May in Baseball History Trivia Quiz

Answer: 26

The Superbas' Leon Cadore and Boston's Joe Oeschger ridiculously both went the distance from the mound. Oeschger's last 21 innings of the game were a shutout, setting another baseball record. The game was called in a 1-1 tie. Ironically, Brooklyn went 13 innings in a loss to the Phillies in their next game, then followed that up with a 19-inning loss to Boston in their next.

Answer: Mickey Mantle

The others were Yankees, but they never hit 40 career home runs. Mick was in his 17th season in the pinstripes when number 500 cleared the wall. He hit 22 in the season. Mantle hung up his cleats in 1968 with 536 home runs. After three MVPs and a Triple Crown, 'The Commerce Comet' was inducted into the hall in 1974. He died in 1995.

Answer: Brooks Robinson and Reggie Jackson

Robinson, the 23-season Baltimore Oriole was born in 1937. A 1964 AL MVP, Brooks helped the Orioles to four World Series. Jackson, born in 1946, played with four franchises over 21 seasons. His 'October' nickname was due to his 'stepping up' during the playoffs and hitting 18 postseason home runs. Jackson was inducted into the hall in 1993 and Robinson 10 years earlier.

Answer: Ty Cobb

The others did not win a Triple Crown or ever play for the Tigers. Cobb attacked a heckler in the stands named Claude Luecker, and beat him severely. Unfortunately, Luecker already had only one hand as he lost the other in an accident previously. Ban Johnson, the baseball commissioner, was at the game and suspended Cobb on the spot. Cobb was reinstated after the Tigers lost with their substitute players, 24-2 against the Athletics.

Answer: Ernie Banks

Although all 500 club members, the others never played for the Cubs. Banks, nicknamed 'Mr. Cub', played his entire 19-season career with the C on his jersey. He retired in 1971 with 512 to his credit, after winning the NL MVP in 1958 and 1959. All players listed are Hall of Fame inductees.

Answer: Guy Bush

Bush gave up 16 home runs in the season, but none more historical than the Bambino's last one. Ruth hit six home runs in his final season with the Boston Braves in 1935. He was inducted into the hall the following year, in the Hall of Fame's first year of ceremonies. Ruth died in August 1948.

Answer: 1939

After over a decade, this tremendous streak came to a stop. Due to his illness which he died of in 1941, the Iron Horse could only play in eight games in the 1939 season. He was inducted in the same year that he played his final game, 1939. Lou was a two-time AL MVP and won the Triple Crown in 1934. Eddie Collins and Davey Lopes were also born on May 2nd, but different years.

Answer: Honus Wagner

The others were never Pirates and weren't born yet. Wagner was in his 13th season in 1909. He came from the defunct Louisville Colonels in 1899. Wagner stole 35 bases in the season, and was a far cry from the base stealing crown thief, Ty Cobb. Honus was one of the first five inductees into the Hall of Fame in 1936.

Answer: Chicago White Sox

The Browns were an American League team, and all the others listed were in the National League. On May 5, Ernie Koob of the Browns threw the no-no against the White Sox. The following day, Bob Groom did an impersonation of Koob and duplicated this feat.

Answer: Catfish Hunter

The others never pitched for the Athletics. This game seemed destined to be as there were no tough fielding plays in the game against the Twins. Hunter also had three hits with four RBIs to help his own cause. Following in the footsteps of Curt Flood, Hunter blew the door wide open with arbitration and free agency hearings in 1974, then signed with the Yankees.