Trivial Pursuit Revealed

[frankbmd]

Let’s tie all this together chronologically starting in 1900 when a child was born named Wally Gilbert, a future major leaguer. Wally goes on to have a twenty-one year career in professional baseball, five of which were spent in the major leagues primarily with Brooklyn from 1928-31 and 1932 with Cincinnati. Ironically one of his teammates in Brooklyn was Ike Boone, not Ike Turner who really has nothing to do with it.

In 1936 professional baseball comes to Wausau, WI with the minor league Class C Timberjacks. The Timberjacks first manager in 1936 was Luke Boone, who also has nothing to do with it. In 1939 the Timberjacks hire Wally Gilbert to play third base and manage the team which he does until 1942, when a young 18 year old catcher joins the Timberjacks. His name is Ray Boone, the grandfather in the riddle and not related to Ike or Luke. The Timberjacks played their home games in Athletic Park in Wausau, a field which is still in use today. In 1943 the Timberjacks folded and Ray joined the service for the duration of the war.

In 1948 Ray joined the Cleveland Indians. His 13 years ML career with the Indians, the Tigers and White Sox ended in 1960, but young Bob Boone, his son, was already 13. Bob would play ten years for the Phillies begining in 1972 and then with the Angels and Royals. His major league sons Bret Boone and Aaron Boone, born in 1969 and 1973 were almost in the majors by the time Bob retired as a player in 1990. Bret’s last year as a player was 2005, but Aaron played until 2009, seven years ago.

So what gives with the Ben Zobrist clue? Well Ben played in Wausau also in the summer of 2003 on the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is a summer developmental league for collegiate baseball players. they play a 60 game schedule predominantly in June and July, finishing before the school year begins. The Woodchucks were the league champions in 2003 led by their MVP star Ben Zobrist, the most famous Woodchuck to make it to the big leagues. The "Chucks" play their home games that summer at that same Athletic Park in Wausau, which could easily be called the Wrigley Field of northern Wisconsin. The “Chucks” mascot, also shown in the thread, is Woodrow T. “Woody” Woodchuck, who wears size 32 shoes.

That just about sums it up with the clues largely related to the history of baseball in Wausau and the history of the Boone family and other Boones. The Timberjacks records as a Class C Minor League team in 1942 are found in Baseball Reference. The Zobrist connection is not, as the collegiate Northwoods League is amateur baseball. The Zobrist connection can be verified though on his Wikipedia entry or on the Northwoods League website.

Oh!!!! ............and Wally Gilbert’s middle name was John.

I believe Dewey was the first one to respond correctly, but I am not convinced that he knew it. The cash crop near Wausau is ginseng, not corn.

Addenda:

Matt Williams’ grandfather Bert Griffith played with two players born in 1900, one of whom was Goose Goslin, but Matt retired in 2003 as a player. If you consider him as a manager, I do not think has retired yet, so the criteria of retirement within the past ten years is not fulfilled

Jayson Werth’s grandfather Ducky Schofield was a bonus baby with St. Louis in 1953 and played mostly with Omaha in 1954 and 1955. None of the Omaha or St. Louis players in the 50s were born in 1900, and Jayson is still playing of course.

Not to worry though as I reserve the right to include both Ducky and Goose in the Animal Farm Game coming soon to a Forum near you.