BASEBALL TRIVIA

[cheaptrick77]

Al Oliver is the correct answer -- winning in consecutive years:

 

1980 Texas Rangers, OF

1981 Texas Rangers, DH

1982 Montréal Expos, 1B

 

 

"stealing" cub37's question:

 

How long did the Cubs play at their current location before it was named Wrigley Field?

[cubs37]

I guess it wouldn't be fair if I answered..........but I know.......... :coolio:

[Fogger01]

The Cubs first started playing there in 1916 after the Federal League folded. They played there for ten seasons, (Four as Weeghman Park, six as Cubs Park) before it was changed to Wrigley Field in 1926.

 

Since the award's inception in 1956, what pitcher has the most wins in a season without winning the Cy Young that year?

[shoelessjoelives]

Juan Marichal in 1968 with 26 wins put him in 2nd place in the voting behind Bob Gibson and his famous 1.12. Even though the mound was higher then.........that's another story.

 

What trio of hitters hit 3 consecutive homers in one inning twice in one season and what year was it.....?

[Fogger01]

As far as i can tell it has been done twice. Since I am not sure which one you want, I will give both of them. In 1961, Hank Aaron, Joe Adcock and Frank Thomas did it twice. The first time it was part of four in a row with Eddie Mathews leading the way. The second time was in 1997 and it was the Colorado Rockies' trio of Larry Walker, Andres Galarraga and Dante Bichette turning the trick.

 

Mickey Mantle was the first American Leaguer but to do it who was the first National League player to hit a home run left handed and right handed in the same game twice in his career?

[shoelessjoelives]

Jim Russell was the first NL player. First on June 7, 1948 with the Boston Braves and again on July 26, 1950 with the Dodgers.

 

Note: The first American Leaguer to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game was Wally Schang of the Philadelphia A's on September 8, 1916.

 

NEXT QUIZ: Of the long list of players who have had "6 hits in one game" which one had the most total bases out of their

6 hits and what was the date of this feat ?

[Fogger01]

On May 23rd, 2002, Los Angeles Dodger outfielder Shawn Green hit four home runs and added a double and a single. Green's 19 total bases set a major league, single game record.

 

Who holds the record for the most consecutive hits to start a major league career?

[shoelessjoelives]

Most consecutive hits to start a career would be the Red Sox Ted Cox who got 6 hits on September 18th and 19th in 1977.

 

He went 4-4 in his major league debut and followed it up the next day with two hits in his first 2 AB's off of Ed Figueroa. That put him in the record books.

 

What two baseball players both managed the same team in one year and also had their numbers retired by the same team

at the end of their career ?

[Fogger01]

Larry Doby and Bob Lemon both managed the Chicago White Sox in 1978 and both had their numbers (Doby-14, Lemon-21) retired by the Cleveland Indians when their careers ended.

 

What pitcher had the most career at bats without ever hitting a home run?

[shoelessjoelives]

Don Sutton never hit a home run in 1354 AB's.

 

NEXT QUIZ: What 300 Game winner has the highest winning percentage for his career ?

[Fogger01]

Lefty Grove who finished with 300-141 record for a winning percentage of .680. Grove's six year's from 1928 to 1933 produced 152 wins and only 41 losses, perhaps the most dominant run in baseball history.

 

Post-1900, which pitcher had a career record that is the most games below .500?

[shoelessjoelives]

That would be Si Johnson who pitched from 1928 til 1947 and recorded a career mark of 101-165 for the Reds, Cardinals, Phillies and Braves. That is 64 games below .500.

[Fogger01]

Hi Shoeless Joe. I believe Johnson is second on the list. I know there is at least one pitcher with a career record more than 64 games under .500

 

Thanks

[shoelessjoelives]

Milt Gaston who toiled for the Yankees, Browns, Senators, Red Sox and White Sox during his 11 year career ended his career with a 97-164 record, tops on the list.

 

NEXT QUIZ

 

The guy that is third on this list has a historical distinction to his career. What was it ?

[Fogger01]

I believe Jack Russell is in third on this less-than-desirable list. He had a reacord of 85-141 from 1926 to 1940. The only distinction I can find about him is that he was the first American League reliever to make the all-star team.

 

To be honest, I am not sure if Russell is the right answer or if this is the distinction you are looking for.

[shoelessjoelives]

Actually I think our list order has become mixed up a bit. No big deal. The guy I had at "third on the list" at one time was Jack Fisher.

 

Let me give him his due for what he is known for and then move on to another Question.

 

Jack Fisher, who had a lifetime record of 86-139, will always be remembered for a pitch he threw on September 26, 1961 to Roger Maris. And a pitch he threw to Ted Williams on September 28, 1960. And a pitch he threw to Willie Stargell on April 17, 1964. Three historic home runs and all by the same pitcher.

 

They are, of course,

 

1. Maris hit his off Fisher for his 60th homer in 1961.

 

2. Williams homer was historic because it was the last home run Ted ever hit.

 

3. Stargell's homer was the first home run ever hit in Shea Stadium (4-17-64).

 

Fisher's place in history is set for sure after just 3 pitches.

 

Next Question:

 

Who where the 3 players who were "On Deck" when each of these historic homers were hit ?

[Fogger01]

1. Maris hit his off Fisher for his 60th homer in 1961. Hector Lopez

 

2. Williams homer was historic because it was the last home run Ted ever hit. Jim Pagliaroni

 

3. Stargell's homer was the first home run ever hit in Shea Stadium (4-17-64). Donn Clendenon

Who was the first pitcher (I believe the only pitcher) to hit a grand slam in both the American League and the National League?

[cheaptrick77]

Lynwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe

 

...as a member of the Detroit Tigers on July 22, 1939 vs. Athletics

...as a member of the Philadelphia Philles on May 2, 1943 vs. Braves

 

 

 

NEXT:

 

Name the only MLB pitcher to hit two home runs in one game five times during his career ...

[camuchs]

Wes Ferrell

 

What pitcher won a record 24 consecutive games over a 2 year span?

[cheaptrick77]

Carl Hubbell, 1933-34 New York Giants

 

 

NEXT:

 

Name the last pitcher to collect five hits in one game. . .

 

[camuchs]

Carl Hubbell, 1933-34 New York Giants

 

 

NEXT:

 

Name the last pitcher to collect five hits in one game. . .(voided due to technical error)

 

 

UGGGGH! Right pitcher, wrong years (1936-37 NY giants) 26 games won.('36)22 in ('37) 24 consecutive (correction)

 

NEXT:

Name the player with the 1st and only unassisted triple play in World Series history

[BIG-DADDY]

In baseball, an unassisted triple play occurs when a defensive player makes all three putouts by himself in one continuous play, without any teammates touching the ball (assist). In Major League Baseball, it is the rarest of individual feats, occurring less frequently than a perfect game or hitting four home runs in one game. During a span of over 65 seasons (June 1927 to September 1992), there was only one unassisted triple play in the major leagues, made in July 1968. Even "ordinary" (assisted) triple plays are fairly rare, occurring a few times per year.

 

Specific conditions must be met for the play even to be possible, and these normally indicate impending trouble for the pitcher. There must be no outs in the inning and at least two runners on base (usually only two) who are running with the pitch, as in a hit and run. Finally, the batter must make excellent contact with the pitch, resulting in a line drive hit directly at an infielder, usually either the shortstop or second baseman.

 

All unassisted triple plays except one have taken this form: the infielder catches a line drive (one out), steps on a base to double off a runner (two outs), and tags another runner on his way to the next base (three outs). Sometimes the order of the last two is switched. Because the fielder usually has to be between the two runners, most of these plays have been accomplished by middle infielders (second basemen and shortstops), but two were completed by first basemen who were able to reach second base before the returning baserunner. The only unassisted triple play that did not take this form occurred in the 19th century under rules that are no longer in play.

 

The feat has only occurred 13 times in modern major league history, plus once in the 19th century (that one being disputed). By comparison, there have been 17 perfect games since 1870, including two in the 19th century; on 15 occasions a player has hit four home runs in a game, including twice in the 19th century. Six of the unassisted triple plays occurred in the 1920s, the sixth coming a day after the fifth. Since 1991 there have been five; the most recent was performed in Denver in on April 29, 2007 by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies.

 

The unassisted triple play, the perfect game, and hitting four homers in one game are thus comparable in terms of rarity, but the perfect game and the home run record require an extraordinary effort along with a fair amount of luck. By contrast, the unassisted triple play is essentially always a matter of luck: the right circumstances, combined with the relatively simple effort of catching the ball and running the right direction with it. Tulowitzki said of his feat, "It fell right in my lap," and as WGN-TV sports anchor Dan Roan commented, "That's the way these plays always happen." Regardless, to baseball purists, there is a certain "neatness" to the fact that in the long history of the World Series, the only triple play was of the unassisted variety and the only no-hitter was Don Larsen's perfect game.

 

[shoelessjoelives]

Bill Wambsganss turned the triple play in the World Series.

 

In Game 5 of the 1920 World Series Bill Wambsganss caught a line drive off of the bat of Clarence Mitchell starting the only Triple play in the history of the World Series.

 

NEXT QUIZ.......What is record for the most years between series by a player in the World Series ?

[Fogger01]

In Game 5 of the 1920 World Series Bill Wambsganss caught a line drive off of the bat of Clarence Mitchell starting the only Triple play in World Series.

 

NEXT QUIZ.......What is record for the most years between series by a player in the World Series ?

 

GREAT question SJL, This was a fun one to research! The record for most years between World Series is 17 by Jim Kaat. Kaat pitched for the Twins in 1965 and had to wait until 1982 until he appeared with the Cardinals in the fall classic.

 

This is a more famous trivia question but seems to fit here. Who holds the record for the most years between their first World Series appearance and their last World Series appearance?

[cheaptrick77]

(voided due to technical error)

 

WOW ! :ermm: I am obviously embarrassed by my slippery fingers inadvertently typing the wrong years, but how in the world did a "technical error" occur when the years were not part of the question? :whome:

 

Oh, well -- the chain has been broken, but we carry on...

Who holds the record for the most years between their first World Series appearance and their last World Series appearance?

 

Willie Mays -- 22 years

first: 1951 New York Giants

last: 1973 New York Mets

^ also his rookie year and final year ;)

 

Let us try this again :D :

 

 

Name the last MLB pitcher to collect five hits in one game. . .