Correctly answer a multi-part St. Louis Cardinals-related trivia question and win a free 2011 World Series Champions Collectors Edition DVD Set from The Cardinal Nation Blog and A+E Networks Home Entertainment/MLB Productions.
This is the fourth in our series of St. Louis Cardinals-related trivia questions here at The Cardinal Nation Blog. Before responding, please familiarize yourself with the complete contest rules (follow the link) to ensure your entry will qualify.
The reader who posts the first complete and correct answer below will win a free copy of The 2011 World Series Champions Collectors Edition DVD Set, courtesy of A+E Networks Home Entertainment/MLB Productions.
The 2011 World Series Champions Collectors Edition DVD Set includes all seven complete World Series games plus a bonus DVD. This box set includes alternate St. Louis Cardinals radio network play-by-play and features over 20 hours of game action.
The eighth disc includes extras like all the regular season walk-off winners, individual milestone plays by Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday, the highlights, last out and celebration at each winning level of the playoffs, the trophy presentations from the NLCS and World Series and a ride with David Freese at the Victory Parade. This eight-disc set retails for $56.99.
Here is your trivia question. Note that it has multiple parts, all of which must be answered correctly. Only one answer per person is allowed.
30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season is considered the gold standard for a balance of power and speed for a major leaguer.
38 MLB players have been 30-30 players at least once in their MLB career, yet the St. Louis Cardinals have never been represented in that elite club.
Which Cardinal came the closest to having a 30-30 season and in what year?
(Thanks to Tom Orf for researching this question.)
Good luck to everyone and please remember to read the rules before answering. And if you don’t win this time, check back for new trivia questions to be posted at random times this week.
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So unfair…….want the Blue Ray,
I see it’s not a part of this question….
Today, we can unleash Shane against the LHP. Get him and Greene at the top of the lineup.
Ray Lankford 1998, 31 home runs ,26 stolen bases.
LarryBird scores!
This question lasted the longest yet, about 16 hours. Of course, most of the time was overnight…
In 1998, Ray Lankford had the Cardinals only 25-25 season ever when he finished with 31 long balls and 26 swipes. In fact, Lankford was the best Cardinal ever in this category in quantity as well. He logged five of the team’s nine 20-20 seasons, including four in a row from 1995-1998.
Others with one 20-20 season are Fernando Tatis (1999), Reggie Sanders (2004), Brian Jordan (1995) and Lou Brock (1967).
Ray was caught 5 five times trying to swipe. If he were more efficient, oh what could have been. We should have cut him then
Ray may be one of the most underrated Cardinals of all time.
Lankford had the misfortune of playing on mediocre teams, hardly any post seasons. He also was always outshined by somebody- Jordan, Whiten, Big Mac, even Will Clark. Solid and consistent, good power, lots of Ks.
He doesn’t count, of course, but Bobby Bonds had one of his 30/30 seasons the year *before* the Cards got him for the 1980 season. I spent almost a whole decade hoping the Cards would get Bobby Bonds, and when we finally did, he bombed totally.
No batting gloves either. Just needs the exposed stirrups.
Talking about MC and the game today of course.
Berkman and Freese need to get better asap, let they find themselves on the bench, watching Matt Carpenter on Leno.
With all the money associated with MLB, it is refreshing Carpenter signed for $1,000, as a 5th year college senior with no negotiating leverage. He signed in June 2009 and rocketed up to the majors in only 2.5 years. Hard to believe he was not more highly coveted by scouts coming out of TCU, but fortunately the Cards did not regard him as too old.
Why did Matt Carpenter not go higher in the draft? He must have been regarded as not great defensively at 3B. And for a corner infielder, he did not drive the ball. And he lost one year to injury and must have wanted to finish a college degree, so was older than most amateurs.
As a pro, he has learned to drive the ball more. He seems determined, willing to play any position they need. Maybe he has improved defensively at 3B too, via hard work.
Carpenter has not been publicized as a prospect, any more than was Freese or Craig, but he looks like a promising ML hitter, nonetheless.
What are we going to do with ML contract boy Cox?
Since this is a big week for trivia, do you know which player led the Cardinals system in hits last season (sorry, no prize attached)?
Schmalbert, 173. In the minors, I’d guess contract boy with 158.
Cox is going to work at AAA. We do nothing with him. Having depth is not a problem.
It may be refreshing that a low bonus player can make but not sure what is refreshing about the fact he only got $1000. I’m sure Carpenter doesn’t find that refreshing.
Carpenter is going to make millions. He does not care what his signing bonus was.
As I understand it, Giants closer Wilson is out and will have TJ surgery – again. Anybody know examples of other pitchers to have two TJs?
This 2007 article notes only 20 percent odds of making it back from a second TJS at the same level as before. Perhaps the chances have improved in the five years since…
Thanks for the link, Brian. Interesting. Lets hope Wainy hasn’t/won’t push too hard too soon. Lets also hope he has ‘good ligaments’.