MLB 2003 Season Highlights Trivia Quiz

Answer: Eric Gagne

On September 2, 2003 Los Angeles Dodgers Eric Gagne closed out a 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros for his 55th consecutive save, without a blown save. His record started on August 28, 2002, and continued through the end of the 2003 season with 63 saves.

The record was previously held by Boston Red Sox closer Tom Gordon, who had converted 54 in a row from April 19, 1998, to June 5, 1999 Eric Gagne also became the first relief pitcher in history to tally one-hundred more strikeouts (137) than hits allowed (37 Ironically, Eric Gagne did blow one save during the 2003 season.

It came in the All-Star game in Chicago. He served up an 8th inning, 2 run pinch- hit, home run to Hank Blalock of the Texas Rangers as the American League beat Gagne and the National League 7-6.

Answer: Bill Mueller

Third basesman Bill Mueller of the Boston Red Sox accomplished this feat on July 29, 2003, against the Texas Rangers. He became the 12th player in the Majors to hit 2 grand slams in one game. Bill finished the 2003 season with 19 home runs and won the American League batting title with a .326 AVG. On July 4, 2003, Mueller hit 2 home runs during a game. One from each side of the plate against the New York Yankees.

Answer: Houston Astros

On June 11, 2003, the Astros became the first team to use 6 pitchers to no-hit the New York Yankees. Roy Oswalt, Pete Monro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel, and Billy Wagner, shut down the Bronx Bombers in a 8-0 victory in Yankee Stadium. The last time the Yanks were no-hit was in 1958 (on the road) and 1952 (at home).

The previous record was four hurlers: Baltimore Orioles' Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson & Gregg Olson no-hit the Oakland A's (2-0) on July 13, 1991, and Oakland A's Vida Blue, Glenn Abbott, Paul Lindblad & Rollie Fingers no-hit the Angels (5-0) on September 28, 1975. Octavio Dotel, who entered the game during the eighth inning, became the 44th Major League pitcher to strikeout four batters during the same inning, and the first Astros pitcher to fan four in a frame since Mike Scott on September 3, 1986.

Answer: Johnny Damon

On June 29, 2003, Johnny Damon became the 5th Major Leaguer to accomplish this feat. His 3 hits came in the first inning as the Red Sox scored 14 times in the frame against the Florida Marlins. On September 6, 1883, three Chicago Cubs players had three hits
in the same inning of the same game against Detroit.
Tommy Burns, Fred Pfeffer, and Ned Williamson. On June 18, 1953, Boston Red Sox Gene Stephens had three hits in one inning in the seventh inning against Detroit.

Answer: Rafael Furcal

On August 10, 2003, Atlanta Braves Rafael Furcal turned his unassisted triple play in the 5th inning, and became the 13th player in history to perform this rare feat. Furcal caught Woody Williams' line drive, stepped on second to double Mike Matheny and tagged Orlando Palmeiro, who was running back to first. Strangely enough as rare as this play is; it was turned twice in two days in May of 1927. Chicago shortshop Jimmy Cooney turned his in the 4th inning on May 30, 1927, against Pittsburgh. The next day, Detroit first baseman Johnny Neun turned his triple play in the 9th inning against Cleveland.

Other players that turned an unassisted triple play were; Oakland A's Randy Velarde on May 29, 2000; Boston Red Sox John Valentin on July 8, 1994; Philadelphia Phillies Mickey Morandini on September 20, 1992; Washington Senators Ron Hansen on July 30, 1968; Pittsburgh Pirates Glenn Wright on May 7, 1925; Boston Braves Ernie Padgett on October 6, 1923; Boston Red Sox George H. Burns on September 14, 1923; Cleveland Indians Bill Wambsganss on October 10, 1920 in the World Series; Cleveland Indians Neal Ball on July 19, 1909; and on May 8, 1878, Paul Hines was credited with a triple play which was correct for the "rules in play for that era".

However, by modern rules it was an unassisted double play with a throw to second base for the third out.

Answer: Carlos Delgado

On September 25, 2003, Toronto Blue Jay Carlos Delgado became the 15th Major Leaguer to smack 4 homers in a single game and the 6th to do it in four at-bats. The first 14 sluggers were; Shawn Green (2003), Mike Cameron (2002), Mark Whiten (1993), Bob Horner (1986), Mike Schmidt (1976), Willie Mays (1961), Rocky Colavito (1959), Joe Adcock (1954), Gil Hodges (1950), Pat Seerey (1948), Chuck Klein (1936), Lou Gehrig (1932), Ed Delahanty (1896), and Bobby Lowe (1894).

Answer: Ron Gant

On May 28 2003, Furcal, DeRosa and Sheffield began the game with
back-to-back-to-back homers against Jeff Austin and went on to a 15-3 rout of the Cincinnati Reds. The first team to start a game with three straight homers was the San Diego Padres. Marvelle Wynne, Tony Gwynn and John Kruk, accomplished the feat against San Francisco on April 13, 1987.

Answer: Greg Maddux

Greg Maddux was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2nd round of the 1984 Amateur draft. He started his career in 1986 with the Cubs and in his first two years compiled a record of 8-18. He finished the 1988 season with a 18-8 record and was the start of his consecutive streak. Maddux won 15 or more games for the Cubs from 1988 thur 1992.

At the end of the 1992 season, he became a free agent and signed with Atlanta. While wearing a Braves uniform he won 15 or more games from 1993 thur 2003. Other great pitchers that put together 12 seasons of 15 or more wins were Cy Young (1891-1905) 15 seasons, Gaylord Perry (1966-1978) 13 seasons, and Christy Mathewson (1903-1914) 12 seasons.

Answer: Chicago Cubs

This young and talented pitching staff of the Cubs compiled a total of 1,404 strikeouts in 2003. Kerry Wood led the club with 266 K's, while Mark Prior (245 K's), Matt Clement (171 K's), and Carlos Zambrano (168 K's) added to the clubs total. Striking out the opposition is nothing new to the Chicago Cubs; in addition to leading the Majors in strikeouts in 2003, they led the Majors in 2002 (1,333 K's) and 2001 (1,344 K's).

Answer: Alfonso Soriano

Brady Anderson of the Baltimore Orioles was the first player to lead-off a game with a home run 12 times in 1996. Also in 1996, Anderson became the first player to hit a dinger to start off 4 consecutive games. In 2003, New York Yankee Alfonso Soriano also became the first player in history to hit 35 home runs and steal 35 bases in three consecutive seasons.