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Big, Stupid Quiz

Johnny Dickshot Oct 03 2005 10:52 AM

In honor of Mike Piazza’s final Met appearance (most likely), here’s a killer who-am-I quiz about Final Games as a Met. All of the following descriptions will detail the final appearance of a player for the Mets -- some may have continued with other teams; others may have retired. The players may have performed for the last time as a Met at any time of the year, including the postseason. Your cross-clue is that each who-am-I represents one Met season between 1962 and 2005 (but they’re not in order). This may help you narrow things down. Tell me who became an x-Met -- and when! Answers much later. *** 1. Complaining of injury, I left a game with a week to go in the season and never made it back. I struck out in my final Met plate appearance. 2. In my last game with the Mets I pitched more innings (15) than I had in all my other Met appearances combined (10 over 4 games). You read that right: I started and went 15 fucken innings, gave up no runs and 5 hits. And I didn’t even win! 3. Game 3 of the World Series: I pinch-hit into a force play. 4. I’m a pitcher. In my final Met game I went 7 innings, allowed no earned runs, but lost 1-0 on an unearned run caused by my own friggin error. What a loser I was! 5. My Met career -- and as it turned out, my MLB career -- ended on a collision. 6. I was the starting pitcher. I walked the first four batters I faced, then gave up a single, getting the hook before retiring anyone. No wonder they gave up on me. 7. In my last Met appearance, I pitched the final three innings of a blowout win and earned my 8th career save. 359 more to go. 8. I was the starting pitcher but was taken out after 1 scoreless, hitless inning. No way did I think it was my last game as a Met. 9. My last at-bat as a Met (and the last of my career) was a 3-run homer. I think I’m the only player ever to do that for the Mets. 10. I pitched the last inning of the season. We won the game with a 9th inning rally, but I didn’t get the win, nor the save. 11. Who are we? We were teammates for a few seasons and we both ended our Met careers on the same day -- but in different games of a doubleheader -- as pinch-hitters. In the first game, one of us whiffed and stayed in the game at first base. In game 2, the other guy singled. We were traded to Los Angeles together. 12. The downright lousy game I tossed in my final Met appearance was overshadowed by controversy. I soon left as a free agent. 13. I lined out as a pinch-hitter and was released the next day, ingloriously ending a 12-year Met career. 14. I had only completed my first full year as a big leaguer when I played my last Met game -- 8 innings, 2 earned runs and a win. Folks remember me best for who I’d be traded for. 15. I played 809 of my 810 career games as a Met. In the last at-bat of my last game, I had an RBI single. 16. They called me a a disappointment when they traded me to the other league in June. But the guy got for me was even worse. 17. I remember this game: It was my first Major League triple! I’d go on to hit 64 more triples over the next 15 years, none as a Met. 18. I singled in three at-bats, finishing my third year with the Mets and the third straight year of declines in home runs, doubles and batting aaverage. Before I got any worse they traded me. 19. We appeared in the same final Met game. One of us was the starter, the other relieved. Second-guessers said afterward it should have been the other way around. 20. I pitched in relief and gave up a couple of runs. They thought I was done and traded me, but I had a 20-win season left. 21. I hit into a triple play at Wrigley Field and that was that for my career. 22. I struck out as a pinch-hitter in my final appearance as a Met. Because of another trade that happened that day fans barely noticed when I was traded. 23. I appeared in relief and went a third of inning, giving up 2 hits and a run. I didn’t know at the time I’d be claimed in the upcoming expansion draft. 24. I started in left field and went 1-for-4 with a double. They released me the following spring ending a 5-year career, spent all with the Mets. 25. In my last appearance for the Mets, I blew a save, but got a win. They booed me not out of town, just across it. 26. In my final day as a Met, I had 2 hits -- one each off a future Hall of Fame pitcher. Weirdly, only 1 showed in the boxscore. 27. My final Met game was also my final of 2,202 MLB games. In my final plate appearance I walked, was pinch-run for, and vowed to be back someday. 28. My last game as a Met was a memorable one: I singled twice, homered and won a new car. 29. I made a rare relief appearance in my final game as a Met, pitched a scoreless inning, and should have got the win. But fate had cruel plans in store. 30. I was once a solid Met contributor, but by August of this year I had lost starting assignments in the outfield and at first base and was relegated to pinch-hitting. That’s what I did in my final Met appearance: I popped out pinch-hitting to make the last out of a game, and was traded to Philadelphia the next day. 31. My last game as a Met was also the last game of a brief but memorable MLB career. I went 0-for-2 with a walk and run scored but was pinch hit for and replaced at first base by Kranepool. 32. My last Met game was a good one: I pitched 5 innings of 2-hit, scoreless relief and got the win in a 12-inning game at Montreal. My 6-year Met career would end by a trade after the season. 33. In my last game with the Mets -- also the last of my career -- I started at first base for only the third time in an 11-year career. I was a third baseman/outfielder, mostly. 34. In my final appearance as a Met, I ended the game -- and season -- on a pinch-hit groundout. They gave me a big hand anyway. 35. I doubled & scored twice to cap a great season during which I led the team in almost every statistical category. Then they traded me! 36. I had just lost a 2-1 heartbreaker to San Diego when they informed me I’d been traded to Montreal. 37. Better days (and some worse ones) were ahead for me when I played my last Met game (pinch-hit, flew out, stayed in center). They pretty much had to trade me, but got way too little back. 38. I started in right field, and went 2-for-4 with a double. I didn’t think this would be my last Met game -- they waited until the following spring training to trade me! 39. In my last game as a Met I singled and walked -- but I also made a costly error. I was in the AL the next year. 40. What turned out to be my last Met game was among the worst I ever had: 5.1 innings, 8 runs. We soon found out why. 41. My last appearance as a Met was flying out to right as a pinch-hitter: Not a bad decision if you ask me. 42. I went 1-for-3 with a bunt single. We lost, the home fans booed, and afterward, I commented about it. After that, the Mets paid someone else to take me. 43. I pitched 8 scoreless innings in my final Met appearance, then was traded to a playoff contender, for whom I disappointed. 44. Grounded out to shortstop 3 times, but got standing O’s anyway.

metirish Oct 03 2005 11:02 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 03 2005 11:04 AM

3. Game 3 of the World Series: I pinch-hit into a force play. Darryl Hamilton ph for Reed in the 6th forcing Agbayani. Good quiz #44 - Piazza

TheOldMole Oct 03 2005 11:02 AM

Just wild guesses. #3 - Willie Mays 8 - Tom Seaver 11 - Kent and Vizcaino 30 - Rico Brogna

Valadius Oct 03 2005 11:04 AM

44 - Mike Piazza, 2005. 7- Jeff Reardon, 1981.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 03 2005 11:07 AM

I think I recognized 6 of them: 1. Darryl Strawberry 1990 8. Tom Seaver 1983 15. John Stearns 1985 20. Jerry Koosman 1978 22. Joel Youngblood 1977 28. Armando Benitez 2003

Valadius Oct 03 2005 11:13 AM

13 - Cleon Jones, 1975.

Valadius Oct 03 2005 11:16 AM

17 - Amos Otis, 1969.

ScarletKnight41 Oct 03 2005 11:18 AM

9. Todd Zeile 25 - Armando Benitez

Edgy DC Oct 03 2005 11:26 AM

13. Hodges.

ScarletKnight41 Oct 03 2005 11:30 AM

12 - Dwight Gooden 23 - Don Shaw

Valadius Oct 03 2005 12:05 PM

36 - Ron Darling, 1991.

Lundy Oct 03 2005 12:28 PM

]26. In my final day as a Met, I had 2 hits -- one each off a future Hall of Fame pitcher. Weirdly, only 1 showed in the boxscore. This has got to be Joel Youngblood in 1982. I'm guessing Fergie Jenkins in Chicago and Steve Carlton in Montreal.

Edgy DC Oct 03 2005 12:33 PM

33) Elliott Maddox

Nymr83 Oct 03 2005 12:40 PM

]12. The downright lousy game I tossed in my final Met appearance was overshadowed by controversy. I soon left as a free agent. Rick Reed? ]25. In my last appearance for the Mets, I blew a save, but got a win. They booed me not out of town, just across it. Armando Benitez? ]30. I was once a solid Met contributor, but by August of this year I had lost starting assignments in the outfield and at first base and was relegated to pinch-hitting. That’s what I did in my final Met appearance: I popped out pinch-hitting to make the last out of a game, and was traded to Philadelphia the next day Rico Brogna?

Edgy DC Oct 03 2005 12:51 PM

Reed went in a trade.

Valadius Oct 03 2005 02:30 PM

4 - Roger Craig, 1963.

Valadius Oct 03 2005 02:35 PM

42 - Rey Ordonez, 2002. I was SO happy to see him go after his attack on the fans. Never learned to bloody hit.

Valadius Oct 03 2005 02:39 PM

40 - Dwight Gooden, 1994.

Valadius Oct 03 2005 03:30 PM

24 - Bruce Boisclair, 1979.

Valadius Oct 03 2005 03:37 PM

6 - Nolan Ryan, 1971.

Valadius Oct 03 2005 03:42 PM

29 - Orel Hershiser, 1999.

mlbaseballtalk Oct 03 2005 04:42 PM

Bonus one: BC) Nine innings, 1 run 6 Ks. and I'm moved a few days later for no real apparant reason and for nothing that even came close to equalling me

Johnny Dickshot Oct 03 2005 04:46 PM

Updates: Valadius is trying to run away with this thing. There's been some corerect guesses, and some incorrect guesses that look right but will reveal themselves to be wrong when viewed through our completed puzzle, which requires 1 guy per year. You folks not including the year in your guesses are making it harder to correct and only get half-points. Correct guesses so far: 44. Piazza 2005 3. Willie Mays (1973) 8. Tom Seaver (1983) 7. Jeff Reardon 1981 1. Darryl Strawberry 1990 8. Tom Seaver 1983 15. John Stearns 1985 20. Jerry Koosman 1978 28. Armando Benitez 2003 13 - Cleon Jones, 1975 17 - Amos Otis, 1969 9. Todd Zeile (2004) 25. Armando Benitez (2003) 36 - Ron Darling, 1991. 26. Joel Youngblood 1982 (Lundy also got the pitchers correct) 33. Elliott Maddox (1980) 4 - Roger Craig, 1963. 42 - Rey Ordonez, 2002. 40 - Dwight Gooden, 1994 24 - Bruce Boisclair, 1979 6 - Nolan Ryan, 1971. 29 - Orel Hershiser, 1999.

mlbaseballtalk Oct 03 2005 04:53 PM

28 Ray Knight Game 7 of the 1986 World Series

mlbaseballtalk Oct 03 2005 04:57 PM

I want to say Jeff Kent for 16 in 1996

mlbaseballtalk Oct 03 2005 05:01 PM

21 Joe Pignatano ending the 1962 season and Piggy's MLB career

mlbaseballtalk Oct 03 2005 05:03 PM

22 Mike Phillips 1977

Valadius Oct 03 2005 05:07 PM

30 - Frank Thomas, 1964.

mlbaseballtalk Oct 03 2005 05:09 PM

I'm guessing 37 is Len Dysktra 1989

Valadius Oct 03 2005 05:22 PM

39 - Wally Backman, 1988.

mlbaseballtalk Oct 03 2005 05:26 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 03 2005 05:32 PM

Two more good bonus ones -My final appearance as a Met was my final MLB AB period. The manager sent me up as a pinch hitter and I was granted my unconditional release the next day -I finished up the year as the Mets 2Bman going 2 for 4 before being pinch hit for. I get released the next spring and wrapped up my career with another team but the journey had only begun

Edgy DC Oct 03 2005 05:28 PM

Hijack happenin'.

Valadius Oct 03 2005 05:32 PM

Come on, everybody. I don't like doing this by myself. 27 - Willie Randolph, 1992.

mlbaseballtalk Oct 03 2005 05:36 PM

Okay, I cheated on #11, good thing you didn't put a hint there. Carlos Diaz and Bob Bailor, traded for Sid Fernandez

HahnSolo Oct 04 2005 09:05 AM

12 - Mike Hampton, 2000

sharpie Oct 04 2005 09:18 AM

37 - Carl Everett

Valadius Oct 04 2005 11:00 AM Edited 13 time(s), most recently on Oct 04 2005 10:32 PM

To make things easier, here's a list of everything that's been proven right (plus what I guessed and know are 100% right) Edit: updated. 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 1962 1963 1964 1965 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005

Johnny Dickshot Oct 04 2005 11:05 AM

correct since the last update: 12. Hampton 2000 21. Pignatano 1962 27. Randolph 1992 28. Knight 1986 30. Thomas 1964 37. Everett 1997 39. Backman 1988

Johnny Dickshot Oct 04 2005 11:16 AM

Remaining questions: 2. In my last game with the Mets I pitched more innings (15) than I had in all my other Met appearances combined (10 over 4 games). You read that right: I started and went 15 fucken innings, gave up no runs and 5 hits. And I didn’t even win! 5. My Met career -- and as it turned out, my MLB career -- ended on a collision. 10. I pitched the last inning of the season. We won the game with a 9th inning rally, but I didn’t get the win, nor the save. 14. I had only completed my first full year as a big leaguer when I played my last Met game -- 8 innings, 2 earned runs and a win. Folks remember me best for who I’d be traded for. 16. They called me a a disappointment when they traded me to the other league in June. But the guy got for me was even worse. 18. I singled in three at-bats, finishing my third year with the Mets and the third straight year of declines in home runs, doubles and batting aaverage. Before I got any worse they traded me. 19. We appeared in the same final Met game. One of us was the starter, the other relieved. Second-guessers said afterward it should have been the other way around. 22. I struck out as a pinch-hitter in my final appearance as a Met. Because of another trade that happened that day fans barely noticed when I was traded. 23. I appeared in relief and went a third of inning, giving up 2 hits and a run. I didn’t know at the time I’d be claimed in the upcoming expansion draft. 31. My last game as a Met was also the last game of a brief but memorable MLB career. I went 0-for-2 with a walk and run scored but was pinch hit for and replaced at first base by Kranepool. 32. My last Met game was a good one: I pitched 5 innings of 2-hit, scoreless relief and got the win in a 12-inning game at Montreal. My 6-year Met career would end by a trade after the season. 34. In my final appearance as a Met, I ended the game -- and season -- on a pinch-hit groundout. They gave me a big hand anyway. 35. I doubled & scored twice to cap a great season during which I led the team in almost every statistical category. Then they traded me! 38. I started in right field, and went 2-for-4 with a double. I didn’t think this would be my last Met game -- they waited until the following spring training to trade me! 41. My last appearance as a Met was flying out to right as a pinch-hitter: Not a bad decision if you ask me. 43. I pitched 8 scoreless innings in my final Met appearance, then was traded to a playoff contender, for whom I disappointed. Years we need accounting for: 1965 1966 1967 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1977 1985 1987 1989 1993 1995 1996 1998 2001

Edgy DC Oct 04 2005 11:22 AM

14) Charlie Puleo.

Valadius Oct 04 2005 11:27 AM

14 - Robert Person, 1996 (Traded for Olerud)

sharpie Oct 04 2005 11:30 AM

19) Armando Reynoso and Hideo Nomo -98

Valadius Oct 04 2005 11:34 AM

38 - Ron Swoboda, 1970.

HahnSolo Oct 04 2005 11:35 AM

35 - Tommy Davis, 1967

Lundy Oct 04 2005 11:35 AM

]22. I struck out as a pinch-hitter in my final appearance as a Met. Because of another trade that happened that day fans barely noticed when I was traded. From the clue it sounds like the year is 1977--Dave Kingman?

Benjamin Grimm Oct 04 2005 11:36 AM

I'll reguess 22. I think I had it, but just put down the wrong name. Is it Mike Phillips, 1977? I had guessed Joel Youngblood, but he was the guy they received in that trade, not the guy they gave up.

Edgy DC Oct 04 2005 11:47 AM

People knew that Kingman was traded. It may not have been the bitter pill that Seaver was, but he was the team's top offensive threat, and his dealing helped cement in the public mindset the idea that the Seaver deal wa a product of Grant's malice, and not a hands-are-tied situation.

HahnSolo Oct 04 2005 11:48 AM

41 - Rusty Staub, 1985

Johnny Dickshot Oct 04 2005 11:49 AM

Puleo, Kingman and Phillips -- all wrong. Person (96), Reynoso/Nomo (98), Swoboda (70), Davis (67) -- all correct edit -- Staub (85) also correct

Valadius Oct 04 2005 11:51 AM

JD - are you sure you got your facts right on #2? It would be: 2 - Rob Gardner, 1965 were it not for the fact that Gardner pitched another year as a Met.

Johnny Dickshot Oct 04 2005 12:05 PM

Congrats to Valadius for spotting the hidden "bonus screwup." He wins a can of Rhinegold. Proceed.

HahnSolo Oct 04 2005 12:05 PM

43. Bret Saberhagen, 1995.

Valadius Oct 04 2005 12:09 PM

Wait... John Stearns and Rusty Staub can't both represent 1985...

Johnny Dickshot Oct 04 2005 12:15 PM

That's cuz stearns was 84

Valadius Oct 04 2005 12:22 PM

You listed him as '85 earlier in the thread, though. Confused me.

Lundy Oct 04 2005 12:35 PM

]34. In my final appearance as a Met, I ended the game -- and season -- on a pinch-hit groundout. They gave me a big hand anyway. Lenny Harris, 2001?

Valadius Oct 04 2005 01:08 PM

32 - Danny Frisella, 1972.

Edgy DC Oct 04 2005 01:15 PM

Valadius, man, get back to your schoolwork. Trust me on this one.

Zvon Oct 04 2005 02:17 PM

5) George Theodore ?

Valadius Oct 04 2005 02:28 PM

But it's fun...

Johnny Dickshot Oct 04 2005 02:32 PM

Frisella right. Theodore wrong.

Valadius Oct 04 2005 02:34 PM

If you meant "earned run" instead of "run"... 23 - Dick Selma, 1968.

Zvon Oct 04 2005 02:47 PM

]18. I singled in three at-bats, finishing my third year with the Mets and the third straight year of declines in home runs, doubles and batting aaverage. Before I got any worse they traded me. omg,... so many aquired Mets declined, only one answer....mmmmm..... Jim Fregosi?

HahnSolo Oct 04 2005 04:17 PM

5 - Darryl Hamilton, 2001

HahnSolo Oct 04 2005 04:24 PM

Could 22 be Mookie Wilson? Wasn't he sent to Toronto the same day as the Viola trade with Minnesota in 1989? But I would think Mets fans would have noticed. I know I did.

Valadius Oct 04 2005 04:29 PM

16 - Tony Fernandez, 1993. I think.

Johnny Dickshot Oct 04 2005 04:42 PM

Fregosi -- wrong Hamilton -- wrong Selma -- right Mookie -- right: I was rewferring to Viola trade, only because it was announced later that day. Mook was hitting barely over .200 at the time. Fernandez -- right.

Valadius Oct 04 2005 04:54 PM

31 - George Theodore, 1974.

HahnSolo Oct 04 2005 07:37 PM

10 - Jesse Orosco, 1987

Johnny Dickshot Oct 04 2005 09:13 PM

Theodore right Orosco right If I failed to acknowledge it above, Saberhagen is right. We have to be nearing the end of this.

G-Fafif Oct 05 2005 12:32 AM

Four left, if I'm following. Of three of these I'm certain: 11. Who are we? We were teammates for a few seasons and we both ended our Met careers on the same day -- but in different games of a doubleheader -- as pinch-hitters. In the first game, one of us whiffed and stayed in the game at first base. In game 2, the other guy singled. We were traded to Los Angeles together. HICKMAN, HUNT 1966 18. I singled in three at-bats, finishing my third year with the Mets and the third straight year of declines in home runs, doubles and batting average. Before I got any worse they traded me. VENTURA 2001 41. My last appearance as a Met was flying out to right as a pinch-hitter: Not a bad decision if you ask me. TORRE 1977 (player-manager; clever) This one is troublesome: 5. My Met career -- and as it turned out, my MLB career -- ended on a collision. The only answer I can offer with any certainty is MILLAN, who crashed into Ed Ott and never played in the bigs again, but his last Met/MLB game was in 1977 (later he was sold to the Taiyo Whales) and the only year that hasn't been filled in, if I'm tracking this correctly, is 1976. The only Mets whose Major League careers finished with the Mets in 1976 were Jay Kleven, Billy Baldwin and Leon Brown. I can find no evidence that any of them suffered an untimely demise, plus you haven't really dabbled in the uberobscure for other answers (Rob Gardner's game is mildly famous), so I'm going to respectfully ask: Have you made a mistake and used two 1977s? If you haven't, I apologize for doubting your thoroughness. And even if you have, a kick-ass quiz...and a kick-ass job of answering all around. (If I have to go with a guess from the remaining three 76ers, I'm going to say Baldwin, but I really do believe the answer here is Millan, '77 or not.)

Johnny Dickshot Oct 05 2005 05:35 AM

I don't recall promising this quiz was on the level. Yes, looks like I effed the Millan one up too. I was wondering why it wasn't guessed sooner. Hickman & Hunt is correct. Ventura of course. Torre, yes.

MFS62 Oct 05 2005 06:48 AM

Could #2 be the mysterious Bill Graham? Later

HahnSolo Oct 05 2005 06:52 AM

So, is it Torre or Staub for #41? edit: you gave Yes answers for both.

Johnny Dickshot Oct 05 2005 07:19 AM

41. was torre 34. In my final appearance as a Met, I ended the game -- and season -- on a pinch-hit groundout. They gave me a big hand anyway. was Staub in 85

Valadius Oct 05 2005 09:03 AM

No, because #2 was Rob Gardner.

Nymr83 Oct 05 2005 08:44 PM

is Benitez #25 or #28? you listed him as the correct answer to both.

Johnny Dickshot Oct 05 2005 09:05 PM

25. 44-question quizzes are murder.