A Real Yankee Challenge Trivia Quiz

Answer: John McGraw

McGraw was a player-manager for the 1899 Baltimore Orioles of the National League. When the team folded, some reappeared in the new American League in 1901. McGraw left the team midseason 1902, joined the New York Giants, and continued to manage them for 31 seasons. John took the Giants to 11 National League pennants and three World Series crowns. Would if had managed the Yankees in that time frame? Would if he had dumped Ruth, with less patience than Miller Huggins? Nobody will ever know.

Answer: They played their home games at Griffith Stadium

They played at Hilltop Park, which opened in 1903 for the arrival of the Highlanders from Baltimore. The Red Sox was the AL pennant winner with their 105-47 record. The Highlanders finished in last place of eight teams, winning only 50 games of 152. New York's leading pitcher was Russ Ford, who went 13-21.

They also had only one starter bat over .300 in the season. The team's manager was Harry Wolverton, in his first and last season. Manager Frank Chance took over the team in 1913, under the new Yankees name.

Answer: 1923

Ruth had established himself as a Yankee for three seasons before the shy Gehrig came along as a 19-year old rookie. Lou played in limited duty in his first two seasons, playing in only 23 total games, before becoming a regular in 1925. He did not play in the 1923 World Series, and would not appear in the promised land until 1926.

The Yankees will never know what they may have missed out on.

Answer: 1927

1927 was the year of the 'Bronx Bombers' with Ruth, Gehrig, Lazzeri, Meusel, and Combs with their bats. From the mound they were highlighted by Waite Hoyt, Herb Pennock, and Urban Shocker. They went 110-44 in the season, and took the AL pennant by 19 games over the second place Athletics. They swept the Pirates in the World Series.

Answer: Bucky Harris

The Yankees first season without McCarthy was in 1947, and they won the World Series under the guidance of Bucky Harris, against Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers. It is a real wonder why McCarthy then went to the rival Red Sox, and managed them from 1948-1950.

Answer: Derek Jeter

Gehrig's final season was in 1939, and he kept a strong hold of this record until September 11, 2009, when Derek Jeter passed Lou's 2721 career Yankee hits. Mantle retired with 2415 hits, and DiMaggio had 2214 for the Yankees.

Answer: Yankees - 1027 wins

The Yankees went 1027-856 in their 100th season mark against the Sox. They scored 9004 runs compared to Boston's 8157. The Yankees were 554-381 while playing the Red Sox in New York, but Boston slightly topped them with a 475-473 record of their own at home in Fenway Park against the Yankees.

Answer: Don Mattingly

Gehrig set his Yankee team record with his 1927 Bronx Bombers. Lou was the AL MVP in 1927. He hit 52 doubles in the season, and would hold on to that record until 1986 when Mattingly hit 53. Gehrig played for 17 seasons and hit 534, while Mattingly played 14 seasons with 442.

Answer: Joe McCarthy

McCarthy led these managerial greats with 16 Yankees seasons under his hat with a record of 1460-867. Torre was next with 1173 wins, just nipping out Stengel with 1149 wins. Huggins won 1067 over 12 seasons.

Answer: 1976

1921 was the Yankees' first World Series, and they lost to the Giants, five games to three. In their second appearance in 1922, the Giants defeated them 4-0-1. Against the Giants for the third consecutive time, they finally had their first World Series crown.

The Big Red Machine of the Cincinnati Reds swept them in 1976. In the other World Series listed, the Yankees did not make an appearance.