WASHINGTON — Pitcher Jim Bouton said: “Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field?” To show how smart you are, identify:
(1) The team that won a record 26 consecutive games (but finished fourth).
(2) Among those with 3,000 hits, the player with the fewest home runs.
(3) The player who led both leagues in homers and triples (not in the same season).
(4) Who hit the only game seven World Series walk-off home run.
(5) The four players who hit World Series homers in three different decades.
(6) The first manager to lead three teams to pennants.
(7) The manager who, after Connie Mack and John McGraw, had the most consecutive years managing one team.
(8) The first player to hit 30 home runs, score 125 runs and steal 45 bases in a season.
(9) The four hitters who, since World War II, had five or more seasons batting .350 or better.
(10) The five hitters ranked in the top 25 in career singles, doubles and triples.
(11) The player whose 44 hits in his first month is second to Joe DiMaggio’s 48.
(12) The four Hall of Fame pitchers DiMaggio faced during his 56-game hitting streak.
(13) The youngest player to lead the National League in hits.
(14) The three players to get two extra-base hits in an All-Star Game before age 23.
(15) The player with seven straight seasons with a .300 average, 20 homers, 100 RBIs and 100 walks.
Bonus question: Who said, “All of the Mets’ road wins against the Dodgers this year occurred at Dodger Stadium.”
Answers:
(1) 1916 New York Giants
(2) Eddie Collins
(3) Sam Crawford
(4) Bill Mazeroski
(5) Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Eddie Murray, Matt Williams
(6) Bill McKechnie (1928 St. Louis Cardinals; 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates; 1939, 1940 Cincinnati Reds)
(7) Walter Alston
(8) Mike Trout (2012)
(9) Wade Boggs, Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, Ted Williams
(10) Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, Tris Speaker, Paul Waner, Honus Wagner
(11) Yasiel Puig
(12) Bob Feller, Lefty Grove, Ted Lyons, Hal Newhouser
(13) Starlin Castro (2011)
(14) Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Trout, Ted Williams
(15) Frank Thomas
Bonus answer: Ralph Kiner, of course.
George Will’s email address is georgewillwashpost.com.