Big Blue Huddle

General Category => BBH Baseball Board => Topic started by: retrojint on August 24, 2011, 01:26:10 PM

Title: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 24, 2011, 01:26:10 PM
8-24-11:  Sims, Ferrell, Carmel & Snyder all share in this lifelong designation.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Webster29 on August 25, 2011, 12:59:26 AM
Steve:   would it be DUKE
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 25, 2011, 10:23:44 AM
Correct Billy Boy <:-P How to be. The Buffalo Braves survivor's fan club and astute NYP League historian comes through in the clutch, yet again. Along with Duke Wellington and Wellington, who had the football named Duke after him. Dese all Dukes.  Onto today's puzzler:
8-25-11:  Who has played the most games in Yankee history in right-field? Please remember the outfield question is position specific. Can't be total games as an outfielder. Right-field. Hint: It's not Nick Swisher.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Webster29 on August 26, 2011, 01:41:33 AM
Ah the Buffalo Braves      "Thats two for McAdoo"   

Ok Steve    I would think it has to be Babe Ruth.   But that seems to obvious.   But it is the best guess I have so I'll go with it.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 26, 2011, 08:59:07 AM
Obvious but incorrect, my friend. Remember Ruth played leftfield quite a bit during his career. His ratio right to leftfield is something like 1.2 to 1. I will keep this open for awhile in case somebody else wants to venture a guess. Or you can try again.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: bighitterdalama on August 26, 2011, 09:48:48 AM
Steve,

Could this player's ultimate replacement have been Hector Lopez?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 26, 2011, 12:28:30 PM
"Oh what a pair of hands," Lopez, as Bouton called him? Yes, indeed.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: bighitterdalama on August 26, 2011, 01:11:54 PM
Hank Bauer, USMC. The toughest Yankee this side of Ralph Houk.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 26, 2011, 10:41:04 PM
Correct. How to go, Big Hitter. 1195 games in right.  =D>

Now for a very late 8-26-11 entry:The scene- Puerto Rican winter league between the 54 & 55 seasons. The home fans of Santurce erupt in a spontanteous "Ole Mira" cheer, inspired by the play of this budding star. Who was the object of their affection?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: babywhales on August 27, 2011, 07:41:35 AM
i can't believe it would ever surface again but I actually heard this before.   So I answer the say hey kid.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 27, 2011, 10:32:09 AM
We have a winner in Mr. Baby Wales. Good job of scouring the old memory banks. You are like Spock.  ;)  I didn't know about this story until I read James S. Hirsch's biography on Willie Mays. Good book, by the way. Ole Mira!
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 27, 2011, 10:50:26 AM
8-27-11: When Charles Finley tried to "fire" Mike Andrews from his '73 Series roster, while the autumn classic was underway, please name the player that Charlie O wanted to activate in place of Andrews. He went on to having a pretty good career. A real hose for a 2B, right up there with Willie Randolph for cannon pivots from that era of the game.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Webster29 on August 27, 2011, 07:33:17 PM
Good ol Charlie "O"   What an insult to the poor mule.

How bout Manny Trillo
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 28, 2011, 12:42:24 PM
Another "Bulls-eye" by Randy Smith-Ernie D-Jim McMcMillian-Bob MacAdoo loving Big Red. Let's see, who were some of the early expansion-year players?  Em Bryant, Nate Bowman, Donnie May, Mike Davis? How did I do?  Yes, Red, Charley O was a real winner. Remember the pop-up Bunny Rabbit to the side of home plate that surfaced with the basket of new balls for the umpire? =))
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 28, 2011, 01:36:49 PM
8-28-11: A true doctor was once traded by the Yankees for a Dock Dockter. The true doc would later get busted for writing himself illegal prescriptions. The other Dock would later admit that he frequently pitched on a natural high, fueled by cocaine. Oh there was another player involved in the deal. Can you name them?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Sem on August 28, 2011, 02:54:42 PM
Doc Ellis
Doc Medich

And wasn't Willie Randolph part of that trade?  That's going back to a section of my memory that's forever fuzzy.   ;)
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 28, 2011, 05:25:14 PM
Ah a gem of a response by nygsem. 8))  Yes, George "Doc"Medich  for Dock Ellis and Willie Randoph. Great deal for the Yankees. Let's see: After the ignominious reign of Horace Clarke at 2B for the Yankees, there were three short-term bridges to Willie. They moved Stick Michael from SS to 2B, installing Jim Mason at SS. Then they traded for a guy who  had played in the Pirates' chain.  I think his name was Gonzalez. Next was a decent patch-Sandy Alomar Sr. who is known primarily for supplying the game with a future HOFer in  his son Roberto. Sandy  Jr. was a pretty  fair player in his own right. Then Willie who excelled in the job for many years. As for the cryptic comment about your "fuzzy"memory, nygsem,might you be alluding to your college years? If so,we copy. 
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 29, 2011, 12:11:33 AM
8-29-11: Right-handed pitcher for the Chisox in the 70s. He pitched with long hair stuffed under his hat and "Toys in the Attic" between his ears. Name the player.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on August 30, 2011, 12:04:44 AM
Referencing the Yankee - Pirate trade, the Yankees acquired a third player as part of that trade,
Who knows, he may even be the long haired Chisox pitcher of the 70's. -  pretty good hitter for a pitcher also. Part of the family genes I guess.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 30, 2011, 12:43:05 AM
Dasher: That's Ken Brett beloved (& late) brother of George. I had a summer job working in a factory in Syracuse in 75. One of the guys I worked with had been a Red Sox minor league pitcher. He roomed with Ken somewhere. Can't remember if it was in spring training or during a season. Anyway he had a couple of good stories about him. Good pitcher. Good hitter. Short stint with the Yankees. Not the White Sox pitcher, who was right-handed.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Webster29 on August 30, 2011, 02:16:38 AM
Steve:  when you said "toys in the attic" between his years makes me think of a knuckleballer as most of them are a bit on the strange side, or so it seems so I thought of Wilbur Wood but he was a lefty.  They did have a bit of an odd ball with longish hair and a fu manchu for a couple of seasons.  Was it Pete Vuckovich (Clu Haywood of Major League)??
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Sem on August 30, 2011, 02:25:44 AM
College in the mid 70's Retro, yes.   8))

Really, the only Chisox pitchers from back then that I can remember are Wilber Wood, a lefty, so he's out, and Goose Gossage, who I think pitched for Chicago around that time.  But he never gave me the impression he was over the rainbow. I'm drawing a blank.

Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: bighitterdalama on August 30, 2011, 08:32:15 AM
Bart "Toys in the Attic" Johnson. So named, I believe, because, once a major leaguer, he played for a stretch in the NBA.

Big Hitter
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 30, 2011, 10:29:00 AM
Mr. Da Lama: Correct but I don't get your very eclectic NBA allusion on Claire BarTth (Bart) "Toys in the Attic" Johnson. He was so nicknamed because he was whippier than a crap house rat, is what we were led to believe. If he left for the NBA I never knew that. He did kind of disappear all of a sudden.

Red: Good fastball. Opposite end of the Wood spectrum. 

Gem: Got it. Things got fuzzy during the college era.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 30, 2011, 10:35:11 AM
Bravo, Hermoso and Pagan. Ballplayers with wings. How so?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on August 30, 2011, 01:55:40 PM
Hearing Bart Johnson's name , I would like to ask an addendum question. To the best of my knowledge this player of the 50's and early 60's (depending on  the sport) is the only player to have won national championships in two of the four major professional sports. This player was baseball and basketball. Who is he and what teams did we win the champioships with?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: bighitterdalama on August 30, 2011, 02:31:17 PM
Steve,

Bart Johnson was great basketball talent. On the (then required) freshman team at BYU (circa 1968),he averaged 28 ppg. He opted for baseball but, once he became a blossoming star for the Chisox, he tried out during the 1973 off-season for the NBA Seattle Supersonics. I thought that this was where the "Toys in the Attic" momiker had its beginning: once he established baseball career, he tried to backtrack to an earlier life in basketball. And he was indeed a flaky lad.

http://1972topps.blogspot.com/2009/07/126-bart-johnson.html (http://1972topps.blogspot.com/2009/07/126-bart-johnson.html)

Dale,

Dave Debusschere come to mind. Knicks in the NBA and (I thought) Tigers in baseball. But I don't think he was on the Tigers in '68. I will have to check.

Brian
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on August 30, 2011, 02:39:31 PM
Brian,
I was not thinking dave debusschere, but I've been proven wrong by you in the past!
Assuming Dave may be correct, who is the one I'm thinking of.
Dale
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: bighitterdalama on August 30, 2011, 03:27:30 PM
Dale,

Its not Debusschere. he had a brief stint for the Chisox and less than a cup of coffee for the Indians, all in the early '60s. Perhaps my mistaken memory of the Tigers resulted from the fact that Double D was  traded from the Detroit Pistons to the Knicks (for center Walt Bellamy).

I can only come up with two other players who you might be thinking of. One was a fantastic college basketball player (Player of the Year as a Senior) who played briefly in the NBA. He then went on to have a near HOF baseball career. This player did not win a basketball championship in either college or the pros, but he was an integral part of two World Series champions (different teams, same opponent). The second player was on the LOSING end of both one NBA championship and two World Series. He was a moderately talented but never outstanding player in either sport.

Brian
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on August 30, 2011, 04:36:55 PM
Brian,
Nope to both.
The real deal I am thinking of also was the winning pitcher in a midsummer classic Allstar game.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Webster29 on August 30, 2011, 09:15:59 PM
Donald Eugene (Gene) Conley   Milwaukee Braves    Boston Celtics
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on August 30, 2011, 11:47:44 PM
That's the player - Gene Conley.
Thanks Big Red for the answer.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 31, 2011, 10:22:22 AM
Still looking for the answer to 8-30s question:

Limited time today so I will post 8-31: The Yankees are playing in their 109th season. Ergo there have been 109 Opening Days & 109 corresponding Opening-Day lineups. Name the player who hit lead-off the most times in the Opening Day lineup. (The past test framing of the question does not necessarily eliminate a current player from consideration, by the way)
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on August 31, 2011, 11:04:43 AM
They are all Angels.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: babywhales on August 31, 2011, 02:37:40 PM
Retro,

I actually heard the story about Mays as a side note to a story my neighbors father told us as kids regarding Mays in Japan and the fans cheering (say hey). He could not pronounce it in Japanesse but would than reference the ole mira used in PR.


Another bit of useless info.  Doc Medich's family were family friends of my mother.  We used to go down to his father in laws on the Cheesapeake and spend the weeknd from time to time.  His father or father in law (can't rememeber) would go down to the bay and catch crab and make some of the best crab cakes.  when he was with the Brewers we went to Yankees Stadium and he got us into the dugout and my brother, medich's nephew and myself and we got to meet  Cecil Cooper, Yount, Sutton, Molitor, rolle and someothers....   As I got older, in the occasional conversation with my mother she would give me an update on his circumstances.  It is just a shame on how that one turned out.   he was a very bright guy and very nice.  But just couldn't stop popping pills and writting prescriptions for other players.

I think I recall he was the pitcher who started the game or was pitching when Henderson broke Lou Brock's record, only to  declare "today i am the greatest"
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: babywhales on August 31, 2011, 02:38:27 PM
Is it Jeter?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 31, 2011, 02:53:13 PM
Mad Dash for Cash: Yes all Angels. They need(ed) the obligatory "halo at the top"cap circa expansion LA Angels that the kid wore from the movie "Sandlot." Later on he got really into the 60s and disappeared. My hero in that movie is Squint. He ended up marrying the very lovely lifeguard. 9 kids were the product of his insatiable desire for her.

Wales: Thanks for the background. A certain personality, with a certain biochemstry, is hooked for life when they try some of that stuff. Don't really follow the Henderson comment. Do you mean he started the game? Geez I don't think so if I'm understanding you correctly. 
The Jeter guess is incorrect. I wasn't putting the parathentical element in there to lead anybody astray either. Jeter finished tied for second in this question, along with six other players. That is 6 with 5 names at the top. The leader has 8.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: babywhales on August 31, 2011, 03:24:20 PM
Yes , it was just a meaningless Medich reference but he was pitching the game Henderson broke Lou Brock's record. 

(I just was not sure if he was still in the game during the inning the record was broken)
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: bighitterdalama on August 31, 2011, 03:26:38 PM
Horace Clark.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: babywhales on August 31, 2011, 03:45:38 PM
What Yankee is credited with inventing the batting donut?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 31, 2011, 05:15:47 PM
Wales: Thank you for the clarification. Elston Howard invented the donut. They don't allow you to use those in Little League games, anymore. Too bad. Best way to make the bat feel lighter in your hands once you stepped in against the pitcher. 

Big Hitter: Incorrect. Hoss is one of the guys in a log-jam for second with 5 opening- day lead-off assignments. 
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: babywhales on August 31, 2011, 05:34:30 PM
I figured you might have known that one. 

Why is the donut banned?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 31, 2011, 05:51:07 PM
Conjecture. Somebody got seriously injured or killed by the donut flying off. That's usually what happens. Insurance considerations. For example, the on-deck area for the next hitter has been banned. The kid has to stay in the fenced-off, bench area. Little League affiliates fenced off an on-deck enclosure so a kid could get his swings in there. Not too worry. Also banned. As I recall, the on-deck deal was a result of another player walking up to the side of the kid on-deck who inadvertantly hit the kid in the head with one of his practice swings. I don't see how Ellie's could have flown off the top part of the bat. As you know, those fit pretty snuggly once you worked it up from the handle. 
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Sem on August 31, 2011, 06:22:11 PM
Quote from: retrojint on August 31, 2011, 05:51:07 PM
Conjecture. Somebody got seriously injured or killed by the donut flying off. That's usually what happens. Insurance considerations. For example, the on-deck area for the next hitter has been banned. The kid has to stay in the fenced-off, bench area. Little League affiliates fenced off an on-deck enclosure so a kid could get his swings in there. Not too worry. Also banned. As I recall, the on-deck deal was a result of another player walking up to the side of the kid on-deck who inadvertantly hit the kid in the head with one of his practice swings. I don't see how Ellie's could have flown off the top part of the bat. As you know, those fit pretty snuggly once you worked it up from the handle.
Story time - In his last year of playing little league my son, Jeff, made the all-star team.  He played SS during the regular season, but because so many of the SS's made the all-star team he ended up playing CF.  He was a so-so hitter, but was a good athlete and that translated to a better fielder than hitter in his case.  During his final all-star game against a team from another city he was on deck waiting to face a pitcher with a pretty good fastball.  He was lazily swinging the bat, with no real purpose.  So I stepped down off the bleachers and called him over and told him he should stick a doughnut on and try to time the pitcher while waiting his turn, so he did.  Wouldn't you know it his first two ABs were with the bases loaded.  He hit two triples, both high off the wall in LF. I guess I should have given him that tip earlier in the season. 

Side note - Jeff played in the same Little League as the Baltimore Orioles' reliever Jim Johnson, back then he was known as Jimmy Johnson. Jeff still reminds of the game when Johnson no-hit my son's team, all outs except one via the strike out.  In one AB my son grounded out weakly to 1B - a moral victory.  ;)

Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on August 31, 2011, 10:30:39 PM
Quite an accomplishment for Jeff, nygsem. I would guess as time went by, he rooted for Johnson? I remember reading somewhere that when Ken Griffey Jr. was 12  years-old, he didn't make an out the entire season. Can you imagine what a nightmare scene it must have been like pitching to him? :sick:

OK new tact on today's trivia question. I will list all of the participants except for the leader, who as I mentioned, did it 8 times.
5 times (7 players): Derek Jeter, Willie Randolph, Horace Clarke, Hank Bauer, Phil Rizzuto, Frank Crosetti, Stuffy Stirnweiss
4 times (2 players): Chuck Knoblach, Rickey Henderson
3 times (4 players): Johnny Damon, Mickey Rivers, Bobby Richardson, Fritz Maisel
2 times (10 players): Alfonso Soriano, Wade Boggs, Steve Sax, Omar Moreno, Tom Tresh, Whitey Witt, Frank Gilhooley, Henry Wolter, Charlie Hemphill, Patsy Dougherty
1 time (26 players): Brent Gardner, Bernie Williams, Randy Velarde, Luis Polonia, Sandy Alomar, Sr., Roy White, Jerry Kenney, Phil Linz, Tony Kubek, Roger Maris, Gil McDougald, Jackie Jensen, Jerry Priddy, Sammy Bryd, Red Rolfe,  Mark Koenig,  Ben Paschal, Elmer Miller, Chick Fewster, Frank Gleich, Sammy Vick,Bert Daniels, Harry Niles, Danny Hoffman, Wid Conroy, Lefty Davis.
5 x 7 = 35. 2 x 4 = 8 4 x 3 = 12  2 x 10 = 20  26  Those come to 101. Now all you need is the leader who supplies 8, gets me to 109. When I was researching this I couldn't get my columns to balance, which was pissing me off, royally. I neglected Maris's 1960 opener in lead-off. Found it. I probably had a mental block about him batting 1. OK with that as a background, I will also say that our boy is in the HOF.  Now can somebody here play this game? 
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 01, 2011, 12:07:44 AM
Tony Lazzeri.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 01, 2011, 10:38:36 AM
Good ballplayer, Dash. Wrong answer. Let's leave some more bread crumbs along the path of life. How did numbers on the backs of their unis come about? The answer lies within. 
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 01, 2011, 11:05:52 AM
Earle Combs
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 01, 2011, 11:27:35 AM
Alright! I'm doing a cheap impersonation of Billy "White Jones" Johnson's TD celebration right now. 8 times for the original #1 so-numbered because he was the lead-off batter. Money talks and dash has cash with 2 in a row. 

9-1-11: Ray Chapman was killed by the beanball thrown by Carl Mays in August of 1920. The player called up to replace Ray on the roster would ultimately be enshrined in the HOF. He has the lowest strikeout rate in MLB history. His lifetime K total is one Mark Reynolds would accept for one season.  Name the player.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: babywhales on September 01, 2011, 11:57:01 AM
S-

These questions are favoring Dale, as you keep asking questions from his childhood!!!



=))
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: babywhales on September 01, 2011, 01:23:45 PM
Quote from: retrojint on September 01, 2011, 11:27:35 AM

9-1-11: Ray Chapman was killed by the beanball thrown by Carl Mays in August of 1920. The player called up to replace Ray on the roster would ultimately be enshrined in the HOF. He has the lowest strikeout rate in MLB history. His lifetime K total is one Mark Reynolds would accept for one season.  Name the player.

Just a side note that you may already be aware of considering the question. 

Ray Chapman is or his death is the reason why umpires always put a new baseball in play when it gets dirty.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 01, 2011, 07:00:05 PM
Another Yankster named Joe, not Rip.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 02, 2011, 01:21:45 AM
Yeah Wales. It was also the final factor in outlawing the spitter. Mays was universally despised because he combined the two traits of pitching that were an irrefutable indictment: Pin-point control; he would routinely be among the league leaders in fewest walks, and most hit batsmen. His submarine delivery made it excruciatingly difficult to pick up the ball. I read a pretty good book on the subject. Think it's called, "The Pitch That Killed."

Joe Sewell had his 5'6" self a helluva career. Ended up with the Yankees. So Dasher is a red-hot iron on these. For Wales tastes, I'll do some 80s stuff so oldsters like Dash and I don't have the advantage. 
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 02, 2011, 10:29:27 AM
9-2-11: Oh to be young, again. This former Ranger OF is an Arizona St alumn. He played on the '84 USA Olympics team.  He was inducted in the College Baseball Hall of Fame this year. Also played in the majors with the Indians and Braves. He is the first player in Ranger history to hit for the cycle.  Name the player.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 02, 2011, 01:20:39 PM
OK I missed this one - first guess was Bob Hoerner. Incorrect although he did go to ASU.
As a sidebar ASU question- who was Dustin Pedroia's roomie at ASU and a mortal lock to end up with the Bosox next year because of this friendship and his pending free agency?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 02, 2011, 05:54:42 PM
Still looking I see.  I have no idea who his roommate was at Arizona St.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 03, 2011, 12:29:20 AM
Andre Ethier to take J. D. Drew slot in 2012.
Still no idea on your question..
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 03, 2011, 09:40:53 PM
Oh he is certainly a good one Dash. Hate to see that happen to Don Mattingly who, all things considered, is doing a great job this season. Donnie gets all the important jobs. The team goes Chapter 7, dial M for Mattingly as Manager. When they get their ownership mess stable, he will have a fighting chance.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 04, 2011, 12:25:49 AM
OK- since no one else has tried, I'll admit looking it up, and I never would have gotten it otherwise- Oddibe McDowell .
I heard this one on today's game- there are currently six pitchers over the age of 40. Name them, And that doesn't include Jamie Moyer who is recovering from Tommy John and is going to try to pitch next year at the age of 48.
I can only come up with two- Mariano and Wakefield.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Bill Brown on September 04, 2011, 10:39:53 AM
Arthur Rhodes       41     St. Louis
Miguel Batista        40     Mets
Darren Oliver          40     Texas
Mariano Rivera       41     Yanks
Takashi Saito           41     Milwaukee
Tim Wakefield         45     BoSox
Bill    Go Red Sox
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 04, 2011, 12:45:22 PM
Dasher: No problem with you looking. That's the formula I suggest. From memory first, then seek help. It's interesting to me that the question  was that difficult. I put the "Oh to be young again" word game at the front of the question, expecting that it would give the player's name away, which  is quite unique to the game. Anyway I was flipping through Bill James' last Abstract, which  was written before the 1988 season.  McDowell was the darling of saber geeks early in his career. He had enormous projections. The guy had a career of above-average duration, but he didn't play all that well after a promising startl.   
On the 40s, I didn't realize Saito was that old.  On Rhodes, I remember taking my oldest son when he was little to see the Red Wings play the Chiefs at the old stadium. Authur was the starter for the Rochester. He had a no-hitter through  5, I believe, then got hammered in the 6th. My son is 25. I guess that was about 20 years ago. Geez be left-handed and stay healthy. 

9-4-11: Name the player in MLB history who has the most career HRs without having ever hit at least 20 HRs in any one season. 
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 04, 2011, 01:22:13 PM
Congrats Bill on naming the greybeards.
Retro, I'm taking a  sweet wild ass guess (SWAG) at your most recent question. Ty Cobb played for like 25 years and I don't think he ever hit more than 15 a year. Based on longevity Ty is my guess.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Bill Brown on September 04, 2011, 02:39:41 PM
Retro;

I will quess Tony Lazzeri.

Bill
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 04, 2011, 04:32:31 PM
Boys both wrongo choices. Those guys are better than my guy in the question. So you need some help. Let's bring in Bob Dylan to assist. Close scrutiny to the lyrics will help you.

"I'm walkin down that long lonesome road, Babe
Where I'm bound I can't tell
But goodbye's too good a word, gal
So I'll just say fairly-well
  I ain't saying you treated me unkind
You could have  done better, but I don't mind
You just kind of wasted my precious time
But don't think twice,  it's all right."
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 04, 2011, 04:47:30 PM
Steve,
That was super. Not sure I got it, but I checked the man out - 21 seasons in the bigs- 215 HR's- never 20 in a season.
Ron Fairly
So I'll just say fairly-well
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 05, 2011, 12:12:49 PM
There you go, Dasher. Good job. BTW: Dylan's voice has gotten so bad these days that some of his admirers walk out on his concertscomplaining that he sounds like Cookie Monster from Sesame Street.

Happy Labor Day 9-5-11:  Hardly one to pinch an inch, name the player who led the Seattle Pilots in HRs during their sole season of existence.

Special Holiday Bonus Extravaganza: On that same Pilots' team, a cameo appearance was made by a Kingston, N.Y. native who played previously for the Yankees. His career was sadly curtailed by glaucoma.  Name the player.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 05, 2011, 12:48:12 PM
I guessed Tommy Davis, since he was the only Pilot I could remember. Looked it up and laughed about the clue that went right over my head! Good one to say the least.
Regarding the player with glaucoma, don't have a clue. And me, I have glaucoma in both eyes so I am interested in the answer.
My turn for a question hombre:
The Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees competed in 44 World Series games. Name the only player who played in every one of them.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 05, 2011, 01:16:07 PM
Timely Trivia Question
Moneyball and Brad Pitt scheduled for release September 23 I believe. The book is about Billy Beane introducing sabermetrics to baseball with the Oakland A's and overruling his traditional scouts in conducting the 2002 draft.
The question- Of the seven first round selections the A's had in 2002- only three have had decent major league careers and are still on a roster. Name these three sabermetric selected survivors.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 06, 2011, 08:28:47 AM
I am a pretty big Moneyball fan. Read the book. A guy who headed up the northeastern sector scouting for the Cardinals when Mike Jorgensen was running their farm system for Walt Jocketty is a friend of mine. I talked scouting and baseball in general with him many times. The concepts found in the book actually first appeared on the scene in articles Bill James was writing for Baseball Digest in the 70s. It turns out he was writing them while working as a graveyard-shift security guard at a factory in Kansas City.  For the trivia question: Quite a few at least surfaced. I think Swisher, Blanton, Guthrie and Teahen had the longest careers. A guy who didn't was Russ Adams, who I thought was going to be an excellent MLB player. A Tar Heeler, a guy with an excellent short stroke. No defensive position. He lost heart switching around the infield and outfield. Guthrie I think is a good pitcher in an extremely poor situation.

The Dodger-Yankee question 41,47,49,52,53,55,56-the later 2 years eliminates Rizzuto. I can't think of anybody just now. That is quite a time interval. Still waiting on my Pilots question. 
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: babywhales on September 06, 2011, 08:51:01 AM
Went north for the holiday weekend, appears as though some new questions have been asked.


Didn't see an answer to the Pilots HR question:
Dave Mincher


Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 06, 2011, 09:26:29 AM
Steve, as usual, you nailed the three drafted in 2002 in the first round that I was looking for - Blanton, Swisher, Teahen. Interesting that Beane traded all three away.
I need to look up Guthrie to see the year he was drafted and the round.
Chris nailed your Mariners question- Don Michcher.
Now, we have two pending- the player with glaucoma and the Yankee-Dodgers player. You are amazing in that you knew all the years, but not the player. Think small, amigo.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: babywhales on September 06, 2011, 11:07:34 AM
Don not dave, thats right.....being in Brewer country if it is retro uniform night or somekind of trivia they always use the Pilots.  That one is a classic in these parts on the jumbotron, in between inning trivia and on literature.


So waht are the two pending questions? 

I read the player on both teams?

Player with Glaucoma?  What is the question or is that just it? Regardless, until I hear the question Ill guess lirby Puckett the most famous glausoma ball player I have heard of in my time.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 06, 2011, 11:51:01 AM
I looked at it from the wrong side. I only thought Yankees. It must be Pee Wee Reese. Wales way to go on Mincher.  Pretty fair power hitter especially for that era. Those numbers look like crap in today's game, but remember 68 was the absolute dregs for offense in the modern age of the game. They lowered the mound, contracted the strike zone and expanded the total number of teams following that season, which made it possible for somebody like Jim Bouton to hook on with another team, thereby getting more material for his book (s).

OK the second trivia question is going to require a certain Yankeephile. A certain genius that is way too out of my league.  He couples Einsteinian intellect with that classic Irish bent for the ironic. If he were to pat you on the back, you would include that on your resume. He once had an awkward moment, just to see what it felt like. He is simply the most interesting person in the world........he doesn't always drink beer but when he does........he is The Big Hitter Da Lama. This situation requires him.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: bighitterdalama on September 06, 2011, 02:51:06 PM
Steve,

First off, I did check the Pilots player list. Given the high turnover of an expansion team's roster, I though that checking the players names would not be cheating (specially for a player who had a "cameo" appearance).

I checked the list for Yankee castoffs from the '65-'68 era. Among note was one of the innumerable "next Mickey Mantles" that never made it. I believe that he played quite a bit for the 1969 Ms so I eliminated him from consideration. Your mention of "Irish" at first threw me off until I re-read your post and realized it applied to me and not the player. I then reread the list and found a certain player of note whose nationality is the same as you on your mother's side. We watched this player in action at the Old Big Mac. I believe that this gentleman later coached for for the Yankees. His name is similar to a famous sports car.

Did I get it?

Big Hitter

Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 06, 2011, 02:53:34 PM
Is the Porsche's middle name Dennis?

New question-
For 5 consecutive seasons, the Cy Young award was won by a pitcher from one city. What was the city, and who were the pitchers?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Bill Brown on September 06, 2011, 02:57:11 PM
I don't know anything about glaucoma but a gent named Mike Ferraro, from Kingston NY played for the Yanks and Pilots.

Bill

But I now see a post by the Big Hitter that confirms my thinking.  =D> =D> =D>
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 06, 2011, 03:46:24 PM
Yes way to go boys. Mike Ferraro, once a fairly prized prospect, who was supplanted for a time by a guy named Bobby Cox. Yes, that one.  Much better manager than player that guy. Notice how The Big Hitter only responds with answers that are wrapped inside enigmatic questions furthering the puzzle. Churchill one of his heroes. Stay thirsty my friends.

9-6-11:  What explosive quality did George "Not Patton" Scott, Ron Blomberg and David Wells share? 
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: babywhales on September 06, 2011, 05:55:42 PM
Quote from: retrojint on September 06, 2011, 03:46:24 PM

9-6-11:  What explosive quality did George "Not Patton" Scott, Ron Blomberg and David Wells share?

Boomer
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 07, 2011, 04:13:06 AM
Nicely done, Mr. Wales. All possessed the Boomer nickname.

9-7-11:  Bam Bam and Bye Bye were two of the most over-hyped, pseudo sluggers in Yankee History. Who were they?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: bighitterdalama on September 07, 2011, 05:05:29 AM
"Bam Bam" was Hensley Meulins. I think "Bye Bye" might have been Steve Balboni.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Webster29 on September 07, 2011, 05:19:27 AM
I do believe that Brian nailed that one.    If memory serves the Scooter used to love to say Bye Bye Balboni all the time.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 08, 2011, 11:37:04 AM
Yes, Red, the Big Hitter strikes again. If memory serves it might have been Frank Messer, who provided the sobriquet for Big Steve. I should note that Balboni hit 181 HRs over his career with a 451 slugging percentage. It's just that most of his damage was done with the Royals. By comparison, Bam Bam pulls in at 15 and 350.  So I took a liberty with the double-entry nicknames. Saw Meulens absolutely vaporize a ball in Syracuse at Old Mac the year when Columbus threatened the all-time winning percentage for a minor-league team. Over the left-center fence, almost to the train tracks.  He had raw power, but a poorly defined, flawed swing.

9-8-11:  The Chisox had a defensive position covered by 2 future Hall-of-Famers most of the time from the period from 1930 to 1970. They had oddly similar names. Name the 2 players.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 08, 2011, 05:36:07 PM
The answer to the City trivia question is Los Angeles. In 1962, it was Don Drysdale of the Dodgers, 1964 was Dean Chance of the Angels, and 1963, '65, and '66, it was the Dodger's Sandy Koufax.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 08, 2011, 07:29:33 PM
Dash: Sorry we missed that one in the wash from the posting history. Didn't see the question.  That was a good one because it worked in Dean Chance, who gets a lot of trivia play. So does Bo Belinsky. Chance's career numbers are a bit deceiving because of the era during which he pitched, but he was still pretty good. 83 complete games in 294 career starts. Anyway 64 was his signature season, which was a great one in any guy's league. 

My question is still on the clock from above.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Webster29 on September 08, 2011, 10:45:21 PM
OK Steve how about Luke Appling and Little Luis Aparicio

Luke was a bit before my time but I remember pictures of him with the old Sox lobo   the big S with an O and an X in the middle of the S     I always thought it was pretty cool

And from my youth I remember the Go-Sox of 1959.    Aparicio teamed up with Nellie Fox (played at Jamestown by the way) to form a pretty good double play combo.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Webster29 on September 08, 2011, 11:03:41 PM
Let me throw in a question if I may.   One of my all time favorite non-Yankee World Series was 1968 between the Cards and the Tigers.   Tiger manager Mayo Smith made quite a bold defensive move during that series.  What did he do?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 09, 2011, 12:37:49 AM
That was one great World Series.
I won't give the answer but there would soon be a Seattle Pilot connection.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Bill Brown on September 09, 2011, 08:17:16 AM
The late 60s and early 70s are almost a blank for me when it comes to sports.  In the USAF, stationed in Germany, so didn't get much for sports news. And maybe all that good beer and other good things had something to do with it too.  =)) =))   Without looking up the answers,  I could not even tell you if thay had a worlds series in 68. :-?? 

Bill
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: babywhales on September 09, 2011, 10:10:22 AM
It was three years till I was even a thought, but I do own and watch a dvd set of all World Series.  Every now and then a watch a disc that covers 2-3 series. 

The two things I remember about 68 :
1-McClain pitched 3 times and the 3rd was after 3 poor performances 
2-Eddie Mathews career ended in that series after being inserted into the lineup for his bat.


So I would have to guess Mayo Smith pitched McLain a thrid night for his first win after 2 poor outings. 
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 09, 2011, 11:28:10 AM
Good work Red. The 2 Aps pretty much had it covered for many years. Not all of the time, but a good percentage of it. The answer is Mickey Stanley being moved to SS by Mayo "The Clinician" Smith.  Dash had an allusion to Ray Oyler, who was another Pilots expansionite.  That season he got into a mini-brawl with Bobby Murcer at second base.  A frustrated Murcer later apologized, admitting to being frustrated about his poor defensive work at 3B. The move to the outfield soon followed. 

Wales: Eddie Matthews was a great player, an HOFer. However, he is something of a "what might have been" guy, career-wise. His early seasons led to projections of maybe 775 career HRs. He did most of his best work early in his career. For example 40+ HRs when he was 21. I think he had a bad back or neck-something like that. He is the answer to a much asked trivia question. Who is the only Brave to play in all three cities in the franchise's history?

9-9-11: Truly an odd looking fellow, The Stork played in parts of 2 seasons with the Mets. Without much distinction. Name the player. He is from the 70s.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 09, 2011, 11:46:29 AM
In its "The End of the Century" series, ESPN (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESPN) rated Mayo Smith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayo_Smith)'s decision to move Stanley to shortstop for the 1968 World Series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_World_Series) as one of the 10 greatest coaching decisions of the century. - from Wikipedia.
My allusion was for Ray Oyler, the Tigers shortstop all year,who was benched for Stanley to move from CF to SS in the Series. The soon to be born Seattle Pilots who lasted one season only to perish from lack of Northwest support picked Oyler with the third pick in the expansion draft.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 09, 2011, 06:34:08 PM
Good follow up, Dasher. If you lived in Syracuse during that era, there was an affinity for the Tigers because they had been the parent club of the local AAA Chiefs. I saw many of them at least a few times.  Stanley was a helluva centerfielder. Not Paul Blair, but very good.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 09, 2011, 11:52:12 PM
Friday evening easy trivia question:
Name the two pitchers who won and saved at least 150 games each
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: bighitterdalama on September 10, 2011, 02:10:32 AM
The combination of the two stats indicates a starter who converted a closer. Additionally, the player must be of more recent vintage, post 1970, since when the save became a more dominant stat. My off-the-top-of-my-head guesses were (XXX) and (YYY). I checked and found out that I got one out of two. Then I thought about it a bit more. Perhaps the player began as a starter, converted to reliever, and reverted to starter. One player came to mind fit this mold: pitcher (ZZZ). In fact, this pitcher switched from starter, to reliever, to starter, and back to reliever. Hall of fame talent.

(XXX) = Dennis Eckersley
(YYY) = Hoyt Wilhelm
(ZZZ) = John Smoltz

Answer: Eckersley and Smoltz.

Big Hitter
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 10, 2011, 11:00:20 AM
That's pretty fair analysis. I think Dasher buried my trivia question from yesterday, Brian. The answer was George "Stork" Theodore. Remember him? A gangly, funny looking assortment of ill-fitted body parts. 

PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO TRIVIA QUESTIONS THIS WEEKEND. THERE IS NOTHING TRIVIAL ABOUT THE SOLEMN EVENTS THAT WILL COMMEMORATE 9-11. WE REMEMBER AND HONOR.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 10, 2011, 11:43:23 AM
As usual, Brian gets it right. Between you and Steve in the 'Cuse and Big Red in Batavia (not sure of that hometown) upstate and western NY rule baseball trivia.
Plus, I get a few morsels right and I'm Ithaca Dale. What happened to weeze?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Bill Brown on September 14, 2011, 08:57:26 AM
Here is one for y'all.

Who was the only batter who ever struck out against a 59-year old pitcher, in a major league game?

Bill
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 14, 2011, 09:19:05 AM
Hi Bill,
Believe it or not - the answer came to me right away., The pitcher was Satchell - the batter someone named Bill.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Bill Brown on September 14, 2011, 09:35:16 AM
I must get up a lot earlier in the morning to get the best of you Dale!!!!!

Bill
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: dasher on September 14, 2011, 11:30:39 AM
No, Bill. That question was on my favorite trivia site!
Dale
http://www.xera-baseball.com/trivia.htm (http://www.xera-baseball.com/trivia.htm)
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Bill Brown on September 15, 2011, 10:47:44 AM
Dale  That is the exact site where I found it.  =)) =)) =))

Bill
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 21, 2011, 10:54:50 AM
9-21-11:  Name the light-hitting minor-league CF in the Chicago Cubs system, who quit the sport to enroll at Shasta Junior College. He ultimately played for the New York football Giants. ?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Webster29 on September 21, 2011, 08:59:55 PM
Steve:   could it be Jason Harmon???
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Webster29 on September 22, 2011, 11:23:57 PM
Or could it be Jason Carmichael      or maybe Jason Rizzoli???
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 23, 2011, 02:11:50 PM
Ah Red you're being a real mother here, I see. Getting all the wrong Jasons. So now I set you up for the toilet-flush dunk.  Who is it?
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: Webster29 on September 23, 2011, 02:45:33 PM
OK Steve   ya got me.   I'll try Sehorn then.
Title: Re: Baseball trivia Question of the Day, or thereabouts
Post by: retrojint on September 24, 2011, 11:30:10 AM
 <:-P  Alright, Red gives it up. No more rope a dope. Yes, keep those pants on while chasing that Lion into the end zone, Jason. Better CB than CF that guy.