A bar trivia league in which I participate with some friends is operated by Chris Lampe, the historian for the California League who was a minority owner of the San Jose Bees & Giants.

While COVID-19 restrictions have suspended the in-person league, I've had some enjoyable e-mail conversations with Chris, and he's provided me with some old question sets for our team to enjoy on our team's weekly Zoom get-togethers ... along with his fascinating reports on his historical research and personal recollections.

After I mentioned that I was a Rice grad and (duh!) and Owls fan, he volunteered this personal memory, which I thought y'all would enjoy. (I'm posting this with Chris' permission.)

Chris Lampe Wrote:In 2003, the Giants # 1 draft pick was David Aardsma, the relief specialist from Rice's 2003 College World Series Champions. He was the winning pitcher against Stanford in Game # 1. During the playoffs he had two wins and a save.

As was the custom, sadly beginning in those days, he did not sign immediately and then reported to San Jose for his professional debut. He reported to San Jose for his professional debut. He appeared in 18 games for us, with a 1-1 record, a team leading 8 Saves (shows how bad we were that year) and a microscopic 1.96 ERA. We ended up last that year.

From the start he was a classy individual, as good as a person as he was a baseball player. His parents and sister would come to games and they were also great.

The story I want to share with you was after a Sunday afternoon game. I was still a minority owner at the time and a hands-on one. I was in charge of the Usherettes, picking contestants for on-the-field games and letting the kids run the bases after weekend games. This Sunday we had a group of about 15 kids all in wheelchairs. Their adult chaperone wanted to know if they could go around the bases in their wheelchairs. Our infield at the time was pathetic with ruts in the baselines and I was afraid one or more of the kids might tip over in their wheelchair. I shared my concerns with their head chaperone and she agreed it was probably best that they not "wheelchair" the bases. She asked if they could wait outside the clubhouse to get autographs. I said, "Most definitely."

My only regret was that the clubhouse had two doors and the players, especially after a loss, would duck out the back door so they could avoid fans. Our manager that year was a real jerk and wouldn't allow anyone in the clubhouse after losses, so I could not get in to ask a player to come out and sign autographs for the kids.

Well, somehow David Aardsma heard about the kids, stayed in his uniform and came out the front door of the clubhouse and took 45 minutes of his time to sign a ball for each one of the kids. And he would ask each one their name and personally sign the ball to them. He also interacted with them. To this day, it is the most impressive act of kindness I have ever seen a baseball player do. But, that was David, one classy guy.

WTG, David!!

BONUS: Chris' message today included this trivia question, with a Texas connection:

Nolan Ryan pitched in the big leagues for 27 years. He hurled 5,386 innings in 807 appearances. Name the only major league player to ever hit a walk-off home run off of Nolan Ryan.

(Hint: He was associated with the California League in 1990 and 1991.)

(05-05-2020 01:38 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  A bar trivia league in which I participate with some friends is operated by Chris Lampe, the historian for the California League who was a minority owner of the San Jose Bees & Giants.
While COVID-19 restrictions have suspended the in-person league, I've had some enjoyable e-mail conversations with Chris, and he's provided me with some old question sets for our team to enjoy on our team's weekly Zoom get-togethers ... along with his fascinating reports on his historical research and personal recollections.
After I mentioned that I was a Rice grad and (duh!) and Owls fan, he volunteered this personal memory, which I thought y'all would enjoy. (I'm posting this with Chris' permission.)

Chris Lampe Wrote:In 2003, the Giants # 1 draft pick was David Aardsma, the relief specialist from Rice's 2003 College World Series Champions. He was the winning pitcher against Stanford in Game # 1. During the playoffs he had two wins and a save.
As was the custom, sadly beginning in those days, he did not sign immediately and then reported to San Jose for his professional debut. He reported to San Jose for his professional debut. He appeared in 18 games for us, with a 1-1 record, a team leading 8 Saves (shows how bad we were that year) and a microscopic 1.96 ERA. We ended up last that year.
From the start he was a classy individual, as good as a person as he was a baseball player. His parents and sister would come to games and they were also great.
The story I want to share with you was after a Sunday afternoon game. I was still a minority owner at the time and a hands-on one. I was in charge of the Usherettes, picking contestants for on-the-field games and letting the kids run the bases after weekend games. This Sunday we had a group of about 15 kids all in wheelchairs. Their adult chaperone wanted to know if they could go around the bases in their wheelchairs. Our infield at the time was pathetic with ruts in the baselines and I was afraid one or more of the kids might tip over in their wheelchair. I shared my concerns with their head chaperone and she agreed it was probably best that they not "wheelchair" the bases. She asked if they could wait outside the clubhouse to get autographs. I said, "Most definitely."
My only regret was that the clubhouse had two doors and the players, especially after a loss, would duck out the back door so they could avoid fans. Our manager that year was a real jerk and wouldn't allow anyone in the clubhouse after losses, so I could not get in to ask a player to come out and sign autographs for the kids.
Well, somehow David Aardsma heard about the kids, stayed in his uniform and came out the front door of the clubhouse and took 45 minutes of his time to sign a ball for each one of the kids. And he would ask each one their name and personally sign the ball to them. He also interacted with them. To this day, it is the most impressive act of kindness I have ever seen a baseball player do. But, that was David, one classy guy.

WTG, David!!
BONUS: Chris' message today included this trivia question, with a Texas connection:
Nolan Ryan pitched in the big leagues for 27 years. He hurled 5,386 innings in 807 appearances. Name the only major league player to ever hit a walk-off home run off of Nolan Ryan.
(Hint: He was associated with the California League in 1990 and 1991.)

Bruce Bochy

Cool story! Thanks for posting.

It’s consistent with our own experiences with David. I’ll share just one. At the College Classic the year after the NCAA Championship, my son and I ran into David on the concourse at MMP. We congratulated him on the Championship and the start to his professional career. He noticed my son admiring his Championship ring. He took it off and asked him if he’d like to try it on. What a thrill for an 8 year old! Something he certainly didn’t need to do, but was happy to do to make a kid’s day!

(05-05-2020 01:38 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  BONUS: Chris' message today included this trivia question, with a Texas connection:

Nolan Ryan pitched in the big leagues for 27 years. He hurled 5,386 innings in 807 appearances. Name the only major league player to ever hit a walk-off home run off of Nolan Ryan.

(Hint: He was associated with the California League in 1990 and 1991.)

Perhaps a less-interesting trivia question regarding Ryan would be which occasional contributor to The Parliament used to live about a mile from the Ryan family's ranch....

(05-07-2020 06:42 PM)Jonathan Sadow Wrote:  

(05-05-2020 01:38 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  BONUS: Chris' message today included this trivia question, with a Texas connection:

Nolan Ryan pitched in the big leagues for 27 years. He hurled 5,386 innings in 807 appearances. Name the only major league player to ever hit a walk-off home run off of Nolan Ryan.

(Hint: He was associated with the California League in 1990 and 1991.)

Perhaps a less-interesting trivia question regarding Ryan would be which occasional contributor to The Parliament used to live about a mile from the Ryan family's ranch....

Is his screen name an anagram of “nth Aja swan doo”?

My favorite baseball trivia question:

I played for the Houston Buffs, Houston Colt .45s, and Houston Astros.
I once hit .400 for a minor league season.
I have refereed a Rose Bowl and an AFC Championship game (but never a Super Bowl).
My sisters are better known than I am.

Who am I?

(05-13-2020 08:26 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  My favorite baseball trivia question:

I played for the Houston Buffs, Houston Colt .45s, and Houston Astros.
I once hit .400 for a minor league season.
I have refereed a Rose Bowl and an AFC Championship game (but never a Super Bowl).
My sisters are better known than I am.

Who am I?

His initials are AP. And everybody knows his sisters!

(05-13-2020 08:36 PM)grOWLer Wrote:  

(05-13-2020 08:26 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  My favorite baseball trivia question:

I played for the Houston Buffs, Houston Colt .45s, and Houston Astros.
I once hit .400 for a minor league season.
I have refereed a Rose Bowl and an AFC Championship game (but never a Super Bowl).
My sisters are better known than I am.

Who am I?

His initials are AP. And everybody knows his sisters!

the answer to that question should be automatic; but I was so excited I jumped when I found the following list and saw the very very very first name on it:

Celebrities related to Major League Baseball players

(05-13-2020 08:36 PM)grOWLer Wrote:  

(05-13-2020 08:26 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  My favorite baseball trivia question:
I played for the Houston Buffs, Houston Colt .45s, and Houston Astros.
I once hit .400 for a minor league season.
I have refereed a Rose Bowl and an AFC Championship game (but never a Super Bowl).
My sisters are better known than I am.
Who am I?

His initials are AP. And everybody knows his sisters!

I just think that's a very interesting combination of life events. By the way, he is the only person to have played for the Buffs, Colt .45s, and Astros. And I believe he is the second-last person to hit .400 for a season.

For those of us who not baseball trivia buffs, what is the answer?

(05-14-2020 07:42 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  For those of us who not baseball trivia buffs, what is the answer?

Aaron Pointer.

(05-14-2020 07:42 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  For those of us who not baseball trivia buffs, what is the answer?

Agreed! I'm so excited to find out the answer to this trivia question!

(05-14-2020 07:42 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  For those of us who not baseball trivia buffs, what is the answer?

The Pointer brother, Aaron.