A Nightmare of a Challenge [1] Quiz

Answer: Al Spalding

Spalding was with the Boston Red Stockings of the National Association. Boston watched the Philadelphia Athletics win the first NA pennant in 1871. Then the Red Stockings won it all from 1872-1875, until the league folded and became the National League in 1876. Spalding was there in 1874 when he went 52-16.

He repeated this feat in 1875 by going 54-5. He joined the new Chicago White Stockings of the National League in 1876 and went 47-12. After four games in 1877, Al walked away from the game.

His career record was 251-65 in six full seasons. He died in 1915.

Answer: Yogi Berra

Yogi donned the number 38 in his first season with the Yankees in 1946. Bill Dickey was wearing Berra's future number 8 at the time. After Dickey's retirement, Berra changed to number 35, then permanently changed to the number 8. The Yankees later retired the number 8 in honor of both Hall of Fame greats.

Answer: 4

Duffy won the batting crown in 1894 with his .4397 (.440) average. Outrageously, the other hard-luck sluggers that hit over .400 were all Philadelphia Phillies. Tuck Tucker batted .418, Sam Thompson batted .415, Ed Delahanty hit a .404 average, and Billy Hamilton batted .403.

The Phillies team batting average for the season was .350, and still finished in fourth place in the National League.

Answer: Dave McNally

The year was 1971, and the Baltimore Orioles went all the way to the World Series with their four 20-game winners. They were Mike Cuellar, Pat Dobson, and Jim Palmer who all won 20, then McNally who went 21-9. The Orioles lost that World Series to the Pirates.

Answer: John McGraw

In 1902, McGraw took the reins of the New York Giants until 1932. When World Series games ties were allowed by the rule book in early baseball, McGraw and the Giants experienced their first in 1912 against the Red Sox. Game two of the series was called after a 6-6 tie in the 11th inning.

They went on to lose that series four games to three with one tie. John's second tie came in the 1922 series against the Yankees, when once again game two was called a tie. The Giants would win that series 4-0-1. McGraw died in 1934, but not before having a 2763-1948 career record, 11 National League pennants, and three World Series crowns.

Answer: 50

The Yankees made it to the World Series the most times. The other New York teams were the New York Giants, Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers, and the New York Mets.

Answer: Hal Newhouser

Newhouser was a Detroit Tiger from 1939-1953. In 1944, Hal went 29-9, then followed that up with a 25-9 record in 1945 to take the award in both seasons. In 1946, Newhouser went 26-9 and was runner-up for the MVP to Ted Williams in a very close balloting, depriving him of three consecutive MVPs. Hal was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Answer: Jackie Jensen

Jensen was an All-American running back in his days with California. He played in the 1949 Rose Bowl against Northwestern and lost 20-14. He began his Major League Baseball career in 1950, was a rookie with the Yankees in that season, and experienced a World Series against the Phillies. The outfielder played but did not get an at-bat. The Yankees won the series four games to none.

Answer: Mickey Mantle

Mantle was a career Yankee from 1951-1968. In 1966, he surpassed the 1500-mark and went on to retire with 1710. Ruth never reached 1400 strikeouts. Mays topped the 1500-mark, but not until 1973 after Mantle retired. Reggie Jackson began his career in 1967.

Answer: 13

Those who clouted more than 55 home runs in a season were Babe Ruth(2), Hack Wilson, Jimmie Foxx, Mark McGwire(3), Ken Griffey Jr(2), Hank Greenberg, Roger Maris, and Sammy Sosa(2). Others who joined that club after the turn of the century were Barry Bonds, Luis Gonzalez, Alex Rodriguez, and another feat by Sammy Sosa.