Baseball quick quiz

1. Last season, Alex Rodriguez of the Texas Rangers became the third player in major league history to hit 50-plus homers and win a Gold Glove award in the same season. Collect five points for each of the other two players you can identify who accomplished this feat.

2. There have been only four players in St. Louis Cardinals team history to hit at least 40 home runs in one year. Name two of these four sluggers to collect ten points.

3. For ten points, name two of the three big league pitchers to have a 20-win season as a starter and save 40 games in another year as a reliever.

4. Which one of these following major league managers never had a 30-homer season in the majors: Joe Torre, Dusty Baker, Felipe Alou, Frank Robinson or Bob Brenly?

5. Among the following players, who finished his career with the highest on-base percentage (.385): Lou Brock, Pete Rose, Maury Wills or Tim Raines?

6. There have been only three players to hit as many as 30 home runs with 100 RBI in each of their first two major league seasons. Collect ten points if you can identify one of these three players.

7. There have been five players who have won a Gold Glove award while playing with three different teams including Jim Kaat, Bob Boone, Bobby Shantz and Vic Power. Who is the only other player to accomplish this feat: Robin Ventura, Devon White, Roberto Alomar or Matt Williams?

8. Among the 19 players who have hit 500 career home runs in the major leagues, Eddie Murray holds the lowest lifetime slugging percentage at .476. Who is the only other member of the 500 Home Run Club to have a slugging average below .500: Harmon Killebrew, Reggie Jackson, Eddie Mathews or Ernie Banks?

9. The 3,000 hit plateau has been reached by 25 players in baseball history. Only four of those 25 players never led their league in hits during a single Season. Among the four are Eddie Collins, Eddie Murray and Lou Brock. Who is the only other player to collect 3,000 hits during his career without ever being the seasonal leader in his league in that category: Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Cal Ripken or George Brett?

10. Through his 300th victory earlier this season, Roger Clemens had only 116 complete games. Who is the only other 300-game winner to complete fewer than 200 games: Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Don Sutton or Phil Niekro?

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

Answers

1. Besides Alex Rodriguez, the only other players to hit 50 homers and win a Gold Glove award in the same season are Willie Mays in 1965 and Ken Griffey, Jr. in 1997 and 1998.

2. The only four players to hit 40 or more home runs in one season for the St. Louis Cardinals are Rogers Hornsby (42) in 1922, Johnny Mize (43) in 1940, Mark McGwire (70) in 1998, (65) in 1999 and Jim Edmonds (42) in 2000.

3. The three major league pitchers to post a 20-win season and a 40-save campaign during their careers are Dennis Eckersley, John Smoltz and Derek Lowe. Eckersley won 20 games for the Red Sox in 1978 and had 40-save seasons with the A's in 1988, 1990-1992. Smoltz won 24 contests in 1996 and saved 55 games in 2002 for the Braves. Lowe recorded 42 saves for the Red Sox in 2000 and won 21 games for them in 2002.

4. Arizona skipper Bob Brenly never hit 30 homers in a season in the big leagues. His single-season high was 20 in 1984 for the Giants. Dusty Baker hit 30 for the Dodgers in 1977, Felipe Alou clubbed 31 for the Braves in 1966, Joe Torre belted 36 for the Braves in 1966, and Frank Robinson reached the 30-HR plateau 11 times during his career.

5. Tim Raines completed his 23-year major league career with a .385 on-base percentage. Lou Brock finished with a .344 mark, Pete Rose, .377, and Maury Wills, .331.

6. The three players to hit 30 home runs and record 100 RBI in each of their first two years in the major leagues are Rudy York, Jose Canseco and Albert Pujols.

7. Besides Jim Kaat (Twins, White Sox, Phillies), Bob Boone (Phillies, Angels, Royals), Bobby Shantz (Yankees, Cardinals, Pirates) and Vic Power (Indians, Twins, Angels), the only other player to win a Gold Glove award with three different teams is Roberto Alomar. Alomar captured Gold Glove honors as a member of the Blue Jays, Orioles and Indians.

8. Other than Eddie Murray, the only other player to hit 500 or more lifetime home runs and end his career with a slugging percentage below .500 was Reggie Jackson who hit 563 homers with a .490 slugging average.

9. Besides Eddie Collins, Eddie Murray and Lou Brock, the only other member of the 3,000 Hit Club never to pace his league in hits was Dave Winfield. Rickey Henderson led the A.L. in hits in 1981, Cal Ripken paced the A.L. in 1983 and George Brett was the A.L. leader in safeties in 1975, 1976, 1979.

10. Roger Clemens joined Don Sutton as the only pitchers with 300 or more lifetime victories while completing fewer than 200 games during their careers. Sutton won 324 games in the majors while recording 178 complete games.