10 Question Sports Quiz: World Series for Dummies | Baseball

Answer: Pittsburgh Pirates

The first World Series was held in 1903, and the others listed did not exist then. The Boston Pilgrims defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, five games to three. There was no MVP awarded in 1903, but it certainly would have gone to Bill Dineen of the Pilgrims (later Boston Red Sox), who won three games to one loss, and struck out 28 Pirates.

The infamous Cy Young also pitched for the Pilgrims and won two games.

Answer: Jimmy Sebring

In the inaugural Series of 1903, Jimmy Sebring of the Pittsburgh Pirates hit a solo home run in game one. Patsy Dougherty hit two home runs in the second game of the Series for Boston. These were the only home runs hit in the entire Series. The Boston Pilgrims won, five games to three.

Answer: Chicago Cubs

At the time the Cubs went to three consecutive World Series, the other team names did not exist. Chicago played the triple-seat from 1906-1908. They lost the first Series in 1906 to the cross-town rival White Sox, then defeated the Detroit Tigers for their first two World Series rings.

The Cubs were led by a historical 'Tinkers-to-Evers-to Chance' double-play combination. Frank Chance was the team's player-manager. The Cubs also appeared in additional World Series in the 20th century, but lost them all to; 1910 Athletics, 1918 Red Sox, 1929 Athletics, 1932 Yankees, 1935 Tigers, 1938 Yankees, and the 1945 Detroit Tigers.

Answer: Elmer Smith

The others listed were not born yet in 1920. Smith, of the Cleveland Indians, smacked a game five grand slam in the first inning against the Brooklyn Robins (later Dodgers). The Indians went on to win the Series, five games to two. This was a highlight for Major League baseball, still trying to shrug off the 1919 Black Sox scandal, in which the Series was rigged for gambling.

The 1919 Series featured the Cincinnati Reds victorious over the Chicago White Sox.

Answer: Randy Johnson

The others listed all won three games in a season World Series, but all had retired long before the turn of the 20th century. In 2001, Johnson started the century off right for the Diamondbacks, by winning three games against the Yankees, and allowed only four runs in his three games. Randy's victories came in his game two and six starts, then came in relief and won game seven.

He shared the World Series MVP honors with pitching teammate Curt Schilling.

Answer: Brooklyn Dodgers

Only the Dodgers were a National League team. The Yankees had a historical run in those five seasons, and defeated the Dodgers in 1949, 1952, and 1953. The other two World Series victories were over the Phillies in 1950, and the New York Giants in 1951.

Answer: Johnny Podres

The other greats retired before the inaugural World Series Award was handed out in 1955. Pitcher Johnny Podres of the Dodgers earned the award by throwing two complete game victories, allowing only two earned runs, and striking out 10 Yankees, including a game seven win to win the MVP.

Answer: Mickey Mantle

The others listed never went to the World Series. Mantle hit 18 World Series home runs amongst his other records. 'Mr. October', Reggie Jackson, hit 10 in his career. Mantle went to 12 World Series, all with the Yankees, and came out with a record of 7-5.

Answer: Yankees

The Series pitted the Florida Marlins against the New York Yankees. The Marlins won the Series four games to two. Josh Beckett threw a game five, seven hit shutout, to clinch the title against Andy Pettitte and the Yankees.

Answer: There was no Series

None of the other teams existed in 1901. At any rate, there was no World Series. The World Series did not begin until the 1903 season, which saw the Boston Pilgrims defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates.