Baseball quick quiz

Baseball Digest, May, 2008

Collect ten points for each question answered correctly. Answers on page 130

(If you score 80 or better, you are a baseball expert; 70 or better, superior; between 60 and 70, good, and between 40 and 60, average.

1. At the end of the 2007 season, there were nine active players in the major leagues who hit 30 or more home runs in a season with three or more different teams. Collect ten points if you can identify four of these nine sluggers.

2. Who is the only major league player to hit grand slams on Opening Day twice during his career: Scott Rolen, Alex Rodriguez, Sixto Lezcano or John Jaha?

3. Since 1900, who is the only pitcher in the majors to lead his league in victories with three different teams: Roger Clemens, Gaylord Perry, Pedro Martinez or Curt Schilling?

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4. True or False. Last season Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki led all players at their position in putouts, assists and fielding percentage but neither won a Gold Glove.

5. Since 1900, there have been 45 players who have struck out five times in a nine-inning game. Only one player has whiffed five times in one game twice, who is he: Adam Dunn, Dick Allen, Bobby Bonds, or Reggie Jackson?

6. At the end of the 2007 season, Sandy Alomar, Jr. was one of nine active players who have had a 30-game hitting streak in the major leagues. Collect ten points if you can name four of the other eight.

7. In 2007, Kenny Lotion hit seven home runs for the Texas Rangers, the 10th major league team he has homered for during his career. Who holds the record for hitting a home run for the most clubs (11): Rickey Henderson, Tommy Davis, Dave Martinez or Todd Zeile?

8. Last year, Micah Owings of the Diamondbacks hit two home runs in one game. Who was the last pitcher before Owings to accomplish this feat: Mike Hampton, Darren Dreifort, Robert Person or Randy Wolf?

9. Who is the only active player to have 1,000 or more career hits for two different teams: Ivan Rodriguez, Vladimire Guerrero, Gary Sheffield or Manny Ramirez?

10. Which one of the following Hall of Fame pitchers never lost 20 or more games in a season: Steve Carlton, Fergie Jenkins, Robin Roberts or Phil Niekro?

Answers

1. Active players at the close of the 2007 season who hit 30 or more homers in a season with three different teams were Tony Batista (Orioles, Blue Jays, Expos), Gary Sheffield (Padres, Marlins, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees), Carlos Delgado (Blue Jays, Marlins, Mets), Troy Glaus (Angels, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays), Carlos Lee (White Sox, Brewers, Astros), Alex Rodriguez (Mariners. Rangers, Yankees), Richie Sexson (Indians, Brewers, Mariners), Alfonso Soriano (Yankees, Rangers, Nationals, Cubs) and Jim Thome (Indians, Phillies, White Sox).

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2. Sixto Lezcano is the only player to hit a grand slam on Opening Day twice during his career. He did it for the Brewers on April 7, 1978 and on April 10, 1980.

3. Gaylord Perry is the only pitcher to lead the league in victories with three different teams. He paced the N.L. in wins for the Giants in 1970 (23) and Padres in 1978 (21) and topped the A.L. in 1972 with the Indians (24).

4. True. Brandon Phillips led all N.L. second basemen last season in assists, putouts and fielding percentage, but the Gold Glove was awarded to Orlando Hudson of Arizona. Troy Tulowitzki topped N.L. shortstops in the same three categories but the Gold Glove went to Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies.

5. The only player to strike out five times in a nine-inning game twice was Dick Allen who did it on June 28, 1964 with the Phillies and on May 24, 1970 with the Cardinals.

6. The eight other active major league players besides Sandy Alomar, Jr. at the end of the 2007 season to have a 30-game hitting streak are Jimmy Rollins, Luis Castillo, Chase Utley, Vladimir Guerrero, Nomar Garciaparra, Luis Gonzalez, Albert Pujols and Willy Taveras.

7. Todd Zeile holds the major league mark for homering with the most differnt clubs (11). Zeile homered for the Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies, Orioles, Dodgers, Marlins, Rangers, Mets, Rockies, Yankees and Expos.

8. Before Micah Owings in 2007, Randy Wolf was the last big league pitcher to club two home runs in one games. Wolf did it for the Phillies on August 11, 2004 against the Colorado Rockies.

9. Manny Ramirez, through 2007, was the only active player to collect 1,000 or more hits with two different clubs. At the start of the '08 campaign, he had 1,123 hits with the Red Sox and 1,086 with the Indians.

10. Fergie Jenkins never lost as many as 20 games in a single season.