Baseball Trivia Thread

[JHicks3636]

I am always looking for good, new trivia questions. I got this one from ESPN last night.

Since 2010 who has the most total distance for homeruns hit? Unless you saw the show, I would not expect anyone to get the bonus question. How many feet of homeruns has the player hit?

[GatorHog]

Adam Jones and 55,050

[Wisco Pig]

My first impulse was to guess Giancarlo Stanton, because that dude hits absolute bombs, but I think Cabrera must have a higher HR total, so I'll go with Miguel.

As for distance, let's say 200 homers times an average of 375 feet, which would be 75,000 feet, I think.

[JHicks3636]

Adam Jones and 55,050

no

[JHicks3636]

My first impulse was to guess Giancarlo Stanton, because that dude hits absolute bombs, but I think Cabrera must have a higher HR total, so I'll go with Miguel.

As for distance, let's say 200 homers times an average of 375 feet, which would be 75,000 feet, I think.

1/2 credit

It is Stanton and you were unbelievably close on distance-just over 74,000 feet

[JHicks3636]

Yes, if my interwebz sources are correct, the answer to the interleague question is 17, and was set last week when the Cubs defeated the Indians (17-0).

Now, as for the first leadoff hitter to hit for the cycle...well, we may never know the answer.  Maybe Hicks can help us out, or possibly Jimmy Ryan is the best answer.

I meant to ask who was the last leadoff hitter to hit for the cycle, lol. 

I believe  Ian Kinsler.

[Wisco Pig]

I think the last guy to hit for the cycle did so last week -- Brock Holt of the Red Sox.

[Wisco Pig]

Whoops, forgot about the leadoff hitter component.  Scratch that last answer.

[JHicks3636]

This will be my answer to the first lead-off hitter to hit for the cycle. To get this, I went through the entire list of hitters who did it. I then looked up each box  score that was available. Note that I could not find some box scores from the late 1800s or early 1900s. This was the oldest provable box score I could find where the lead off hitter got the cycle.


Cliff Heathcote
6/13/18
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1918/B06130PHI1918.htm

[GatorHog]

This will be my answer to the first lead-off hitter to hit for the cycle. To get this, I went through the entire list of hitters who did it. I then looked up each box  score that was available. Note that I could not find some box scores from the late 1800s or early 1900s. This was the oldest provable box score I could find where the lead off hitter got the cycle.

Max Carey-6/20/25
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1925/B06200PIT1925.htm

Definitely deserve +1 

[JHicks3636]

Definitely deserve +1 

Gator I had to edit, found an older one. Note that the cycle was it 63 times prior to Heathcote doing it. I could find box scores for only 2 of them. Always a chance that 1 of the other 61 was a lead-off hitter. Someone would just have to show me documentation.

[SPAL]

Whoops, forgot about the leadoff hitter component.  Scratch that last answer.

no, you were correct. Holt batted leadoff when he hit the cycle.

[GatorHog]

How many former baseball player-managers are members of the Hall of Fame?

Closest to the number within the half-hour takes it down.

[bulldog04]

How many former baseball player-managers are members of the Hall of Fame?

Closest to the number within the half-hour takes it down.

21

[GatorHog]

21

Nupe!

[GatorHog]

Answer is 61, per Wiki (deal only in facts)

[Wisco Pig]

"Jayson Stark ‏@jaysonst  5m5 minutes ago

Joey Gallo's line last night: 1 for 5, 4 K, 1 triple. 18th to have that line, including Rickey, Cito Gaston, Frank Howard & Reggie Sanders!"

[GatorHog]

Who is the only female elected to the Hall of Fame?

[SPAL]

Marge shott was my first thought, bit then I remembered all the racist remarks. I have no idea.

[GatorHog]

Marge shott was my first thought, bit then I remembered all the racist remarks. I have no idea.

Hah - not Marge Schott.  I picked this up from reading the book on Roy Campanella, who has a really interesting story as a mixed-race player who came up through the Negro League, then played for the Dodgers.

This HOF'er owned one of the Negro League teams..

[BroyledNutts]

Mrs. Effa Manley, owner of the Newark Eagles, inducted into the HOF in 2006

[GatorHog]

Mrs. Effa Manley, owner of the Newark Eagles, inducted into the HOF in 2006

winner winner

[Wisco Pig]

In the past 10 years, who's the only pitcher to start multiple All-Star games?

[89ALUM]

Roger Clemens?

[89ALUM]

Ah, never mind.  I didn't read the part about the last 10 years. 

It was probably Roy Halladay, then.

[Wisco Pig]

Roy Halladay is correct.  He started the 2009 All-Star game for the AL and the 2011 game for the NL.   Two years later, a partially torn rotator cuff and other injuries to his throwing shoulder forced him to retire.

[89ALUM]

OK, this might have been asked (I haven't read through the whole thread).

Who is the only player to have won MVP awards in both the All-Star game and the World Series IN THE SAME SEASON?

[Wisco Pig]

(in Bob Sheppard's voice):  "The shortstop, number two, Derek Jeter."

[89ALUM]

Bingo.  +1.

Numbah Two.  Derek Jeetah.  Numbah Two.  Jeetah.

[BigSexyHog]

Jeter sucks balls

[GatorHog]

How many inches of waxed red thread are in a baseball?

[dbhog]

88 inches

[JHicks3636]

I've said before that some of the best trivia questions arise when an event first happens. With that in mind, Mike Hessman set a record last night while playing for the AAA Toledo Mud Hens. What was it? As an aside, the Mud Hens was Corporal Klinger's favorite team on MASH.

[JHicks3636]

This play happened tonight (8/4/15) in the Dodgers-Phillies game. Phillies have runners on 1st and 2nd. Pitcher for the Dodgers winds up and as he goes to throw the ball it slips out of his hand. The ball rolls across the infield and stops just short of the 1st base baseline. Runner comes home from 2nd for an apparent score. Score the play.

[Wisco Pig]

This play happened tonight (8/4/15) in the Dodgers-Phillies game. Phillies have runners on 1st and 2nd. Pitcher for the Dodgers winds up and as he goes to throw the ball it slips out of his hand. The ball rolls across the infield and stops just short of the 1st base baseline. Runner comes home from 2nd for an apparent score. Score the play.

In this case it's a balk, right?  If the ball hadn't stopped short and had actually crossed the foul line, then I think the play would have been live, meaning the runner is allowed to score on a (very) wild pitch.

As for the preceding question about Mike Hessman, I have no idea.   Go Mud Hens!

[JHicks3636]

Correct Wisco, had the ball crossed the foul line, it would have been scored a ball and would have been in play. Since it did not cross the foul line, it was scored a balk as men were on base. The runner who seemed to score was sent to 3rd and the other runner to 2nd. As it turned out, the batter walked to load the bases and the next hitter smacked a Grand Slam.

[JHicks3636]

As for my Mike Hessman question, he hit his 433rd minor league homerun to become the all-time minor league homerun champ. Shades of "Crash" Davis from Bull Durham.

[GatorHog]

88 inches

Correct - I think I hit the limit on OP modifications, so I can't update the standings! 

[JHicks3636]

A new trivia question arises today. Madison Bumgarner of the S.F. Giants pitched a complete game shutout, struck out 14, and hit a homer against Washington today. Who is the only other pitcher in MLB history to pitch a shut out, have at least 10 Ks, and hit a homer in the same game? If no one gets this in a while, I have a clue that might help.

[GatorHog]

I'll throw out Greg Maddux

[Big Nasty 34]

A new trivia question arises today. Madison Bumgarner of the S.F. Giants pitched a complete game shutout, struck out 14, and hit a homer against Washington today. Who is the only other pitcher in MLB history to pitch a shut out, have at least 10 Ks, and hit a homer in the same game? If no one gets this in a while, I have a clue that might help.

Bob Gibson is my guess.

[JHicks3636]

Not Maddux or Gibson

My hint, and I think it is an interesting one.
By coincidence, the other pitcher who had done this was in the stadium in SF to see Baumgarner match his feat.

[JHicks3636]

Hint 2
He is a former SF Giant.

[Big Nasty 34]

Juan Marichal

Couldn't remember the rule on second guessing haha

[JHicks3636]

Juan Marichal

Correct. It was Juan Marichal bobblehead day in SF.