Baseball's Tough Whiskers Trivia Quiz

Answer: Harold Traynor

Harold "Pie" Traynor was a career Pittsburgh Pirate from 1920-1937. Six times in his career, Pie was in the top 10 for the NL MVP voting. He went to a duo of World Series with the Pirates while winning one. The third baseman's number 20 was retired by the Pirates. Gehrig wore the number 4 with the Yankees, and was the first-ever player to have his number retired. Ott wore the number with the Giants, and Snider with the Dodgers.
Pictured was a pie.

Answer: Tony Lazzeri

The 1927 World Series involved the Yankees' Murderers Row team against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Yankees won the first three games 5-4, 6-2, and 8-1. Game four was tied in the bottom of the ninth at three runs each when Yankee second baseman Tony Lazzeri stepped up to the plate with Earl Combs on third.

The Yankees began the ninth inning with an Earl Combs walk. Mark Koenig tried to sacrifice Combs to second with a bunt, but he beat out the bunt. Pirates pitcher Johnny Miljus threw a wild pitch to Babe Ruth which advanced both runners.

He intentionally walked Ruth to load the bases. Miljus then struck out Lou Gehrig and Bob Meusel which brought Lazzeri to the plate. He threw another wild pitch which scored the game-winning run in Combs. The photo was of Tony's Pizza restaurant.

Answer: Minnesota

The Twins started their season on April Fool's Day with a 13-3 blowout at the hands of the Blue Jays. It took until the last week of May for the Twins to get their 15th in the bag. When the Twins won their 15th game, the Indians, Rangers, and Yankees were all on top of their divisions. Also, every Major League team had already won its 20th game when the Twins notched their 15th, and the Cardinals, Indians, and Phillies had won 30.
The photo was Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito who played in the movie, "Twins".

Answer: Albert Pujols

Pujols was in his fifth season when he won it while a Cardinal in 2005. In his previous four seasons, Albert finished 4th, 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd for the MVP Award. He led the league in only runs with 129 which showed a tremendous season balance. Bonds did not finish in the top 30 for the MVP in 2005.
Pictured was a can of Prince Albert pipe tobacco.

Answer: Vic Willis

After eight seasons with the Boston Beaneaters of the National League from 1898-1905, Boston had enough of Willis with him losing 25 in 1904, then 29 in 1905. He was traded to the Pirates for four seasons, then retired as a Cardinal in 1910 with a 249-205 record. The Veterans Committee inducted Vic to the Hall of Fame in 1995.
Pictured was the Army's famous Ford Willys (pronounced Willis).

Answer: Jim Rice

Sutter, a pitcher, was inducted with 76.9% of the required 75% of the balloting in his 13th year of eligibility. Rice was in his 12th year of eligibility in 2006, but fell short with 64.8%. Rich Gossage was third on the list of those left off with 64.% in his seventh year of hopeful. Rice was a 16-season career Red Sox player in the 1970s and 1980s. He hit 382 home runs. Rice was finally inducted into the hall in 2009, while Gossage saw induction in 2008.
Pictured was a box of Uncle Ben's white rice.

Answer: Larry Corcoran

Koufax's fourth no-no was a perfecto against the Cubs on September 9, 1965. He broke the record of Larry Corcoran, who played at six different positions in his career. Ironically, Corcoran threw all three no-hitters with the Chicago White Stockings (later Cubs).

He debuted as a 19-year old rookie in 1880. His no-hitters came in August 1880, September 1882, and June 1884. Larry also played in left field, right field, shortstop, second, and at third base. He retired after only eight seasons in 1887 with the Indianapolis Hoosiers. Corcoran's entire career was played in the National League with a 177-89 pitching record. Pictured was a box of corks for bottling wines and such.

Answer: Bobby Cox

Cox managed the Atlanta Braves from 1978-1981, then in four seasons with the Blue Jays while winning the AL Manager of the Year Award in 1985. He went back to Atlanta for another 21 seasons, winning three more Manager of the Year awards. He retired in 2010, but not before getting loss number 2000 and 2001. Managers before him that lost 2000 games were Connie Mack (3948), Tony LaRussa who topped the 2300-mark in 2011, Bucky Harris (2219), and Gene Mauch (2037). Cox retired with a 2504-2001 record.
Pictured was former NCAA Indiana basketball coach, Bobby Knight.

Answer: Phil Niekro

Niekro was born on April Fool's Day in 1939. Phil went 318-274 in his 24 seasons. He was runner-up for the MVP Award to Tom Seaver in 1969. Fox was the AL MVP in 1959 with the White Sox. He was born in 1927. Henderson was born in 1958. He was the first player in history to steal over 1000 bases, retiring with 1406. Galvin was born in 1856 and won 356 games in his 15-season career.
Pictured was the late television "Saturday Night Live" star, Phil Hartman.

Answer: New York Yankees

The Yankees came out on top in the decade with 851 wins. The Indians were the runner-up for the league with 823, then the White Sox with 816, and the Red Sox with 814. The Yankees saw three World Series, the Indians went to two, while the Red Sox and White Sox didn't go to any World Series in the decade.