Sporcle Saturday: 20+ saves in a season

May 19, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Liam Hendriks (31) celebrates with catcher Zack Collins (21) the win over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning!

In what was an otherwise uninspiring loss on Thursday afternoon, franchise history was made during the 8th inning when Liam Hendriks recorded the 100th strikeout of his season. That strikeout made Hendriks the only closer in White Sox history to record 30 or more saves and also have at least 100 Ks. (One reliever came tantalizingly close in 1972, with 104 Ks and 29 saves.)

Today, to celebrate the accomplishment, let’s go back and examine other closers. Specifically, this Sporcle asks you to name any White Sox closer with at least 20 saves in a season. In all, that’s 38 entries: how many can you name? Good luck!

Quiz Parameters

  • I’ve allotted 10 minutes for completion attempts.
  • For hints, I’ve provided the year and the number of saves.

Useless information to amaze, annoy, confuse, and/or confound your friends and family:

  • Hendriks currently has the highest K% of any closer in White Sox history, at 41.6%. The next-highest is 35.4% (2011).
  • The highest K% of any closer in MLB history with at least 30 saves in a season is Aroldis Chapman’s 2014 season, at 52.5%.
  • The highest ERA+ of any closer on the White Sox came in 1996, at 249.

(Photo Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports)

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All data from stathead.com

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asinwreck

38/38 with 7:36 to go.

For some reason, and it’s not that it is a particularly difficult name, but my first and second instinct is to misspell the name of the pitcher David Letterman infamously called “a fat tub of goo.” I blame Subaru.

Right Size Wrong Shape

I did the same thing!

I also mispelled his name. I think it’s one of those names where he probably misspells it himself sometimes. It’s just enough like other names to require thought.

The 3 knuckle-balling relievers on the list made me wish the Sox would try to find or develop another one.

roke1960

38/38 with 8:17 to go. We’ve had a couple of easy ones the last few weeks, Ted! I’m expecting a tough one next week.