Sporcle Saturday: Opening Day corner infielders since 1950
(Image credit: public domain via Jay Publishing)
Good morning!
Our trek towards real baseball continues, as we examine a new pair of Opening Day infielders: first and third base.
While the White Sox have had remarkable continuity at first base on Opening Day (aside from 1998, three guys have manned the position dating back to 1991), third base has been rather unsettled. The 2019-2021 seasons saw the same guy manning third for the first time since 2008 and unfortunately that streak was interrupted in 2022. Here’s to a new streak beginning here in 2023.
As with last week, there are 146 entries for you to name: how many can you get? Good luck!
Quiz Parameters
- I’ve allotted 20 minutes for completion attempts.
- All players are grouped by season.
Useless information to amaze, annoy, confuse, and/or confound your friends and family:
- Willie Kamm holds the most Opening Day (and consecutive) starts at third base: 9, running the length of his White Sox tenure, 1923-1931.
- As for lack of continuity at first base? From 1908-1917, the White Sox started a different guy at first each season. It wasn’t until Chick Gandil started three straight from 1917-1919 that that particular spell was broken.
- Frank Isbell was the Sox’ first-ever Opening Day first baseman. But he also started Opening Day at third base in 1903, second base in 1906 and 1907, and then again at first base in 1909.
All data from baseballreference.com
Author
136/146. Mostly fun names to remember, though a few of these third basemen irritate me. At least Kevin Bell’s name didn’t show up;
I always type in Bobby Bonilla, even though I know he won’t be there.
133/146. Missed 8 from the 50s, and 5 in my lifetime. I thought I had typed the 2011/12 3rd baseman, so I should have had 2 more. Some really obscure names in there.