1980 NLCS Game 4 - Houston vs. Philadelphia Quiz

Answer: Lonnie Smith

Terry Puhl was the starting center fielder for the Astros in the 1980 NLCS game four. Puhl was an outfielder for Houston from 1977-1990. Lou Brock had a nineteen year major league career, the majority with the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock led the National League in steals seven times and had a career high 118 in 1974. Brock retired after the 1979 season and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985. Ricky Henderson was one of the greatest leadoff hitters in MLB history during his 25 year career. But, he never played for Philadelphia. 1980 was Henderson's second year in the majors and he stole exactly 100 bases for the Oakland Athletics during that season.

Lonnie Smith was The Sporting News Rookie of the Year in 1980 playing for the Phillies. That season he hit for a .339 batting average and stole 33 bases. Smith was part of World Series winning teams with the 1980 Phillies, 1982 Cardinals and 1985 Kansas City Royals. He played in even more World Series contests including 1991 with the Atlanta Braves. A base running mistake by Smith in the eighth inning of game seven in the 1991 World Series cost the Braves a run and they went on to lose to the Minnesota Twins 1-0. In 1989 he was named The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year following several years of involvement in baseball drug scandals and his own addiction to cocaine.

Smith, never known for his defense, would make two fielding mistakes in the 1980 NLCS game four, one of which led to an Astros score, although neither was officially ruled as an error.

Answer: Steve Carlton

Vern Ruhle was the starting pitcher for the Astros in game four of the 1980 NLCS. He played for Houston from 1974-1984, followed by one season with each of the Cleveland Indians and California Angels. 1980 was the first of nine seasons that Nolan Ryan played for the Astros. The Hall of Famer who led his league in strikeouts for eleven different seasons became baseball's first million dollar man by signing a four year, four million dollar contract with Houston before the 1980 season. During his 27 year career he also played for the New York Mets, California Angels, and Texas Rangers. Dave Smith was a rookie relief pitcher for Houston in 1980 when he appeared in 57 games with 10 saves. The two time All-Star would later become the Astros closer, and finished his career with 216 saves, all but 17 with Houston.

Steve Carlton pitched for St. Louis from 1965-1971, and Philadelphia from 1972 - 1985 and part of the 1986 season. He finished his career in 1988 after also pitching for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins. Carlton was a ten time All-Star and four time Cy Young Award winner, including both honors in 1980. He also started and won game one of the 1980 NLCS, the only game of the five to not go to extra innings.

In game one Greg Luziniski hit the only home run of the series by either team in the sixth inning off of Astros starter Ken Forsch to provide the winning runs for the Phillies and Carlton. It was the first time the Phillies had won a playoff game that was played in Philadelphia since 1915.

Answer: Pete Rose

Glenn Davis was a first baseman for the Houston Astros from 1984 - 1989. He was traded to Baltimore and played there for the remainder of his career, ending after the 1993 season. Davis was a two time All-Star in Houston. John Kruk began his career as a first baseman for the San Diego Padres in 1986. He came to Philadelphia in 1990 and was an All-Star for the Phillies for three consecutive seasons while there. After retiring as a player Kruk began a career as a sports broadcaster. Jimmie Fox is a Hall of Fame first baseman who began his career with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1925.

Pete Rose is best known for his time with the Cincinnati Reds including 16 seasons from 1963-1978 and again from 1984 - 1986. However, he joined the Phillies in 1979 and was the starting first baseman in game four of the 1980 NLCS. Rose led the National League in hits seven times and amassed 4,256 total hits over his 24 year career. He was an All-Star seventeen times including 1980, the Rookie of the Year in 1963, won three batting titles and was the 1973 National League MVP. But Rose is not in the Hall of Fame having been denied eligibility due to involvement with gambling.

Answer: Garry Maddox

Kenny Lofton was rookie center fielder who played in twenty games for the Astros in 1991. After being traded to the Cleveland Indians before the 1992 season he was an All-Star for six consecutive years. Lofton led the American League in stolen bases from 1992 through 1996 and won three Gold Gloves. Lofton did spend one season in Philadelphia during his seventeen year career, but that was not until 2005. Steve Finley did not play in the majors until 1989. Finley was a centerfielder that came to Houston prior to the 1991 season in the trade that sent Glenn Davis from Houston to Baltimore. Finley played for nineteen years with two All-Star appearances and five Gold Gloves. He played for eight different teams, but never Philadelphia. Interestingly, it was also the trade of Davis to Baltimore than provided an opportunity for a young third baseman named Jeff Bagwell to make a move to first base and become one of the most recognized names in Houston sports history. Cesar Geronimo was a centerfielder for fifteen years with Houston, Cincinnati, and Kansas City from 1969-1983. Geronimo won four consecutive Gold Gloves from 1974-1977 while playing for the Reds.

Garry Maddox played fifteen years in the majors, including 1975-1986 with Philadelphia. Maddox, sometimes called Secretary of Defense, won eight Gold Gloves, including seven consecutive seasons, and in 1980.

In the top of the fourth inning of the 1980 NLCS game four Bake McBride and Manny Trillo led off with back to back singles. Gary Maddox was up next for the Phillies and hit a line drive back to the pitcher that turned into a double play. However, there was controversy about whether the ball was caught in the air or trapped. A twenty minute argument followed. The Astros claimed a triple play while the Phillies claimed the ball was trapped, which was the original call by umpire Doug Harvey. Both teams played the remainder of the game under protest. But, the next batter was retired and no runs scored in that half inning.

This play and this argument where contributors to the delay of a NCAA football game scheduled that evening between the University of Houston Cougars, who used the Astrodome as their home field, and the Texas A&M Aggies. By the time the NLCS game was finished and the field was converted to a football configuration it was 11:30 PM before the game began. After the football game the maintenance crew had to convert the field back to a baseball configuration for game five of the NLCS the next afternoon.

Answer: Art Howe

Hal Lanier managed the Houston Astros from 1986-1988. Lanier was also an infielder for the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees from 1964-1973. The Astros posted a record of 254 wins and 232 losses under Lanier. Terry Collins managed the Astros from 1994-1996, but was never a major league player. In three seasons with Collins the Astros won 224 games and lost 197. Collins managed what was possibly the best Astros team of all time in the strike shortened 1994 season. After more than ten years between management positions Collins took over the New York Mets in 2011. Under his guidance they won the National League Pennant in 2015. Phil Garner managed the Astros from 2005-2007. Garner also played for the Astros from 1981-1987. But Garner was not with the Astros in 1980 and never played first base. Garner took the Astros to their only World Series appearance in 2005.

Art Howe played in the majors from 1974-1985 with Pittsburg, Houston and St. Louis. He was in Houston from 1976-1982. Howe has managed the Astros, Oakland Athletics and New York Mets. His first management job was in Houston from 1989 - 1993. While in Oakland he finished second in Manager of the Year voting for four consecutive seasons.

In the bottom of the fourth inning of game four in the 1980 MLCS Enos Cabell scored on a sacrifice fly by Art Howe. When Lonnie Smith bobbled the ball Astros right fielder Gary Woods attempted to take third base. Woods was thrown out at third, but after Cabell had crossed home plate, creating the run scoring but inning ending sacrifice fly double play. That would not be the last time that happened in this game.

Answer: Joe Morgan

Although he is best remembered as a second baseman Craig Biggio began his career as a catcher for the Astros in 1988. A seven time All-Star with four Gold Gloves, five Silver Slugger awards and over 3,000 hits, Biggio was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015. Roberto Alomar also began his major league career in 1988. Alomar was an All-Star for twelve consecutive seasons with San Diego, Toronto, Baltimore, and Cleveland. With ten Gold Gloves and four Silver Slogger awards he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. Nellie Fox was a second baseman inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1997. Fox was a twelve time All-Star between 1947 and 1965. He won the American League MVP in 1959. Fox finished his career by playing the last two seasons for the Astros.

Joe Morgan began his major league career in 1963 with the Houston Colt 45s. He stayed in Houston for nine seasons as the Astrodome was opened, and the team was rebranded as the Astros. He was a two time All-Star in Houston but became a true star following a blockbuster trade that sent Tommy Helms, Lee May and Jimmy Stewart to Houston in exchange for Morgan, Cesar Geronimo, Jack Billingham, Denis Menke and Ed Armbrister. In Cincinnati Morgan would become a key part of the team known as The Big Red Machine making eight straight All-Star appearances, winning five consecutive Gold Gloves, plus back to back National League MVP awards and World Series championships in 1975 and 1976. In 1980 Morgan returned to Houston for one season before finishing is career with four years playing with the San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies and Oakland Athletics.

In game three of the 1980 NLCS, also in Houston, Joe Niekro threw ten innings for Houston without allowing a run. In the bottom of the 11th inning Morgan tripled and scored on a Denny Walling sacrifice fly to win the game 1-0. Dave Smith took the win and Tug McGraw took the loss for the Phillies. In game two, in Philadelphia, the Astros won by scoring four runs on three hits in the top of the 10th inning. But, Walling, Morgan and the Astros did not have the same success in game four.

Answer: Mike Schmidt

Wade Boggs began his career in 1982 with the Boston Red Sox. He later played for both the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Boggs was an All-Star for twelve consecutive seasons, won eight Silver Slugger awards, led the American league in batting average five times, and on base percentage six times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005. George Brett began his major league career in 1973 playing for 21 years, all with the Kansas City Royals. Brett was the American League MVP in 1980 and helped his Royals to a World Series appearance that season. Brett was an All-Star for thirteen consecutive seasons and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999. Eddie Mathews was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978 following a seventeen year career. Matthews played most of his career with the Milwaukee Braves but did spend part of the 1967 season with the Astros where he hit ten of his 512 career home runs.

Mike Schmidt played eighteen seasons in the majors from 1972 - 1989, all with the Philadelphia Phillies. His career included 548 home runs and 1,595 runs batted in. He was National League MVP three times, including 1980, a twelve time All-Star, won ten Gold Gloves and six Silver Slugger awards. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995. He was also the MVP of the 1980 World Series.

In the fourth game of the 1980 NLCS Schmidt, known for his power, drove in the game tying run in the 8th inning with an infield single. After over 50 years of watching baseball I still believe that Schmidt is the best third baseman I have ever seen.

Answer: Joe Sambito

Fred Gladding, sometimes jokingly called Fred Flintstone, was a major league relief pitcher for thirteen years from 1961 - 1973, with the last six seasons playing for Houston. He had 29 saves for the Astros in 1969. Billy Wagner, often called Billy the Kid, had a seventeen year major league career, the first nine, starting in 1995, with Houston. Wagner was a seven time All-Star with 422 saves in his career. Brad Lidge, sometimes called Lights Out Lidge, had an eleven year career with the first six in Houston, beginning in 2002. Lidge had 225 career saves but may be best remembered for a towering 9th inning home run allowed to Albert Pujols in game five of the 2005 NLCS against St. Louis. That home run gave the Cardinals the game but Houston would win the series and make their first World Series appearance that season.

Joe Sambito played in the majors for eleven years from 1976-1987, the first eight in Houston. He was the Astros team leader in saves for four consecutive seasons, and in 1979 threw over 40 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. Sambito's career was derailed by Tommy John surgery in 1982 and he appeared in only 59 games over the next five years.

In the top of the eighth inning of game four in the 1980 NLCS Sambito struck out Bake McBride and then allowed a sacrifice fly from Manny Trillo giving the Phillies a 3 - 2 lead. However the play became the second sacrifice fly inning ending double play as the base runner, Mike Schmidt, was forced out at first. Over the course of the five game series Philadelphia would outscore Houston 20-19.

Answer: Larry Bowa

Ryne Sandberg began his major league career appearing in thirteen games with Philadelphia in 1981, five of those at shortstop. Prior to the 1982 season he was traded, along with Larry Bowa, to the Chicago Cubs for Ivan de Jesus. Sandberg spent the next sixteen years playing second base for the Cubs, making ten All-Star appearances, winning eight Gold Gloves, six Silver Slugger awards and a National League MVP award in 1984. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005 and became manager of the Phillies in 2013. Dallas Green was a pitcher for the Phillies in the 1960s and was the manager for Philadelphia during the 1980 NLCS. Green managed the Phillies from 1979-1981, the New York Yankees in 1989 and the New York Mets from 1993-1996. Jim Fregosi was a major league infielder from 1961-1978 primarily with the Los Angeles\California Angeles and the Texas Rangers. He was a six time All-Star with the Angeles. Fregosi became the manager of the Angles in 1978 and stayed there through 1981. He also managed the Chicago White Sox from 1986-1988, the Phillies from 1991-1996 and the Toronto Blue Jays from 1999-2000.

Larry Bowa began his major league career in 1970 with the Philadelphia Phillies. He remained with the Phillies through 1981 making five All-Star appearances and winning two Gold Gloves before being traded to the Chicago Cubs prior to the 1982 season. Bowa managed the San Diego Padres from 1987-1988 and the Phillies from 2001-2004.

Answer: Bruce Bochy

The Astros shortstop, Rafael Landestoy, singled and scored in the bottom of the ninth and sent the game into extra innings. Ultimately four of the five games in the 1980 NLCS would go into extra innings with Philadelphia winning the series three games to two.

With one out in the top of the tenth inning Pete Rose singled. The Phillies then called on Greg Luziniski to pinch hit for Bake McBride. Following a visit to the mound by pitching coach Mel Wright, Luzinski delivered a double to left field. Landestoy took the throw from Astros left fielder Jose Cruz and seemed to hesitate before making the relay to home. Still, the throw was accurate and ahead of the runner attempting to score. Astros catcher Bruce Bochy dropped the ball and as he tried to pick it up Pete Rose slammed into him, forearm first, driving him backward and onto the ground. Philadelphia second baseman and series MVP Manny Trillo then doubled in another run to get to the final 5 - 3 score and a Philly win. The Phillies went on to beat the Kansas City Royals in the 1980 World Series.

While this game four loss set up a do or die fifth game the Astros were not strangers to this situation. Houston took a three game lead over Los Angeles into the final series of the 1980 regular season. That series was with the second place Los Angeles Dodgers who won all three games leaving the two teams tied at the end of the season. The following day the two teams played a one game playoff which the Astros won behind the pitching of knuckleballer Joe Niekro. This extra game caused the Astros to arrive in Philadelphia for the 1980 NLCS game one contest only hours before the first pitch. Houston seemed destined to make their first World Series appearance when Nolan Ryan took a 5-2 lead into the eighth inning of game five. But a five run eighth for the Phillies followed by a two run rally for Houston tied the game. The Phillies the won again in extra innings, in a contest that saw two Astros base runners thrown out at the plate, and went on to beat Kansas City in the World Series.

Bruce Bochy spent nine years as a backup catcher in the majors, the first three of those in Houston. In 1980 he had twenty two at bats and four hits. Bochy managed the San Diego Padres from 1995-2006, where he won a National League Pennant in 1998. He took over as manager of the San Francisco Giants in 2007 and won the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014.

Brad Ausmus had an eighteen year major league career starting 1993. He was a catcher for Houston twice, from 1997-1998 and again from 2001-2008. Ausmus took over as manager of the Detroit Tigers in 2014. Joe Girardi had a 15 year career as a catcher in the majors from 1989-2003. He played for The Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals. Girardi became manager of the New York Yankees in 2008 after one season managing the Florida Marlins. Under Girardi's leadership the Yankees won the World Series in 2009. Mike Scioscia had a fifteen year career as a catcher, all with the Los Angeles Dodger. He made two All-Star appearances. Scioscia became manager of the Anaheim Angels in 2000. With the Angels he won a World Series in 2002 and was twice voted American League Manager of the Year.