2022-01-31 Diminutive Cy Young Award winners

MONDAY  —31-Jan

Q.  Who is the only Boston Red Sox pitcher to strike out three hundred batters in a season in the twentieth century?

Hint: #1  One year he won the Pitcher of the Month Award four times (not a typo).

Hint: #2  Very seldom is more than his first name required when he is discussed among baseball fans.

A.  PEDRO MARTINEZ  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Martinez had 313 K to lead the AL in 1999.  That is still the BOS franchise record although Chris Sale struck out 308 in 2017.

-  #1  In 1999, Martinez was the AL POM in April, May, June & September.

-  #2  Most folks know exactly who you mean if you just say “Pedro”.

FCR -  Joel Gross, Dunwoody, Georgia

[Q. posted at 11:36 A.M. EST.  First response arrived at 11:37.  First correct response (the 4^th one) arrived at 11:38 A.M.]

Incorrect guesses:  Babe Ruth, Roger Clemens, Cy Young, Chris Sale, Lefty Grove, Curt Schilling, Luis Tiant, Mel Parnell            

 

TUESDAY  —01-Feb

Q.  Who is the only pitcher to give up multiple All-Star game home runs to the same batter?

Hint: #1  He had 1,200+ plate appearances in his sixteen-year career during which he managed 175+ hits, nineteen doubles and he scored ninety-one times.  Never, however, did he hit a triple.

Hint: #2  No other pitcher was on the losing end of more World Series games.

A.  WHITEY FORD  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Mays homered off Ford in the 4^th inning of the 1956 ASG & leading off the 3^rd inning in the second ASG of 1960.

-  #1  Also had 69 RBI, but nary a triple.

-  #2   Was the losing pitcher in WS play in 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1963 & 1964.  He also won 10 WS games.

FCR -  David Ramsden, Barcelona

[Q. posted at 2:12 A.M. EST.  First response arrived at 2:18 A.M.]

Incorrect guesses:  Don Newcombe, Don Drysdale

 

WEDNESDAY  —03-Feb

Q.  Who set a rookie shutout record in his first full major league season?

Hint: #1  In his first season, he surrendered zero earned runs in ten appearances.

Hint: #2  He threw his first no-hitter on the same day that a former teammate threw his first no-hitter.

A.  FERNANDO VALENZUELA  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Threw 8 ShO in 1981 to lead the majors.

-  #1  All his pitching assignments in 1980 were in relief, at total of 17⅔ innings.

-  #2  On 29-Jun-1990, Valenzuela and Dave Stewart threw no-hitters, finishing within 20 minutes of each other.  Each walked 3 that day.  Neither ever pitched another one.

FCR -  Richard Lerner, Silver Spring, Maryland

[Q. posted at 10:29 A.M. EST.  1^st response arrived at 10:29 A.M.  1^st correct response arrived at 10:30 A.M.]

Incorrect guesses:  Pete Alexander, Dave Stewart, Rube Waddell, Dwight Gooden, Vida Blue

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —03-Feb

Q.  Who was the first pitcher this century to earn ten wins for a team in each league during the same season?

Hint: #1  He was the next Angels pitcher to earn twenty wins in a season since Nolan Ryan?

Hint: #2  He enjoyed thirteen season of ten wins or more.

A.  BARTOLO COLON  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Posted 10-4 records for each of MON & CLE in 2002.

-  #1  His record for LAA was 21-8 in 2005.  Ryan’s 1974 season was 22-16 for CAL.

-  #2  10+ W = 1998-2005, 2012-16.

FCR -  Dan Greder, Ames, Iowa

[Q. posted at 1:10 P.M. EST.  1^st correct response arrived at 1:11 P.M.]

Incorrect guesses:  Bert Blyleven, Mark Langston, Jared Weaver, Andy Messersmith, John Lackey, Hank Borowy, Zack Greinke, Mike Witt, Chuck Finley, Frank Tanana

 

THURSDAY  —04-Feb

Q.  Who was the first pitcher born outside the United States to win a Cy Young Award?

Hint: #1  He was the first pitcher to hit a home run in League Championship Series play.

Hint: #2  His first Topps card misspelled his name.

A.  MIKE CUELLAR  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Born in Las Villas or Santa Clara*, Cuba; CYA in 1969 tied w/Denny McLain.

-  #1  ALCS HR = G 1 ALCS 1970.

-  #2  1959 Topps card #518 spelled his name “Cueller”.

*Sources disagree.

FCR -  Mark Kanter, Portsmouth, Rhode Island

[Q. posted at 2:47 P.M. EST.  1^st correct response arrived at 2:48 P.M.]

Incorrect guesses:  Fergie Jenkins, Luis Tiant, Hideo Nomo, Jim Kaat, Lou Burdette, Johan Santana, Dave McNally, Bert Blyleven, Juan Marichal, Fernando Valenzuela, Dennis Martinez, Pedro Martinez, Willie Hernandez,  Joaquin Andujar

 

FRIDAY  —05-Feb

Q.  Which MLB rookie, when challenged by his new teammates that he might not be strong enough to be a proper major leaguer, promptly did a handstand and walked on his hands from the pitcher’s mound to the center field fence?

Hint: #1  He was drafted by the Cubs in the 48^th round even though he had been the Player of the Year in his state.

Hint: #2  Decided to attend college instead and won the Golden Spikes Award as best amateur baseball player in the United States.

A.  TIM LINCECUM  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Story appeared in Sport Illustrated.  The ribbing subsided.

-  #1  Drafted 48^th by CHC in the MLB June Amateur Draft in 2003 (1,408^th overall).  Played for his hometown University of Washington.  Was then drafted in the 1^st round in 2006 by SFG.

-  #2  Future battery mate Buster Posey won the GSA 2 years later, in 2008. GSA winners Will Clark, Pat Burrell & Kris Bryant have also played for SFG.

FCR -  Rob Sheinkopf, Las Vegas

[Q. posted at 3:45 A.M. EST.  1^st correct response arrived at 3:45 A.M.]

Incorrect guesses:  Carl Edwards, Joe Charboneau, Jack Clark, Kris Bryant, John Cangelosi, Billy Wagner, Ryan Theriot, Jay Johnstone, Fred Lynn

 

SATURDAY  —06-Feb

Q.  Which brainiac reliever has led the league for three teams in two leagues in saves in a season?

Hint: #1  He was the first pitcher to lead the league in saves the year he won the Cy Young Award.

Hint: #2  He knew the Latin word for “elbow”.

A.  MIKE MARSHALL  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Has a PhD from Michigan State University, that he earned in 1978 DURING his pitching career.

-  #1  CYA in 1974, the year he set the all-time record for pitching appearances in one season (106), his 1^st w/LAD in addition to leading the NL in saves w/21 that same year.

-  #2  The Latin word for elbow is “ulna” and of his pitching studies concern the wear and tear on that bone and its ligaments.

FCR -  Evan Thompson, Mesa

[Q. posted at 11:24 A.M. EST.  1^st correct response arrived at 11:28 A.M.]

Incorrect guesses:  Bruce Sutter, Billy Wagner, Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers

 

SUNDAY  —06-Feb

Q.  Which Cleveland draftee was the last twentieth century pitcher to start a season 5-0 for his team?

Hint: #1  In his entire eleven year career pitching in the Bigs, the only season he received MVP votes was also the only year he was an All-Star.

Hint: #2  He was co-author of the book Where's Harry?.

A.  STEVE STONE  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Between the G of 13-Apr- & the G of 13-May-1975, Stone won all 5 starts for CHC.  He had been drafted in the 16^th round of the 1968 MLB June Amateur Draft (#354) by CLE and then by SFG the following year in the 4^th round (#91) with whom he started his MLB career.  That was also, as you would properly guess, the year he won his CYA        .

-  #1  Came in 9^th in MVP votes in 1980 & started pitching the 1^st 3 frames of the ASG in Dodger Stadium that same year.

-  #2  Stone & Barry Rozner of the Chicago suburban area Daily Herald, authored Where's Harry?, a memoir of his experiences with Harry Caray in the WGN booth.

FCR -  Mike Kositch, Portland, Oregon

[Q. posted at 12:00 P.M. EST.  1^st correct response arrived at 12:02 P.M.]

Incorrect guesses:  CC Sabathia, Len Barker, Charles Nagy, Jaret Wright, Sam McDowell

 

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – Cy Young Award winners listed at shorter than 6'0" tall.  There’s some  chance they are shorter than their listed heights.  There’s virtually no chance they’re taller.

 

Pitcher               Height       Team        Lge         CYA Yr                WAR

Colon................. 5'11"........... LAA......... AL............ 2005................... 45.8

Cuellar............... 5'11"........... HOU........ NL........... 1969................... 26.9

Ford................... 5'10"........... NYY........ AL............ 1961................... 57.0

Lincecum........... 5'11"........... SFG........ NL........... 2008.................... 19.5

Marshall............. 5'10"........... LAD......... NL........... 1974................... 18.2

Martinez............ 5'11"........... MON....... NL........... 1997..................... 83.9

                                                               AL....... 1999, 2000

Stone................. 5'10"........... BAL......... AL............ 1980................... 17.0

Valenzuela........ 5'11"........... LAD......... NL........... 1981..................... 41.4

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme – Dan Massey, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

                                                                                             (after Valenzuela)

 

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Mon     -  The 8 pitchers to be named All-Star Game MVP

 

Tue      -  Hall of fame pitchers under 6 feet

 

Wed     -  Pitchers who led their league (or all of MLB) in win percentage as rookies

            -  Starting pitchers shorter than me is the theme for this week\

            -  Pitchers under 6 ft who won a World Series

            -  Pitchers commonly known by one name with fewer than 250 career wins

            -  Pitchers who won the Cy Young Award, with a Hall of Famer finishing second

 

Thu      -  Cy Young  award winners who won 1^st game of WS that year

               -  Pitchers who have won Cy Young Awards and World Series Championships, but not in the same year 

 

If you know someone who would enjoy receiving daily Horsehide Trivia questions, Have them start by clicking here.

 

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

 

Horsehide Trivia encourages independent research.

~ Bruce

 

2022-01-24 Players who won multiple batting titles, but hit below .300 for their careers

This week’s theme and questions are thanks to the good offices of multiple-time SABR National Trivia champion, Michael Caragliano.

 

MONDAY  —24-Jan

Q.  Which player has won the Most Valuable Player awards as a San Francisco Giant?

Hint: #1  He’s the all-time leader in walks as well as in walks of the intentional variety.

Hint: #2  …and he has the most career home runs too.

A.   BARRY BONDS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans. Has 5 SFG MVPs: 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 + 2 more as a Pirate.

-  #1  2,558 & 688 BB & IBB, respectively

-  #2  762 HR

FCR -  Doug Christy, Sarasota

Incorrect guesses:  Willie Mays, Hank Aaron

 

TUESDAY  —25-Jan

Q.  Who was the first American League player to collect 3,000 hits and 400 home runs?

Hint: #1  It probably helped that he also racked up the most at-bats in American League history.

Hint: #2  Despite his power, he needed 2,294 games finally to clout three home runs in one game.  His grandson, however, only needed 70 games to accomplish that.

A.  CARL YASTRZEMSKI  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Has 3,319 H and 453 HR (since joined by Cal Ripken and Alex Rodriguez).

-  #1  Has 11,988 career ABs.

-  #2  Yaz’s 1^st 3-HR game = 19-May-1976; Mike Yastrzemski’s 1^st 3-HR G = 16-Aug-2019.

FCR -  Eric Savage, Short Hills, New Jersey

Incorrect guesses:  Ted Williams, Al Kaline, Al Simmons

 

WEDNESDAY  —26-Jan

Q.  Who is the most recent National League player to reach the 30-30 club?

Hint: #1  He is the only player to collect two cycles against the same team in one season.

Hint: #2  He was the last batter to ever face Roy Halladay.

A.  CHRISTIAN YELICH  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Hit 44 HR and had 30 SB in 2019, joining the 30-30 club two weeks after Ronald Acuna did.

-  #1  Hit for the cycle 29-Aug-2018 and 17-Sep-2018, both against CIN.

-  #2  Halladay walked Yelich 23-Sep-2013, then walked off the mound with an arm injury.

FCR -  David Skelton, Woodway, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Freddie Freeman, Trea Turner, Ronald Acuna, Cedric Mullins, Fernando Tatis, Ozzie Albies

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  —26-Jan

Q.  Who was the first National League rookie to hit two home runs in a World Series game?

Hint: #1  He was once traded straight-up for a pitcher who never appeared in another major league game.

Hint: #2  He hit for the cycle in the “Ryne Sandberg Game”.

A.  WILLIE McGEE  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  WS HR X 2 = 15-Oct-1982

-  #1  McGee was traded by NYY to STL for Bob Sykes 21-Oct-1981.

-  #2  “The Sandberg Game” =  23-Jun-1984.

FCR -  Andrew Milner, Bryn Mawr, PA

Incorrect guesses:  Andruw Jones

 

THURSDAY  —27-Jan

Q.  Whose double was Tim McCarver dissecting when the World Series was abruptly disrupted?

Hint: #1  He was credited with his first major league hit three months before his major league debut.

Hint: #2  His six blasts were enough to win the first All-Star Home Run Derby.

Hint #3  Even though he led National League right fielders in errors seven times he is probably best remembered for two throws he made in one game.

A.  DAVE PARKER  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  On 17-Oct-1989, as McCarver was breaking down tape of Parker’s G 2 double off Rick Reuschel during ABC’S pre-game show for G 3, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck.

-  #1  Parker’s major league debut came on 12-Jul-1973.  He appeared as a pinch hitter and singled in a G at Wrigley Field that had been suspended on April 21^st and resumed on July 26^th, 2 weeks after his debut.

-  #2  1985 ASG HRD in Minneapolis

- #3   Gunned down Jim Rice and Brian Downing in the 1979 ASG.

FCR -  Mark Kanter, Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Incorrect guesses:  Frank Thomas, Jose Canseco, Willie McGee

 

FRIDAY  —28-Jan

Q.  Which one-time Chicago White Sox player is credited with the highest lifetime pinch-hitting average?

Hint: #1  In his lone season playing for the team that replaced his hometown team, he led them in Triple Crown stats.

Hint: #2  He was the only player who got to watch Jim Bouton taking notes in Seattle and Houston.

Hint:  #3  He once had a season so outstanding that he finished third in the Most Valuable Player voting, with more votes than ten players now enshrined in Cooperstown.

A.  TOMMY DAVIS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Finished w/ a .320 career BA as a pinch hitter.  Played 132 G for CWH in 1968, leading them in RBI.

-  #1  The Brooklyn native hit .302 with 16 home runs and 73 RBI for NYM in 1967.

-  #2  Davis played with Bouton for both the Seattle Pilots and Houston Astros in 1969, the season he was immortalized by Bouton in “Ball Four”.

-  #3  Was 3^rd w/3 MVP votes in 1962 behind teammate Maury Wills and SFG Willie Mays, but ahead of Frank Robinson, Don Drysdale, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Orland Cepeda, Roberto Clemente, Ernie Banks Juan Marichal, Sandy Koufax & Eddie Mathews.  Davis’ 153 RBI total that season was higher than every other player’s between 1950 and the PED era.

FCR -  Rich Klein, Plano, Texas

Incorrect guesses:  Tommy Harper, Lenny Harris, Manny Mota, Smokey Burgess, Minnie Minoso, Don Mincher

 

T.G.I.F. SPECIAL  —28-Jan

Q.  Who was the first Philadelphia A’s player to score a run for a manager other than Connie Mack?

Hint: #1   He had a .400 OBP every season in his career except one… when it was .399

Hint: #2  He was the first baseman in a history-making quartet of All-Star infielders.

A.  FERRIS FAIN  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  In the 9^th inning on 17-Apr-1951, Fain scored for new A’s skipper Jimmy Dykes (their 2^nd!).

-  #1  1954, the only sub-.400 OBP in his 9-year career

-  #2  Fain, Nellie Fox, Chico Carrasquel & George Kell were AS infielders on CHW in 1954. It was the first time 4 infielders from the same team were named to an All-Star Game.

FCR -  Sarah Grynpas, Toronto

Incorrect guesses:  Mickey Vernon, Stuffy McInnis, George Kell, Jimmie Foxx, Bill White, Chuck Klein, Ernie Banks

 

SATURDAY    —29-Jan

Q.  Who participated in the most career double plays at first base?

Hint: #1  Only a certain Chicago shortstop appeared in more games in the pre-expansion era without appearing in a World Series game.

Hint: #2  He got his only World Series ring just days after his final career game as a player.

A.  MICKEY VERNON  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  2,044 DPs

-  #1  Only Luke Appling appeared in more pre-expansion games with nary a World Series game among them (2,422 to 2,409 for Vernon)

-  #2  Vernon was the first base coach for PIT in 1960 after playing 9 G for them.  He had also coached for them during that season.

FCR -  Elliott Frankfother, Rock Falls, Illinois

Incorrect guesses:  Stuffy McInnis, Frank Chance, Don Mattingly, Mark Grace, Billy Williams, Frank Thomas, Phil Cavarretta, Fred McGriff

 

SUNDAY  —30-Jan

Q.  Who once led American League second basemen in fielding percentage, then led league first basemen in fielding percentage the following season?

Hint: #1  He is the only American League player to bat in fewer than forty teammates the season he won the league batting title.

Hint: #2  During his only major league managerial experience, he replaced a Hall of Famer and was, in turn, replaced by a Hall of Famer.

A.  PETE RUNNELS  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Had .986 at 2B in 1960; .995 at 1B in 1961.

-  #1  Hit .320 in 1960 w/ only 35 RBI.

-  #2  Named BOS manager for the final 16 G in 1966, replacing Billy Herman.  Even though Runnels had a .500 managing record, he was replaced by Dick Williams when the season ended,.

FCR -  Jason Winston, Riverside, California

Incorrect guesses:  Joe Gordon, Carney Lansford, Rod Carew, Lou Boudreau, Nap Lajoie, Billy Goodman, Harvey Kuenn, DJ LeMahieu

 

 

 

WEEKLY THEME – Players who won multiple batting titles, but hit below .300 for their careers

 

Player                           Titles                          Career BA                 WAR

 

Bonds.................... 2002, 2004................ .298.................... 162.7

Davis..................... 1962, 1963................ .294..................... 20.5

Fain....................... 1951, 1952................ .290..................... 27.3

McGee.................. 1985, 1990................ .295..................... 34.2

Parker................... 1977, 1978................ .290..................... 40.1

Runnels................. 1960, 1962................ .291..................... 29.8

Vernon.................. 1946, 1953................ .286..................... 35.5

Yastrzemski........... 1963, 1967, 1968....... .285..................... 96.5

Yelich ................... 2018, 2019................ .292..................... 33.4

 

Note: Keep an eye on DJ LeMahieu (2016, 2020).  He enters 2022 with a .300 lifetime average.

 

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme – Warren Kent, White Hall, Michigan (after Fain)

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Monday  -  Guys we all knew did 'roids but never failed a test

               -  Imminent Hall of Fame vote announcement

               -  Guys who will drop off the HOF ballot after this year

               -  Most successful MLB families

               -  Biggest cap sizes in MLB history

               -  Players who finished one vote shy of being unanimous MVP selections.

 

Tuesday -  400 home run club without winning a WS

               -  Players who have never won a World Series

               -  Most regular-season games played in a career without winning a World Series

 

Wed        -  All-Star LF Who have had a three home run game

               -  MVP winners who were one vote short of being unanimous

               -  MVP winning lefty hitting leftfielders

               -  Left fielders to win MVP

               -  Players who won a batting title and MVP in the same year

               -  Players who won the MVP and hit a home run in the World Series the same season

               -  Players who won the MVP and hit more than one home run in the postseason the same season

 

Thurs      -  Outfielders that won an MVP and batting title in the same year

               -  Outfielders who won an MVP and have two or more batting titles

 

Friday     -  Two-time batting champs

               -  Left fielders with more than one batting title

 

Sat          -  Players who wished they had played on better teams

               -  Players who have won multiple batting titles and have multiple All Star appearances who were high school basketball standouts

               -  Batting champions with no postseason appearances

               -  Guys who won exactly two batting titles

 

Sunday   -  1B batting champs with few HR’s

               -  2-time batting champs who aren’t in the HOF

 

 

 

If you know someone who would enjoy receiving daily Horsehide Trivia questions, have them start here.

 

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

 

Horsehide Trivia encourages independent research.

~ Bruce