This week we offer a three-fer, with a focus on Hall of Famers.
1) I'm a member of the 3,000-hit club. Exactly half my hits came on the road, and the other half at home. Who am I?
2) I, too, am a member of the 3,000-hit club. My HOF plaque reflects a last name different than the last name by which you know me. Who am I?
3) We have the most common last name among HOF members. What is that last name?
Pictured: Judy Johnson (card #200 from the 2007 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classics set), one of three HOF'ers with the Johnson surname (the others being pitcher Walter Johnson and executive Byron Johnson).
(1) My guess (and it is really a guess) would be Robin Yount.
(2) [Not a clue.]
(3) Williams?
1) no
2) no
3) yes (first names?) (also, not the only correct answer)
(2) = Roberto Clemente.
Interesting answer, Jeff.
And correct.
The plaque reflects the name of Roberto Clemente WALKER.
You'll find a discussion here:
http://www.wcnet.org/~dlfleitz/plaque.htm
This topic always comes to mind as we discuss in Secured Transactions the importance of stating the debtor's name correctly on a financing statement (and the challenges of determining an individual's name).
I confess that I guessed, but guessed well. My thought was that it would be a Hispanic player, whose last name would actually reflect his mother's maiden name. I couldn't think of any HOF Hispanic player with 3,000 hits except Clemente, who died in the plane crash just after getting to 3,000 hits.
Can #3 also be Robinson? I count Jackie, Frank, and Brooks, compared with Ted, Billy, and Dick Williams.
3) Robinson and WIlliams are correct — with four, not three, members sharing the name.
1) Stan Musial?
1) Stan the Man is indeed correct. He amassed 3,630 hits, splitting them evenly (1815) at home and on the road. Talk about statistical improbability!