Our mailbox is always full of esoteric questions from our readers. So every week, we pass along some of their most interesting queries to baseball historians who know the answers.
» Have a question? Ask the experts at BOLexperts@idealog.com! (Due to the volume of mail received, we cannot guarantee a response.)
» Are you an expert? Let us know by writing to BOLexperts@idealog.com.
A: Both of you are right. In terms of players who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, the Giants have the most representation with 20. However, as a team, the Yankees have the most members in the Hall of Fame, because they have had four executives - Ed Barrow, Larry MacPhail, Lee MacPhail, and George Weiss - and three managers - Miller Huggins, Joe McCarthy, and Casey Stengel - in addition to the 16 players who entered the Hall of Fame as Yankees, making a total of 23 members.
Q: What were the fewest total hits two teams combined for in a nine-inning game?
-- Norman Geiger
A: On September 9, 1965, Los Angeles Dodgers' starter Sandy Koufax and Chicago Cubs' starter Bob Hendley threw complete games against each other and combined to allow only one hit between them. The Dodgers won, 1-0, on an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth. Koufax threw his first ever perfect game, and Hendley ended up the hard luck loser, allowing one hit and one walk in his eight innings of work.
Q: Which player holds the record for most postseason games played?
-- James P. Adamson
A: Yogi Berra holds this record, appearing in 75 postseason games. In his 19 year career, Berra and the New York Yankees went to the postseason 14 times. Since Berra played during the years before divisional play, all of the games he appeared in were World Series games, meaning he also holds the record for most World Series games appeared in. Berra also has the record for most World Series at-bats with 259, and is third behind Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth in World Series homeruns, with 12.
Q: What is the record for most consecutive strikeouts by a pitcher making his first appearance?
-- Al Lewis
A: The record for most consecutive strikeouts by a pitcher making his debut is held by Baltimore Orioles pitcher Sammy Stewart. On September 1, 1978, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox, Stewary struck out the side in the second and third innings, and the leadoff batter in the fourth, to set the record at seven consecutive batters.
Q: Which brothers rank first all-time in combined homeruns? How many for each?
-- Sari8052@aol.com
A: The Aaron brothers, Hank and Tommie, lead all brothers in combined homeruns. Hank, who holds the career record for homeruns, hit 755, and his brother Tommie hit 13, giving the Aaron family 768 combined homers