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2002 Major League Closers Trivia Quiz

The closer is perhaps the most important role in baseball. Their job is to preserve a win for the team. All closers mentioned are listed for the 2002 rosters.

A multiple-choice quiz by GoodVibe. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
GoodVibe

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
84,635

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
18 / 25

Plays
763

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. Who did Ugueth Urbina pitch for?

Answer: ( Two Words ... team name)

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Question 2 of 25

2. Who did Eddie Guardado pitch for?

Answer: ( One Word ... team name)

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Question 3 of 25

3. Which former Yankee replaced John Rocker as closer in Texas? Hint

John Wetteland

Hideki Irabu

Mark Wohlers

Kenny Rogers

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Question 4 of 25

4. What team did Juan Acevedo pitch for? Hint

Detroit

Tampa Bay

Kansas City

Milwaulkee

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Question 5 of 25

5. Who did Esteban Yan pitch for? Hint

Kansas City

Anaheim

Tampa Bay

Detroit

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Question 6 of 25

6. Bob Wickman was a picher for the ______ ?

Answer: ( One Word ... team name)

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Question 7 of 25

7. Armando Benitez pitched for the __________ ?

Answer: ( One Word ... team name)

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Question 8 of 25

8. What team did Mariano Rivera pitch for?

Answer: ( One Word ... team name)

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Question 9 of 25

9. You probably know who the closer for the Diamondbacks was, but how do you spell his name? Hint

Byung-Hyun Kim

By-Yung Kim

Byong-Hyon Kim

Byongun Kim

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Question 10 of 25

10. John Smoltz pitched for the ___________ ?

Answer: ( One Word ... team name)

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Question 11 of 25

11. Eric Gagne pitched for the _______ ?

Answer: ( One Word ... team name)

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Question 12 of 25

12. Kelvim Escobar pitched for __________ ? Hint

Montreal

Seattle

San Diego

Toronto

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Question 13 of 25

13. Kazuhiro Sasaki pitched for the ___________ ?

Answer: ( One Word ... team name)

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Question 14 of 25

14. Trevor Hoffman pitched for the ____________ ?

Answer: ( One Word ... team name)

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Question 15 of 25

15. Robb Nen pitched for the _____________ ?

Answer: ( One Word ... team name)

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Question 16 of 25

16. What team did Billy Koch pitch for? Hint

Toronto

Oakland

NY Yankees

Twins

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Question 17 of 25

17. What team did Jason Isringhausen pitch for? Hint

Oakland

Pittsburgh

Cincinnati

St. Louis

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Question 18 of 25

18. Antonio Alfonseca was a pitcher for the __________ ?

Answer: ( One Word ... team name)

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Question 19 of 25

19. Danny Graves was pitcher for the _________ ?

Answer: ( One Word ... team name)

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Question 20 of 25

20. What team did Mike Williams pitch for?

Answer: ( One Word ... team name)

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Question 21 of 25

21. What team did Vladimir Nunez pitch for? Hint

Tampa Bay

Florida

Montreal

Detroit

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Question 22 of 25

22. What team did Jorge Julio pitch for? Hint

Milwaulkee

NY Yankees

Anaheim

Baltimore

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Question 23 of 25

23. What team did Jose Mesa pitch for? Hint

Pittsburgh

NY Mets

Cincinnati

Philadelphia

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Question 24 of 25

24. What team did Troy Percival pitch for? Hint

Anaheim

Chicago White Sox

Oakland

Toronto

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Question 25 of 25

25. What team did Billy Wagner pitch for? Hint

San Francisco

Detroit

Milwaukee

Houston

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who did Ugueth Urbina pitch for?

Answer: Red Sox

Urbina was traded for Tomo Ohka in 2001 from the Expos. Urbina was in the 2002 All-Star Game. He had 40 saves in 2002.

2. Who did Eddie Guardado pitch for?

Answer: Twins

"Everyday Eddie" was one of the best AL closers in a dominating, but dying franchise. Guardado was in the 2002 All-Star game, his first. Guardado led the American League in saves with 45.

3. Which former Yankee replaced John Rocker as closer in Texas?

Answer: Hideki Irabu

Irabu was on the 1996 WS team. In 2001, he played for Montreal, got sent down to Triple-A Ottawa, and was released after missing a start while drunk.

4. What team did Juan Acevedo pitch for?

Answer: Detroit

Probably one of the few good pitchers on a loser team. Kansas City has Roberto Hernandez, Tampa Bay has Esteban Yan, Milwaulkee has Mike DeJean. Acevedo is a journeyman reliever, having played for six teams since 1995.

5. Who did Esteban Yan pitch for?

Answer: Tampa Bay

Anaheim had Troy Percival, Detroit had Juan Acevedo, and Kansas City had Roberto Hernandez.

6. Bob Wickman was a picher for the ______ ?

Answer: Indians

Wickman had to battle for the closer spot in 2001 after the John Rocker trade. Wickman soon got it back after Rocker blew saves, gave up hits, and walked too many. Wickman was put on the DL in 2002 and all of 2003 with Tommy John surgery. Danys Baez was named interim closer.

7. Armando Benitez pitched for the __________ ?

Answer: Mets

Benitez commenced pitching for the Mets in 1999.

8. What team did Mariano Rivera pitch for?

Answer: Yankees

Considered by many to be one of the best closers in the majors, Rivera cost the Yankees the 2001 World Series. Rivera was in and out of the DL in 2002.

9. You probably know who the closer for the Diamondbacks was, but how do you spell his name?

Answer: Byung-Hyun Kim

He had recovered since nearly blowing the World Series. By-Yung was a butchered pronunciation by some announcers who couldn't say it correctly.

10. John Smoltz pitched for the ___________ ?

Answer: Braves

Smoltz was a former starter who spent the entire 2000 season on the DL with his right MCL torn in spring training. Smoltz was in the 2002 All-Star game. He started out in Atlanta in 1988 and had played during Atlanta's long playoff run, including the 1995 World Series.

In 2002, Smoltz set the franchise record for saves. On 27 September 2002, Smoltz set the National League record with his 54th save of the season. He ended up 3-2 with 55 saves, enough for the Rolaids Relief award (most points ever earned) and the Major League lead.

11. Eric Gagne pitched for the _______ ?

Answer: Dodgers

Gagne was a former starter, member of the 2002 All-Star Game, and a Montreal native. By the way, it's pronounced GAN-ya. He ended up with 52 saves in 2002.

12. Kelvim Escobar pitched for __________ ?

Answer: Toronto

Montreal had Scott Stewart, San Diego had Trevor Hoffman, and Seattle had Kazuhiro Sasaki. Escobar became closer after Billy Koch left.

13. Kazuhiro Sasaki pitched for the ___________ ?

Answer: Mariners

Sasaki was the 2000 AL Rookie of the Year. The year after, it was Ichiro. Sasaki was in the 2002 All-Star Game.

14. Trevor Hoffman pitched for the ____________ ?

Answer: Padres

He was at the 2002 All-Sar game.

15. Robb Nen pitched for the _____________ ?

Answer: Giants

Nen was a late addition to the 2002 All-Star game, after Atlanta's Tom Glavine had a blistered finger and St. Louis' Matt Morris sat out because of Darryl Kile's death.

16. What team did Billy Koch pitch for?

Answer: Oakland

Koch was on the 2001 Toronto team; the closer spot in 2002 contains Kelvim Escobar. Yankees have Mariano Rivera and the Twins have Eddie Guardado. Koch went 11-4 with 44 saves, enough for a Rolaids Relief award.

17. What team did Jason Isringhausen pitch for?

Answer: St. Louis

Isringhausen was on the 2001 Athletics roster; the closer for 2002 is Billy Koch. Cincinnati has Danny Graves and Pittsburgh have Mike Williams.

18. Antonio Alfonseca was a pitcher for the __________ ?

Answer: Cubs

Alfonseca has the unusual distinction of having twelve fingers. Alfonseca was a member of the 1997 Marlins World Series team. He went to the Cubs in 2002.

19. Danny Graves was pitcher for the _________ ?

Answer: Reds

Graves was born in Vietnam.

20. What team did Mike Williams pitch for?

Answer: Pirates

Williams was in the 2002 All-Star game.

21. What team did Vladimir Nunez pitch for?

Answer: Florida

Tampa Bay had Esteban Yan, Montreal had Scott Stewart, and Detroit had Juan Acevedo.

22. What team did Jorge Julio pitch for?

Answer: Baltimore

Milwaulkee had Mike DeJean, Anaheim had Troy Percival, and the Yankees had Mariano Rivera.

23. What team did Jose Mesa pitch for?

Answer: Philadelphia

Pittsburgh had Mike Williams, Cincinnati had Danny Graves, and the Mets had Armando Benitez.

24. What team did Troy Percival pitch for?

Answer: Anaheim

Oakland had Billy Koch, White Sox had Keith Foulke, Toronto had Kelvim Escobar. In 2001, Percival was among the best closers.

25. What team did Billy Wagner pitch for?

Answer: Houston

San Francisco had Robb Nen, Milwaukee had Mike DeJean, and Detroit had Juan Acevedo. In 2001, Wagner blew a seven-run lead, gave up eight runs, including a grand slam, lost to Pittsburgh, and received a blown save.

Source: Author GoodVibe

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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