Major League Baseball IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom

Major League Baseball IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom

“It isn’t that hard to get RBIs when you’re hitting home runs—you generally get at least one.”

— Mike Schmidt

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FIRST

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There’s a reason diehard fans get to the ballpark hours before game time. It’s not for better parking. It’s not for extra time to find our seats. It’s not so we’ll have time to down an extra hot dog, heavy on the mustard, prior to the first pitch.

It’s called BP.

Watching a Major League team take batting practice is without question one of the most exhilarating events a baseball fan can witness firsthand. But we don’t go hours early to watch players practice hitting to the opposite field. Oh no, we want to see the long ball, and lots of them. That’s why we bring our gloves. It’s partly because we want to chase those big flies and try to catch one like we’re little kids … and partly because we know if Albert Pujols drills one right at us that having a glove is truly a matter of life or death.

There isn’t a fan alive that doesn’t love the long ball.

So that’s where we begin. Here in the top of the first we’ve got a heavy dose of big-time sluggers who performed some incredible feats. Let’s get going with those two immortal words we love so much: Play Ball!

Top of the First

Question 1: The annual Home Run Derby during the All-Star break has been a fan-favorite for a long time. The All-Star break has also been a historical measuring stick for players on a potential record-setting home run pace. If you’ve got 30 bombs at the break, well, that’s pretty special. Who was the first player in history to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break?

a)      Dave Kingman

b)     Willie Mays

c)     Harmon Killebrew

d)     Mike Schmidt

Question 2: The list of players to hit 30 homers before the break is pretty short, but it’s also pretty stout because it’s a virtual who’s who of home run champions. A few guys have done it more than once, but only one player has made it to the break with 30 homers on four different occasions. Who is that player?

a)      Ken Griffey, Jr.

b)     Sammy Sosa

c)     Mark McGwire

d)     Alex Rodriguez

Question 3: In 1994, for the first time in history, there were three players who hit 30 homers prior to the All-Star break. In 1998, that record was eclipsed as four players went into the break with at least 30 homers. In both seasons—1994 and 1998—there was one slugger who was a part of both of those record-setting groups. Who had at least 30 homers at the All-Star break in both 1994 and 1998?

a)      Greg Vaughn

b)     Mark McGwire

c)     Ken Griffey, Jr.

d)     Sammy Sosa

Question 4: Who is the only slugger in history to make it to the All-Star break with at least 30 homers … for two different teams?

a)      Ken Griffey, Jr.

b)     Mark McGwire

c)     Reggie Jackson

d)     Greg Vaughn

Question 5: Only five players in history have made it to the All-Star break with at least 35 home runs. The record is 39. Who holds that record?

a)      Mark McGwire

b)     Luis Gonzalez

c)     Ken Griffey, Jr.

d)     Barry Bonds

Question 6: Who was the first player in history to make it to the All-Star break with at least 30 homers and not win his league’s home run title?

a)      Reggie Jackson

b)     Greg Vaughn

c)     Willie Mays

d)     Dave Kingman

Question 7: Frank Thomas—not the Big Hurt, but the original Frank Thomas who debuted for the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 17, 1951, and finished his initial rookie campaign with two home runs—slugged 30 homers in 1953, his first full big league season, and was an All-Star the following year. He later set a Major League record for a particular type of home run—that being the clutch walk-off game-winning variety. Thomas was the first player in big league history to win a game for each of four different franchises via a walk-off home run: the Pirates, Braves, Mets, and Phillies. Over the years several other players have tied his record, most recently a high-profile free agent signee in his first year with his new club in 2010. His game-winning shot came vs. Scot Shields of the LA Angels. Who tied the Major League record by hitting a walk-off blast for his fourth ballclub on May 1, 2010?

a)      Johnny Damon

b)     Alfonso Soriano

c)      Andruw Jones

d)     Troy Glaus

Question 8: And staying with that particular home run record … prior to 2010, it was a member of the Tampa Bay Rays who tied this record by drilling a walk-off blast for his fourth different team. Who tied this record as a member of the Rays?

a)      Vinny Castilla

b)     Jose Canseco

c)      Carlos Pena

d)     Fred McGriff

Question 9: On May 1, 2010, a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks doubled and singled in his first two at bats vs. the Cubs to raise his season average to .667. Okay, he was only 9 for 12 on the season … but, he did start the season 9 for 12, and even better the player who got off to such a hot start at the plate in 2010 was Dan Haren, who doesn’t earn the big paycheck to swing the bat, but rather to make other guys who also earn big paychecks look flat-out stupid trying to make contact with Uncle Charlie. In nearly 40 years of baseball since the DH rule was instituted in the AL only one other pitcher had a better stretch of at bats than Haren’s run to begin 2010. A member of the 2001 San Francisco Giants pitching staff had a stretch in which he was 12 for 13. Now that’s just ridiculous. Which member of the 2001 Giants pitching staff apparently thought he was Barry Bonds for a spell?

a)      Jason Schmidt

b)     Kirk Rueter

c)      Russ Ortiz

d)     Livan Hernandez

Question 10: The Los Angeles Dodgers are steeped in history and tradition, recognized around the world as one of the premiere franchises in professional sports, not just MLB. So to have your name etched in the Dodgers’ franchise record book for something no one else has ever done is quite special to say the least. This is the franchise, after all, of Reese, Lasorda, Snider, Koufax, Campanella, Robinson, Drysdale, and … Don Demeter? Yup, Demeter, who hit only 34 home runs in five seasons for the Dodgers, set a franchise record in 1959 that stood half a century. It was a hot start at the plate that got Demeter’s name in the book after he belted five homers with 14 RBI and a .382 batting average during the first nine home games on the Dodgers’ schedule that season. No other Dodgers’ player had ever posted such gaudy numbers in the three Triple Crown categories during the club’s first nine home games … and no player did so again, not until 2010 that is, when this player batted .432 with five home runs and 14 RBI during the Dodgers first nine home games. Who set the new standard for hot starts at home for the Dodgers franchise?

a)      Matt Kemp

b)     Manny Ramirez

c)      Andre Ethier

d)     James Loney

Top of the First Answer Key

___ Question 1: B

___ Question 2: C

___ Question 3: C                                   

___ Question 4: B                                   

___ Question 5: D

___ Question 6: C

___ Question 7: A*

___ Question 8: C*

___ Question 9: D*

___ Question 10: C

Keep a running tally of your correct answers!

Number correct:             ___ / 10

Overall correct:              ___ / 10

#7 – Royals, Red Sox, Yankees, and Tigers.

#8 – Athletics, Tigers, Red Sox, and Rays.

#9 – He was 15 for 64 on the season: .296, one home run, eight RBI, and only four strikeouts.

Major League Baseball IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom (Kindle Edition) $1.29

Major League Baseball IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom (Paperback) $6.95

Major League Baseball IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom

INTRODUCTION

.

I have a passion for baseball. I got it from my dad, who taught me to play catch when he’d sneak home from work during his lunch break for half-an-hour or so at least three or four times a week when school was out for summer. My first “team” was the Big Red Machine because my first Spring Training experience led to an encounter with Hall of Fame legend Johnny Bench that I will never forget.

My brothers and I always traded baseball cards at night, spread on the floor in the living room, listening to AM broadcasts of whatever games we could tune in through the static. On Monday nights though we’d trade in the radio for the TV and tune in to Monday Night Baseball.

And when I say tune in, I mean it quite literally.

We had a big antenna off the backside of the house, and a few minutes before game time we’d all take our spots—and I don’t mean laying claim to the best spots on the couch. No, we’d be setting up a relay of sorts that went something like this: my older brother in front of the TV shouting “better” or “worse” or “stop, right there, perfect!” … me by the backdoor to relay the message as loudly as possible to my younger brother, who would be outside turning the antenna manually, trying to position it just right, hoping to get a clear picture in time for the game. And of course sometimes the only way to get a clear picture was if a human hand was holding that thing steady at all times. It was times like that when not being the youngest of three brothers came in real handy. On those nights at least two of us would get to enjoy the game.

And then the glorious day finally arrived when our parents paid for a cable TV subscription and our lives were never the same. Oh, we still spent our summers outside and barefoot, playing ball, and getting in and out of trouble … but now our nights of trading baseball cards took on a new dimension thanks to TBS. The Braves became my new “team” soon enough, but more than anything else I became a diehard baseball fan.

And as you well know, trivia is part of being a diehard fan.

Our baseball cards were, of course, our earliest source of trivia questions. As we’d trade it was a matter of habit to challenge each other with the “Did you know?” questions in small print beneath the stats on the back of the cards. It was a matter of pride to be able to answer not only every one of those questions, but to also be able to cite the stats from the cards of our favorite players. We’d spend hours studying the most arcane bits of information.

Life was good already, but then in addition to TBS, one day we came home to find WGN and ESPN. Who knew there was so much to learn about our National Pastime?

I spent the better part of my childhood soaking up as much as possible … and I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything.

I’m as passionate about baseball today as I was then. Absolutely love the Braves, and I wish Bobby would change his mind and come back one more year. Geographically my family has picked up another team as well—Tampa Bay—and we’re big time fans of Carl Crawford and the Rays, and not just the fair-weather variety, we’ve been faithfully attending games at The Trop every season since Tampa began play in the A.L.

More than anything though, I’m still a diehard fan of the game, I love everything about it—I’ve loved playing it, watching it, coaching it, and writing about it, but I’ve never grown tired of it.

I spent more time researching this new volume of trivia questions than for any book I’ve previously written—and I hope it challenges and entertains you, but more than anything I hope it stirs your passion for our National Pastime, by far the greatest game in the world.

Tucker Elliot

Tampa, FL

August 2010

Now available in Paperback ($6.95) and Kindle ($1.29) using the following links:

Major League Baseball IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom (Paperback) $6.95
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Major League Baseball IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom

……………………….Tampa Bay Rays IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom

……………………….Cincinnati Reds IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom

…….Boston Red Sox: An Interactive Guide to the World of Sports (Sports by the Numbers)

Florida Gators IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom (Trivia & History)

Florida Gators IQ

Are you a rookie? Are you a tested, hardcore veteran? Or will you be clearing waivers for your pending release halfway through the book? We’ll let you know. Ten chapters, 200 brand new questions, fascinating history, the best trivia from every era of the game, and all the big name players you’d expect to find, MLB IQ is the most comprehensive and challenging book of baseball trivia available today.

Test your skills. Wrack your brain. It’s your MLB IQ, the ultimate test of true fandom!

Major League Baseball IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom

The following is from the Fayette County Public Schools website.

Major Leaguer Touts Perseverance at Meadowthorpe

By Tammy Lane

John Shelby, who grew up playing baseball at Douglass and Castlewood parks and Henry Clay High School, always aspired to the major leagues. And despite some setbacks and bumps in the road, he made it – both as a player and a coach.

Such achievements do not come without perseverance, he told students at Meadowthorpe Elementary School.

“You have parents, teachers and other people willing to help you overcome failures and give you confidence. If you’re determined, there’s nothing you can’t do, so I encourage you – Don’t give up,” said Shelby, now an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The two-time World Series champion and Lexington native dropped by Meadowthorpe at the invitation of Principal Joel Katte, who himself played a year in the minor leagues. Katte, whose staff uses the book “The Leader in Me” to bolster students, said Shelby’s story fit well with this month’s theme.

“Not everybody’s comfortable taking risks and chances, and we want our kids to know it’s OK to fail. When times are tough and you think you can’t make it, you have to persevere,” he said. “It doesn’t just happen. It’s hard work and perseverance. The more they hear stories and hear it’s possible, the more they’ll be excited.”

Shelby, who played with several organizations including the Orioles, Dodgers, Tigers and Red Sox, talked about his longtime MLB dream, his move from shortstop to the outfield, and the grueling schedule’s toll on his family life.

With 25 players per team and only nine positions on the field, the competition was fierce.

“They all have talent. Some run faster, throw harder or hit better,” Shelby noted. “If I was going to fulfill my dream, it would take a lot of hard work.”

Early on, at age 21, one of the hardest transitions was learning to switch hit. “I struggled every day and went home frustrated because I couldn’t get it together,” he recalled.

His mother urged him not to quit and assured him things would turn around. Sure enough, with about three weeks left in the season, Shelby found some success as a lefty. Even though he hit a disappointing .201, he later realized his coach was pleased with his dedication and progress.

“It gave me a lot of confidence the next season,” he told the youngsters.

He also grew more comfortable snagging fly balls. “After a lot of hours and a lot of batting practice, I learned how to be an outfielder, and defense became my specialty,” he said.

Shelby, who now mentors major-league outfielders and hitters, encouraged the Meadowthorpe students to set their own goals and always stand firm.

“It’s a big world out there, and you can make a positive impact by doing things the right way,” he said. “When you get older, you’ll be proud because you never gave up on yourself.”

BM: Did you think the Cardinals had any chance of winning the World Series before the 2011 season began?

LU: I was optimistic after the Cardinals signed Lance Berkman.  I thought he’d welcome the chance to get back into the NL Central after the Astros traded him to the Yankees mid-way through the 2010 season.  Going over to that pressure-cooker environment in New York had to be tough, especially since he was unfamiliar with most of the pitchers in the American League.  On top of all that, he was playing hurt most of the year.  I felt if he could stay healthy in 2011, he’d give the Cards a big offensive boost, although I never expected the boost to be as big as it turned out to be!

Of course, before Spring Training even began, the announcement came out that Adam Wainwright was going to miss the entire season with Tommy John surgery.  So there goes twenty wins.  I thought they were pretty much dead; even if they got into the post season, I didn’t think they’d have enough pitching to get very far.  The Phillies seemed to be invincible; who could possibly beat them?

Then there was the issue of Albert Pujols’ pending free-agency; it was a huge distraction which obviously hurt his performance.  So yes, in the early going, the Cardinals looked like anything but a championship team.

BM: When did you begin to think they might have a chance of at least reaching the post season?

LU: I had some false hope early on; they were somehow managing to win more often than not for the first couple of months of the season, despite having a horrible bullpen.  Then Pujols broke a bone in his hand just when he was starting to hit, which was supposed to sideline him for over a month.  Even though he came back after just a couple of weeks, the bullpen woes continued; they blew game after game, in the most agonizing ways imaginable.  When the Brewers started pulling away in late July, it was apparent the Redbirds had no chance of winning the Central division; meanwhile, the Wild Card seemed out of reach as well; the Braves were playing extremely well, and they had a great bullpen.

To answer your question, I started getting a glimmer of hope in mid-September after the Cardinals swept a three-game series at home over the Braves, which put them only four and a half games back in the Wild Card race.  My optimism peaked when the red-hot Cardinals won a thrilling come-from-behind game over the Mets at Busch Stadium on September 21.  David Freese’s opposite-field home run was the game winner.  They were now only two games out, with six games to play.

BM: I think I know where you’re headed with this.  The next day, the Cardinals blew a five-run ninth-inning lead, losing to the Mets, 8-6.  Then they lost the first game of a three-game series at home against the Cubs; when the Braves won, that put the Cards three games back with only five to play.  How were you liking their chances now?

LU: Realistically, I thought they were dead again.  I underestimated their unrelenting desire to win as well as the extent of the free-fall the Braves were experiencing.  Little did I know, the Braves would fail to win any of the five remaining games; the Cardinals, on the other hand, would fail to win just one of their five remaining games.  Unbelievable!

BM: Albert Pujols finished strong, to say the least.  After the Redbirds rallied in Game 6 of the World Series, then came back to win Game 7, did you think he would finally come to terms with the front office on a long-term contract that would allow him to finish his career with the Cardinals?

LU: Yes, I was hopeful that he would put aside whatever bothered him about the way the negotiations were handled, and stay where he belonged – in St Louis, as a Cardinal.  I’m disappointed that he decided to walk away from the millions of fans who idolized him; to forsake his great Cardinal legacy; and to walk away from his teammates after they had fought off so much adversity, to win it all.  Certainly, his new contract is paying him top dollar, so he went where the money was.  In the end, it was a business decision; for the fans who became emotionally attached to this amazing ballplayer, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.  Where’s the loyalty to all those fans who supported him, unconditionally?  Cardinal Nation will survive, but there will always be a lingering feeling of resentment about his decision to walk away.

BM: Were you surprised by Tony LaRussa’s decision to finally retire as manager of the Cardinals?

LU: Yes, initially I was completely shocked by it.  But, he was going out on top, so it was the perfect ending for the greatest manager this franchise has ever known.  It’s definitely the end of an era in St Louis Cardinals baseball – first with TRL’s retirement, followed up by Albert’s departure.  But change is inevitable, and usually for the better.  I’m optimistic for the future of this franchise; at least for the next couple of years.

BM: Would you be surprised to see the Cardinals repeat in 2012?

LU: Normally, I would be very surprised; the franchise has never won back-to-back World Championships.  In fact, they usually have a very sub-par year following a World Series championship.  Making things more challenging is losing the services of the game’s greatest player and trying to regroup with a new field manager on the job for 2012.  However, after the impossible events that happened this past season – especially in the post season – most notably, in Game 6 of the World Series, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see them win it again in 2012; not even in the slightest!

BM: Thanks, Larry! Now readers … for a limited time, beginning Saturday, 7 January through Monday, 9 January, you can use the link below to purchase Larry Underwood’s St. Louis Cardinals IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom, Volume II for FREE in the Amazon Kindle Store. Take advantage of this limited time offer and enjoy a great book. We’d ask that you also take the time to come back to Amazon after you’ve read it and consider writing a positive review for the book.

FREE KINDLE EDITION: St. Louis Cardinals IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom

For those who do not own a Kindle, there are many Kindle apps available for smart phones and desktop and laptop computers … but you can also take advantage of the following offer and purchase both printed editions of Cardinals IQ, Volumes I & II for the incredibly low price of just $6.95! This offer will be good for one week only, so please order now.

Click the link on the right beneath the search bar, or follow this link to take advantage of this special offer! ————————————–//

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