Baseball Numbers Aren’t Difficult — but This Quiz Might Be

Source: http://ift.tt/rwTcEw --- Saturday, April 01, 2017
(Photo: Bcnewel/Dreamstime) Sportswriter : “You hit only two home runs all last year and already you’ve hit seven this year [1969]. What’s the difference?” Reds outfielder Alex Johnson : “Five.” S ee? Baseball numbers aren’t difficult. But be precise: As players say after a close play, “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” And don’t be discouraged if some questions stump you. As Phillies manager Danny Ozark said in 1976, “Even Napoleon had his Watergate.” And as Brewers manager Harvey Kuenn said after losing the 1982 World Series to the Cardinals, “We’re going to hang our heads high.” Now, name the player or players who: 1) Had 297 three-hit games and only one three-strike-out game. 2) Struck out only 23 times in 474 at bats against Hall of Fame pitchers. 3) Batted .415 in 94 at bats against Greg Maddux. 4) Had at least 100 hits from both sides of the plate in a season. 5) Has the lowest career batting average among players with 3,000 hits. 6) Are the three players who each had an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) above 1.000 in their final season. 7) Are the four pitchers with more than three Cy Young awards. 8) Are the seven starting pitchers with two seasons with a sub-0.9 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched). 9) Are the three hitters to have at least 40 home runs and 100 walks in a season before turning 23. 10) Have the three best OPS seasons at age 20 playing at least 100 games. 11) Are t ...

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