TwinsCards.com Trivia (March 2008)
Welcome to this month’s TwinsCards.com trivia contest. For official contest rules, please click HERE. This month’s winner will receive 18 autographed Twins baseball cards (courtesy of Twinkie). This month’s group will include signed Bowman rookie cards of Ricky Barrett, Angel Garcia, Garrett Guzman, Paul Kelly, Luis Maza, Errol Simonitsch, Brock Peterson, Jay Rainville, Kyle Waldrop, Luke Hughes, Dusty Goman, Justin Arneson, Eduardo Morlan, Frank Mata, Denard Span, Trevor Plouffe, Drew Thompson, Johnny Woodward.
Please email your name and answers to trivia@twinscards.com. Answers must be received no later than 2400 EDT, Thursday, 20 March. Entries received after that will not be eligible for the monthly prize. Winners will be announced next Friday, 21 March. The comments section has been turned off so that the answers cannot be compromised.
Questions (1 pt each): Something new this month. I’m going to provide you the text from the back of a player’s card (omitting certain key words) and all you have to do is tell me who the blurb is about.
- (NAME) was running away with all Southern League pitching honors last year when called to the Twins, June 21. Used mostly as a spot starter by Mgr (NAME), (NAME) was an All-Star in NY-Penn League, (YEAR), & Fla. State League, (YEAR). Pitched in Venezuelan loop last winter, was 7-5 with 1.75 ERA, allowed one run in last 27 innings.
- (NAME) tied a Major-League record (DATE) for the most consecutive base on balls, as a batter, in consecutive innings (4). Wearing glasses for the first time, he made a fine comeback during the (YEAR) season, ending with a ERA of 2.97.
- The slender fast-baller has been plagued by illness and arm trouble during his brief major league career, but last season he finally put it all together to become a 20-game winner. Only 3 A.L. pitchers fanned more than (NAME)’s (TOTAL).
- Emerged as one of the A.L.’s top all-around outfielders in (YEAR). Ranked 10th in A.L. in total bases and slugging percentage. Led A.L. outfielders in double plays (TOTAL) in (YEAR). Hit for the cycle, (DATE) vs. (TEAM). Has played both leftfield and rightfield for Twins. Hit grand-slam homer (DATE) vs. Red Sox.
- Though not reflected in his won-loss record, (NAME) was a much improved pitcher in (YEAR). Featuring control that borders on legendary, he has days when he dominates by simply pitching to contact. A case in point was (NAME)’s shutout of the (TEAM) on (DATE), when he allowed 8 hits but all were singles and he didn’t walk a batter.
- Entering the 2001 season, (NAME) was one of only nine major league pitchers to win at least 11 games in each of the last six seasons. Anchoring the Twins starting rotation, the right-hander has also netted at least a dozen wins for five consecutive seasons, including this year.
- Played in 101 games in first full ML season at age 26 but with eight minor league seasons behind him.
- When (NAME) signed with Minnesota, he received the biggest bonus ever given to any Twin pitcher. Arm miseries curtailed (NAME)’s service in (YEAR), after he notched 4 out of 5 decisions. Last year, the righthander was used as a spot started as well as a receiver.
- Twice had seven-game hitting streaks last year. Has played first, second, third base, shortstop and outfield in his career. Was the 1,134 player selected (??? round) in (YEAR).
- (NAME) stepped forward on offense in (YEAR) while bringing the Twins’ young pitching staff along on defense. With runners in scoring position, (NAME) upped his output to a .307 average.
Bonus Question (5 pts): 1/2 pt for every correct card you identify. In other words, which card did I find the blurb from?
