Sporcle Saturday: Opening Day middle infielders since 1970
Continuing the Opening Day Saturday Sporcle series, this week we’ll be focusing on middle infielders: second base and shortstop.
Before heading to the past, let’s look towards the future for a moment: this season, the big question will be who gets the nod on Opening Day at second base. Will Nick Madrigal rake enough during Spring Training that he forces the issue and makes the roster out of camp? Or will the Sox roll with either Leury Garcia or Danny Mendick to start the season?
At shortstop, the Sox will have continuity for a fourth straight season. The questions surrounding this position center on defense, and whether we’ll be looking at a significant regression in BABIP after a seemingly-unsustainable .399 last year.
Time will answer these questions, and speaking of which, it’s time for this week’s Sporcle! Since 1970, who has started Opening Day up the middle? There are 100 entries, how many can you name? Good luck!
Previous Installments
Quiz Parameters
- I’ve allotted 15 minutes for completion attempts.
- I’ve grouped positions by season, chronologically.
Useless information to amaze, annoy, confuse, and/or confound your friends and family:
- This marks the 8th straight season a different name will be starting at second base on Opening Day.
- Nellie Fox holds the franchise record for most Opening Day starts at second, with 13 consecutive seasons. (1951-1963)
- The franchise record for most Opening Day starts at shortstop is 14, by Luke Appling. Consecutive starts on Opening Day, though, is 13, from 1985-1997.
All data from baseballreference.com
88/100. Thought I did really bad but Iโll only give myself like 4 extra I couldโve had. Need to study my 70s middle infielders. Also missed two guys in the past few years.ย
Boomer also 88. I missedย
98/100. Missed the 1970 second baseman and the 1973 shortstop.
First name I got was the 1976 second baseman, who just celebrated a birthday.
87/100 I’m pretty disappointed. I missed a handful of recent guys and really thought I knew the 1973 SS and 1970 2B but
I thought for sure the quiz this week would be on BABIP and/OBP. Perhaps in the near future after our opening day exams of late winter. Thanks as always, Ted.ย
I had the same guess for 1970.
I was sure that
Duly noted! We’ll get both of those in sometime after Opening Day.
100/100. The last one I got was the only Hall of Famer in the bunch.
86.
I had trouble with the last decade and the early 70s.ย
You are not gonna believe who I forgot…