Who Was I ?...Trivia

[metirish]

I never did things like others, so I'm going to do my biography backwards for this week's question.

I'm currently retired from baseball. My last few jobs were doing some weekly radio reports, and before that, a minor league instructor for the Chicago Cubs, where I tell my outfielders to "Do what I say, and not what I do", because I once defied my manager and left CF to play just in front of the grass behind 2B for the weak hitting pitcher Ryne Duren (he struck out).

I did some announcing before that, and "Holy Cow" did I have a good partner to team up with while doing the Chicago White Sox games in the 1970's. I played the game hard, and expected others to do so also. Because of this, I always seemed to be involved in something controversial, like kicking a fan in the ass when he ran out into my CF territory in Yankee stadium (I was with the Indians), or getting into a fight with legendary brawlster Billy Martin (under the grandstand in 1952). Yeah, I was a real character. As a matter of fact, I appeared once on the "I Love Lucy" t.v. show, and also had a movie made about me with Anthony Perkins playing myself.

I ended my career in '67 with CAL, spent some time with CLE from ''62 - '59, and played eight years with BOS, starting in '50. My career numbers were .272 avg, 811 R, 104 Hr, 591 RBI, and 115 SB, but more importantly a .988 fielding percentage, as I was tops in the game at my position in the outfield.

[Guest iramets]

You're Jimmy Piersall, you nut you.

Am I supposed to come up with another who-am-I? now, or do I simply collect some fabulous prize, or what?

[metirish]

Yes another who am I,thought that one would last for a bit....

[Guest iramets]

Hey, I was asleep almost the whole time that was posted--otherwise I would have answered it as soon as you finished typing it.

I hit two game-winning HRs in one World Series against the Yankees, one of them an inside-the-park job with two outs in the ninth, and went on to a long and distinguished managerial career. I share with only two other people the honor of having been ejected from a game as a player and a manager in six calendar decades. I was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1966, and I died in 1975, which may account for why I feel so tired.

[stevejrogers]

iramets wrote: Hey, I was asleep almost the whole time that was posted--otherwise I would have answered it as soon as you finished typing it. I hit two game-winning HRs in one World Series against the Yankees, one of them an inside-the-park job with two outs in the ninth, and went on to a long and distinguished managerial career. I share with only two other people the honor of having been ejected from a game as a player and a manager in six calendar decades. I was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1966, and I died in 1975, which may account for why I feel so tired.

The Old Professor, ironically one you consider overated Ira, or at least his ability to see how untalented a player may be! Casey Stengel

Here is a new one

Well I was a Bronx Bomber for a year, but by some quirk I ended up being one of a handfull of Yankees since 1923 never to call Yankee Stadium my home!

Well, I came with much fanfare, but to be honest, I guess guys like Reggie, Winfield and ARod can comiserate with me when it comes to what I went through in NY. Ah well, while I did put up some good numbers, .270 BA, 32 HRs and 85 RBIs, it wasn't quite what folks were expecting, and Lord knows I wasn't making it easier for fans missing the fella I ended up replacing. Lord willing though he won't join me where I am now though for many, many years to come, knock on wood.

After my only year in pinstripes, I was a vangabound, but still put up decent stats, but my legacy is probably something different alltogether, one that is still being played out.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

You are Bobby Bonds.

I was born in Buffalo. I once led the Mets in wins. I pitched in three playoff games for the Mets without surrendering a run. Who the hell am I?

[MFS62]

] left CF to play just in front of the grass behind 2B for the weak hitting pitcher Ryne Duren (he struck out).

I remember that game. Even though "closers" (no such term then) pitched more than one inning in those days, I was wondering why Duren was batting. He had "coke bottle thick" glasses and if the opposing pitcher threw at Ryne's head, I doubted if he would have been able to see the ball in time to get out of the way. No wonder you said "weak hitting".

Later

[Guest iramets]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: You are Bobby Bonds. I was born in Buffalo. I once led the Mets in wins. I pitched in three playoff games for the Mets without surrendering a run. Who the hell am I?

Is your middle name "Leonard Quinton"? That'll help me narrow it down.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I'm the only Met pitcher born in Buffalo who didn't throw with his left hand, how's that?

[Guest iramets]

Do you have some list of "Mets By Their Birthplaces" or something?

Are your brothers named Anel and Genitel?

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Just make a guess and let's keep the quizzz moving. You were pretty f'in close already

[Guest iramets]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: Just make a guess and let's keep the quizzz moving. You were pretty f'in close already

I'm toying with you, m'boy.

But since you're so snappish this foine marnin', I'll go the front of the class, clear my throat, and say "It's Orel Hershiser," and get back in my seat.

Now: I was born on Christmas day in the town of Waco Texas way before it became famous in Bill Clinton's legend and I threw 10 shutouts for the Mets in my career.

[MFS62]

iramets wrote: Now: I was born on Christmas day in the town of Waco Texas way before it became famous in Bill Clinton's legend and I threw 10 shutouts for the Mets in my career.

"L'il" Al Jackson. My favorite all-time Met.

Does this mean I get to ask one?

"I was born in a city named after a Queen. An infielder, I was traded by the Mets and once hit 30 home runs for the team to which I was traded."

Later

[Guest iramets]

You are Felix "The Spastic, Clumsy Cat" Mantilla.

I, OTOH, am a Mets outfielder who batted .302 in my (partial) rookie year, emboldening the Mets front-office to order a HOF plaque for me and swap out their best hitting OFer, at which point I promptly went into the tank and drowned. I still hold a Mets' record.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

You are Mike Vail.

I was a former first round draft pick and briefly, a New York Met. My son was a first-round draft pick and a rookie of the year, making us the only father-son combo to be chosen in the 1st round. Who the devil am I?

[Guest sharpie]

You are Sandy Alomar.

I'll do one in a minute.

[TransMonk]

You're Anna Benson!

[Guest sharpie]

I was born in Houston and ended my career in Houston. I won 5 games for the Mets over three seasons but will forever be remembered for something other than those 5 wins.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Hey, time out. I'm not Sandy Alomar!

[Willets Point]

TransMonk wrote: You're Anna Benson!

Score a bullet of cool for the Monk.

[Guest sharpie]

OK, if you're not Sandy Alomar you are probably Tom Grieve.

[TransMonk]

Anthony Young...

Some people call me the space cowboy, some call me the ganster of love. I tied for the Mets lead in hit-by-pitch in 2002.

[Centerfield]

Do some people call you Maurice (Mo) Vaughn?

[TransMonk]

Ding, ding! Correct.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Some people call me "Clambake."

[Centerfield]

I am one of the few Mets (along with Cleon Jones and Rickey Henderson) to throw with my left hand but bat from the right side at the plate.

You'd think my dad would have taught me better.

[Centerfield]

Of course, maybe his dad tried and he was just too much of a wayward son.

[Willets Point]

I'm going to guess Mark Carreon based on the huge hint.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Ah, I see.

I was sitting here wondering if there was something I had forgotten about Jesse Orosco's dad.

[Centerfield]

Carreon it is. Who are you Willets?