Quiz – Seinfeld hitters

HHS reader with the moniker “Insert Name Here” was lamenting that a recent quiz was too easy, and was pining for something really challenging as in days past. So, just for INH, here’s something a bit harder.

The 12 players in this quiz have achieved a hitting feat related to the television series Seinfeld. This has been accomplished only 13 times in the game-searchable era, so one of the twelve has done it twice.

Can you figure out what that accomplishment might be?

Click on the link below to see the list of players and get started on your sleuthing.

Congratulations to Richard Chester! He identified that these are the only players since 1918 to compile a 0-0-0-0 box score line in a game with 5 or more PAs. Like Seinfeld, a game about “nothing” (at least as far as the box score is concerned).

So, here  they are – some all-time greats, other top stars, and some other guys. So what has each of them achieved that no other player has ever done?

Have fun.

 

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Dalton M
12 years ago

Not sure, but I’m willing to bet they were all sponge-worthy

DaveR
DaveR
12 years ago

They all hit yada yada yada, and had bisque.

TheGoof
TheGoof
12 years ago
Reply to  Doug

Nada, nada, nada?

MikeD
MikeD
12 years ago
Reply to  DaveR

…and the bisque was the best part.

Bix
Bix
12 years ago

Scoring on a triple and an error (and not an inside-the-park homerun), a la Paul O’Neill in the birthday card episode?

Evan
Evan
12 years ago
Reply to  Bix

They’d have to catch a fly ball in their hat too.

Tmckelv
Tmckelv
12 years ago
Reply to  Bix

That was my first thought – a HR and a Triple/Error scoring play.

Mr. Marbles!?!?

Bix
Bix
12 years ago

(Perhaps while also hitting another homer in the same game).

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago

Does it have something to do with getting 5 BB in a game?

Vinnie
Vinnie
12 years ago

Five walks without scoring a run.

Vinnie
Vinnie
12 years ago

Or having another at bat. All zeros plus five walks.

Tristram12
Tristram12
12 years ago
Reply to  Vinnie

I believe you are correct.

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago

They had 5 PA and 0 AB.

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago

And no runs scored or RBIs.

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago

And Bonds did it twice.

Jason Z
12 years ago

Were they all wearing cotton uniforms during there five walk games?

It is a natural fiber.

Josh
Josh
12 years ago

Did they also score the winning run?

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago
Reply to  Doug

I remembered that Hersh Martin is one of a bunch of Yankees with 5 walks in a game. That set the whole thing in motion. When you mentioned that there were 60 players with 5 PA and 0 AB, I went to the PI and got those 60 players. Then I sorted by each column in ascending and descending orders. When I sorted by R in ascending order I saw 14 lines with 0 runs, the 13 from your list plus one other, I forgot who. This other player was the only one with an RBI. I knew nothing about… Read more »

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago
Reply to  Doug

I’d better do some brushing up!

nightfly
12 years ago

It might be difficult to come up with quizzes that don’t involve the Yankees. They’ve been around for a while with a reasonable track record.

Maybe NL-only quizzes…

Larry
Larry
12 years ago

Do intentional walks enter into th picture?

Larry
Larry
12 years ago

IIRC, bases loaded intentional walks have been very rare – I think less than 10 times in MLB history

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago
Reply to  Larry

I know of 3 bases loaded intentional walks. They are Nap Lajoie on 5-23-01, Bill Nicholson on 7-23-44 and Mel Ott on 10-5-29. Actually Ott’s was a semi-intentional walk. It occurred in the final game of the year for the Phils who were playing Ott’s Giants. Going into that game Chuck Klein was leading the NL in HR with 43 to Ott’s 42. After Ott got a hit in his first AB Phils manager Burt Shotton ordered his pithers to issue semi-intentional walks to Ott regardless of how many runners were on base. Ott received 5 walks in all. The… Read more »

Mike L
Mike L
12 years ago

Richard, I have a distinct memory of reading an interview with Tom Seaver in which he said that in almost all circumstances, there was always an open base if the hitter were dangerous enough, even if that meant a base loaded intentional walk. I think what he meant was not giving in to certain hitters and giving up an “unintentional intentional walk”

BTW,if anyone is interested, I found this http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/237 from 2007, by Sean, with stunningly insightful comment by Andy

Jason Z
12 years ago

I am semi surprised that Barry Bonds was never walked intentionally with the bases loaded. Especially when
he was loaded on cattle steroids.

Doug
Doug
12 years ago
Reply to  Jason Z

Actually, Bonds did have one bases-loaded IBB, on May 28, 1998 against Arizona. Snakes were leading 8-6 in the bottom of the 9th.

Only other time (according to P-I) since 1955 was Josh Hamilton on Aug 17, 2008 against Tampa Bay, also in bottom of 9th, also trailing, this time by 7-3 count.

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago
Reply to  Doug

My PI search went back to 1948. There were no intentional bases-loaded walks between 1948 and 1954.

Dan
Dan
12 years ago

I read about Toby Harrah having a “do-nothing” accomplishment on defense as a SS with the Rangers in the early-mid 70s. As a SS he had no chances or putouts in either a game or a doubleheader with the Texas franchise.

John Autin
Editor
12 years ago

They all despised Keith Hernandez?

Each one caught a fly ball in his cap?

They had no pitching, hitting, defense, speed or leaders, but you had to like their chances?

(Dang, I wish I’d got here sooner. Had no shot at the quiz, though.)

Big Daddy V
Big Daddy V
12 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

John, you’re on the right track. They all punched Mickey Mantle.

brp
brp
12 years ago

But how many of them ate a candy bar with a knife and fork?

Lawrence Azrin
Lawrence Azrin
12 years ago
Reply to  brp

Are you pushing George Costanza for the MLB HOF? What’s his WAR-FOG (Wins Above Replacement-Front Office Guy)?

Jason Z
12 years ago
Reply to  Lawrence Azrin

We could ask George himself, only he is sleeping under his desk. Big lunch at Paisano’s. Those calzone’s are huge.

Lawrence Azrin
Lawrence Azrin
12 years ago
Reply to  Jason Z

Were the calzones with cheese, pepperoni and eggplant? How is George going to get all the Yankees autographs on the birthday card for that poor little kid in the hospital,if he’s sleeping?

brp
brp
12 years ago
Reply to  Lawrence Azrin

I dunno, but I hear he’s in Houston… something about a “Jerk Store”…

Insert Name Here
Insert Name Here
12 years ago

Man, this was a good one. Too bad my vacationing gets in the way of visiting HHS…