A Fourth Slice of Baseball Online Trivia | MLB Mixture

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. I was a deaf-mute but still won 21 games for the New York Giants in 1904, and 116 games in only nine seasons. After retiring in 1908, I worked in the Illinois School for the Deaf in Jacksonville. I helped another deaf-mute into the Majors to overcome his issues and play with the Cincinnati Reds in the 1940s. Who am I?

Answer: Luther 'Dummy' Taylor

Taylor played from 1900-1908, and all but four games were with the New York Giants. Although Taylor's Giants went to two World Series during his duties in New York, he was never given the opportunity to play in them. After retiring, he helped Dick Sipek become good enough to join the Cincinnati Reds' outfield in 1945. Taylor died in 1958 at the age of 83.

2. At 3'7", I never had a chance to play a major sport until Bill Veeck in 1951 gave me that chance in a Major League baseball game. I appeared as a batter only one time in my career. I walked in that appearance. Who am I?

Answer: Eddie Gaedel

Gaedel is a well-documented stint of the St. Louis Browns' owner Bill Veeck. He had Gaedel pinch-hit in a game against the Tigers and pitcher Bob Cain. Eddie was walked on four pitches. In a postgame interview, Veeck stated to the press that he intended to have Gaedel pinch-hit every time the bases were loaded for the Browns. Major League baseball quickly moved on that and barred players that were 'shorter than normal' from appearing in Major League games.

3. This right-handed pitcher (because his left arm was gone) threw a no-hitter with Cleveland in 1883, then led the league in 1884 in strikeouts. Who was this pitcher?

Answer: Hugh Daily

The others were never pitchers, and they were all born after the turn of the century. Daily went 23-19 with the Cleveland Blues in 1883, the season that he threw his only no-hitter. He also led his league with walks in the season. In 1884, he led the league with an amazing 483 strikeouts, appearing in only 58 games.

He started all those games and completed 56. Daily pitched for only six seasons in his career.

4. Pitcher Mordecai 'Three Fingers' Brown had how many fingers that worked on his throwing hand?

Answer: 2

Contrary to popular belief, and only rumors or inadequate knowledge, Brown had lost two fingers at a nub due to a corn grinder accident on his uncle's farm. His forefinger and little finger were amputated after the accident, but it also left his middle finger crooked and useless, thus having only two fingers that worked. Starting his baseball career as an infielder, he learned to create a special spin on the ball using the nub of his little finger on it, then became a pitcher. Brown was a part of the early 1900 Chicago Cubs, who had the Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance double-play combination. Mordecai won 20+ games in six seasons with the Cubs during their great run.

He also went to four World Series winning two of them, both against the Tigers of Detroit.

5. I lost four toes in a mining accident as a youngster. At the age of 19, I joined the Major Leagues as a Boston Red Sox pitcher. After six full seasons in Boston, with Yankee manager Miller Huggins who saw me, and the Red Sox ownership in need of money, I was then sold to the Yankees in 1930. Just like Babe Ruth, my career took off after I joined the Yankees. I topped my Red Sox season-high in wins 12 times with the Yankees. I was 7-2 in seven World Series with New York. Who am I?

Answer: Red Ruffing

The others were never pitchers. 22 Major League seasons saw Charles 'Red' Ruffing on the mound, mostly for the Yankees. He had four consecutive 20-win seasons in the pinstripes, which all helped the Yankees to the World Series in each season. His seven World Series wins set a record until fellow Yankee Whitey Ford came around and won 10 in World Series play. Red died at the age of 80 in 1986, but saw his induction into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1967.

6. This left-handed pitcher was born with a withered right arm at birth. He still overcame all that and entered the Major Leagues in 1955 as a 22-year old left-handed rookie with the Cleveland Indians. He visited the promised land by pitching in the 1961 World Series with the Yankees, and winning game three against the Cincinnati Reds. He retired after 10 seasons, going 60-64. Who was this American League pitcher?

Answer: Bud Daley

The others were never pitchers and never played in the American League. After three seasons with the Indians, Daley was traded to the Kansas City Athletics where he won 16 games in a season back to back. After his stint with the Athletics, Bud became a Yankee, then retired in 1964. His only World Series at-bat was with the 1961 Yankees when he hit a RBI sacrifice fly.

7. This Angel was extremely short for an outfielder at 5'5", but he played for nine seasons in the American League. He was the 1958 American League Rookie of the Year as a Washington Senator. Who was his player?

Answer: Albie Pearson

The others listed never played for the Senator or Angels. Pearson played from 1958-1966, with six of those seasons as an Angel. He led the league with singles in 1963. 1963 was Albie's only all-star appearance. Despite his size, Pearson hit 28 home runs in his career. He retired at the age of 31. Unfortunately, Pearson never saw a World Series game.

8. I had a lot of issues going against me, but I overcame them all. I was a deaf-mute. I was also only 5'4" tall and weighed 148 lbs when I came into the National League. Although nobody gave me a chance until I was 26, I was the first 'handicapped' player to amass over 2000 hits in my career and I played for 14 seasons. I even led the league once in stolen bases. Who am I?

Answer: William 'Dummy' Hoy

Hoy began his career in 1888 with the National League Washington Senators. He played in the Players League and the American Association before coming back to the National League, then retiring as a Cincinnati Red in 1902. He led the National League in his rookie season by stealing 82 bases. Hoy retired with 2044 career hits.

9. Was it a handicap? Before Randy Johnson came into the Major Leagues, I was the tallest pitcher in the Majors. I played with the Braves, Phillies, and Red Sox. I was also a member of the Boston Celtics during the winter months. Who am I?

Answer: Gene Conley

Ainge did play in both the NBA and Major League baseball, but it was Conley who won 91 games over 11 seasons. Gene went to only one World Series with the Milwaukee Braves, winning four games to three over the Yankees.

10. Which of the following was a one-handed Angel left-handed pitcher, who came directly from the University of Michigan, and as a Yankee in 1993, threw a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians?

Answer: Jim Abbott

With only one hand, Abbott won 18 games for the Angels in 1991. He was third in the Cy Young voting in 1991 behind Roger Clemens of the Red Sox and Scott Erickson of the Twins. In December 1992, he was traded to the Yankees where he threw his no-hitter the following season.

After 10 seasons in the big leagues, Jim had his ups and downs, and retired with a 87-108 career record. He retired at the age of 31 in 1999.

Source: Author Nightmare

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A Fourth Slice of Baseball Trivia Quiz

Another slice of Major League baseball with a lot of meat for the baseball novices. This one is about so-called handicapped players of the game. All multiple choice. Enjoy! :-)

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