Interesting Rarely Known Sports Facts/Tidbits Thread

[alkeiper]

Trying something different with championship Win Probability Added. The stat measures a team's probability of winning the World Series. But what about just winning a series? The importance of winning a World Series overwhelms the list, but winning pennants, divisions, making the playoffs is important too. Flags fly forever. So I juggled the numbers and came up with a list of plays ranked by their importance of getting a team to the next round. Here's a top ten:

1. Francisco Cabrera, 1992 NLCS winning hit
2. Bobby Thomson's home run
3. Pete Alonso's home run in the wild card series
4. Hal Smith's home run in game seven of the '60 World Series
5. Juan Soto's bases loaded single vs. the Brewers in 2019. Trent Grisham's error allowed all three runners to score
6. Tris Speaker's single in the 1912 World Series.
7. Tony Womack's double off Mariano Rivera in 2001.
8. Matt Holliday's triple in the 2007 wild card game
9. Bucky F'n Dent
10. Johnny Bench's game tying home run in the climatic game of the 1972 NLCS

 

[alkeiper]

Just for fun. Oldest living All Stars for each franchise:

Angels	Ken McBride	89​
Astros	Claude Raymond	87​
Athletics	Bobby Shantz	99​
Blue Jays	Dave Lemanczyk	74​
Braves	Felipe Alou	89​
Brewers	Tommy Harper	84​
Browns	Billy Hunter	96​
Cardinals	Bill White	90​
Cubs	George Altman	91​
Diamondbacks	Devon White	61​
Dodgers	Sandy Koufax	88​
Expos	Bill Stoneman	80​
Giants	Felipe Alou	89​
Guardians	Rocky Colavito	91​
Mariners	Tom Paciorek	78​
Marlins	Bryan Harvey	61​
Mets	Ron Hunt	83​
Nationals	Dmitri Young	51​
Orioles	Jackie Brandt	90​
Padres	Cito Gaston	80​
Phillies	Art Mahaffey	86​
Pirates	Roy Face	96​
Rangers	Bert Campaneris	82​
Rays	Fred McGriff	61​
Red Sox	Luis Aparicio	90​
Reds	Leo Cardenas	85​
Rockies	Andres Galarraga	63​
Royals	Cookie Rojas	85​
Tigers	Charlie Maxwell	97​
Twins	Camilo Pascual	90​
White Sox	Luis Aparicio	90​
Yankees	Bobby Shantz	99​

 

[BruiserBrody]

He created NFL history that season by becoming the only player ever to record at least one touch and one all purpose yard in 17 regular season games. He did this by playing for the Jets before their bye week and being signed by the 49ers after their bye week

Dexter Carter - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[BruiserBrody]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1863329829635891319

The comments didn't have the answer. I've been trying to brain storm this. First thought was Vinny and Steve Young but that didn't pan out.

Figured it was something goofy like Beuerlein with the Raiders and ______ or something. Still thinking....

 

[MFer]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1863329829635891319

The comments didn't have the answer. I've been trying to brain storm this. First thought was Vinny and Steve Young but that didn't pan out.

Figured it was something goofy like Beuerlein with the Raiders and ______ or something. Still thinking....

I thought I had it a few times but didn't. I did discover a comment with the answer and I absolutely never would've gotten it.

 

[HarleyQuinn]

My first thought was maybe Philadelphia but they didn't play Minnesota & Cunningham that season. My next thought was the Indianapolis Colts assuming Jim Harbaugh started for a team somewhere but I'd have no idea who the other starting QB would be.

If anybody wants to spoil me go for it since I can't see the Twitter replies after deactivating my account.

 

[BruiserBrody]

I see no answer in the comments, so I too would like the solution.

 

[MFer]

I should've said it was a reply to your comment, but here it is:

https://x.com/QuirkyResearch/status/1863629697931792814

John Friesz (1990) and Trent Green (1993) were drafted by San Diego; Friesz started only 1 game for the Seahawks in 1998, but he happened to beat the Chargers in that one. Green was the starter for the Redskins when they beat the Chargers that year.

 

[BruiserBrody]

David Klingler played in 4 games as a rookie and was still named to the All-Rookie team.

When he was a pre-season signee by the Packers several years later the Packers staff put "Klinger" on his jersey by mistake, leading to our local news to do a comedy bit that evening playing the MASH theme over clips of Klingler at Packer mini camp.

 

[strummer]

Just saw this one. No QB has lost their first Super Bowl appearance and returned to the game since Jim Kelly.

Jalen Hurts will try to break that today.