Monday, February 20, 2012

Trivia Time


2012 is the 50th anniversary of a Giants World Series appearance, the first World Series appearance for the San Francisco Giants. The Giants were not successful in this series. But being in the World Series is pretty damn good, as the Texas Rangers' fans should remind themselves.

The Giants put some pretty good players on the field for this series, Willie McCovey, Tom Haller, Orlando Cepeda, a couple of Alous, and one Willie Mays. The Yanks countered with some pretty fair talent themselves, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, Yogi Berra and Elston Howard.

This is a program from Game 6 of that World Series, held at Candlestick Park on October 15, 1962. Put on your thinking caps.

What was the final score of this game?

What was the price of a ticket to sit in the lower boxes at Candlestick?

Who was the Commissioner of Baseball?

The Giants Executive Family lists five individuals. Who were they?

The Giants outfield had two players that went on to manage Major League baseball teams. Who were they and what teams did they manage?

Who got three hits in this game, and who was the winning and losing pitcher?

Who was the Giants' equipment manager?

The Giants had one pitcher not born is the United States of America. Name him.

No problem advertising cigarettes in 1962. The full page Marlboro advertisement features a long, lean cowboy enjoying a smoke. Marlboro's tag line was, "You get a lot to like - ________ (fill in the blank)"

WSTF (formerly Nasdaq, now privately owned). What was it in 1962?

What was the Giants record against the hated dodgers in 1962?

The Yankees had two pitchers who were recipients of the Cy Young Award. The 1962 Giants also had two pitchers who would win Cy Youngs. Name these four men (hint: one Giant was not on the World Series Roster).

Harrah's Tahoe - swingin' place in 1962. Name the performers advertised as appearing from September 27 through November 25 (Yes, you've heard of them).

What was the dollar value of the winner's share?

Answers and more in the near future.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

I'll be happiest when the ink dries

Andrew Baggarly is no longer with the San Jose Mercury-News and no longer writes Extra Baggs. He's now with CSN-Bay Area and he penned a little piece about my favorite off-season topic.

Matt Cain needs an extension. Giants: get it done!

--M.C.

Monday, February 13, 2012

By the numbers

World Series odds have been posted. The Giants come in at 16-to-1, the eighth best of thirty teams. The Phillies are number one (6/1), followed by the Angels and Yankees (13/2), Tigers (8/1), Rangers (9/1), Red Sox (12/1), and Marlins (15/1).

Let's see, statistics has always been a weak spot for me, so I think that "16-to-1" means that if they played 17 games then the Giants would win 16 of them! Awesome! What a great team. Wait--what's that? Oh, it means that if there were 16 teams in the league then the Giants would be one of them. Hmm, that doesn't sound very good. I know, they are betting odds, so that must mean that if I bet a dollar on the Giants that I'll win sixteen bucks!! Now we're talking. Time to scrounge up some cash! OK, OK, I'm doing a wikipedia search and it says that if they played the season 1,000 times the Giants would be the champs 160 times. Better get cracking, that's a lot of World Series lawn gnomes I'll have to buy. Maybe I can use my winnings!

Tell me, O My Brothers, what does "16-to-1" mean to you?

--M.C.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Pitchers and Catchers Report in Ten Days

Ain't it grand? Can't hardly wait, me buckos. Baseball is almost here!

Drop us a line, eh? Chime in. Tell us how you're feeling. Talk amongst yourselves.

Me? Thanks for asking. I'm pretty stoked about the 2012 team.


--M.C.