First Basemen of the 1950s Trivia Quiz

Answer: He batted and threw right-handed

Hodges was a prominent member of the Dodgers (Brooklyn and Los Angeles) throughout the 1950s. Hodges slammed 370 home runs during his career and won three Gold Gloves for fielding excellence. Hodges batted .267 and hit five home runs in World Series play for the Dodgers.

Answer: Mickey

James "Mickey" Vernon was a left-handed first baseman who played in the Major Leagues from 1939 to 1960. Mickey received his nickname from an aunt when he was a boy, and the name stuck throughout his lifetime. Vernon had outstanding hitting ability. In 1953, for example, Vernon won the AL batting crown with a .337 average to go along with 15 home runs and 115 RBI.

Unfortunately, Vernon played most of his career with second-rate clubs such as the Senators and Red Sox. Vernon retired with 172 total big league home runs.

Answer: Eddie Waitkus

Eddie Waitkus was a lefty-hitting first baseman who played in the show from 1941 to 1955. Waitkus began his career with the Chicago Cubs but was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies before the 1949 season. An obsessive fan named Ruth Ann Steinhagen was infatuated with Waitkus.

She invited Waitkus to her hotel room in Chicago on June 14, 1949, for an "urgent" message. She then shot Waitkus in the chest with a .22 caliber rifle. Waitkus was lucky to survive the shooting and even managed to continue his big league career.

He was named the Comeback Player of the Year in 1950. The woman who assaulted Waitkus was declared legally insane.

Answer: Home runs in eight consecutive games

Lefty-hitting Dale Long slammed 132 home runs and had 467 RBIs in a big league career which spanned 13 years. Between May 19 and May 28, 1956, Long had a week to remember. This Pittsburgh Pirate first baseman belted eight home runs in eight conescutive games, establishing a Major League record that would not be matched until Don Mattingly of the Yankees equaled the feat in 1987. Long's home run streak was finally halted by Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers on May 29, 1956. Overall, Long smacked 27 home runs and drove home 91 runs during the 1956 season.

Answer: Chicago White Sox

Ted Kluszewski was a powerful lefty-hitting first baseman who played with the Cincinnati Reds from 1947 to 1957. In 1959, however, Kluszewski was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the pennant-winning Chicago White Sox. Big Klu provided much needed power to the "Go-Go Sox" team.

In the 1959 World Series, Kluszewski was outstanding: he belted three home runs, had 10 RBIs and compiled a .391 batting average for the White Sox. Overall, Kluszewski smacked 279 home runs in a Major League career which ended in 1961.

Answer: Polo Grounds

Vic Wertz had a solid big league career, hitting 266 home runs and knocking home 1178 runs. However, he is best remembered today for his long drive in the 1954 World Series which was hauled in by Willie Mays. The date was September 29, and the setting was the Polo Grounds in Manhattan, New York City.

The Polo Grounds was shaped like a horseshoe, with a cavernous expanse in dead center field. Wertz blasted the ball about 450 feet, but Mays tracked it down to make a miraculous catch. Wertz and the Cleveland Indians ended up losing the 1954 World Series to the New York Giants. Wertz played first base from about 1955 until his career ended in 1963.

Answer: Joe Adcock

Joe Adcock had a game for the ages on July 31, 1954. This right-handed hitting first baseman of the Milwaukee Braves blasted four home runs to lead Milwaukee to a 15-7 triumph over the Brooklyn Dodgers. During this game, Adcock also hit a double to give him an amazing 18 total bases. Adcock played in the big leagues from 1950 to 1966 and hit 336 home runs during his career. Eddie Mathews played third base for Milwaukee, Johnny Logan was a shortstop, and Bill Bruton was an outfielder.

Answer: Chicago Bears

Big Walt Dropo was a star collegiate athlete in his native state of Connecticut, lettering in baseball, football and basketball. The legendary coach George Halas and his Chicago Bears' organization selected Dropo in the ninth round of the 1946 NFL draft, but Dropo opted for a career in baseball. During the 1950s, "Moose" played for several different Major League teams: the Red Sox, Tigers, White Sox, Redlegs and Orioles. Dropo was named the American League Rookie of the Year in 1950 when he batted .322, with 34 homers and 144 RBIs.

Answer: 6

Stan "The Man" Musial is generally considered as the greatest player in the long history of the St. Louis Cardinals. Musial's "peek-a-boo" batting style and number 6 uniform became synonymous with baseball excellence. Musial began his career as an outfielder but alternated between outfield and first base during the 1950s. Musial had 3630 hits including 475 home runs during his legendary career.

His number 6 uniform was retired by the Cardinals in 1963. Ken Boyer wore uniform number 14, Dizzy Dean wore number 17, and Bob Gibson wore number 45.

Answer: Joe Collins

Joe Collins was a left-handed first baseman who played his entire big league career (1948-1957) with the Yankees. During his tenure with the Yankees, Collins participated in seven different World Series for a total of 36 games. Collins hit only 86 home runs in regular season competition, but he belted four round trippers during World Series play. Billy Martin played second base for the Yankees, Gil McDougald was a third baseman, and Gene Woodling was an outfielder.