| MONDAY — 21-Apr-2025
Q. Which manager’s World Series move did the Boston Globe call, ” the gutsiest move in history.”?
Hint: #1 He had the nickname “America’s Guest” for the amount of time he spent in ballpark press rooms.
Hint: #2 He is known by his middle name which itself is the result of a hospital stay his grandmother had.
A. MAYO SMITH [SABR Bio]
– Ans. Smith’s move of CF Mickey Stanley to shortstop for the World Series is widely admired as one of the savviest in WS memory.
– #1 During Smith’s time as the New York Yankees’ superscout, we became well-known and well-liked for his generosity of spirit and of time.
– #2 Edward Mayo Smith resulted because of his grandmother’s positive experience at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
FCR – Tom Veal, Spanaway, Washington
TUESDAY — 22-Apr-2025
Q. Which Maryland native was so overcome with emotion during his Hall of Fame induction speech that he could not continue?
Hint: #1 He mentored a young Jackie Robinson and later recommended Larry Doby to Bill Veeck.
Hint: #2 There are multiple theories behind the origin of his nickname, but what is certain is that it stuck with him throughout his playing days.
A. JUDY JOHNSON [SABR Bio]
– Ans. Johnson, born in Snow Hill, Maryland. went into the Hall in 1975.
– #1 In spite of his youthful appearance during his playing days, he became an elder statesman for many young Negro League players.
– #2 “Judy” came from a comic strip character or possibly a vaudeville routine or is possibly a corruption of his middle name Julius.
FCR – Willis Kern, Ft. Myers, Florida
WEDNESDAY — 23-Apr-2025
Q. Which Hall of Famer hit safely in all fourteen opening day games he played in?
Hint: #1 Al Rosen tied his record for All-Star Game runs-batted-in, but nobody has even come close recently to his career All-Star Game RBI record.
Hint: #2 He once said, “All managers are losers. They are the most expendable pieces of furniture on the face of the earth.”
A. TED WILLIAMS [SABR Bio]
– Ans. Over those 14 Opening Day appearances1939-42, 1946-60, Williams compiled a .449 batting avg & hit 3 HR.
– #1 Williams (1946) & Rosen (1954) each had an ASG w/5 RBI, but only The Splendid Splinter accumulated 12 career All-Star RBIs.
– #2 Perhaps he was thinking of Vice-Presidents?
FCR – Terry Walters, Wabasha, Minnesota
THURSDAY — 24-Apr-2025
Q. Which BBTR pitcher had the lowest qualifying ERA in any of the first thirteen seasons of the Deadball Era?
Hint: #1 He was the first native of Indiana to be elected to the Hal of Fame.
Hint: #2 His agrarian upbringing played a large part in the success of his Hall of Fame pitching career.
A. MORDECAI BROWN [SABR Bio]
– Ans. Brown’s 1.04 ERA for CHC in 1906 was the best until Babe Ruth’s teammate, Dutch Leonard, posted a 0.96 in 1914. Deadball Era = 1901-1919 .
– #1 Brown was born in Nyesville, Indiana. Made it to the HOF in 1945, the 1st of 12 Indianan HOFers.
– #2 He got the nickname “Three Finger” because of a childhood farming accident. He lost parts of two fingers on his right hand which, counterintuitively, gave him an advantageous grip on the ball. It led his pitches to have some dramatic movement, in fact, his curveball was said to be among the most unhittable ever.
FCR – Andy Knobel, Columbia, Maryland
FRIDAY — 25-Apr-2025
Q. Which BLTR Pennsylvanian played for three different major leagues and managed in two?
Hint: #1 The year managed a team to a World Series championship, he tied for the team lead in home runs hit.
Hint: #2 His name seems to indicate that he wasn’t meant to be a pitcher.
A. FIELDER JONES [SABR Bio]
– Ans. Jones played in the NL (1896-1900), the AL (1901-1908) & the FL (1914-15). He managed in the AL (1904-08, 1916-18) & the FL (1914-15).
– #1 Jones led the “Hitless Wonders” 1906 White Sox to a WS victory over the soon-to-be-semi-dynastic Cubs. In ‘06, Jones & Billy Sullivan each tied for the team lead with a brace of HR.
– #2 He was named after his great uncle, Fielder Alsor Jones, a Civil War general who became an attorney and newspaper publisher after his military service.
FCR – Mike McCroskey, Sugar Land, Texas
FRIDAY TWICE — 24-Apr-2025
Q. Who was the only person to be a major league manager of both Nolan Ryan and Bert Blyleven?
Hint: #1 He won the D-level League Wisconsin State Triple Crown in 1951 with the Oshkosh Giants.
Hint: #2 He joined the Rockies’ coaching staff at the age of seventy-nine.
A. DAVE GARCIA [SABR Bio]
– Ans. Managed Ryan w/CAL in 1977–78. Managed Blyleven w/CLE in 1981–82.
– #1 With Oshkosh he hit .369 with 23 home runs and 127 RBIs.
– #2 Garcia held various coaching and scouting positions with several MLB teams, including the SDP (1970-73), CLE (1975-79), MIL (1983-84) & joined the Rockies as a coach in 2000 at the age of 79 and stay through 2002.
FCR – Randall Chandler, Germantown, Tennessee
TRI-FRI — 25-Apr-2025
Q. Which Maryland native influenced the pitching fortunes of, among others,
Mike Boddicker,
Bert Blyleven,
Norm Charlton,
Doug Drabek,
Scott Erickson,
Mike Flanagan,
Steve Howe,
Jimmy Key,
Scott McGregor,
Mike Mussina,
Denny Neagle,
Jesse Orosco,
Jim Palmer,
Dan Plesac,
Rick Reuschel,
Arthur Rhodes,
John Smiley,
Zane Smith,
Steve Stone,
Frank Viola,
Tim Wakefield,
et al.
Hint: #1 He ended Cal Ripken’s consecutive-games-played streak.
Hint: #2 His team’s general manager told The Los Angeles Times, “If you want to be the best, and we do, you’ve got to get the best people, and [he] is the best pitching coach in baseball.”
Hint: #3 He developed a mantra that became a motto.
A. RAY MILLER [B-R Bio]
– Ans. Born on April 30, 1945, in Takoma Park, Maryland. He was the pitching coach and/or manager of BAL, MIN & PIT.
– #1 On 20-Sep-1998, Ripken approached Miller in his office to announce that he was voluntarily ending his record streak at 2,632. Miller then tabbed rookie Ryan Minor to replace Ripken at third base that evening.
– #2 Quote is from Syd Thrift, PIT GM, upon signing Miller.
– #3 Quoth Miller, “Work fast. Change speeds. Throw strikes.” Those six words were even printed on T-shirts and are still quoted (or paraphrased) by pitching coaches.
FCR – Terry Gans, San Carlos, California
SATURDAY — 26-Apr-2025
Q. Who hit more triples in one season than any other switch-hitter?
Hint: #1 He once had more RBI in a season than the number of games he played.
Hint: #2 His robust moustache helped offset his youthful appearance.
A. GEORGE DAVIS [SABR Bio]
– Ans. Davis had 27 triples in 1893. No other BBTR or BBTL had more, before or since 1893.
– #1 In 1897 Davis played in 131 G for NYG & racked up 135 RBI.
– #2 His moustache filled in handsomely, helping him look the part.
FCR – Bill Gemmell, York, Maine
SUNDAY — 27-Apr-2025
Q. Who was the first Hall of Famer raised in Washington, D.C.?
Hint: #1 He debuted with Baltimore, quickly establishing himself as a dominant hitter.
Hint: #2 His sobriquet is an example of baseball onomatopoeia.
A. JUD WILSON [SABR Bio]
– Ans. Wilson was born in Remington, Virginia (Fauquier County), but moved to Washington as a teenager. He attended high school there in “Deecee” (as locals call it).
– #1 He debuted with the Baltimore Black Sox in 1922 and immediately became one of the Negro Leagues’ most feared hitters.
– #2 His nickname “Boojum” was said to be the sound his line drives made as they hit outfield walls.
FCR – Gabe Kinstlinger, Reisterstown, Maryland
WEEK’S FINALE — 27-Apr-2025
Q. Who was the first Puerto Rican-born manager in major league baseball history?
Hint: #1 Only after his final year did his career managing record dip below .500.
Hint: #2 He managed his national team in the World Baseball Classic.
A. EDWIN RODRIGUEZ [Wiki Bio]
– Ans. He managed the Florida Marlins during parts of the 2010 & 2011 seasons.
– #1 His record was 46-46 in 2010. His record in 2011 was 32-39 (.451) ending his career managerial record at 78-85 (.479). His bosses brought back 80-year-old Jack McKeon to finish the year.
– #2 . He managed the Puerto Rican national team in the 2013 & 2017 World Baseball Classic, leading the squad to the silver medal in both tournaments. Rodriguez was scheduled to manage the El Paso Chihuahuas in 2020 before the season was cancelled due to Covid-19.
FCR – Kanya Honoki, Nara, Japan
WEEK’S THEME – Major league managers—in order—whose last names correspond with the 10 most common last names, based on U. S. Census Data:
- Smith, Mayo
- Johnson, Judy
- Williams, Ted
- Brown, Mordecai
- Jones, Fielder
- Garcia, Dave
- Miller, Ray
- Davis, George
- Wilson, Jud
10. Rodriguez, Edwin
First Correct Respondent identifying theme – Andy Knobel, Columbia, Maryland (after Miller)
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