[Mick]

It's Masters week. As I type this, the only Stanford alum playing is Maverick McNealy, who is +6 on the tournament, +1 on the day and in danger of missing the cut. Stanford alum (and 5x Masters winner) Tiger Woods is recovering from his most recent auto accident and is not partaking in Masters activities in any meaningful way.

Here's the trivia question, answer has a Stanford angle: Humorist and former PGA pro Gary McCord was a longtime, irreverent CBS golf announcer. When announcing the Masters he commented on how fast and slick the greens were, he said "they don't mow the greens at Augusta, they give them a bikini wax." 

A golfer saw this and hand-wrote and hand-delivered a cranky message to CBS golf producer Frank Chirkinian stating that Gary McCord was a "lesion" on the face of professional golf and needed to be permanently removed from future Masters broadcasts.

Who wrote and delivered the message?

---

Good guesses, but no on all 3.  Bumgarner never pitched more than 226 innings (2016)
Randy Johnson never pitched more than 271 innings (1999), but someone pitched more than 250 innings more recently.
Nolan Ryan never pitched more than 332 innings (1974), but someone pitched more than 300 innings more recently.

BC

Second try:

Clemens
Kershaw
For 350, I'll go with a hail mary, a knuckleballer, Wilbur Wood. I remember he had over 20 wins and 20 losses in the same year, and the White Sox only had a three man rotation, including Stan Bahnsen and (I think) Steve Stone. Goose Gossage was a kid on that team, and Jim Kaat was the old guy.

[Mick]

It's Masters week. As I type this, the only Stanford alum playing is Maverick McNealy, who is +6 on the tournament, +1 on the day and in danger of missing the cut. Stanford alum (and 5x Masters winner) Tiger Woods is recovering from his most recent auto accident and is not partaking in Masters activities in any meaningful way.

Here's the trivia question, answer has a Stanford angle: Humorist and former PGA pro Gary McCord was a longtime, irreverent CBS golf announcer. When announcing the Masters he commented on how fast and slick the greens were, he said "they don't mow the greens at Augusta, they give them a bikini wax." 

A golfer saw this and hand-wrote and hand-delivered a cranky message to CBS golf producer Frank Chirkinian stating that Gary McCord was a "lesion" on the face of professional golf and needed to be permanently removed from future Masters broadcasts.

Who wrote and delivered the message?

---

Good guesses, but no on all 3.  Bumgarner never pitched more than 226 innings (2016)
Randy Johnson never pitched more than 271 innings (1999), but someone pitched more than 250 innings more recently.
Nolan Ryan never pitched more than 332 innings (1974), but someone pitched more than 300 innings more recently.

BC

Second try:

Clemens
Kershaw
For 350, I'll go with a hail mary, a knuckleballer, Wilbur Wood. I remember he had over 20 wins and 20 losses in the same year, and the White Sox only had a three man rotation, including Stan Bahnsen and (I think) Steve Stone. Goose Gossage was a kid on that team, and Jim Kaat was the old guy.

[skip75]

I don't remember - but seems like it could be Tom Watson (who was in the news this week for his comments regarding LIV golfers).

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YkW5__jkC_0

[skip75]

I don't remember - but seems like it could be Tom Watson (who was in the news this week for his comments regarding LIV golfers).

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YkW5__jkC_0

[PAsportsfan]

I don't remember - but seems like it could be Tom Watson (who was in the news this week for his comments regarding LIV golfers).

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YkW5__jkC_0

Tom is my guess too.

For a joke, how about John Daly.

[PAsportsfan]

I don't remember - but seems like it could be Tom Watson (who was in the news this week for his comments regarding LIV golfers).

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YkW5__jkC_0

Tom is my guess too.

For a joke, how about John Daly.

[Mick]

It was definitely Tom Watson who has acted as the tour grump in a number of situations.

[Mick]

It was definitely Tom Watson who has acted as the tour grump in a number of situations.

[BostonCard]

Alas no Clemens and Kershaw, but Wood is indeed the last pitcher to throw 350 innings in a season, in 1973, when he threw 359 innings (he also threw 376 innings in 1972). 

The last pitcher to throw 250 innings did so in 2011.
The last pitcher to throw 300 innings did so in 1980.

BC

[BostonCard]

Alas no Clemens and Kershaw, but Wood is indeed the last pitcher to throw 350 innings in a season, in 1973, when he threw 359 innings (he also threw 376 innings in 1972). 

The last pitcher to throw 250 innings did so in 2011.
The last pitcher to throw 300 innings did so in 1980.

BC

[BobK]

Maybe Steve Carlton 1980

[BobK]

Maybe Steve Carlton 1980

[Mick]

Maybe Steve Carlton 1980

Wasn't Seaver was it?

[Mick]

Maybe Steve Carlton 1980

Wasn't Seaver was it?

[BostonCard]

Yup, it was Steve Carlton in 1980 with 304 innings.

Just missing the last guy to throw 250 innings.

BC

[BostonCard]

Yup, it was Steve Carlton in 1980 with 304 innings.

Just missing the last guy to throw 250 innings.

BC

[terry]

Yup, it was Steve Carlton in 1980 with 304 innings.

Just missing the last guy to throw 250 innings.

BC

Sabathia?

Or maybe Halladay?

[terry]

Yup, it was Steve Carlton in 1980 with 304 innings.

Just missing the last guy to throw 250 innings.

BC

Sabathia?

Or maybe Halladay?

[BostonCard]

The answer was Justin Verlander with 251 innings in 2011.  

CC Sabbathia did have one 250 inning season in his career, but it was in 2008 (253).  Halladay did it twice in his career: 266 innings in 2003, and 250 in 2010, so he was the second most recent pitcher to pitch 250 innings.

OK new questions.  

1.) Which catcher holds the record for most consecutive games without a passed ball?  

2.) Only five catchers in history to have caught at least 1000 innings in a season without allowing a passed ball, who were they?  Hint: two are very recent.

BC

[BostonCard]

The answer was Justin Verlander with 251 innings in 2011.  

CC Sabbathia did have one 250 inning season in his career, but it was in 2008 (253).  Halladay did it twice in his career: 266 innings in 2003, and 250 in 2010, so he was the second most recent pitcher to pitch 250 innings.

OK new questions.  

1.) Which catcher holds the record for most consecutive games without a passed ball?  

2.) Only five catchers in history to have caught at least 1000 innings in a season without allowing a passed ball, who were they?  Hint: two are very recent.

BC

[Giants]

The answer was Justin Verlander with 251 innings in 2011.  

CC Sabbathia did have one 250 inning season in his career, but it was in 2008 (253).  Halladay did it twice in his career: 266 innings in 2003, and 250 in 2010, so he was the second most recent pitcher to pitch 250 innings.

OK new questions.  

1.) Which catcher holds the record for most consecutive games without a passed ball?  

2.) Only five catchers in history to have caught at least 1000 innings in a season without allowing a passed ball, who were they?  Hint: two are very recent.

BC

For answer 2, the first name that comes to mind is Johnny Bench.

[Giants]

The answer was Justin Verlander with 251 innings in 2011.  

CC Sabbathia did have one 250 inning season in his career, but it was in 2008 (253).  Halladay did it twice in his career: 266 innings in 2003, and 250 in 2010, so he was the second most recent pitcher to pitch 250 innings.

OK new questions.  

1.) Which catcher holds the record for most consecutive games without a passed ball?  

2.) Only five catchers in history to have caught at least 1000 innings in a season without allowing a passed ball, who were they?  Hint: two are very recent.

BC

For answer 2, the first name that comes to mind is Johnny Bench.

[Mick]

The answer was Justin Verlander with 251 innings in 2011.  

CC Sabbathia did have one 250 inning season in his career, but it was in 2008 (253).  Halladay did it twice in his career: 266 innings in 2003, and 250 in 2010, so he was the second most recent pitcher to pitch 250 innings.

OK new questions.  

1.) Which catcher holds the record for most consecutive games without a passed ball?  

2.) Only five catchers in history to have caught at least 1000 innings in a season without allowing a passed ball, who were they?  Hint: two are very recent.

BC

I don't think it was Posey.

I'll go with Berra, Freehan, Molina, Fisk aaaaaaaaaaand Santiago.

Most consecutive, I'll say Carlton Fisk.

[Mick]

The answer was Justin Verlander with 251 innings in 2011.  

CC Sabbathia did have one 250 inning season in his career, but it was in 2008 (253).  Halladay did it twice in his career: 266 innings in 2003, and 250 in 2010, so he was the second most recent pitcher to pitch 250 innings.

OK new questions.  

1.) Which catcher holds the record for most consecutive games without a passed ball?  

2.) Only five catchers in history to have caught at least 1000 innings in a season without allowing a passed ball, who were they?  Hint: two are very recent.

BC

I don't think it was Posey.

I'll go with Berra, Freehan, Molina, Fisk aaaaaaaaaaand Santiago.

Most consecutive, I'll say Carlton Fisk.

[BobK]

The answer was Justin Verlander with 251 innings in 2011.  

CC Sabbathia did have one 250 inning season in his career, but it was in 2008 (253).  Halladay did it twice in his career: 266 innings in 2003, and 250 in 2010, so he was the second most recent pitcher to pitch 250 innings.

OK new questions.  

1.) Which catcher holds the record for most consecutive games without a passed ball?  

2.) Only five catchers in history to have caught at least 1000 innings in a season without allowing a passed ball, who were they?  Hint: two are very recent.

BC

I don't think it was Posey.

I'll go with Berra, Freehan, Molina, Fisk aaaaaaaaaaand Santiago.

Most consecutive, I'll say Carlton Fisk.

#1 Hobie Landrith

[BobK]

The answer was Justin Verlander with 251 innings in 2011.  

CC Sabbathia did have one 250 inning season in his career, but it was in 2008 (253).  Halladay did it twice in his career: 266 innings in 2003, and 250 in 2010, so he was the second most recent pitcher to pitch 250 innings.

OK new questions.  

1.) Which catcher holds the record for most consecutive games without a passed ball?  

2.) Only five catchers in history to have caught at least 1000 innings in a season without allowing a passed ball, who were they?  Hint: two are very recent.

BC

I don't think it was Posey.

I'll go with Berra, Freehan, Molina, Fisk aaaaaaaaaaand Santiago.

Most consecutive, I'll say Carlton Fisk.

#1 Hobie Landrith

[BostonCard]

For answer 2, the first name that comes to mind is Johnny Bench.

Well done, Giants (as usual), Bench caught 1002.2 innings in 1975 without a passed ball.  He was, until fairly recently, the answer to #1 as well going 224 consecutive games (from 1974-76) without a passed ball, but alas that record was broken in the last 10 years.  Ironically not by someone who is an answer for #2, as he never made 1000 innings in a a season.

The other four for #2 are harder, and I don’t think they’ve been mentioned (not Berra, Freehan, Molina, Fisk, Santiago, or Posey).

They break down as follows: two catchers did it in the 30’s.  Two catchers in the 20’s, the 2020’s (I said it was recent!)

BC

[BostonCard]

For answer 2, the first name that comes to mind is Johnny Bench.

Well done, Giants (as usual), Bench caught 1002.2 innings in 1975 without a passed ball.  He was, until fairly recently, the answer to #1 as well going 224 consecutive games (from 1974-76) without a passed ball, but alas that record was broken in the last 10 years.  Ironically not by someone who is an answer for #2, as he never made 1000 innings in a a season.

The other four for #2 are harder, and I don’t think they’ve been mentioned (not Berra, Freehan, Molina, Fisk, Santiago, or Posey).

They break down as follows: two catchers did it in the 30’s.  Two catchers in the 20’s, the 2020’s (I said it was recent!)

BC

[BobK]

Old catchers
Bill Dickey and Mickey Cochrane

[BobK]

Old catchers
Bill Dickey and Mickey Cochrane

[Giants]

For answer 2, the first name that comes to mind is Johnny Bench.

Well done, Giants (as usual), Bench caught 1002.2 innings in 1975 without a passed ball.  He was, until fairly recently, the answer to #1 as well going 224 consecutive games (from 1974-76) without a passed ball, but alas that record was broken in the last 10 years.  Ironically not by someone who is an answer for #2, as he never made 1000 innings in a a season.

The other four for #2 are harder, and I don’t think they’ve been mentioned (not Berra, Freehan, Molina, Fisk, Santiago, or Posey).

They break down as follows: two catchers did it in the 30’s.  Two catchers in the 20’s, the 2020’s (I said it was recent!)

BC

Since it wasn’t any of the guys Mick mentioned, I took a peek to see who the recent catchers were.  Yikes, that is a tough question……

[Giants]

For answer 2, the first name that comes to mind is Johnny Bench.

Well done, Giants (as usual), Bench caught 1002.2 innings in 1975 without a passed ball.  He was, until fairly recently, the answer to #1 as well going 224 consecutive games (from 1974-76) without a passed ball, but alas that record was broken in the last 10 years.  Ironically not by someone who is an answer for #2, as he never made 1000 innings in a a season.

The other four for #2 are harder, and I don’t think they’ve been mentioned (not Berra, Freehan, Molina, Fisk, Santiago, or Posey).

They break down as follows: two catchers did it in the 30’s.  Two catchers in the 20’s, the 2020’s (I said it was recent!)

BC

Since it wasn’t any of the guys Mick mentioned, I took a peek to see who the recent catchers were.  Yikes, that is a tough question……

[Mick]

I'll go with two former Giants, and Hall of Famers -- Gabby Hartnett and Ernie Lombardi, the Schnozz, and a fellow Santa Cruz resident.

[Mick]

I'll go with two former Giants, and Hall of Famers -- Gabby Hartnett and Ernie Lombardi, the Schnozz, and a fellow Santa Cruz resident.

[BostonCard]

The complete list of catchers who have caught 1000 innings or more and not allowed a passed ball in a season is as follows:
Bill Dickey 1931 (1068 Innings) [Nicely done, Bob]
Al Todd 1937 (1102.0 Innings)
Johnny Bench 1975 (1002.2 Innings) [congrats Giants]
Cal Raleigh 2025 (1072.0 Innings)
Dillon Dingler 2025 (1011.2 Innings)


Yup, two did it last season, after only three had done in all of baseball history.

As to the catcher with most consecutive games without a passed ball, it was Jacob Stallings, who went at least 247 games without a passed ball between 2020 and 2023, a span of 2082 innings.

BC

[BostonCard]

The complete list of catchers who have caught 1000 innings or more and not allowed a passed ball in a season is as follows:
Bill Dickey 1931 (1068 Innings) [Nicely done, Bob]
Al Todd 1937 (1102.0 Innings)
Johnny Bench 1975 (1002.2 Innings) [congrats Giants]
Cal Raleigh 2025 (1072.0 Innings)
Dillon Dingler 2025 (1011.2 Innings)


Yup, two did it last season, after only three had done in all of baseball history.

As to the catcher with most consecutive games without a passed ball, it was Jacob Stallings, who went at least 247 games without a passed ball between 2020 and 2023, a span of 2082 innings.

BC

[Mick]

Which four infielders on which MLB team combined for the most runs batted in over the course of which season?

[Mick]

Which four infielders on which MLB team combined for the most runs batted in over the course of which season?

[BobK]

1927 Yankees
Gehrig
Koenig
Push en up
The 3rd baseman

2nd choice 1950 or close Boston Red Sox

[BobK]

1927 Yankees
Gehrig
Koenig
Push en up
The 3rd baseman

2nd choice 1950 or close Boston Red Sox