The trade deadline, which is usually July 31st, this season has been moved to August 2nd, probably because … I don’t know, I think because the 31st is on a Sunday, and so they needed a extra day because the season started late. That sounds reasonable to me. There’s a good chance that some of the familiar names around Chicago will soon be household names elsewhere. It is one of the realities of sport. I wonder how each of us would feel if being trafficked was part of our professional lives. Can you imagine if it was integrated into our personal lives? What would the demand out there be for you? There aren’t that many quizmasters so I’d like to think the asking price for me in a trade would be pretty high. On the other hand, I don’t even want to think about how little my wife would get in return for me.
Let’s get down to the quiz and assume we’re all here again next week.
1. It has been called one of the worst trades ever. Yes, I remind you of June 15, 1964, when the Cubs traded Lou Brock with Jack Spring and Paul Toth to the Cardinals for reserve outfielder Doug Clemens, 38-year-old pitcher Bobby Shantz and a 28-year-old pitcher. who once won 21 games for the Cardinals. Who was the other big part of this trade?
2. James Shields hit the big leagues for 13 seasons, finishing with a 145-139 record despite his 16-35 mark after joining the White Sox in a 2016 trade for Erik Johnson and which other minor league?
3. Mike Cameron was the 15th player to hit four homers in a game, and he did it against the White Sox – his old team. Yes, the Sox traded Cameron, but I don’t think there are any regrets. Who did they get in return?
4. Who is this Hall of Famer? (Here’s a hint: He was known as “The Cuban Comet.”)
• April 30, 1951: Was traded by Cleveland to the White Sox as part of a three-team deal.
• December 4, 1957: Traded by the White Sox to Cleveland.
• December 6, 1959: Traded by Cleveland to the White Sox.
• 27 Nov. 1961: Traded by the White Sox to the Cardinals.
• April 8, 1964: Signed as a free agent with the White Sox.
• July 17, 1964: Released by the White Sox.
• September 10, 1976: Signed as a free agent with the White Sox.
• October 6, 1976: Released by the White Sox.
• October 3, 1980: Signed as a free agent with the White Sox.
• October 6, 1980: Released by the White Sox (after two plate appearances).
5. Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan pitched in the American League for 13 seasons and the National League for 14 seasons, striking out a lot of players (5,714 to be exact). Did he hit more chicks or whitestockings?
6. In this trade, the Cubs sent Ryan Dempster to the Rangers. In return, they got Christian Villanueva and what pitcher?
7. The White Sox traded center fielder Aaron Rowand, lefty Daniel Haigwood and lefty Giovany Gonzalez for Jim Thome. Who did the Sox trade?
8. This pitcher started his career with Cleveland as a starter. He starred in Boston. He was traded by Boston to the Cubs for Bill Buckner. The Cubs traded him to the A’s for three minor-leaguers. In Oakland, Tony La Russa turned him into a reliever and ultimately a Hall of Famer. The A’s sent him to St. Louis, where he was reunited with La Russa and the postseason. He ended his career in Boston, where he is a speaker to this day. Who is this well-dressed hurler?
9. Hall of Famer Ron Santo started his career with the Cubs and ended it with the White Sox. Which of these Hall of Famers also started and ended their careers in the same city but with different teams?
1. Ernie Broglio went 21-9 in 1960 for the Cardinals and then went 7-19 in two-plus seasons with the Cubs. Lou Brock went to the Hall of Fame after the St. Louis.
2. On July 2, 2015, the Sox signed him as an amateur free agent, and on June 4, 2016, they traded Fernando Tatis Jr. to the Padres. The Sox also sent some money to San Diego.
3. Mike Cameron was traded on November 11, 1998 to the Reds for Paul Konerko.
4. From the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2022, the beloved Minnie Miñoso.
5. Nolan Ryan faced the Cubs in 34 games and struck out 185 batters, holding the Cubs to a .187 average. Ryan faced the White Sox in 47 games and struck out 353, holding the South Siders to a .192 average. In fact, he struck out more of the White Sox than any other opponent.
6. “The Professor,” Kyle Hendricks, joined the Cubs, courtesy of Ryan Dempster.
7. The Phillies were trade partners.
8. “His attitude and personality is just special,” Cubs reliever Dickie Noles said of HOFer Dennis Eckersley. “He’s a unique person. He has his own language for balls and punches and punches. ‘Throw some gas.’ ‘That man won’t say goodbye.'”
9. All of them. Hank started with the Milwaukee Braves and finished with the Milwaukee Brewers. Yogi started with the New York Yankees and finished with the New York Mets. Dizzy started with St. Louis Cardinals and finished with the St. Louis Brown’s. And Babe Ruth started with the Boston Red Sox and finished with the Boston Braves.
This week we had a lot about trades and Hall of Famers. If you’re in Cooperstown, New York, on August 3rd, the legendary Bob Ryan and I will be speaking in the hall about our book, “In Scoring Position: 40 Years of a Baseball Love Affair.” It will also be broadcast live on Facebook and then on the HOF YouTube channel.
Thanks for another great week and don’t shortchange me.
