Can You Identify the Red Sox player?

[Teach]

My son, now an adult, used to collect Topps football cards when he was in elementary school. The cards, in good condition, are about 40-years old (circa 1980). If you can identify the Red Sox player, below, from the rhyming couplets, I'll send you, at my expense, ten football cards. If you want the cards, just write down your answer with a name and address and send it to me as a private message. If you have the correct answer, I'll notify you by a private message. I'll then put the cards in the mail (I'm not interested in saving addresses or e-mails).

Who Am I?

‘BOUT THE TIME TOM WAS BESTING TED AND BILL;
THIS HURLER…IN BOSTON…WAS TAKIN’ “THE HILL”.

HE WAS BORN NOT FAR FROM CHAUTAUQUA LAKE;
AN AUSPICIOUS DEBUT THIS RIGHTY DID MAKE.

HE’D BEAT “THE GOTHAMS”…THE DECIDING GAME;
HIS PITCHING SKILLS…THEY’D BRING HIM FAME.

TWO MORE YEARS IN “THE HUB”… MEDIOCRE AT BEST;
HE JUMPED SHIP…AND THEN HEADED WEST.

TO THE HOME OF SIBBY WOULD HE GO;
HE’D BE “SHUFFLIN’ OFF” TO BUFFALO.

“HOLY TOLEDO,” HE’D FINISH UP WITH “THE HENS”;
A LONG-DISTANCE DRIVE FROM THE “FRIENDLY FENS”.

[Teach]

There were no winners in the "Name the Red Sox player" contest. Approx. 24-period for identification has elapsed.

Answer: Hugh Bedient

[Robert Fischer]

fun idea

I just saw this today Sunday morning


started thinking 'Fred Lynn' (boston circa 1980 (I was 1 year old cut me some slack) , realized it was a pitcher, and then I would've had to google and cheat the clues to have any guesses that were in the ballpark

:ThmbUp:

[ultracapper]

Hugh Bedient.

I'm a baseball junkie (much more when I was younger, but have forgotten more than many have ever known), and I'm ashamed to say I'm not even familiar with Hugh Bedient.

Maybe a name forgotten, but certainly not one I recall.

[barahona44]

Was Hugh Bedient's nickname 'O'?

[Teach]

Clues were: "... When Tom beat Ted and Bill."

1912 presidential election: (Thomas) Woodrow Wilson (early in his life when he was thinking of running for the Senate from Virginia, he did have cards made up "Thomas Wilson". He went to his middle name, Woodrow. By the way, long-time Boston Red Sox owner, Tom Yawkey's real name was: Austin Thomas Yawkey. Ted and Bill were Teddy Roosevelt, Progressive Republican, "Bull Moose" and William Howard Taft.

Chautauqua Lake = Upstate New York

Bedient defeated Giants in deciding game of 1912 World Series.

That win was his high-water mark.

Jumped to Buffalo in the Federal League (I believe that were nicknamed "The Blues").

One of my favorite Boston Braves players, Sibby Sisti, hailed from Buffalo.

He ended up pitching for the Toledo Mud Hens. Klinger's (MASH) favorite team.

[Robert Fischer]

Clues were: "... When Tom beat Ted and Bill."

1912 presidential election: (Thomas) Woodrow Wilson (early in his life when he was thinking of running for the Senate from Virginia, he did have cards made up "Thomas Wilson". He went to his middle name, Woodrow. By the way, long-time Boston Red Sox owner, Tom Yawkey's real name was: Austin Thomas Yawkey. Ted and Bill were Teddy Roosevelt, Progressive Republican, "Bull Moose" and William Howard Taft.

Chautauqua Lake = Upstate New York

Bedient defeated Giants in deciding game of 1912 World Series.

That win was his high-water mark.

Jumped to Buffalo in the Federal League (I believe that were nicknamed "The Blues").

One of my favorite Boston Braves players, Sibby Sisti, hailed from Buffalo.

He ended up pitching for the Toledo Mud Hens. Klinger's (MASH) favorite team.


Good one.

I failed the 'reading comprehension' portion of your test! :D.
Your 'prize' was from ~1980, not your player... Fred Lynn likely wouldn't have known Bedient either!

Bedient's era...

Hmmm... I used to copy Walter Johnson's unique delivery. From old footage. 'The Big Train' would rear back like an overhand thrower with the arm reaching back almost at a typical right angle, but would whip the ball around sidearm at release. He had a long loose windup and momentum and follow-through almost like a hitter across his body. I could do it, and even used it as a surprise angle in a few games, but never found any hidden advantage in it.

1912 Bedient won the series, and Ruth was a left-handed catcher at St. Mary's Industrial School.

[barahona44]

Good one.

I failed the 'reading comprehension' portion of your test! :D.
Your 'prize' was from ~1980, not your player... Fred Lynn likely wouldn't have known Bedient either!

Bedient's era...

Hmmm... I used to copy Walter Johnson's unique delivery. From old footage. 'The Big Train' would rear back like an overhand thrower with the arm reaching back almost at a typical right angle, but would whip the ball around sidearm at release. He had a long loose windup and momentum and follow-through almost like a hitter across his body. I could do it, and even used it as a surprise angle in a few games, but never found any hidden advantage in it.

1912 Bedient won the series, and Ruth was a left-handed catcher at St. Mary's Industrial School.

Thought Ted referred to Ted Williams. (Slaps face with open palm):D

[ultracapper]

1912 the great Tris Speaker would have been holding down center field and if I'm not mistaken, 1912 was the year Smokey Joe Wood won 34. Led to him blowing his arm out and finishing his career around 5 years later playing platoon outfield.