1940s on the Diamond Quiz | MLB by Season

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. While the Yankees ruled postseason play in the decade, this National League team made four appearances in the World Series.

Answer: Cardinals

The Yankees made five appearances in the big series and won four. Their only loss was to the Cardinals in 1942. The Cardinals made it to the World Series four times with three wins. Their only loss was to the Yankees in 1943. In addition to the Yankees, the Cardinals beat the Browns and Red Sox.

2. He was the first African-American pitcher to play in the 1940s.

Answer: Dan Bankhead

Bankhead was a Brooklyn Dodger on August 6, 1947, when he came into the game in relief. His own first at-bat resulted in a home run. He was also the first African-American to appear in a World Series, but not the first to pitch. He was a pinch-runner in 1947.

The first African-American to pitch in a World Series game was Satchel Paige in 1948 with the Indians. The first black pitcher to win a World Series game was Joe Black.

3. This team lost 90+ games in a season seven times in the decade.

Answer: Phillies

The Phillies were not firing on all cylinders in the 1940s. The team went through seven managers. The team lost 100+ games four times in the decade and finished in last place in the NL five times. They would somehow make it to the World Series in 1950 but lost to the Yankees in four games.

4. This Hall of Fame great was the only player to win three league MVPs in the 1940s.

Answer: Stan Musial

'Stan the Man' was a 22-year career St. Louis Cardinal from 1941-1963. All his career MVPs were in the 1940s in 1943, 1946, and 1948. He was a MVP Award runner-up another four times. Stan had a lifetime batting average of .331 and hit 475 home runs. He was inducted into the Hall in 1969 with 93.2% of the balloting.

5. He was the only Pittsburgh Pirate that won a batting title in the 1940s.

Answer: Debs Garms

Garms was with the Pirates in 1940 after being traded by the Boston Braves. He won the title with his .355 average. Strangely enough, there were only three NL shortstops that won a batting title throughout the entire 20th Century, and they were all Pittsburgh Pirates.

They were Dick Groat, Arky Vaughn, and Honus Wagner. Wagner was first with the Pirates in 1900 after coming from the defunct Louisville Colonels. Honus batted .381 and would go on to win seven more batting titles. Vaughn was next in 1935 with his .385 average. Dick Groat batted .325 in 1960.

6. This team went to their only World Series in the 50+ years of the team in the 1940s.

Answer: Browns

The St. Louis Browns evolved from the 1901 Milwaukee Brewers. The franchise moved after the first season in the new American League because they were deplorable. In 1902 in St. Louis the team finished second behind the Philadelphia Athletics, but that was pretty much it until the Browns put everything together in 1944.

They went to their first World Series but lost to the crosstown rival Cardinals.

7. This pitcher in 1944 was the first to be ejected for throwing a spitball.

Answer: Nels Potter

Potter was in his seventh season in 1944 and found himself in a St. Louis Browns uniform. On July 20 he was ejected by home plate umpire Cal Hubbard in the fifth inning against the Yankees for throwing the spitter. The spitball was absolutely banned in 1934 with no pitchers left to be grandfathered in.

The Browns won the game 7-3. He still went 19-7 in the season which was the best of his career.

8. They were the first American League team in the decade to have a player drafted into WWII.

Answer: Tigers

It was 1941 and Tiger Hank Greenberg was drafted after playing in only 19 games in the season. Hank had just won this second AL MVP in 1940. He was the second Major League player overall to be drafted. He missed three seasons due to WWII. Greenberg retired in 1947 after playing in only 13 seasons and hitting 331 home runs.

The Hall of Fame inducted Hank in 1956. The very first player drafted was Phillies pitcher Hugh Mulcahy on March 8.

9. The 1940s saw the second and third player join the 500 Home Run Club. They were Jimmie Foxx and this player.

Answer: Mel Ott

Foxx was a Red Sox infielder in 1940 when he joined the 500 Club on September 24. Jimmie retired with 534 big ones. He was also a three-time AL MVP winner. Mel Ott was a career New York Giant from 1926-1947. Ott reached the milestone becoming the third member of the club on August 1, 1945. Mel retired with 511 home runs.

10. This team was the first in 1941 to wear batting helmets.

Answer: Dodgers

After the Dodgers lost their future Hall of Fame shortstop Pee Wee Reese for two games after being beaned in the head with a pitch, they lost outfielder Pete Reiser for 17 games due to a beaning also. The franchise had enough and designed a batting helmet to protect their players. Brooklyn still won the National League pennant by winning 100 games.

They went to the World Series and lost to the Yankees.

Source: Author dg_dave

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1940s on the Diamond Trivia Quiz

A look back at the 1940s of Major League Baseball. Strike the match and have fun.

Questions		Choices
1. While the Yankees ruled postseason play in the decade, this National League team made four appearances in the World Series.		Cardinals
2. He was the first African-American pitcher to play in the 1940s.		Debs Garms
3. This team lost 90+ games in a season seven times in the decade.		Dan Bankhead
4. This Hall of Fame great was the only player to win three league MVPs in the 1940s.		Nels Potter
5. He was the only Pittsburgh Pirate that won a batting title in the 1940s.		Browns
6. This team went to their only World Series in the 50+ years of the team in the 1940s.		Dodgers
7. This pitcher in 1944 was the first to be ejected for throwing a spitball.		Mel Ott
8. They were the first American League team in the decade to have a player drafted into WWII.		Tigers
9. The 1940s saw the second and third player join the 500 Home Run Club. They were Jimmie Foxx and this player.		Phillies
10. This team was the first in 1941 to wear batting helmets.		Stan Musial