Reds trivia thread

[JohnU]

Utility guys are like gold at the trading deadline for teams whose infield has been beat up.

One could assume that under today's metrics, Rose probably wouldn't get 10 at-bats a week.

 

[JohnU]

As promised, Manny Mota.

ATOM YNNAM

 

[JohnU]

Reds also had a great pinch hitter in 1961. Jerry Lynch, who played left field with his bat attached to his glove

Lynch in the Pinch was the word when this guy came to the plate.

His pinch homers are legendary.

LYNCH IN THE PINCH

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Our good buddy Lenny Harris holds the record for pinch hits.

A pretty good PH was Chris Heisey... saw where he had a PH home run recently playing for Dusty.

Lynch is a guy you'll usually hear mentioned when talking about pinch hitters, mostly because of his 1961 campaign John mentioned.

Manny was the one of the best you'll ever see. Seth Smith would have to be the current edition of Super PH.

 

[JohnU]

Lynch is the reason why we loved the 61 Reds. This was a team that was supposed to finish 6th place and just would not quit. Sadly, most fans are not old enough to appreciate that team. You needed to spend a whole summer with that. It is without a doubt the most memorable year ever. The BRM teams were great, but the 61 Reds were just of a different world.

 

[eburg5000]

I was 10 years old at the time, I remember that they were there, and that was about it. I did read the book about the 61 Reds and that was very enlightening

 

[Redsfan1507]

Rose couldn't throw or run. He didn't really glove that well if the ball was more than a couple steps away. He had very little power. He squatted at the plate, but not because he walked much- it shrank his strike zone, and he liked to hit the high pitch oppage.

What he could do is put the ball in play on fastballs or breaking balls, get base hits, hustle and run the bases hard with far more feel than wheels. He was a switch hitter that hit lefties and righties equally well, could bunt if needed, and play just about any position without looking like a chump. He was a non-stop cocky-ass hot dog that aggravated the opposition, more than a few umpires, and at least a couple commissioners. He didn't miss games. Anyone that can hit .300 will find a place to play, especially if they aren't too demanding about switching positions every few years. He logically did move to incrementally less range dependant positions as he aged.

IMO, good PH's are always good first pitch fastball hitters. I bet Manny Mota could still get wood on a 97 mph heater.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

I agree on most good PH's being good first pitch fastball hitters and good fastball hitters in general. When most get extended playing time we usually find out why they're pinch hitters and not playing everyday.

 

[JohnU]

Chris Heisey is a classic example of a fastball hitter. He's a .220 hitter otherwise.

 

[JohnU]

Gonna dredge up a guy I just happened to remember because of bizarre stats.
Check out his 1965 with the Reds.
Plus, look at his 1971 numbers with the Phils.

DERON JOHNSON

 

[eburg5000]

I always thought he was a better hitter than that 300 and up. My memory is fading But the Reds did get his best years out of him

Did anyone listen to the rebroadcast of the Reds 1st game at Riverfront stadium. It was on the radio during Sundays rain delay. A lot of old names mentioned Hank Aaron, Pat Jarvis. Orlando Cepeda, Bernie Carbo, Jim McGlothlin, Tommy Helms, Woody Woodward. I only heard a few innings, but it was interesting

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Johnny Bench was the answer to a question during the Reds radio broadcast yesterday. It asked who had 12 career home runs versus Steve Carlton. Carlton would be the Hall of Famer that Johnny had the most success against.

JB had more than 100+ career PA's against seven different pitchers. Four HOF...... Phil Niekro, Steve Carlton, Gaylord Perry, Don Sutton, and non- HOF Jerry Reuss and Joe Niekro are six of them.

The seventh pitcher is the one JB struggled the most against with a career .178 BA.

Who was this LaPorte, Ind native and 1968 All Star pitcher for the Atlanta Braves?

 

[JohnU]

Who was this LaPorte, Ind native and 1968 All Star pitcher for the Atlanta Braves?

I know the answer to this, though I was not aware of his numbers against Bench.
The guy was also a damned good basketball player.
I live 16 miles from LaPorte, so the names of players from there are sort of common knowledge.
LaPorte at one time was one of the premier baseball towns in Indiana for high school players. They still are competitive but not dominant.

LAPORTE PERSPECTIVE

 

[Hit-n-Run]

I figured with the Indiana tie-in you would know that one John.

 

[JohnU]

I live in Porter Co., so there's a number of guys from around here in the bigs.

LaTroy Hawkins, Gary
Jeff Samardzija is a Valpo guy
Phils coach Morandini coached at Valpo High

Lots of others ... Dan Plesac is from Crown Point.
McClendon is a fixture in Gary.

Don Larsen is from Michigan City.

My roots are still in Franklin Co.

Pie Traynor married a girl from Brookville in the 1930s. used to hang out there

A lot of Reds used to weekend in Brookville back in the 40s and 50s, bring their girlfriends up for beer and dancing while the wives stayed home doing something else. When I was a kid, lots of large tales were told about some of them.

A lefty pitcher who was a year or so younger, named Jerry Lanning, came out of Brookville and signed with the Phils. Made it to Eugene in the PCL and got hurt sliding into 2nd base. He was close to making it.

So were a lot of guys.

Billy McCool is a name you might remember, from Lawrenceburg.

 

[eburg5000]

Damn I was going with Phil Niekro, but never heard about him playing BB. so I'm probably wrong. But he did have a wicked knuckle ball

 

[eburg5000]

Damn I was going with Phil Niekro, but never heard about him playing BB. so I'm probably wrong. But he did have a wicked knuckle ball.

 

[eburg5000]

Got it, I should have guessed. but I had to cheat, so I won't give the answer. But I will give a hint. I believe he played for the Phillies to

 

[Hit-n-Run]

There's only three of us playing..... so we all know it's Ron Reed. Next question?

 

[JohnU]

I didn't answer Reed because I was giving everyone else a chance.