Fungos and Another Trivia Question

I didn’t really mean to be silent the whole month of June - it just worked out that way. One thing that occupied a lot of my time was a fantastic baseball tour, which I will be reporting on over the next few days. For today, let’s just catch up on a few things:

On our last post I left you a trivia question. Who was the only person to hit a walk off home run against Nolan Ryan? According to Sports Illustrated, it was a backup catcher for the Padres - our favorite manager Bruce Bochy.

Here’s another fun question. There are five MLB teams that feature orange as a team color. One man has played for four of them. These are the only teams he has played for. Who is it? And on which four teams? Orange you glad I asked you this question?

A couple of nights ago Texas Ranger Mike Hellman hit a fly ball to Oriole Coby Mayo. Unfortunately, Jake Burger was not in the lineup that night, but I’ll bet the pitch that Hellman hit was a slider!

The late, great Jerry Coleman was a very good ball player and had a second career as a broadcaster. He called games for the San Diego Padres for many years, and was well known for amusing mix-ups. One of these was when he announced that a pitcher was throwing up in the bullpen. Recently Elly de la Cruz merited that comment when, on a very hot day, he drank too much water, went out to his shortstop position, and barfed. When he came in to bat he hit a home run. Manager Tito Franconia said that Elly could do whatever he had to in the field if he would hit like that. Remember the old time Astros announcer Loel Passe ? If he were still around he would say “Now you’re chunkin’ in there partner.”

For several years the Astros were known as the Killer B’s, featuring Biggio, Bagwell, Bell, and Berkman, among others. This year’s Texas Rangers roster is loaded with J’s. Four Jacobs - laGrom, Latz, Webb, and Burger. Three Joshes - Smith, Sborz, and Jung. For good measure, a Jonah, a Jon, a Justin, a Jack, and a Joc. Twelve J’s. That’s almost one third of a 40-man roster. As Porky Pig would say - Jumpin’ Juniper, What’s all the ruckus?

Give me some feedback on the latest trivia question, and watch for my trip updates. Happy Fourth of July!

That’s one man’s opinion - what’s yours?