Saturday, December 22, 2018

Baseball Sheep 2018 - Results and Winners!


The Sheep have come home to roost! 

I want to thank everyone for entering the contest this year -- I was hoping for 40 entries...and we got 74!  This is one where having more people makes the results better and the game more fun, so all of your entries (even up to the very last-minute!) are much appreciated.  We had good participation from members of the TCDB, so I appreciate you all coming over to find my blog.

I cleaned up all the results and grouped them based on what I considered to be "equivalent' results.  For example, on question #1, I lumped anyone who said Skydome/Jays/Toronto under the "Rogers Centre" bucket, but I did NOT combine "Astrodome" with "Minute Maid Park" since those are different stadiums.

On some of the questions, there was substantial agreement.  On others, you guys were all over the board.  Without further ado, here are the results:

1) What is the best Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium with a roof?






Minute Maid Park 22
Miller Park 16
Rogers Centre 10
Astrodome 8
Safeco Field 8
Tropicana Field 4
Chase Field 3
Atlanta 1
Marlins Park 1
Metrodome 1

Everybody hop on the train full of oranges for a ride down to Minute Maid Park!  I can confirm that this is a great place to see a game - I saw Ichiro and the Mariners play there in June 2002, and for those steamy Houston summers, a climate-controlled stadium is essential.  


2) Name an Alou.



Moises 42
Felipe 22
Matty 6
Jesus 4

Moises, the youngest of the bunch, takes the crown here from his father and uncles.  He finished his career with 332 home runs, but the first thing I always remember from his career is this (almost) catch.

Despite what one participant wanted to put, I'm afraid there was no "Boog Alou".

3) What is the best baseball card product with no MLB team logos?



Panini Donruss 20
Donruss Optic 13
Panini Diamond Kings 9
Panini Prizm 5
Panini Cooperstown 4
Panini National Treasures 4
Panini 3
Panini Hometown Heroes 3
Panini Chronicles 2
Panini Flawless 2
Panini Immaculate Collection 2
Don't Know 1
KMart 1
None 1
Post Cereal 1
Topps Chrome 1
Topps Gypsy Queen 1
Upper Deck Signature Stars 1

There are a LOT of Panini products on here - they're really the only MLB competitors to Topps these days.  Upper Deck has given up.  Leaf is practically non-existent.  Some people won't touch these cards at all, but I like them -- I think the constraints with team licensing make them have to be a little more creative.  Except on catcher cards...all the gear covers up the logos and you can use a regular shot.  Personally, my vote was Panini Immaculate -- these cards are BEAUTIFUL.  Get on ebay or COMC and find some good ones from your favorite team.  

4) What city without a MLB team most needs one?



Montreal 34
Portland 10
Las Vegas 9
Charlotte 4
Nashville 4
San Antonio 3
Buffalo 2
Indianapolis 2
Anchorage 1
Brooklyn 1
Des Moines 1
Memphis 1
New Orleans 1
Oklahoma City 1

Our french neighbors to the north are familiar with MLB.  The city itself is just shy of 2 million people, but the metro area is 4 million.  They'll need a stadium with a roof, though...maybe go talk to Minute Maid Park to see how it's done.  

Commissioner Rob Manfred has mentioned he wants expansion.  Montreal, Vancouver, Nashville, Portland, Charlotte, Las Vegas, and Mexico were all on his short list. 

5) Budget: How much money (in cash) should you take to a card show?



$100 38
$50 11
$200 8
$500 5
$150 3
$300 3
$20 2
$40 1
$60 1
$250 1
$1,000 1

Whoever is rolling in with $1,000...can I just follow you around for the day?  :-)

$100 feels about right.  Enough that you can get several nice things from a few different tables, but not so much that you regret going.  Or, you can get 1,000 cards from the dime-boxes - that's more my style.

6) What is the most unusual name for an active MLB player?



Mookie Betts 16
Rougned Odor 6
Jarrod Saltalamacchia 5
Yasiel Puig 3
Adeiny Hechavarria 2
Odubel Herrera 2
Xander Bogaerts 2
Buck Farmer 2
Rowdy Tellez 2
Coco Crisp 2
Yoenis Cespedes 2
Mike Trout 1
Scott Blewett 1
Dat Dude 1
Gift Ngoepe 1
Melky Cabrera 1
Gleyber Torres 1
Noah Syndergaard 1
Homer Bailey 1
Asdrubal Cabrera 1
Buster Posey 1
Didi Gregrious 1
Jedd Gyorko 1
Mike Foltynewicz 1
Jesse Winker 1
Albert Pujols 1
Yandy Diaz 1
Odrisamer Despaigne 1
Dallas Keuchel 1
Rhys Hoskins 1
Bartolo Colon 1
Didi Gregorius 1
Kevin Quackenbush 1
Touki Toussaint 1
Khris Davis 1
Kung Fu Panda 1
Adalberto Mondesi 1
JJ Putz 1
Yu Darvish 1
Joc Pederson 1
Justin Smoak 1

Not only does Mookie have a good name, he's also an excellent bowler.  

I had forgotten about Kevin Quackenbush, but that's a good one!

7) Who is the best MLB Mascot?



Phillie Phanatic 52
SD Chicken 4
Orbit 3
Mr. Met 3
Bernie Brewer 2
Stomper 2
Paws 2
Sluggerrr 1
Youppi 1
Ace 1
Fredbird 1
Mr. Redlegs 1
Slider 1

It's a runaway for the Phanatic! I hear he hangs out with Gritty

8) Who is the best bunter in MLB history?


Brett Butler
17
Rod Carew 13
Ichiro Suzuki 11
Ty Cobb 4
Lee Mazzilli 4
Rickey Henderson 3
Eddie Collins 3
Wee Willie Keeler 2
Maury Wills 2
Otis Nixon 1
Greg Maddux 1
Pete Rose 1
Jackie Robinson 1
Kenny Lofton 1
Jay Bell 1
Ozzie Smith 1
Mariano Duncan 1
Juan Pierre 1
Billy Hamilton 1
Steve Garvey 1
No Answer 1
None 1
Alvaro Espinoza 1
Lou Brock 1

Butler leads the majors in bunt hits (and Pinnacle once used him as the "blueprint" for bunting technique), but watching Ichiro lay down those drag bunts was a thing of beauty.

9) How many "hits" (autograph or relic cards) do you expect to receive in a hobby box of cards?

2 38
1 19
3 9
4 4
0 3
6 1

2 is pretty common these days.  You get 3 in Allen and Ginter.  6 would be more of the prospect-style products?

10) What is the best professional baseball team name that is no longer in use?




Montreal Expos 30
Houston Colt .45s 12
Seattle Pilots 10
Washington Senators 4
Cleveland Spiders 4
Boston Beaneaters 3
Cincinnati Redlegs 2
Brooklyn Gladiators 1
Chicago Whales 1
Black Sox 1
Sacramento Solons 1
Brooklyn Trolley-Dodgers 1
Sioux City Cornhuskers 1
Bullets 1
Jacksonville Suns 1
Kansas City Monarchs 1

These are so good!  "Chicago Whales" and "Cleveland Spiders" have to be my favorites.  Montreal makes its second appearance in these results.

11) What is the most-useful statistic or measurement to use for evaluating how good a baseball player is?




WAR 49
Batting Average 8
OPS 4
OBP 4
ERA 2
RBI 2
Watching Games 1
Salary 1
WHIP 1
Total Bases 1
Games Played 1

I see the sabermetric revolution has made it to the card-collecting world.

12) Name any baseball player with the initials "J.M." 



Joe Morgan 18
Juan Marichal 14
J.D. Martinez 10
Jack Morris 4
Joe Mauer 4
Johnny Mize 3
Jamie Moyer 3
John Mayberry 2
Jeff Montgomery 1
Jerry Mumphrey 1
Jose Mesa 1
Jason Michaels 1
Jhan Marinez 1
John McGraw 1
Jim Morrison 1
John Montefusco 1
Joe Magrane 1
Jose Martinez 1
Jack McDowell 1
JR Richards 1
James McCann 1
Justin Morneau 1
John Mabry 1
John Mackley 1

I thought Joe Mauer was going to run away with this, but over half of the submissions were in before he got his first vote.  J.D. Martinez never crossed my mind.

13) What is the best baseball movie ever?



Field of Dreams 36
Major League 12
The Natural 8
The Sandlot 7
Bull Durham 7
The Pride of the Yankees 1
Eight Men Out 1
Angels in the Outfield 1
A League of Their Own 1

Great list!  I am glad nobody tried to include "Rookie of the Year" or "Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch".  I am also a fan of "For the Love of the Game" even though it is far from a critic's darling.

Side note: Last year my 8-year-old son entered his school speech contest and recited the Terrance Mann speech from this scene of Field of Dreams.  People will come, Ray...

14) Most people consider Mariano Rivera to be the best relief pitcher ever. Who would you say is the SECOND-BEST reliever?



Trevor Hoffman 35
Dennis Eckersley 23
Rollie Fingers 5
Bruce Sutter 2
Billy Wagner 2
Goose Gossage 2
Eric Gagne 1
Greg Gagne 1
Craig Kimbrel 1
John Smoltz 1
Lee Smith 1

Hell's Bells!  Hoffman takes it.  Eck comes in close-second.  Surprised at the low rate for Bruce Sutter.  Goose Gossage was a good reliever.  Eric Gagne was a good reliever.  Greg Gagne was not a good reliever.  :-)

15) Who is the most over-rated current MLB player?



Bryce Harper 34
Aaron Judge 11
Yoenis Cespedes 4
Giancarlo Stanton 3
Yasiel Puig 3
Manny Machado 2
Robinson Cano 2
Jake Arrieta 2
Shohei Ohtani 2
Miguel Sano 1
Mookie Betts 1
Mike Trout 1
Ryan Braun 1
Chris Davis 1
Cody Bellinger 1
Chris Sale 1
Adam Jones 1
Albert Pujols 1
Kris Bryant 1
Josh Donaldson 1

Great answers!  I think you could definitely make a case for any of these guys.  Except Trout.  Trout is the best so how can he be over-rated?

16) What is the best food item to get at the ballpark?



Hot Dog 🌭 63
Nachos 5
Soft Pretzel 1
Bratwurst 1
Old Bay Fries 1
Chicago Dog 1
Beer 1
Dilly Dog 1

I went with the cheezy chips, and if you also picked something other than hot dog, this is really nacho day!

17) On an average day, how many minutes does a normal collector spend reading about sports cards (blogs/forums/social media/etc.)?



60 32
30 20
45 6
120 4
15 2
90 2
20 2
180 2
1 1
65 1
10 1
2 1

I specifically asked for the answer in minutes....but if you wrote "1 hour" I converted it to 60 minutes for you.  But if you just wrote "1" or "2", well, that's your answer.  :-)

18) Vin Scully has retired. :-( Who will take up his mantle as the best current MLB broadcaster?

Bob Uecker 13
Jon Miller 9
Joe Buck 8
Gary Cohen 6
Duane Kuiper 5
Dan Shulman 3
Joe Davis 2
Marty Brennaman 2
Buck Martinez 2
Matt Vasgersian 1
John Smoltz 1
Dan Dickerson 1
Don Orsillo 1
Len Kasper 1
Chip Carrey 1
Mike Shannon 1
Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow 1
Joe Morgan 1
None 1
Bob Walk 1
Paul Olden 1
Dan McLaughlin 1
Nobody can replace Scully 1
Michael Kay 1
Al Leiter 1
Charlie Stein 1
Bob Costas 1
Tim Kurkjian 1
Steve Stone 1
Gary Thorne 1
Tom Hamilton 1
Glen Kuiper 1
Jim Kaat 1

Just a bit outside...

But seriously, these are great recommendations and I am going to try to hear some of these guys call a game this year!  Shout-out to the Vasgersian fan -- nice choice!

19) For years there have been rumors about MLB contracting a team. If they would do that, which team should be eliminated?



Miami Marlins 33
Tampa Bay Rays 24
New York Yankees 4
San Diego Padres 2
Arizona Diamondbacks 2
Milwaukee Brewers 1
Baltimore Orioles 1
Pittsburgh Pirates 1
Texas Rangers 1
Seattle Mariners 1
Cleveland Indians 1
Minnesota Twins 1
None 1
New York Mets 1

Man, you guys really hate Florida and New York teams!  (You're not wrong)

20) What is the best song that a player could use as his batting walk-up music?



AC/DC - Thunderstruck 7
Metallica - Enter Sandman 7
John Fogerty - Centerfield 7
Star Wars - The Imperial March 3
Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot 3
Guns N Roses - Welcome to the Jungle 3
George Michael - Careless Whisper 2
Queen - We Will Rock You 2
P.O.D. - Boom 2
Wild Thing 2
Black Sabbath - Iron Man 2
Welcome Back Kotter Theme 1
Sick Puppies - You're Going Down 1
Pantera - Walk 1
Fall Out Boy - Centuries 1
The Kingsmen - Louie Louie 1
Bush - Machinehead 1
Ozzy Osborne - Crazy Train 1
George Thorogood - Bad to the Bone 1
DMX - X Gon Give It To Ya 1
Carmina Burna - O Fortuna 1
Don McLean - American Pie 1
Hanson - Mmm Bop 1
Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby 1
Ice Cube - We Be Clubbin' 1
None 1
Imagine Dragons - Whatever It Takes 1
Cypress Hill - Insane in the Membrane 1
Jaws Theme 1
Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance 1
Joe Satriani - One Big Rush 1
Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash 1
Zombie Nation - Woah Oh Oh 1
Smash Mouth - All-Star 1
Corey Hart - Never Surrender 1
Take Me Out to the Ballgame 1
Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days 1
The Simpsons - Talkin' Softball 1
Brooks and Dunn - Hard Working Man 1
Walk of Life - Dire Straights 1
Motley Crue - Kickstart My Heart 1
Earth, Wind, and Fire - Boogie Wonderland 1
No Answer 1
LL Cool J - Momma Said Knock You Out 1
Led Zeppelin - Kashmir 1

3-Way Tie!  What a variety!  I didn't think there would be much agreement here...and there wasn't.  Many of you just put down a song title, so I tried to guess which artist you were thinking on these.  I also corrected a few that didn't use the right title (i.e., the "Put Me In Coach" answers became "Centerfield"). 

Now that you've seen all these, do you just want a convenient way to listen to them all day?  How about this playlist!  It has all 33 songs in it.  Which one will be your new favorite?

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqdzGPIrKaUctZwc71Rp1HpnpA5awAFxj


So that's all the questions!  Great job.  As per the rules, you score the number of points per question equal to the number of people who answered the same (including yourself).  If you had been a complete sheep and used the most-popular answer on every question you would have 629 points.  Anyone over 500 did very well.  Let's see how you all did...
Entrant Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Diamond Jesters 578 22 42 13 34 38 16 52 17 38 30 49 10 36 35 2 63 32 9 33 7
GCA 551 22 22 20 34 38 6 52 3 38 30 49 18 36 35 11 63 32 2 33 7
Tony Burbs 539 16 42 3 34 38 5 52 17 38 30 49 1 36 23 34 63 20 13 24 1
Scribbled Ink 532 16 42 9 1 38 16 52 17 38 1 49 10 36 35 34 63 32 9 33 1
Gregor 1000 524 22 42 13 34 38 2 52 11 38 30 49 18 8 23 34 63 1 6 33 7
ARPSmith 521 8 22 4 3 38 1 52 13 38 30 49 18 36 35 34 63 32 9 33 3
Tim 515 10 42 3 34 38 1 52 13 38 30 49 2 36 35 11 63 32 1 24 1
Angelsinorder 515 22 42 9 34 38 2 52 17 19 10 49 10 36 35 4 63 32 5 33 3
IfbBirdsCards 507 10 22 13 34 38 2 52 13 19 30 49 18 36 35 3 63 32 13 24 1
Jafronius 495 16 42 4 34 11 1 52 17 38 4 49 18 36 35 11 63 32 1 24 7
Shawon-o-meter 484 8 42 20 10 11 1 52 17 38 30 49 18 12 23 34 63 20 5 24 7
zman40 480 8 42 20 34 38 1 52 1 38 12 49 2 12 35 34 63 32 1 4 2
Brett Alan 479 8 42 20 34 38 6 52 1 9 30 49 10 7 35 11 63 32 6 24 2
Noy 477 8 42 20 34 38 1 52 11 9 12 49 10 12 23 34 63 20 8 24 7
Mad Guru 474 16 22 9 10 38 6 52 1 38 10 49 4 8 35 34 63 32 13 33 1
mark z 471 22 42 20 34 1 16 1 13 38 30 49 18 36 23 1 63 20 9 33 2
dicefoot 468 16 22 5 34 38 1 52 13 19 30 2 1 36 35 34 63 32 1 33 1
kcjays 468 22 22 9 34 8 1 52 2 19 1 49 1 36 35 34 63 32 8 33 7
Parsons0311 466 8 42 20 1 11 5 52 11 38 10 49 14 36 35 34 63 2 1 33 1
Lugnut80 466 16 42 1 9 1 16 52 4 38 4 49 14 7 35 34 63 32 13 33 3
ketchupman36 457 8 42 9 34 38 2 52 13 19 30 49 1 12 35 11 63 6 8 24 1
kazi 452 4 22 2 34 38 1 52 11 19 30 49 14 36 2 4 63 32 3 33 3
Josh D. 451 22 42 2 34 38 1 52 17 4 12 49 18 36 35 34 5 20 3 24 3
Rmpaq5 450 16 42 20 34 8 2 52 1 38 30 49 1 36 35 1 63 6 8 1 7
halos17 447 22 42 20 10 11 3 52 17 9 30 49 3 7 2 34 63 20 13 33 7
Colbey 446 16 42 13 34 2 6 52 17 38 30 4 1 7 23 34 63 20 9 33 2
KMack 443 22 4 13 10 3 16 52 13 19 30 4 10 36 35 34 63 32 13 33 1
mott 442 10 22 4 2 38 1 52 3 38 30 49 14 7 23 11 63 32 3 33 7
Nachos Grande 440 16 42 3 34 11 2 52 3 9 30 49 18 36 35 34 5 20 1 33 7
Matt P (@mjpmke) 429 16 42 13 34 38 1 3 11 38 30 49 18 12 35 34 5 6 13 24 7
Tenets of Wilson 428 16 42 13 4 3 2 52 1 4 30 49 18 12 35 3 63 32 13 33 3
vrooomed 425 22 4 20 34 8 16 52 17 38 10 49 14 36 1 1 63 32 6 1 1
CubinSTL 422 16 42 20 34 11 1 52 17 4 4 49 18 8 23 34 63 20 1 4 1
bbcardz 419 22 42 13 34 38 1 52 1 19 4 49 14 8 1 2 63 20 2 33 1
sanjosefuji 418 8 22 3 34 2 5 52 11 38 12 49 18 7 23 4 63 32 9 24 2
Nate 413 8 42 2 10 8 1 52 1 19 10 49 10 7 35 34 63 32 5 24 1
mdaubrey 412 3 42 4 4 11 6 52 1 9 1 49 14 36 23 34 63 20 6 33 1
The Collector 410 22 22 9 34 11 2 4 17 9 12 49 18 36 23 34 63 2 9 33 1
Gapporin 409 10 42 2 34 38 1 3 2 38 12 49 1 7 35 3 63 20 9 33 7
KMack 406 22 6 13 10 3 16 52 13 19 30 8 10 36 35 34 63 32 1 2 1
Bo Rosny 404 10 22 5 10 38 2 3 11 19 4 49 4 36 35 34 63 32 1 24 2
muskie027 402 10 22 20 9 38 1 52 1 38 12 8 18 36 5 34 63 2 8 24 1
Adam K 397 8 42 4 34 1 1 3 1 38 4 49 4 36 35 1 63 20 13 33 7
Randy 389 10 6 1 34 5 3 4 13 3 30 49 10 36 23 34 63 32 2 24 7
Sportzcommish 384 22 42 3 34 38 1 3 13 19 12 2 18 36 23 11 63 2 8 33 1
WSU and Reds Fan 382 22 6 9 9 38 1 52 4 4 10 49 14 36 2 34 63 2 2 24 1
westendcards 380 8 42 9 2 8 2 52 13 9 10 8 18 36 23 34 63 4 5 33 1
Trevor P 380 8 42 13 3 11 1 1 2 38 10 49 14 7 23 34 63 20 1 33 7
RAZ 369 22 42 2 34 38 6 52 1 38 30 49 4 1 2 34 1 6 1 4 2
wackydog 366 8 22 20 1 38 16 52 3 38 12 1 4 12 35 34 63 4 1 1 1
Celticwolfco 359 8 22 4 10 3 2 52 11 9 30 49 1 12 35 11 63 1 1 33 2
Scottzoe 359 22 22 2 34 38 16 4 4 19 30 4 14 1 23 34 63 20 1 1 7
TCDB kents_stuff 353 8 22 4 4 38 16 52 4 38 3 49 3 8 1 2 63 2 9 24 3
Terry 348 1 42 5 4 8 16 52 11 38 4 4 3 36 23 1 63 32 2 2 1
craigrrules 346 10 22 20 9 38 16 52 2 38 2 49 1 12 35 3 5 20 1 4 7
slakar 337 10 42 13 9 3 16 52 13 38 2 4 1 1 5 1 63 20 8 33 3
Splinter_9 333 4 22 20 2 38 1 52 13 38 1 4 3 12 35 2 63 20 1 1 1
PapaG321 331 22 6 1 3 38 1 52 4 19 1 49 14 36 23 3 1 20 13 24 1
Jayoneill 328 10 6 3 1 38 3 1 4 19 30 49 3 36 35 11 1 32 6 33 7
30 a week habit 326 22 22 5 9 38 2 1 1 19 30 8 4 1 35 34 63 6 1 24 1
terrbear5951 311 1 42 1 2 5 2 1 17 38 30 2 4 36 23 4 63 32 6 1 1
Billy Kingsley 309 22 42 20 4 5 1 3 1 38 3 1 14 7 35 11 63 2 1 33 3
FiresNBeers 293 16 42 13 9 3 1 2 11 19 30 8 14 12 5 3 63 20 13 2 7
switzr1 293 22 22 5 4 38 1 2 17 38 1 4 1 8 35 2 63 4 1 24 1
herkojerko 292 4 6 13 4 5 16 52 17 38 12 8 14 36 23 2 1 1 5 33 2
squaresteve 287 3 22 1 10 1 2 52 17 38 1 8 1 7 23 1 63 32 2 2 1
Jeff Laws 287 16 42 9 9 11 5 52 3 3 12 1 3 36 23 2 1 32 1 24 2
John Sharp 276 16 4 20 34 38 16 2 4 38 1 1 1 8 2 1 63 1 1 24 1
Joshua 273 8 22 1 34 38 1 52 3 19 3 1 1 7 2 11 63 4 1 1 1
Ochawkeye 272 1 42 20 4 8 1 1 1 19 4 49 18 7 1 1 63 6 1 24 1
cynicalbuddha 263 16 42 4 10 38 1 2 1 3 12 2 1 12 5 34 1 32 13 33 1
nyygregory 261 3 42 20 9 5 1 4 17 9 1 4 10 7 1 1 63 32 1 24 7
grim25 252 4 42 20 1 11 5 2 11 1 10 8 1 36 23 2 63 2 8 1 1
DetFan 225 22 4 1 1 8 16 2 4 38 10 49 4 8 5 1 5 32 13 1 1

CONGRATULATIONS to our winner, Diamond Jesters!  He only had one question (the over-rated player) where he did not agree with a large contingent of his fellow sheep. Make sure you check out his "Time-Travel Trading" series as he tries to convert a pack of current Topps cards into the oldest cards he can.

As I also mentioned, there would be one prize pack awarded to a random entrant.  Let's do that draw now....



halos17 is the winner!  I will contact both of  you about your prizes.

I would love to run this game again in the future.  Thanks to everyone who entered.  If you have any comments about how this ran, or if you have any good ideas for future questions, please post them in the comments below.