Electro-Shock Baseball: Treatment 4 Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of the following expansion teams in their debut, won their first Major League game?

Answer: Los Angeles Angels

The Angels defeated the Baltimore Orioles on April 11, 1961, by a score of 7-2. The Colt .45s of Houston also did this in 1962. The dismal Mets lost their first nine games before tasting victory in 1962.

2. Which team embarrassed the New York Yankees in a World Series in the 1970s, and registered an amazing 42 hits in only four games?

Answer: Cincinnati Reds

The Big Red Machine of Cincinnati hit .313 compared to the Yankees' .222 in the series. It was a four games to none skunking with the Reds' catcher Johnny Bench winning MVP honors. The Reds were the only team to win a World Series against the Yankees in the 1970s.

3. Who was the first player to stretch out 800 doubles in their career?

Answer: None listed

Even throughout the 20th century, the 800-plateau was still beyond reach. Tris Speaker almost touched the mark when he retired in 1928 with 792. Speaker led the league eight times with doubles. The others listed weren't lazy either, as Rose stretched out 746, Musial 725, and Cobb with 724.

4. Which pitcher was given an extra win in his career, 15 years after he retired, altering his top 10 status in career wins?

Answer: Christy Mathewson

When Grover Cleveland 'Pete' Alexander retired in 1930, he was number three in career wins with 373, one more than Christy Mathewson in fourth. But in 1931, 15 years after Mathewson retired, a review of his statistics and baseball records showed that he was not given credit for a win in 1902.

Therefore after retiring with 372 in 1916, he officially was credited with 373 wins, tying him with Alexander. 373 tied them both for the number three spot in wins behind Walter Johnson and Cy Young.

5. Sometime in the 20th century, a pitcher threw a dismal 4-25 record in a season. Who was it?

Answer: Ben Cantwell

All these lost at least 20 games in a season, but none had a worse season record than Cantwell's 1935 Boston Brave presentation. Ironically, two seasons earlier with the Braves he went 20-10, and was 10th in MVP voting. The Braves also witnessed Babe Ruth's final season in 1935.

6. Which of the following played with the Washington Senators in one season, made the franchise move to Minnesota the next season, then played with the Senators again later in his career, and made another move with the team?

Answer: Don Mincher

Strange but true. Mincher broke into the Major Leagues in 1960 with Washington. In 1961, team found themselves in Minnesota, where he first played for six seasons as a Twin. It was on to California to play with the Angels. In 1969, Mincher found himself on the expansion Seattle Pilots.

In 1971, Don was on the second Washington Senators team, then made the move with them again, but to Texas this time as a Ranger in 1972. Dazed and confused, Mincher retired as an Athletic after the 1972 season.

7. Which speedy team set a Major League record by stealing 347 bases in a season?

Answer: 1911 New York Giants

The 1976 Oakland Athletics set an American League record with 341. The 1911 Giants had seven steal 20 or more in the season. The other teams listed never reached the 80-mark in those seasons. In 1962, Dodger Maury Wills stole at least 25 more by himself than the other teams listed.

8. In 1982, which pitcher set a record for throwing 269.3 consecutive innings in relief over four seasons, and never gave up a home run?

Answer: Greg Minton

From 1978-1982, Minton of the Giants was the toughest reliever to hit a home run off. He retired as a California Angel in 1990. In 1130.7 career innings, Greg gave up only 43 home runs. All the others listed gave up more than 100 home runs.

9. A 1990s World Series game set a World Series record for the most runs scored in a game. What was the score in this slugfest?

Answer: 15-14

The previous postseason high was in the 1888 National League Championship series pitting the St. Louis Browns and the New York Giants. Game four the 1993 World Series saw the Blue Jays and Phillies bang out 32 hits in the nine-inning spinning scoreboard game.

The Blue Jays won the series four games to two, and the Phillies Mitch Williams was the goat of the series twice. He lost this game four, and later gave up Joe Carter's ninth inning game six home run in another loss.

10. On April 23, 1999, Fernando Tatis of the Cardinals became the first player to hit two grand slams in the same inning, thanks to pitcher Chan Ho Park. Which team was the first to hit two in an inning in the modern era (post 1901)?

Answer: Minnesota Twins

On July 18, 1962, the Twins blasted two out in the same inning, compliments of Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison. Both of the sluggers combined for 77 home runs in the season, helping the Twins to an American League second place finish behind the Yankees. Killebrew hit 11 career grand slams, but placed way behind career leader Lou Gehrig who retired with 23. Eddie Murray retired with 19, Giant Willie McCovey and Robin Ventura hit 18.
Priot 1901:
August 16, 1890 -5th inning - players Burns and Kittredge hits garnd slams for the Cubs against Pittsburgh.

Source: Author Nightmare

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Another all multiple choice challenge in a series for those looking for some tough stuff. I hope that it gives you a challenge. :-)

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