Holiday Trivia Revealed

Jason Michael Barker

1. Who is the only man ever to win Rookie of the Year, the Cy Young, and a MVP in his career?

Don Newcombe, who won 149 games in his career. Newcombe was named Rookie of the Year in 1949 when he pitched five shutouts, including one in his first start in the majors. He went on to win both the Cy Young and MVP awards in 1956.

2. Cy Young has started more games than any pitcher in history, by a large margin. Who's second on the list?

Nolan Ryan, who will likely be elected to the Hall of Fame on Tuesday, ranks second to Young in career starts.

3. Who is the last pitcher to have 20 complete games in a season?

Fernando Valenzuela, 1986. Fernando won 21 games for the Dodgers that season, including three shutouts, and he pitched over 260 innings.

4. Name the brothers who finished 1-2 in a batting title race.

Felipe and Matty Alou, 1966. Despite both making the Hall of Fame, the Waners (Paul and Lloyd) never finished 1-2 in a batting race.

5. Who are the only two pitchers with 300 or more losses?

Cy Young lost 315 games in his career, but he's the easy one. Bravo if you name Pud Galvin (great name), who lost 308. He won 361, however, and was a pretty good pitcher in his day.

6. Of all the 300-game winners in history, who has the lowest career ERA?

Christy Matthewson, who won 373 games and had a 2.13 ERA in his career. Walter Johnson (416, 2.17) ranks a close second.

7. Who holds the career record for most pinch hits, with 150?

Manny Mota, who played in the majors from 1962 until 1982. His two sons, Andy and Jose, played briefly in the majors in 1991.

8. Who holds the record for most games caught in a season, with 160? Hint: He has the same surname as a current MLB catcher.

Randy Hundley, 1968. Perhaps a better clue would have been that his son plays baseball as well -- and he's LA receiver Todd. The elder Hundley caught over 1000 games in his career, including two no-hitters. He also hit for the cycle in 1966.

9. Name all three men to have hit home runs in eight consecutive games.

Dale Long, Don Mattingly, and Ken Griffey Jr. Mattingly hit ten longballs during his 1987 streak, Long and Griffey each hit eight.

10. Of the members of the 500 HR club, which led his league the most times (12), and the fewest (1)?

Babe Ruth (714 HR) led his league 12 times, while Frank Robinson and Eddie Murray each broke the 500 HR plateau while leading their respective leagues but once apiece.

11. Who has the most career home runs of all players never to lead his league?

Stan "the Man" Musial hit 475 HR in his career, but he never led his league. He also never hit more than 39 home runs in a season, although he did top 30 six times.

12. In 1971 the Baltimore Orioles were the last team to have four 20-game winners. Name all four pitchers.

Dave McNally, Pat Dobson, Mike Cuellar, and Jim Palmer. McNally led the group with 21 wins, while the other three each won 20 games.

13. Name the only pitcher in MLB history to have hit two home runs during a game in which he also pitched a no-hitter.

Rick Wise of the Phillies performed the amazing feat on June 23, 1971 Wise allowed one walk and struck out three in a 4-0 win over the Reds. A little over a month later he again homered twice in a game, becoming just the sixth pitcher to do so twice in one season.

14. Which pitcher holds both the record for most career relief losses (108) and relief losses in a season (16)?

Gene Garber. Garber lost 16 games in relief for the 1979 Atlanta Braves after losing 12 for the same club in 1975. In 1982 he tied for the league lead with 10 relief losses. Despite playing for some bad Atlanta teams, Garber managed to save over 200 games in his career, to go along with 94 relief victories.

15. Name the only team (and the year they did it) to have three players with 40 or more home runs. For an extra point, name the three men.

I made a mistake here -- there have been three such teams in history, not just one. Blame it on poor recent memory, I guess. Congratulations to Brian Jenkins, who was the only contestant to name all three teams, players, and years correctly. The list is as follows: 1973 Atlanta Braves:
Davey Johnson (43), Darrell Evans (41), and Hank Aaron (40). 1996 Colorado Rockies:
Andres Galarraga (47), Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla (40). 1997 Colorado Rockies:
Larry Walker (49), Andres Galarraga (41), and Vinny Castilla (40).

Of 14 entries received by the deadline, five were perfect -- those submitted by Lance Eldredge, Michael Stowe, Scott Lange, John Crunkleton, and Doug Pappas. Those five names were placed in a hat, from which one, John Crunkleton, was drawn by my lovely girlfriend Kimberly. Congratulations John, and thanks again to everyone who entered.

about the author

Jason Michael Barker would like to know what those Rockie homers are worth in actual homers. Suggest an acceptable exchange rate at jmb@strikethree.com. No, this is not a contest.