1990s in a Bucket Trivia Quiz

Answer: Had two triple-plays in the same game

The game occurred on July 17 against the hosting Boston Red Sox. The Twins completed a triple-play in the fourth inning, then another in the eight. Both triple-plays were started by a ground ball to the Twins' third baseman Gary Gaetti. The Red Sox would thumb their noses and still win the game 1-0.

Answer: Otis Nixon

Nixon stole six against the Montreal Expos and catcher Gil Reyes. In setting this NL record, Otis tied the Major League record set by Eddie Collins of the AL Philadelphia Athletics in 1912. The Expos still won the game, 1-0. Nixon led the Braves in 1991 with 72 stolen bases, a career high.

Answer: Seattle Mariners

The Mariners' new owner had to go through all kinds of approval and voting of all team owners to allow this. The vote was 25-1 in favor of Japanese businessman Hiroshi Yamauchi, who was president of Nintendo, to purchase the team. The lone vote cast was reportedly from the Cleveland Indians.

In reply, the team made it to the playoffs for the first time ever in 1995, and would make three more appearances in the next six seasons.

Answer: Tiger Stadium

Tiger Stadium opened for the Tigers on April 20, 1912. In 1993, the ballpark saw the 10,000th hit. Tiger Stadium saw the Tigers play in their last game on September 27, 1999. Kansas City Royal Greg Gagne was the player who hit number 10,000, and the Royals went on to win the game 12-6.

Answer: Montreal Expos

The Yankees were holding a 70-43 record, three games better than any other American League team. However, the Expos were even better with a 74-40 record. It might have been the second time in the Expos' franchise history that they made the playoffs, but it was not to be. There were only 48 games left in the season before the carpet was pulled out from under them.

Answer: Mickey Mantle

Nicknamed "The Commerce Comet", Mantle was a career Yankee from 1951-1968. He won three AL MVPs, was runner-up another three times, batted for the Triple Crown in 1956, and was the first switch-hitter to hit 500 home runs. Mickey was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974, then died of liver cancer on August 13, 1995. Of the others, only Ruth hit 500 home runs. The Babe died in 1948.

Answer: John McSherry

McSherry was rather overweight when he suffered his attack at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati on Opening Day. Major League Baseball immediately made the decision to cancel the game, then Reds owner Marge Schott played Marge Schott, the cold person that she displayed in the past, and demanded the game continue. That didn't happen. Schott had just come off a one-year suspension for according to Major League Baseball, making numerous racial remarks to her players and others.

Answer: Florida Marlins

The Marlins began in Major League Baseball in 1993, finishing in sixth place in the NL East of seven teams. In 1997, they finished the season with a 92-70 record, good enough to enter the playoffs as a wildcard. The Marlins beat the Giants in the NLDS, then the Braves in the NLCS, then put the Cleveland Indians down in the World Series, four games to three.

Answer: Chicago Cubs

The Yankees went 114-98 in 1998. Although it was enough for an American League season record, it wasn't enough for the Major League record. The Cubs set this record in the 1906 season, but with playing in only a 152-game season which makes it more astounding. The Cubs went 116-36, but still lost in the World Series to the Chicago White Sox.

Answer: Fernando Tatis

On April 23, it was a self-induced Fernando Tatis day when he hit two grand slams off Dodger pitcher Chan Ho Park in the third inning of the game at Dodger Stadium. The Cardinals won the game 12-5. Tatis hit 34 home runs in the season, and 113 in his 11-season career, but none bigger than those two.