Hint: #1 Earlier that year, he (not Ryan) hit a grand slam single.

Hint: #2 He hit one of the most famous home runs in San Diego Padres postseason history.

Friday’s question answered:

Q. Who would have denied Roger Clemens winning the American League ERA title in Clemens’ MVP season if he had pitched five more innings.

Hint: #1 He (not Clemens) was, however, the American League Rookie Pitcher of the Year that year.

Hint: #2 Because of an injury to his pitching shoulder in his brief debut season he developed a very effective sidearm delivery.

A. MARK EICHHORN [SABR Bio]

– Ans. In his MVP season, Clemens’ ERA was 2.48 and ed the AL. Eichhorn’s was the American League’ ERA leader with 1.78, .a good margin ahead of winner Clemens, but he fell 5 innings pitcher short of qualifying for the award.  TOR manager Jimy Williams offered him a chance to get those 5 innings with a start at the end of the season, but Eichhorn declined.

– #1 In addition to the AL ROTY award, Eichhorn set TOR team records for rookie relief in ERA, games (69), wins (14) & strikeouts 166, all career bests.

– #2 His injury in 1982 influenced the rest of his career because as he healed, he began throwing with a release below his waist & found that he could do so with good accuracy.

FCR – Jason Winston, Riverside, California