Astros even World Series at chapter watch party

Jim Baker’s companion Ike takes comfort from the Astros rally towel just as Astros fans took comfort from Urquidy’s start and Bregman’s grand slam in World Series Game 4 win.

Fourteen chapter members and guests – and one very good dog – gathered to watch World Series Game 4 to find out if the Washington Nationals would push their advantage to a 3-games-to-1 lead or if the Houston Astros would even the best-of-seven series.

With a dominating five innings from Jose Urquidy, only the third Mexican pitcher to start a World Series game (Fernando Valenzuela of the Dodgers and Jaime Garcia of the Cardinals are the others), and a two-run home run by Robinson Chirinos and a grand slam by Alex Bregman, the Astros knotted the Series to two games apiece, winning the game 8-1.

For the eighth time in the last nine years, Jim Baker hosted the annual World Series watch party on Saturday at his home, grilling burgers and hot dogs: a feast for baseball-loving fans.

Baker also rolled out his World Series-themed trivia quiz, challenging members with questions about team and individual exploits in the World Series. Jerry Miller, sporting a Washington Nationals jersey and a Montreal Expos cap, won the quiz with 61 points, outpacing second-place finisher Tom Thayer, who had 57 points, and the rest of the field. For his effort, Miller won a mini-figures set of characters from The Simpson’s “Homer at the Bat.” Tom won the Armed Service Edition paperback version of “You Know Me, Al” by Ring Lardner.

Jerry Miller shows off his prize for besting everyone on Jim Baker’s World Series quiz.

To try your hand at Baker’s quiz, click here. The questions are listed first with answers at the end of that page.

Baker also shared an autograph from Bosox slugger Carl Yastrzemski. A friend of the family secured the personalized autograph for a 7- or 8-year-old Jimmy Baker in 1967.

“To Jimmy Baker, Best Wishes — Carl Yastrzemski” (1967)

This was the 155th consecutive month with a chapter meeting, a streak that dates to December 2006. Many thanks to Jim for hosting the World Series Watch Party.

Next meeting is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at Serranos in southwest Austin (MoPac and 290). A request for RSVPs will be issued in early November. By then, we’ll know the World Series champion along with the season award winners.