Comparing the Great Arms Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cy Young

Cy Young was born on March 29, 1867. Mathewson was born on August 12, 1880. Both Alexander and Johnson were born in 1887, with Pete arriving nine months earlier than Walter.

Answer: Cy Young

Young topped this list by being a 20-game winner an amazing 15 of his 22 seasons. Cy was also a 30-game winner five times. Mathewson had 13 20-game seasons, Johnson 12, and Alexander nine.

Answer: Walter Johnson

Johnson spent all his 21 seasons with the Washington Senators beginning in 1907. Alexander began it all with the Phillies, Mathewson with the Giants, and Young with the Cleveland Spiders, all with the National League.

Answer: Cy Young

Young made his only appearance with the 1903 Boston Americans in his only World Series title. Johnson made two appearances with the Senators in 1924 and 1925. He came away with one title. Alexander made three appearances, one with the Phillies and two with the Cardinals. He also walked away with one crown. Mathewson saw four series with the Giants, winning only one also.

Answer: 2

Young led the league only twice in 1896 and 1901. Cy threw only 200 strikeouts in a season twice. Johnson was the only one of the four to top the 300-strikeout mark in season, and he did it twice in 1910 and 1912 with the
Senators.

Answer: Walter Johnson

Johnson not only threw three Triple Crowns in 1913, 1918, and 1924, but bagged two AL MVP awards in 1913 and 1924. The American League had no MVP awarded in 1918. Alexander threw three Triple Crowns in 1915, 1916, and 1920, but there was no MVP Award presented from 1915-1923 in the National League. Both leagues could not agree on what the winner would take home. Mathewson threw two Triple Crowns in 1905 and 1908. Young's only Triple Crown was in 1901 with the Boston Americans in the American League's first season.

Answer: Christy Mathewson

Mathewson went a career 373-188 (.665). Alexander was next up with his 373-208 (.642). Young was 511-316 (.618), and Johnson had the lowest at .599 with his 417-279 record.

Answer: Cy Young

Johnson did a solo with the Senators from 1907-1927. Mathewson played his entire 17-season career with the Giants, all except for one final game with the Reds. Alexander played for three teams. Pete's first eight seasons were with the Phillies beginning in 1911, nine with the Cubs, four with the Cardinals, then he retired as a Phillie. Young played for five teams including the Cleveland Spiders, St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals, Boston Americans, Cleveland Naps, and the Boston Braves. Young retired in 1911, the same season that Pete Alexander was a rookie.

Answer: Walter Johnson

Johnson was a very good hitting pitcher. He batted a career .235 over 21 seasons. Walter showed power also, hitting 24 home runs, 41 triples, and 94 doubles. He even batted .433 in 1925, making over 100 plate appearances. Mathewson retired with a .215 average, Young .210, and Alexander .209.

Answer: Cy Young

Young lived 25+ years longer than the others. Baseball lost Mathewson at the age of 45 in 1925, just nine years after he retired. Johnson was lost in 1946 at the age of 59. Alexander was the next to depart at the age of 63 in 1950. Young, who had the most wins of them all, died in 1955 at the age of 88. The Cy Young Award was presented in his honor annually, beginning in 1956.