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: How many times in his career did Robin Roberts give up at least 30 homers in a season? Total 10 Points.
Robin Roberts had one of the best careers of the last half of the 20th century but like so many players of the era, he may have stayed a little too long. His career started in 1948 and during the 1950s won at least 20 games six straight seasons. From 1960 to 1966 when he retired, he won 65 games, leaving the Phillies in 1962. He played for the Oriole's, the Astros and the final season with the Cubs.
On September 3, 1966 he was in the Cubs bullpen when Ken Holtzman started against Tommie Sisk of the Pirates. Sisk was ON that day, Holtzman was not. With the Bucs leading the Cubs 5-1 in the eighth, Holtzman was pulled and Roberts with his 2-3 record and 6.00 plus ERA, was called in to hold them. It wasn't to be.
Bill Mazeroski tripled and came home on a Bob Bailey single. He walked Jim Pagliaroni and Willie Stargell took him deep for his 29th homer of the season. He struck out his opposing position Sisk, but Matty Alou singled. With four runs in, the last player he would ever face in the big leagues was Gene Alley who mercifully grounded into a double play. Sisk would set the Cubbies down 1-2-3 in the ninth to complete a complete game four-hitter.
For Roberts it was over. He had a career 286 wins, 245 losses, 45 shutouts and 25 Saves in a 19 year career which took him to the 1950 World Series with the Philadelphia Whiz Kids. Robin Roberts died in 2010 at the age of 83, and a Hall of Fame career to his credit.
TRIVIA CONTEST;