Famous Managers Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pittsburgh Pirates

Clarke, who finished his career with over 1,600 wins, went 5-for-5 in his first game, a record that had stood for over 100 years.

Answer: Ralph Houk

Houk managed the 1961 Yankees, one of the greatest teams ever in his first season. After repeating in 1962, and winning the American League in 1963, Houk replaced Roy Hamey as Yankees General Manager. Although he'd return to the dugout for the Yankees and also manage in Detroit and Boston, Houk would never again taste the playoffs.

Answer: Joe Torre

Torre was once traded to St Louis for future Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda. In 1990, he took over for the Cardinals from interim manager Red Schoendienst. Bochy fails both prongs of the test. McLain, although also traded for Cepeda, never managed. Bill Russell, who replaced Tommy Lasorda in the Dodgers dugout, was never traded in his career.

Answer: Bill McKechnie

McKechnie won a World Series with Pittsburgh in 1925 and Cincinatti in 1940. Between these stops was a two year stint in St Louis, where McKechnie led the Cardinals to the 1928 World Series (which they lost to the Yankees). McKechnie also managed the Dodgers for 8 years, but never took them higher than fourth place. McCarthy, Anderson, and Lopez only won pennants in two cities.

Answer: Gene Mauch

An incredible feat, Mauch had won 1902 games and never managed in a World Series. Mauch won two division titles with the Angels, losing in the ALCS both years. Mauch was also at the helm of the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies who were pennant bound until suffering one of the most infamous collapses in sports history (and scarring generations of Phillies fans).

Answer: Casey Stengel

Stengel went from managing a Yankees juggernaut that won 10 pennants and 7 championships, to managing the expansion New York Mets, who lost 120 games in 1962.

Answer: Bobby Cox

In 1990, Bobby Cox replaced Russ Nixon in Atlanta's dugout. The Braves finished in last place, 26 games behind first place Cincinnati. In 1991, the Braves won 94 games and the NL West, the first time any National League team had gone worst to first.

The same year, Tom Kelly led the Minnesota Twins to the same feat in the American League. In 1993, Jim Fregosi's Phillies would be the third team to accomplish this.

Answer: Leo Durocher

McGraw and Alston both avoided such incidents, and Rose was suspended for many more than one season. As for Durocher, he missed the 1947 season, during which his replacement Burt Shotton led the Dodgers to the pennant. Durocher is a fascinating man with a lot of great stories about him, most of which are not appropriate for all audiences.

Answer: Matt Morris

Although LaRussa did manage Matt Morris during his first year at the Cardinal, 1997, Morris finished second in the RoY voting to future teammate Scott Rolen, then with the Phillies. Other LaRussa rookies include Jose Canseco, Ozzie Guillen and Mark McGwire.

As for LaRussa, he broke into the big leagues at the age of 18, got a law degree from Florida State fifteen years later, and had his own video game.

Answer: Walter Alston

Although both Zimmer and Hodges played under Stengel, it was Alston who had all four of the future managers under his watch with the Dodgers. It was probably the worst player of the four, Lasorda, who made the best manager. This was right in line with Alston's career. Alston had only one major league at-bat, in which he struck out.

Answer: Joe McCarthy

Although the other choices are all in the top five in this category, McCarthy is far and away the leader. Southworth finished second with a .597 winning percentage in 1,770 games. McCarthy had a .615 winning percentage in 3,487 games - including 9 pennants and 7 championships.

Answer: Bucky Harris

The other three did have early success, but none matched Harris' quick victory. As the youngest manager in baseball at the time, and a fine second baseman, Harris guided Washington to their only championship. They'd get back to the World Series the following year, losing to the Pirates in seven games. Harris then waited 22 years before he returned to the Series, winning it in 1947 with the Yankees.

Answer: Sparky Anderson

Sparky, who led the Big Red Machine to 100 win seasons multiple times, was manager of the 1984 Detroit Tigers who won 104 games. Sparky was also the first manager to win the World Series in both leagues.

Answer: John McGraw

McGraw was not only one of the greatest managers ever, but a great player. In his prime with the old Baltimore Orioles, McGraw was one of the best third baseman in the game and one of the dirtiest. This rowdiness continued over into his time as a manager, setting a record for most ejections in a season and career at the time.

Answer: Connie Mack

Mack was owner of the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901-1950, during which time he built two of the greatest dynasties ever. An incredible talent scout, he brought up such Hall of Famers as Eddie Collins, Home Run Baker, Eddie Plank, Rube Waddell, Al Simmons, Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, and Lefty Grove. The Athletics and Phillies would both play in Connie Mack Stadium.