Scrappy Second Basemen Trivia Quiz

Answer: Eddie Stanky

When the combative Eddie Stanky was a Dodger, he earned this assessment from his equally combative manager, Leo Durocher: "He can't hit, can't run, can't field. He's no nice guy, but all the little (such and such) can do is win." Stanky later went on to manage the Cardinals, White Sox, and, very briefly, the Rangers.

He was also a successful college coach at the University of South Alabama. Eddie Miksis was a utility infielder for the Dodgers who served as a backup to Jackie Robinson in the late 40s; he was later a regular second baseman for a few seasons with the Cubs.

As a pinch-runner, he scored the winning run off of Cookie Lavagetto's famous hit that broke up Bill Bevens' no-hitter in the 1947 World Series. Chuck Hiller was a light-hitting second-baseman for the Giants in the early 60s; he surprised everyone by hitting a grand slam in the 1962 World Series. Tony Cuccinello was a steady second-sacker for the Dodgers and Braves in the 30s.

In 1945, with the White Sox, he missed winning the batting title by one percentage point.

He was later a long-time coach with the White Sox.

Answer: Johnny Evers

Adams wrote his famous lines in 1910: "These are the saddest of possible words, Tinker to Evers to Chance." Johnny Evers was feisty to a fault, and got along with no one in particular, especially his double-play combo mate, Joe Tinker. He was a gamer, though, and helped the Cubs to several National League championships, as well as the "Miracle Braves" of 1914. All four players listed here are in the Hall of Fame. Eddie ("Cocky") Collins, Charlie ("The Mechanical Man") Gehringer, and Frankie ("The Fordham Flash") Frisch were, all things considered, too talented to be given the "scrappy" label, although Frisch was something of a fireball.

Answer: Tony Womack

Tony Womack is typical of infielders who have made up for lack of batting prowess by using speed to scratch and claw their way on base. Womack played shortstop for the World Champion Diamondbacks in 2001, but was at second base for the pennant-winning Cardinals in 2004. Mark Bellhorn was the other second baseman in the 2004 series with the Boston Red Sox, but he never appeared in any other World Series in previous stints with the A's, Cubs, or Rockies. Mark Grudzielanek has been a dependable second baseman with a number of National League clubs and was five outs away from getting to the World Series with the 2003 Cubs; he replaced Womack for the Cards after the 2004 season. Alfonso Soriano saw World Series action with the Yanks in 2001 and 2003, before being traded to the Rangers for Alex Rodriguez prior to the 2004 season.

Answer: Phil Garner

Whether with the A's, Pirates, or Astros, Phil Garner was a tough out in the clutch and a tenacious second baseman. He went on to become a respected manager. The other three second basemen spent their entire careers with each of these teams: Bill Mazeroski, probably the best second baseman of his era, with the Pirates; Dick Green, a fine gloveman, with the A's; and Craig Biggio, an all-around talent, who played catcher and center field as well, with the Astros.

Answer: Nellie Fox

Nellie Fox, hustling sparkplug for the "Go-Go Sox", was instrumental to the White Sox drive to the 1959 American League pennant and, along with shortstop Louis Aparicio, formed one of the best double-play combinations in baseball history. He was posthumously elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997.

In 1959, Bobby Richardson, "God's Second Baseman", was playing for the Yankees, while Frank Bolling, an excellent fielder who was later traded to the Braves, held down the position for the Tigers. Pete Runnels, just as often a first baseman in his career and a spray hitter who won batting titles in 1960 and 1962, was at second for the Red Sox.

Answer: Chuck Knoblauch

Chuck Knoblauch broke in with the Twins in 1991 and helped that team to a world championship. He was a fixture at second base with Minnesota until 1998, when, after a bitter salary dispute, he was traded to the Yankees, with whom he played in four more World Series. Mark Lemke, who spent most of his career with the Braves, deserves special note because in the '91 Series he was Knoblauch's mirror image: a hard-nosed little guy who drove the other team crazy. Steve Sax, who had a largely successful career with the Dodgers in the 80s and later played with the Yanks, was similar to Knoblauch insofar as he, too, developed a mental block about throwing to first. Willie Randolph smoothly handled the pivot for the Yankees in the late 70s on into the 80s.

He coached for many years with the Yanks and became manager of the Mets in 2005.

Answer: Wally Backman

Wally Backman was a "dirty uniform" player in the manner of teammates like Lenny Dykstra. He was fired only days after being named Diamondbacks manager in 2004 when facts about various scrapes with the law came to light. Felix Millan, traded from the Braves to the Mets in 1973, was a slick fielder who helped the Mets to the National League pennant that year.

He won two Gold Gloves while with the Braves. Manny Trillo was another slick second baseman whose most important years were with the Cubs and the Phillies.

He was a major factor in the Phils' World Championship in 1980 and was named MVP of the League Championship Series that year. Tom Herr was a steady influence on a Cardinals team that went to three World Series in the 1980s and provided an efficient double-play partner for shortstop Ozzie Smith.

Answer: Billy Martin

Billy Martin, fiery on and off the field long before his mercurial managerial career, shook up the baseball world by going 12 for 24 with two home runs for the Yankees against the Dodgers in 1953. Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst anchored the Cardinals infield in the 40s and 50s.

He saw World Series action in 1946 and played in two more Series with the Braves in 1957 and 1958. After a bout with tuberculosis, he finished his career in St. Louis and later became a successful manager with the Cards. Bobby Avila, the pride of Veracruz, Mexico, played second for the Indians through the 1950s.

He won the AL batting title in 1954 and went to the World Series that year. Billy Goodman was a versatile infielder with the Red Sox in the 40s and 50s.

He won the AL batting title in 1950. In 1959, playing third base, he appeared in a World Series with the White Sox.

Answer: Ron Hunt

Ron Hunt, who played for a number of National League teams, was struck by a pitch 243 times in his career, a post-1900 record (since surpassed by Don Baylor and Craig Biggio). Charlie Neal played second for the Dodgers in the late 50s and hit .370 for them in the 1959 World Series.

He moved to the expansion Mets in 1962, sharing second base duties with "Hot Rod" Kanehl. Al Weis was a light-hitting utility infielder with the White Sox who was acquired by the Mets in 1967. He platooned with Ken Boswell at second during the 1969 "Miracle" season and he hit a home run in the fifth game of the World Series that year.

Answer: Dick McAuliffe

Dick McAuliffe, a tough competitor who helped the Tigers to a world championship in 1968, stood at the plate with a wide-open stance, leaning backward and lifting his front foot like Mel Ott. Johnny Temple deserves consideration in the "scrappy" category. Playing second for the Reds for most of the 50s, he was part of the first interleague trade in 1959, when he was sent to the Indians for Billy Martin, among others. Davey Johnson was cut from a similar mold. Known mostly as a gloveman with the Orioles, with whom he played in four World Series, he burst out with 43 homers in 1973 with the Braves, breaking a season record for second basemen.

He managed the Mets when they won the World Series in 1986. Julian Javier was a defensive force for the Cardinals in the 60s.

He went to the World Series in 1964, 1967, and 1968.