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WILLIE KEELER
Q: Who said "hit 'em where they aint?"
-- vze27csg@verizon.net
A: The phrase "hit 'em where they aint" was the simple hitting advice of Willie Keeler. Keeler did a good job of hitting it where they weren't, becoming one of the best hitters of his era by using a choked-up batting stance to punch singles over infielder's heads. He finished his career with a .345 average, and hit an incredible .432 in 1897, the third-highest in major league history.
Q: Who was the oldest player to win the Rookie of the Year Award?
-- Christoph Stiens
A: Negro League star Sam Jethroe became the oldest outfielder to win the Rookie of the Year Award as a member of the Boston Braves in 1950. Born on January 20, 1918, Jethroe was voted the Rookie of the Year on November 9, 1950, making him 32 years and 291 days old. In his rookie year, he batted .273 with 18 HR, 58 RBI, and 35 stolen bases.
In the 2000 season, Seattle Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaski became the second-oldest player to win the award. Sasaki was 33 days younger than Jethroe when he was named American League Rookie of the Year. He went 2-5 with 37 saves in 63 appearances for the AL Wild Card winning Mariners.
Q: Who was the last switch-hitter to win the American League MVP Award?
-- Mike Wyland
A: Mickey Mantle was the last switch-hitter to win the AL MVP Award, earning the honor in 1962. That year, Mantle hit .321 with 30 home runs and 89 RBI, and helped the New York Yankees defeat the San Francisco Giants in a seven game World Series.
A: Met reliever Roger McDowell picked up the victory in New York's World Series clinching victory. After the Mets had taken a 6-3 lead in the sixth, McDowell pitched a perfect seventh. He then gave up two runs in the eighth, and was pulled for Jesse Orosco. With the Mets clinging to a one run lead, Orosco shut the Red Sox down the rest of the way, earning the save.
Q: What are the qualifications for a baseball player to be considered a rookie?
-- Ted/Judy Lohnes
A: For hitters, a player will be considered a rookie if he had less than 130 at-bats in any previous season. For pitchers, if they haven't pitched more than 50 innings in a previous season, they are considered rookies. Also, if any player spent more than 45 days on a team's active roster, they cannot be considered a rookie.
Q: What was number did Reggie Jackson wear in his rookie year?
-- HarperGtrr@aol.com
A: In 1967 -- Jackson's rookie year with the Kansas City Athletics -- he wore number 31. In 35 games that year, Jackson batted .178 with one home run and six RBI. The next year, after the team moved to California and became the Oakland Athletics, Jackson switched to #9, the number he wore for the next nine years.
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