Batting Stars of the 1960s Trivia Quiz

Answer: He batted right-handed.

Colavito spent several productive years with the Detroit Tigers and later the Cleveland Indians during the 1960s. From 1960 to 1968, Colavito belted 245 home runs and knocked in 786 runs. Colavito's best season probably occurred in 1961 when he slugged 45 HRs and had 140 RBIs for the Tigers. Colavito actually played briefly for the New York Yankees in the final year of his career (1968).

Unfortunately, Colavito never had the opportunity to participate in a World Series. He earned five All-Star Game selections during the 1960s.

Answer: Wrigley Field

Billy Williams was a star outfielder for the Chicago Cubs from 1961 to 1974, and this sweet-swinging lefty batter belted 231 home runs in Chicago's Wrigley Field. During the 1960s, Williams reached the 30-HR plateau in three different seasons for the North Side team playing in the "friendly confines" of Wrigley Field. Williams hit 23 career home runs at Crosley Field, 9 homers at Forbes Field, and 8 home runs at Dodger Stadium.

Answer: Frank Howard

Big Frank Howard played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Senators. Howard was supposedly given the moniker "Hondo" because of his strong body and his resemblance to legendary actor John Wayne. During the 1960s, Howard slammed 288 home runs and knocked home 835 runs. This right-handed slugger belted 44 home runs during the 1968 season for the Senators.

Answer: Cuba

Tony Oliva was born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, in 1938. This lefty-hitting Cuban native played his entire big league career (1962-1976) with the Minnesota Twins. In 1964, Oliva was named the Rookie of the Year in the American League. He batted .323 and collected 217 base hits. During the 1960s, Oliva had 1094 hits, including 132 home runs.

Answer: Cincinnati Reds

Vada Pinson was a vastly underrated outfielder who played with the Cincinnati Reds from 1958 to 1968. During the 1960s, Pinson hit 175 home runs, stole 202 bases and drove in 792 runs. Pinson helped the Reds to win the National League pennant in 1961, batting .343 with 208 hits. Pinson finished his big league career with 2757 hits and 305 stolen bases.

Unfortunately, this lefty-hitting native of Tennessee was overshadowed in the outfield by such superstars as Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Frank Robinson.

Answer: He had the most base hits of any Major Leaguer during the 1960s.

Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates had the most base hits (1877) of any big league player during the 1960s. Clemente collected over 200 hits in four different seasons during the 1960s, with his high water mark of 211 in 1964. Overall, Clemente reached the 3000 hit plateau in 1972 during a career which lasted from 1955 to 1972. Maury Wills was the stolen base leader during the 1960s, and Harmon Killebrew was the leader in home runs.

Answer: Hank Bauer

In December 1959, the New York Yankees engineered one of the biggest heists in baseball history, when they traded away veteran outfielder Hank Bauer to the Kansas City Athletics in exchange for emerging star Roger Maris. The players traded were Roger Maris, Kent Hadley and Joe DeMaestri who went to the Yankees in exchange for Hank Bauer, Don Larsen, and Norm Siebern. Roger Maris gave the Bronx Bombers some legendary seasons, including a record 61 home runs during the 1961 season.

The lefty-hitting Maris played with the Yankees from 1960 to 1966, belting 203 home runs. Hank Bauer only lasted two seasons with the Athletics.

The other three players listed in this question were infielders.

Answer: Roy Campanella

Outfielder Tommy Davis played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1959 to 1966. This righty-hitting native of Brooklyn had a career year in 1962. He banged out 230 hits, batted .346, and knocked in 153 runs. Davis' RBIs total eclipsed the club's single-season record previously established by catcher Roy Campanella (143 RBIs) during the 1953 season.

In 1953, Campanella belted 40 home runs to go along with his 143 RBIs. Tommy Davis won the NL batting title in both 1962 and 1963. Unfortunately, Davis broke his ankle during the 1965 season, an injury which greatly curtailed his skills for the rest of his career. During the 1960s, Davis collected 1350 base hits.

Answer: Daddy Wags

This lefty-hitting outfielder was nicknamed "Daddy Wags" due to his wide cheeks and his affable personality. Wagner's best season for the Angels probably occurred in 1962 when he blasted 37 home runs and knocked home 107 runs. From 1964 to 1968, Wagner also enjoyed several fine seasons with the Cleveland Indians. For the decade of the 1960s, Daddy Wags belted 193 home runs to go along with 612 RBIs.

Answer: Shortstop

Groat batted .325 and won the NL batting title in 1960. Groat was known for his clutch hitting and for his stellar defensive play around the second base bag. During the 1960s, Groat collected 1252 hits and earned four All-Star Game selections. He was also an accomplished basketball player who was a member of the NBAs Fort Wayne Pistons during the 1952-53 season. Groat retired from the Major Leagues in 1967.