BASEBALL HISTORY -- January 30

On January 30, 1961, Roger Maris signed a one-year contract worth $36,000 for the season. The previous year, Maris was the AL's MVP after he hit 39 home runs, knocked in 112 runs, and batted .283.



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 30
Davey Johnson (All-Star)
Sandy Amoros
Walt Dropo (All-Star)
Charlie Neal (All-Star)



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 31
Nolan Ryan (HOF)
Ernie Banks (HOF)
Jackie Robinson (HOF)
George Burns

FAMOUS FIRSTS -- January 29

Who was the first major league player to have his uniform number retired?

A. Babe Ruth
B. Lou Gehrig
C. Walter Johnson
D. Jackie Robinson
E. Ty Cobb



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 29
Jason Schmidt (All-Star)
Steve Sax (All-Star)
Bill Voiselle (All-Star)
Hank Edwards






B. Lou Gehrig had his number, four, retired in 1939. Eight games into the season, Gehrig told manager Joe McCarthy that he would be removing himself from the line-up. On July 4, 1939, the Yankees held Lou Gehrig Day at Yankee Stadium and 61,808 fans came to honor the player, who was stricken with ALS. He died on June 2, 1941, at the age of 37.

HALL OF FAME -- January 28

Which Hall of Famer was the oldest player to make a major league debut?

A. Monte Irvin
B. Satchel Paige
C. Hoyt Wilhelm
D. Willard Brown
E. Roy Campanella



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 28
George Wright (HOF)
Bill White (All-Star)
Pete Runnels (All-Star)
Jermaine Dye (All-Star)






B. Satchel Paige was 42 years old when he made his debut with the Cleveland Indians in 1948. Though denied an opportunity to play in the major leagues as a young man because of the color barrier, Paige first played with Cleveland, then the St. Louis Browns, and finally the Kansas City Athletics across three decades. He was elected to Hall of Fame in 1971.

Satchel Paige 42 歲才登上MLB， 生涯只打了六季，還能入選名人堂，原來是因為 Inducted into the Hall of Fame by Negro League Committee as Player in 1971.

BASEBALL HISTORY -- January 27

On January 3, 1920, Boston's deal to sell Babe Ruth to New York for $125,000 was announced publicly. At the time, the fee was twice the amount ever paid for a player. Boston owner Harry Frazee also secured a $350,000 loan from the Yankees as part of the deal.



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 27
Rusty Meacham
John Lowenstein
Bibb Falk
Angel Berroa

WORLD SERIES RECORDS -- January 26

Which team holds the record for the highest batting average in a World Series?

A. Yankees (1960)
B. Dodgers (1955)
C. Reds (1975)
D. Athletics (1930)
E. Cardinals (1982)



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 26
Brian Doyle
Rob Uecker
Kaiser Wilhelm
Jeff Branson






A. In 1960, the Yankees hit .338, setting an all-time record. They clobbered Pittsburgh, winning games by scores of 16-3, 10-0, and 12-0 -- the last two pitched by Whitey Ford. However, they lost in seven games and manager Casey Stengel was fired for only starting his ace Ford twice.

IMMORTAL RECORDS -- January 25

Which hurler started and completed 39 consecutive games in one season?

A. Walter Johnson
B. Jack Taylor
C. Cy Young
D. Christy Mathewson
E. Rube Marquard



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 25
Vern Ruhle
Wally Bunker
Derrick Turnbow (All-Star)
Ed Goodson






B. Jack Taylor started 39 and completed 39, winning 20 and losing 19. In ten years of play, he was a solid, if unspectacular, performer, winning 152 and losing 139.

Jack Taylor 生涯有兩次先發 39 場，完投 39 場，見此連結。

TEAM HISTORY -- January 23

What uniform numbers have the Baltimore Orioles retired?



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 23
Frank Sullivan (All-Star)
Mark Wohlers (All-Star)
Chico Carrasquel (All-Star)
Randy Gumpert (All-Star)



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 24
Rob Dibble (All-Star)
Dick Stigman (All-Star)
Atlee Hammaker (All-Star)
Cliff Heathcote






Earl Weaver (4), Brooks Robinson (5), Cal Ripken Jr. (8), Frank Robinson (20), Jim Palmer (22), Eddie Murray (33)

HALL OF FAME -- January 22

On January 10, 1984, Luis Aparicio, Don Drysdale, and Harmon Killebrew were elected to the Hall of Fame. Killebrew, having hit 573 home runs, was fifth on the all-time list at the time, following Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Frank Robinson. He hit 40 or more homers eight times, and led the league six times. An 11-time All-Star, Killebrew was the league MVP in 1969 and batted in 100 or more runs nine times. Inexplicably, he was not elected into the Hall of Fame until his fourth year of eligibility. What took the Baseball Writers of America so long to induct Killebrew?



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 22
Chone Figgins (All-Star)
Amos Strunk
Mike Caldwell
Jeff Treadway

BASEBALL HUMOR -- January 21

"Bob Gibson is the luckiest pitcher I ever saw. He always pitches when the other team doesn't score any runs."

-- Tim McCarver, Bob Gibson's catcher in three different World Series



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 21
Byung-Hyun Kim (All-Star)
Dave Smith (All-Star)
Mike Krukow (All-Star)
Brian Giles (All-Star)

PEERLESS PERFORMANCES -- January 20

Who holds the record for home runs in a season by a second baseman?

A. Rogers Hornsby
B. Ryan Sandberg
C. Davey Johnson
D. Alfonso Soriano
E. Joe Morgan



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 20
David Eckstein (All-Star)
Joe Dobson (All-Star)
Camilo Pascual (All-Star)
Ozzie Guillen (All-Star)






C. Davey Johnson hit 43 home runs for Atlanta Braves in 1973.

WORLD SERIES RECORDS -- January 19

Who was the MVP of the 2003 World Series?

A. Jeff Conine
B. Juan Pierre
C. Bernie Williams
D. Josh Beckett
E. Derek Jeter



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 19
John Matlack (All-Star)
Chris Sabo (All-Star)
Rip Radcliff (All-Star)
Phil Nevin (All-Star)






D. In Game 6, Josh Beckett tossed a complete-game five-hit shutout at Yankee Stadium, handing Florida its second world title with a 2-0 victory. He out-pitched Andy Pettitte, silencing all the critics who thought that manager Jack McKeon shouldn't have started Beckett after just three days' rest.

HALL OF FAME -- January 18

Of the following top pitchers in career losses, which one is not in the Hall of Fame?

A. Cy Young
B. Jim Galvin
C. Nolan Ryan
D. Walter Johnson
E. Jack Powell



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 18
Curt Flood (All-Star)
Scott McGregor (All-Star)
Billy Grabarkewitz (All-Star)
Mike Lieberthal (All-Star)






E. Jack Powell won 245 games and lost 254, playing for four different teams, from 1897 through 1912. He won 23 games three times, but also lost 19 in four different seasons.

PECKING ORDER -- January 16

Which is the order for the top five hitters in runs batted in over a season?

A. Lou Gehrig, Hack Wilson, Jammie Foxx, Babe Ruth, Alex Rodriguez
B. Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Jammie Foxx, Chuck Klein
C. Hack Wilson, Lou Gehrig, Hank Greenberg, Lou Gehrig, Jammie Foxx
D. Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Hank Greenberg, Manny Ramirez, Joe DiMaggio
E. Hank Greenberg, Lou Gehrig, Jammie Foxx, Hack Wilson, Babe Ruth



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 16
Albert Pujols (All-Star)
Dizzy Dean (HOF)
Jimmy Collins (HOF)
Jack McDowell (All-Star)



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 17
Mayo Smith
Don Zimmer (All-Star)
Chili Davis (All-Star)
Darrell Porter (All-Star)






C. Hack Wilson (191), Lou Gehrig (184), Hank Greenberg (183), Lou Gehrig (175), Jammie Foxx (175).

BASEBALL PHILOSOPHY -- January 15

"Jackie Robinson made it possible for me in the first place. Without him, I would never have been able to do what I did."

-- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in David Faulkner's Great Time Coming: The Life of Jackie Robinson from Baseball to Birmingham.



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 15
Matt Holiday (All-Star)
Mike Marshall (All-Star)
Bobby Grich (All-Star)
Ray Chapman

IMMORTAL RECORDS -- January 14

Who holds the record for most extra-base hits in one season?

A. Lou Gehrig
B. Hank Greenberg
C. Willie Mays
D. Babe Ruth
E. Barry Bonds



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 14
Smead Jolley
Sonny Siebert (All-Star)
Wayne Gross (All-Star)
Terry Forster






D. Babe Ruth amassed 119 extra-base hits in 1921. He hit 44 doubles, 16 triples, and 59 home runs. Lou Gehrig is the runner-up with 117.

HIGH PRAISE FOR BASEBALL -- January 13

"That was my greatest thrill since I was converted to Christ."

-- Billy Graham, evangelist, after meeting Babe Ruth



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 13
Kevin Mitchell (All-Star)
Odell Jones
Bob Forsch
Billy Jo Robidoux

WORLD SERIES RECORDS -- January 12

Match the player with his World Series Record.

1. Yogi Berra
2. Bobby Richardson
3. Lou Gehrig
4. Hank Bauer

A. Had 12 RBIs in one Series
B. Hit four home runs in four games
C. Was on the winning team ten times
D. Hit in 17 consecutive games



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 12
Randy Jones (All-Star)
Luis Ayala
Andy Fox






1-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-D

DUBIOUS DISTINCTIONS -- January 11

Which is the last pitcher to lose 20 games in a season twice?

A. Al Jackson
B. Bobo Newsom
C. Roger Craig
D. Wilbur Wood
E. Phil Niekro



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 11
Max Carey (HOF)
Elmer Flick (HOF)
Schoolboy Rowe (All-Star)
Alvin Crowder (All-Star)






E. Knuckleballer Phil Niekro won 16 and lost 20 for Atlanta in 1977 and then in 1979 he won 21 and lost 20 again. The dubious distinction didn't stop him from winning 318 games and being elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997.

有趣的是，Phil Niekro 1978 和 1980 都吞了 18 敗，生涯還是可以拿到 318 勝，就跟 Cy Young 的 511-316 一樣，勝場數多敗場數也多。

BASEBALL AND POPULAR CULTURE -- January 9

On January 9, 1892, "Slide, Kelly, Slide," composed by George Gaskin, made the popular music charts. It was the first baseball song to do so.



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 9
Otis Nixon
Ralph Terry (All-Star)
Stan Javier
Jay Powell



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 10
Willie McCovey (HOF)
Jim O'Toole (All-Star)
Richard Dotson (All-Star)
Adam Kennedy

TEAM HISTORY -- January 8

Match the American League cities with their earlier team names.

1. Boston
2. Cleveland
3. New York
4. Detroit

A. Spiders
B. Puritans
C. Wolverines
D. Highlanders



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 8
Bruce Sutter (HOF)
Walker Cooper (All-Star)
Mike Cameron (All-Star)
Jim Busby (All-Star)






1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C

WORLD SERIES RECORDS -- January 7

What pitcher won the first and last games of the 1973 World Series?



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 7
Johnny Mize (HOF)
Alfonso Soriano (All-Star)
Francisco Rodriguez (All-Star)
Tony Conigliaro (All-Star)






Oakland lefty Ken Holtzman beat New York's Jon Matlack in Games 1 and 7 of the 1973 Series. However, Matlack bested Holtzman in Game 4. The Mets led three games to two, but Hunter beat Tom Seaver in Game 6 and Oakland's relief corps of Darold Knowles and Rollie Fingers closed out the Mets in the final two games.

PEERLESS PERFORMANCES -- January 6

Since Ted Williams hit .406 for the 1941 season, which player has gone the longest maintaining a .400 batting average?

A. John Olerud
B. George Brett
C. Tony Gwynn
D. Rod Carew
E. Tony Oliva



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 6
Early Wynn (HOF)
Ralph Branca (All-Star)
Don Gullett
Norm Charlton (All-Star)






B. In the 1980 season, George Brett was hitting .401 until September 4, when he fell under .400. He finished the season at .390.

Update：1:22 1/11/10
數據有誤，George Brett 到了9/19還有 .400打擊率，依舊是維持最久的。
Latest Dates Above .400 Since 1980
baseball-reference - George Brett

WORLD SERIES RECORDS -- January 5

Who was the MVP of the 2004 World Series?



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 5
Ban Johnson (AL President)(HOF)
Earl Battey (All-Star)
Danny Jackson (All-Star)
Charlie Hough (All-Star)






Manny Ramirez hit a home run and batted .417 (7-17) to earn MVP honors. Boston swept the St. Louis Cardinals to earn their first world title in 86 years.

BASEBALL HUMOR -- January 4

"It was strange. The only English words I saw were Sony and Mitsubishi."

-- Bill Gullickson, former major league pitcher, on returning from a trip to Japan, where he signed to play in 1988



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 4
Ted Lilly (All-Star)
Don McMahon (All-Star)
George Selkirk (All-Star)
Tito Fuentes

BASEBALL HISTORY -- January 2

On January 2, 1912, Brooklyn Dodgers president Charles Ebbets announced the purchase of 4 1/2 acres to build a 23,000-seat concrete-and-steel stadium in the Pigtown section of Brooklyn, bordering Flatbush. Completed in just over a year, Ebbets Field was ready for Opening Day on April 9, 1913.



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 2
Edgar Martinez (All-Star)
David Cone (All-Star)
Bill Madlock (All-Star)
Jeff Suppan



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 3
Darren Daulton (All-Star)
A. J. Burnett
Gus Suhr (All-Star)
Sid Hudson (All-Star)

HALL OF FAME -- January 1

Which Hall of Famer was the first to hit two grand slams in a game?

A. Babe Ruth
B. Rogers Hornsby
C. Joe Jackson
D. Lou Gehrig
E. Tony Lazzeri



BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS -- January 1
Hank Greenberg (HOF)
Tim Keefe (HOF)
La Marr Hoyt (All-Star)
Tony Lazzeri (HOF)






E. On May 24, 1936, Tony Lazzeri became the first player in major league history to record two grand slams in a single game. "Push 'em Up" Tony batted in 11 runs during the game. And in Game 2 of that year's Fall Classic, he hit another grand slam as the Yankees beat the Giants in six games.