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The Keith Hernandez Quizzes

batmagadanleadoff Nov 22 2019 09:04 AM Edited 5 time(s), most recently on Jan 03 2020 01:02 PM

Apropos of that I'm reading I'm Keith Hernandez, young inexperienced babe in the woods Keith Hernandez arrives at St. Petersburg, Florida in 1972 for his first Spring Training. Lonely and out of place, one of the first things he does after settling into his hotel room is to go for his security blanket -- the 1971 Strat-O-Matic baseball set, which he had been playing obsessively over the past few months and which he had meticulously packed into his luggage -- only to discover that the set isn't there. Turns out that Keith's father had secretly removed the set from Keith's luggage so that Keith could concentrate on real baseball in Florida. Who was Keith's first roommate during his first 1972 Spring Training?

HahnSolo Nov 22 2019 09:08 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

I read the book over a year ago, so I don't remember all the details. I'm thinking maybe Ken Reitz?

batmagadanleadoff Nov 22 2019 09:15 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

=HahnSolo post_id=26994 time=1574438929 user_id=63] I read the book over a year ago, so I don't remember all the details. I'm thinking maybe Ken Reitz?

Here's a hint: Think Mets connection.

whippoorwill Nov 22 2019 09:41 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Oh good question! I forget too. Vince Coleman?

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 22 2019 09:54 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

It's been more than a year for me too. Was it Mike Jorgensen?

kcmets Nov 22 2019 10:01 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

I'm sure he's mentioned this over the years but I have no clue. Lonnie Smith's name immediately popped in my head but of course for much different reasons.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 22 2019 10:03 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 22 2019 10:08 AM

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: It's been more than a year for me too. Was it Mike Jorgensen? Impossible. Jorgy was a major leaguer in '72, and so would not have been roomed with a Spring Training invitee. Plus, he was a Met -- until he was traded to the Expos in the Staub deal in April of that same year.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 22 2019 10:07 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

=kcmets post_id=26999 time=1574442093 user_id=53] I'm sure he's mentioned this over the years but I have no clue. Lonnie Smith's name immediately popped in my head but of course for much different reasons.

What's the Lonnie Smith Mets connection?



It would've been something if Vince Coleman was Keith's first Cardinals roomie. Vince was 11 years old in 1972.

kcmets Nov 22 2019 10:20 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

There isn't Mets connection he just popped in my head first. It was dumb, and he a few years younger than Keith and looking at bbrdoccom he of course was a Phillie to boot.

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 22 2019 10:21 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Now I'm racking my brain for Met-Cardinals of the 1970s. Mike Phillips? And Jack Heidemann but he was a MLB guy in the late 60s.

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 22 2019 10:21 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Pete Falcone? Did they room pitchers and infielders together?

batmagadanleadoff Nov 22 2019 10:43 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Now I'm racking my brain for Met-Cardinals of the 1970s. Mike Phillips? And Jack Heidemann but he was a MLB guy in the late 60s. Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Pete Falcone? Did they room pitchers and infielders together? Yeah, I think pitchers and infielders roomed together --- Tom Seaver and Bud Harrelson famously so on the Mets. Well here's another clue(s) for you all: Keith's first MLB roommate never did get to play a single game for the St. Louis Cardinals. In fact, he broke in with the Mets. And had a long enough MLB career that, service-time wise, was eligible for inclusion into baseball's Hall of Fame.

whippoorwill Nov 22 2019 11:27 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=27001 time=1574442437 user_id=68] =kcmets post_id=26999 time=1574442093 user_id=53] I'm sure he's mentioned this over the years but I have no clue. Lonnie Smith's name immediately popped in my head but of course for much different reasons.

What's the Lonnie Smith Mets connection?



It would've been something if Vince Coleman was Keith's first Cardinals roomie. Vince was 11 years old in 1972.

Oh fine! :)

dinosaur jesus Nov 22 2019 11:40 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Mike Vail?

Edgy MD Nov 22 2019 11:48 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

It was Ron Hunt.

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 22 2019 11:48 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Ronnie

Edgy MD Nov 22 2019 11:52 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

No, the only spring Huntie spent as a Cardinal was 1975, when he got released in March.

kcmets Nov 22 2019 11:53 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

I was gonna say Swan

batmagadanleadoff Nov 22 2019 12:01 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

dinosaur jesus wrote: Mike Vail? Winner, winner! Chicken dinner! Step right up to collect your prizes. First up, it's a Mike Vail 1976 Topps rookie card. And what an amazin' future that awaits Vail, fresh off his MLB record setting rookie consecutive game hitting streak record. Who the hell needs Rusty Staub any more, who's now popped up twice in this thread? [fIMG=555]https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1976/Topps---Base/655/Mike-Vail.jpg?id=77033b7d-e46a-4fd2-9ce0-6588c7382eaa&size=original[/fIMG] And then, it's a 2018 Typewriter Chewing Gum Mets total team set card (Code Name: Puppet, Pauper, Pirate, Poet, Pawn, King) of Kevin Kaczmarski. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49106229882_0f0c98e4a3_c.jpg> This has been a Mark Goodson Bill Todman production. All prizes courtesy of Dicker & Dicker of Beverly Hills.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 24 2019 11:03 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 24 2019 01:43 PM

Up until his first full season at (AAA) Tulsa, Keith Hernandez's approach to hitting had always been simply to ensure that all of his batting techniques and mechanics were in order. But then, one of Keith's Tulsa teammates took an interest in the young up and comer and began mentoring Keith in the finer points of hitting -- teaching Keith that the battle between hitter and pitcher wasn't one-sided -- that the opposing pitchers had plans, strategies for retiring hitters, and that it wasn't gonna be enough for Keith just to focus on his swing. Keith was gonna have to begin to study the pitchers themselves, and to learn their pitches and other tendencies if he was gonna get ahead. It was a revelation to young Keith. Keith's mentor also introduced him to scotch liquor, the baseball player's choice drink, because it was relatively odorless and so wouldn't be detected by any nosy managers. Plus scotch was usually mixed with either water or club soda, which, according to Keith's mentor, had a healthy hydrating effect. So who was this AAA mentor who taught Keith how to hit like a pro and to get drunk more efficiently? Once again, think Mets connection. And here's another hint: it's not Mike Vail.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 24 2019 12:51 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 24 2019 01:43 PM

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=27090 time=1574618594 user_id=68] Up until his first full season at (AAA) Tulsa, Keith Hernandez's approach to hitting had always been simply to ensure that all of his batting techniques and mechanics were in order. But then, one of Keith's Tulsa teammates took an interest in the young up and comer and began mentoring Keith in the finer points of hitting -- teaching Keith that the battle between hitter and pitcher wasn't one-sided -- that the opposing pitchers had plans, strategies for retiring hitters, and that it wasn't gonna be enough for Keith just to focus on his swing. Keith was gonna have to begin to study the pitchers themselves, and to learn their pitches and other tendencies if he was gonna get ahead. It was a revelation to young Keith. Keith's mentor also introduced him to scotch liquor, the baseball player's choice drink, because it was relatively odorless and so wouldn't be detected by any nosy managers. Plus scotch was usually mixed with either water or club soda, which, according to Keith's mentor, had a healthy hydrating effect. So who was this AAA mentor who taught Keith how to hit like a pro and to get drunk more efficiently? Once again, think Mets connection. And here's another hint: it's not Mike Vail.

Keith's AAA Tulsa stint was a promotion. For Keith's mentor, though, it was a demotion.

kcmets Nov 24 2019 01:36 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Keith Hernandez booze mentor... hmmm. I always thought vodka was the odorless liquor of choice.

G-Fafif Nov 24 2019 02:32 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Ken Boyer?

batmagadanleadoff Nov 24 2019 04:17 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

=G-Fafif post_id=27097 time=1574631175 user_id=55]Ken Boyer?

No, but Boyer and Keith's mentor were major league teammates.

MFS62 Nov 24 2019 05:00 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Jeff Torborg? Later

batmagadanleadoff Nov 24 2019 05:50 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

=MFS62 post_id=27100 time=1574640043 user_id=60] Jeff Torborg? Later

We're looking for a pitcher.

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 24 2019 06:17 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Dick Selma was Keith's drinking teacher

batmagadanleadoff Nov 24 2019 06:42 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz Edited 3 time(s), most recently on Nov 25 2019 10:46 AM

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Dick Selma was Keith's drinking teacher Winner, winner! Chicken dinner! Selma and Boyer were Mets teammates on Wes Westrum's '66 and '67 Mets. Selma, like Vail, never did get to play a single major league game for the St. Louis Cardinals. Selma was a flamethrower who had his peak fastball while he was in the Mets org. Some though that Selma was the hardest throwing pitcher in the entire Mets system which would be some accomplishment under any circumstances, but especially then, when you consider the other pitchers under Met contract. Here's a '67 Topps Selma, and a '67 Topps Boyer to complete the match -- your prizes. [IMG]https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1967/Topps---Base/386/Dick-Selma.jpg?id=a7e7f288-58e3-4582-a20b-ed6b1ef641bb&size=original[/IMG] [IMG]https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1967/Topps---Base/105/Ken-Boyer.jpg?id=46f8f160-f186-45e0-b709-619a66233481&size=original[/IMG] And as a bonus, that 2018 Typewriter Chewing Gum (Code Name: Puppet, Pauper, Pirate, Poet, Pawn, King) of Amed Rosario, that I owe you from the 2020 Yoenis thread. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49120205267_f8eed70e82_c.jpg>

MFS62 Nov 24 2019 07:20 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

IIRC, Selma was sent packing by the Mets when he underwent surgery on his own, without the consent of the Mets. Later

Edgy MD Nov 25 2019 09:12 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Now, suddenly, it's hard to look at that Selma card and not pick up a whiff of scotch.

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 25 2019 09:52 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

I'm into the 2018 set even more than Batman 2019 cards, I think. Signed, Roger Kaputnik

batmagadanleadoff Nov 25 2019 10:57 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: I'm into the 2018 set even more than Batman 2019 cards, I think. Signed, Roger Kaputnik Great to hear, Roger. Pick a 2018 Met. Any 2018 Met. (Except Matz) Foom!

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 25 2019 12:08 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Well as you know, my favorite 2018 Met was a "ty" between Robert Gsellman and Ty Kelly, so I'll take em both

Edgy MD Nov 25 2019 12:12 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Ty Kelly is killing it more and more with his online humor, staking out a spot somewhere in the overlap area of self-deprecating, deadpan, droll, ironic, and situational. I think he has a book on the way.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 25 2019 12:15 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Well as you know, my favorite 2018 Met was a "ty" between Robert Gsellman and Ty Kelly, so I'll take em both Hey! Two for Tuesday's tomorrow! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49123581256_9cfda44fed_c.jpg> https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49123581276_16c6592459_c.jpg>

batmagadanleadoff Nov 25 2019 12:17 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Well as you know, my favorite 2018 Met was a "ty" between Robert Gsellman and Ty Kelly, so I'll take em both Hey! Two for Tuesday's tomorrow! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49123581256_9cfda44fed_c.jpg> https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49123581276_16c6592459_c.jpg> _________________ Edgy MD wrote: Ty Kelly is killing it more and more with his online humor, staking out a spot somewhere in the overlap area of self-deprecating, deadpan, droll, ironic, and situational. I think he has a book on the way. Now you know where Ty got his sense of humor from.

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 25 2019 12:18 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

These are fun

batmagadanleadoff Nov 25 2019 12:22 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: These are fun Yeah. I started off playing these kinda straight. But after about two or three, I got bored and they sorta took off a little bit.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 01 2019 10:24 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

And as a bonus, that 2018 Typewriter Chewing Gum (Code Name: Puppet, Pauper, Pirate, Poet, Pawn, King) of Amed Rosario, that I owe you from the 2020 Yoenis thread. [fimg=333]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49120205267_f8eed70e82_c.jpg[/fimg] We tinkered with the Rosario release and instead, decided to go with regional cards. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49156071151_9514fa7220_c.jpg> https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49155582178_24abf12309_c.jpg> https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49155582218_58df1591e1_c.jpg>

MFS62 Dec 02 2019 08:25 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Fun with a repetitive redundancy. Later

Edgy MD Dec 02 2019 10:38 AM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

Good use of Ice Cream Guy in row two.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 02 2019 02:09 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quiz

=MFS62 post_id=27359 time=1575300307 user_id=60] Fun with a repetitive redundancy.

You'll be very happy to know that I did some Matz cards, thus completing the 2018 Puppet, Pauper, Pirate, Poet, Pawn, King set.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 03 2020 01:10 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quizzes

So our boy in Tulsa AAA is one uptight dude on the inside, taking the game home with him every night and working his mind every which way over the finest details -- agonizing over pretty much everything. He needs a relaxer. And he discovers one. As fate would have it, his roommate has access to the finest pot Keith would ever smoke in his life. A coupl'a hits of this stuff and Keith's suddenly in nirvana. And that's what Keith does to mellow out. A few hits, laid out on the living room carpet and listening straight through an album side of his favorite rock and roll album to mellow out to. What album does Keith mellow out to in AAA?

Johnny Lunchbucket Jan 03 2020 01:24 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quizzes

Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon

batmagadanleadoff Jan 03 2020 01:29 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quizzes

[FIMG=666]https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-x9mj03usar/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/195/448/R-9296607-1479032194-2661.jpeg__94428.1518053968.jpg?c=2&imbypass=on[/FIMG] That's what I'd be listening to in 1973 if I had older tastes. How'd you know that?

batmagadanleadoff Jan 03 2020 01:33 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quizzes

[FIMG=666]https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-x9mj03usar/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/195/448/R-9296607-1479032194-2661.jpeg__94428.1518053968.jpg?c=2&imbypass=on[/FIMG] That's what I'd be listening to in 1973 if I had older tastes. How'd you know that? I actually remember what I was listening to in 1973. I wore this record out. [FIMG=666]https://c8.alamy.com/comp/EJRNJ2/american-graffiti-film-soundtrack-album-EJRNJ2.jpg[/FIMG]

Johnny Lunchbucket Jan 03 2020 01:54 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quizzes

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=29229 time=1578083349 user_id=68] That's what I'd be listening to in 1973 if I had older tastes. How'd you know that?

I read the book!

batmagadanleadoff Jan 03 2020 01:57 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quizzes

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: =batmagadanleadoff post_id=29229 time=1578083349 user_id=68] That's what I'd be listening to in 1973 if I had older tastes. How'd you know that? I read the book!

How does it end?





Alright, you know the drill. Pick a Met from 2018. Any Met.

Johnny Lunchbucket Jan 03 2020 02:31 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quizzes

How about the resplendent free agent acquisition, Anthony Swarzak

Frayed Knot Jan 03 2020 03:01 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quizzes

[FIMG=300]https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-ydriczk/images/stencil/608x608/products/55162/55007/ss2762981_-_photograph_of_george_c_scott_as_gen_george_s_patton_jr_from_patton_available_in_4_sizes_framed_or_unframed_buy_now_at_starstills__34981__60451.1394491490.jpg?c=2[/FIMG] Hernandez, you magnificent bastard, I READ YOUR BOOK!! And, besides, has anyone ever listened to 'Dark Side' while NOT stoned?

batmagadanleadoff Jan 03 2020 05:19 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quizzes

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: How about the resplendent free agent acquisition, Anthony Swarzak The 2018 Anthony Swarzak collection: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49325026502_d3a9970077_c.jpg> https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49324328348_92d850807c_c.jpg>

Johnny Lunchbucket Jan 03 2020 08:57 PM Re: The Keith Hernandez Quizzes

Lol