Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This pitcher who debuted in 1952 is often looked at as the original "relief pitcher". He did begin his career as a starter, but having the specialty knuckleball pitch in his repertoire made his arm strength somewhat irrelevant, and therefore the teams realized he could pitch practically every day. Upon his retirement he was the only pitcher to have appeared in over 1,000 games (a record since broken), and he has held the record for most wins by a reliever for over forty years. Who is this great relief pitcher, who now stands enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame?
2. This pitcher pitched relief for the Oakland Athletics, the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers beginning in 1968. He recorded 341 saves in his 18-year career. A man who appeared to be more likely to be singing in a barbershop quartet than wearing a baseball uniform, this fancy mustachioed man also won an MVP award in the relief role in 1981 with the Brewers. Inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992, who is this great reliever?
3. This young reliever began his career in 2002 with the Anaheim Angels. He was a set-up pitcher (a pitcher who would temper some of the innings between the starting pitcher and the closer, who would end the game), but got his opportunity to become the closer in 2005. In 2008, he would break the 18-year old record of saves in a single season, originally held by Bobby Thigpen of the Chicago White Sox. Thigpen's record of 57 saves was shattered when this pitcher recorded 62. Who holds this season saves record, a record that may stand for a long time?
4. This relief pitcher from the 1980's was synonymous with the end of Kansas City Royals games in the 1980's, as he was usually in the game at that point. With a submarine delivery that was as hard to locate as it was to hit, he is the first person to lead the Major Leagues in saves four consecutive years. He was the first pitcher to record 40 saves in a season, which he did in 1983. Who was this humorous pitcher and Kansas City Royal?
5. This smoke-throwing reliever played with the Boston Red Sox in the 1960's, putting up 104 saves in four and a half short years. He achieved the saves with one pitch, his fastball. Averaging close to two innings per appearance, he also was temporarily tied for the season record for saves with 29 in 1965. Who was this dangerous relief pitcher, nicknamed the "Monster"?
6. This relief pitcher was the charter member of both the 500-save and the 600-save club. Spending most of his years with the San Diego Padres, he held the career save record for six years, until being beaten in 2011. As much a fan favorite off the field as on, who is this likely future Hall of Famer relief pitcher?
7. This closer put in extra time to make it to this list, as a dominant relief pitcher in the 1970's and 1980's, he would often put in three innings of time to close out a game, whereas most closers today put in usually only the ninth inning. His speedy fastball combined with a nasty looking Fu Manchu mustache put fear in the eyes of opposing batters when he played for primarily the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres. Who was this pitcher inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008?
8. This pitcher had two separate careers, in both starter and relief. He won over 150 games in his first ten years as a starter, but most remember him for his prime years as a reliever with the Oakland Athletics. He was by far the dominant closer from 1988 to 1992, and in 1990 he put together arguably the best relief pitching season one has ever seen. He finished his career with 197 wins and 397 saves. He found the Hall of Fame in 2004. Who is this relief pitcher?
9. This relief pitcher is one of few star relievers never to have started a Major League game, and the first 100% relief pitcher to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Developing a split-fingered fastball in 1975, he used that pitch to garner 300 saves with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves. Coming into the games to what often sounded like a chorus of boos, who was this marquee reliever?
10. Becoming the King of the Save in 2011 by recording his 602nd career save, this relief pitcher has been a fixture on the New York Yankees since his career began. He has done most of his statistics with the use of one pitch: a signature pitch called the cut fastball, or "Cutter". Variations on the speed and area of the pitch allow him to pitch it almost exclusively, and some have called it the best pitch in over a generation from any pitcher. Who is this future Baseball Hall of Famer?
Source: Author
Spaudrey
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gtho4 before going online.
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