The Blue Jays are on the verge of locking down their ticket to the postseason while the Yankees come in for a visit. All eyes are on this series from around the league, with Aaron Judge one donger shy of tying the American League record. The media camera bays at the Rogers Centre are packed to the gills. Roger Maris Jr. is sitting close to home plate. There was wild speculation that professional ball-hawker and amateur ball-stealer Zack Hample had bought an entire section of left-field seats (thankfully, he’s actually not in town for the series).
After the first game of the series, Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman noted the “weirdness” of the game-use baseballs being swapped out during Aaron Judge’s at-bats. The Judge-specific balls are individually numbered for authentication purposes. (It’s probably not much, but I’d be curious to know how much the pace of play is affected by this.)
I understand why the baseball tagging needs to be done, and I suppose it’s yet another reminder that this sport is also a business, and by extension, a sort of intellectual property that must be protected. What Aaron Judge has accomplished this season, up to this point, is remarkable and that cannot be disputed. But the commodification of a moment like this feels like it’s less organic (however you define this).
So to answer the question, how can you not be romantic about baseball? Here’s one way.
— JY
#quizdishman
Ten pitchers in MLB history have recorded 28+ saves in 9+ different seasons. Name the three pitchers who spent the majority of their careers playing for a California-based team. (For this question, “majority” means more seasons playing for that team than all other seasons combined.)
Ten goaltenders in NHL history have recorded 28+ wins in 9+ different seasons. Only two of them are one-club players. Both had their numbers retired by their respective clubs within a month of each other, and they are from bordering countries. Who are they?
The #28 is not commonly worn in basketball, but two players did it for their entire 12-year NBA careers. Both were centres who were drafted 28th overall. One was involved in two different trades for members of the 1992 Dream Team, and the other is ranked fifth all-time in games played by a French-born player. Who are they?
What player, born Robert Earl Moore, wore #28 for most of his NFL career, making four Pro Bowls? Eight years after retiring from handegg, he signed a two-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a springboard to a new career, playing two minutes in a preseason game and sinking his only field goal attempt.
Answers from last week’s issue
After the 2009-10 NHL season, none of the players who won the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy, the Vézina Trophy, the Frank J. Selke Trophy, or the Calder Memorial Trophy were born in Canada. Name the players who captured the individual trophies, or name the countries the players were born in.
Henrik Sedin (Sweden) won the Hart and Art Ross, Ryan Miller (U.S.A.) won the Vézina, Pavel Datsyuk (Russia) won the Selke, and Tyler Myers (U.S.A.) won the Calder.
Among players born on September 21, the all-time NFL leader in completions (43rd all time), attempts (47th), passing yards (55th), passing TDs (74th), interceptions thrown (52nd), and times sacked (43rd) was an undrafted free agent who walked on to a NAIA Division II college team and played in the World League of American Football (before it became NFL Europe). He never won a Super Bowl and never made the Pro Bowl, but did win one individual NFL award — after throwing every single one of his team's passes over the course of a full season. Who is he?
Barcelona Dragons legend and 1997 World Bowl MVP Jon Kitna es el droide que busquem.
Of the 13 first-overall picks from the NBA Entry Drafts from 2009 to 2021, how many were not born in the United States?
In the years between 2009-2021, there have been five non-American #1 picks in the NBA: Kyrie Irving (Australia, 2011), Anthony Bennett (Canada, 2013), Andrew Wiggins (Canada, 2014), Ben Simmons (Australia, 2016), and Deandre Ayton (Bahamas, 2018).
Roger Clemens wore #21 for his first 15 years in the major leagues, first for Boston and then for Toronto. What two numbers did he wear for the rest of his major league service time of nine years?
Roger Clemens wore #12 initially when he joined the New York Yankees and eventually switched to the #22 that he became more known for. #21 was already occupied by the legendary Paul O’Neill, a number that was retired for him earlier this season.
Clemens also wore #22 when he joined the Astros because it was being worn by…his former Yankees rotation mate Andy Pettitte. Like, WTF, Andy.
#postscript
Many thanks to Cris Dishman for being named his name and to you for being named your name, unless your name is Adrian Wojnarowski for your ham-fisted “coverage” (read: information-mongering) of the Ime Udoka suspension. There’s so much about how the news broke — and the public reaction to limited details — that is disappointingly (and not surprisingly) gross and undignified.
Until next week, be the Ezequiel Carrera you wish to see in the world.
— DJ/JY