Boston Red Sox Tidbits Trivia Quiz

Answer: Boston Americans

The emergence of the new American League brought eight teams to the table. The other names listed were all Boston franchise names. They began in 1901 as the Americans and finished second to the White Sox with a 79-57 record. In 1902, the team became the Somersets, finishing in third place. With a new name of the Pilgrims in 1903, Boston went all the way and won the first World Series against the National League Pittsburgh Pirates.

They held the Pilgrim name until the Red Sox name stuck in 1907.

The Red Sox had four managers throughout the 1907 season.

Answer: 1914

In 1914, the Babe pitched in four games with a season record of 2-1. As a batter, Ruth had two hits against 10 at-bats, a double and a single.

Answer: Babe Ruth had one at-bat in the entire series

The Red Sox won the series against the Phillies, four games to one. There were no shutouts in the series. Cy Young left the Red Sox after the 1908 season. Babe Ruth was in his second season of baseball in 1915. After winning only two games as a rookie pitcher, the Babe came back in 1915 with a 18-8 record for the Red Sox. Ironically, Ruth did not pitch or field in the series.

He appeared as a pinch-hitter in his only at-bat. The Red Sox stayed with a three pitcher rotation of Rube Foster, Ernie Shore, and Dutch Leonard.

The three pitched all complete games, with Shore having the team's only loss.

Answer: Jimmie Foxx

Foxx was not only the first, but the only player in Boston's first 100 years of existence. A former Philadelphia Athletic for 11 seasons, Foxx came to the Red Sox in 1936, then hit his 50 in 1938. The 50 home runs helped Jimmie win the American League MVP Award. Jim Rice (1974-1989) led the others listed with 46, then 'Yaz' (1961-1983) by hitting 44 in 1967, then Ted Williams (1939-1960) hit 43 in 1949.

Answer: Jim Lonborg

The Cy Young Award began in 1956. Lonborg won it 1967, the first season that Major League baseball gave the award to the National League and American League's most outstanding pitcher. Lonborg went 22-9 in the season, and helped the Red Sox to the World Series against the Cardinals. He went 2-1 in the series, but the Red Sox lost four games to three.

Answer: 1960

In 1960, not only did they not make it to the promised land, but they finished 32 games out of the lead, with the Yankees winning the American League pennant. Managers Dick Williams in 1967, Darrell Johnson 1975, and Terry Francona, all took the Red Sox to the World Series, with Francona coming out on top in 2004.

Answer: 'Smokey Joe' Wood

Young's high in Boston was 33 wins in 1901, then followed it up with 32 in 1902. Ruth won 24 in 1917, while Clemens matched Ruth in 1986. It was Joe Wood, who in his fifth season with the Red Sox, went 34-5 in 1912. This helped the Red Sox win the American League by 14 games ahead of the second place Washington Senators. Boston won 105 games in the season.

They also went on to defeat the New York Giants in the World Series, four games to three with one tie. Joe Wood won three games in the series.

Answer: 111

The 111 came in 1932, finishing an astounding 64 games behind the AL pennant winner Yankees. Winning only 43 games in the season, the Red Sox had only one pitcher win in double-figures, Bob Kline going 11-13. Only two shutouts were thrown by the team in their entire season also.

Answer: Babe Ruth

Jack Chesbro pitched in only one game for the Red Sox in 1909. This was the last game of his great career. He set a record by winning 41 games in the 1904 season with the Yankees. He was inducted into the in 1946. Jimmy Collins played in a Boston uniform from 1901-1907, and was inducted into the Hall in 1945. One of Collins' many accomplishments in his career was that he was the player-manager that helped Boston to their first World Series victory in 1903.

The great Cy Young who retired with 511 career wins, won 192 games for Boston from 1901-1908. Young made it into the Hall in 1937. Babe Ruth was one of the first five inductees into the Hall of Fame in 1936.

He was joined by Tiger Ty Cobb, Senator Walter Johnson, New York Giant Christy Mathewson, and Pittsburgh Pirate Honus Wagner.

Answer: Manny Ramirez

Except for the designated hitter Ortiz who hit 41, the others did not hit more than 20 home runs excluding the team leader Ramirez. In the 2004 season, Ramirez matched the great Ted Williams' season high. Manny not only hit 43 big ones, but he also batted .308 with 175 hits. Ramirez was also the 2004 World Series MVP by hitting .412 in Boston's victory over the Cardinals.