Category: Hornsby News

The prospect of barbecue and good baseball conversation brought out 16 members and guests to the Rogers Hornsby Chapter’s 181st consecutive monthly meeting on Saturday, Dec. 18.

The lunch meeting at the County Line BBQ, the birthplace of the chapter 18 years ago, included talk of the Texas Rangers’ rash of big moves, the lockout and related startling absence of all current players and news from the MLB website, and the presumed expansion of postseason teams and use of the designated hitter. We were generally impressed by the home run potential of the Rangers’ infield and optimistic that the lockout will end without too much disruption to spring training. 

We also discussed the new independent team the Austin Weirdos, which currently lacks players or managers but does have some merchandise and a field in East Austin on which to play. Enthusiasm is high, and a chapter outing is surely on the horizon once the team actually gets going.

The esteemed leader of the annual season-long and postseason Predictatron contests, Jim Baker, presented two beautiful new trophies that he generously acquired and had engraved with all past winners to this year’s double winner, chapter commissioner Gilbert Martinez. Gilbert won with a rather low number of points since this year was pretty rough for all of us, as Jim noted, but a win is a win. Jim also read aloud all the names of the past regular-season winners, including that of chapter founder Bill Gilbert and quite a few folks in attendance.

The other big event of the day: Dan Walsh’s entertaining quiz about MVPs, which generated many laughs but also groans. The crossword-clue-style quiz seeking player names and the year they won MVP was tougher than it first appeared, and scores ranged from 1 point to winner Cy Morong’s 54. Second place went to Jim Baker with 34; both won a selection of postcards of baseball-related lithograph prints.  See the quiz and answers below.

Gilbert also announced that SABR is awarding a number of grants to chapters for creative projects. Contact chapter leadership with ideas.

The next meeting is the 16th Annual Bill Gilbert Annual Winter Meeting, to be held Saturday, Jan. 8, at Texas State University. 

MVP DEFINED By Dan Walsh
There’s a constant debate about how to define an MVP, and now we have a solution.  Below are 40 clues defining the name of an AL or NL MVP.  After you determine the MVPs full name, then provide the year he won the MVP award.  For a player who received more than one MVP, only need to indicate one year.
DEFINITION/CLUE	PLAYER’S NAME	MVP YEAR
Here’s to you Mrs. _________, Jesus loves you…
Farmer Hoggett’s runt
Government certificates with a fixed rate
American maker of guitars
Musician who plays a stringed instrument
Keaton of silent films
A machine for grinding up tree limbs
A type of bed that folds out of a wall
An L-shaped wrench
A medieval coin worth four pence
College or university official
A central Texas university
Gin, soda and lime cocktail
Historically black university in D.C.
Land sloping down to a river
A person who is not a slave
It sounds at the end of a round
An injury caused by exposure to heat or flames
Caring for a child that is not one’s own
Older brother of Moses
Manufacturer of motorcycles
County in southeast England
A grain product staple in Asia
A judge’s seat in court
An award-winning Broadway musical
Device used by a disabled person for support
A small group of trees
Legal documents for settling an estate
A cloak or covering
A limbless vertebrate valued as food
A barrel maker
A sly or cunning person
Bush that bears fragrant flowers
Capital of Mississippi
Birth name of Huck’s author
Parts of a hand
A dealer in supplies for ships or boats
A person who gives an oral presentation
Feeling depressed or sad
Hindu meditator
Scoring: 1 point for each correct player, 1 point for the correct year.  Total possible points = 80.

 

 

PLAYER                                                        MVP YEAR

Brooks/Jackie/or Frank ROBINSON    1964/1949/1961,66

BABE Ruth                                                 1923

Barry BONDS                                            1990-92-93, 2001-02-03-04

Bob or Kirk GIBSON                               1968 or 1988

Bryce HARPER                                         2015 or 2021

BUSTER Posey                                         2012

CHIPPER Jones                                        1999

Dale MURPHY                                          1982-83

Dick ALLEN                                               1972

Dick GROAT                                               1960

Dizzy DEAN                                                1934

Don BAYLOR                                              1979

Eddie COLLINS                                         1914

Elston or Ryan HOWARD                     1963 or 2006

Ernie BANKS                                              1958-59

Freddie FREEMAN                                   2020

George BELL                                               1987

George BURNS                                           1926

George FOSTER                                         1977

Hank AARON                                              1957

Ichiro SUZUKI                                           2001

Jeff KENT                                                    2000

Jim RICE                                                       1978

Johnny BENCH                                          1970-72

Josh HAMILTON                                       2010

Larry WALKER                                           1997

Lefty GROVE                                                1931

Maury WILLS                                              1962

Mickey MANTLE                                        1956-57-62

Mike TROUT                                                 2014-16-19

Mort COOPER                                               1942

Nellie FOX                                                      1959

Pete ROSE                                                       1973

Reggie JACKSON                                          1973

Roger CLEMENS                                          1986

Rollie FINGERS                                            1981

Spud CHANDLER                                        1943

Tris SPEAKER                                               1912

Vida BLUE                                                      1971

YOGI Berra                                                     1951-54-55                                  

The December meeting of the Rogers Hornsby Chapter will be held at the birthplace of the Chapter – the County Line BBQ located at 5204 Ranch Road 2222 in Austin (a short distance east of Hwy 360 on 2222) at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 18.  Members, guests and baseball fans in general are welcome to attend.

So we can have an accurate headcount, please RSVP to Jan Larson at jan.a.larson@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

Ten chapter members gabbed about the season that just was, the end-of-year awards, the upcoming clash between players and owners, the free agent market and the new collective bargaining agreement at the November meeting on Saturday.

We discussed how many of us weren’t surprised by Shohei Ohtani’s selection as the AL MVP but were surprised that the vote was unanimous. There was some discussion about Corbin Burnes edging out Zack Wheeler and Max Scherzer for the NL Cy Young Award, despite having the fewest innings pitched among the finalists.

While we enjoyed Mexican food at Serranos for lunch in Southwest Austin, some said they were looking forward to seeing how the negotiations between MLB owners and players will go, while others did not find that appetizing in the least.

Based on attendance, we had brief discussions of our favorite teams, among them (in alphabetical order): Angels, Astros, Dodgers, Mets, Orioles and Yankees.

We also talked about the Astros re-signing Justin Verlander and pondered where Carlos Correa might end up.

Among the teams and baseball-related attire were a sharp Seattle Pilots No. 56 Jim Bouton jersey worn by Jerry Miller. Thrilled by the recent signing of Noah Syndergaard, Don Dingee wore an Angels shirt. Jim Baker wore an Astros shirt, while Jan Larson, true to form, wore the cap from the most recent World Series champion, Atlanta Braves. Just two months removed from the induction ceremony at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Ira Siegel wore a “Class of 2020” shirt. Ryan Pollack wore a FanGraphs t-shirt featuring details from a modern baseball scorebook. I wore a Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters cap in honor of Ohtani, who played for the Fighters for five years in Japan before joining the Los Angeles Angels in 2018.

Joe Gallagher brought a bag of vintage baseball cards to give away over lunch. Lots of great cards to admire, including cards of Felipe Alou, Curt Flood, and an Astros 1970 Rookie Stars card featuring John Mayberry and Bob Watkins, among others.

This was the 180th consecutive month with a meeting, a streak that dates to December 2006.

If you haven’t already, save Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, on your calendar. We’re planning our 16th Annual Bill Gilbert Winter Meeting at Texas State University. More details to come.

The December meeting will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at County Line Bar-B-Q on the Lake in Northwest Austin.

The Rogers Hornsby Chapter will once again have an in-person lunch meeting on Sunday, November 21 starting at 1:00 p.m. at Serranos-Mopac at 5030 Highway 290 West, Austin, TX 78735 (near intersection of MoPac & 290).  Since we need a headcount in order to reserve tables, please RSVP to Jan Larson at jan.a.larson@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

 

After COVID-19 shut down a long chapter tradition last year, the World Series watch party at Jim Baker’s house returned in fine form on Saturday for Game 4.

Twelve chapter members and guests watched a tight ballgame in which the Astros put up two early runs while the Braves pitching staff stranded runners every inning. But back-to-back home runs by Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler in the 7th inning sealed the game for the Braves, who take a three-games-to-one lead in the World Series.

Jim provided delicious hot dogs, bratwurst, snacks and desserts for our enjoyment. Monte and Linda Cely brought tasty buckeyes and others brought an assortment of snacks and beverages.

Jerry Miller provided a fun trivia quiz that featured clues of ballplayers who share a name with another ballplayer or a celebrity or politician outside of baseball.

Host Jim Baker took top honors on the quiz (pictured below, left), earning 30 out of 32 possible points. Jerry’s friend Gene was second with 28 points, and Jan Larson (pictured below, right) had 25 points. Monte had 18 and David had 14. Jerry provided as prizes 1979 Dodgers programs that featured Dusty Baker, now manager of the Astros, on the cover. Notice that the programs had a 50-cent cover price!

You can take a swing at Jerry’s quiz below. The answers follow the quiz questions. (For a colorful presentation of the answers to the quiz, click here: Name is the Same baseball quiz answers.)

Many thanks to Jim Baker for hosting the World Series watch party, always one of the highlights of our year.

We haven’t set the date yet for the November meeting but will let you know through the chapter email list.

“THE NAME’S THE SAME” by Jerry Miller

Below is a list of two (or more) baseball players or other individuals that share the same first and last names. Your job is to identify them. (Two non-baseball examples: “Former ESPN anchor and lieutenant governor of Texas” = “Dan Patrick,” and “Former Secretary of State, sponsor of annual Predictatron contest, and your host for this evening,” = “Jim Baker.”) None of the individuals are related, so there are no “Ken Griffeys,” or “Cal Ripkens” out there. The questions are arranged in perceived order of difficulty (i.e. easiest first, progressively harder).

1. An easy one to get you started. This Dodger catcher hit a home run off his namesake, an Atlanta Braves pitcher, in the 2020 NLCS. They are also reputedly fans of their namesake, an actor in “Men in Black,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” and other films.

2. This outfielder converted to a shortstop and later manager holds the all-time Los Angeles Dodger record for games played, and shares a name with the greatest winner in team sports, with ten NBA championships in 12 years with the Boston Celtics.

3. The first was a temperamental outfielder with the Expos, Dodgers, A’s, and others. His namesake is a board game company whose products include Candy Land, Twister, and Yahtzee.

4. Add an “n” to the first name of a famous television actress (The Young and Restless, Desperate Housewives) from Corpus Christi and you get a third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays and San Francisco Giants.

5. While we’re adding letters: add a letter to the last name of the first openly gay ballplayer, and you have the general manager of the Oakland A’s, famously portrayed by Brad Pitt in “Moneyball.”

6. The first was a utility infielder for the Washington Senators, Los Angeles Dodgers, and others in the 1960s and early 70s. His namesakes include a present-day Senator from Louisiana, and the 35th President of the United States.

7. Another three-fer: The first is a World Series-winning manager who had one of the most famous stolen bases in history. The second was a journeyman left-handed pitcher in the 70s and early 80s, mostly for the Padres and Astros, who still holds the San Diego record for lowest season ERA. The third was a third baseman, catcher, and second baseman who played parts of ten years in the majors from 1972 to 1982, and just missed being a teammate of #2 with the Padres.

8. Third baseman and outfielder for the Tigers and the 1986 World Champion Mets, and a largely defunct roadside restaurant chain famously known for their ice cream, orange roof, and shortened name.

9. A Hall of Fame manager for the Yankees and a 1950s red-baiting politician who was censured by the Senate.

10. One is a starting guard for the Los Angeles Clippers. The second is “Mr. October.”
11. The first was primarily a DH for the Cleveland Indians, who is still active, albeit with a different team. The second is a noted guitarist, known for his namesake band and such hits as “Oye Como Va” and “Black Magic Woman.”

12. One is a Hall of Fame first baseman and designated hitter who now makes cheesy commercials for testosterone supplements and recently purchased the “Field of Dreams.” His namesake played 16 years as an outfielder for seven different National League teams, including the 1962 Mets.

13. The right fielder for the 1988 World Series champions, and the recently deceased 1974 National League Cy Young award winner for the same team.

14. A Hall of Fame second baseman and two-time MVP, and the manager of the Boston Red Sox from 1988 to 1991.

15. One was a right-handed pitcher on the 1962 New York Mets. The other was a left handed pitcher on the 1962 New York Mets. If you need a third, he was a Hall of Fame hockey broadcaster for the Los Angeles Kings.

16. One is an actress and comedian from the TV series Grace Under Fire. The other is one of the better leadoff hitters from the 80s and 90s for the Braves, Indians, Giants, Dodgers, and Mets, who memorably overcame throat cancer while still active.

17. One was a bearded reliever for the Giants and Dodgers from 2006 to 2014; the other is the lead singer of an iconic, California-based ‘60s rock band.

18. One is the brother of a Hall of Fame pitcher and won 20 games and threw a no-hitter for the Dodgers. The other was a journeyman infielder for the Giants, Dodgers, and four other teams in the late 90s and 2000s.

19. The first was a shortstop for the Cubs, who committed a key error in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, known as the “Bartman” game. The second was the opposing shortstop for the Florida Marlins, who were the beneficiaries of the error.

20. One is one of the greatest left handed hitters of all time, who was given a lifetime ban from the sport. The other was the controversial stage father of one of the most popular singers of his generation and his singing siblings.

21. One is a Hall of Fame pitcher, primarily for the Phillies; the other is a former ESPN anchor and host of “Good Morning America” who recently served as guest host on “Jeopardy.”

22. A 1980s/90s infielder for several teams, notably the Rangers and Indians. Despite having an extra “e” at the end of his name, he was called “the Governor” because of his namesake, a four term governor of the nation’s largest state.

23. One of the last surviving members of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, who also pitched for the 1962 Mets and managed the San Francisco Giants, and a star running back for the Joe Montana-era San Francisco 49ers.

24. An outfielder who played 13 years from 1926 to 1938, primarily for the Reds and Giants, and the leader of the “Green Mountain Boys” during the American Revolution, after whom a modern day furniture company is named.

25. A Hall of Fame outfielder, primarily for the Cubs, and his namesake, who played four games for the 1969 Seattle Pilots, earning earned him a mention in “Ball Four.”

26. The player was the 1988 American League Cy Young Award winner with 27 wins, most since Denny McLain, and had a memorable save in the World Series ten years earlier. The second was a former member of Fleetwood Mac who had a moderately successful solo career, with hits such as “Sentimental Lady” and “Ebony Eyes.”

27. From “great player, mediocre musician,” we go to “great musician, mediocre player.” He was a journeyman second and third baseman in the 1970s and 80s for the Pirates, White Sox, and others. His namesake was the flamboyant lead singer for an iconic 60s band, who flamed out at age 27 and is famously buried in Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris.

28. The first player was a catcher on the Atlanta Braves’ first two pennant winning teams. Add a letter to the first name and you have the 1989 A.L. Rookie of the Year, as a relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.

29. 1970s and 80s catcher and outfielder, primarily for the Dodgers and Astros, who made a memorable throw from right field in the 1974 World Series, and a former quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, born in the same town as Nolan Ryan (Alvin, TX).

30. A young, rookie outfielder for this year’s St. Louis Cardinals, and the 2014 Conn Smythe award winner, who won three Stanley Cups and was nicknamed “Mr. Game 7.”

31. Center fielder, primarily with the Cardinals and most recently the Angels; nicknamed “The Federalist” because, other than spelling the first name differently, he is the namesake of the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

32. This outfielder played 8 seasons for the Dodgers and Pirates in the 1980s. His walk off squeeze bunt drove in the winning run and capped a four run ninth inning rally in a key win over the Braves during the 1983 pennant race, which the Dodgers won by 3 games. His namesake is the second largest tobacco company in America.

ANSWERS:

1. Will Smith.
2. Bill Russell
3. Milton Bradley.
4. Eva/n Longoria.
5. Billy Bean/e
6. John Kennedy.
7. Dave Roberts.
8. Howard Johnson.
9. Joe McCarthy.
10. Reggie Jackson.
11. Carlos Santana.
12. Frank Thomas.
13. Mike Marshall
14. Joe Morgan.
15. Bob Miller.
16. Brett Butler.
17. Brian Wilson.
18. Ramon Martinez.
19. Alex Gonzalez.
20. Joe Jackson
21. Robin Roberts.
22. Jerry Brown/e.
23. Roger Craig.
24. Ethan Allen.
25. Billy Williams.
26. Bob Welch.
27. Jim Morrison.
28. Greg/g Olson
29. Joe Ferguson.
30. Justin Williams.
31. Jon/John Jay.
32. R.J. Reynolds.

The World Series is upon us! And you know what that means. It means the chapter is having its annual World Series watch party! This continues on a long chapter tradition of watching the World Series together.

As you know, AL Champs Houston Astros host the NL Champs Atlanta Braves. Game 4 on Saturday will be in Atlanta.

Food will be provided by our generous host, Jim Baker. For the safety of our members and community, all attendees must be vaccinated to attend.

Pertinent details are in the graphic below. Please RSVP to Jim Baker at <jimbaker1066@yahoo.com> as soon as possible.

Details of this year’s National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, chatter about the division and wild card races and a quiz about milestones and awards were among the highlights of the September chapter meeting on Saturday.

Seventeen chapter members and guests on Zoom enjoyed hearing from Monte Cely and Ira Siegel, who traveled to Cooperstown to witness the induction of Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker earlier this month. Though the reported size of the crowd at the induction ceremony was about 20,000, Monte and Ira estimated that it was more like 7,500 to 10,000 people, noting that it wasn’t as crowded as they had feared.

Monte said it was his first visit to the museum, so he and Ira looked at all 333 plaques, toured the museum and enjoyed lunch at the Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown. Monte also shared a video showing him taking batting practice in cages set up next to Doubleday Field.

The winner of last month’s quiz, Cy Morong, wrote a quiz about sluggers and pitchers who reached lofty milestones without winning an MVP or Cy Young award. Jerry Miller flexed his muscles, taking first place with 20 points, followed by Peter Myers with 17 and Herb Whalley with 14. Mike Bass and Ryan Pollack had 12 points each. Take your shot at the quiz below (the answers follow below the quiz questions).

We also did some quick polls to determine which teams attendees thought might capture division titles and wild card spots. Overall, we think the Dodgers will catch and pass the Giants for the NL West title by a 67 to 33 percent vote. We also gave the Cardinals near-unanimous support to be the second wild card team in the National League by a 92 to 8 percent vote. The Phillies had one vote.

The group unanimously thought the Tampa Bay Rays were well on their way to having the best record in the American League. We also all supported the Boston Red Sox as a wild card team but differed on the second wild card team. Six voted for the Toronto Blue Jays; four for the New York Yankees and one for the Seattle Mariners.

We also had a lively discussion about whether Shohei Ohtani would win the American League MVP Award. Some felt strongly that he wasn’t deserving because of the disappointing performance by the Angels in the AL West, while others thought his case might be stronger if he was also a position player rather than primarily a designated hitter. Still, placing near the top of hitter and pitcher league leader boards, Ohtani may be the favorite to win the award. As with the playoff races, time will tell!

As has been our tradition for many years, the chapter plans to have a World Series watch party for Game 4 on Saturday, Oct. 30, at Jim Baker’s house in Cedar Park. This is subject to change depending on COVID-19. More details to come next month.

Milestones and Awards Quiz

By Cy Morong

1. Name the 9 players who played most of their career from 1931 on, hit 500+ career HRs, and did not win a regular season MVP award (MVP awards before 1931 don’t count).

2. Name the 12 players who played most of their career from 1931 on, had 3,000+ hits, and did not win a regular season MVP award (MVP awards before 1931 don’t count).

3. Name the 5 pitchers who pitched most of their careers from 1959 on, struck out 3,000+ batters, and did not win a Cy Young award.

4. Name the 3 pitchers who pitched most of their careers from 1959 on, won 300+ games, and did not win a Cy Young award.

Answers

1. Jim Thome, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Eddie Mathews, Mel Ott, Gary Sheffield, and Eddie Murray
2. Derek Jeter, Paul Molitor, Eddie Murray, Adrian Beltre, Paul Waner, Tony Gwynn, Dave Winfield, Craig Biggio, Lou Brock, Rafael Palmeiro, Wade Boggs, and Al Kaline
3. Nolan Ryan, Bert Blyleven, Don Sutton, Phil Niekro, and Curt Schilling
4. Nolan Ryan, Don Sutton, and Phil Niekro

We will once again hold our Hornsby Chapter monthly meeting via Zoom on Saturday, September 25 starting at 1:00 p.m. CDT.

We will be hearing a report from two chapter members, Monte Cely and Ira Siegel, who made the trek to Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.  There will also be the usual trivia quiz.

You may register for the meeting at the link below:

https://txstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAodeqorjIvGdygtgQ-h9sYmRKVQEmsl-Rv

The Hornsby Chapter will celebrate real baseball by attending the AAA game between the Round Rock Express and the Sugar Land Skeeters on Saturday, August 7 with the first pitch at 7:05 p.m.

Chapter communications coordinator Monte Cely along with his lovely wife, Linda, have graciously agreed to hold an “open house” for attendees from 4-6 p.m. at their home located less than five minutes west of the Dell Diamond (directions will be provided to attendees).  Monte and Linda will be serving up baseball fare and soft drinks.  This will allow time for anyone so choosing to make a stop at the Salt Lick at the southwest corner of the Dell Diamond parking lot to imbibe on their favorite libation before the game.

Chapter director Jan Larson (this author) will also provide up to 20 reduced price tickets ($12.50) for those attending.  Tickets are available only as follows:

1.  Your SABR dues must be paid.  That is, you must be a current member of SABR.
2. You must be a member of the Rogers Hornsby chapter on the sabr.org website.  That is, the Rogers Hornsby chapter must be one of your “groups.”
3. Limit two tickets per member.

An email will be sent to the SABR Hornsby Chapter mailing list (it will appear as if the sender is “sabr.chapters) randomly sometime from 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 1.  Ticket requests will be processed (1 or 2 per member meeting the above criteria) in order received in response to that email until all 20 have been spoken for.  If you do not get in under the wire for the reduced price tickets, you may still attend by paying the Express’ full price.  Note:  A block of seats has been reserved for our group.

In the event that exactly 19 of the 20 reduced price tickets have been spoken for and a request comes in for two, that person will have the option of either buying one at $12.50 and the second at full price (which I believe is around $34 for a Saturday night game), just buying one at $12.50 or not buying any.  In that case, the next person to request tickets would face the same choices.

Tickets will be emailed from the author’s Express ticket account with tickets.com to the recipients.  You may use electronic tickets (which are downloadable to the “wallet” app on the Apple iPhone) or, if you prefer, you may print the pdf ticket(s).  NOTE:  VERY IMPORTANT!  If anyone indicates that they want tickets and later determine that they can’t go for one reason or another, it is the buyer’s responsibility to find someone to take the ticket.  In other words, if you say you want one or two tickets, you bought ’em.

Be sure to check your membership at SABR.org to ensure that you’re paid up and that the Rogers Hornsby chapter is one of your “groups.”  Otherwise, you will NOT receive the email announcing the ticket availability as it will NOT be sent to the informally used hornsby@googlegroups.com mailing list.

If you have questions, please email this author at jan.a.larson@gmail.com.