Hard I Wasn't Greedy! Quiz / Test | Baseball

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. With most big sluggers having their sights set on joining the 500 Home Run Club, this player settled for much less. He was still inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame very satisfied. Who is he?

Answer: Duke Snider

The others all hit over 500. Duke Snider hit only 407 career home runs and settled for the 400 Home Run Club. Snider played for 18 seasons, and all but two with the Dodgers. He retired in 1964 with a MVP runner-up to teammate Roy Campanella in 1955. Both Banks and Mathews hit 512 home runs, and Murray retired with 504.

2. This player retired just eight games short of a major milestone. He played in 2992 games in his career, and could have been the fourth player in history to play in 3000. Who was this satisfied player?

Answer: Willie Mays

The others are all members of the 3000 Game Club. Pete Rose retired in 1986 at the top of that heap with 3562 games. Musial reached the 3000 plateau in 1963. Since Willie retired in 1973, he watched Cal Ripken Jr., Eddie Murray, and Rickey Henderson surpass the 3000-game plateau, as well as the other two listed.

3. This pitcher fell short of the 3000 Strikeout Club by 145 in his career. He was not a greedy person and retired just short of the milestone. He played most of his career with the Tigers and Phillies. Who is this Hall of Famer?

Answer: Jim Bunning

The others are all members of the 3000 Strikeout Club. Jim played from 1955-1971. In 1967, he was the runner-up for the Cy Young as a Phillie, losing to Mike McCormick of the Giants. Although never throwing more than 260 in a season, he retired with 2855 over 17 seasons, an average of 168 each year. The hall took Bunning in 1996.

4. Retiring as a one-team player, this infielder needed just two more sacrifice flies in his career to be number one in this career category with 129. He didn't need to show that he was a selfish player because of what he had already accomplished in his career. Who was this player?

Answer: Cal Ripken Jr.

The others listed played for more than one team in their careers, and none ever hit more than 85 sacrifice flies. Cal of the Baltimore Orioles from 1981-2001, broke what was deemed as an unreachable record, Lou Gehrig's 2130 consecutive game streak. Ripken's new record stopped in 1998 with 2632 consecutive games played. Ripken won the Rookie of the Year in 1982, his first official rookie season, and two MVPs in 1983 and 1991. Cal was an 18-time all-star.

He was also a 2007 Hall of Fame inductee. Eddie Murray retired on top with 128 sacrifice flies in his career.

5. This pitcher at the end of the 1998 season, needed just 10 more saves to become the second pitcher in history to reach 400, but retired instead. Who was this non-greedy pitcher?

Answer: Dennis Eckersley

With 10 more saves, Eckersley would have become the second pitcher behind Lee Smith who reached the 400-plateau in 1993, then later retired with 478. Both pitchers had been surpassed since then, but Dennis could have had additional bragging rights for an already great career. Eckersley played for five teams in his 24 seasons, and was a 2004 Hall of Fame inductee.

6. When I retired in 1976, I was short 14 home runs of becoming only the fourth player in Major League history hit 600 in a career. That was Ok because I had already won a Rookie of the Year award, two season MVPs, batted for a Triple Crown, and won a World Series MVP. I was so content that the Hall of Fame took me also. Who am I?

Answer: Frank Robinson

The others never reached the 550 home run mark or hit for a Triple Crown in their careers. Robinson began his career with the Reds, and played mostly for them and the Orioles. He retired with 586 home runs, fourth behind the great Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Willie Mays. Frank later went on to manage, and won the Manager of the Year award with Baltimore in 1989.

7. When I retired, I was just three games short of being the first player in baseball history to win 300 career games. I wasn't greedy even though my teams only won two league pennants in my career. Who am I?

Answer: Bobby Mathews

The others all won more than 300 career games, and all did it before the great Cy Young. Mathews played for only 15 seasons from 1871-1887. His career record was 297-248. His two league pennants came with the NL Providence Grays in 1879, and the AA Philadelphia Athletics in 1883. John Clarkson was the first pitcher in history to win 300 games.

8. When I put my glove on the shelf, I needed to cross the plate just four more times to be the first player in baseball history to score 2000 runs. Even still, I was the first player in history to have 2000 RBIs. However, I was tired after my 27 seasons, mostly as a player-manager, and the Hall of Fame took me in the 1930s. Who am I?

Answer: Cap Anson

The others never reached 1800 runs scored or had 1800 RBIs. Anson played in the National Association for five seasons before becoming a player for the NL Chicago White Stockings in 1876, then was their player-manager in 1879 and for the next 19 seasons.

He took the franchise to five National League pennants. Adrian Constantine "Cap" Anson died in 1922, then was inducted into the hall in 1939.

9. I wasn't greedy. I had only been to one World Series in my 19-season career and lost. I just wanted another shot at it. But, because of that, I was the first pitcher in baseball history to allow 500 home runs hit against me. This happened in my last season, so I gave up the game short of 300 wins also. Who am I?

Answer: Robin Roberts

The others never allowed 400 home runs, went to more than one World Series, and all won 300 games in their careers. From 1948-1966, Robin played most of his career with the Phillies. He was a seven-time all-star and led the league four times with the most wins.

Unfortunately, he also led the league five times for allowing the most hits and also the most home runs. Robin's highlight season was in 1952 when he went 28-7, and was the runner-up for the MVP award to Hank Sauer of the Cubs.

10. I had a pretty good playing career with the Pirates, and won the NL Rookie of the Year in 1955, so I wasn't greedy. I later managed them in 1972, then went on to manage three other teams until I retired for good in 1984. I retired just five games short of winning 1000 games as a manager. That was Ok. Who am I?

Answer: Bill Virdon

The others never went to a World Series or became a manager. As a manager, Bill never took his team to a World Series. As a player, he went to one in 1960 with the Pirates. This was a historical series with Bill Mazeroski hitting a walk-off home run in game seven to win it all against the Yankees. Virdon hit three doubles in that series.

In addition to managing the Pirates, he managed the Yankees, Astros, and Expos.

Source: Author Nightmare

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I Wasn't Greedy! Trivia Quiz

Most players goals are to go to a World Series, but some have personal agendas set up also. Yet some are satisfied with what they've done in their career. This quiz is about some who retired very satisfied. I hope that have fun with it! :-)

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