Baseball Franchises: First 50 Seasons Online Trivia | Sports

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Detroit Tigers franchise began in 1901 with the new American League, and Ty Cobb virtually set every career batting record for the Tigers. In their first 50 seasons, who led the team with the most career home runs?

Answer: Hank Greenberg

The others never played for the Tigers. From 1930-1947, Greenberg played for the Tigers except for his final season with the Pirates. He hit 306 career home runs for Detroit in his 12 seasons with them. Hank won the AL MVP in 1935 and 1940. His monstrous season of 1938 saw him hit 58 home runs, but finished in third place for the MVP behind Jimmie Foxx of the Red Sox, and Bill Dickey of the Yankees.

The next Tiger to surpass Greenberg was Al Kaline in 1968, when he hit his 307th home run.

2. The 2008 Atlanta Braves' franchise began in 1876 as the Boston Red Caps. They changed to the infamous "Boston Beaneaters" name from 1883-1906. Who was the franchise's first player to have over 200 hits in a season?

Answer: Hugh Duffy

The others were all pitchers, and never played for the Boston franchise. Duffy played for only nine of his seventeen seasons with the NL Boston club, and had 237 hits in the 1884 season. His mark would not only be good for the franchise's first 50 seasons, but would stand for more than 100.

It wasn't even until 1945 that Tommy Holmes came close to Hugh, by hitting 224 times in the season.

3. The Washington Senators franchise began in 1901 in the American League, and would keep the Senator name for more than 50 seasons. Which Senator led the franchise with an amazing 110 career shutouts not only for the first 50 seasons, but for more than 100 seasons?

Answer: Walter Johnson

The others listed never played for the Senators, nor threw more than 50 career shutouts. The franchise moved after 60 seasons in Washington to become the Minnesota Twins in 1961. The great Walter Johnson, who played for Washington from 1907-1927, threw the 110 blanks in his career.

The only Senator close was Dutch Leonard who threw 23 as a Senator. Johnson threw three Triple Crowns and won two AL MVPs in his career. He took home one World Series ring in 1924, although going only 1-2 against the New York Giants in the series.

The Hall of Fame took Johnson in 1936, as one of the first five ever inducted into the hall.

4. The Chicago Cubs franchise began with the new National League in 1876 as the Chicago White Stockings. In those next 50 seasons, who led the franchise with the most hits?

Answer: Cap Anson

The others never played for the Chicago franchise. Even throughout the 20th century, Anson had the most career hits of any Chicago player. He played for the franchise from 1876-1897, after playing for the Rockford Forest Citys of the National Association in 1871, then the Philadelphia Athletics of the same league from 1872-1875.

He hit 2995 times for Chicago, and 3418 overall with the two other teams that he played with. The Chicago franchise began as the Chicago White Stockings in 1876, then from 1890-1897 they were known as the Colts.

In 1898, they changed their name to the Chicago Orphans until 1902, then became the Cubs in 1903. From 1876-1886, the franchise won six National League pennants.

5. The American League Boston franchise began as the Boston Americans in 1901, then became the Red Sox by name in 1908. In those first 50 seasons of the franchise, which pitcher won the most games in a season?

Answer: "Smokey" Joe Wood

Wood was the only Red Sox player listed, played for the Red Sox from 1908-1915, then finished his career with the Indians from 1917-1920. Joe's season-best was in 1912, when he went 34-5, but finished fifth for the MVP behind Tris Speaker, Ed Walsh, Walter Johnson, and Clyde Milan, respectively.

6. The Philadelphia Athletics of the early National Association was not connected to the new Philadelphia Athletics of the American League in 1901. In 50 seasons of Philadephia's AL team, who led the team with the most career wins?

Answer: Eddie Plank

The others were pitchers, but never played for the Philadelphia Athletics. Eddie played Major League baseball from 1901-1917, with 14 of those seasons with the Athletics. He threw 284 wins for the team, and went 326-194 overall in his career. Seven times as an Athletic, Plank won 20+ games in a season.

In 1911, he went 23-8 while leading the league in saves also. Eddie was a 1946 Hall of Fame inductee, 20 years after he died.

7. The American League Cleveland franchise began in 1901 with another seven teams for the new American League. The franchise began with the name of the Blues in 1901, then Bronchos in 1902, and the Naps in 1903, before finding the Indians name in 1915. Who was the first player to steal 50 bases in a season?

Answer: Ray Chapman

The others never played for Cleveland, nor ever stole more than 13 bases in a season. Chapman stole 52 in 1917. Teammate Braggo Roth also stole 51 in the season, but Chapman was the first to reach the plateau. It would not be until 1980 when Miguel Dilone stole 61 bases to be the third to reach the 50-season mark for the franchise. Chapman would later die in 1920, a result of being hit in the head by a pitch from Yankee Carl Mays.

He was the first casualty in Major League history from an on-field incident.

8. The Los Angeles Dodger franchise began in 1884 as the Brooklyn Atlantics of the American Association. After a few name changes, they joined the National League in 1890, where they stayed throughout the 20th century. How many players of this franchise were inducted into the Hall of Fame in the franchise's first 50 seasons?

Answer: 0

The Hall of Fame did not begin inducting until 1936, outside the 50-season window of 1884. The first five inductees in 1936 were Ty Cobb of the Tigers, Walter Johnson of the Senators, Christy Mathewson of the Giants, Babe Ruth of the Yankees, and Honus Wagner of the Pirates. The first person ever connnected to the Brooklyn franchise to be inducted was Willie Keeler in 1939, but played most of his career with New York of the AL.

9. A franchise began in 1901 in the American League as the Baltimore Orioles, managed by John McGraw. In 1903, the franchise would move to New York to become the Highlanders. In 1913, they took on the name of the Yankees. Who would be the franchise's first pitcher to win 25 games in a season?

Answer: Jack Chesbro

Chesbro would the Gomez beat by 30 seasons, and the other two by more than 50 seasons. Chesbro went 41-12 with the Highlanders in 1904. It was the second time that he led the AL in wins. If not for the MVP not being awarded until 1911, it would have been a close race for Chesbro. Jack also played for the Pirates and Red Sox. Overall, he went 198-132 over 11 seasons, and was a 1946 Hall of Fame inductee.

He died 15 years earlier.

10. The Pittsburgh Pirate franchise began in 1882 as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys, until they changed their name to the Pirates in 1891. Who was the first player to hit more than 30 triples in a season for the franchise, which would be a Major League record that would last for over 50 seasons?

Answer: Chief Wilson

The others were all pitchers, and never played for the Pittsburgh franchise. Wilson's 36 triples in 1912 not only would stand for 50 seasons for the franchise, but would withstand the rest of the 20th century for a Major League baseball record also. His greatest season was also in 1912, batting .300 with 11 home runs, 175 hits, and a slugging percentage of .513. John Owen "Chief" Wilson played for only nine total seasons, and retired in 1916.

Source: Author Nightmare

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Baseball Franchises: First 50 Seasons Quiz

A challenge in all multiple choice to see if you can identify things in the first 50 seasons of a franchise. I hope that you enjoy it! :-)

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