Good Golly, Miller Huggins Did the Deed! Quiz

Answer: Law

Huggins studied law while attending the University of Cincinnati and playing shortstop for the school's baseball team (the Bearcats). He was named team captain for the 1900 season. He also played semi-pro and minor league baseball during his time in college and after graduation (but before joining Major League Baseball). Huggins actually passed the Bar exam but never practiced law as he felt he would make more money playing baseball.

Answer: Philadelphia Athletics

While he was admitted to the Hall of Fame as a manager rather than as a player, Huggins did have a successful 13-year career as a player with the Cincinnati Reds (1904-1909) and then the St. Louis Cardinals (1910-1916). His stint as manager of the Cardinals (1913-1917) overlapped with his time as a player.

He later managed the New York Yankees (1918-1929). Huggins never played for or managed the Philadelphia Athletics. (Connie Mack managed the Athletics during Huggins entire MLB playing and managing career.)

Answer: Walks

In his career, Huggins earned 1,003 walks (base on balls). The league-leading totals for the four seasons were 103 (in 1905), 83 (1907), 116 (1910), and 105 (1914). In 1906, he was fourth in hits (159), but lead the league in singles (141). His 324 stolen bases included five times when he was in the top ten in the National League.

In three seasons, he was in the top ten for number of strikeouts.

Answer: He neither married nor had children

Described as a quiet man who did not frequently socialize, Miller Huggins neither married nor had children. Earlier in his career he lived with his sister in Cincinnati, his hometown, in the offseason. By the time he was managing the Yankees, he spent his winters in Florida. In his freetime, he liked to golf and play billiards.

Answer: William Bendix.

William Bendix portrayed the title character in "The Babe Ruth Story" (1948). In that film, Fred Lightner portrayed Huggins. Joe Ragno portrayed Huggins in "The Babe" (1992). In "The Pride of the Yankees" (1942), Ernie Adams portrayed Huggins. That film is notable, in part, for Babe Ruth portraying himself.

Answer: Short and slender

Huggins stood about five feet, six inches and weighed 140 pounds as a player. A common nickname for him was "Mighty Mite". He was also known as "Rabbit" and "Little Everywhere" for being able to cover a large part of the infield. In college, Huggins played shortstop. Early in his pro career, he largely transitioned to playing second base.

Answer: Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth may have been known for his many home runs, but he was also known for his wild carousing when not on the field. Huggins suspended Ruth, who until then had largely disrespected him, for "misconduct off the playing field". Ruth claimed that team ownership would support him and rescind the suspension and the $5,000 fine he was assessed. To his surprise, Yankee ownership backed Huggins, forcing Ruth to apologize to be reinstated on the team. After this, Ruth largely did not question Higgins's authority again.

Huggins was not associated with Ty Cobb or Honus Wagner during his career. While he was manager of the Cardinals at the time Rogers Hornsby joined the team, Huggins was known more for working with the young player to improve his batting.

Answer: 3

While Huggins managed the Yankees, the team won the 1923, 1927, and 1928 World Series (once each against the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Cardinals). He also won three additional pennants (1921, 1922, and 1926) but lost in the World Series (twice to the Giants and once to the Cardinals). At the time of his death in September 1929, the Yankees had a record of 82-61.

Answer: No

Huggins's record overall as a manager was 1413-1134-23. He had a losing record with St. Louis (346-415-10), but a winning record with New York (1,067-719-13). With the Yankees, Huggins finished once in seventh place and 11 times in fourth place or higher. With the Cardinals, he finished twice in third place and three times in sixth place or lower. (All of these examples were out of eight teams in the league.)

Answer: Yes

Huggins died unexpectedly in September 1929, while he was still manager of the Yankees. He did not appear on the ballot for the Hall of Fame until 1937. He would not win election to the Hall of Fame until 1964, when he was chosen by the Veterans' Committee.

In 1932, a monument to Huggins was placed on the centerfield wall of Yankee Stadium at what would become "Monument Park" by the 1970s.