Major League Baseball: Uncorked Quiz

Answer: Hugh Mulcahy

On March 8, the Phillies pitcher was given his papers to the shock of Phillie fans just prior to the season. Hugh went 13-22 in the 1940 season. Mulcahy missed four seasons, then came back in 1945 to go 1-3 with two strikeouts. Tiger Hank Greenberg was the second player drafted for WWII.

Answer: Hooks Wiltse

On July 4, 1908, Wiltse of the New York Giants saw fireworks, but only in his head. He hit the Phillies' George McQuillan to spoil his own perfect game. Hooks did go on to win the game 1-0 in 10 innings.

Answer: Jim Thome

The others had already hit 600+ home runs in their careers. In Thome's 20th season in Major League Baseball, he was a Minnesota Twin after playing most of his career with the Indians, and being a 2009 Dodger. Jim was 40 years old when number 586 came about, which tied him for eighth all-time with Robinson. Frank Robinson hit his 586 while playing mostly for the Reds and Orioles. Frank played in 21 seasons.

Answer: 2006

In 2006, an amazing 18 players were inducted into the hall. Bruce Sutter was a National League pitcher who retired in 1988. All the others were former Negro League players. They included Raymond Brown, Willard Brown, Andy Cooper, Frank Grant, Pete Hill, Biz Mackey, Effa Manley, Jose Mendez, Alex Pompez, Cum Posey, Louis Sandtop, Mules Suttles, Ben Taylor, Cristobal Torriente, Sol White, J.L. Wilkinson, and Jud Wilson.

In 1988, the only induction into the hall was Willie Stargell of the Pirates.

In 1965, Pud Galvin was the only inductee, and in 1941 there were no inductees.

Answer: Willie Mays

The All-Star Game MVP Award began in 1962. Although Williams retired with a career record of 12 RBIs in All-Star competition, he never won the MVP Award as he retired in 1960. Musial retired in 1963 and didn't win any either. Like Williams, Gehrig retired before the award began. Mays' MVPs came in 1963 and 1968 with the Giants.

Answer: Ed Reulbach

The Cubs pitcher was the only pitcher to experience this. In 1908, the Cubs took on Brooklyn for a doubleheader. Reulbach blanked them in both games, 5-0 and 3-0 on September 26. Ed went 24-7 in the season, and helped the Cubs to a World Series crown against the Tigers. Brooklyn finished seventh of eight teams, 46 games out of first place.

Answer: Cap Anson

On July 18, 1894, Anson of the Chicago Colts (later Cubs) hit safely for the 3000th time in his career. He would go to obtain 3435 hits and retire in 1897. Anson played in 27 seasons. The next to reach 3000 hits was Hall of Famer Pittsburgh's Honus Wagner. After his 21 seasons, he fell only 15 hits short of Anson's career record. Wagner retired in 1917.

Answer: Darrell Evans

The infielder hit 41 home runs with the Braves in 1973. He signed as a free agent with the Tigers in 1983, then hit 40 for them in 1985. It was the only two times that Evans reached the 40 home run mark in his 21 seasons. Darrell retired in 1989 with 414 career home runs.

Answer: Pud Galvin

Galvin pitched for 15 seasons and retired in 1892. He just squeaked by the 6000-mark with 6003.1 innings pitched. Cy Young came along in 1890, then later surpassed Galvin and was the first to reach 7000 innings pitched in 1910. Young's record stood firm for over 135 seasons of baseball, and is one of those that will most likely never be surpassed. Johnson fell short of the 6000-mark with 5914 innings.

Answer: Carl Hubbell

Hubbell won 24 straight for the New York Giants, straddling the 1936 and 1937 seasons. He went 26-6 and 22-8 in those seasons, with 24 consecutive wins sandwiched in-between. Carl won the NL MVP Award in 1933 and 1936.