It's My Birthday! Quiz | Baseball

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A New Years baby in 1975, this young man grew up to hit two grand slams in the same inning for the St. Louis Cardinals. Who is this?

Answer: Fernando Tatis

On April 23, 1999, the Cardinal third baseman hit two grand slams in the third inning of a game against the Dodgers. It was Fernando's third season in the Majors. He also hit a career high 34 home runs in that season. In 1936, New York Yankee Tony Lazzeri was the first player in history to hit two grand slams in the same game.

2. A New York New Year's newborn in 1911, this future Hall of Famer hit 30+ home runs six times in his career, including a career high 58 in 1938. A two-time American League MVP, he led the league four times in home runs. Who is he?

Answer: Hank Greenberg

Hank played his first 12 of 13 seasons as a Detroit Tiger. He banged out 306 home runs for the Tigers. His MVPs came in 1935 and 1940. Greenberg helped the Tigers to four World Series while winning two. After retiring in 1947, the Hall of Fame took him in 1956, and he died 30 years later.

3. Born April 1, 1939, this future Hall of Fame pitcher was no April Fool's joke. He went on to pitch in 24 seasons, mostly for the Braves, and won over 300 games in his career. Who is this pitcher?

Answer: Phil Niekro

Phil started up in 1964 with the Braves in Milwaukee, then made the move to Atlanta with the team in 1966. His first 20-win season was in 1969 when he went 23-13, and gave him the runner-up spot for the Cy Young Award to Tom Seaver of the Mets. Niekro retired in 1987 with a 318-274 record, then was inducted into the hall in 1997 along with Nellie Fox, Tom Lasorda, and Willie Wells.

4. Born on the 4th of July in 1859, this future Hall of Famer was a 30-game winner four times in his career, including a 44-11 record with the New York Giants. Who was this born Michael Francis __________?

Answer: Mickey Welch

Welch began his career with the Troy Trojans of the National League in 1880. He joined the Giants in 1883, and played the rest of his 13 seasons with them. Mickey retired with a 307-210 record along with 1850 strikeouts. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973.

5. This July 4th newborn brought joy to his Pennsylvania family in 1929. They would continue to share the joy and watch him manage the Pittsburgh Pirates for nine seasons. Who was this manager?

Answer: Chuck Tanner

Chuck also played for eight seasons in the Majors, but not for a Pennsylvania team and retired in 1962. He took up managing in 1970 by taking over the White Sox for six seasons. After a year in Oakland in 1976, he came home to helm the Pirates. He took the Pirates to a 1979 World Series Championship against the Orioles. His final managerial season was with the Braves in 1988.

6. How ironic was it that this Hall of Fame inductee was born on Halloween Day in 1900. He grew up and made his name by wearing a mask throughout his career. Who was this?

Answer: Cal Hubbard

Hubbard was the first person inducted into both the Pro Football and Major League Baseball Hall of Fames. In his football career, he played for the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers on their defense. Built like a football player, Cal was considered huge for an Major League umpire, but was still clocked at running the 100-yard dash in under 11 seconds.

He became an Major League umpire in 1936 and continued for over 20 seasons. Cal was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame just one year before his death in 1977.

7. Born on November 11, 1898, the future date selected for U.S. Veterans Day and Canada'a Rememberance Day, this 17-season Pittsburgh Pirate and Hall of Fame member never was in the top three for a batting award or MVP, but was a fixture at third base. He retired with a .320 average. Who was this born Harold Joseph _______?

Answer: Pie Traynor

Traynor was in the top ten for the MVP voting six times. His career best average was .366 in 1930. He led the league in triples in 1923 with 19. The hall took him in 1948.

8. Born on Christmas Day in Burlington, Iowa, in 1938, this pitcher could never really get his career off the ground. He played from 1962-1969, and played with six different teams including the Phillies, Tigers, Mets, Angels, Indians, and White Sox. Who is this pitcher?

Answer: Jack Hamilton

The Phillies couldn't find a spot for him in the rotation after starting 26 games, so they put him in the bullpen in his first season. He wound up 9-12. His best season was in 1967, splitting the season between the Mets and Angels, while going 11-6.

9. This 1935 Christmas Day newborn, later was a pretty good pitcher until he went to the New York Mets in 1962. Then he would lose 20 games in a season twice in a Mets uniform. Who was this?

Answer: Al Jackson

Al played only two seasons for the Pirates before joining the newly formed Mets in 1962. Right out of the gates, he went 8-20 in the season, and watched his Mets lose 120 games. Teammate Roger Craig went 10-24 and Jay Hook went 10-19 in that season.

In 1965, Jackson duplicated his 8-20 record. Teammate Jack Fisher also went 8-24 in that season. The Mets lost 100+ games in those fourth consecutive seasons.

10. This future Major League umpire missed being a New Years baby by 41 minutes. He was born on December 31, 1870, in Manchester, England. Who was this future Hall of Famer?

Answer: Tom Connolly

Connolly umpired in three seasons for the National League, then joined the new American League in 1901 for another 31 seasons. Known as the harshest era of baseball, Tom was known for his consistency and fairness amongst the players. The players showed him a great deal of respect in return, and he rarely threw anyone out of a game. Connolly umpired in eight World Series, including the inaugural World Series in 1903.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1953, then died in 1961.

Source: Author Nightmare

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It's My Birthday! Trivia Quiz

Some little tykes that brought joy to their families by being born on special days of the year, then went on to become someone special in the world of baseball. I hope that you enjoy it. :-)

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