We’re sticking with World Series trivia today, so put on your thinking caps, this one is tough.

Only four times in World Series history has a pitcher retired the side on just three pitches. In fact, one pitcher did it twice.

Who was it?

Here were the questions …

In the Chicago Cubs’ last World Series appearance — 1945 — right-handed hurler Claude Passeau tossed a one-hitter in Game 3 against the Tigers.

Who had Detroit’s lone hit? What was it? Which inning did it occur?

At the time, it was the second one-hitter thrown in the World Series play (the only no-hitter thrown in any postseason series was Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series).

Who threw the first World Series one-hitter?

Here are the answers …

Rudy York had a single for the Tigers in the second inning of the Cubs’ 3-0 victory in Game 3. Passeau allowed one walk and struck out one, facing only one batter more than the minimum.

As for the first one-hitter in World Series history, it was thrown by the Cubs’ Ed Reulbach in Game 2 of the 1906 Series against the Chicago White Sox. George Rohe had a seventh-inning single off Reulbach.

We ran down the pitchers worth getting out and seeing. Now, it’s time for the hitters. These are the 10 guys I want to see before the season is through:

Zach Nichols, Hannibal
Maybe the most complete package when it comes hitting. The kid has power, will hit for average and understands how to get the most of his at-bats. Expect big things in the Mark Twain’s hometown.

Keaton Baker, Western
He surprises you with his speed on the basepaths. He doesn’t surprise you with quick wrists and strong forearms. He generates bat speed as well as anyone in the area and has a considerable amount of power, too.

Clint Hamilton, Pittsfield
Dubbed “El Diablo” for his ability to catch fire, this Saukee makes you through pitches and then burns you when make a mistake. He won’t chase many bad pitches, which makes him a tough out.

Josh McEwen, North Shelby
Here is another kid who doesn’t give at-bats away. He’s patient and willing to take a walk. The best part of his game is how quick he recognizes a mistake and jumps all over it. Doesn’t be surprised to see him hit .500 again.

Cam Mitchell, West Hancock
You want a tough, hard-nosed hitter in the middle of the lineup. Mitchell is that. He doesn’t back down from a confrontation and often wins the battle. He’s a heck of catcher, too, so he should understand the strike zone.

Derek VanFleet, Illini West
You want someone who can fight off pitches near the top of the order to give the rest of the team an opportunity to see a pitcher’s stuff. VanFleet does that and more. He sets the tone for one of the area’s top lineups.

Curtis Stout, Payson Seymour
You don’t have to be a power hitter to be an exceptionally good hitter. Stout proves that. He has some pop, but he’s more adept at spraying the ball to all fields. Put him with Shane Wellman and the heart of the Indians’ order looks pretty good.

Steven Risley, Griggsville-Perry
He was one of the area’s best contact hitters as a freshman, striking out just four times in 65 at-bats. His patience at the plate and ability to recognize strikes is important for a team that preaches patience and takes advantage of an opponent’s wildness.

Daniel Weiman, QND
OK, he has good bloodlines and great speed. He also hits a ton. The sophomore needs to hit for the Raiders to have success, and he will. There’s some pop in his bat, but his effectiveness is pushing the ball into the gaps and running for daylight.

Kyle Young, QHS
The Blue Devils need stability in the middle of the lineup, and Young provides that. Big and strong, he’s similar to his older brother, Robby, in the fact he swings only at good pitches and attacks balls in the strike zone.

Know of a hitter I need to see?

My e-mail is mschuckman@whig.com. Let me know so I can work it into my schedule.

It might not seem like it at the moment, but the prep baseball season is here. It’s going to take a month or so, depending mostly on weather, to see which teams will develop into potential regional or district contenders. Already, Hannibal and Illini West have made statements that they intend be part of the fight.

What it takes, above all else, is strong pitching. Both of those teams are blessed with that. But they are not the only ones.

Here’s a look at the 10 pitchers I want to see throw this spring who could seriously impact what sort of postseason hopes their teams will hold:

Neil Hugenberg, Hannibal

An honorable mention all-state as a sophomore when he compiled an earned-run average of less than 1.00, Hugenberg missed his junior season after suffering a back injury. At the time, there was concern he might never play again.

Well, rehab went well, and Hugenberg showed signs of getting back to his old self by throwing four shutout innings in the season opener against Kirksville. If his back stays healthy, Hugenberg could be a leading candidate for Player of the Year.

Henry Johnson, Pittsfield

The right-hander led the area in victories last season, going 9-2 to up his career victory total to 16. He’s not overpowering, but he was good enough for one strikeout per inning last season. He has good control, and if he limits the walks, he’ll again be among the area’s top hurlers.

Luke Burling, Illini West

Big and strong. That’s the first thing you think of with Burling, who is an intimidating right-hander at 6-foot-7. He went 7-1 last season, striking out better than one batter per inning. He is only one piece of what is an electric staff.

Michael Lafferty, Illini West

Every good team needs at least one left-hander, and Lafferty likely will prove he is one of the best. Good zip and good movement on his fastball makes him tough to hit, and he hits his spots well. He could develop into the most unhittable pitcher in the area this season. Oh, he’s only a junior.

Sean Grosnic, Central-Southeastern

Crafty left-handers are so much fun to watch, especially when the nibble on the corners of the strike zone and then shock you by blowing a fastball right past you up under the hands. Grosnic can do those things.

Kyler Moore, South Shelby

He lit up scoreboards during the basketball season, but don’t forget he threw a no-hitter last spring and followed it up with a three-hitter. He made his mark as a hitter, batting better than .500, but his ability to make the catcher’s mitt pop gives him an edge in the Clarence Cannon Conference.

Bradley Craigmyle, North Shelby

His brother, Brett, is a former Herald-Whig Player of the Year, so the bloodlines should serve him well. He has a strong arm, experience although he’s an underclassman and the same bulldogged nature that made his brother successful. As good as he will be this spring, just wait until he’s a senior.

Craig Bastert, Unity

Josh Gronewold is the staff ace, but Bastert has intriguing stuff. He’s a lefty with some velocity who is getting better at spotting his pitches. The natural movement on his fastball makes him difficult to hit. In a short week, which is what regional often is, having Gronewold and Bastert going back-to-back will be a boon for Unity.

Shane Wellman, Payson Seymour

Pittsfield coach John Schultz had nothing but good things to say about Wellman after the Saukees struggled to hit him in the season opener. I never saw Wellman pitch last season — I saw him belt a grand slam — so I’m anxious to see how dominant he can be with long arms on his 6-foot-5 frame.

Nolan Kurfman, Quincy High School

Kurfman burst on the scene late last spring after being called up from the junior varsity, but he did so mostly with his bat. The junior will be the ace of the QHS staff and could be the type of hurler that gives QHS a chance at winning some Western Big Six Conference games.

Know of a hurler I need to see?

My e-mail is mschuckman@whig.com. Let me know so I can work it into my schedule.

It might not seem like spring outside, so maybe this will get you thinking about hot dogs, apple pie and baseball …

In the Chicago Cubs’ last World Series appearance — 1945 — right-handed hurler Claude Passeau tossed a one-hitter in Game 3 against the Tigers.

Who had Detroit’s lone hit? What was it? Which inning did it occur?

At the time, it was the second one-hitter thrown in the World Series play (the only no-hitter thrown in any postseason series was Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series).

Who threw the first World Series one-hitter?

(Hint: He pitched for the Cubs)

Here are the questions …

1. Which team did the Reuschel brothers combine to shut out on Aug. 21, 1975, becoming the first brothers to combine for a shutout in major league history? What was the final score?

2. How many major league games did the Reuschel brothers combine to win?

Here are the answers …

On Aug. 21, 1975, the Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-0 at Wrigley Field as Rick Reuschel won his 10th game of the season, allowing five hits and one walk in 6 1/3 innings. He did not strike out a batter.

He was relieved in the seventh inning by his brother, Paul, who worked 2 2/3 innings, striking out one and giving up one hit.

It was the first time two brothers had combined for a shutout in major league history.

As for their records, combined, the Reuschels won 230 games. Rick went 214-191 in 19 seasons with a 3.37 earned-run average, while Paul went 16-16 with a 4.51 ERA in five seasons.

(Did you notice what is wrong with the baseball card seen above? The names are under the wrong Reuschel brother. Rick is on the left, wearing No. 48, while Paul wore glasses and No. 43.)

Here’s a two-for-one special with some Adams County flair …

1. Which team did the Reuschel brothers combine to shut out on Aug. 21, 1975, becoming the first brothers to combine for a shutout in major league history? What was the final score?

2. How many major league games did the Reuschel brothers combine to win?

Here were the questions …

The Cubs’ double-play combination of shortstop Joe Tinker, second baseman Johnny Evers and first baseman Frank Chance became part of baseball’s lore because of their inclusion in the poem “Baseball’s Sad Lexicon.”

Who wrote the poem?

Where was it first published?

Here are the answers …

The poem was written by Franklin Pierce Adams and was first published in the New York Evening Mail on July 10, 1910.

Here is the text of the poem …

These are the saddest of possible words:

“Tinker to Evers to Chance.”

Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds,

Tinker and Evers and Chance.

Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble,

Making a Giant hit into a double —

Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble:

“Tinker to Evers to Chance.”

Opening Day is creeping closer, so we’re going to make sure you’re ready for baseball’s national holiday by giving you trivia directly related to the history of the Cardinals and Cubs.

Today, we’re going old school with the Cubs.

The Cubs’ double-play combination of shortstop Joe Tinker, second baseman Johnny Evers and first baseman Frank Chance became part of baseball’s lore because of their inclusion in the poem “Baseball’s Sad Lexicon.”

Who wrote the poem?

Where was it first published?

Here are the questions …

1. Who was the first Cardinal to ever hit for the cycle?

2. Who was the most recent Cardinal to hit for the cycle?

3. Who is the only Cardinal to hit for the cycle twice in his career?

4. How many Cardinals hit for the cycle at old Busch Stadium?

Here are the answers …

1. As a rookie in 1918, Cliff Heathcote hit for the cycle on July 13 in an 11-5 victory over the Phillies. The left-handed center fielder spent the first five of his 15 big-league seasons with the Cardinals and was involved in one of the most unique trades ever made.

On May 30, 1922, the Cardinals were playing a Memorial Day doubleheader at Cubs Park. Between games, Heathcote was traded to the Cubs for Max Flack. Both men appeared in both games that day. Heathcote also appeared as the center fielder for the Cubs on August 25, 1922, when the Cubs beat the Phillies 26-23, setting the record for most runs scored in a singlegame. He went 5 for 5 that day, scoring five runs.

2. On April 27, 2005, in a 6-3 victory over the Brewers, Mark Grudzielanek hit for the cycle, going 4 for 5 with three runs scored and two RBI. He homered to lead off the game.

3. All-star third baseman Ken Boyer is the only Cardinal to hit for the cycle twice. On Sept. 14, 1961, in a 6-5 victory over the Cubs, Boyer went 5 for 6 with a run scored and three RBI. The way he capped the cycle is as dramatic as any. In the bottom of the 11th, he smacked a walk-off home run off Cubs reliever Don Elston to complete the cycle.

On June 6, 1964, in a 7-1 victory over Houston Colt .45s, Boyer went 4 for 5 with two runs and three RBI. He hit for the natural cycle that day, collecting the single, double, triple and home run in order, capping it with the homer in the seventh inning.

4. The original Busch Stadium opened in 1966 and closed in 2005, and during that span, three Cardinals hit for the cycle at home. Hall of Famer Lou Brock did it in 1975, Ray Lankford in 1991 and Grudzielanek in the stadiums final season.