Baseball With a Hard Curve Trivia Quiz

Answer: Nobody won it

Leon Czolgosz shot President McKinley twice on September 6, 1901, at what was called the Temple of Music. McKinley survived that day, but died eight days later of gangrene after the surgery. Czolgosz confessed to the shooting and stated, "I killed President McKinley because I done my duty. I didn't believe one man should have so much service and another man shoud have none." Czolgosz was executed via the electric chair only 53 days later at Auburn State Prison.

The 23rd President, Benjamin Harrison, also died earlier in 1901 at the age of 67.

There was no World Series in 1901, which might have given America a little vent. The first World Series occurred in 1903, resulting in the Boston Pilgrims being victorious over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Answer: Franklin Roosevelt

The other Presidents passed away many years prior. After multiple terms in office, Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. He was 63 years old and was succeeded by Harry Truman. 1945 was also the start of a dry spell for the Cubs which would last for over 50 years of not making an appearance in a World Series.

In 1945, the Detroit Tigers defeated the Cubs in the promised land, four games to three.

Answer: George H. Bush

The others had died well before the turn of the century. The senior Bush was born in 1924, and waited 81 years for his Red Sox to bring home the title. Bush served from 1989-1993. The Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, four games to none.

Answer: Ronald Reagan

Gerald Ford survived an assassination attempt six years earlier. Reagan, the 40th President, was shot outside the Washington Hilton Hotel on March 30. James Brady, police officer Thomas Delahanty, and Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy, were also shot in the assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr. Major League Baseball proceeded on with the 1981 season, and later watched the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the New York Yankees in the World Series, four games to two. Rollie Fingers of the Milwaukee Brewers, won both the AL MVP and the AL Cy Young awards.

Answer: John F. Kennedy

The closest to the presidency of the others listed was Hoover, but he was still more than 20 years away from 1961. Harrison, the ninth President, served only a few days in office before he died in 1841. JFK was gave his inaugural address in January 1961, and experienced Maris' record-breaking season. Maris created one of the most famous asterisks in baseball by hitting his 61 in a 162 game season, versus Ruth, who in 1927 hit 60 in a 154 game season. Mark McGwire erased this asterisk in the history books by hitting 70 in 1998 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Answer: Theodore Roosevelt

1905 was the year, and the New York Giants had the game. Roosevelt, the 26th President from 1901-1909, watched his hometown Giants lead the National League with 105 wins, then go on to win the second World Series in history, defeating the Philadelphia Athletics, four games to one.

Answer: John F. Kennedy

Behind the pitching of Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Johnny Podres, the Yankees scored only four runs in the entire series in October. On November 22, 1963, and following with much controversy, Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed President Kennedy. Kennedy was laid to rest on November 25th. Oswald was later shot to death during a jail transfer by nightclub owner, Jack Ruby, who later died in prison of cancer.

Answer: Ulysses S. Grant

The National League was formed near the end of the 18th President's second term in office. Grant served from 1869-1877. 1876 was the year that saw the emergence of the National League. The teams were the Chicago Cubs won the first National League pennant, St. Louis Brown Stockings, Hartford Dark Blues, Boston Red Caps, Louisville Grays, New York Mutuals, Philadelphia Athletics, and finally, the last place Cincinnati Reds. President Grant, who was born in Ohio, would later watch his hometown Cleveland Spiders be led by pitcher Cy Young.

Answer: Dwight Eisenhower

Eisenhower, the 34th President from 1953-1961, watched the first presentation of the award to Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Don Newcombe, who went 27-7 in 1956. Taft watched the first MVP Awards be presented in 1911, to Cubs' Frank Schulte and the Tigers' Ty Cobb. Roosevelt watched the Hall of Fame open its doors for the first time in 1936. Reagan was in office when the first Manager of the Year Award was presented in 1983.

Answer: Woodrow Wilson

Wilson was the 28th President, and served from 1913-1921. Ruth was sold by the Red Sox and Harry Frazee to the Yankees. Thus created the 'Curse of the Bambino', which allegedly kept the Red Sox from winning a World Series until the existence of time. The 'curse' was broken by the 2004 Red Sox team, who defeated the Cardinals in the World Series.