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HITLESS
Q: Who has the most official World Series at-bats without collecting a hit?
-- ChngK@aol.com
A: The record for most career World Series at-bats without a hit is 22, held by Philadelphia A's hurler George Earnshaw. Dal Maxvill went 0-22 in the 1968 World Series, setting the record for a single series.
Back to top	-- Alex Friedman

MARIS' BAT
Q: Could you tell me if Roger Maris ever used a Wilson 1515 bat that was 30 inches and weighed 30.5 ounces?
-- Janice Sherwood
A: As far as I can tell from my research, Roger Maris used a Hillerich and Bradsby label bat while in the major leagues. It was pretty consistently 35 inches in length and 31 to 33 oz. in weight. The Wilson could be a store model bat.
Back to top	-- Frank Ceresi Curator, National Sports Gallery

GAME-WINNING HOMER
Q: At what park, against what team, and in what inning did Cal Ripken, Jr. hit a game-winning home run on July 13, 1984?
-- Rejbaugh@aol.com
A: Cal Ripken, Jr. hit the game-winning home run in Baltimore's 7-5 win over the Chicago White Sox on July 13, 1984. The game was played in Baltimore at Memorial Stadium, and the three-run shot came in the bottom of the 11th inning.
Back to top	-- David W. Smith Retrosheet

HIGHEST ACCOMPLISHMENT
Q: Could you name the baseball players who had 500 home runs and 3,000 hits?
-- Randy
A: Only three players amassed 3,000 hits and 500 home runs in their career: Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Eddie Murray.
Back to top	-- Alex Friedman

MOST HOMERS
Q: What was the most home runs Willie Mays hit in one game? Was the game against St. Louis?
-- Pat Carroll
A: On April 30, 1961, Willie Mays hit four home runs, the most he ever hit in one game. The opponent was the Milwaukee Braves, and the home runs came against Lew Burdette (2), Seth Morehead, and Don McMahon.
Back to top	-- Alex Friedman

RYAN'S TEAMS
Q: Could you name of all the teams that Nolan Ryan played for?
-- Redvett82@aol.com
A: Nolan Ryan started his career with the New York Mets, but didn't become a star until he was traded to the California Angels for Jim Fregosi. He signed with the Houston Astros in 1980, played for them for nine seasons, and finished his career with the Texas Rangers.
Back to top	-- Alex Friedman

CAN O' CORN
Q: Where did the expression "can of corn" originate as a description for a lazy fly ball?
-- OSUBV@aol.com
A: Paul Dickson suggests several possible answers in The New Dickson Baseball Dictionary. The common belief is that the phrase comes from the old grocery store practice of using a pole to tip an item (like a can of corn) off of a high shelf so that it tumbles down, allowing the grocer to make an easy catch with his hands or apron. Another theory came from announcer Bob Prince, who said, "it's as easy as taking corn out of a can."
Back to top	-- Alex Friedman

SHUT OUT
Q: Was there ever a baseball team that finished a season without a shutout?
-- Ernestine7@aol.com
A: Only one team since 1900 has gone through an entire season of at least 150 games without recording a shutout: the 1993 Colorado Rockies. Not only were most of the club's hurlers plucked from the expansion draft, but they were forced to play half of their games in the thin air of Denver's Mile High Stadium. Their staff ERA was 5.41.
Back to top	-- Alex Friedman

NEW YORK KINDA GUYS
Q: Can you please tell me who were the only two players to play for the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Giants?
-- RonnieSc@aol.com
A: The two players to play for the Dodgers, Giants, Mets, and Yankees (former and current New York franchises) were Darryl Strawberry and Jose Vizcaino.
Back to top	-- James G. Robinson

GRAND SLAMS
Q: Has any player ever hit two grand slam home runs in the same inning?
-- Jennifer G.
A: The only player ever to hit two grand slams in an inning was St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Fernando Tatis, who slammed two in the third inning on April 23, 1999. Both homers came off of Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park, who became the first pitcher to surrender two in an inning since Bill Phillips of the Pittsburgh Pirates served up slams to Tommy Burns and Malachi Kittredge of the Chicago Cubs on August 16, 1890.
Back to top	-- Alex Friedman

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