Baseball Trivia

[section314]

On 1/15/2020 at 9:25 PM, The Crimson King said:

Pretty cool plus the JNBTT (Jets Nation Baseball Trivia Team) knows all these answers (well at least we do now )

Just in case you want to consider more (and an excuse to be pedantic and ask more questions), how about:

1. Nolan Ryan, Clayton Kershaw and Sandy Koufax have the three best career records in MLB history for hits allowed per 9 innings. An ex-Met is 4th. Who is he?

2. What former general manager had two sons that also became MLB general managers (and another son who owned a minor league club)  

3. The Dodger franchise, part of the NL since 1890 weren't permanently known by that name until 1932. Name at least 2 of the other 4 nicknames they were known by until then.

4. Only two players played for both the New York Giants and New York Mets. One was Willie Mays, who was the other?

5. Only nine players played for both the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Mets. Gil Hodges, Duke Snider and Roger Craig are the most well know. Name at least 3 of the other 6

6 .in the 50's, only one player played for the Yankees, Dodgers and Giants. Who was he?

7. The Mets and Yankees have only made 8 trades of major league players in their entire history. Only one involved former all-star players. Who was involved in the trade?

8 .Before the first Yankee Stadium was built, what two ballparks did the Yankees call home

9.What pitcher holds Yankee record for career losses? 

EDIT: One more that I thought of:

10. Who did Marvelous Marv Throneberry play more games for? The Mets or the Yankees?

   

9)  Thinking it is a guy from end of the dynasty 63-64 till early 70's? Two names come to mind  Al Downing or Mel Stottlemeyer. I know Mel was good, but pitched a long time and in those days starters got lots of decisions.

[section314]

On 1/15/2020 at 9:25 PM, The Crimson King said:

Pretty cool plus the JNBTT (Jets Nation Baseball Trivia Team) knows all these answers (well at least we do now )

Just in case you want to consider more (and an excuse to be pedantic and ask more questions), how about:

1. Nolan Ryan, Clayton Kershaw and Sandy Koufax have the three best career records in MLB history for hits allowed per 9 innings. An ex-Met is 4th. Who is he?

2. What former general manager had two sons that also became MLB general managers (and another son who owned a minor league club)  

3. The Dodger franchise, part of the NL since 1890 weren't permanently known by that name until 1932. Name at least 2 of the other 4 nicknames they were known by until then.

4. Only two players played for both the New York Giants and New York Mets. One was Willie Mays, who was the other?

5. Only nine players played for both the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Mets. Gil Hodges, Duke Snider and Roger Craig are the most well know. Name at least 3 of the other 6

6 .in the 50's, only one player played for the Yankees, Dodgers and Giants. Who was he?

7. The Mets and Yankees have only made 8 trades of major league players in their entire history. Only one involved former all-star players. Who was involved in the trade?

8 .Before the first Yankee Stadium was built, what two ballparks did the Yankees call home

9.What pitcher holds Yankee record for career losses? 

EDIT: One more that I thought of:

10. Who did Marvelous Marv Throneberry play more games for? The Mets or the Yankees?

   

2)  Buzzy Bavasi?

[Lith]

13 hours ago, The Crimson King said:

every single one correct (he says wiping a tear from his eyes)

1. Amazing acheivment for the big fella no? Fourth best HPG in ALL of MLB history. There was someone in the first row of the loge box down the right field line at Shea that showed up one day when Sid was starting and put up "ID" over the railing. No one had any idea what that meant. Then he struckout someone and they added an S. Then like the K corner, they kept adding for each K (SSSSSSSSSSID). They were there every game (or at least every Sid game) for years. Finally, when the  team finally started to wane and everybody started to bail, on the last day of the season they put up SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOLONG. Not an important point, just a fond memory. 

3. The fourth was "Grooms" for a couple of years. Kind of a trick question calling it four names. Bonus points for knowing the Robby thing.

4. You actually KNEW that? Wow. Of course you might need therapy

6. Good job there.

8. Hilltop Park, 168th and Broadway, about 30 blocks north of the premier athletic facility at the time, the Manhattan Oval

Gotta say that this one impressive performance

I  knew Sid put up some crazy numbers when he was with us.  Pretty sure he led the league in H/9 a few times in his career.  Was an educated guess, but I was pretty confident in my education on that one.

If you are going to consider the Grooms as different from the Bridegrooms, then don't you have to consider the Trolley Dodgers and the Dodgers as different names.  So technically, there are 5 

Bressoud - I had heard the question before, otherwise there is no way I would have known that one.  As to Maglie -- the hint gave it away.  I knew he and Newcombe were the starters in the Thomson-Branca game.  and for the Yankee question, I just know some useless sh*t about turn of the century baseball.

 

[The Crimson King]

4 hours ago, section314 said:

9)  Thinking it is a guy from end of the dynasty 63-64 till early 70's? Two names come to mind  Al Downing or Mel Stottlemeyer. I know Mel was good, but pitched a long time and in those days starters got lots of decisions.

Mel it is !  Post dynasty and a lot of games. Good thinking there

Bavasi is also correct, a particular soft spot for me (story at a later date)

Nice work A+

[section314]

6 minutes ago, The Crimson King said:

Mel it is !  Post dynasty and a lot of games. Good thinking there

Bavasi is also correct, a particular soft spot for me (story at a later date)

Nice work A+

Thanks!..people don't realize how good a pitcher Mel was. He was overshadowed so much by Seaver and Koosman , but the man was top notch. And a great pitching coach?

[The Crimson King]

So that leaves 5, 7 and 10 from the NY quiz

some easy hints:

Ques# 5. The six Mets-B. Dodgers (some players are included more than once (out of order) in these hints):

1. Two were taken in the expansion draft (not including Craig of course)
2. One grew tomatoes in the Shea Stadium bullpen
3. One brought the Dodgers Ron Perranoski in a trade and later brought the Mets Cliff Cook
4. One had a brother who played for 6 teams and later managed
5. One played in Japan 
6. One hit onto a triple play in his last AB
7. One led the league on saves twice
8. One brought the Dodgers Tim Harkness and Mets Charley Smith in trades
9. One brought the Mets Jesse Gonder in a trade
10. One is Pete Falcone's cousin 
11. One's real first name is Humberto
12. One as acquired by the Mets for the only player they took in the expansion draft

and now you need to name all 6

Ques# 7: One player had a really hot wife and one had one of the most famous hits in Mets history  (now of THAT doesn't give both names away …)

Ques# 10: It's 50-50, take a guess

[The Crimson King]

On 1/15/2020 at 10:34 PM, The Crimson King said:

How about some minor league baseball trivia?

1.  Who holds the career records for HR's with 484 ( and no it is not Crash Davis)?
2.  Who holds the single season record for HR's with 72?
3.  How about what pitcher holds the career record for strikeouts with 3,175?
4.  Most runs in one season (hint, future teammate of the guy who holds the MLB one season record)
5.  Single season record for stolen bases? 

BONUS (and mean a lot of bonus):

In 1961, The year before they started in MLB, the Mets had three minor league teams that they shared with other clubs to start them off. What cities did they play in? Only one player later played for the Mets although he was property of the team they shared the club with at the time. He was one of two players in the Mets first rule V draft (the other being Ted Schreiber)

Hints later

OK, this one might be a little unfair because you can't reason it out and need to know the answer specifically so here's the answers to 1-4 so you can stump your friends but you need to guess #5

ANSWERS

1. Hector Espino. He played in the Mexican League and kept turning down offers from MLB, including the Mets. He did play in the Southern League for one year but missed his homeland and never returned. Not counting the Mexican League, the record is held by Mike Hessman who was on the Mets in 2010.

2. Joe Bauman hit 72 for Roswell in '54 and no, the surviving alien did not help him. He was at area 51 by then.Every year, MiLB gives out the Joe Bauman Award for most HR in the minors. Another impressive minor league HR performance was our own Dick Stuart with 66 one year.

3. George Brunet pitched in the majors in 15 different seasons, so how did he strikeout 3,175? He pitched into his 50's again mostly in etg hMexican League after his MLB career

4. Tony Lazzeri scored 202 (!) times in the PCL the year before he joined the Yankees. 

CLUES

5. This was for the 1983 Macon South Atlantic league (nickname gives it away)

[The Crimson King]

6 hours ago, section314 said:

David Justice was the player the Mets sent to the Yankess. Still thinking of the other guy. Great job @Lith

oops missed this

actually it was the other way around, then the Mets traded him away a week later. Clue on the other guy above.

[section314]

51 minutes ago, The Crimson King said:

So that leaves 5, 7 and 10 from the NY quiz

some easy hints:

Ques# 5. The six Mets-B. Dodgers (some players are included more than once (out of order) in these hints):

1. Two were taken in the expansion draft (not including Craig of course)
2. One grew tomatoes in the Shea Stadium bullpen
3. One brought the Dodgers Ron Perranoski in a trade and later brought the Mets Cliff Cook
4. One had a brother who played for 6 teams and later managed
5. One played in Japan 
6. One hit onto a triple play in his last AB
7. One led the league on saves twice
8. One brought the Dodgers Tim Harkness and Mets Charley Smith in trades
9. One brought the Mets Jesse Gonder in a trade
10. One is Pete Falcone's cousin 
11. One's real first name is Humberto
12. One as acquired by the Mets for the only player they took in the expansion draft

and now you need to name all 6

Ques# 7: One player had a really hot wife and one had one of the most famous hits in Mets history  (now of THAT doesn't give both names away …)

Ques# 10: It's 50-50, take a guess

7) just thought of it ....Robin Ventura to Yankees, Justice to Mets.

5) Rube Walker is one. Tomatos in bullpen as Pitching coach?

[Scott Dierking]

7 minutes ago, section314 said:

7) just thought of it ....Robin Ventura to Yankees, Justice to Mets.

5) Rube Walker is one. Tomatos in bullpen as Pitching coach?

Joe Pignatano was the tomato guy in the Shea bullpen

[The Crimson King]

5 hours ago, section314 said:

7) just thought of it ....Robin Ventura to Yankees, Justice to Mets.

5) Rube Walker is one. Tomatos in bullpen as Pitching coach?

That's right on the trade

Mr. Dierking got the Pignatano comment

still need the 5 Brooklyn Dodgers/Mets other than Hodges, Craig, Pigantano and Snider

[The Crimson King]

On 1/17/2020 at 12:57 PM, The Crimson King said:

  The 6 B. Dodgers-Mets:

1. Two were taken in the expansion draft (not including Craig of course) Joe Pignatano and Bob Aspromonte, the Colt 45's 2nd pick after Ed Bressoud
2. One grew tomatoes in the Shea Stadium bullpen; Pigntano
3. One brought the Dodgers Ron Perranoski in a trade and later brought the Mets Cliff Cook: Don Zimmer
4. One had a brother who played for 6 teams and later managed: Aspromonte
5. One played in Japan: Zimmer 
6. One hit onto a triple play in his last AB: Joe Pignatano
7. One led the league on saves twice: Clem Labine
8. One brought the Dodgers Tim Harkness and Mets Charley Smith in trades: Chico Fernanadez
9. One brought the Mets Jesse Gonder in a trade: Charlie Neal
10. One is Pete Falcone's cousin: Pignatano 
11. One's real first name is Humberto: Fernandez
12. One as acquired by the Mets for the only player they took in the expansion draft: Neal

Also: The three Mets minor league teams in 1961, the year before their first MLB game: Mobile Bears (Southern Association), Raleigh Capitals (Carolina League) and Lexington Indians (Western Carolina League). All of these teams were co-ops with other MLB clubs. On;y one player made it to the Mets. Don Rowe, who was one of the two Mets taken in their first Rule V draft.

Aspromonte is the answer to a whole bunch of trivia including the last Brooklyn Dodger to play a MLB game. 

 

[The Crimson King]

Also, Throneberry played more games for the Yankees than the Mets

This leaves question of the minor league record holder with 145 SB in one year (in 113 games). This hint should give it away. It was for the Macon Redbirds in 1983. 

[Scott Dierking]

20 minutes ago, The Crimson King said:

Also, Throneberry played more games for the Yankees than the Mets

This leaves question of the minor league record holder with 145 SB in one year (in 113 games). This hint should give it away. It was for the Macon Redbirds in 1983. 

Has to be Vince Coleman

[Lith]

21 minutes ago, The Crimson King said:

Also, Throneberry played more games for the Yankees than the Mets

This leaves question of the minor league record holder with 145 SB in one year (in 113 games). This hint should give it away. It was for the Macon Redbirds in 1983. 

Vince Coleman?

Ninja'd^^^

[Lith]

On 1/14/2020 at 10:28 AM, Lith said:

Hall of Fame question -- first player(s) at each position to be inducted. @section314 and @The Crimson King got off to a good start

Manager: Mack and Mcgraw are correct.

• P Mathewson/Johnson is correct
• C Bill Dickey is incorrect
• 1B: Gehrig is correct, plus there were 2 other 1Bs inducted with him.
• 2B: Nap Lajoie.
• SS: Wagner is correct
• 3B Pie Traynor is incorrect
• LF: No guesses yet
• CF Cobb is correct
• RF: Ruth is correct.

 

So still looking for two 1Bs, C, 3B and 3 LFs. Multiple LFs were inducted together.

[The Crimson King]

12 minutes ago, Scott Dierking said:

Has to be Vince Coleman

… and Vince it is

[The Crimson King]

23 minutes ago, Lith said:

So still looking for two 1Bs, C, 3B and 3 LFs. Multiple LFs were inducted together.

Walter Johnson played a little OF (he was a good hitter). No? Doesn't count?

So some guesses then. Apologies if guessed before, too lazy to review above:

1B: George Sisler?

LF: Al Simmons?

this is a tough one. Lots of forgotten players from back then. 

 

[Lith]

7 minutes ago, The Crimson King said:

Walter Johnson played a little OF (he was a good hitter). No? Doesn't count?

So some guesses then. Apologies if guessed before, too lazy to review above:

1B: George Sisler?

LF: Al Simmons?

this is a tough one. Lots of forgotten players from back then. 

 

Sisler is correct.  Last 1B is someone you have to go way back for.  Pretty well known for an 1800s star. Began his career with the Rockford Forest Citys and finished his career 27 years later in a City about 90 miles east of Rockford.  

No on Simmons (and no on Johnson as OF).

[The Crimson King]

4 minutes ago, Lith said:

Sisler is correct.  Last 1B is someone you have to go way back for.  Pretty well known for an 1800s star. Began his career with the Rockford Forest Citys and finished his career 27 years later in a City about 90 miles east of Rockford.  

No on Simmons (and no on Johnson as OF).

Gave away Cap Anson with that clue   Played 27 years and Chicago is an hour and a half from Rockford. Played over 2 decades for the Chicago NL franchise but before they were the Cubs

So C, 3B and 3 LF then. Hmmm … 

[section314]

40 minutes ago, Lith said:

So still looking for two 1Bs, C, 3B and 3 LFs. Multiple LFs were inducted together.

Didn't the old NY Giants have a great catcher? I just can't think of a name...kind of in the Bill Terry era. Not Wes Westrum.?

[section314]

Just now, The Crimson King said:

Gave away Cap Anson with that clue   Played 27 years and Chicago is an hour and a half from Rockford. Played over 2 decades for the Chicago NL franchise but before they were the Cubs

So C, 3B and 3 LF then. Hmmm … 

We know who one of them should be...."say it ain't so,Joe."

[section314]

48 minutes ago, Lith said:

So still looking for two 1Bs, C, 3B and 3 LFs. Multiple LFs were inducted together.

3b..Lloyd Warner?

[Lith]

7 minutes ago, The Crimson King said:

Gave away Cap Anson with that clue   Played 27 years and Chicago is an hour and a half from Rockford. Played over 2 decades for the Chicago NL franchise but before they were the Cubs

So C, 3B and 3 LF then. Hmmm … 

Yup.  Probably went a bit overboard with the clue.  Probably should have just left it that he started his career in Rockford.  And, for what its worth (which isn't much), if you go to the halfway point between Chicago and Rockford -- you would be right about at Lith's house.

[Lith]

12 minutes ago, section314 said:

Didn't the old NY Giants have a great catcher? I just can't think of a name...kind of in the Bill Terry era. Not Wes Westrum.?

Probably thinking of Roger Bresnahan.  Which is a good guess, but not the answer.  Although the guy we are looking for did play for the Giants (among other teams), but he was a few years before Bresnahan.  Began his career with the Troy Trojans.

5 minutes ago, section314 said:

3b..Lloyd Warner?

Nope.  He was an outfielder.

[section314]

2 minutes ago, Lith said:

Probably thinking of Roger Bresnahan.  Which is a good guess, but not the answer.

Nope.  He was an outfielder.

Clue maybe?   One of the 3 Lf?

[Lith]

22 minutes ago, section314 said:

Clue maybe?   One of the 3 Lf?

One of the 3 was player/manager for the first team to lose in the WS.

Another player had his career come to an untimely end when he died in a mysterious accident, during the same year that the first WS was played.

3rd guy was another turn of the Century player who holds the NL record for oldest player to play in (and get a hit) a game.  Going 1 for 4 with a single for the Giants at age 53.

 

[The Crimson King]

1 hour ago, Lith said:

One of the 3 was player/manager for the first team to lose in the WS.

Another player had his career come to an untimely end when he died in a mysterious accident, during the same year that the first WS was played.

3rd guy was another turn of the Century player who holds the NL record for oldest player to play in (and get a hit) a game.  Going 1 for 4 with a single for the Giants at age 53.

 

Great clues 

First one was another trivia question so the clue gave it away for me. What two HOFers were player managers from the first World Series, Fred Clarke's Pittsburgh Pirates lost to Jimmy Collin's Boston Americans (which included Freddie Parent from another story) so the answer has to be Clarke. 

Second one sounds like something we should know and the 3rd? I thought Minnie Minoso was the oldest to get a hit and Nick Altcock was the oldest to play (with the caveat that Satchel Paige might or might not have been older than them all). Perhaps Archibald Graham? Oh wait, he was really old but only had a sacrifice fly in Shoeless Joe's pickup game in Iowa

[Lith]

17 minutes ago, The Crimson King said:

Great clues 

First one was another trivia question so the clue gave it away for me. What two HOFers were player managers from the first World Series, Fred Clarke's Pittsburgh Pirates lost to Jimmy Collin's Boston Americans (which included Freddie Parent from another story) so the answer has to be Clarke. 

Second one sounds like something we should know and the 3rd? I thought Minnie Minoso was the oldest to get a hit and Nick Altcock was the oldest to play (with the caveat that Satchel Paige might or might not have been older than them all). Perhaps Archibald Graham? Oh wait, he was really old but only had a sacrifice fly in Shoeless Joe's pickup game in Iowa

Clarke is correct.  And you mentioned Jimmy Collins -- he was the first 3rd baseman inducted.  So I will give you that one too.

Second LF was last seen walking on a railroad bridge across Niagara Falls in 1903.  He was kicked off a train for being drunk and threatening passengers.  It is assumed that he fell to his death, although some accounts from the day suggested he might have committed suicide.

MInnie Minoso is oldest major leaguer to get a hit -- this guy is oldest National Leaguer.  At age 53, he was older Altrock, but a year younger than MInoso.

And remember, it was young Archie Graham that hit the sac fly.  Not the Burt Lancaster version.

I love this question because it seems so easy, but the LFers and the C are really hard.  I will have to see if I can come up with some decent hints for the Catcher.

[Lith]

Hint for the catcher.

  +    =   

 

 

[The Crimson King]

19 hours ago, Lith said:

Hint for the catcher.

  +    =   

 

 

Cute. Gotta love the way you did this. 

Buck Willams - Patrick Ewing

Hmm … WIlliam Patrick?, Pat Williams? Buck Patrick?

How about Buck Ewing (NY Giants pre-1900)?

would never have gotten it otherwise

 

[The Crimson King]

1. A pitcher once threw a perfect game when the opposing pitcher pitched an 8 inning, 1 hit complete game to lose 1-0.

1  PT: Who threw the perfect game?

2 PTS: Who threw the one hitter?

3 PTS: What year was it?

4 PTS: Who got the hit?

5 PTS: How did the run score? HINT: It wasn't on the hit

2. Only once in MLB history did both pitchers throw a no hitter through 9. The game was lost in the 10th however and although counted as a no hitter for the loser for many years, baseball took it away with a stats rule change in the 80's (?) 

20 PTS: What was the names of the winning and losing pitchers and what teams did they play for? HINT: The year is also the name of a current movie that is nominated for Oscar Best Picture and that you absolutely must see.

3. In 1953, a St. Louis Brown pitched a no hitter.

10 PTS: What happened that day has only happened once. What was it?

4. The Mets only official no hitter would not have happened today

1 PT: Why?

 

[Lith]

3 hours ago, The Crimson King said:

Cute. Gotta love the way you did this. 

Buck Willams - Patrick Ewing

Hmm … WIlliam Patrick?, Pat Williams? Buck Patrick?

How about Buck Ewing (NY Giants pre-1900)?

would never have gotten it otherwise

 

That is correct.  Buck Ewing was the first Catcher inducted to the Hall.  Class of 1939. 

I had no idea how to give a reasonable hint.  I guess I could have done a Joe Buck/JR Ewing combo.  But this one worked better, especiially since Buck Ewing's real first name was William, so it kinda worked two ways.

[section314]

4 hours ago, The Crimson King said:

1. A pitcher once threw a perfect game when the opposing pitcher pitched an 8 inning, 1 hit complete game to lose 1-0.

1  PT: Who threw the complete game?

2 PTS: Who threw the one hitter?

3 PTS: What year was it?

4 PTS: Who got the hit?

5 PTS: How did the run score? HINT: It wasn't on the hit

2. Only once in MLB history did both pitchers throw a no hitter through 9. The game was lost in the 10th however and although counted as a no hitter for the loser for many years, baseball took it away with a stats rule change in the 80's (?) 

20 PTS: What was the names of the winning and losing pitchers and what teams did they play for? HINT: The year is also the name of a current movie that is nominated for Oscar Best Picture and that you absolutely must see.

3. In 1953, a St. Louis Brown pitched a no hitter.

10 PTS: What happened that day has only happened once. What was it?

4. The Mets only official no hitter would not have happened today

1 PT: Why?

 

4) replay would have overturned the ball that drew the chalk. Ump called it foul.

[The Crimson King]

19 minutes ago, section314 said:

4) replay would have overturned the ball that drew the chalk. Ump called it foul.

There's one ! So I guess you can say that Beltran was "cheated" out of an extra base hit (oooh sorry, low blow)