Trivia – Who am I?
Posted by Andy on February 19, 2011
I was reminded today of one of my favorite players. I like this guy because he had a lot of major-league success and yet I think he's almost completely anonymous among fans.
Here are some clues--I'm curious to see how long it takes for a reader to guess correctly.
- played in 3 different decades
- pitched more than 1,000 innings
- pitched in the post-season
- never an All-Star nor received a single Cy Young vote
- finished with an ERA+ above 100
I know that's sort of vague, but that's my point. Let's see how long it takes to find the right guy. Once we get it, I'll post a link to the thing that reminded me of him.
February 19th, 2011 at 7:43 am
Is it Mike Torrez?
February 19th, 2011 at 7:50 am
Nope.
I won't necessarily reply to every single comment since I can't sit by the computer all morning...:)
February 19th, 2011 at 8:06 am
Danny Darwin?
February 19th, 2011 at 8:09 am
Mike Timlin fits all those criteria. I imagine more than one guy matches that description. Can't imagine why anyone would be thinking of Mike Timlin unless they were a hitter.
February 19th, 2011 at 8:12 am
Moe Drabowsky?
February 19th, 2011 at 8:16 am
Nobody has got him yet. He is more obscure than everyone named so far.
February 19th, 2011 at 8:21 am
Dick Drago
February 19th, 2011 at 8:27 am
Dick Hall????
February 19th, 2011 at 8:32 am
I know this one is going way back, but Smoky Joe Wood?
February 19th, 2011 at 8:36 am
Bob miller
February 19th, 2011 at 8:38 am
Herb Pennock?
February 19th, 2011 at 8:40 am
Nobody got it yet...
February 19th, 2011 at 8:44 am
The Cy Young award wasn't given until the 50's when Don Newcome was the first winner. I'll vote for Tommy John.
February 19th, 2011 at 8:49 am
Larry Anderson falls just under 1000 IP, so it's not him
February 19th, 2011 at 8:52 am
Rudy May?
February 19th, 2011 at 8:53 am
Tug Mcgraw, Tim's Dad.
February 19th, 2011 at 8:56 am
How about Cy Young himself?
February 19th, 2011 at 8:57 am
Yes off topic but.. not sure how else to reach most of BBREF nation -- for the longest time the player link said search 17,498 players --- it now says 17,497 --- how'd we lose one?
Thanks
February 19th, 2011 at 9:07 am
My other guess -- George Brunet -- just failed. His ERA+ was 92
February 19th, 2011 at 9:09 am
Bob McClure?
February 19th, 2011 at 9:17 am
Yes! Bob McClure!
Scott of the 83' Fleer project just posted an autographed card of McClure. Let me get the link and post it.
February 19th, 2011 at 9:19 am
http://83f.blogspot.com/2011/02/38-bob-mcclure-milwaukee-brewers-1983.html
February 19th, 2011 at 9:23 am
Last guess - Dennis Lamp
February 19th, 2011 at 9:23 am
Bump Hadley?
February 19th, 2011 at 9:24 am
Skip Lockwood??
February 19th, 2011 at 9:29 am
lol, i got another almost COMPLETELY anonymous player meeting your criteria, and he even got 1005 Games played
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksmi02.shtml
February 19th, 2011 at 9:48 am
I think we just witnessed another record. Koma was probably the first person to mention Michael Jackson, and use "completely obscure" to describe him instead of some off-the-wall reference to thrillers, bobbed noses or bleached skin.
February 19th, 2011 at 9:58 am
For what it's worth... besides McClure, and limiting to those who pitched at least one season in the Cy Young era, I believe all of these guys fit the criteria:
Juan Berenguer, Pedro Borbon, Moe Drabowski, Dick Hall, Ken Johnson, Dennis Lamp, Rudy May, Mickey McDermott, Bob Miller, Jim Rooker, Dan Schatzeder
February 19th, 2011 at 10:01 am
Bob McClure? Wow. I actually remember imitating his delivery as a kid (and I'm not a Brewer fan).
He would turn his back to the plate, but he did it without also leaning back. It was a simple 90 degree twist on his planted back foot. I can't imagine he got much of a push out of doing that but perhaps it was deceptive.
February 19th, 2011 at 10:20 am
Jamie Moyer
February 19th, 2011 at 10:37 am
Andy, no one who played for the '82 Brewers will EVER be anonymous amongst Brewers fans - just like anyone who played for the '57 Braves. Those of us from Milwaukee don't have a lot of baseball to celebrate, so we cling pretty hard to what we've got!
February 19th, 2011 at 10:45 am
Hoyt Wilhelm
February 19th, 2011 at 10:55 am
Babe Ruth pitched in 3 different decades and in the post season. ERA+ over 100, innings pitched over 1000, never pitched in an all-star game, never received a cy young vote.
February 19th, 2011 at 11:00 am
Oil Can Boyd fits all the requirements if you count minor league pitching for the 3 decade requirement
February 19th, 2011 at 11:14 am
the answer is Dennis Lamp
February 19th, 2011 at 11:18 am
Dennis Cook
February 19th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Andy -- Even though the mystery has been solved, I'm just wondering what your self-imposed guidelines are for this type of trivia question. Specifically, when you say something like, "never an All-Star nor received a single Cy Young vote," is it safe to assume that at least part of his career fell during the All-Star & Cy Young Award eras?
Thanks.
February 19th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Great post, Andy! Between you and my grandkids, I am going to have to stay sharp.
February 19th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
JA it would not be my intention to mislead.
February 19th, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Vida Blue
February 20th, 2011 at 5:50 am
Charlie Morton.
February 20th, 2011 at 7:23 am
Kind of a dumb question since there were multiple guys matching the criteria and we were supposed to guess the one you were "thinking of." If you wanna ask trivia questions, you gotta put a little more research into it so that there's only one answer.
February 20th, 2011 at 11:27 am
Not sure if this is what reminded you of him, but the LA Times recently ran an article on Lamp, where he now works in a supermarket out this way, and is extremely popular with the customers. Apparently works just to stay busy.
February 20th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
My guess was gonna be Jesse Orosco, but he was an All-Star once or twice.
February 21st, 2011 at 11:47 am
Mike Morgan
February 21st, 2011 at 1:17 pm
It seems to me the most obvious question hasn't been asked you. Did he throw righthanded?
February 21st, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Danny Darwin
February 24th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Juan Berenguer, Dick Hall, Dolf Luque