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1870s in a Bucket Trivia Quiz

A look back at baseball in the beginning of it all in the 1870s, in all multiple choice. I hope you enjoy it. :)

A multiple-choice quiz by Nightmare. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Nightmare

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
332,871

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
167

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Organized, sanctioned, and professional baseball began in 1871 with the creation of which baseball league? Hint

National League

American League

American Association

National Association

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Question 2 of 10

2. After watching the Philadelphia Athletics win the inaugural 1871 league pennant, which team would win the remaining four league pennants before the league closed its doors in 1875? Hint

Boston Red Stockings

Baltimore Canaries

Brooklyn Atlantics

Brooklyn Eckfords

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which player in 1873 won his second consecutive batting title? Hint

Ross Barnes

Billy Hamilton

Ty Cobb

Jesse Burkett

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which two teams in 1874 shared the same ballpark to play home games during the season? Hint

Athletics and Whites

Gray Stockings and Nationals

Canaries and Orioles

Bridegrooms and White Stockings

5. After going 52-16 in 1874, this pitcher broke his own season record in 1875 with his 54-5 record. No pitcher would come close to win 50 games for another nine seasons. Who is this pitcher that threw a record of 204-53 in only five seasons in the league? Hint

Christy Mathewson

Charley Radbourn

Al Spalding

Cy Young

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Question 6 of 10

6. The National League took over the baseball world in 1876 with new structure that the previous league was missing. How many teams were there for the inaugural season? Hint

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Question 7 of 10

7. In 1876, National League records were initially set. In 1877, they began to break. Which pitcher in 1877 would lead the league in strikeouts, and break the season record of Jim Devlin from 1876? Hint

Amos Rusie

Vic Willis

Noodles Hahn

Tommy Bond

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Question 8 of 10

8. The fans were shocked at this 1878 Providence Grays game when which player performed the first-ever unassisted triple-play in baseball history? Hint

Tom Carey

Tom York

Charlie Sweasy

Paul Hines

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which 1879 team won the National League pennant, and set a new season record by winning 59 games? Hint

Philadelphia Athletics

Providence Grays

Brooklyn Atlantics

New York Gothams

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which National League team finished out the 1870s decade with the most wins? Hint

Boston Red Caps

Chicago White Stockings

Providence Grays

Cincinnati Reds

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Organized, sanctioned, and professional baseball began in 1871 with the creation of which baseball league?

Answer: National Association

The league opened its doors in 1871 to nine teams. They were (in order of finish) the Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago White Stockings, Boston Red Stockings, Washington Olympics, New York Mutuals, Troy Haymakers, Fort Wayne Kekiongas, Cleveland Forest Citys, and the Rockford Forest Citys.

2. After watching the Philadelphia Athletics win the inaugural 1871 league pennant, which team would win the remaining four league pennants before the league closed its doors in 1875?

Answer: Boston Red Stockings

All the others were new teams in the league beginning in 1872. The Red Stockings went 39-8 to take the pennant, 7.5 games over the Baltimore Canaries and Philadelphia Athletics.

3. Which player in 1873 won his second consecutive batting title?

Answer: Ross Barnes

The others had not started their careers yet. Barnes played with the Boston Red Stockings. He took his first batting crown in 1872 with his .430 average, then another in 1873 by batting .431. Ross would go on to win the first-ever National League batting title in 1876, hitting .429.

4. Which two teams in 1874 shared the same ballpark to play home games during the season?

Answer: Athletics and Whites

The other combinations did not exist in the league. The Athletics and Whites were both Philadelphia teams. They both played at Jefferson Street Grounds. The Athletics would continue to use the ballpark after the National Association folded, and played there in the National League in 1876.

Answer: Al Spalding

Spalding played all five National Association seasons with the Boston Red Stockings, and led the league in wins each season. After four games in 1877 with the National League White Stockings, Al just walked away from baseball. In the National Association, he averaged 41 wins per season. Charley Radbourn would be the next pitcher to win 50 games when he went 59-12 with the NL 1884 Providence Grays.

6. The National League took over the baseball world in 1876 with new structure that the previous league was missing. How many teams were there for the inaugural season?

Answer: 8

Some teams from the National Association joined the ranks of the National League in 1876, while some closed their doors for good. The eight NL teams were the Chicago White Stockings who won the first pennant, followed by the Hartford Dark Blues, St. Louis Brown Stockings, Boston Red Caps, Louisville Grays, New York Mutuals, Philadelphia Athletics, and Cincinnati Reds.

Answer: Tommy Bond

In Tommy's first season with the Boston Red Caps, he went 40-17 and set a new strikeout record with his 170 in 1877. He broke the record again in 1878 by going 40-19 with 182 strikeouts. Bond threw baseball's first-ever Triple Crown in the 1877 season also. He played 10 seasons in four leagues, the National Association, National League, Union Association, and American Association.

8. The fans were shocked at this 1878 Providence Grays game when which player performed the first-ever unassisted triple-play in baseball history?

Answer: Paul Hines

Hines was an outfielder in his performance against the Boston Red Caps. Paul batted for the Triple Crown in 1878 with his .358 average, 50 RBIs, and four home runs. He played for 20 seasons and retired in 1891.

9. Which 1879 team won the National League pennant, and set a new season record by winning 59 games?

Answer: Providence Grays

The Grays were only the second team to reach the 50-win mark. They went 59-25, led by the bat of Paul Hines and the arm of Monte Ward who went 47-19.

10. Which National League team finished out the 1870s decade with the most wins?

Answer: Boston Red Caps

The Red Caps pulled off 176 wins in the four seasons, winning two of the four NL pennants. The White Stockings were runner-ups with 154 wins. They won the inaugural pennant in 1876. The Grays won 92 games, being in the league only two seasons and winning one pennant. The Reds had 104 wins in the four seasons, finishing in last place twice.

Source: Author Nightmare

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