September 11: Baseball Was There! Quiz

Answer: Pete Rose

Pete Rose became baseball's career leader, when he singled off Eric Show in the first inning of the Reds' 2-0 win over San Diego. His 4,192nd career hit broke the record of the 'Georgia Peach at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium. Rose had tied the record at Wrigley Field on September 8th with a single off the Cubs' Reggie Patterson, in a game that was later suspended due to darkness, enabling Rose to break the record at home.

Answer: Ron LeFlore and Rodney Scott

In a 6-5 win over the Cubs, the Expos' Ron LeFlore stole his 91st base of the season, and Rodney Scott stole his 58th. They broke the Major League record for stolen bases by teammates in one season. Lou Brock and Bake McBride set the previous record with the Cardinals in 1974.

Answer: Atlanta Braves

The Braves pulled off a triple steal in beating the Padres, 7-3. The thieves were Gary Matthews, Biff Pocaroba, and Pat Rockett.

Answer: Nick Altrock

Minnie Minoso batted for the White Sox after a 12 year hiatus. He went hitless in his three at-bats against Frank Tanana in 1976. His at-bat in 1980, matched him with Nick Altrock as a five decade player. Altrock began his career in 1898 as a Louisville Colonel. He also played with Boston, Chicago, and Washington of the American League. His 19 seasons spanned five decades, retiring in 1933.

Answer: Mets / Cardinals

On September 11, 1974, The Major Leagues did not have interleague play. The Mets lost the marathon night game after seven hours four minutes, and 25 innings, setting a record for the longest game to a decision in ML history. Two Mets' errors led to the Cardinals' winning run, starting with an errant pick-off throw that allowed Bake McBride to scamper all the way around from first base. St. Louis won the game, 4-3.

Answer: Samuel Ewing

Ewing of the White Sox, set an unenviable record by striking out four times in his first ML game. The suspect pitcher was Nolan Ryan of the California Angels who whiffed him every time. The Angels won the game, 3-1.

Answer: Vida Blue

Blue pitched in 12 games in 1969 before being sent back to the Minors. At the age of 21, he was recalled from the Minors again, just eight days earlier, and hurled a one-hit shutout against the Royals. Oakland won the game, 3-0. Blue continued to shine for another 16 seasons, and retired in 1986 with 209 wins.

Answer: Charles Finley

The Athletic players agreed to drop a grievance filed with the National Labor Relations Board against owner Charles Finley. Finley agreed in writing, that he would not coerce or intimidate his players, or discriminate against them for the threatened action. Pitcher Jim Catfish Hunter was the first one who challenged Finley and his 'cheapskate' contracts, and finally left the team.

This was the beginning of the end for the Oakland dynasty.

Answer: John Miller

John Miller became the first Yankee ever to hit a homer in his first Major League at-bat. He contributed two runs in a 4-2 defeat of the Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston. It would be Miller's only home run in the pinstripes. As a Dodgers in 1969, he hit a home run in his last Major League at-bat.

He appeared in only six games as a Yankee in '66, then only 25 games as a Dodger in '69. These were his only two Major League seasons.

Answer: Yogi Berra

The others listed were not catchers. Yogi tied the Major League career record for home runs by a catcher, in the Yankees' 9-5 victory over the Kansas City Athletics. His 236th tied with Cub catching great, Gabby Hartnett. Yogi retired with 358 home runs in 1965 as a New York Met.