Peter,
Which Hall of Famer pitcher led the National League in strikeouts for seven straight seasons, five of those also leading the majors?
Hint: #1 His nickname “Dead Shot”, although it easily could have been, was not about his pitching accuracy.
Hint: #2 His ERA title one season was so dominant that it eclipsed the number of the second-place finisher by more than a run and a quarter.
Tuesday’s question answered:
Q. Who led his league ineluctably toward the Year of the Pitcher by leading his league with a 2.18 ERA?
Hint: #1 That same season, he also led in WAR, strikeouts and ERA+ & made the All-Star team (Striking out Pete Rose & Frank Robinson and inducing Joe Torre to hit into an inning ending double-play) yet only finished seventeenth (17th!) in Most Valuable Player voting, including finishing behind four other pitchers.
Hint: #2 He was the subject of one of the most famous trades of his era.
A. SAM McDOWELL [SABR Bio]
– Ans. McDowell’s 2.176 was in 1965, and, as omen of things to come, the “Year of the Pitcher” recognized as 1968. Three pitchers in the NL posted even lower ERAs that season. Sandy Koufax 2.038, Juan Marichal 2.133, Vern Law 2.153.
– #1 The 1965 AL MVP voting. Alas, he was also listed as the 1965 ASG’s losing pitcher. McDowell’s league-leading numbers were WAR 8.3, 325 K & an ERA+ of 161.
– #2 In November 1971, he was traded to the Giants in exchange for future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry & Frank Duffy.
FCR – Howard Johnson, Norman, Oklahoma
~ D. Bruce Brown
Horsehide Trivia | 8830 Sandrope Court | Columbia, MD 21046 US
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Published by RJ Hamster
I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis.
I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God.
I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree.
Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons.
I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA.
While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon..
In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God.
We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987).
From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting.
Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982.
I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects.
In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston.
In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018.
Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia.
In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey.
As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova.
Love and God Bless,
Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi
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