Atlantic League Managers Provide Wonderful Material For Major League Trivia Buffs

It is probably an understatement of sizeable proportions to say that the eight men who manage Atlantic Leagueteams have quality career baseball profiles.  After all, they have a combined 109 seasons—an average of 13.6—as major league players.

The popular nation-wide group SABR(Society for American Baseball Research) took note recently when it made the group the subject of a weekly trivia quiz which further emphasized the attention these men deserve every time Atlantic League stadium gates open.  We don’t have the room here to repeat the hints that were used to test SABR members’ memory banks, but we will share the basic questions and answers along with the number of years each manager played in the majors:

Q—The first pitcher to win the American League Cy Youngaward without starting a game that year?  A— Sparky Lyle, Somerset(16).

Q—The first player to hit two homers in the first inning of a game?  A— Von Hayes, Camden(12).

Q—The first person to congratulate Barry Bondswhen Bonds broke the major league home run record?  A— Willie Upshaw, Bridgeport(10).

Q—The last National Leagueplayer to drive in 100 runs in a season while hitting fewer than 10 home runs?  A— Tom Herr, Lancaster(13).

Q—The first post-expansion rookie to steal 60 bases in a season?  A— Tim Raines, Newark(23).

Q—The last man to bat against Sandy Koufax?A— Andy Etchebarren, York(15).

Q—What pitcher earned the only save of his career in his very first game?  A— Dave LaPoint, Long Island(12).

Q—Name a third baseman with a sub-.900 fielding percentage for a season?  A— Butch Hobson, Southern Maryland(8).

These trivia questions were provided free of charge by Horsehide Trivia™ and are the property of Scott Brandon and Bruce Brown.  Anyone may receive these daily baseball trivia questions by e-mailing < horsehidetrivia@aol.com >.

* * * *WANT MORE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL COVERAGE?  Check out                  www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com and www.IndyBaseballChatter.com * * * *

Cochran Misses Star Contest, But Runs Recent Streak to 4-0

Tom Cochran (Lancaster)was probably better off not pitching in the Southern League All-Star GameMonday night.  That’s because the stylish lefty took his regular turn for Double-A Carolina (Cincinnatifarm system) two days earlier, and it turned out to be his fourth win in as many starts, running his steadily improving record to 7-3 with a 2.33 earned run average.

The 27-year-old Cochran has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his last eight starts.  During the four-game winning streak, he has given up only 18 hits and four runs in 23.1 innings (1.54).

Another All-Star contest slated for Wednesday will pit two independent leagues against each other with 2009 Atlantic Leaguers Jesseand Casey Hoorelbekerepresenting the visiting Northern Leaguein Tucson, AZ, home to the host Golden League’s Tucson Toros.Jesse leads the league with 16 homers while brother Casey tops in ERA at 1.65.  Both played for Bridgeportlast season.

(These are excerpts from the Atlantic League Notebook.  Subscriptions to the full Notebook are available via www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com or www.WirzandAssociates.com .  Bob Wirz also writes a weekly column, the Independent Baseball Insider, as well as a blog, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com. The author has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as chief spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)