By Paul Casey Gotham
****Remember, try this without research. Make like Wally, and release your inner James Joyce. Show us your stream of consciousness as you try to decipher the answer.
You probably won’t recognize me from my lifetime stats. They are pretty non-descript. Not too many people I know make a big deal about a .247 lifetime hitter. Sheesh, my lifetime on base percentage was .354. That’s not exactly Cooperstown material. Pretty bad when you consider there are guys who actually have better career batting averages than my OBP. I was a first round pick though – fourth overall in the draft. Can you believe it? I made it work for 17 seasons. I was at the top of some infamous categories. I led my position in errors committed one year and was in the top five six other seasons. Yeah, I had my demons on and off the field. Believe it or not, I played in four all-star games. I guess if you had to find a positive stat for me, I led the league in walks and sacrifice flies in one season. Not bad huh? Despite all that, I played 37 post-season games with two different teams. I knew my way along Route 70. I had 143 plate appearances in October. One year, you might have even called me Mr. October. How many guys in the history of the game can claim to being awarded a league championship series MVP and a World Series MVP in the same season? That should narrow the list for you. I am one of those guys. In fact, I might be the only guy at my positon to achieve that feat.
Who am I?
Thanks for another brain-teaser, Casey. I-70 is the major clue on this one … with the World Series and LCS MVP being a close second. That road happens to connect Kansas City to St Louis, so this player represented the Royals in their heyday back inthe 80’s when they won the WS and also the St Louis Cardinals. So I rack my brain thinking about a clutch post-season hero who played for both teams back then, and in my subconscious I see a catcher wearing coke-bottle glasses. And since you mention it, this guy had some demons (drugs) and died still a young man from that addiction I believe. His name is Darrell Porter, former catcher for KC and St Louis. That’s my final answer.
I was going to say Terry Pendleton, until I read Wally’s answer. Pendleton won a league MVP, though, so I’m sure that would have been a clue, and I don’t think he walked frequently enough to have an OBP 100 points higher than his batting average.
So, as usual, Wally’s probably right.
I am not going to comment on whether the answer is right or wrong. I know there are a few others out there that are reading.
You know how Holiday Inn has that ad campaign about being smarter because a person stayed the night in their hotel? For example, “Are you a doctor? No, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night.”
Wally and Chas – do you feel a little smarter because of the WAI process? Do you feel like your neurons fire a little better because you chose to start your day reading and responding to the WAI? Are Wednesdays a more productive day at work for you? Just wondering if I should use this as a promotion. Maybe I could market this approach to some companies and increase readership. Yes, I am being a little tongue in cheek.
But Pendleton didn’t play for KC, right Chas?
Casey, all I know is that I spring out of bed every Wed morning and try to get a quick look at the WAI question. Then i go to the showers and ponder, shave .. and ponder, gobble some breakfast …. and ponder. Then I head to the keyboard if I think I know the answer. Otherwise, I get in the car … listen to Mike & Mike … and ponder some more. Hopefully by the time I get to the oriface, I’ve got an answer. It all can take an hour and 50 mins sometimes, but it seems more like 30 mins … and I feel the pressure cuz you guys on the right coast have a 1 hour headstart on me. It’s like the Marines … we do more before 9am (on Wednesdays) than most guys do all day!
Yes Wally, Pendleton never played for KC. But, he did play in the postseason with two different teams, and when I saw the I-70 comment, I was just thinking about the I-70 series.
I have to get the Wednesday morning thing into my regular routine, so I can (sometimes) beat Wally to the punch. I’m always reading these things knowing that Wally already commented, which usually means he already gave the answer.
We got to get out of Wally’s wheelhouse (baseball) and get to some sports where he only ALMOST knows everything. BTW, NOTHING makes me feel smarter, even the analysis and memory wracking of WAI!
Pete – your point is well-taken. I planned to make the switch from baseball to pigskin upon the completion of the World Series. Thing is, Wally’s wheelhouse is kinda is vast. Maybe we should call him Michelin.
Michelin?!?! Yeah … that’s real flattering. Smitty is a better Michelin than I am 😉
I look forward to the change in the WAI sport of emphasis. Or if you stick with baseball, try to stay away from ’67-’95 … that’s my real wheelhouse.
Didn’t you get the Todd Helton WAI? ?
Yep. So?