About the Back: Geronimo Pena finished his career with 14 three-hit games, as well as one four-hit game - June 20, 1992, when he went 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a pair of runs in a 6-1 St. Louis victory over the Mets.
Triple Play:
1. On August 12, 1991, Pena made baseball history after entering a Cardinals-Pirates contest as a pinch runner for Jose Oquendo in the top of the eighth inning. He stole second base and scored the tying run on Gerald Perry's single, then stayed in the game at second base and delivered a go-ahead solo home run in the 11th. Unfortunately for St. Louis, Barry Bonds spoiled Pena's unique heroics with a walkoff two-run homer in the bottom of that inning.
2. Geronimo reached base in each of his first eight plate appearances in 1993, collecting three walks, four singles, and a home run.
3. Injuries helped shorten his career, as he topped 100 games only once and was out of baseball after the 1996 season.
11-Year-Old Kevin Says: I'm not sure how long it took me to learn that Pena's first name wasn't pronounced like the Apache leader, but instead with an 'h' sound at the beginning.
Bill James Said: (Of the Cardinals' second-base battle between Luis Alicea and Geronimo...) "The real problem isn't that they can't play; the problem is that Torre can't decide." Just another reminder that Joe Torre wasn't highly regarded as a manager until he started winning World Series in the Bronx.
On This Date in 1993: November 2. Duets, an album featuring a 77-year-old Frank Sinatra collaborating with other prominent musicians, is released. Sinatra did not actually perform alongside his partners, instead recording his parts in advance and having the guests tailor their pieces to his recorded vocals.
100% Shea, I'd know those plexiglass bullpens anywhere.
ReplyDeleteAnd Franky does what Franky wants, baby.
Max - I always imagine Sinatra as played by Phil Hartman: "You don't scare me, pal. I got chunks a' guys like you in my stool!"
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