Monthly Archives: August 2015

COG Round 102 Results: Voters Shout for Speaker

Hall of Fame outfielder Tris Speaker earns induction to the COG as an easy first ballot winner in the 102nd round of COG balloting. The all-time doubles king, Speaker compiled a remarkable 133.7 WAR over 22 seasons, including 15 straight campaigns (1909-23) above 5 WAR. Speaker’s career milestones exceeding 3000 hits, 1500 runs, 1500 RBI and 400 stolen bases have been matched by only one other player – his exact contemporary Ty Cobb.

More on Speaker after the jump.

Continue reading

Quiz – “10-40, Good Buddy” (solved)

All of these pitchers had a career winning record with 100 ERA+, all played in the American League, and all but three played for the Yankees. But, what distinguishes these pitchers among all others since 1914?

Congratulations to Richard Chester! He knew that these ten pitchers were the fastest to win 40 starts from the beginning of their careers. Specifically, they are the only pitchers since 1914 to do so within their first 75 games.

Continue reading

Billy Pierce 1927-2015

Billy Pierce

Billy Pierce, one of the game’s top pitchers during the 1950s, has died at the age of 88. Pierce debuted as a teenage fill-in for the Tigers in 1945 before moving on to the White Sox where he spent most of his career, teaming up in 1959 with Early Wynn and Dick Donovan to lead the Pale Hose to their first AL championship in 40 years. Pierce would finish his playing days with the Giants and play a key role in San Francisco’s pennant-winning season in 1962.

More on Pierce after the jump.

Continue reading

Quiz – Power Hitters (solved)

The players in this quiz include some of the great sluggers in baseball history. But, what is the career accomplishment of which only these players can boast?

Hint: an active player may join this group later this season.

Congratulations to David P and Scary Tuna! They teamed up to identify that only these players hit their 400th doubles and 400th home runs in the same season. More after the jump.

Continue reading