Sporcle Saturday: Opening Day corner infielders since 1970
Yoan Moncada (Carl Skanberg)
Folks, another Saturday is upon us, and with it, another Opening Day starter Sporcle. This week, we look at first and third base.
This quiz marks the first in the series in which both positions will see (barring injury or a weird lineup choice) the same player return in consecutive years. At the hot corner, this makes two straight Opening Days while at first base, seven straight.
So, as with last week, there are 100 entries on this list. How many can you get? Good luck!
Previous Installments
Quiz Parameters
- I’ve allotted 15 minutes for completion attempts.
- As usual, positions are grouped by season, chronologically.
Useless information to amaze, annoy, confuse, and/or confound your friends and family:
- The White Sox have had remarkable continuity at first base. Since 1991 (I bet you’ll never guess who that was!), the team has had just four different guys start on Opening Day. And one of those was just a single season: 1998.
- I would not have guessed this, but Willie Kamm holds the most Opening Day (and consecutive) starts at third base: 9, running the length of his White Sox tenure, 1923-1931.
- If you can’t guess who has had the most Opening Day (and consecutive) starts at first base, well, you need to do some more Sporcling.
All data from baseballreference.com
Author
I got 97/100. 2 of my misses were guys playing away from their usual positionÂ
90/100. I never remember the post-Robin 3B or the mid-1980s guys. Never heard of the 1970 1B.Â
99/100. If anyone gets the 1970 first baseman, you must be related to him. I’ve never heard of him.
I think this is your first miss in this series!
It is, but I have had an advantage. On the sporcle.com site, there is a quiz for the starting lineups for all teams from 1971-1990 and from 1991-now. So I have gotten practice over the last few years doing that. There is also one from 1951-1970 that I haven’t tried much. So in a way I have cheated by doing those. But i do remember every player from the last 50 years except for the 1970 first baseman. He had to have a very short career.
Thanks for doing these, Ted. I look forward to your quizzes every week!
I checked baseballreference.com. 1970 was the only year he played in the majors. He had 122 PA before he was replaced, never to return to the majors.
He has a very interesting bio. He was from Hawaii, one of 4 brothers who played. He was the only one to make the majors. The Sox acquired him when they reacquired Aparicio in 1967. They traded him to the Royals after the 70 season, and returned to Hawaii after spending 1971 in AAA. His claim to fame was one of his 2 HRs in 1970 was off Catfish Hunter!
OK, I just read his SABR bio. Recommended, and involves a family member who was also on a recent Sporcle.
Anybody who suffered through that period of the most pathetic White Sox baseball in their history remembers
I suffered through that time too, but I don’t remember him. I thought it was
since he played first at the same time.
came to our Little League in 1969. He autographed my bat.
I thought it was
I guessed him too.
You’re welcome! They’re as fun to put together as it is to see folks play and enjoy them.
I endorse every word of this comment.
99/100. I missed the 1970 first baseman.