2B, or Not 2B? Quiz | MLB Records

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Chicago Cubs infield of the 1900s was immortalized in a poem written by Franklin Pierce Adams. Which of the following Cub infielders was the second baseman?

Answer: Johnny Evers

The famous poem reads:

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."

Behind this trio, the Cubs won the 1907 and 1908 World Series, but were unable to win another World Series for the rest of the century. All three were elected to the Hall of Fame in 1948.

2. The infield of the Philadelphia Athletics in the early 1910s was known as the "$100,000 infield" because all of its players were stars. Their second baseman ended up setting the major-league record for most career games, assists, and putouts at 2B. Who was he?

Answer: Eddie Collins

Barry was the SS, McInnis was the 1B, and Baker was the 3B. Both Collins and Baker are in the Hall of Fame; Collins was elected in 1939 and Baker in 1955. $100,000 doesn't sound like much in 2012, but it was the equivalent of a couple of million dollars in 1912.

3. Which of the following players won two MVPs (1925, 1929), and set the record for most career home runs by a player whose primary position was 2B? (Hint: he's the only 2B in the group, and his career spanned from 1915 to 1937).

Answer: Rogers Hornsby

All four are in the Hall of Fame, but Heilmann was a first baseman/outfielder, Sisler was a first baseman, and Speaker was a center fielder. Hornsby played a more difficult position and arguably outhit all of them, with a career .358 batting average.

Despite being a superb hitter, he was not the easiest person to get along with. He managed the 1932 Cubs, but was fired midway through the season due to personality conflicts. The team eventually made it to the World Series and his former teammates refused to award him playoff money for his contributions.

4. The St. Louis Cardinals of the early 1930s was known as the Gashouse Gang, winning three National League pennants (in 1930, 1931, and 1934) and two World Series championships (1931, 1934). Which Hall of Famer, nicknamed the "Fordham Flash", was the second baseman and the 1931 MVP?

Answer: Frankie Frisch

After retiring in 1937, Frisch was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1947 and joined the Veterans Committee in 1967, a group of people responsible for electing overlooked players to the Hall of Fame. According to baseball historian Bill James, while Frisch was on the committee, he helped engineer the election of several of his less-celebrated teammates into the Hall, such as George Kelly.

5. This Detroit Tiger second baseman of the 1930s was known as "The Mechanical Man" and is regarded as one of the greatest second baseman of all-time. He started the first 6 All-Star games in 1933-1938 at second base for the AL. He was also the first player in history to "hit for the cycle" (hit a single, double, triple, and home run in a single game) in order (single first, double second, home run last).

Answer: Charlie Gehringer

Gehringer, Goslin, and Greenberg all played for the Tigers at the same time, leading many to call them the "G-Men". Rogell was Gehringer's double-play partner at shortstop.

6. The 1950 Brooklyn Dodgers featured one of the best defensive infields of all time. Who was the trailblazing second sacker, whose uniform number 42 has been retired by every major league team?

Answer: Jackie Robinson

Hodges was the first baseman, Reese was the shortstop, and Campanella was the catcher. Jackie is most remembered for being the first player of the modern era to break the color barrier in the major leagues, but he was a great player in his own right.

He won the 1947 Rookie of the Year despite tremendous opposition to his being on the field (along with death threats). He also won the 1949 MVP, and eventually led the Dodgers to their first and only Brooklyn-based world championship in 1955. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1962.

7. This Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman is regarded as one of the greatest defensive second baseman to have ever played the game, but he will always be remembered for the game-ending home run he hit in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

Answer: Bill Mazeroski

Stargell and Clemente were famous Pirates from the 1970s, and neither played second base. Joe Carter also ended the 1993 World Series with a series-ending homer, but he played outfield for the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Jays won in 6 (best of 7). Mazeroski's home run was the first in over 50 World Series to cause the opposing players to "walk off" the field in defeat.

8. The Cincinnati Reds of the early 1970s were known as the Big Red Machine, averaging 98 wins per season and featuring stars at practically every position. Which Hall of Fame second baseman was the centerpiece of this team of stars, winning the MVP in both 1975 and 1976?

Answer: Joe Morgan

All four were on the Machine, and Perez (1B), Morgan, and Bench (C) are all in the Hall, but Morgan was the MVP. Rose (3B) would be in the Hall if it were not for his being banned from the game for betting on baseball. In his 2010 "New Historical Baseball Abstract", Morgan was ranked by baseball historian Bill James as the greatest second baseman of all time, ahead of Collins and Hornsby.

9. This famous second baseman began his major-league career as a shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies, but was traded to the Cubs for Ivan DeJesus prior to the 1982 season. Moved to second base, he then proceeded to establish records for most career home runs as a second baseman, and best career fielding percentage by a second baseman. The owner of 9 consecutive Gold Gloves, who is this Cub fan favorite?

Answer: Ryne Sandberg

All four are Hall of Fame Cubs players, but Dawson was an outfielder, Ron Santo played third base, and Banks was a shortstop. Sandberg's record for most HR by a 2B (277) stood until Jeff Kent broke it in 2004. (Hornsby hit more career HR than Sandberg, but some were as a 3B). DeJesus did little after the trade and it is regarded as one of the worst (or best) trades of all time.

10. This second baseman played for seven different teams across 17 seasons, mostly in the 1990s and 2000s, before hanging up his spikes. A complete player, he won 10 Gold Gloves, 4 Silver Slugger awards, and was elected to 12 straight All-Star games (1991 to 2001 inclusive). His legacy was marred somewhat by his spitting in an umpire's face during a dispute in 1996. Name the first player active in the 2000s to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

Answer: Roberto Alomar

Roberto Alomar came up with the Padres in 1988, was traded to the Blue Jays in 1991, and eventually played for the Indians, Orioles, Mets, White Sox, Diamondbacks, and White Sox again before retiring in 2004. The other three players were also great second basemen of the era, but none played for as many teams as Roberto (Kent 6, Carew 2, Biggio 1). Alomar was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2010 on the second ballot, some say because of the spitting incident.

Source: Author eyhung

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2B, or Not 2B? Trivia Quiz

Test your knowledge of famous second basemen (2B) in Major League Baseball history.

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