Nicknames of Early Baseball Players Quiz

Answer: Honus Wagner

Despite his nickname, Wagner's heritage was German rather than Dutch. Born in Pennsylvania in 1874, Johannes Peter Wagner played nearly all his baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates in a career lasting from 1897 until 1917. He won eight National League batting titles during his career and was one of the first five players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.

Answer: Bill Terry

Adonis was Bill Terry, a former MLB player who played for the New York Giants from 1923 to 1936. He was also a successful manager, leading the Giants to three National League pennants and one World Series championship. His nickname of Adonis was given to him due to his good looks and athletic build. Terry's legacy in baseball was recognised when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954.

Answer: Paul Waner

Paul Waner played from 1926 to 1945, primarily with the Pittsburgh Pirates although he had short term contracts with other teams towards the end of his career. He was known for his exceptional hitting ability and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.

His brother Lloyd was also a professional baseball player and they were known as the 'Big Poison' and the 'Little Poison'. One source says the nicknames came from the announcer at a game whose Brooklyn accent made the word 'person' sound like 'poison'. Lloyd also became a Hall of Fame inductee but not until 1967.

Answer: Lou Gehrig

Lou Gehrig played for the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1939 and was one of the greatest players in MLB history. Gehrig's career was tragically cut short by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is now commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease in the USA. Despite his illness, Gehrig's legacy lives on as a symbol of perseverance and strength in the face of adversity.

Lou Gehrig was given his nickname due to his incredible durability and consecutive games played - a streak of 2,130 games. Gehrig was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1939 in a special election, called when the nature of his illness became clear. He died in 1941.

Answer: Leon Goslin

Leon Goslin was a left fielder who played for the Washington Senators and Detroit Tigers in the 1920s and 1930s. He was known for his powerful hitting, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1968. He was part of the Senators' World Series championship team in 1924, and he led the American League in RBI twice during his career.

His nickname reportedly came from his tendency to flap his arms like a goose while running.

Answer: Harry Lowrey

Harry Lowrey was a professional baseball player who played mainly for the Chicago Cubs and also for the Cincinnati Reds, St Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies in the 1940s and 1950s. He was given the nickname 'Peanuts' due to his small stature, standing at only 5'7" and weighing 155 pounds.

He was known for his speed and defensive skills, playing primarily as an outfielder. Despite his size, he was also a consistent hitter, with a career batting average of .273. His nickname is just one example of the many colourful and memorable monikers given to baseball players during the sport's golden age.

Answer: Eddie Stanky

Eddie Stanky, was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1943 to 1953. He was known for his aggressive playing style and his ability to get on base, leading the league in walks four times during his career. Despite his success on the field, he was often a controversial figure, known for his arguments with umpires and his tendency to get under the skin of opposing players.

His longest stay with any team was from 1944 until 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The nickname of 'The Brat' was the result of his on field persona.

Answer: Leo Durocher

Leo Durocher was a former MLB player and manager. He had a successful career, winning three National League pennants and one World Series as a manager. He was also a talented shortstop during his playing days, earning All-Star honours three times. He earned his nickname due to his tendency to argue with umpires and opponents.

Despite his fiery personality, Durocher was beloved by many players and fans for his passion for the game. Durocher was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.

Answer: Walter Johnson

Walter Johnson played his whole career, lasting from 1907 until 1927, with the Washington Senators. He was a pitcher and was renowned for his good nature and sportsmanship. Johnson had several nicknames, with 'Barney', 'Sir Walter' and 'The White Knight' among them. 'The Big Train' was the name given to him by a sportswriter based on the speed of his pitching which he compared to an express train.

He, like Honus Wagner mentioned earlier in the quiz, was one of the first group of five players elected the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.

The other three, not mentioned in this quiz, were Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Christy Mathewson.

Answer: Ernie Lombardi

Lombardi's career lasted from 1931 until 1947 with most of it spent, as a catcher, with the Cincinnati Reds although he did spend the final four years with the New York Giants. He was tall and heavily built and is often described as being the 'slowest man to play baseball well' - his statistics reflect the strength of his arm. Lombardi was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986.

The nickname of 'Schnozz' refers to the size of his nose, but he was also known as 'Lumbago' and 'The Cyrano of the Iron Mask' among other names.