ANSWERS TO BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE “SECOND 99” TRIVIA KWIZ
1. A true pitchers’ battle. What is the fewest number of (combined) base hits ever recorded in a regulation MLB game? Hint: The answer is in the question.
One hit. (It was Question One.) On September 9, 1965, future HOFer Sandy Koufax tossed a perfect game (14 strikeouts) against the Cubs (in LA). His unfortunate mound opponent that day was Cubs’ lefty Bob Hendley, who threw a complete game, one-hitter (one walk, three Ks). The only run Hendley gave up was unearned – coming in the fifth inning, when Dodgers’ LF Lou Johnson walked, was sacrificed to second, stole third and came home on an errant throw by the catcher. Johnson, in fact, was the only Dodger to reach base against Hendley. In addition to drawing the lone walk (and scoring), he had the lone Dodger hit (a double in the seventh).
2. An even dozen. Name the A’s player who holds the record for consecutive games with a stolen base at 12. Hint: It’s not Rickey Henderson.
A’s SS Bert Campaneris (June 10-21,1969). Campaneris ended the 1960 season with 62 steals – and led the AL in steals six times in his career.
3. Grand theft baseball. Name the MLB player with the highest base-stealing success percentage (minimum 200 attempts). Hint; Still active in 2017, although he didn’t attempt a steal.
Carlos Beltran, .881 percentage, 312 steals in 361 attempts in 20 seasons.
4. There is no “I” in team. What is the highest number of pitchers used in completing a nine-inning no-hitter? Hint: Not much help, but this number – more than a hand-wide – was reached twice, both times in interleague games.
Six. The Astros used a record six pitchers to no-hit the Yankees 8-0 in an inter-league game at Yankee Stadium (the last no-hitter at Old Yankee Stadium) on June 11, 2003. . Roy Oswalt started, but left due to to a groin injury after just one inning. Joining in the no-hitter were: Pete Munro (2 2/3 IP); Kirk Saarlos (1 1/3 IP); Brad Lidge (2 IP); Octavio Dotel (1 IP); and Billy Wagner (1 IP). Notably, the no-hitter also broke up the Yankee’s record streak of 6,980 games without being held hitless. The Mariners tied the record on June 8, 2012, in a 1-0 win over the Dodgers in Seattle. Kevin Millwood started (six innings), followed by Charlie Furbush (2/3 IP), Stephen Pryor (1/3 IP), Lucas Luetge (1/3 IP), Brandon League (2/3 IP) and Tom Wilhemson (one IP).
5. A bit of irony here. Who is the oldest player ever to record an RBI? Hint: BBRT hates the DH.
On May 16, 2012, pitcher Jamie Moyer – at age 49 years 180 days – started on the mound for the Colorado Rockies (against the Diamondbacks) in Denver. Moyer came to the plate with runners on second and third and two out in the bottom of the fourth. Moyer beat out and infield single and both runners scored – giving Moyer the record as the oldest player ever to drive in a run. Moyer went 6 1/3 innings and gave up just one run – for the 269th and final victory of his 25-year career, making him the oldest MLB pitcher to record a win. (He’s also the oldest to throw a complete game shutout.)
6. All you need is glove. Name the MLB players with the most Gold Gloves and the most consecutive Gold Gloves. Hint: They are both pitchers.
Greg Maddux – 18 total Gold Gloves Jim Kaat – 16 consecutive Gold Gloves
7. The 1945 Boston Braves set the MLB record for doubleheaders played in a season. Count your answer as correct if you get within 3 of the number of doubleheaders they played.
Forty-six doubleheaders’
8. Another team-focused record. What expansion team made the fastest rise to a World Series Championship. Hint: Ironically, they didn’t have much of a dry spell.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, established in 1998, made it to the top (WS Championship) in just their fourth season (2001). They were also the fastest expansion team to reach 100 victories. Here’s the record. In 1998, 65-97, fifth place; 1999, 100-62, first place (lost in NLDS); 2000, 85-77, third place; 2001, 92-70, WS Champions.
9. Sticking with the Fall Classic. When was the first World Series ever played between two expansion (established after 1960) teams? Hint: The two teams had previously been the first expansion teams from their respective leagues to win a World Series.
The 2015 Met/Royals World Series was the first between two expansion teams. In 1969, the Mets became the first expansion team ever to win a World Series. In 1985, the Royals became the first AL expansion franchise to capture the Series.
10. Speaking of the World Series. Name the only player to play in three consecutive World Series for three different teams. Hint: He had to don a lot of different uniforms.
Don Baylor, who played in the 1986 Series for the Red Sox, 1987 for the Twins and 1988 for the A’s.
11. Complete games are a thing of the past. Who are the last two CG leaders (AL & NL) to top 20 complete games in a season. Hint: A Twin and a Dodger – neither born in the United States.
AL – Bert Blyleven/24 CG; 1985 NL – Fernando Valenzuela/20 CG; 1986
12. A bit of history. Name the last former Negro League player to play in the major leagues. Hint: Hall of Famer, finished his MLB career in the same city he started it in – only for a different team in a different league.
Hank Aaron, who started with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954 and ended with the Milwaukee Brewers (then in the AL) in 1976. In 1952, Aaron played shortstop for the Negro League’s Indianapolis Clowns. When he retired, Aaron was the last former Negro Leaguer still on a major league roster. Other note: Aaron’s first major league game (April 13, 1954) was the first game in which outfielders brought their gloves in with them at the end of the inning. Previously they just left them in the outfield grass.
13. Getting off to a good start. Name the pitcher who holds the record for Opening Day shutouts with seven (in 14 Opening Day starts). Hint: He “capitol-ized on his skills.
HOFer Walter Johnson, who won 417 games in 21 seasons for the Washington Senators (1907-27). His seven Opening Day whitewashes included 1-0 complete games victories of 13 and 15 innings.
14. Another great “start” … several of them in fact. Name the pitcher who pitched complete game shutouts in five of his first seven career starts. Hint: He was a phenom and a phenomena.
Fernando Valenzuela of Fernando-mania fame. In 1981, after his first seven MLB starts for the LA Dodgers, Valenzuela was 7-0, with a 0.29 ERA, seven complete games and five shutouts. He finished the strike-shortened season 13-7, leading the league with 25 starts, 11 complete games, eight shutouts, 180 strikeouts and the Cy Young Award (the only rookie ever to win CYA). Side note: In a late 1980 call-up, Valenzeula pitched in 10 games – throwing 17 2/3 innings without giving up an earned run.
15. On the cover of the …. What future Hall of Fame third baseman was featured on the cover of the first issue of Sports Illustrated? Double hint: It was the August 16, 1954 issue – and this player will ALWAYS be featured in the K-Kwiz.
Eddie Mathews, my favorite player, who had led the NL in homers in 1953 and was on his way to 512 career round trippers.
16. Keeping it all in balance. Here’s a not too difficult two-part question. You need to name these two Hall of Famers. One collected 363 wins (356 for the Braves, four for the Mets, three for the Giants) along with 363 base hits (356 for the Braves, four for the Mets and three for the Giants). The other collected 3,630 bases hits – 1, 815 at home and 1,815 on the road. Hint: A couple of well-known lefties.
Warren Spahn and Stan Musial.
17. Power and discipline. There are only five players with 500 or more homers who never struck out 100 times in a season. Can you name three of them? Hint: I’ll give you their initials. HA, BR, TW, MO, GS.
Hank Aaron Babe Ruth Ted Williams Mel Ott Gary Sheffield
18. Power and speed. Name the last player to lead his league in both home runs and stolen bases in the same season. Hint: The following season, he won the Triple Crown (Avg.-HRs-RBI).
Chuck Klein, hit a league-leading 32 homers and had a league leading 20 steals for the Phillies in 1932. He also led the NL in games (154), runs (152), hits (226) and total bases (420) – while winning the MVP Award.
19. A real moon shot. Wally Moon was a known for his “Moon Shots” over the short left field fence at the Los Angeles Coliseum (first home of the LA Dodgers). There was, however, a real moon shot in 1969 – hit against, rather than for, the Dodgers (a sort of celebration of the first man on the moon). Name the pitcher who made prophet of Alvin Dark by hitting a home run on July 20, 1969. Hint: Pure lunacy.
San Francisco Giants Alvin Dark, commenting on pitcher Gaylord Perry’s ineptitude at the plate (he was a .131 lifetime hitter), once said “They’ll put a man on the moon before Gaylord Perry hits a home run,” Perry hit his first round tripper (against the rival Dodgers in SF) on July 20, 1969 – approximately 20 minutes after Neil Armstrong became the first man to step foot on the lunar surface. Hall of Famer Perry won 314 games in a 22-season MLB career.
20. Punch your ticket to the Hall of Fame. Who are the only three ML players to achieve 500+ homers, a .300+ career batting average and 3000+ hits. Hint: One is still active, the other two were the first two batters in the 1965 All Star Game at Met Stadium, Bloomington, MN.
Hank Aaron … 3,771 hits, 755 HRs, .305
Willie Mays … 3,283 hits, 660 HRs, .302
Albert Pujols – still active – ended the 2019 season with 3,2020 hits, 656 home runs and a .300 average.
21. Grand larceny. Name the only player to steal 100 bases or more in three straight seasons. Hint: He did it in his first three seasons – and actually led the league in steals in his first six seasons (averaging just over 91 steals a season).
Cardinals’ Vince Coleman – 1985 (110 SB); 1986 (107); 1987 (109)
22. One of these is not like the others. Only four MLB players have stolen a base in four different decades. Three of them are pretty predictable (Rickey Henderson – 1,406 career steals; Tim Raines Sr., 808 career steals; Omar Vizquel – 404 steals). The fourth, however, is not like the others – he had only 24 career stolen bases, but hit 24 or more home runs in 15 seasos. Hint: First steal in 1939, final steal in 1960.
Ted Williams, who never topped four steals in a season – but did win six batting titles and four home runs crowns, while recording MLB’s highest-ever on-base percentage at .482.
23. Makes sense to me. Who threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium on July 18, 1999 – the day David Cone tossed a perfect game for the Bombers, beating the Montreal Expos 6-0? Hint: It was Yogi Berra Day.
Don Larsen, who threw the only World Series perfect game (for the Yankees) in 1956 – with Berra behind the plate. Berra also caught Larsen’s Berra Day first pitch.
24. Like father – like son. We hear a lot about the Ken Griffey, Jr. and Sr. playing together in the outfield (for the Mariners), but they are not the only father-son teammates to share the garden in a major league game. Name the other MLB father/son teammates to play in the outfield together. Hint: They were also Senior and Junior.
On October 4, 2001, Tim Raines Sr. started in LF for the Orioles, alongside CF Tim Raines Jr.
25. Share and share alike. In 1981, for the only time ever, three players shared the World Series MVP Award. Name them. Hint: Dodgers all, initials RC, PG, SY.
Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, Steve Yeager
26. A double-triple …. Or triple-double. Only once in MLB history have both leagues boasted Triple Crown (Avg.-HR-RBI) winners in the same season – and they both played their home games in the same city. Can you name the city and the players? Hint: If they had been brothers, this would have been the perfect question.
The city was the City of Brotherly Love – Philadelphia. The year was 1933. The players were: The Phillies’ Chuck Klein (..368-28-120) and the Athletics’ Jimmie Foxx (.356-48-163.)
27. A different kind of three-bagger. On September 6, 1883, with the the NL Chicago White Stockings facing the Detroit Wolverines, the Chicago squad put up an 18-run seventh inning (in a 26-6 win). Three batters for the Sox collected an MLB-record three hits each in that single inning (Tom Burns – two doubles and a home run; Fred Pfeffer – a double and two singles; Ned Williamson – a double and two singles). It would be seventy years (1953) until another player put up a three-hit inning; and another fifty (2003) until the most recent three-hit inning. Can you name the two players to put up three hits in an inning since 1900? Hint: Both were playing for the Red Sox at the time.
Red Sox left fielder Gene Stephens collected two singles and a double in the bottom of the seventh inning of a June 18, 1953 game versus the Tigers. The Sox scored 17 runs that inning, on their way to a 23-3 win.
Red Sox center fielder and lead-off hitter Johnny Damon rapped a single, double and triple (almost a one-inning cycle) in the bottom of the first inning of a June 27, 2003 game against the Marlins. The Sox put up a 14-run first, on their way to a 25-8 win. In the process, they scored 10 runs in their first at bat before making an out – another MLB record.
28. It’s a vicious cycle. Only three players have hit for the cycle in both the AL and NL. Can you name them? Hint(s): All since 1977. Two of three can boast of a batting average title. The teams they were with at the time: 1) Red Sox/Astros; 2) Mets/Mariners; 3) Twins/Rockies.
Bob Watson – Astros, 1977/Red Sox 1979; John Olerud – Mets 1997/Mariners 2001; Michael Cuddyer – Twins 2009/Rockies 2014.
29. Shining on the big stage. Who is the only player to hit a home run in the Negro Leagues’ East West All Star Game and the Major League All Star Game? Hint: Known as a junior.
Jim “Junior” Gilliam
30. More All Star power. Can you name the only player to hit an All Star Game Grand Slam. Hint: He is also one of only two players to win the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Award in the same season (the other is Ichiro Suzuki).
The Angel’s Fred Lynn , starting in CF, hit the only AS Game Grand Slam – in the third inning of the 1983 All Star Game (won by the AL 13-3). It was Lynn’s ninth and final All Star appearance.
31. He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother. In 1966, for the first and only time, two brothers finished 1 & 2 in the batting race. Who were these stalwart batsmen? Hint: They had a third brother in major leagues.
Matty Alou, Pirates, at .342, won the NL batting title. Felipe Alou, Braves, finished second at .327. The third bother, Jesus Alou, hit .259 for the Giants that season.
32. Light up a perfecto. Name the A’s pitcher who put on the greatest offensive show while also pitching a perfect game. Hint: There was something fishy about his fastball.
On May 8, Catfish Hunter of the A’s tossed a perfect game against the Twins (in Oakland). In the 4-0 victory, Hunter collected two singles and a double in four at bats – and drove in three runs.
33. Who needs the DH? Name the only pitcher to hit two home runs while throwing a no-hitter. Hint: It’s not always wise to pitch to the pitcher.
On June 23, 1971, the Phillies’ Rick Wise tossed a no-hitter (one walk and three strikeouts), beating the Reds 4-0 in Cincinnati. Wise also went two-for-four at the plate – hitting a two-run homer in the fifth inning and a solo shot in the eighth.
34. You can’t touch this. What pitcher holds the record for strikeouts in a World Series game? Hint: If you guessed Bob Feller, you’d be half right.
Bob Gibson, 17 whiffs in Game One of the 1968 World Series.
35. Don’t get short with me. How many seasons did the Seattle Pilots play in the AL? The team went from Seattle’s caffeine “brew” to another kind of brew.
It was a short stay, just one season. In 1969, the expansion Seattle Pilots were born. After attendance of only 678,000, the team was moved to Milwaukee to become the Brewers in 1970.
36. Changing the paradigm. Who was the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award without winning 20 games. Hint: He was pretty terrific.
Tom Seaver of the Mets won the NL Cy Young in 1973, when he went 19-10, 2.08. Second in the voting was Expos’ reliever Mike Marshall 14-11, 2.66 with 31 saves. The NL’s only 20-game winner, the Giants’ Ron Bryant (24-12, 3.53), finished third. .
37. A tale of two cities. What player, in 1982, became the only player to get base hits for two different teams, in two different cities, off two future HOF pitchers on the same day. Hint: He was on the visiting team for both games.
Joel Youngblood, on August 4, started a day game in center field for the Mets (versus the Cubs) at Wrigley. In the top of third, Youngblood got a hit (a two-run single) for the Mets off the Cubs’ Fergie Jenkins. In the bottom of the fourth, he was replaced by Mookie Wilson – and learned he had been traded to the Expos. Youngblood caught the first flight to Philadelphia, where the Expos were playing a night game. He made it in time to replace Expos’ starting right fielder Jerry White in the bottom of the sixth – and to collect a single off Steve Carlton in the top of the seventh. Youngblood hit .265 over 14 major league seasons – and was an All Star with the Mets in 1981.
38. Rookie Magic. Between 1979 and 1982, the LA Dodgers boasted four consecutive Rookies of the Year. Name them. Hint: Three were pitchers.
1979 Rick Sutcliffe; 1980 Steve Howe; 1981 Fernando Valenzuela 1982 Steve Sax.
39. Let’s make a deal. In June of 1984, the Cubs made a seven-player trade with Cleveland that brought them a starting pitcher who, at the time, was 4-5, with a 5.15 ERA for the Indians. Despite not moving to the NL until June, that hurler won the league’s Cy Young Award and is credited with bringing the Cubs the NL East Division title – going 16-1, 2.69 in 20 starts for the Cubbies. Name him. Hint: He was a Rookie of the Year with the Dodgers (1979).
Rick Sutcliffe — traded by Cleveland Indians with George Frazier and Ron Hassey to the Cubs in exchange for Mel Hall, Joe Carter and minor leaguers Don Schulze and Darryl Banks.
40. If a fly ball falls in an empty stadium, does it make a sound? On April 29, 2015, an MLB game was played in front of an empty house (the attendance was officially listed as NA – Not Applicable). Name the team or stadium and the reason fans were locked out of the ballpark.
The April 29, 2015, White Sox/Orioles game at Camden Yards was closed to fans due to rioting in Baltimore. The Orioles topped the Sox 8-2 as Chris Davis and Manny Machado hit the quietest home runs in MLB history.
41. Wiffle ball. Only four times in MLB history has a pitcher fanned 20 batters in a nine-inning contest. Here’s a two-part question. Name the three pitchers to achieve 20 K’s in a nine-inning contest (one did it twice) and how many hitters did these flamethrowers walk in those 36 frames? Hint (on part one), they threw for the Red Sox, Cubs and Nationals.
The hurlers? Roger Clemens (Red Sox) twice; Kerry Woods, Cubs; Max Scherzer, Nationals.
How many free passes? A total of Zero in all four games.
Side note: Randy Johnson also fanned twenty batters in nine innings, but the game went 11 frames. Johnson also didn’t walk a batter.
42. Give ‘em the old one-two … three. Twenty-two times in MLB history, teammates have finished 1 and 2 in the league batting races, but only twice have teammates recorded a 1-2-3 finish. The first was in 1893, and the players were the Phillies’ Billy Hamilton (.390), Sam Thompson (.370), and Ed Delahanty (.368). It’s also been done once in the AL. Your task is to name the three Blue Jays who sat atop the 1993 AL batting average list. Hint: Two of the three made the Hall of Fame – and the one who didn’t won the title.
John Olerud (.363); Paul Molitor (.332); Roberto Alomar (.326).
43. Success is in the cards. Name the Hall of Famer who led his league in triples and doubles in the same season a record four times. Hint: He “manned up” and enlisted in the Navy in 1945.
HOFer Stan “The Man” Musial led the league in doubles and triples in 1943, 1946, 1948, and 1949. His 1946 season is the only time in MLB history that a hitter collected 50 doubles and 20 triples in the same season. That year, he also hit 16 homers and led the NL in games, at bats, hits, runs, double, triples, batting average and total bases.
44. How about an easy one? Name the last NL player and last AL player to hit three triples in game. Hint: A Twin and a Dodger.
Dodger Yasiel Puig, July 25, 2014. Twin Denard Span, June 29, 2010
45. Beating the Braves. In the first “99” Kwiz, BBRT asked for the name of the only player to take the field for the Braves in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta. (It was HOFer Eddie Mathews, who also played for minor league teams in Atlanta and Milwaukee.) This time, being a Braves’ fan, I’m asking for the name of the only pitcher to notch wins AGAINST the Braves in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta. Hint: A little birdie told me.
The Phillies’ Robin Roberts, whose MLB career stretched from 1948 to 1966. Side note: Between 1950 and 1959, Roberts averaged just over 300 innings pitched per season.
46. Let’s talk consistent excellence. Only seven players have won three or more MVP awards in a single decade (decade definition example, the 1950’s are 1950-59). For example, Barry Bonds won three in 1990s (1990, 1992, 1993) and four in the 2000.s (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004). Who were the other six? Hint: I’ll give you their initials – AP, AR. MS, RC, YB, SM, MT.
MT … Mike Trout- 2014, 2016, 2019
AP … Albert Pujols – 2005, 2008, 2009
AR … Alex Rodriguez – 2003, 2005, 2007
MS … Mike Schmidt – 1980, 1981, 1986
RC … Roy Campanella – 1951, 1953, 1955
YB … Yogi Berra – 1951, 1954, 1955
SM … Stan Musial – 1943, 1946, 1948
47. A Reds’ flag on voting. In the 1957 All Star vote, Cincinnati fans stuffed the ballot box electing the Reds’ Ed Bailey (C); Johnny Temple (2B); Don Hoak (3B); Roy McMillan (SS); Frank Robinson (LF); Gus Bell (CF); Wally Post (RF). Who was elected at first base – the only non-Reds’ starter?
Stan Musial. Side note: Commissioner Ford Frick stepped in and dropped Bell and Post from the starting lineup, putting in Hank Aaron (RF) and Willie Mays (CF).
48. The long and winding road. Name the one MLB player to record a season of twenty or more home runs in four different decades. Hint: His career carried from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Ted Williams, who hit 31 homers as a 20-year-old rookie in 1939, topped 20 dingers seven times each in the 1940s and 1950s, and then slammed 29 (at age 41) in his final MLB season in 1960.
49. Three’s a crowd. Three players share the record for consecutive games hitting a home run (8). Can you name them. Hint: A Pirate, Yankee and Mariner in that order.
Dale Long, Pirates, May 19-29, 1956
Don Mattingly, Yankees, July 8-17, 1987
Ken Griffey Jr., Mariners, July 20-28, 1993.
Side note: Griffey and Long each hit one home run in each of the eight contests; Mattingly hit ten round trippers in his streak.
50. Speed and power. Only six players in MLB history have led their league in triples and home runs in the same season – and only three since 1950. Name the three most recent players to accomplish this feat. Hint: In 1951, this feat was accomplished in both the NL and AL – and the players both patrolled center field for New York-based teams.
1951 … Mickey Mantle, Yankees, 11 triples, 37 HR; Willie Mays, Giants, 13 triples, 51 HR
1978 … Jim Rice, Red Sox, 15 triples, 46 HR
51. Hey, look what WE did! What record do these three pitchers share – Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale, Orel Hershiser? No hint: It’s multiple choice for Pete’s sake.
They each threw five complete-game shutouts in a single month: Drysdale in May 1968, Gibson in June 1968 and Orel Hershiser in September 1988.
52. You win a few … or maybe you don’t. Can you name the pitcher who – from April 19, 1992 to July 24, 1993 – lost a record 27 consecutive decisions (well-balanced, with 14 losses as a starter and 13 in relief). Hint: He was a Met at the time – and went on to pitch for the Cubs and Astros.
Anthony Young – who, by the way, at one point in the streak converted 12 consecutive save opportunities. Young went 15-48 in six MLB seasons, with 20 saves and a 3.89 ERA.
53. Great Expectations. On May 6, 1953 a 30-year-old rookie hurler pitched a no-hitter in his first start (The only pitcher ever to do so), as the Browns topped the Philadelphia Athletics 6-0. It turned out to be his only MLB complete game, as he lasted just one season, putting up a 3-7 record with a 5.23 ERA. Hint: Looking back, that victory might seem a little hollow, man.
Alva Lee “Bobo” Holloman.
54. Following in Dad’s footsteps. We all know that Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. are the only father and son to hit back-to-back home runs. Can you name the only father and son to both notch 50-homer seasons in MLB? Hint: Unusual last name for a pair of sluggers who spent a lot of time at DH.
Cecil Fielder hit 51 home runs in 1990 and Prince Fielder rapped 50 round trippers in 2007.
55. Another Ruth record falls. In 1961, two of Babe Ruth’s significant records fell. Roger Maris, of course, topped Ruth’s record of 60 home runs in a season – which had stood since 1927. Another key “Ruthian” record also fell that year – one that had stood even longer. What was that record? Hint: It was broken by another left-handed Yankee who made to the Hall of Fame.
During the 1961 World Series, Whitey Ford topped Ruth’s long-standing record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched in World Series’ play (29 2/3), achieved by Ruth with the Red Sox (1916 and 1918 World Series). Ford passed Ruth in 1961 and ran the record to 33 2/3 innings in 1962.
56. Follow the leader. The Manager of the Year Award was inaugurated in 1983. To this point, only one manager has captured the award in a year when his team had a losing record. Name him. Hint: Seem kind of “fishy” to me.
Joe Girardi, with the 78-84 2006 Marlins.
57. A record that will never fall. Only one pitcher in MLB history has logged 100 or more complete game shutouts. Name him. Hint: He played when they traveled on trains.
Walter “Big Train” Johnson, notched 110 shutouts in 21 seasons (1907-27 for Washington), leading his league in whitewashes seven times. Johnson also led the AL in wins six times, ERA five times, winning percentage twice, complete games six times, innings pitched five times and strikeouts 12 times.
58. Pitching has always been a valuable asset. Can you name the only pitcher to win consecutive MVP Awards. Hint: This Hall Famer, who retired in the mid-1950s, “new” what he was doing on the mound.
Tiger southpaw Hal Newhouser won the MVP Award in 1944 (29-9, 2.23) and 1945 (25-9, 1.81). He led the AL in wins four times, ERA twice, complete games twice, strikeouts twice and shutouts once.
59. Don’t expect anyone to get this one, but it needs to be acknowledged. Hitting for the cycle is a pretty rare feat. Even rarer is hitting for the Home Run Cycle (a solo, two-run, three-run and grand-slam homer in the same game). It’s been accomplished just once in all of professional baseball. Hint: Really, no hint will help, but the year was 1998, it was at the Double A level and the hitter who accomplished this feat never made it to the majors. Can you name him?
On July 27, 1998, Tyrone Horne of the Double-A Arkansas Travelers hit a solo home run, two-run homer, three-run homer and a grand slam in a 13-4 road victory over the San Antonio Mission. The term “Home Run Cycle” was coined for Horne’s accomplishment – never done before and not duplicated since. For the full story, click here.
60. January to December. Can you name for the oldest and youngest MLB hurlers to win 20 in a season? Hint: For one, it was his thirteenth and final twenty-win season; for the other it was his first and only twenty-victory campaign.
Warren Spahn went 23-7 for the Braves in 1963 at age 42.
Dwight Gooden went 24-4 for the Mets in 1985 at age 20.
61. There have been only seven twenty-game winners who failed to complete a single complete game in their 20-win season. Name them. Hint: All since 2000 – two Yankees, a Tiger and a Blue Jay
Roger Clemens, Yankees 2001, 20-3 with 33 starts
Mike Mussina, Yankees 2008, 20-9 with 34 starts
Max Scherzer, Tigers 2013, 21-3 with 32 starts.
J.A. Happ, Blue Jays 2016, 20-4 with 32 starts
Blake Snell, Rays 2018, 21-5 with 31 starts
Gerrit Cole, Astros 2019, 20-5 with 33 starts
62. Lasting success. Name the only pitcher to win a World Series game in three separate decades? Hint: Added to his fame in underwear commercials.
Jim Palmer … 1966, 1970, 1983.
63. On the move. Name the only player to drive in 100 runs or more in a season for five different teams. Hint: I’ll give you the teams – Padres, Marlins, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees.
Gary Sheffield
64. You can “win for losing.” Name the three Hall of Famers elected as pitchers with career losing records? Hint: One had 341 saves, one had 601 saves and one pitched in his last ML game at age 58.
Rollie Fingers 114-118 Trevor Hoffman – 61-75 Satchel Paige 28-31
65. Among pitchers who have won 300 or more games, Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn (309-194) completed the highest percentage of his starts at 97.2%, 502 starts and 488 complete games. What 300-game winner completed the lowest percentage of his starts? Hint: He was a teammate of another 300-game winner who had the second-lowest percentage of complete games.
Tom Glavine (305-203) who completed only 56 of 682 starts for an 8.2% rate. His teammate Greg Maddux (355-227) completed 109 of 740 starts (14.7%).
For comparison, here are a few examples from among other 300-game winners: Warren Spahn’s completion rate was 57.4%; Tom Seaver – 35.7%; Phil Niekro – 34.2%; Christy Mathewson – 78.8%; Steve Carlton – 35.8%; Gaylord Perry – 43.9%; Nolan Ryan – 28.7%. Toward the bottom you find: Roger Clemens – 16.7%, and Randy Johnson – 16.6%.
66. Plenty of positive bounce. Name the five members of the Baseball Hall of Fame who played for the Harlem Globetrotters. Hint: I’ll give you the initials: EB, LB, BG, FJ, SP.
Ernie Banks, Lou Brock, Fergie Jenkins, Bob Gibson, Satchel Paige
67. Plowing the north forty. In 2011, Matt Kemp missed the 40 / 40 (HRs and SBs) Club by a mere 350-feet (one home run), finishing with 39 homers and 40 stolen bases. Can you name the four members of the 40/40 club? Hint: 1 outfielder and 1 infielder each in the AL and NL.
1998 Jose Canseco, A’s – 42 homers/40 stolen bases
1996 Barry Bonds, Giants – 42 HRs/40 SBs
1998 Alex Rodriguez, Mariners – 42 HRs/46 SBs
2006 Alfonso Soriano, Nationals – 46 HRs/41 SBs
68. Leading by example. Who were the last player-managers in each league? Hint: White Sox and Reds, infielders and in the 1970s and ‘80s.
Don Kessinger, White Sox, 1979
Pete Rose, Reds, 1986
69. Relief is just a moment away. Name the last two relief pitchers to record at least 15 wins and 15 saves in the same season. Hint: They were both Twins and did it in back-to-back seasons in the 1970s.
Bill Campbell … 1976 … 17 wins, 20 saves
Tom Johnson … 1977 … 16 wins, 15 saves
70. Zero tolerance. What do all of these players have in common? Hint: Baseball is a numbers game. Oscar Gamble, Oddibe McDowell, Al Oliver, Junior Ortiz, George Scott.
They all wore number “0”
71. I’ll have another glass of punch. What do all these players have in common? Jimmy Piersall (Red Sox), Clint Courtney (Browns), Matt Batts (Tigers), Jim Brewer (Cubs), Dave Boswell (Twins), Reggie Jackson (Yankees), Ed Whitson (Yankees): Hint: Also on this list would be Howard Fox (Twins traveling secretary); Burt Hawkins (Rangers traveling secretary); Ray Hagar (sportswriter); Joe Cooper (marshmallow salesman); assorted patrons of night clubs in New York City, Anaheim, Baltimore and Arlington); and a Lakeland, Florida, police officer.
They all engaged in fisticuffs with Billy Martin.
72. Putting those wins on the board. Who was the last pitcher to top 25 wins in a season? Hint: Played his entire career (AL & NL) for California teams.
Bob Welch, 27-6, 2.95 ERA, for the 1990 Oakland As (also played for the LA Dodgers).
73. Iconic and Ironic. 1916 was the last season in which MLB saw any pitcher toss 300 innings without giving up a home run – and two did it, one righty and one southpaw. Can you name them. Hint: Both are Hall of Famers.
Walter Johnson and Babe Ruth. The Senators’ Johnson pitched 369 2/3 innings without giving up a long ball – going 25-20, 1.90. The Red Sox’ Babe Ruth tossed 324 innings without a homer – going 23-12, with a league-low 1.75 ERA and a league-high nine shutouts.
74. Big success in the Big Apple. Name the only pitcher to have a 20-win season for both the Yankees and the Mets. Hint: They came ten years apart.
David Cone: 20-3 for the Mets in 1988 and 20-7 for the Yankees in 1998.
75. Dyslexic, anyone? Can you name the Hall of Fame backstop who had his number retired for both Sox (Red and White) – same digits only in reverse order. Hint: He shares a nickname with another catcher no doubt headed for the HOF.
Carlton “Pudge” Fisk (the other catcher referred to is Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez). Fisk’s number “72” retired by the White Sox in 1997 and his “27” retired by the Red Sox in 2000.
76. More power and speed? The power to hit a homer and the speed to steal home … rare combination. In fact, only two players in MLB history have at least 400 dingers and at least 10 steals of home. Hints: Are you kidding? It’s multiple choice.
__x_ Babe Ruth ____ Willie Mays ___ Ken Griffey, Jr.
___ Hank Aaron _x__ Lou Gehrig ___ Frank Robinson
___ Mickey Mantle ___ Andre Dawson ____ Jose Canseco
77. Around the horn. Can you name the most recent major leaguer to steal second, third and home in the same inning? Hint: The pitcher probably needed Maalox.
Mallex Smith ... May 27, 2019
78. Here’s a kind of a math/logic question. What are the most stolen bases ever recorded by a player in the same year he led the league in home runs? Count it right if you get within ten. Hint: Better known for speed and bat control than power.
76 stolen bases …Ty Cobb, 1909, when he led the AL with 9 HRs.
79. Staying with the power/speed theme. Who was the last player to lead his league in both home runs and stolen bases. Hint: One of baseball’s few Triple Crown winners.
In 1931, the Phillies’ Chuck Klein led the NL in home runs (38) and steals (20). Klein played 17 seasons, with a .320 lifetime average. He won one batting title, four times led his league in home runs, twice led in hits, twice in RBI, three times in runs scored and just once in steals. Klein won the Triple Crown in 1933.
80. Whiff wizard. Name the oldest pitcher to lead each league in strikeouts. Hint: Only one answer.
Nolan Ryan for both – AL at age 43 in 1990; NL at age 41 in 1988.
81. Baseball had its ups and downs. Only 25 pitchers have won 20 games one year and turned around and lost 20 the next. Remarkably, one hurler did this twice in four years. Can you name him. Hint: Won 24 in 1972, lost 20 in 1973, won 20 in 1974, lost 20 in 1975.
The White Sox’ Wilbur Wood
82. The right place at the right time. Name the pitcher who notched the most relief wins in a single season? Hint: Batters hated to face this guy.
The Pirates Elroy Face, who went 18-1, 2.70 ERA with ten saves in 1959. In a 16-season MLB career (1953-1969), Face led the NL in games finished four times, saves three times and games pitched twice.
83. Here’s a guy who makes the Next 99 just because of his name. On June 17, 1915. Cub’s reliever “Zip” Zabel (George Washington Zabel) set the record for most innings pitched in relief in a game. Consider yourself correct if you get within two innings. Hint: Starters were known to pitch both ends of a double header, “back in the day.”
Zabel relieved Cubs’ starter Bert Humphries with two outs in the top of the first. (Humphries had given up three hits and a run over the first five batters.) Zabel went on to finish the Cubs’ 4-3 19-inning win, logging a record 18 2/3 innings (slightly more than a doubleheader) in relief. In his stint he gave up just nine hits and two runs, fanning six and walking one.
84. Off the wall … No over it. In 1920, Babe Ruth hit 54 home runs. More than any AL team – except his own Yankees, of course. (In fact, the MLB average for team home runs that year was 39.) Can you name the only other team in either league to top Ruth’s home run total (with 64). Hint: The team represented a city with two MLB squads.
The Philadelphia Phillies hit 64 round trippers, led by Cy Williams 15. Side note: While Ruth hit 54 home runs that season, no other major leaguer reached even 20 (George Sisler of the Browns had 19).
85. Back to the name game. Name the player who enjoyed an eight-year National League career as an outfielder (1883-90) and went on to become American’s most celebrated evangelical preacher after the turn of the century. Hint: His name was less appropriate for baseball than preaching.
Chicago, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia outfielder Billy Sunday played in the National League when Sunday baseball was prohibited. After leaving baseball, Sunday preached to literally millions and was considered one of the most influential voices for the temperance movement. As a ballplayer, Sunday was best known for defense and speed. He had a .248 lifetime batting average, but was an accomplished base stealer – topping 30 steals five times, with a high of 84 in 1890 (another irony, a future evangelical preacher best known for stealing).
86. How do spell relief? BBRT is pretty sure everyone knows the Yankees’ Mariano Rivera holds the career record in saves at 652. Can you, however, name the single-season saves leader? Hint: This hurler won five post-season games before his first regular-season victory or save.
Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez, the Brewers 2015 closer, saved a record 62 games (7 blown saves) for the Angels in 2008. Called up in September of 2002, Rodriguez appeared in five regular season games for the Angels striking out 13 in 5 2/3 innings with no wins, losses or saves. That post-season, he went 2-0 in the ALDS, 2-0 in the ALCS and 1-1 in the World Series, striking out 28 and giving up just four runs in 18 2/3 innings.
87. Heavy hitter. Can you name the Cub’ center fielder who holds the record for RBIs in a season at 191? Hint: When he came to the plate, he always took his hacks.
Hack Wilson, the Cubs’ 5’ 6”, 190-pound center fielder, hit .356, with a league-leading 56 home runs and a record 191 RBI in 155 games in 1930. The year before, the RBI machine had led the league with 159 RBI in 150 games. In a 12-year career, Wilson it .307 and won four HR titles.
88. Might as well start at the top. Name the player who, in 2015, became the first player ever to make his first major league appearance in the World Series. Hint: His dad played 13 big league seasons (1,525 games) and never appeared in the World Series.
Raul Adalberto Mondesi, who had never played above Double A, was put on the Royals’ roster for the 2015 Series. Raul struck out in his only at bat, as a pinch hitter in Game Three. His father, Raul Ramon Mondesi (1994 NL Rookie of the Year) played 13 major league seasons – Dodgers, Blue Jays, Yankees, D-backs, Pirates, Angels, Braves.
89. In the “First 99” Kwiz, BBRT noted that 19 pitchers have logged victories against all 30 major league franchises in their careers. Well, just 13 hurlers have picked up saves against all 30 teams in their careers. We’ll make this easy. The list includes this dozen: Rick Aguilera, Armando Benitez, Brian Fuentes, Kevin Gregg, Jason Isringhausen, Jose Mesa, Jonathan Papelbon, Rafael Soriano, Huston Street, Ugueth Urbina, Jose Valverde and Bob Wickman. Your question: Who is the 13th and most recent (2015) hurler to pick up a save against all 30 teams. Hint: Got that record-tying save against his original MLB team – The Twins.
LaTroy Hawkins, who appeared in 1,042 games and had 127 saves in a 21-season MLB career.
90. Everyone likes an old dog. Name the player who is: 1) the oldest to homer in an MLB game; oldest to hit an MLB Grand Slam; oldest with a multi-homer game; oldest with a pinch hit home run; oldest player used as a pinch runner. Hint: Played from 1982 until 2007, won one AL batting title.
Julio Franco, who led the AL in batting with a .341 average for the Rangers in 1991, posted a .298 average with 173 home runs in 23 MLB seasons. He hit his final MLB home run at 48 years, 254 days of age.
91. Puppies are popular, too. Only three players in MLB history have hit at least 20 MLB home runs while teenagers. Name them. Hint: Two are still active and did for the same team.
The Red Sox’ Tony Conigliaro, Red Sox, who led the AL with 32 HRs (as a 20-year-old) hit a record 24 home runs as a teenager. 2015 NL HR leader and MVP Bryce Harper is second in teenaqe HRs at 22 (with the National); the Natioals Juan Soto also hit 22 round trippers as a teenage.
92.True or False. Major league umpires are required to wear black underwear. Hint: Nope, you already have a 50-50 chance on this one.
True – Just in case they rip/split their pants.
93. An electrifying performance. A tough one, but can you name the pitcher who – while cruising along with a four-hitter and a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning (August 24, 1919 – Athletics and Indians) was hit by lightening and knocked to the ground – only to get up and finish the game. Hint: The game was no ray of sunshine,
Ray Caldwell, who won 134 games in a 12-season MLB career. For the full story, click here.
94. Wild thing. Name the first Wild Card team to win the World Series. Hint: Livan Hernandez was the Series MVP.
1997 Florida Marlins defeated the Cleveland Indians four games to three.
95. It’s a numbers game. Three teams have retired the same number for two different players – 8, 10 and 31. Can you name the teams and players? Hint: 10 and 31 belong to a pair of National Leaguers, 8 a pair of American Leaguers.
The Expos/Nationals have retired #10 for Rusty Staub and Andre Dawson; The Yankees #8 for Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra. The Cubs #31 for Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux.
96. Hit machine. Name the player who holds the MLB record for hits in a season. Hint: First player to hit an insid-the-park home run in the MLB All Star game.
Ichiro Suzuki – 2001 ROY and MVP – had a record 262 hits for the 2004 Mariners. He also holds the record for consecutive 200+ hit seasons (10), and is one of only two players (Fred Lynn is the other) to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.
97. Hitting in the clutch. Name the player who holds the record (tied) for consecutive pinch hits in a seaons (8), as well as the AL record for 24 pinch hits in a season. Hint: While he played for eight teams in a 18-season career (1941-62), he was probably most popular with the Athletics and Phillies.
Dave Philley, a fine defensive fielder and clutch hitter. He retired with a .270 career average and .299 pinch-hitting average. He also led AL outfielders in assists three times and putouts once.
98. You gotta trust your bench. Can you name the player-manager who, on June 17, 1943, called upon himself to pinch hit in both games of a double header –and delivered a pair of three-run homers. Hint: The future HOFer was in his 18th season as a player and 11th as a manager.
Boston Red Sox player-manager Joe Cronin. In game one, with his Red Sox trailing the Athletics 4-1, Cronin put himself in to hit for pitcher Lou Lucier and tied the game with a three-run blast. (Sox won 5-4). In gams two – a 8-7 Sox loss – Cronin hit for pitcher Mike Ryba with the Sox trailing 8-4. His second three-run pinch-hit dinger of the day brought the Sox within one. The only other time a player has hit two pinch hit homers in a double header? The Expos Hal Breeden on July 13, 1973. A solo shot in game one and a three-run blast in game two.
99. Another player-manager. Name the player who broke the managerial color line in both the NL and AL. Hint: One of MLB’s most decorated players.
Frank Robinson – broke the AL managerial color line as player-manager of the Indians in 1975, and the NL managerial color line with the Giants in 1981. Had a 16-year managerial career, 21 years as a player. Was 1956 NL Rookie of the Year; 1961 NL MVP; 1966 AL MVP; 1966 World Series MVP; 1971 All Star MVP; 1989 AL Manager of the Year.
Hope you enjoyed BBRT’s “Second 99.”
