California Here I Come Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dodgers

Born in Brooklyn, Koufax was right at home when he started his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955. He made the move to Los Angeles with the Dodgers for the 1958 season, where he made a new career high, winning 11 games in the season. Great things were yet to come as he won three Triple Crowns, three Cy Young Awards, and a National League MVP Award. He retired in 1966.

Answer: Tony Gwynn

The others never played for a west coast team. Gwynn, of the San Diego Padres, was in the top ten MVP voting, seven times in his 20 season career with the Padres. He retired from baseball in 2001.

Answer: Oakland Athletics

Under the management of Dick Williams for two, then Alvin Dark for the latter, the A's defeated the Reds, Mets, and Dodgers, respectively.

Answer: Giants

The Giants made the move from New York to California, along with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1958. The Giants' first taste of west coast victory, was in 1962, when they defeated their rival Dodgers in the playoffs, then went to the World Series. Unfortunately, they lost to the Yankees, four games to three. In a close and exciting Series, game seven was a 1-0 shutout.

Answer: Athletics

'Big Mac' set baseball on fire, when he hit 49 home runs in his rookie season in 1987. McGwire smacked 70 home runs in 1998, breaking Roger Maris' record of 61 in a season. After 16 seasons, and 583 home runs later, he retired in 2001 as a St. Louis Cardinal. Barry Bonds later broke McGwire's home run record.

Answer: Steve Garvey

The others listed, never played west of Boston or New York. Garvey began his career as a third baseman, but did not have what it took in manager Walter Alston's eyes. The Dodgers moved him to first base, then his defense and bat came alive. Garvey was a 10-time all-star, and was in the top ten MVP voting, five times in his career.

Answer: San Diego Padres

Both the Dodgers and Giants moved from New York after the 1957 season. The Athletics moved from Kansas City to Oakland after the 1967 season. The Angels were an expansion team in 1961. The Padres were an expansion club in 1969, along with the Kansas City Royals and Montreal Expos.

It would be 16 seasons before the Padres would win the National League crown. In 1984, former Oakland manager Dick Williams, helmed the team to the World Series. The Tigers defeated San Diego, four games to one.

Answer: Dodgers

Mota began his career in a limited role with the San Francisco Giants in 1962. From there, it was on to Pittsburgh for six seasons, before becoming a Dodger in 1969. Mota retired in 1982 with Dodgers, being the oldest player in the season at age 44, and later became a batting coach for Dodger-Blue.

Answer: Oakland Athletics

Henderson began his career in 1979 as an Athletic. After six seasons with Oakland, he went cross-country to join the Yankees for five seasons. From there, Rickey didn't know which team he was playing for from day to day. He made 13 team moves in his career of 25 seasons. Rickey set a stolen base record in 1982, by stealing 130 bases in the season.

He also retired as the number one thief in history in 2003, as a Los Angeles Dodger, with 1406 stolen bases.

Answer: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Giants never won it. They went to the promised land in 1962 and 1989, but lost each time. The Padres went to the World Series in 1984 and 1998, but couldn't bring the rings home. Oakland, in addition to their three consecutive crowns from 1972-1974, would only see the World Series three more times in the century.

They lost to the Dodgers in 1988, won it all in 1989, and then in 1990 lost to the Cincinnati Reds. The Dodgers however, won the World Series against the 1959 White Sox, 1963 Yankees, 1965 Twins, 1981 Yankees, and the 1988 Oakland A's.