A Baseball Buff's Challenge

BY KEN RAMSTEAD

WHILE HOCKEY is certainly our national sport, baseball has long been our national pastime. Baseball even influences what we say, as you well know if you've ever touched base with someone, been thrown a curve by an unexpected development, struck out on a big date or taken a rain check.

Are you a baseball buff? Do you live with one? Step up to the plate and try this quiz. Batter up!

1

The pinnacle of the game is the World Series in October, so let's start off with this: What great player was nicknamed "Mr. October"? Pete Rose: Go to 9 Reggie Jackson: Go to 14

2

Safe at second! Damn Yankees was based on the book The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant in which a fan sells his soul to the devil for a chance to lead his team to victory over the New York Yankees. The Yankees won five straight World Series titles, before losing the pennant in 1954, the year the the book was published. Now pick a card -- any card -- at 23.

3

You're off base, although actor Charlie Sheen shelled out $93,500 for the baseball this Mets outfielder swatted to win Game Six of the 1986 World Series over the Boston Red Sox. Back to 23.

4

What movie hinges on a Faustian pact between a baseball fan and the devil? Damn Yankees: Go to 2 A League of Their Own: Go to 18

5

Going once, going twice, sold! Honus Wagner was a National League shortstop whose career spanned from 1897 to 1917. The sportscard originally could be had in packs of tobacco for pennies a pop. Go on to 15 now.

6

Ferguson Jenkins, of Chatham, Ont., and Orel Hershiser, of Buffalo, N.Y., are two of baseball's peerless pitchers. But what trophy does Jenkins have that Hershiser does not, nor ever will, have? The Cy Young Award: Go to 10 The Lou Marsh Trophy: Go to 33

7

Nope. The most expensive hockey card is only worth about $12,000 in mint condition. In 1924 defenceman Bert Corbeau played for the Toronto St. Patricks team, which later became the Maple Leafs. Go back to 23.

8

It's a home run! Murderer's Row was the batting lineup of the formidable 1927 Yankees. With the likes of the legendary Babe Ruth, who hit a record 60 homers that year, and Lou Gehrig, 1927's Most Valuable Player, the Yankees flattened the Pittsburgh Pirates four straight in the World Series. Speaking of Babe Ruth, let's try a commercial break at 31.

9

Rough start! Pete was christened Charlie Hustle for his unflaggingly energetic style of play. And from his first season with the Cincinatti Reds in 1963 to his last at bat with those same Reds in 1986, he lived up to his nickname and then some, setting career highs (4,256 hits, 3,562 games played, 15,890 plate appearances, to name a few) that will be hard to match. Start back at 1.

10

Oops. The Cy Young Award, honouring pitching excellence in the majors, has been won by both men, in 1971 and in 1988 respectively. Double back to 6.

11

Sad but true. In the "Black Sox" scandal, eight members of the heavily favoured White Sox were accused of throwing the 1919 World Series, won by the Cincinnati Reds five games to three. Acquitted in the courts, the eight were nevertheless barred from professional baseball for life. Now, if that seems long, just hop one base to 12.

12

In The Iowa Baseball Confederacy, Canadian author W. P. Kinsella writes of a fictional 1908 game that lasted a mind-boggling 2,614 innings. In real life, how long was the longest major-league game? 18 Innings: Go to 30 26 Innings: Go to 22 56 Innings: Go to 26

13

Swing and a miss, though when asked to comment on the fact that he was being paid more than U.S. President Herbert Hoover, the "Sultan of Swat" replied: "Why not? I had a better year than he did." Get back in the batter's box at 27.

14

A smokin' start! The proud owner of five World Series rings, Jackson excelled during the play-offs. In 1977, as a New York Yankee, he almost single-handedly dismantled the Los Angeles Dodgers by hitting five home runs -- three of them in Game Six alone. A real hitter's question awaits you at 27.

15

Even as hallowed an event as the World Series has been tainted with scandal. Members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of throwing the World Series in what year? 1919: Go to 11 1947: Go to 35

16

Tagged out at home. However, the 1990 Cincinnati Reds boasted relievers called the Nasty Boys. With the big bats of outfielder Billy Hatcher and third-baseman Chris Sabo, they routed the heavily favoured Oakland Athetics four games to one to claim the World Series. Try 19 again.

17

You're right over the right-field wall. The absolute concentration and rigorous approach to hitting made the "Splendid Splinter" a terror at the plate during his illustrious career with the the Boston Red Sox. On to 4.

18

A League of Their Own, the 1992 movie starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis, was based on the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League that flourished between 1943 and 1954. Remarkably, for an "All-American" league, more than ten percent of the players were Canadians, and half of those came from Saskatchewan! No delivery there, I'm afraid. Try 4 again.

19

What team could boast of a batting lineup nicknamed "Murderer's Row?" The New York Yankees: Go to 8 The Cincinnati Reds: Go to 16

20

While Jim Palmer won the Cy Young Award three times during the '70s, he gained even greater exposure with his eye-catching underwear commercials. On to 34.

21

You foul-tipped that one, though the Atlanta Braves outfielder certainly qualifies. On April 8, 1974, in front of a TV audience of 26 million, Aaron surpassed Babe Ruth's career record of 714 home runs. By the time that Aaron retired in 1976, he had run that total up to 755, a feat that will doubtless endure for some time. Take another crack at 27.

22

Fair catch! Major-league baseball's longest game, W. P. Kinsella notwithstanding, was a 1-1 slugfest between the Boston Braves and the Brooklyn Dodgers on May 1, 1920. Twenty-six innings later the game was called a draw on account of darkness. A pitcher's poser is positioned at 6.

23

The world's most expensive trading card is a Piedmont Cigarette baseball card once owned by Bruce McNall and Wayne Gretzky. It has changed hands several times since 1994, and most recently, it sold at Christie's auction house in New York for $640,000. What baseball player graces the card? A 1986 Mookie Wilson: Go to 3 A 1910 Honus Wagner: Go to 5 A 1924 Bert Corbeau: Go to 7

24

Out on a pop fly. The Dodgers' best-known nickname, stuck to them when they played in Brooklyn, was the Bums. Their real name, incidentally, comes from "trolley dodgers," fans who had to be quick and nimble to avoid the trolleys that crisscrossed Brooklyn. Retrace your steps to 19.

25

Good. Saudi Arabian teams have represented their country in the '94, '95 and '96 Little League World Series. And who knows? They just might grab the brass ring one day soon. Head for home base at 36.

26

Stee-rike! You must be thinking of New York Yankee great Joe "The Yankee Clipper" DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak. His record-breaking run stretched from May 15 to July 16, 1941. Back to the plate at 12 you go.

27

What slugger said: "All I want out of life is that when I walk down the street folks will turn and say, 'There goes the greatest hitter who ever lived'"? Babe Ruth: Go to 13 Ted Williams: Go to 17 Hank Aaron: Go to 21

28

Nope. That honour belongs to Joe DiMaggio, otherwise known as Mr. Coffee to millions of TV viewers. Try 31 again.

29

A glove with padded fingers. So long.

30

Got you with a curve ball! Eighteen innings recalls the unparalleled two-game, back-to-back no-hitters that Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Vander Meer threw on June 11 and 15, 1938, first against the Boston Braves and then against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Get back into the batter's box at 12 and try again.

31

Baltimore Orioles pitcher phenom Jim Palmer pitched what nonregulation product? Coffeemakers: Go to 28 Underwear: Go to 20

32

Although mad about baseball, Japan has not fielded a team to the Little League World Series in over a decade. Maybe next year... Head back to 34.

33

A base hit! The Lou Marsh trophy is awarded each year to the most outstanding Canadian athlete. Jenkins, who shone with the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers, earned it in 1974 while adding to his remarkable lifetime pitching record of 284 wins and 3,192 strikeouts. Let's move on to 19.

34

Baseball is not limited to North America. The Little League World Series, held each August at Williamsport, Pa., hosts participants from all over the world. What country frequently sends teams to this event? Saudi Arabia: Go to 25 Japan: Go to 32

35

Caught stealing. In 1947, after a season with the Montreal Royals in the International League, Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers became the first black man to play major-league baseball in the 20th century. Return to 15.

36

On the scoreboard at last. If you answered all questions correctly, you should have reached home in 21 steps: 1-14-27-17-4-2-23-5-15-11-12-22-6-33-19-8-31-20-34-25 and 36. How about one more turn at bat before you unlace your cleats. Baseball players all over the world have to hand it to Toronto native Arthur Irwin. What innovation did he introduce in 1882? See 29 for the answer.