2021-11-15 No. 1 draft picks who attended private universities

MONDAY  —15-Nov

Q.  Which Tampa Bay six-foot five-inch lefty ace graced the cover of the MLB 2K13 game box the year after winning his first Cy Young Award?

Hint: #1    In his second full season he was tapped as the starting pitcher in that year’s All-Star game.

Hint: #2    That same year he had six more pitching victories than his league’s Cy Young Award winner.

A. DAVID PRICE  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.   Box cover.  Price won the 2012 AL CYA by a narrow margin over DET’s Justin Verlander.

-   #1   Started & pitched the 2 scoreless innings in the 2010 ASG.

-   #2   With the voter’s giving credence to some more recently adopted pitching metrics, they chose SEA’s Felix Hernandez as the AL’s 2010 CYA winner.

FCR -  Doug Christy, Sarasota

Incorrect guesses:  Blake Snell, Scott Kazmir, Randy Johnson, Matt Garza, Matt Moore, Mike Moore

 

TUESDAY  —16-Nov

Q.  Which future All-Star took the loss for Team USA against Cuba in the 1988 Baseball World Cup?

Hint: #1    Even though he led the league in losses one season, he did receive votes in that year’s MVP balloting, much on the strength of his leading the league in strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

Hint: #2    Of his 403 career games pitched, 391 came in the National League.

Hint: #3    His brother, also a pitcher, won twenty-nine games in the majors

A. ANDY BENES  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.     Took L in relief of Jim Abbott in 1988 BWC Gold Medal game.

-   #1   14 L, finished 22^nd in NL MVP voting in the shortened 1994 campaign.  Led the NL in K w/189 and K/9 @ 9.9.

-   #2   Pitched 12 G for 1995 SEA.

-   #2   Brother Alan Benes had an 8-year MLB career.

FCR -  Jack Fahey, Oak Forest, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Ben McDonald, Gaylord Perry, Steve Avery

 

WEDNESDAY  —17-Nov

Q. Who was the first pitcher to bat for the Mariners in a regular-season game?

Hint: #1    Two years later, he broke a decade-long hitless streak by American League pitchers, when he hit a double in the World Series.

Hint: #2    One year after losing 17 games, he won 17 games, becoming the first right-handed Mariners pitcher to win 15 or more games in a season.

A. MIKE MOORE  [Wiki Bio]

-   Ans.     Batted for PR Donnell Nixon in the top of the 9^th on 24-Apr-1987.  Hit into FC.

-   #1   Hit a 2B (2 RBI) for the A’s in 2^nd inning of 1989 WS G4.  Last AL P w/a H was Tim Stoddard for BAL in 1979 WS G4.

-   #2   17 L in 1984, 17 W in 1985.

FCR -  Michael Kositch, Portland, Oregon

Incorrect guesses:  Erik Hanson, Felix Hernandez, Jeff Fassero, Mark Langston, Freddy Garcia

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —18-Nov

Q.  Which player, currently active, whose first name is his mother’s maiden name, was once chosen the Most Outstanding Player in the College World Series?

Hint: #1    In his second season in the majors, although he only started 135 games, he led all National League shortstops in errors.

Hint: #2    Three seasons later, he ranked second in Defensive W.A.R.

A. DANSBY SWANSON  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.   His parents are Cooter and Nancy (née Dansby) Swanson.  Was the MOP in the 2014 College World Series.  “Dansby” is actually Swanson’s middle name.

-   #1   Had 20 errors in 2017 at SS w/ATL.

-   #2   His Defensive WAR in the Covid-shortened season of 2020 was 1.3, 2^nd only to the  1.4 of the redoubtable Nolan Arenado.

FCR -  Mark Hayne, Dumfries, Virginia

Incorrect guesses:  Starlin Castro, Andrelton Simmons, Brandon Crawford, Didi Gregorius ,

 

THURSDAY  —18-Nov

Q.  Which former Tiger and Arizona Diamondback once called 911 because his wife was armed and threatening him?

Hint: #1    He was once named the Baseball America College Player of the Year.

Hint: #2    Born in Wisconsin Georgia to parents who were big baseball fans, they even chose the names of this player and his siblings based on a certain notation in a baseball scorekeeper’s handbook.

Hint: #3    His high school produced another major leaguer, an All-Star with a longer MLB career.

A. KRIS BENSON  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.   He had a (let’s say…) dynamic relationship with his wife Anna.  Benson played for the Clemson Tigers in college.  He ended his time as a major leaguer w/ARI.  [Erratum => Benson was NOT born in Wisconsin, but in Kennesaw, Georgia.

-   #1   Selected as the Baseball America College POY in 1996.

 -  #2   All four Benson kids’ given names begin with K, the notation used when a player struck out during an at-bat.

-   #3   His teammate at (Sprayberry HS (Marietta, GA) was Marlon Byrd [MLB career WAR of 25.8 to Benson’s 13.1]  MLB teammates for 1 season = 2009 /TEX.

FCR -  Mark DeLodovico, Rockville, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Travis Fryman

 

FRIDAY  —19-Nov

Q.  Which one-time Seattle Mariner is the only major league pitcher to surrender a base hit to All-Star bullpen ace Dan Quisenberry?

Hint: #1    That same season, he led the National League in complete games and led the majors in shutouts.

Hint: #2    He once threw a complete game, giving up a mere three hits, no earned runs and lost!

A. TIM BELCHER  [B-R Bio]

-   Ans.   In Busch Stadium II on 06-Jul-1989, with the bases loaded, Quiz singled off the Dodgers’ Belcher who was immediately replaced on the mound.  That was Quisenberry’s only H in his 11 PA in the majors.  In 3 seasons in the minors, Quisenberry got thrice as many, racking up 3 (Three!) H.

-   #1   1989 CG = 10; ShO = 8.

-   #2   CG = 16-Sep-1988, was Tom Browning’s perfect game.

FCR -  Mary Hums, Louisville

Incorrect guesses:  John Tudor, Randy Johnson, Chuck Finley, Jamie Moyer, Gaylord Perry, Steve Carlton, Mike Morgan, Joaquin Andujar 

 

SATURDAY  —20-Nov

Q.  Which player was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 1971 amateur draft, but did not sign since he had been accepted to attend a certain, colorful, New England Institution?

Hint: #1    He hit his first major league grand slam during Pascual Perez’ hundredth career pitching victory.

Hint: #2    In his first full season as a major leaguer, he led his league in sacrifice hits.

A.    BILL ALMON  [Wiki Bio]

-   Ans.     Signed later with SDP right away after being the first player over-all.  He had been at Brown University in Providence.

-   #1   On 25-May-85, Almon hit his 24^th career HR, but it was the first one with three teammates on base at the time. [Now, as for Perez that G couldn’t have represented his 100^th win for at least 2 reasons:  a.)  He was the losing pitcher that day and b.) His career total was 67 W in MLB.  He did have another 67 professional wins outside the majors.  We have been impressed by how many of you were not put off by his inclusion in the question.]

-   #2   In his first full season as a major leaguer, he led all others w/20 WH.

FCR -  George Alfano, Redlands, California

Incorrect guesses: 

 

SUNDAY  —21-Nov

Q.  What pitcher tore a muscle while warming up in the bullpen, just hours after having participated in an octopus-throwing contest?

Hint: #1  As an amateur, he was lauded for throwing 103 MPH.

Hint: #2  Before tearing his muscle, he had saved 22 games in a season.  In the three seasons after, he saved a total of three.

A. MATT ANDERSON  [Wiki Bio]

-   Ans.   Anderson & Tigers’ teammate Jeff Weaver competed in contest to win Detroit Red

Wings playoff tickets.  Anderson continues to deny any connection between the two events.

-   #1   When Anderson began his professional career in the minors (after signing for a reported $2.5 M) in 1998, he blew past hitters with a fastball that reportedly touched 103 MPH on several occasions.

-   #2   Anderson’s record.

FCR -  Greg Gits, Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Joel Zumaya, Steve Dalkowski, Bobby Jenks

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – No. 1 draft picks who attended private universities

 

Player______ Draft Year       College           Drafting Team           Career WAR

Almon................... 1974....... Brown............................ SDP                       4.6

Anderson.............. 1997....... Rice............................... DET                      -0.6

Belcher................. 1983....... Mt. Vernon Nazarene... MIN                      26.7

Benes.................... 1988....... Evansville...................... SDP                     31.2

Benson................. 1996....... Clemson*........................ PIT                       13.1

Moore.................... 1981....... Oral Roberts................. SEA                      27.9

Price...................... 2007....... Vanderbilt...................... TBD                      40.4

Swanson............... 2015....... Vanderbilt...................... ARI                         9.1

*Not a private university.  Apologies.

 

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme – Dave Jackson, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

 

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Monday  -  Golden Spike Award winners who were drafted No. 1 and played in MLB

 

Tuesday -  College pitchers who went number one overall & later became all stars

               -  Pitchers with less (sic) than 100 complete games and exactly 1 save

               -  Pitchers drafted #1 overall who became All-Stars

               -  150 or more wins and 1 save

 

Wed        -  Pitchers who were No. 1 draft picks for expansion teams

               -  #1 Overall Draft Pick Pitchers with double digit WAR

               -  1^st Overall Draft Picks who made major league debut within one season after being drafted

               -  MLBers who played for team USA in college

               -  #1 overall draft picks by expansion teams

 

Thurs      -  #1 Overall draft picks who played for Team USA in international competition, winning a medal with that team

 

 

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2021-11-08 Batters who went hitless in 5 plate appearances in a single major league All-Star game

This week’s quiz submitted by Boulder, Colorado’s Campbell Gibson.

 

MONDAY  —08-Nov

Q.  What Hall of Fame member played in ten World Series, nine times on the winning side?

Hint: #1    At age 18, he set a Pacific Coast League record that still stands.

Hint: #2    According to a popular ditty in Boston, he was not even the best player in his family.

A. JOE DiMAGGIO  [SABR Bio]

-   Ans.   NYY won the WS in 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1947, 1949 & 1951 & lost in 1942.

-   #1   He hit safely in 61 straight G for the 1933 San Francisco Seals during their 190 G schedule.

-   #2   The New England chant went “Who is better than his brother Joe? - Dominic DiMaggio!”

FCR -  Andy McCue, Riverside, California

Incorrect guesses:  Vince DiMaggio

 TUESDAY  —09-Nov

Q.  What Hall of Fame member played in seven World Series, only once on the winning side?

Hint: #1    He was an above average fielder and scored more than 800 runs in one eight-year span.

Hint: #2    He got into shape in high school by climbing telephone poles.

A. PEE WEE REESE  [SABR Bio]

-   Ans.   The Brooklyn Dodgers won pennants in 1941, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1955 & 1956, but won the WS only in 1955.

-   #1   His career Rfield value (almost all at SS) was +117, and he scored 818 runs in the 1948-1955 period

-   #2   About his experience as an apprentice cable splicer for the telephone company, he said, “Climbing up and down those poles really built me up.”

FCR -  Tom Lee, Nashville

Incorrect guesses:  Duke Snider, Earl Johnson, Jackie Robinson, Carl Furillo, Red Schoendienst, Roy Campanella, Chipper Jones, Mickey Mantle

 

WEDNESDAY  —10-Nov

Q. What Hall of Fame member played in 4 World Series, 3 times on the winning team?

Hint: #1    No other player has hit more home runs in All-Star games.

Hint: #2    He is the only player to rank in the top thirty-five in career hits, singles, doubles, triples and home runs.

A. STAN MUSIAL  [SABR Bio] (His page in Baseball-Reference looks like someone spilled black ink all over it.)

-   Ans.      Went to the postseason w/STL in 1942, 1943, 1944 & 1946.  They won all but ’43.

-   #1   Musial homered 6 X in AS competition in 1948, 1949, 1951, 1955*, 1956 & 1960b.

-   #2   Ranks 4^th in H (3,630), 19^th in singles (2,253), 19^th in 3B (177) & 32^nd in HR (475).

FCR -  Tim Swindle, Tucson

*Walk-off

Incorrect guesses:  Willie Mays, Rickey Henderson, Frank Robinson

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —11-Nov

Q.  What Hall of Fame member played in 3 World Series with two different teams, once with the winning team?

Hint: #1    He had over 700 RBIs in his first seven seasons, and he had 100+ RBI seasons with three different teams.

Hint: #2    He was traded for one other player on three different occasions.

Hint: #3    He’s the first Giant mentioned in “The Dodger Song”.

A. ORLANDO CEPEDA  [SABR Bio]

-   Ans.     He was in the WS w/SFG in 1962 and w/STL in 1967-68, winning in 1967.

-   #1   He had 747 RBIs in the 1958-1964 span, and he had 100+ RBI seasons with the Giants, Cardinals, and Braves.

-   #2   He was traded for Ray Sadecki in 1966, for Joe Torre in 1969, and for Denny McLain in 1972.

-   #3   Listen here “The Dodger Song”.

FCR -  Philip Guiliano, Chester, New Jersey

Incorrect guesses:  Mickey Cochrane, Reggie Jackson, Willie Mays

 

THURSDAY  —11-Nov

Q.  What Hall of Fame member played in five World Series, but only once with the winning team?

Hint: #1    He was elected captain of every sports team he played on in high school.

Hint: #2    He hit .323 in his eight seasons with the Giants.

A. ROY CAMPANELLA  [SABR Bio]

-   Ans.     The Dodgers won pennants in 1949, 1952-1953, and 1955-1956, but won the Series only in 1955.

-   #1   Attending Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia, Campy enjoyed all sports, but his passion for baseball never wavered.

-   #2   Played for the Washington and Baltimore Elite Giants 1937-1942 with breaks.

FCR -  Warren Kent, Whitehall, Michigan

Incorrect guesses:  Willie McCovey, Ross Youngs, Frankie Frisch, Monte Irvin, Mel Ott

 

FRIDAY  —12-Nov

Q.  Which one-time Braves player won a National League MVP in his second season, leading the league in triples, RBI, batting average and total bases and leading the majors in hits?

Hint: #1    He holds the modern-era record for most triples by a rookie.

Hint: #2    He had a monster season on his West Coast team, with 280 hits, 75 doubles, 402 total bases, and a league-leading .401 batting average.

A. PAUL WANER  [SABR Bio]

-   Ans.     In 1927 Waner racked up 18 3B, 131 RBI, an average of .380 & 382 TB to go with his matchless 237 H.  He played for BSN in 1941-42.

-   #1   Led ML w/22 3B in 1926.  No other rookie has ever topped 20 since.  Jimmy Williams had 27 in 1899.

-   #2   Those stats were earned in his 174-G 1925 San Francisco Seals in the Pacific Coast League.

FCR -  Damian Begley, New York City

Incorrect guesses:  Frank McCormick, Ralph Garr, Rico Carty

 

SATURDAY  —13-Nov

Q.  Who is the only player native to South America to be elected to the Hall of Fame?

Hint: #1    The year he finished high in the MVP race, the winner was a teammate finishing just ahead of him with another teammate next in line.

Hint: #2    His first manager in the majors had won an MVP playing his position.

A. LUIS APARICIO  [SABR Bio]

-   Ans.     Born: 29-Apr-1934 in Maracaibo, Venezuela.   Inducted to the Hall of Fame as player in 1984. 

-   #1   In 1959, Little Louie finished 2^nd in AL MVP.  Double-play partner Nellie Fox took home the award and Cy-Young-Award-winning teammate Early Wynn was 3^rd.  3 additional White Sox players also received votes that pennant-winning season.

-   #2   Aparicio’s 1^st mgr in 1956 was Marty Marion who had been the NL MVP in 1944 for STL.

FCR -  Evan Thompson, Mesa

Incorrect guesses:  Rod Carew, Roberto Clemente, Omar Vizquel, Orlando Cepeda

 

SATURDAY SUPERLATIVE  —XX-Mmm

Q.  Which Hall of Famer struck out the fewest times while winning a batting title in the live ball era?

Hint: #1    He retired because he was homesick and was replaced at his position by another player from his home state—another eventual Hall of Famer.

Hint: #2    He played for five American League teams, but never in a World Series?

A. GEORGE KELL  [SABR Bio]

-   Ans.     In 1949, Kell hit .3429 to edge out Ted Williams who hit .3427.  Kell struck out just 13 times that year.  (Williams struck out 48 X the same season.)

-   #1   He was born and died in Swifton, Arkansas.  Population in the 2010 census: 798.  Brooks Robinson became the everyday 3^rd baseman in Kell’s place.  Little Rock is just 100 miles from Swifton.

-   #2   In his 15-year career, 1943-1957, he played for PHA, DET, BOS, CHW & BAL.

FCR -  Marcos Claudio, San Juan Puerto Rico

Incorrect guesses:  Nellie Fox, Harry Heilmann, Heinie Manush

 

WEEKEND BONUS  —14-Nov

Q.  Who is the only player to lead the league ten times in being hit-by-pitch?

Hint: #1    The first year that Gold Glove were awarded, he was one of the three outfielders to receive one.  

Hint: #2    He held a special place in his heart for Sid Monge.

A. MINNIE MINOSO  [SABR Bio]

-   Ans.   Minoso actually led the majors in HBP 9 X, every year 1951-61, excepting only 52 & 55, whose leaders were Solly & Nellie.  He led the AL in 1952.

-   #1   Willie Mays and Al Kaline were the other 1^st-year GG OF winners

-   #2   It was off the Angels’ starter Monge on 12-Sep-1976 that Minoso got his last H in the majors at age 50.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Ron Hunt, Don Baylor, Frank Robinson, Craig Biggio, Eddie Yost

 

SUNDAY  —14-Nov

Q.  Who played in two World Series, both times on the winning team, separated by years of military service?

Hint: #1    He was the first native of Alabama to collect an RBI in an All-Star game.

Hint: #2    A certain Hall of Famer broke his clavicle trying to avoid an outfield collision with this player.

A. TERRY MOORE  [SABR Bio]

-   Ans.   Played for STL in 1942 & 1946, and served in the military, 1943-1945.    

-   #1   ASG RBI = 08-Jul-1941, 6^th inning.

-   #2   Enos Slaughter ran into a brick wall in the 2^nd inning on 10-Aug-1941, breaking his collarbone, in an attempt to avoid a collision w/Moore.

FCR -  Walt Cherniak, Woodbine, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Enos Slaughter, Harry Walker, Willie Mays, Rudy York

 

WEEK’S FINALE  —14-Nov

Q.  Who played on one World-Series-winning team, but had a batting average below .040 in postseason play?

Hint: #1    He was an excellent fielder and was part of a keystone combination that holds the record for most double plays in a season.

Hint: #2    He was a below average MLB hitter, but he performed a rare offensive feat in another country toward the end of the season one year.

A. GENE ALLEY  [SABR Bio]

-   Ans.   He played for the 1971 Pittsburgh World Champions, but was 1 for 27 in postseason play, for a .037 batting average.

-   #1   He and Bill Mazeroski combined for 161 DPs in 1967 and both won Gold Gloves in each of 1966 and 1967.

-   #2   His career WAR was a pedestrian 24.1, but on 02-Sep-1970, he hit an inside-the-park grand slam.  The park in question?  Parc Jarry in Montreal.

FCR -  Steve Krevisky, Middletown, Connecticut

Incorrect guesses:  Dal Maxvill

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – Batters who went hitless in 5 plate appearances in a single major league All-Star game

 

All-Star                  ASG, Venue                                                 (Extra)

Alley...................... 1967*, Anaheim Stadium...... 0 for 5........... (15 innings)

Aparicio................. 1970, Riverfront Stadium....... 0 for 6........... (12 innings)

Campanella............. 1950, Comiskey Park.............. 0 for 6........... (14 innings)

Cepeda................... 1967**, Anaheim Stadium...... 0 for 6........... (15 innings)

DiMaggio............... 1936*, Braves Field................ 0 for 5

Kell....................... 1950, Comiskey Park.............. 0 for 6........... (14 innings)

Minoso................... 1959a, Forbes Field............... 0 for 5

Moore.................... 1941, Briggs Stadium............. 0 for 5

Musial.................... 1950, Comiskey Park.............. 0 for 5........... (14 innings)

Reese..................... 1949, Ebbets Field................. 0 for 5

Waner.................... 1937**, Griffith Stadium......... 0 for 5

* 1^st ASG

** Last ASG

Six of the 11 occurrences were in extra-inning games when more players were likely to have five or more plate appearances and thus a greater likelihood of a player going hitless in 5 or more at bats.  The fact that all 11 occurrences were in the 1936-1970 period reflects the trend away from a manager letting their starters play the whole game to a manager trying to get every player on the team into the game.  ~ Campbell Gibson

 

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme – Tom Byrne, Old Greenwich, Connecticut

 

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Monday  -  Players with 600 or more hits in their first three seasons 

               -  Baseball players in song lyrics

               -  HOF'ers with over 35 game hitting streaks

 

Tuesday - HOFers from the decade-long Yankees-Dodgers rivalry of 1947-56

               -  HOF’ers who are 3x mvps

               -  MLB players who played baseball in Hawaii 1943-45 during WW2

               -  Hall of Famers and pennant winners who served at least 3 years in WWII

               -  Military nicknames

 

Wed        -  Hall of Famers who played baseball on service teams during WW2

               -  Hall of famers who missed at least one season due to military service (during World War II).

 

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