2020-05-25 Players who hit for the cycle in 2009

Barry Temmuz 16, 2022

Q. Who broke Ernie Banks’s record for home runs in a season by a National League rookie shortstop?

Hint: In four of his first six major league seasons, his individual WAR exceeded 6.0, averaging the best among all MLB shortstops over that period.

Hint: He is the only player in history to perform an unassisted triple play and hit for the cycle in a National League career

A. TROY TULOWITZKI [BR Wiki]

- Hit 24 HR in 2007, all while playing SS; Banks had 19 in 1954. (Neither was ROY.) Tulo’s replacement at SS in COL, Trevor Story, set the new mark at 27 in 2016.

- WAR: 2007 = 6.8;

2008 = 0.8;

2009 = 6.5;

2010 = 6.7; and

2011 = 6.2

- UTP = 29-Apr-2007; Cycle = 10-Aug-2009

FCR - Frank Stephenson, Mount Berry, Georgia

Incorrect guesses: Barry Larkin, Gary Sheffield, Garry Templeton, Javier Baez, Rafael Furcal, Dave Concepcion, Trevor Story, Ron Washington, Cal Ripken

TUESDAY

Q. What shortstop was drafted ahead of MLB stars Zack Greinke and Prince Fielder, among many others?

Hint: He has twice played on the same major league team as his brother. In one year on one of those teams, both were in the to 10 WAR contributors.

Hint: Before high school, he played in the same travel baseball league as several other players who became major leaguers.

A. MELVIN “The artist formerly known as B.J.” UPTON, Jr.* [BR Wiki]

- Drafted #2 overall in the 2002 MLB June Amateur Draft. (Click to see how many other stars were drafted that same year.)

- He and his brother Justin were both on ATL 2013-14 then in 2015 on SDP where both were in the to 10 WAR contributors on that Padres team. (Click for photo.)

- Mark Reynolds, David Wright, Michael Cuddyer, Ryan Zimmerman and Melvin’s brother Justin were in the same AAU travel program in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

- Click here for more on his name

FCR - Jeffrey Gaughn, Plymouth, Massachusetts

Incorrect guesses: Stephen Drew, Justin Upton

WEDNESDAY

Q. Who was the first Jewish player in major league baseball to join the 30/30 Club this century?

Hint: Before becoming a pro, he was a Vaquero, a Sun Devil and a Tiger.

Hint: He is the all-time career stolen base percentage leader for the Texas Rangers.

Hint: He has accepted a position with the San Diego Padres as advisor to baseball operations, but he has future Olympic plans as well.

A. IAN KINSLER [BR Wiki]

- 30/30 Club: 2009 = 31 HR + 31 SB; 2011 = 32 HR+ 30 SB, both times w/TEX. Coincidentally, these are the only times he’s reached 30 in either of these categories over his 14 year career.

- Attended Central Arizona College (Coolidge, AZ), Arizona State University(Tempe, AZ), University of Missouri (Columbia, MO)

- Successful on 80.37% of his 214 steal attempts.

- In March 2020, he obtained Israeli citizenship and joined Team Israel. The team has qualified to play baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo when they're held.

FCR - Sarah Grynpas, Toronto

Incorrect guesses: Shawn Green, Ryan Braun, Gabe Kapler, Corey Seager

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q. Whose franchise-best 27-game hitting streak lasted less than one season?

Hint: He won the only Silver Slugger Award of his fifteen-year career that same season.

Hint: Since the Colorado Rockies have existed, nine different players have won a National League batting title. He is the only one of them to be selected to the All-Star team fewer than three times.

Hint: He was nominated for the MLBPAA Heart and Hustle Award for his team one season.

Hint: He attended a high school not far from some of those of the players mentioned in Tuesday’s answer.

A. MICHAEL CUDDYER [BR Wiki]

- Hit in 27 straight G, ending on 01-Jul-2013, breaking Dante Bichette’s club record. However, with a 28-G streak ending 09-May-2014, his mark was exceeded by All-World teammate Nolan Arenado.

- AS in 2011 & 2013. (The other 8 Rockies win NL batting titles: Andres Galarraga 1993; Larry Walker 1998, 1999, 2001; Todd Helton 2000; Matt Holliday 2007; Carlos Gonzalez 2010; Justin Morneau 2014; DJ LeMahieu 2016; & Charlie Blackmon 2017.)

- Was honored in 2011 by MIN for MLBPAA’s Heart and Hustle Award. Won that year by ex-Twin Torii Hunter of LAA.

- Attended Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, whose alumni list actually includes Justin Upton.

FCR - Tom Lee, Nashville

Incorrect guesses: Larry Walker, Carlos Gonzalez. Derrek Lee, Ellis Burks

THURSDAY

Q. Who was the last second baseman to win a Gold Glove playing for Toronto?

Hint: He won the award playing for two other teams as well.

Hint: He was drafted first in the 33^rdround so decided to wait a year. The next year he was drafter ten rounds later.

Hint: He’s been an All-Star twice, but neither time for the team that drafted him twice.

A. ORLANDO HUDSON [BR Wiki]

- 2005 GG for TOR

- GGs in 2006-2007 playing for ARI; GG in 2009 playing for LAD

- Drafted by TOR in the 33^rd round of the 1996 June Draft out of high school. Attended instead Spartanburg Methodist Collegefrom where TOR took him in the 43^rd round the next year.

- AS for Ari in 2007 & LAD in 2009. Reached base in each game.

FCR - Tom Lee, Nashville

Incorrect guesses: Roberto Alomar, Darwin Barney, Jeff Kent, Manny Trillo

FRIDAY

Q. Who has the most career home runs and runs-batted-in of anyone born in his home state?

Hint: He has 140 more home runs than the only Hall of Famer born there.

Hint: Almost a Dirtbag, he chose instead to go with his 342^nd draft position.

Hint: His brother-in-law has no connection with a famous gulf.

A. JASON KUBEL [Wiki]

- Born in South Dakota w140 HR & 564 RBI.

- Sparky Anderson has 0 career HR in 572 plates appearances

- Drafted 2^ndin the 12^th round of the 2000 June Draft. Had signed a letter of intent to play at Long Beach State.

- Brother-in-law is Michael Tonkin. The Gulf of Tonkin is a famous Viet Nam War reference point.

FCR - Joe O’Neill, London, ON

Incorrect guesses: Harmon Killebrew, Roger Maris, Lloyd Moseby

SATURDAY

Q. What one-time Atlanta Brave was the first player since Rod Carew to reach base eight times in one game?

Hint: He was the first major leaguer in the 2010’s to have fifty hits in a calendar month, setting a new high mark for his team, but not his franchise.

Hint: He made no Facebook posts for more than eight years after winning the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award.

A. MELKY CABRERA [BR Bio]

- Playing for TOR, he reached base 8 X on 10-Aug-2014/ w10 PA, 3 H, 5 BB & 2 IBB in a 19-inning G. Amazingly he did not score that day and never even reached 3b. Played for ATL in 2010.

- Had 52 H in May-2012, breaking Randy Wynn’s SFG record set in 2005.

- Won the 2012 ASG MVP in his only AS appearance in his 15-year career. However, he was suspended by MLB in August of that year for PED usage and shied away from public contact for a considerable time.

FCR - Joe O’Neill, London, ON

Incorrect guesses: Brian McCann, Andrew Jones, Martin Prado

SUNDAY

Q. What one-time Roman’s name AND number could have been represented on the back of his uniform by a single Greek letter?

Hint: He got his first career hit in the majors off Greg Maddux while playing for Maddux’ old team.

Hint: He is the penultimate Orioles player to hit for the cycle and the penultimate entry in this week’s theme, chronologically speaking.

A. FELIX PIE [BR Bio]

- Though his last name is pronounced PEE-yay, it certainly looks like 🥧 to the untrained Anglo eye. His number ought to have been 3.14159 or something similar and his uniform could have just had π on the back. Born in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

- Playing for CHC, his 1^st H was a double off SDP’s Maddux on 17-Apr-2007.

- Since his cycle in 2009, the O’s Jonathan Villar hit for the cycle almost exactly 10 years later 05-Aug-2019. See week’s wrap-up for theme chronology.

FCR - Joe O’Neill, London, ON

Incorrect guesses: Pie Traynor

WEEKLY THEME – Players who hit for the cycle in 2009. No single season in the expansion has seen more.

Cabrera............ 02-Aug........... U.S. Cellular Field

Cuddyer........... 22-May........... Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

Hudson............ 13-Apr............ Dodger Stadium

Kinsler............. 15-Apr............ Rangers Ballpark in Arlington

Kubel............... 17-Apr............ Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

Pie................... 14-Aug........... Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Tulowitzki......... 10-Aug........... Coors Field

Upton............... 02-Oct............ Tropicana Field

1933 also saw 8 cycles recorded—5 of them by Hall of Famers!