Peppers, Cilantro, and Baseball [2] Quiz

Answer: Minnesota Twins

The Twins won 88 games in the AL Central for the season, one shy of the White Sox. The Red Sox took the wildcard by winning seven more games than the Twins. The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Rays in the World Series.

Answer: Roger Maris

Maris' 61 broke Babe Ruth's record of 60 that the Babe hit in 1927. Roger and teammate Mickey Mantle of the Yankees helped them to a 1961 World Series win. Robinson's season high in the 1960s was 49 that he hit in 1966 as an Oriole. Aaron hit 45 in 1962 with the Braves, and Banks hit 41 in 1960 for the Cubs.

Answer: Federal

The Federal League tried to give the National and American a run for their money in hopes of becoming the third Major League. It didn't happen though as the Federal League only existed in two seasons from 1914-1915. The league fielded eight of the same teams in both seasons. The Indianapolis Hoosiers took the league crown in 1914, and the St. Louis Terriers won it in 1915.

Answer: Bill Klem

Umpire Bill Klem set a "Cy Young" record, and one that nobody will ever take away from him. Klem umpired an amazing 18 World Series from 1908-1940. The others listed appeared in only five different World Series. All these umpires were inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame.

Answer: Don Sutton

Sutton played for 23 seasons, and received most of his paychecks from the Dodgers. He went 324-256 in his career. He was mostly unnoticed because he was a 20-game winner only one time. The hall took Don in 1998. Roberts won 286 and was inducted in 1976. Jenkins won 284 and saw his induction in 1991. Bob Feller of the Indians won 266, and the hall took him in 1962.

Answer: 1983

Tony LaRussa of the Chicago White Sox and Tom Lasorda of the Los Angeles Dodgers were the first recepients. Both teams would go on to lose in the ALCS and NLCS in that season. Jim Frey of the Cubs and Sparky Anderson of the Tigers would win it in 1984. Anderson would be the first manager to win the award twice, as he won it again with the Tigers in 1987.

Answer: White Sox

The Rangers surprisingly out-blasted the Ray and Yankees with 194. Both the Rays and Yankees hit 180. The White Sox were the only American League team to reach the 200-mark, and hit 235 in the season. Eight White Sox players hit home runs in double-figures, and Carlos Quentin led the team with 36. Both Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome hit 34 each.

In the National League, two teams reached the 200 home run mark. The Phillies led the charge with 214, and the Marlins hit 208.

Answer: Ken Griffey Jr.

None of the others ever went to a postseason. Junior, while with the Mariners, hit five home runs in the 1995 ALDS against the Yankees. He also batted .391 in the series to the help the Mariners down the Yankees, three games to two. However, the Mariners would lose to the Indians in the ALCS.

Answer: Satchel Paige

The other pitchers won over 200 games in their careers except for Babe Ruth who won 94. At any rate, Ruth was not inducted as a pitcher but still won over 50. The Babe went 94-46 in his career from the mound. Paige went only 28-31 in the Majors over six seasons.

He was most noted for winning over 2000 games (undocumented) in the Negro Leagues. He came to the American League in 1948 with the Indians. His final game was a one-time comeback appearance in 1965 with the Royals. Satchel was 59 years old in that game.

The hall inducted Paige in 1971.

Answer: Barry Bonds

Bonds won three MVPs in the decade. He won them in 1990 and 1992 with the Pirates, then in 1993 with the Giants. Both Gonzalez and Thomas won two each. The three were the only multiple MVP winners in the decade. McGwire didn't win any in the 1990s.