TRIVIA WINNER: The answer to last weeks question was Jim McCormick. The Prize: 15 points toward the person's total.
NEW TRIVIA CONTEST: You will still be required to enter the drawing as usual. However, 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: This slugger only played for teams which had a "color" in the name and while few people will remember him during the early part of the 20th century, one season he led his league in home runs, RBI and Times Caught Stealing and did not receive a vote for MVP. Who was he? Total 15 Points.
From the very beginning watching Tom Seaver pitch was a joy, even for fans of opposing teams. The smooth, yet dominant and controlled style of the master of the Mets, was truly something to behold. You knew Seaver, coming out of USC was something special.
His debut came on April 13th, 1967 in front of ONLY 5,005 fans in New York. The Mets usually drew a lot more but this was a Thursday Day Game and New Yorkers were at work.
A Jerry Buchek two-run homer off Woody Fryman gave Seaver his first lead, 2-0. It would be all he would get, but not what he would need.
He would strikeout Bill Mazeroski and Gene Alley in the second but in the third was exposed again to Alou. Alou, the middle of the famous Alou brothers, led off with a walk. Maury Wills singled him to second and Roberto Clemente singled him home. The first earned run Seaver gave up was to another Hall of Famer. It was 2-1. Stargell and Clendenon were strike out victims.
In the fourth, Alley and Fryman were strikeout victims but here again Alou was Seaver's nemesis. With two out and a walk to Jesse Gonder, Seaver hit Alou with a pitch to put runners at first and second. Wills tied the game with a single, 2-2.
The
Mets went on to rally behind Estrada who picked up the win 3-2.
Seaver's first game line was pretty impressive. He went 5.1 innings gave
up 6 hits, 4 walks only 2 runs and struck out 8 Pirates. He also got a
hit in his only official AB and drew a Walk in his first plate
appearance. Not bad for the 22-year old future star. Seaver could not be
blamed for having issues with Alou. He would finish the season .338 but
of his six times being Hit by Pitch, two were issued by Seaver that
first start.
His next start was impressive. It was exactly a week later on April 20th and again a small crowd in New York saw him win no. 1. Only 5379 fans were at Shea that day. Seaver went 7.1 innings, allowing 8 hits, 0 Walks, and only one run in striking out 5 on his way for his rookie season 16-13 record and ROY honors. He completed 18 of 34 starts with a 2.76 ERA with 170 K's in 251 innings. It was the start of something BIG.
TRIVIA CONTEST;