It's been a long while since we had a Trivia Tuesday but I felt the beginning of the baseball season was a perfect time for it. Let's get to our first question with a big H/T to Jordan and to the ESPN TMI blog:
Over the last 50 years, there have been four instances of a pitcher getting the start on Opening Day after missing all of the previous season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Carl Pavano ('07 Yankees*), Scott Erickson (’02 Orioles), Alex Fernandez (’99 Marlins), and Diego Segui (’77 Mariners). Yesterday, three pitchers did just that. Name them!
*Side Note: Seeing Carl Pavano's name up there makes me sick. Chien-Ming Wang went down with a hamstring pull, Andy Pettitte suffered back spasms, Jeff Karstens had elbow stiffness, and Mike Mussina’s schedule lined him up incorrectly. So I know it's only one start and obviously he wasn't their #1 starter...but still...River Ave Blues thought it may be his destiny to pitch a no-hitter on Opening Day, but that that didn't happen. Oh, and in case you're wondering, by April 15th, he was on the DL--for the rest of the season.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
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Shawn Marcum, Chris Young, and Jake Westbrook
ReplyDeleteMarcum and Westbrook are correct but Chris Young both pitched in 2009 AND didn't pitch yesterday so you're doubly wrong there. One more to go!
ReplyDeleteJake Westbrook, Shaun Marcum, and Ben Sheets do i get a cookie??
ReplyDeleteAnd we have a winner! The cookie goes to Jim Seeth. All three of those pitchers missed all of 2009 to come back and pitch opening day.
ReplyDeleteFrom ESPN's TMI blog: "And because you don’t get to type this name enough – the last pitcher to do it prior to 1960 was Vinegar Bend Mizell for the 1956 Cardinals after serving in Korea."
What? Ben didn't get it right? Go Jim!
ReplyDeleteJK Ben - you're great don't change