Who am I?

[Dave Visbeck]

I'm sorry. What do I know. I never went to calledge.

Come to think of it, I couldn't find no high school around either.

[Dave Visbeck]

Come to think of it some more ... I had to quit grade school to help ma and pa on the dairy farm.

[Dave Visbeck]

Now I think I done gone and got myself all depressed again...

[Dave Visbeck]

... the life of bein' a Red Sox fan is always filled with personal issues .

[apolansk]

... the life of bein' a Red Sox fan is always filled with personal issues .

Just found out you were right, either way, next question

[Dave Visbeck]

Another Who am I? #11


I was tired and the season was long. I was finally ready to hang up my glove after this last start. I had a pretty long and draw-out pitching career where I found myself being used less and less as the seasons wore on. I had mostly been a starter, being one in about nine out of every ten games I pitched. In post-season play, my start percentage was even less.

I had finally about run out of gas at the ripe old age of 38. This last appearance was on a dreary overcast day in the beginning of October. My team was out of it and that is probably why they put me in as the starter. I didn't complain though. I still had it in me to give it nine innings that day for a complete game ... although my performance was pretty lack luster. I gave up more hits than innings pitched and even walked three. I couldn't strike anyone out though so I guess my day had finally come to an end for my pitching days.

Maybe because it was a cold day that my left arm was so sore when it was all over. I almost couldn't eat for a week accept for my right arm saved me from starving I guess. Well, getting back to the game. I did barely win the game though and I was happy for that. A slugger helped out and came through once again and made sure of my win with a 3-run homer in the game. He was slow, fat and hobbled by aches and pains... but the guy carried my heart with that big swing of his.

Looking back now, it "was all good" ... well at least mostly it was. I had got my licks in. I had a year when I won the league ERA title. I had a year when I led the league in shut-outs. I would of been the "Rookie of the Year" if there had been such an award. One year I would of been the MVP... only if there had been one. Another year I would have won the Cy Young Award ... and once again ... if only there had been one. If only I had won more games pitching, I could of made the Hall of Fame as a pitcher, but I didn't do that ... what else is there to say?

Who am I?

[apolansk]

This one has me completely stumped. I at first thought Babe Ruth, then Jim Bouton, but now I'm clueless.

[Dave Visbeck]

This one has me completely stumped. I at first thought Babe Ruth, then Jim Bouton, but now I'm clueless.

Jim Bouton? Who is Jim Bouton?

[apolansk]

Jim Bouton? Who is Jim Bouton?

Is it Bouton?

[THEBOSS84]

Is it Bouton?

Can't be Bouton...he started pitching in the 60's - all those awards were around when he was around...

[JDPNYY]

Can't be Bouton...he started pitching in the 60's - all those awards were around when he was around...

Maybe it's Gus Bouton.

[Soriambi]

I think it's Ruth.

[apolansk]

I think it's Ruth.

Ruth was playing till he was 40, with the Boston Braves.

Although he did pitch his last game, a CG when he was 38.

I think you might be onto something. Can't get the boxscore for the game, which did occur on Oct 1st, against Boston.



Upon further looking at Ruth's stats, I'm gonna say Ruth.

[THEBOSS84]

Ruth was playing till he was 40, with the Boston Braves.

Although he did pitch his last game, a CG when he was 38.

I think you might be onto something. Can't get the boxscore for the game, which did occur on Oct 1st, against Boston.



Upon further looking at Ruth's stats, I'm gonna say Ruth.
</pre>

I 100% agree with you that it is Ruth - in his last pitched game ever, he was 38, he pitched a complete game while giving up 12 hits and 3 walks as well as 5 er.
Good call - Soriambi and Apolansk

[apolansk]

Maybe it's Gus Bouton.

Jim "Gus" Bouton

[JDPNYY]

I 100% agree with you that it is Ruth - in his last pitched game ever, he was 38, he pitched a complete game while giving up 12 hits and 3 walks as well as 5 er.
Good call - Soriambi and Apolansk

Ruth pitched in 3 Post Season games and started all 3.

[THEBOSS84]

Ruth pitched in 3 Post Season games and started all 3.

Other than the postseason hint, Ruth fits every other description perfectly...check it out on baseballreference.com

[Tifoso]

I think it's Ruth.

Think he had the second best ERA that one year, though....

[JDPNYY]

Other than the postseason hint, Ruth fits every other description perfectly...check it out on baseballreference.com

I did.

I think Dave tries to throw in one incorrect hint to try to throw us off.

[THEBOSS84]

Think he had the second best ERA that one year, though....

No, on baseballreference it says he led the league in era in 1916 with a 1.75 era

[apolansk]

Ruth pitched in 3 Post Season games and started all 3.

Just says he started less games as a pitcher as he got older in the post season. I guess it could be construed as meaning that since he was playing OF, that he no longer was starting as a pitcher.

[Tifoso]

No, on baseballreference it says he led the league in era in 1916 with a 1.75 era

Wow, thanks. And there's any question who was the best baseball player of all time?

[Dave Visbeck]

Maybe it's Gus Bouton.

John got the correct answer! Gus Bouton pitched for the Goshen Greys from 1872 to 1883! Way to go!!! 722

[Dave Visbeck]

Jim "Gus" Bouton

Jim "Gus" Bouton ! Good call Andrew! You were correct also ... ...
when a slugger helped out and came through once again and made sure of my win with a 3-run homer in the game. He was slow, fat and hobbled by aches and pains ... but the guy carried my heart with that big swing of his. He sure did carry Babe Ruth's heart. Babe also had the left arm that was making the pitches in his final game ever as a pitcher!

[JDPNYY]

Just says he started less games as a pitcher as he got older in the post season. I guess it could be construed as meaning that since he was playing OF, that he no longer was starting as a pitcher.

I had mostly been a starter, being one in about nine out of every ten games I pitched. In post-season play, my start percentage was even less.


That last sentence was extremely misleading.

[Don Mattingly]

I 100% agree with you that it is Ruth - in his last pitched game ever, he was 38, he pitched a complete game while giving up 12 hits and 3 walks as well as 5 er.
Good call - Soriambi and Apolansk

Ruth won an MVP award.

[THEBOSS84]

Ruth won an MVP award.

"One year I would of been the MVP... only if there had been one."

Understood that Babe had one an MVP award.
Maybe he meant that in one specific year before the award was around, Babe should have won the award....

Everythign else matches

[Don Mattingly]

"One year I would of been the MVP... only if there had been one."

Understood that Babe had one an MVP award.
Maybe he meant that in one specific year before the award was around, Babe should have won the award....

Everythign else matches

I 100% agree with you that it is Ruth - in his last pitched game ever, he was 38, he pitched a complete game while giving up 12 hits and 3 walks as well as 5 er.
Good call - Soriambi and Apolansk

True...it does seem to suggest he didn't win one at all though, but I guess you argue it the other way as well. I thought the suggestion was that he had never won one when I first read it.

[apolansk]

A League Award could also be won by a player only once, leading to unusual results like Babe Ruth's 1927 (one of the greatest offensive seasons of all time) not being eligible for the award

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MLB_Mos...e_Player_Award

There was also no MVP from 1915-1921, including some years where Ruth was a dominant pitcher for the Sox.

[Dave Visbeck]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MLB_Mos...e_Player_Award

Good morning ... or afternoon in your case. Would you please quote me from my post number to you (#124)

Also note that It has not been edited.


You can then copy and paste this if you want to use it on me.

[Dave Visbeck]

Good morning ... or afternoon in your case. Would you please quote me from my post number to you (#124)

Also note that It has not been edited.


You can then copy and paste this if you want to use it on me.

Never mine ... I guess I'll do it.

First to Tulane, then Soriambi, then the Quiz Guru, also The Sultan of Smack ... although he caught my screw up, then to Crossetti's Man , and finally Don Mattingly ... well ... I'm sorry I took so long to get back to this. Well, sort of sorry for being so late getting back to you all. You all seem to think that maybe the guy was Babe Ruth? Well, lets see ...............

But first ... a message from our sponsor.

[Dave Visbeck]

Jim "Gus" Bouton ! Good call Andrew! You were correct also ... ...
when a slugger helped out and came through once again and made sure of my win with a 3-run homer in the game. He was slow, fat and hobbled by aches and pains ... but the guy carried my heart with that big swing of his. He sure did carry Babe Ruth's heart. Babe also had the left arm that was making the pitches in his final game ever as a pitcher!

So here is the answer. I had asked for someone to quote me. 841

[Dave Visbeck]

No comments? None at all?

[yankeebot]

Um, Dave, have you considered seeking professional help?

[Dave Visbeck]

After some consideration ...

Another Who am I? #12

I was considered the best in my time at my position. I led the league four times in fielding and had my share of batting titles... and rbi titles. I've led the league in exrta base hits. I had a lot of success at stealing bases. I can say I pitched quite well when I did. I even managed for a time but not very well on a very bad team. I should of been right up near the top in MVP awards ... so move over Barry. I think it's cute that they retired my uniform number where I played.

I played in some World Series. We won one I was in. Even though I won four fielding titles over the years, I really sucked big time defensively out there in Series play. In all of the World Series games I played in, I made an error in over half of the games I played in and even had two errors in a game twice. I made four more errors than the double plays I was involved in.

Also, one more thing. My big shnoz is bent.

Who am I?

[Jenn6812]

After some consideration ...
Another Who am I? #12

I was considered the best in my time at my position.

In all of the World Series games I played in, I made an error in over half of the games I played in and even had two errors in a game twice. I made four more errors than the double plays I was involved in.

Does this probably mean that the person is an infielder?

[Dave Visbeck]

Does this probably mean that the person is an infielder?

Yes. On the left side of the infield.

[Dave Visbeck]

Yes. On the left side of the infield.

In the National League ...

[Dave Visbeck]

Another Who am I? #18



I'm in the Hall of Fame but not because of my play with the Yankees. In two seasons with the Yankees I only batted .143 ... not very good for someone that isn't a pitcher.

Who am I?

[Dave Visbeck]

Another Who am I? #13

I was acquired by the Yankees to be a Red Sox killer near the end of a season. I did pretty well even though I whiffed thirteen times in under 25 at bats that season, but all six of my hits went for extra bases with four of them long and some over the Green Monster.

Who am I?

[Dave Visbeck]

Another Who am I? #14

The Yankees would later have a Yogi. I'm a bear of sorts too, that played a lot earlier with the Yankees though. I played in the outfield briefly, only batting .091. The Yanks of course would say goodbye to me that season on a Saturday. I was signed on a Wednesday ... but my Sundays have always been a great day for me though ... even in the future.

Who am I?

[Dave Visbeck]

Another Who am I? #15/16/17 (Combo Meal)


#15 I was a career minor leaguer mostly. But I did get a few chances here and there. Talk about an up and down career. I played three years in the majors during a twelve year stretch. The first season I made it to the majors was when I was twenty-four years old. Next time I made the big's was when I was thirty. Then another minor league stretch came until I was aged thirty-five. I hadn't ever played enough to be called a real rookie, only three hands full of games in two seasons, so I guess this year was my real rookie year when I was nearly thirty-five and a half years old and signed by this team for the second time.

Let me tell you a little about myself. I am an outfielder by trade. I weigh in right around 160 pounds and I'm only 5' 7". Not really what you would call a big guy. Maybe that's one of the reasons that when I go my chance to do something in my real rookie year I came up with one home run. That's one for my career and hit when I'm thirty-five. Six guys on the team ended up having more rbi's on the season than I did. Guess that fact didn't matter to the manager that post season.

How big are cleanup hitters nowadays? Well guess what? I'm elected to the cleanup spot in the World Series of all things!

First game I'll be batting fourth and facing a pitcher #16 that led the league in starts, in innings pitched, in shut-outs, in wins, in strike-outs, and with the leagues lowest era. I responded with two hits in four at-bats and we win. Next time we face the same pitcher in the series he hits me with a pitch - and I end up scoring ... and also go one for three in another win. I face him in one more game that we lose but I go one for three. I hit .400 against the big lefty in those three games ... something I will always remember. I should say though right now that I made the only error that the team had on the field during the whole World Series in a loss to a different pitcher.

Getting back to hitting. I batted cleanup for the whole World Series and I ended tied for the most hits on my team with another player. Something happened though in the top of the eighth inning of the final game of the World Series. One guy got on with a hit for the other team... maybe I should of had it. We got the next two outs and then they decided to pull me from left field for defensive reasons with a guy #17 that turned out to become pretty damn famous. When I left the field it was the last time I played in the majors. The next batter popped out to the shortstop in foul ground. We got them one-two-three in the ninth inning with the guy that replaced me making one of the outs. We were World Champions!

Who am I ... I ... I?

[The Sox Kid]

Another Who am I? #13

I was acquired by the Yankees to be a Red Sox killer near the end of a season. I did pretty well even though I whiffed thirteen times in under 25 at bats that season, but all six of my hits went for extra bases with four of them long and some over the Green Monster.

Who am I?

Your Dave Kingman, aren't you?

[The Sox Kid]

Another Who am I? #15/16/17 (Combo Meal)


#15 I was a career minor leaguer mostly. But I did get a few chances here and there. Talk about an up and down career. I played three years in the majors during a twelve year stretch. The first season I made it to the majors was when I was twenty-four years old. Next time I made the big's was when I was thirty. Then another minor league stretch came until I was aged thirty-five. I hadn't ever played enough to be called a real rookie, only three hands full of games in two seasons, so I guess this year was my real rookie year when I was nearly thirty-five and a half years old and signed by this team for the second time.

Let me tell you a little about myself. I am an outfielder by trade. I weigh in right around 160 pounds and I'm only 5' 7". Not really what you would call a big guy. Maybe that's one of the reasons that when I go my chance to do something in my real rookie year I came up with one home run. That's one for my career and hit when I'm thirty-five. Six guys on the team ended up having more rbi's on the season than I did. Guess that fact didn't matter to the manager that post season.

How big are cleanup hitters nowadays? Well guess what? I'm elected to the cleanup spot in the World Series of all things!

First game I'll be batting fourth and facing a pitcher #16 that led the league in starts, in innings pitched, in shut-outs, in wins, in strike-outs, and with the leagues lowest era. I responded with two hits in four at-bats and we win. Next time we face the same pitcher in the series he hits me with a pitch - and I end up scoring ... and also go one for three in another win. I face him in one more game that we lose but I go one for three. I hit .400 against the big lefty in those three games ... something I will always remember. I should say though right now that I made the only error that the team had on the field during the whole World Series in a loss to a different pitcher.

Getting back to hitting. I batted cleanup for the whole World Series and I ended tied for the most hits on my team with another player. Something happened though in the top of the eighth inning of the final game of the World Series. One guy got on with a hit for the other team... maybe I should of had it. We got the next two outs and then they decided to pull me from left field for defensive reasons with a guy #17 that turned out to become pretty damn famous. When I left the field it was the last time I played in the majors. The next batter popped out to the shortstop in foul ground. We got them one-two-three in the ninth inning with the guy that replaced me making one of the outs. We were World Champions!

Who am I ... I ... I?

George Whiteman is #15, Hippo Vaughn #16, and Babe Ruth #17. Figure it to be you, Dave, to choose the 1918 World Series!

[hellonewman]

Another Who am I? #14

The Yankees would later have a Yogi. I'm a bear of sorts too, that played a lot earlier with the Yankees though. I played in the outfield briefly, only batting .091. The Yanks of course would say goodbye to me that season on a Saturday. I was signed on a Wednesday ... but my Sundays have always been a great day for me though ... even in the future.

Who am I?

You're George Halas.

[Dave Visbeck]

You're George Halas.

You hit a home run!

[Dave Visbeck]

Your Dave Kingman, aren't you?

None other than Kong himself! He played with 4 different teams that season of 1977. Combined he hit 26 home runs and had 20 doubles in 439 AB. During his career he had a home run for every 15.11 official AB's. He also struck out 1816 times.

Compare to Mickey Mantle with his 536 home runs. Mickey had a home run every 15.12 official AB's. Mantle struck out 1710 times. Compare to Reggie Jackson with his 563 home runs. Reggie had a home run every 17.52 official AB's. Reggie struck out 2,597 times. Compare to Ted Williams with 521 home runs. Ted had a home run every 14.79 official AB's. Ted struck out 709 times ... 1,001 less times than Yankee Great Mickey Mantle!

Way to go Kid!

[Dave Visbeck]

George Whiteman is #15, Hippo Vaughn #16, and Babe Ruth #17. Figure it to be you, Dave, to choose the 1918 World Series!

You had a 3 for 3 day here! If I had given you the chance you could of hit for the cycle. Whiteman played for two major league teams total in his career. Two chances with Boston ... one brief one in 1907 and the second in 1918. The only other team that gave him a brief chance was the Yankees in 1913.

Pretty amazing that the Red Sox had a thirty-six year old, 160 pound rookie named Whiteman batting cleanup in the World Series of 1918. Amazing when you think the Red Sox had the likes of Babe Ruth on the team who led the American League in home runs for the first time in his career with 11. Ruth pitched in 20 games, played in the outfield 59 games, and played first base for 13 games that season. He played in a total of 95 games. Interesting to think that Ruth hit 1 home run every 28.12 official AB's in 1918 and wasn't even used at all in thirty-one games - meaning he played in right about 75% of Red Sox contests.

Way to go again to The Sox Kid.

[Dave Visbeck]

Another Who am I? #18



I'm in the Hall of Fame but not because of my play with the Yankees. In two seasons with the Yankees I only batted .143 ... not very good for someone that isn't a pitcher.

Who am I?

This guy got lost in the shuffle and is still up - my fault.

[Dave Visbeck]

After some consideration ...
Another Who am I? #12

I was considered the best in my time at my position. I led the league four times in fielding and had my share of batting titles... and rbi titles. I've led the league in exrta base hits. I had a lot of success at stealing bases. I can say I pitched quite well when I did. I even managed for a time but not very well on a very bad team. I should of been right up near the top in MVP awards ... so move over Barry. I think it's cute that they retired my uniform number where I played.

I played in some World Series. We won one I was in. Even though I won four fielding titles over the years, I really sucked big time defensively out there in Series play. In all of the World Series games I played in, I made an error in over half of the games I played in and even had two errors in a game twice. I made four more errors than the double plays I was involved in.

Also, one more thing. My big shnoz is bent.

Who am I?

This guy should be kinda easy. He is still on deck. I answered the following way earlier on -

Does this probably mean that the person is an infielder?

Yes. On the left side of the infield. Then I said ...

... In the National League.