TRIVIA WINNER: Mel Rojas, Luis Rojas and Moises Alou were all nephews of Jay Alou which was the most correct answer we were looking for. Tim Fealy of Punta Gordo, Fl had the correct answer. The Prize: Starbucks Gift Card.
NEW TRIVIA CONTEST: Starting this week we are reworking our weekly trivia contest. We will still put up a trivia question each week. You will still be required to enter the drawing as usual. However, from now through the end of 2024 you will get points depending on the complexity of the questions. Enter each week and correct answers will get those points-one guess per person per week. The reader with the most points after the years final column will get a $50 Starbucks Gift Card. Ties will be placed into a drawing. Questions will be worth anywhere from 10-25 points depending on degree of difficulty. Questions will be more difficult as the year goes on, so you are never really out of the mix. Tell your friends and sports fans who like trivia. We will keep track of your points. - YOU MUST ENTER VIA THE EMAIL AT THE END OF THIS COLUMN.
NEW TRIVIA QUESTION: Who was the final batter Gordon Seyfried faced in his major league career? Answer is worth 15 POINTS.
Some guys get a cup of coffee in the big leagues and either get it done or they don't. Some guys get it done and are never heard from again. Such is the case of Gordon Seyfried. Called up at the tail end of the 1963 season by the Cleveland Indians, he would get his chance. He'd have a second chance as well, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
It was Friday night, September 27th, 1963 in Kansas City when manager Birdie Tebbetts handed Seyfried the ball. The right-handed Long Beach, CA, native who was born on the 4th July was ready. He'd just turned 26 and coming up after eight seasons of minor league ball. Signed as an 18 year old he won 11 games in his rookie season and seven times won in double figures. He'd gone 17-8 in his best season. When minor leaguers played a full season at one stop.
He'd made two appearances in relief shortly before his first start. The first batter he faced was Felix Torres of the Angels who lined out on September 13, when he pitched an inning, giving up two hits but no runs. He gave up singles to Leon Wagner (the first batter to get a hit off Seyfried) and Bob Perry. Eight days later he again faced the Angels and made quick work of Bob Rodgers and Lee Thomas, again the 7th.
In his first major league start he was facing Dave Wickerham. The first batter he faced was Jose Tartabull who promptly singled. Probably somewhat nervous he walked Wayne Causey. Then to redeem himself he picked Tartabull off second base and would finish out the inning without giving up a run.
He would walk Gino Cimoli in the second and was virtually untouchable until the fourth when Jerry Lumpe and Charlie Lau both singled. To end the inning though he struck out Cimoli who as of yet had not hit a ball fair. In the fifth, John Wojic singled, Wisckersham sacrificed him to second and he rode home on another Tartabull single, 1-0.
Meanwhile, the Indians were giving him no support. In the 6th, an error, a wild pitch and a Wickersham single plated another run, 2-0. It was enough and Bob Allen came in to get the final out with Tartabull being out no. 3. Fred Whitfield blasted a solo homer later but it was too little too late and the Tribe fell to the A's, 3-1.
Seyfried took the loss, the only decision of his major league career. He'd get two more opportunities in relief in April, 1964, pitching two innings in two games, giving up four hits and no runs. He would close out his MLB career with those two appearances, the first again facing the Angels. His final contest he retired a pair of Minnesota hitters two days later.
Imagine being the only hitter who struck out against a major league pitcher in his entire career? That was journeyman Gino Cimoli. After that it was back to the minor leagues. He finished up with Portland at age 29 in 1967, 12 years in the minor leagues. In the big leagues he had a 0.93 ERA in five games, pitching 9.2 innings and 13 hits, striking out one, walking three, a Wild Pitch and giving up zero home runs.
He's still around at age 86.
TRIVIA CONTEST;