Chapter members gather for World Series Game 4 watch party

 

After COVID-19 shut down a long chapter tradition last year, the World Series watch party at Jim Baker’s house returned in fine form on Saturday for Game 4.

Twelve chapter members and guests watched a tight ballgame in which the Astros put up two early runs while the Braves pitching staff stranded runners every inning. But back-to-back home runs by Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler in the 7th inning sealed the game for the Braves, who take a three-games-to-one lead in the World Series.

Jim provided delicious hot dogs, bratwurst, snacks and desserts for our enjoyment. Monte and Linda Cely brought tasty buckeyes and others brought an assortment of snacks and beverages.

Jerry Miller provided a fun trivia quiz that featured clues of ballplayers who share a name with another ballplayer or a celebrity or politician outside of baseball.

Host Jim Baker took top honors on the quiz (pictured below, left), earning 30 out of 32 possible points. Jerry’s friend Gene was second with 28 points, and Jan Larson (pictured below, right) had 25 points. Monte had 18 and David had 14. Jerry provided as prizes 1979 Dodgers programs that featured Dusty Baker, now manager of the Astros, on the cover. Notice that the programs had a 50-cent cover price!

You can take a swing at Jerry’s quiz below. The answers follow the quiz questions. (For a colorful presentation of the answers to the quiz, click here: Name is the Same baseball quiz answers.)

Many thanks to Jim Baker for hosting the World Series watch party, always one of the highlights of our year.

We haven’t set the date yet for the November meeting but will let you know through the chapter email list.

“THE NAME’S THE SAME” by Jerry Miller

Below is a list of two (or more) baseball players or other individuals that share the same first and last names. Your job is to identify them. (Two non-baseball examples: “Former ESPN anchor and lieutenant governor of Texas” = “Dan Patrick,” and “Former Secretary of State, sponsor of annual Predictatron contest, and your host for this evening,” = “Jim Baker.”) None of the individuals are related, so there are no “Ken Griffeys,” or “Cal Ripkens” out there. The questions are arranged in perceived order of difficulty (i.e. easiest first, progressively harder).

  1. An easy one to get you started. This Dodger catcher hit a home run off his namesake, an Atlanta Braves pitcher, in the 2020 NLCS. They are also reputedly fans of their namesake, an actor in “Men in Black,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” and other films.
  1. This outfielder converted to a shortstop and later manager holds the all-time Los Angeles Dodger record for games played, and shares a name with the greatest winner in team sports, with ten NBA championships in 12 years with the Boston Celtics.
  1. The first was a temperamental outfielder with the Expos, Dodgers, A’s, and others. His namesake is a board game company whose products include Candy Land, Twister, and Yahtzee.
  1. Add an “n” to the first name of a famous television actress (The Young and Restless, Desperate Housewives) from Corpus Christi and you get a third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays and San Francisco Giants.
  1. While we’re adding letters: add a letter to the last name of the first openly gay ballplayer, and you have the general manager of the Oakland A’s, famously portrayed by Brad Pitt in “Moneyball.”
  1. The first was a utility infielder for the Washington Senators, Los Angeles Dodgers, and others in the 1960s and early 70s. His namesakes include a present-day Senator from Louisiana, and the 35th President of the United States.
  1. Another three-fer: The first is a World Series-winning manager who had one of the most famous stolen bases in history. The second was a journeyman left-handed pitcher in the 70s and early 80s, mostly for the Padres and Astros, who still holds the San Diego record for lowest season ERA. The third was a third baseman, catcher, and second baseman who played parts of ten years in the majors from 1972 to 1982, and just missed being a teammate of #2 with the Padres.
  1. Third baseman and outfielder for the Tigers and the 1986 World Champion Mets, and a largely defunct roadside restaurant chain famously known for their ice cream, orange roof, and shortened name.
  1. A Hall of Fame manager for the Yankees and a 1950s red-baiting politician who was censured by the Senate.
  1. One is a starting guard for the Los Angeles Clippers. The second is “Mr. October.”
  2. The first was primarily a DH for the Cleveland Indians, who is still active, albeit with a different team. The second is a noted guitarist, known for his namesake band and such hits as “Oye Como Va” and “Black Magic Woman.”
  1. One is a Hall of Fame first baseman and designated hitter who now makes cheesy commercials for testosterone supplements and recently purchased the “Field of Dreams.” His namesake played 16 years as an outfielder for seven different National League teams, including the 1962 Mets.
  1. The right fielder for the 1988 World Series champions, and the recently deceased 1974 National League Cy Young award winner for the same team.
  1. A Hall of Fame second baseman and two-time MVP, and the manager of the Boston Red Sox from 1988 to 1991.
  1. One was a right-handed pitcher on the 1962 New York Mets. The other was a left handed pitcher on the 1962 New York Mets. If you need a third, he was a Hall of Fame hockey broadcaster for the Los Angeles Kings.
  1. One is an actress and comedian from the TV series Grace Under Fire. The other is one of the better leadoff hitters from the 80s and 90s for the Braves, Indians, Giants, Dodgers, and Mets, who memorably overcame throat cancer while still active.
  1. One was a bearded reliever for the Giants and Dodgers from 2006 to 2014; the other is the lead singer of an iconic, California-based ‘60s rock band.
  1. One is the brother of a Hall of Fame pitcher and won 20 games and threw a no-hitter for the Dodgers. The other was a journeyman infielder for the Giants, Dodgers, and four other teams in the late 90s and 2000s.
  1. The first was a shortstop for the Cubs, who committed a key error in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, known as the “Bartman” game. The second was the opposing shortstop for the Florida Marlins, who were the beneficiaries of the error.
  1. One is one of the greatest left handed hitters of all time, who was given a lifetime ban from the sport. The other was the controversial stage father of one of the most popular singers of his generation and his singing siblings.
  1. One is a Hall of Fame pitcher, primarily for the Phillies; the other is a former ESPN anchor and host of “Good Morning America” who recently served as guest host on “Jeopardy.”
  1. A 1980s/90s infielder for several teams, notably the Rangers and Indians. Despite having an extra “e” at the end of his name, he was called “the Governor” because of his namesake, a four term governor of the nation’s largest state.
  1. One of the last surviving members of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, who also pitched for the 1962 Mets and managed the San Francisco Giants, and a star running back for the Joe Montana-era San Francisco 49ers.
  1. An outfielder who played 13 years from 1926 to 1938, primarily for the Reds and Giants, and the leader of the “Green Mountain Boys” during the American Revolution, after whom a modern day furniture company is named.
  1. A Hall of Fame outfielder, primarily for the Cubs, and his namesake, who played four games for the 1969 Seattle Pilots, earning earned him a mention in “Ball Four.”
  1. The player was the 1988 American League Cy Young Award winner with 27 wins, most since Denny McLain, and had a memorable save in the World Series ten years earlier. The second was a former member of Fleetwood Mac who had a moderately successful solo career, with hits such as “Sentimental Lady” and “Ebony Eyes.”
  1. From “great player, mediocre musician,” we go to “great musician, mediocre player.” He was a journeyman second and third baseman in the 1970s and 80s for the Pirates, White Sox, and others. His namesake was the flamboyant lead singer for an iconic 60s band, who flamed out at age 27 and is famously buried in Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris.
  1. The first player was a catcher on the Atlanta Braves’ first two pennant winning teams. Add a letter to the first name and you have the 1989 A.L. Rookie of the Year, as a relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.
  1. 1970s and 80s catcher and outfielder, primarily for the Dodgers and Astros, who made a memorable throw from right field in the 1974 World Series, and a former quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, born in the same town as Nolan Ryan (Alvin, TX).
  1. A young, rookie outfielder for this year’s St. Louis Cardinals, and the 2014 Conn Smythe award winner, who won three Stanley Cups and was nicknamed “Mr. Game 7.”
  1. Center fielder, primarily with the Cardinals and most recently the Angels; nicknamed “The Federalist” because, other than spelling the first name differently, he is the namesake of the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
  1. This outfielder played 8 seasons for the Dodgers and Pirates in the 1980s. His walk off squeeze bunt drove in the winning run and capped a four run ninth inning rally in a key win over the Braves during the 1983 pennant race, which the Dodgers won by 3 games. His namesake is the second largest tobacco company in America.

ANSWERS:

  1. Will Smith.
  2. Bill Russell
  3. Milton Bradley.
  4. Eva/n Longoria.
  5. Billy Bean/e
  6. John Kennedy.
  7. Dave Roberts.
  8. Howard Johnson.
  9. Joe McCarthy.
  10. Reggie Jackson.
  11. Carlos Santana.
  12. Frank Thomas.
  13. Mike Marshall
  14. Joe Morgan.
  15. Bob Miller.
  16. Brett Butler.
  17. Brian Wilson.
  18. Ramon Martinez.
  19. Alex Gonzalez.
  20. Joe Jackson
  21. Robin Roberts.
  22. Jerry Brown/e.
  23. Roger Craig.
  24. Ethan Allen.
  25. Billy Williams.
  26. Bob Welch.
  27. Jim Morrison.
  28. Greg/g Olson
  29. Joe Ferguson.
  30. Justin Williams.
  31. Jon/John Jay.
  32. R.J. Reynolds.