BR Bullpen:Did You Know Archive5

This is an archive of articles that were featured on the Main Page as part of Did You Know? from November 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013.

Did you know...[edit]

...that Shohei Otani was the first Nippon Pro Baseball rookie fresh out of high school to start as both a pitcher and a position player?
...what Yomiuri Giants franchise record was set by Kenji Yano?
...that Pat Lynch combined on the first nine-inning perfect game in Northwest League history?
...what minor league record was set in the 1921 International League?
...that Naoya Masuda set three Pacific League records his first two seasons?
...that Mike Szemplenski only spent three seasons as a pro yet wound up in one league's Hall of Fame?
...that Yoichi Okabayashi threw three complete games, two of them going extra innings, in one Japan Series?
...that John Gaffney was one of the highest-paid umpires for three consecutive years but began the next year back in the minors?
...that the Alexandria Dukes used only two second basemen in 1982 - and both would manage the Chicago Cubs one day?
...in what event Jose Padilla hit a 13th-inning homer to win his nation the Bronze Medal?
...that the United States Military Academy played many exhibition games against major league teams - and how West Point fared in those matches?
...that John Brush was was behind some of the worst ideas in major league history, such as war between the leagues, syndicate ownership and cancelling the World Series?
...that Gus Dugas was the first player in Organized Baseball to sign a contract written in French?
...what punishment future managers Ikuo Shimano and Takeshi Shibata got for attacking umpires over several controversial calls?
...that Jérôme Cotnoir played for a decade as a catcher in baseball and goaltender in hockey in top-level minor leagues?
...that Oswaldo Olivares won two batting titles in less than 12 months?
...that teammates Calvin Chipperfield and Tommy Marx tossed no-hitters against the same team three days apart?
...why Takahiro Saeki had all the tires stolen off his car?
...that Ed Delzer won the finale of the 1984 College World Series?
...that Arthur Duchesnil had games of 21 and 26 strikeouts as a semi-pro player?
...that Mike Briscese paid his way through umpiring school thanks to the GI Bill?
...that two teams entered the last month of the 1920 IL season practically tied for first, that one team won 20 of their last 22 games - and still finished second?
...why Carlos Rios won a $700,000 lawsuit against the New York Yankees?
...that Gordon Houston was the first American player to die while serving in World War II?
...what Central League record Takayuki Shimizu once held?
...that Kenny Washington, the football integration pioneer, was also the first black player for UCLA's baseball team?
...that Dalmiro Finol was the first Venezuelan League home run king?
...in what league Steve Molinari holds the all-time RBI and home run records?
...that Chris Dwyer was the first first-year freshman to be drafted out of a four-year college?
...that first-rounder Jay Franklin was done as a major leaguer before he turned 19?
...that Steve Dalkowski averaged more than 12 strikeouts/9 innings in the minors but never reached the majors?
...that Byron McLaughlin fled the US due to legal issues after his playing career ended?
...that Christian Parra was an undrafted free agent in 1999, was named his league's Pitcher of the Year in 2000 yet ended his career in 2001?
...that Chad Jacobsen was named NCAA Division II Player of the Year by Daktronics?
...that Stan Bréard's fielding at shortstop was so good it pushed the Brooklyn Dodgers to move Jackie Robinson to second base?
...that Clint Barmes was the first rookie to hit a walk-off home run on Opening Day?
...that Masayuki Dobashi once held the Nippon Pro Baseball record for strikeouts in a game?
...that Frank Fazzini was the guy who finished second in NCAA Division I in home runs the year that Pete Incaviglia set the NCAA record?
...that Michael Ynoa won one game in the four years after signing a record contract?
...that Nat Peeples was the only African-American to play in the Southern Association?
...that Brad Hertzler threw a perfect game in his third pro start?
...what connection Bull Connor had to baseball?
...why Stephen Locke sued the city of Gainesville, FL for hampering his baseball career?
...that Mackenzie Vandergeest of the US women's team is a niece of a Hall-of-Fame player?
...that George Bignell played only 4 major league games, but set a defensive record which still stands?
...that Linty Ingram led NCAA Division I in wins in 1988?
...that Tanner Roark led the minors in losses one year, then was in the major leagues the next?
...that Paul Risso made his professional debut 40 years after being drafted?
...that Bobo Osborne won the third Triple Crown in American Association history?
...that umpire Jack Brennan was once threatened by a pistol-wielding fan?
...that Vic Davilla went on to win two league MVPs after not playing for his high school team?
...that Edgar Olmos led the minor leagues in losses - and was in the majors two years later?
...what Australian Baseball League record Craig Watts set?
...why Wilbur Snapp was ejected from a game even though he never played or managed?
...what scandal cost scout Alan Marr his job?
...that Adam Casillas was undrafted, won three minor league batting crowns, yet never reached the majors?
...what decades-old Carolina League record Joey Terdoslavich broke?
...that LaTroy Hawkins is in the top 20 all-time for games pitched in spite of starting his career with five horrendous seasons as a starting pitcher?
...that Doc Adams was a key figure in defining the rules of the game yet has been largely forgotten?
...that John Montague had the first save in Seattle Mariners history?
...that Feng-Hsin Wang became the youngest pitcher to win a game in the Taiwanese professional ranks?
...that the 1918 International League was the only minor league to survive the 1918 season?
...that Drew Henson set three different batting records while in high school?
...that Caleb Thielbar was the first major leaguer named Caleb since 1871 - but by less than a month?
...what South Atlantic League record Corey Dickerson tied?
...what unusual play Jesús Sucre was involved in during his first MLB at-bat?
...that Joshua Magee had the most hits in consecutive at-bats of any minor league player from 2005-2011?
...that Scott Tedder was a NCAA Division III Player of the Year in basketball then won a batting title his first summer in the minors before playing alongside fellow college basketball star Michael Jordan in 1994?
...what Nick Ahmed did to be named Mills Cup MVP in 2012?
...that Curtis Partch served up a grand slam to the first batter he faced in the majors?
...that notable events in 1942 in the Negro Leagues included a Negro National League strikeout record, major league tryouts promised and not delivered and in-season deaths of two players?
...that Federico Castagnini was the first player raised in Italy to be picked in the MLB amateur draft?
...which future Hall of Famer Takumi Otomo outdueled in 1953?
...the history of baseball night games
...that Michael Roth is the only pitcher to start three College World Series finales?
...that Eung-ryong Kim won a record nine Korean Series titles as a manager as well as Medals in the Olympics, Baseball World Cup and Intercontinental Cup?
...that Alessandro Flisi cost the Italian national team a chance at its first Baseball World Cup Medal - but that they might not have gotten to that point without him?
...why Hayato Doue was sentenced to two years in prison?
...that the 2004 Korean Series featured both a ten-inning no-hitter and a steal of home?
...that Taisuke Watanabe threw the first perfect game in the history of the Tokyo Big Six University League?
...for which franchise Jae-hak Lee recorded the first win?
...that Seth Maness tied the career win record for Conference USA?
...in what category Ángel Scull was the only player to lead the Cuban Winter League five times?
...what NCAA Division II record was set by David Harriman?
...that Koichi Hori was the last remaining member of the Lotte Orions to play for the Chiba Lotte Marines after the franchise switched hands?
...that Greg Duce led the 1988 Olympics in average?
...that umpire Dallas Parks sued George Steinbrenner in a case that reached the New York Supreme Court?
...that Butch McCord won batting titles in his first two minor league seasons?
...that Young-shin Kim was the first person to have his number retired by a Korea Baseball Organization team?
...which future Hall of Fame not only led the 1917 International League in average, hits and doubles, but also managed his team to the league title and had days held in his honor around the league?
...what postseason heroics Parris Mitchell performed in 1992?
...that Michele Romano came close to a couple Italian pitching records but finished his career among the top 10 in some offensive departments?
...that the 1998 Korean Series was the first Korean Series to feature foreigners not of Korean descent - and which foreigner hit the first Korean Series home run?
...that George Sisler Jr. was the first person to win the Minor League Executive of the Year three times in the higher classifications?
...that Akira Yonemura was the first Nippon Pro Baseball pitcher to toss a shutout despite allowing a hit in each inning?
...that Joe Ortiz was the first player to make his big league debut in 2013?
...that Chuck Hinton founded the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association?
...that Dwayne Pollok won two Pitcher of the Year awards in under a year?
...that Hamilton Bennett threw the 20th perfect game in NAIA history?
...that Yukihiko Yamaoki was the first Nippon Pro Baseball free agent to sign with a new team and not appear for it?
...that Earl Williams was converted to catcher as a rookie even though he had never played a single game at the position in the minors?
...that David Clarkson won the first Australian Baseball League batting title?
...that Kiyoyuki Nagashima was the first NPB player to wear uniform number 0?
...that Chieh-Jen Yang threw the first no-hitter in the history of the Chinese Professional Baseball League?
...that Vidal López won the shortest game in Cuban Winter League history?
...why Pablo Gutiérrez spent 20 years in between Mexican League appearances?
...that Otis Nixon stole the most bases in the majors in the 1990s?
...that Yong-soo Kim was the first two-time Korean Series MVP?
...that Tom Walker once pitched a 15-inning no-hitter?
...that Hyo-jo Jang holds the all-time Korea Baseball Organization record for batting average - by 15 points?
...that Shichiro Yokozawa has the Nippon Pro Baseball record for most career plate appearances without a home run?
...that Javier Vazquez was the active major league leader in strikeouts when he retired?
...that Chris Manno allowed the lowest average of any minor leaguer in 2011?
...that Kenji Otonari was the first NPB pitcher to register a strikeout in all 9 innings of a game in March?
...that Scott Kazmir was at the center of one of the most unpopular trades in New York Mets history?
...that Braves Field was the first ballpark to seat over 40,000?
...how many Australian baseball firsts Ross Straw was involved in?
...that umpire John Shulock was once suspended for charging the mound after getting hit by a pitch?
...what NPB record Koji Noda holds?
...that Andrew Russell was moved to pitcher months after finishing second in the Australian Baseball League in batting average?
...that Jim Buckner held three Northwest League records for decades?
...what Venezuelan League records Luis Peñalver set?
...that Pascual Pérez once got lost on the way to the ballpark?
...what record-setting game Bob Hart was the home plate umpire for?
...what Central League record was set by Atsushi Kizuka?
...what scandal Ho-seong Lee was involved in that led to his suicide?
...that Edinson Rentería became a league president after his playing career ended?
...in which league Chin-Chih Huang won the last MVP award?
...that Ismael Oquendo was the only Puerto Rican League home run king in a 30-year period who never played in the majors?
...that Pablo Cruz scouted for several years - while still an active player?
...that Katsuya Kakunaka was the first Japanese independent leaguer to become a Nippon Pro Baseball All-Star?
...that Gavin Marshall was the first player born and raised in Britain to sign with a US professional team?
...what Korea Baseball Organization record Il-kwon Kim set?
...that Manuel Hidalgo won three MVPs in the same minor league but never made it past AAA?
...what umpiring first Jack McQuaid was part of?
...that Chris Colabello set four Canadian-American Association records?
...that Cody Decker was the second straight Padres farmhand named Decker to win the Arizona League MVP?
...that Al Neil won two Triple Crowns in the minors?
...that George Weicker led NCAA Division I in average one year?
...that Tyler Kuhn led the Chicago White Sox chain in average and hits one season despite not having a set position?
...that Mike Loree went from having a 6.09 ERA one year to winning a pitching Triple Crown in the same league the next year?
...that Matt Carpenter was 4 for 4 lifetime against Matt Cain before hitting a key home run off him in the 2012 NLCS?
...what Chinese Professional Baseball League records Chao-Hao Tseng set?
...why Mitch Simons was in court with the NCAA one year after leading NCAA Division I in runs?
...what Australian Baseball League record Richard Vagg set?
...why scout Pablo Peguero was once suspended for a year?
...that Natilla Jiménez was the only member of the 1943 Cuban national team pitching staff who did not make the majors - yet was MVP of that year's Amateur World Series?
...that J.T. Wise won the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top collegiate catcher despite not being named first-team All-American by any of the three major sources?
...that Edwar Cabrera set a record for most strikeouts by a Colorado Rockies farmhand?
...that Wil Myers nearly won two All-Star Game MVP awards in one week?
...that Josh Edgin was the first big leaguer from Francis Marion University?
...what Southern League record Alex Marte set?
...that Matt Miller was a MVP in A-ball and an All-Star in AAA yet never made the majors?
...what was unusual about the uniform of Josh Rutledge in his first major league game?
...that Chuck Lamson worked his way up from Tulsa's groundskeeper to GM and owner?
...that Carter Capps was the third American Baseball Coaches Association Player of the Year for NCAA Division II to make the majors?
...that Calvin Griffith ran the Minnesota Twins as a family business, installing relatives all over the front office?
...that Ramiro Caballero hit the most home runs of anyone to lead all of the minor leagues in average during a year?
...that Dale Holman played for two teams in the same game and got hits for each?
...what Southern League record C.L. Penigar helped set in 1989?
...in what event Hidekazu Watanabe allowed no earned runs in over 25 innings?
...that Blake Parker was an All-Star catcher his first pro season, yet was moved to the pitching mound the next year?
...what became of 14-year-old penninless Joseph Lannin after he walked 410 miles from Lac-Beauport, Quebec to Boston in 1880?
...that former national college player of the year Jeff Austin surrendered homers to the first three batters faced in his final major league game?
...that Chris Hill led his league in wins the same year he was released from a minor league spring training camp?
...why Don Saner retired after winning a AA batting title?
...that Jack Curran has won over 2,700 games as a high school baseball and basketball coach while producing both MLB and NBA players?
...that Tim Grieve and his brother both made their league's All-Star team one year?
...why Mel Civil retired while hitting over .300 in AAA?
...which future superstars were scouted by Roger Jongewaard?
...how close Wayne Norton got to playing in the majors?
...that John Mitchell survived an accident that killed his minor league teammate?
...what Central League record Tadashi Matsumoto holds?
...that Cy Pfirman once held the record for umpiring 1,710 consecutive National League games?
...that Eddie Castro drew more walks in the Mexican League in the 20th Century than any other non-Mexican?
...under what difficult circumstances Thad Weber took a tough-luck loss in his major league debut?
...what was controversial about a batting championship race that Yasushi Tao lost?
...that Dody Rather once was 8-0 with a 0.31 ERA for a minor league team?
...that Stephen Vogt was a minor league umpire for a game before he played in the majors?
...what scandal cost Clay Daniel the scouting job in which he signed Kendrys Morales, Erick Aybar and Ervin Santana?
...that Garry Maddox co-hosts an annual barbecue competition?
...that Tyler Moore won a league MVP award despite hitting .184 at the end of June?
...what occupation both Calvin James and Anthony Whittington went into after their baseball careers ended?
...why Alfredo Silverio has not played in the minors in 2012 after he led the minor leagues in triples in 2011?
...that Ace Parker is the oldest living NFL player and also homered in his first at-bat in the major leagues?
...that Max Stassi set a record for the highest signing bonus ever for a 4th-round draft pick?
...that Babe Zaharias, one of the greatest female athletes in history, pitched against three different major league teams in one week?
...that David Kandilas hit for the cycle in two different leagues in 2011?
...that Massimo Fochi hit the most home runs by an infielder in the history of the Italian Baseball League - and also is among the top 10 in league annals in saves?
...that Roberto Lopez was a backup in college in 2006-2007 then won a minor league MVP award in 2008?
...that Jim Boehne was the winning pitcher in what record-setting NAIA game?
...that umpire Tim Hurst was once found guilty of assault and battery for throwing an empty beer bottle into a crowd?
...that Brian Cavazos-Galvez lost touch with his father, a former major leaguer, when he was a child?
...that Jack Daugherty hit over .400 for an unaffiliated team in the Pioneer League to earn a second chance to play for a major league organization?
...that Hyoun-taek Oh was the All-Star starting pitcher in the final Baseball World Cup?
...that John D'Acquisto was the hardest-throwing pitcher of the 1970s after Nolan Ryan?
...that Wes Timmons almost made his major league debut at age 33?
...when Hisanori Karita was a teammate of Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx?
...that John Burkett not only is among the top 200 in MLB history in wins but also has bowled several 300 games and is a PBA member?
...that Takenori Emoto set Nippon Pro Baseball game, season and career records in what department?
...that Carlos Duran won the first Triple Crown in Italy in 19 years yet lost the MVP?
...that Akio Saito was the first right-hander in NPB history to save 100 games as a reliever and win 100 as a starter?
...that Gene Crumling got his only MLB hit off slugger Jimmie Foxx?
...how Tinti Molina helped bridge ties between the Negro Leagues and the Cuban Winter League on both sides?
...what Yakult Swallows franchise record Shinichi Sato set?
...that Justin Prinstein played in seven countries in six years?
...that Michiro Sato was the first Pacific League save leader?
...that Donnie Joseph led the affiliated minor leagues in strikeout rate in 2010?
...what feat Chi-Hsien Ho was the only pitcher in Chinatrust Whales history to perform?
...when Thurman Munson played alongside Roberto Clemente, a fellow player who died in a plane accident?
...what records Shigenobu Shima set in 2004?
...how Dave Shotkoski met an early death during spring training?
...that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have had four names in under 50 years?
...that Tim Howard set numerous records in his league in 1998?
...that Virgil Hill is the son of two Olympic Silver Medal winners?
...how actor Buster Keaton is connected to baseball?
...what record Mitsuru Manaka set in 2007?
...that Buck Rodgers was considered a future Angels manager almost from the time his playing career began?
...that Sergio Miranda won the first NCAA Division I Gold Glove award given out at shortstop?
...that NFL Pro Bowler Matt Cassel made it to the finals of the 1994 Little League World Series?
...that Nagisa Arakaki set two negative records only a few years after leading the Pacific League in strikeouts?
...that superstar catcher Jorge Posada began his career as a second baseman?
...that Ira Smith was the first two-time NCAA Division I batting champion?
...that Marlin McPhail caught Dwight Gooden in Gooden's first pro start and never caught again in 9 seasons, but played every other position in that span?
...that Gordon Nell averaged over a RBI per game for his career?
...that Bruce Williams was even more wild than his brother - Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams?
...that Brandon Sing almost broke a decades-old home run record but was denied by the weather?
...that John Young played only two major league games, but had a huge impact on the game in a completely different manner?
...what record Curtis Moore nearly set in a AAA league?
...that Rich Austin was an All-Star in three leagues but never played a game for a Major League Baseball organization?
...why Darin Kracl wound up in jail after his baseball career ended?
...what home run record John O'Brien held for a brief period?
...that Héctor Carrasco has pitched for seven major league teams and was a member of seven other major league organizations?
...that Hiroo Ishii hit 22 home runs as a rookie despite missing a couple of months due to pneumonia?
...that Forrest Twogood roomed with Dizzy Dean in the minors but achieved greater fame as a college basketball coach?
...that Mike Caldwell played in only 19 minor league games in a 14-year professional career?
...that Shohei Tateyama broke a record held for decades by the legendary Masaichi Kaneda?
...that the Orizaba Charros featured four future Salon de la Fama members but finished in last place in their only season?
...that Rondal Rollin set both positive and negative records in his final season in pro ball?
...that twin sisters Elaine Roth and Eilaine Roth both made the AAGPBL leaderboards - one as a pitcher and one as a baserunner?
...that Takahiro Ikeyama was the first Japanese shortstops to hit 30+ homers four years in a row?
...that Les Cain successfully sued the Detroit Tigers for workman's compensation?
...how James Gaffney was indirectly responsible for the Braves getting their name?
...that John Rocker has continued to issue controversial interviews since the famous one that derailed his career?
...that Daniel Newman led leagues in wins in 1987 and 2001 but never in between?
...that Bill Bordley guarded Bill Clinton as a member of the Secret Service after his baseball career ended?
...that Matt Shoemaker was undrafted out of college but would go on to win Texas League Pitcher of the Year?
...that Diego Ricci nearly pitched the Italian national team to its first Medal in a Baseball World Cup?
...that Ken Hirano set or tied career, season and game Nippon Pro Baseball records in one category?
...that Cuban hurler Luis González beat the Detroit Tigers five times in a row?
...that Dave Daniels coached eight different teams - in a league that normally fields only eight teams?
...what Chunichi Dragons franchise record Yudai Kawai set?
...that Ronnie Retton led his league in walks at least twice and triples once, and went to the college basketball finals, yet would not be the most famous athlete in his family?
...that Lloyd Peever was the only Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year in the 1990s not to make the major leagues?
...why Twila Shively was forced to switch clubs against her will?
...that brothers JaDamion Williams and 'Reggie Williams were drafted only four picks apart?
...that Coleman Griffith, the "father of sports psychology", worked for the Chicago Cubs from 1938-1940 and what the results were?

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BR Bullpen:Did You Know Archive5

Did you know...[edit]

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