Horsehide-Trivia

[obxyankeefan]

Joe Girardi

 

[Old Sweater]

Monday, June 9

Who was the first player to be voted Rookie of the Year, to win his league’s Most Valuable Player Award and the Cy Young Award?









Hint: #1 His career batting average was .268.




Hint: #2 He was an All-Star, but not the year he won the MVP.



~ D. Bruce Brown

 

[nynasty]

Also started for the losing side in the "Shot heard around the world" game

Don Newcombe

 

[Old Sweater]

Also started for the losing side in the "Shot heard around the world" game

Don Newcombe

Correct. ^^^^ Robby Alomar for today’s? edit: nope on Robby, no MVP

Monday, June 10

Which middle infielder was the first Hispanic player to be voted a league’s Most Valuable Player?









Hint: #1 It came at a time when no one from his franchise had won that honor in 35 years and he was just one vote from winning it unanimously.




Hint: #2 He and four of his teammates once all homered in the same inning of a major league game.








Monday's question answered:

Q. Who was the first player to be voted Rookie of the Year, to win his league’s Most Valuable Player Award and the Cy Young Award?

Hint: #1 His career batting average was .268.

Hint: #2 He was an All-Star, but not the year he won the MVP.

A. DON NEWCOMBE [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Newcombe was voted ROY in 1951 w/BRO in the 1st year the award was given in both leagues. In 1956, Newcombe was not only the NL MVP, but the same year, he won the first ever Cy Young Award. The only other pitcher to win all three is Justin Verlander.

- #1 He was very proud of his BA & used it as a trivia question if someone approached claiming to be a “big fan”.

- #2 Newcombe made the NL AS team in 1949, his rookie season. He also was an AS 1950, 1951 & 1955.




FCR - Brian Barris, Oneida, New York



~ D. Bruce Brown

 

[Cedrique]

Correct. ^^^^ Robby Alomar for today’s? edit: nope on Robby, no MVP

Monday, June 10

Which middle infielder was the first Hispanic player to be voted a league’s Most Valuable Player?









Hint: #1 It came at a time when no one from his franchise had won that honor in 35 years and he was just one vote from winning it unanimously.




Hint: #2 He and four of his teammates once all homered in the same inning of a major league game.








Monday's question answered:

Q. Who was the first player to be voted Rookie of the Year, to win his league’s Most Valuable Player Award and the Cy Young Award?

Hint: #1 His career batting average was .268.

Hint: #2 He was an All-Star, but not the year he won the MVP.

A. DON NEWCOMBE [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Newcombe was voted ROY in 1951 w/BRO in the 1st year the award was given in both leagues. In 1956, Newcombe was not only the NL MVP, but the same year, he won the first ever Cy Young Award. The only other pitcher to win all three is Justin Verlander.

- #1 He was very proud of his BA & used it as a trivia question if someone approached claiming to be a “big fan”.

- #2 Newcombe made the NL AS team in 1949, his rookie season. He also was an AS 1950, 1951 & 1955.




FCR - Brian Barris, Oneida, New York



~ D. Bruce Brown

Luis Aparicio

 

[obxyankeefan]

Zolio Versailles

I'm probably off on the spelling, but he won the MVP with the Twins in the 60s

 

[Old Sweater]

Zolio Versailles

I'm probably off on the spelling, but he won the MVP with the Twins in the 60s

Correct on Zoilo Versalles

Wednesday, June 11

Who was the first black player to hit a home run in a World Series game?









Hint: #1 He was also the first black player to hit a home run for his league in an All-Star game.




Hint: #2 He was the last player to lose a home run to a game being called on account of darkness.








Tuesday's question answered:

Q. Which middle infielder was the first Hispanic player to be voted a league’s Most Valuable Player?

Hint: #1 It came at a time when no one from his franchise had won that honor in 35 years and he was just one vote from winning it unanimously.

Hint: #2 He and four of his teammates once all homered in the same inning of a major league game.

A. ZOILO VERSALLES [SABR Bio]

- Ans. He was AL MVP in 1965. Five of his teammates finished in the top 15 vote getters, including the future Hall of Fame player whose vote prevented Versalles’ selection from being unanimous—Tony Oliva.

- #1 The Twins had been the Washington Senators until 1961. Their last MVP was HOF-to-be Joe Cronin who had won it in 1930.

- #2 In the 7th inning of the game on 09-Jun-1966, 5 Twins all went deep: Rich Rollins, Versailles, Oliva, Don Mincher & Harmon Killebrew. Except for a groundout by Sandy Valdespino after Versalles, it was a straight string of back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to back. Still, they did OK.



FCR - Tom Cleary, Macungie, Pennsylvania



~ D. Bruce Brown

 

[Old Sweater]

I’m going with Larry Doby

 

[Old Sweater]

Midweek Bonus Thursday June 12

Whose record for the most strike outs in a fifty-home run season did Chris Davis break in the 2013 season?









Hint: #1 A former Rebel, he hit the first grand slam at Bank One Ballpark.




Hint: #2 The first two times he received Most Valuable Player votes in the majors, he was a strong second place both times.








Wednesday's question answered:

Q. Who was the first black player to hit a home run in a World Series game?

Hint: #1 He was also the first black player to hit a home run for his league in an All-Star game.

Hint: #2 He was the last player to lose a home run to a game being called on account of darkness.

A. LARRY DOBY [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Doby hit a solo HR in the 3rd inning of Game #4, supplying half of his team’s scoring, giving them a 2-1 W & a 3-1 edge in WS games over the Braves in 1948.

- #1 He homered in the 8th inning off Gene Conley in the 1954 ASG. Jackie Robinson had homered for the NL in the 1952 ASG.

- #2 On 28-Aug-1949(1), the CLE played a marathon doubleheader w/BOS. In the scheduled nightcap, Doby homered off Joe Dobson in the bottom of the 3rd with 2 outs & 2 on. But when the game was halted at the top of the 4th due to failing light, the entire fourth inning was wiped from the record, including Doby’s homer.



FCR - Bill Deane, Cooperstown



~ D. Bruce Brown

 

[Old Sweater]

MidWeek Bonus June 12

Which slugger said, not without cause, "The distance of every tape-measure home run depends upon your press agent."?









Hint: #1 As a rookie, he ranked high in the National League Rookie of the Year voting then ten years later twice finished in the Top Five in American League Most Valuable Player voting.




Hint: #2 His first Major league home run was at the expense of a future Hall of Famer.



Hint: #3 At least nine additional Hall of Fame pitchers experienced the same display of power.








Midweek Bonus question answered:

Q. Whose record for the most strike outs in a fifty-home run season did Chris Davis break in the 2013 season?

Hint: #1 A former Rebel, he hit the first grand slam at Bank One Ballpark.

Hint: #2 The first two times he received Most Valuable Player votes in the majors, he was a strong second place both times.

A. CECIL FIELDER [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Fielder had struck out 182 X in 1990 when he hit 51 HR in his 1st season w/DET. Davis hit 53 HR & struck out 199 X in 2013, his signature season for BAL.

- #1 B.O.B. gs = 09-Jun-1998, 3rd inning off of Willie Blair. Fielder played for the U.N.L.V. Rebels.

- #2 In 1990, Fielder led the majors in HR (51), RBI (132) & SLG (.592) and finished a respectable second to Rickey Henderson for AL MVP, w/10 1st-place votes to Henderson’s 14. Fielder led MLB again in HR (44) & RBI (133) but finished behind Cal Ripken 15-9 in 1991.



FCR - Mark Hayne, Dumfries, ,Virginia



~ D. Bruce Brown

 

[Old Sweater]

Friday the 13th

Who was the last twentieth century position player to go more than seven years in-between major league hits?









Hint: #1 His childhood was filled with stories about the great ***** League players because his father had played with them.




Hint: #2 He is an accomplished drummer and has jammed with the rock band Rush.








Thursday's question answered:

Q. Which slugger said, not without cause, "The distance of every tape-measure home run depends upon your press agent."?

Hint: #1 As a rookie, he ranked high in the National League Rookie of the Year voting then ten years later twice finished in the Top Five in American League Most Valuable Player voting.

Hint: #2 His first Major league home run was at the expense of a future Hall of Famer.

Hint: #3 At least nine additional Hall of Fame pitchers experienced the same display of power.

A. FRANK HOWARD [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Fortunately, some of the longer ones he hit at RFK were measurable & remained visibly marked for years.

- #1 Howard was the NL ROY in 1960 w/LAD & ranked 4th & 5th in 1969 & 1970 in AL MVP voting, behind winners Harmon Killebrew & Boog Powell.

- #2 Howard’s first round-tripper was off future game-winning, Hall of Famer Robin Roberts on 10-Sep-1958, that year’s NL WAR leader w/6.3.

- #3 Other hurlers headed for Cooperstown who surrendered HRs to Howard were Warren Spahn, Juan Marichal, Bob Gibson, Gaylord Perry, Hoyt Wilhelm, Whitey Ford, Jim Palmer, Catfish Hunter and Jim Kaat.



FCR - Leonard Epstein, Dallas



~ D. Bruce Brown

 

[Cedrique]

Friday the 13th

Who was the last twentieth century position player to go more than seven years in-between major league hits?









Hint: #1 His childhood was filled with stories about the great ***** League players because his father had played with them.




Hint: #2 He is an accomplished drummer and has jammed with the rock band Rush.








Thursday's question answered:

Q. Which slugger said, not without cause, "The distance of every tape-measure home run depends upon your press agent."?

Hint: #1 As a rookie, he ranked high in the National League Rookie of the Year voting then ten years later twice finished in the Top Five in American League Most Valuable Player voting.

Hint: #2 His first Major league home run was at the expense of a future Hall of Famer.

Hint: #3 At least nine additional Hall of Fame pitchers experienced the same display of power.

A. FRANK HOWARD [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Fortunately, some of the longer ones he hit at RFK were measurable & remained visibly marked for years.

- #1 Howard was the NL ROY in 1960 w/LAD & ranked 4th & 5th in 1969 & 1970 in AL MVP voting, behind winners Harmon Killebrew & Boog Powell.

- #2 Howard’s first round-tripper was off future game-winning, Hall of Famer Robin Roberts on 10-Sep-1958, that year’s NL WAR leader w/6.3.

- #3 Other hurlers headed for Cooperstown who surrendered HRs to Howard were Warren Spahn, Juan Marichal, Bob Gibson, Gaylord Perry, Hoyt Wilhelm, Whitey Ford, Jim Palmer, Catfish Hunter and Jim Kaat.



FCR - Leonard Epstein, Dallas



~ D. Bruce Brown

Minnie Minoso

 

[Cedrique]

or maybe Julio Franco

 

[Old Sweater]

Huh? Rush formed in 1968 even though most members were born in 1953. I’d lean Franco

I’d kill for a selfie of Me & Julio down at the schoolyard! : ))

 

[Old Sweater]

Who has more hits as a Los Angeles Dodger than any other player?









Hint: #1 He received a congratulatory wire from Hall of Fame Dodger Zach Wheat, the text of which was shown on the scoreboard at Dodger Stadium.




Hint: #2 In high school, he ran a 9.5-second 100-yard dash, set a city record in the long jump of 25' 5" & once scored 36 points in a varsity basketball game.








Friday's question answered:

Q. Who was the last twentieth century position player to go more than seven years in-between major league hits?

Hint: #1 His childhood was filled with stories about the great ***** League players because his father had played with them.

Hint: #2 He is an accomplished drummer and has jammed with the rock band Rush.

A. WARREN CROMARTIE [SABR Bio]

- Ans. Cromartie had a H for MON on 24-Sep-1983. Then the seasons 1984-1990, he played professional baseball in Japan. Returning stateside for the 1991 season, he got a double for KCR on 20-Apr-1991, seven years & 208 days between MLB hits.

- #1 “He (Cromartie’s father Leroy) used to tell me about Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige,” said Cromartie. “We were good friends with Buck O’Neil.”

- #2 A blueprint for the fictional "Warren Cromartie Secondary School" appears on the back cover of Rush's 1982 release, Signals. Cromartie is thanked in the album's liner notes.



FCR - Steve Riach, Southlake, Texas



~ D. Bruce Brown

 

[Old Sweater]

Fastest Dodger I can think of is Davey Lopes

Edit: Willie Davis was fast too