Who Doesn't Belong? [2] Trivia Quiz

Answer: Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds only hit 16 home runs in 113 games his rookie season (1987)with the Pittsburgh Pirates. His 16 homers in 413 at bats equals a 25.8 home run/at bat ratio. Not nearly as impressive as the 13.3 home run/at bat ratio he has for his career. Mark McGwire hit 49 homers in 1987, his rookie season for the Oakland A's. McGwire went on to hit 583 homers in his career, or a home run/at bat ratio of 10.8, with the A's and the St. Louis Cardinals. Frank Robinson hit 38 homers for the Cincinnati Reds in 1956, his rookie year. Robinson had a total of 586 home runs for a home run/at bat ratio of 17.1. Robinson played 22 years for the Reds, Baltimore Orioles, LA Dodgers, California Angels, and Cleveland Indians.

His best home run production was in 1966, when he hit 49 homers for the Orioles. Tony Oliva hit 32 homers in 1964 for the Minnesota Twins. Oliva finished his 13 year career, all with the Twins, with 220 homers. That equals out to a ratio of 28.6 homers per at bats.

Answer: Tom Seaver

Although Hall of Famer Tom Seaver won 16 games and struck out 170 his rookie season as a New York Met, he did not throw a no-hitter until June 16, 1978 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. He beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 striking out 3 and walking 3.

The opposing pitcher was John Denny. Seaver went on to play for the White Sox and Red Sox, before retiring in 1986 after 20 stellar season. Vida Blue threw his rookie no-hitter September 21, 1970, as a member of the Oakland A's. He beat the Minnesota Twins 6-0, striking out 9 and walking 1.

The opposing pitcher was Jim Perry. Blue went on to play for the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals, winning 209 games in his 17 year career. Blue was a 6 time All Star and won the Cy Young and the MVP award in 1971. Wilson Alvarez got his rookie no-hitter on August 11, 1991, as a member of the Chicago White Sox. Alvarez beat Dave Johnson and the Baltimore Orioles 7-0, striking out 7 and walking 5.

Besides the White Sox, Alvarez has played for the Giants and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Wilson was an All Star in 1994. Burt Hooton got his rookie no-hitter April 16, 1972, as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

He beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0, walking 1 and fanning 6. Steve Arlin was the opposing pitcher. Hooton went on to play 15 years with the Cubs, Dodgers and Texas Rangers posting a record of 151 wins and 136 losses. Hooton was an All Star in 1981, winning All Star MVP for the game.

Answer: Babe Ruth

About the only thing Babe Ruth didn't do at the plate was have 250 or more hits in a season. The closest he came was hitting safely 205 times in 1923 as a member of the New York Yankees. He also hit 204 in 1921, also as a Yankee. George Sisler was the single season hits king with 257 base knocks in 1920, as a member of the St. Louis Browns. Sisler played 15 seasons for the Browns, Washington Senators, and Boston Braves.

He hit .340 for his career with 102 homers. Sisler was MVP in 1922. Al Simmons had 253 hits for the 1925 Philadelphia Athletics. Simmons had a 20 year career playing for the Athletics, White Sox, Tigers, Senators, Reds, and Red Sox, amassing a .334 batting average and 307 home runs for his career. Simmons was a 3 time All Star as well. Chuck Klein had 250 hits in the 1930 season while with the Phillies. Klein, a two time All Star and 1932 American League MVP award winner, played for the Phillies, Cubs, and Pirates, in his 17 year career.

He hit .320 and 300 homers for his career.

Answer: Babe Ruth

Something the Babe did not do. He fell short 3 times. In 1923, his .393 batting average was second to Harry Heilmann's .403 average. Heilmann was with the Tigers. In 1924, his 121 RBI's were second to Goose Goslin's 129. Goose was a member of the Senators that year.

In 1926, the Babe fell short once again in the batting average category. His .372 was second to Heinie Manush's .378. Manush was a member of the Tigers. Ted Williams won the triple crown in 1942 and 1947, both years as a member of the Red Sox. Williams' incredible 19 year career, all with the Red Sox, produced 17 All Star years and 2 MVP awards. Mickey Mantle won the triple crown in 1956. An 18 year Yankee, Mantle won 3 MVP awards and saw him an All Star 17 times. Mantle's had 536 homers. Lou Gehrig, a 17 year Yankee, won the triple crown in 1934. Gehrig was a 6 time All Star and won the MVP twice.

Answer: Warren Spahn

Warren Spahn won 363 games in his career, yet he never won 30. He had 13 seasons in which he won at least 20. Spahn played 21 years for the Braves (Boston and Milwaukee), Mets, and San Francisco Giants. A 14 time All Star, Spahn won the Cy Young in 1957. Denny McLain won 31 in 1968 as a member of the Tigers. McLain pitched 10 years with the Tigers, Senators, Oakland A's, and the Atlanta Braves, compiling a 131-91 record. McLain had 3 All Star seasons, won 2 Cy Young awards, and the MVP in 1968. McLain split his second Cy Young award with Mike Cuellar of the Orioles. Dizzy Dean won 30 in 1934 with the Cardinals. Dean pitched 12 years with the Cards, Browns, and Cubs. Dean was a 4 time All Star and even won a MVP award. Walter Johnson was in the first Hall of Fame class in 1936, had 36 wins in 1913, and 32 wins in 1912.

He pitched 21 years for the Senators, and in addition to the 2 years with 30 wins, he also had 12 other years with at least 20 wins. Although there were no radar guns back in the old days, some say Johnson had a fastball that rivaled Nolan Ryan as one of the fastest ever.

Answer: Dave Righetti

Dave Righetti had 252 saves in his 16 year career. Righetti had a career record of 82 wins and 79 losses with the Yankees, Giants, A's, Blue Jays, and White Sox. Righetti was the 1981 American League Rookie of the Year, won 2 Rolaids Relief Awards, and was a 2 time All Star. Jeff Reardon had 367 saves in his 16 year career. Reardon played for the Mets, Expos, Twins, Braves, Red Sox, Yankees, and Reds. Reardon compiled a 73-77 record over those years. Reardon won 1 Rolaids Relief Award and was a 4 time All Star. Lee Smith, whose 478 career saves are one of the best in baseball history, had an 18 year career with the Cubs, Red Sox, Cardinals, Yankees, Orioles, Angels, Reds, and Expos. Smith had a 71-92 record. Smith, a 7 time All Star, won 3 Rolaids Relief Awards. Rollie Fingers had 341 saves as a member of the A's, Padres and Brewers. Fingers had a 114-118 record, winning a career high 13 games in 1976. Fingers was a 7 time All Star, and won the Cy Young and MVP in 1981. Add to that the 4 Rolaids Relief Awards and the 1974 World Series MVP.

A great career for the handlebar moustached pitcher.

Answer: Dale Murphy

Dale Murphy never hit for the cycle. Murph was a great player for the Braves, Phillies, and a few games for the Rockies. He hit 398 homers, 1,266 RBI's, and had 2,111 hits. Murphy was a 7 time All Star, 5 time Gold Glover, and 2 time National League MVP.

These numbers are comparable to many Hall of Famers. Willie Stargell did hit for the cycle July 22, 1964. Stargell played 21 season, all for the Pirates, hitting 475 homers and 1,540 RBI's. His 2,232 hits over his career produced a lifetime .282 batting average. "Pops" Stargell was a 7 time All Star and won the National League MVP, Championship Series MVP and World Series MVP, all in 1979. Jackie Robinson hit for the cycle on August 29, 1948, as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson, best known as the man who broke baseball's color barrier, played 10 years for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

His .311 batting average, 137 home runs, and 734 RBI's, made for a Hall of Fame call in 1962. Joltin' Joe DiMaggio hit for the cycle twice. The first time was July 9, 1937, and then again on May 20, 1948. "The Yankee Clipper" played 13 years with the Yankees, hitting 361 home runs, 1,537 RBI's, and had a career batting average of .325.

He was an All Star in each of his 13 seasons, won 3 MVP awards, and was even married once to Marilyn Monroe.

Answer: Bob Gibson

Bob Gibson had 3,117 K's in his 17 year with the Cardinals. Gibson was an 8 time All Star, won 9 Gold Gloves, won 2 Cy Young Awards, and was the World Series MVP in 1964 and 1967. Don Sutton played his 23 year career with the LA Dodgers, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland A's, and California Angels. Sutton was a 4 time All Star and finished in the top 10 for the Cy Young 5 times. Bert Blyleven had 3,701 K's in his 22 year career with the Twins, Rangers, Pirates, Indians, and Angels. He was a 2 time all star and finished in the top 10 for the Cy Young 4 times. Steve Carlton had 4,136 strikeouts in his 24 year career. "Lefty" Carlton played for the Cardinals, Phillies, Giants, White Sox, Indians, and Twins. Carlton was a 10 time All Star, won 4 Cy Young Awards, had the pitchers triple crown in 1972, and picked up a Gold Glove Award.

Answer: Bruce Sutter

Although Sutter did not win the Cy Young in the 80s, he did win it in 1979. Sutter pitched 12 years with the Cubs, Cardinals, and Braves, posting a 68-71 record. Sutter was a 6 time All Star and won 4 Rolaids Relief Awards. Willie Hernandez pitched 13 seasons for the Cubs, Phillies, and Tigers.

He picked up the Cy Young and MVP in 1984, when he had 34 saves and won 9 games, all as a reliever. Hernandez was also a 3 time All Star. John Denny played 13 years with the Cardinals, Phillies, Indians, and Reds.

He won the Cy Young in 1983, with a 19-6 record with 7 complete games. LaMarr Hoyt won the Cy Young in 1983 as a member of the White Sox. Hoyt pitched 8 seasons with the White Sox and Padres. Hoyt's 1983 season saw him win 24 and lose 10 with 11 complete games pitched.

Answer: Ted Williams

The great Ted Williams hit .344 for his stellar career. The 1959 season must have hurt his average, he only hit .254 in 272 at bats.
Rogers Hornsby maintained a .358 batting average over his 23 year career. He played for the Cardinals, New York Giants, Boston Braves, Cubss and St. Louis Browns. He won 2 triple crowns and 2 MVP Awards. Ty Cobb hit .367 for his career. Cobb played 24 seasons and had 11,434 at bats. "Shoeless" Joe Jackson posted a career batting average of .356 over his 13 years with the Philadelphia Athletics, White Sox, and Indians.