Sportswriter: “You hit only two home runs all last year and already you’ve hit seven this year (1969). What’s the difference?”
Sportswriter: “You hit only two home runs all last year and already you’ve hit seven this year (1969). What’s the difference?”
Reds outfielder Alex Johnson: “Five.”
WASHINGTON — See? Baseball numbers aren’t difficult. But be precise: As players say after a close play, “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” And don’t be discouraged if some questions stump you. As Phillies manager Danny Ozark said in 1976, “Even Napoleon had his Watergate.” Now, name the player or players who:
1) Had 297 three-hit games and only one three-strikeout game.
2) Struck out only 23 times in 474 at bats against Hall of Fame pitchers.
3) Batted .415 in 94 at bats against Greg Maddux.
4) Had at least 100 hits from both sides of the plate in a season.
5) Has the lowest career batting average among players with 3,000 hits.
6) Are the three players who each had an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) above 1.000 in their final season.
7) Are the four pitchers with more than three Cy Young awards.
8) Are the seven starting pitchers with two seasons with a sub-0.9 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched).
9) Are the three hitters to have at least 40 home runs and 100 walks in a season before turning 23.
10) Have the three best OPS seasons at age 20 playing at least 100 games.
11) Are the four hitters with more than 500 home runs and 600 doubles.
12) Has the best stolen-base percentage with at least 500 steals.
13) Was the Hall of Famer who won three MVPs and finished second four times.
14) Was the youngest 20-game winner.
15) Set the rookie record for strikeouts.
16) Holds the record for most extra-base hits by a third baseman in a single season.
17) Among pitchers in the live ball era (post-1920) with at least 900 innings, had the lowest opponents’ batting average and most strikeouts per nine innings.
18) Is the only player in the top 10 all time in runs, hits, home runs, RBI, total bases and extra-base hits.
19) Is the pitcher with the most strikeouts in his first 100 major league games.
20) Is the only first baseman to have 40 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season (he did it twice).
21) Are the three pitchers with six seasons with at least 200 strikeouts and no more than 175 hits.
22) Had the longest hitting streak by a catcher.
23) In 1930, hit .386, had 250 hits, hit 40 home runs and drove in 170 but led the league in none of these four categories.
24) Had a higher batting average than Joe DiMaggio’s .408 during DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak in 1941.
25) Was the MVP in two consecutive All-Star games.
26) Were the two to win rookie of the year, MVP and Cy Young awards (not all in the same season).
27) Lost no-hitters with two outs in the ninth inning in consecutive games.
28) Is the only player to finish first or second in MVP voting in his first five full seasons.
29) Has the most World Series hits.
Bonus question: Which broadcaster said, “Ozzie Smith just made another play that I’ve never seen anyone else make before, and I’ve seen him make it more than anyone else ever has”?
Answers:
1) Tony Gwynn
2) Tony Gwynn
3) Tony Gwynn
4) Garry Templeton (1979), Willie Wilson (1980)
5) Cal Ripken (.276)
6) Ted Williams, Barry Bonds, Shoeless Joe Jackson
7) Roger Clemens (7), Randy Johnson (5), Steve Carlton (4), Greg Maddux (4)
8) Cy Young, Mordecai Brown, Ed Walsh, Christy Mathewson, Sandy Koufax, Greg Maddux and Clayton Kershaw
9) Mel Ott (1929), Eddie Mathews (1954), Bryce Harper (2015)
10) Mel Ott (1.084), Alex Rodriguez (1.045), Ted Williams (1.045)
11) Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Albert Pujols, David Ortiz
12) Tim Raines
13) Stan Musial
14) Dwight Gooden (1985, age 20)
15) Dwight Gooden
16) Nolan Arenado (89)
17) Billy Wagner
18) Hank Aaron
19) Yu Darvish
20) Jeff Bagwell
21) Pedro Martinez, Nolan Ryan, Clayton Kershaw
22) Benito Santiago (34 games)
23) Chuck Klein
24) Ted Williams (.412)
25) Mike Trout
26) Don Newcombe, Justin Verlander
27) Dave Stieb
28) Mike Trout
29) Yogi Berra (71)
Bonus answer: Jerry Coleman, of course.
George Will’s syndicated column appears Thursdays and Sundays in the Tribune-Herald. His email address is georgewill@washpost.com.