Sports trivia thread 2023 -
Mick - 05-01-2023
[Previous trivia thread:
https://thecardboard.org/board/showthread.php?tid=24231]
OK, here's one.
I was called the "Minor League Babe Ruth." Like Ruth, I started out as a pitcher and won 108 games pitching for the Oakland Oaks, including four seasons of 19+ wins. Major league scouts recruited me, but my best pitch was the outlawed (by MLB, not by the PCL) spitball. And overuse caught up with me, and I couldn't pitch any more. In a photo with me, Gehrig and Ruth, I was clearly the largest player.
I held the minor league career home run record of 432 until very recently. I played mainly on the Oakland Oaks and hit more than 30 home runs most seasons, hitting 54 one year for the Baltimore Orioles when they were in the International League. I hit for a career .341 average with a .925 OPS. Like Ruth, I swung a heavy bat, 44 ounces.
In my only season in the major leagues as a 32 year old, I hit .319/.387/.538/.925 and was fourth in the NL in home runs. But I was such a poor fielder, the Phillies wouldn't bring me back, and no other team would hire me. I played in the minors until I was 38, although statistically speaking, I fielded .974 as a first baseman with three errors all season. I was also so obnoxious, that an umpire hit me with his face mask, opening up a gash that required 12 stitches.
In 1984, the Society for American Baseball Research (Sabremetrics) voted me the most Outstanding minor league ballplayer in history. After my retirement, the Oakland Oaks brought me back to celebrate me as the "Mightiest Oak of All Time." They expected 6,000 people, and 12,000 showed up, 15 years after I last played for the Oaks.
Who am I?
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
BobK - 05-01-2023
Buzz. I think last name started with A.
Long ago but I’ve read about him. That also long ago
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
Mick - 05-01-2023
(05-01-2023, 08:14 AM)BobK Wrote: Buzz. I think last name started with A.
Long ago but I’ve read about him. That also long ago
Right on the first try, Bob. Buzz Arlett. In the photo below, Gehrig is 6' even, Ruth is 6'2" and Arlett is 6'4".
Buzz Arlett – Society for American Baseball Research (sabr.org)
Buzz Arlett - Wikipedia
Buzz Arlett Minor Leagues Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
terry - 05-01-2023
Good question, Mick. That's an interesting piece of history.
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
terry - 05-04-2023
Who are the eight active players with more than 300 home runs?
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
BobK - 05-04-2023
Carbera. Hmm if he’s still playing
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
terry - 05-04-2023
(05-04-2023, 10:22 AM)BobK Wrote: Carbera. Hmm if he’s still playing
Correct. Cabrera has 507 home runs.
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
BobK - 05-04-2023
Trout
Harper
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
Mick - 05-04-2023
Barry Bonds. I don't think he's formally retired yet... ;)
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
terry - 05-04-2023
(05-04-2023, 10:29 AM)BobK Wrote: Trout
Harper
Yes, Trout is one of the eight active players with 300 HRs. He has 358, which ranks 4th among active players.
Not Harper. He probably will reach 300 homers later this year, but right now he has 285.
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
BobK - 05-04-2023
Stanton
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
Leftcoast - 05-04-2023
Interesting question - the old guard has recently retired and some of the new guys are JUST short (Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, etc).
Off the top of my head Goldschmidt, Trout, Vatto, Pujols (is he active?). I'm having a hard time with this.
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
terry - 05-04-2023
(05-04-2023, 10:54 AM)BobK Wrote: Stanton
Correct. Stanton has 382 homers, which ranks third among active players.
(05-04-2023, 10:55 AM)Leftcoast Wrote: Interesting question - the old guard has recently retired and some of the new guys are JUST short (Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, etc).
Off the top of my head Goldschmidt, Trout, Vatto, Pujols (is he active?). I'm having a hard time with this.
You are correct on Goldschmidt (319) and Votto (342). Also Trout, as previously noted.
Not Pujols. He retired. I'm also considering Bonds retired. :-)
You're right, Machado (287) isn't there yet. He's another guy who probably will reach 300 homers this year, along with Harper, as indicated above.
So far, we have 5 of the 8 active 300 homer guys:
507 Cabrera
382 Stanton
358 Trout
342 Votto
319 Goldschmidt
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
skip75 - 05-04-2023
Goldschmidt's fellow Giant-killer - Nolan Arenado?
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
terry - 05-04-2023
(05-04-2023, 11:49 AM)skip75 Wrote: Goldschmidt's fellow Giant-killer - Nolan Arenado?
Correct! Arenado has 301 homers.
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
Leftcoast - 05-04-2023
San Diego's Cruz? (another Giant killer, not that hitting against Giant's pitching has been tough recently)
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
terry - 05-04-2023
(05-04-2023, 02:56 PM)Leftcoast Wrote: San Diego's Cruz? (another Giant killer, not that hitting against Giant's pitching has been tough recently)
Correct, Nelson Cruz has 462 career home runs, which ranks second among active players. That leaves one more active player with 300 homers.
507 Cabrera
462 Cruz
382 Stanton
358 Trout
342 Votto
334 ???
319 Goldschmidt
301 Arenado
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
lex24 - 05-04-2023
(05-04-2023, 02:56 PM)Leftcoast Wrote: San Diego's Cruz? (another Giant killer, not that hitting against Giant's pitching has been tough recently)
Cruz has been part of the “last out revenge tour.” Cruz went 5-6 in game one in MC. Cabrera beat them with a 10th inning single. Perez beat them with a late 3 run HR.
(05-04-2023, 03:18 PM)terry Wrote: (05-04-2023, 02:56 PM)Leftcoast Wrote: San Diego's Cruz? (another Giant killer, not that hitting against Giant's pitching has been tough recently)
Correct, Nelson Cruz has 462 career home runs, which ranks second among active players. That leaves one more active player with 300 homers.
507 Cabrera
462 Cruz
382 Stanton
358 Trout
342 Votto
334 ???
319 Goldschmidt
301 Arenado
Abreu
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
terry - 05-05-2023
(05-04-2023, 07:21 PM)lex24 Wrote: (05-04-2023, 03:18 PM)terry Wrote: That leaves one more active player with 300 homers.
507 Cabrera
462 Cruz
382 Stanton
358 Trout
342 Votto
334 ???
319 Goldschmidt
301 Arenado
Abreu
Not Abreu. Hint: He played for the Giants, among other teams.
RE: Sports trivia thread 2022 -
Mick - 05-05-2023
Duvall?