Answers in form of questions

Here’s a catchy title of a new book: “Andy Roddick Beat Me With a Frying Pan.”

No, the author, Todd Gallagher of Los Angeles, also a comedian and television producer, was not hit upside the head with a frying pan by the tennis star.

Last December, at a charity event in Boca Raton, Fla., Gallagher squared off against Roddick on the tennis court. Gallagher, who has played tennis most of his life, used a tennis racket. Roddick used a frying pan.

That Roddick was actually able to score a point led Gallagher’s editor at the Three Rivers Press publishing company to come up with the title for the book that attempts to answer such oddball questions as:

Could a high-ranked tennis player beat an amateur while using a frying pan? (No.)

Could anyone score on a 1,000-pound hockey goalie (or at least a college goaltender padded as if he was that big)? (It’s difficult.)

Are professional golfers any good at miniature golf? (Not as good as you might think.)

How would a psychic do in a game of rock, paper, scissors? (Poorly.)

Small ball

In 1951, Bill Veeck, who owned the St. Louis Browns, sent 3-foot 7-inch Eddie Gaedel to the plate as a pinch-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers. Even though Tigers catcher Bob Swift advised pitcher Bob Cain to “keep it low,” Gaedel walked on four consecutive balls, all high.

For his book, Gallagher decided to see how a team of all small people would fare against a professional team. Gallagher got the St. Paul Saints, an independent minor league team in Minnesota, to face his team.

The game, which took place in June, was never completed because the Saints’ Dana Kiecker, who pitched for the Boston Red Sox in 1990-91, couldn’t get anybody out.

Maybe the Angels should have tried that small-ball ploy against the Red Sox.

Trivia time

When Gaedel went to the plate, what was his jersey number?

But will he play for peanuts?

Free-agent center fielder Torii Hunter, who is seeking $15 million a year over five years from the Minnesota Twins, made a plea to play -- now -- for the Red Sox when David Ortiz was on “Best Damn Sports Show Period” last week.

Hunter, a frequent guest host on the show, told Ortiz, “See if Terry Francona has a roster spot for me. I’ll pinch-hit. I’ll braid Manny’s hair. I’ll do something. I’ll get you some water and sunflower seeds.”

Writer’s cramps

Fox Sports Radio’s Craig Shemon, talking with Kansas City Chiefs Coach Herm Edwards about Michael Vick possibly having to return $20 million of his signing bonus, said: “They can’t write that out,” Edwards said. “They’ve got to type that thing out, right?”

How ‘bout those Bulls?

On the “Grumpy Old Coaches” segment on Fox’s NFL pregame show Sunday, neither Barry Switzer nor Jimmy Johnson had South Florida in their top five. Switzer had Ohio State as his No. 1 team, and Jimmy Johnson had Oregon.

Trivia answer

1/8.

And finally

Penn State’s 38-7 home football victory over Wisconsin on Saturday came after a tough week for Coach Joe Paterno. One of his players was charged with rape, several others were in trouble in connection with separate fights, and even Paterno himself was in hot water.

A couple accused Paterno of a traffic violation when he pulled up beside them honked his horn and told the wife that she had run a stop sign.

At least Paterno didn’t try to pass them, which makes sense because, as comedian Argus Hamilton points out, “He has been reluctant to pass for 60 years.”

--

larry.stewart@latimes.com