Opinion: Columnist tests your baseball IQ
Washington ? Visiting a struggling pitcher on the mound, Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver advised, “If you know how to cheat, start now.” Be advised that Googling is cheating as you try to identify:
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The player who compiled at least 400 total bases in five different seasons (no one else did it in four).
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Which three players hit 500 home runs but never struck out 85 times in a season.
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The last player to steal 100 bases in one season.
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The four players to steal a base in four decades.
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Before Madison Bumgarner last year, the only pitcher to win three world championships before age 26.
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The only World Series between teams with fewer than 90 regular season wins.
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The MVP who played the most games (65) as DH.
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Which two of the five players with the highest career batting averages are not in the Hall of Fame.
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The pitcher who started a World Series game one for three teams.
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Which team today has gone the longest without appearing in the postseason.
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The only pitcher to lead the majors in ERA four consecutive years.
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The two post-World War II pitchers to win 20 games in fewer than 30 starts.
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The only pitcher to give up seven or more earned runs in consecutive postseason starts.
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The manager with 20 consecutive winning seasons.
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The manager with the highest winning percentage.
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The player who pitched five shutouts in his first seven starts.
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The only rookie to win a Cy Young award.
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The player who won consecutive batting titles for the 1951 and 1952 Philadelphia A’s.
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The first pitcher to win at least 30 games in three consecutive seasons.
20 The two pitchers with 373 wins.
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Which pitcher won the most games in a three-year period.
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Who has received the most Hall of Fame votes without being admitted.
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Who over 12 seasons led first basemen in home runs, RBIs, total bases, extra-base hits and OPS.
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In the 500 home run club, whose strikeouts per home run ratio of 1.74 is second to Ted Williams’ record of 1.36.
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The only player to hit at least .300, with at least 30 doubles, 30 homers and 100 RBIs in 10 consecutive seasons.
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Which three pitchers won their league’s triple crown (wins, strikeouts, ERA) three times.
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The only current major league city never to host a World Series.
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Who played the most games at shortstop and has the highest fielding percentage (minimum 1,000 games).
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The only team to make the playoffs while finishing last in the major leagues in home runs and walks.
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The pitcher with the most consecutive wins.
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Who is fifth, behind Mark McGwire, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds and Jim Thome, in the best ratio of at bats per home run.
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Who won three of the first four American League batting titles.
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The two hitters with two 20 home run seasons before their 21st birthdays.
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The leader in career games pitched.
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The pitcher with the most strikeouts in a season in the 1980s.
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The three players who hold their franchises’ records for singles, doubles, triples and home runs.
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How many times Greg Maddux led the league in strikeouts.
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The pitcher who had 999 walks with three games remaining in his career, and walked no one in those three.
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The highest career batting average for a career that began after WWII.
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The first National Leaguer to hit 500 home runs.
Bonus question: Who, explaining how cold weather can shorten by 25 feet the distance a fly ball travels, said: “If the fence is 338 feet [away] and you hit the ball 338 feet, you’ll be 25 feet short.”
Answers:
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Lou Gehrig
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Mel Ott, Gary Sheffield, Ted Williams
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Vince Coleman (1987)
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Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines, Omar Vizquel, Ted Williams
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Vida Blue
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2014
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Don Baylor (1979)
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Joe Jackson and Lefty O’Doul
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Jack Morris (Detroit Tigers, 1984; Minnesota Twins, 1991; Toronto Blue Jays, 1992)
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Toronto Blue Jays
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Clayton Kershaw
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Clayton Kershaw, Pedro Martinez
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Clayton Kershaw
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Joe McCarthy
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Joe McCarthy (61.5)
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Fernando Valenzuela
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Fernando Valenzuela
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Ferris Fain
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Christy Mathewson (1903-05)
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Grover Cleveland Alexander, Christy Mathewson
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Walter Johnson (97, 1912-14)
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Gil Hodges
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Gil Hodges
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Albert Pujols
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Albert Pujols
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Grover Cleveland Alexander, Walter Johnson, Sandy Koufax
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Seattle
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Omar Vizquel
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2014 Royals
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Carl Hubbell (24 in 1936-37)
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Ralph Kiner (one home run every 14.1 at bats)
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Nap Lajoie
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Tony Conigliaro, Bryce Harper
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Jesse Orosco
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Mike Scott (306 in 1986)
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George Brett, Stan Musial, Robin Yount
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Zero
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Greg Maddux
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Tony Gwynn (.338)
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Mel Ott
Bonus answer: Ralph Kiner, of course.