Baseball to Sweat For: Pt. 4 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Johnny Podres

The award was first presented in 1955. The Brooklyn Dodgers won their first World Series in 1955 after winning 11 National League pennants throughout their franchise history. Pitcher Johnny Podres won two games in the four games to three win over the Yankees. Dodger outfielder Duke Snider batted .320 and hit four home runs in the series for the Dodgers also.

Answer: Coveleski

Harry Coveleski of the Detroit Tigers went 22-12 in 1914, 22-13 in 1915, and then 21-11 in 1916. His younger brother Stan won 20+ games in a season five times, with four pitching for the Indians. Stan's first 20-game season was in 1918 when he went 22-13.

His fifth was with the Washington Senators, combining with the great Walter Johnson on that team to win the American League pennant in 1925.

Answer: Roy Campanella

Aaron wore the number 44 with the Braves and Brewers, McCovey with the Giants, and Jackson with the Yankees. Campanella came into Major League baseball with the Dodgers in 1948 as a catcher. He made an immediate impact and won the NL MVP in 1951, 1953, and 1955.

He wore the number 39. Unfortunately, his career would end in its prime in an automobile accident in 1957. Roy was inducted into the hall in 1969. Campanella was considered by some as the second greatest catcher in baseball history, behind Yankee Yogi Berra.

Answer: John McGraw

Not counting the 1899 Baltimore Orioles of the National League, McGraw began his Major League managing career with the Baltimore Orioles (later Yankees) of the American League in 1901. In 1902, John moved over to the National League New York Giants to begin his 31-season reign over that club.

In 1912, he won his 1000th career game as a manager. He retired with 2763 wins. Connie Mack managed the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League from 1894-1896, but was not in the Major League experience.

He took over the Philadelphia Athletics in the new American League in 1901, and kept his seat at the helm until 1950. In 1913, Mack obtained his 1000th victory in the Major Leagues. Mack retired with 3731 wins as a manager. In 1925, Huggins with the Cardinals and Yankees, won his 1000th game. Chance never won 1000 as a manager.

Answer: Mickey Mantle

Mantle played his entire career with the Yankees from 1951-1968. His only batting title came in 1956 when he won the Triple Crown. He batted .353 compared to the runner-up of .345 by Boston's Ted Williams. Pete Rose, a switch-hitter also, won three batting titles in his career, the first being in 1968 with the Reds. Neither Hornsby or Christensen were switch-hitters, but they did win a batting title.

Answer: Vince Coleman

Coleman of the St. Louis Cardinals straddled his streak between the 1988 and 1989 season. He stole 50 before being caught by Nelson Santovenia of the Montreal Expos on July 28, 1989. Coleman stole more than 100 bases three times in his 13 seasons. He retired with 752 thefts, well short of Rickey Henderson who was the first to steal 1000 career bases, and who retired with 1406.

Answer: Gene Paulette

Paulette played for only six seasons off and on from 1911-1920. In 1919, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals before being traded mid-season to the Phillies. When approached about gambling on baseball, he admitted it to the baseball commissioner. Some say this was a stupid move on his part. His final Major League game due to this was on October 3, 1920.

Answer: Dodgers

The Astros beat the Dodgers in that playoff game, giving them their first divison championship, and the right to meet the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS. They Astros defeated the Dodgers 7-1 in the playoff, and Joe Niekro took the celebratory win on October 6th. But, the Phillies downed the Astros three games to two in the NLCS, then went on to win it all in the World Series against the Royals.

Answer: Warren Spahn

The others never won 20 games in a season after age 30, and Paige never won 20 games in a season in Major League baseball. At 42 years old, Spahn threw his 13th and final 20-win season with the Braves of Milwaukee in 1963. Spahn retired in 1965 after 21 seasons with 363 wins. He was an easy Hall of Fame inductee in 1973.

Answer: Washington Senators

In 1904, the Senators went a dismal 38-113 while watching Boston throw them 55.5 games behind first place for the season. The Philadelphia Phillies also went 52-100 in 1904. The first Major League team to win 100 games in a season was the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates who went 103-36.