1957.  NYY was in the WS in 1952 & 53, but Coleman was a captain in the U.S. military, a pilot during the military action in Korea.

-  This “hiatus” included multiple stints as a broadcaster particularly for SDP, all resulting in his being award the Ford C. Frick Award in 2005.

-  His autobiography, “An American Journey: My Life On the Field, In the Air, and On the Air” was written with Richard Goldstein.

FCR -  Rick Pyle, Concord, California

Incorrect guesses:  Phil Rizzuto, Tony Kubek, Bobby Richardson

 

SUNDAY  —  27-Sep

Q.        Who was the first batter for a regular-season game on the west coast?

Hint:     His Topps card one year is one of the most awkward ever produced.

Hint:     He was an All-Star in his first full season.

A.         GINO CIMOLI  [SABR Bio]

-  Came to bat 15-Apr-1958 for LAD in Seals Stadium vs. SFG.  Ruben Gomez struck him out.

-  Cimoli’s 1958 Topps card, no. 286, shows him swinging a bat, but with the bat painted out.  The entire set that year has the backgrounds painted out, but Topps took his a step too far.

-  AS in 1957.  K’d in his only PA.

FCR -  Philip Trostler, Norwich, Connecticut

Incorrect guesses:  Jim Davenport, Junior Gilliam, Charley Neal, Pee Wee Reese

 

WEEKLY THEME – In a recurring feature of SPORT magazine titled “Campus Queen”, various female guest contributors would comment on some aspect of sports.  In the September 1957 issue, tennis star Gussie Moran selected “Baseball’s Ten Handsomest Men”.  Here they are (I could not source the original article for the pictures, so these will have to do.  Just click a name for that player’s image.)

 

Avila                                                                Bell

 

Boone                                                              Cimoli

 

Coleman                                                          Friend

 

Mathews                                                          Mizell

 

Piersall                                                            Roberts

 

Mark Armour (SABR’s current president) penned an essay entitled “Ode to Sport” in 2007 that Cappy Gagnon (previous holder of that office) came across and suggested these 10 players would make a lovely theme for Horsehide Trivia.  Gents, I thank you both.  This was too good to pass up.

 

First Correct Respondent to Identify Theme – Rich Klein, Plano, Texas (after the hint)

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Tuesday -  Hall of Fame players who at some point played for the Houston Astros.

 

Wed        -  1950s NL top All Star vote getters

               -  Something to do with 1956 NL All Stars

 

Friday     -  Fathers of Hall of Famers

               -  Players that have had a movie made based on their life

               -  1950's All Stars who were later involved in politics

 

Sat          -  Families in MLB

 

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This week’s quiz archived here:  http://horsehidetriviA.          blogspot.com/

 

Horsehide Trivia encourages independent research.