Hall of Fame Second Basemen Trivia Quiz

Answer: Houston Colt .45s

Joe Morgan began his big league career with the Houston Colt .45s in 1963. He played with the Colts/Astros until 1971. Morgan's glory years occurred while he was a member of the Reds, 1972-1979. Morgan ended his playing days with the Oakland A's in 1984. Overall, he hit 268 home runs and drove home 1133 runs. Morgan also stole 689 bases. He was inducted into Cooperstown in 1990.

Answer: 1960

Bill Mazeroski played second base with the Pirates from 1956 to 1972, banging out 138 regular season home runs. In the 1960 World Series, Mazeroski hit his most famous home run, a game seven "walk-off" blast in the ninth inning which gave the Bucs an upset victory over the mighty Yankees.

The elated second baseman scampered around the bases after drilling a Ralph Terry pitch over the left field wall. Mazeroski's 1960 home run made him a folk hero in Pittsburgh, and the Pirates eventually retired his number 9 uniform.

The great fielding second baseman was inducted into Cooperstown in 2001.

Answer: Hornsby hit over 300 big league home runs

Rogers Hornsby is considered by many baseball experts to be one of the greatest batters in MLB history. The "Rajah" belted 301 home runs in a career which lasted from 1915 to 1937. He accumulated 2930 base hits and knocked in 1584 runs, outstanding numbers for the second baseman from Texas. Hornsby also hit 541 doubles in his career. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1942.

Answer: The Mechanical Man

Charlie Gehringer, a native of Michigan, played his entire MLB career (1924-1942) with the Detroit Tigers. He was dubbed the "Mechanical Man" because he performed so consistently and effortlessly in the field and at the plate. Gehringer had 2839 career base hits, including 184 home runs.

He was inducted into Cooperstown in 1949, and his number 2 uniform was eventually retired by the Tigers.

Answer: 23

Ryne Sandberg made his number 23 a fixture at the "friendly confines" of Wrigley Field from 1982 to 1994, and 1996-1997. "Ryno" combined smooth fielding skills and power hitting to forge a Hall of Fame career. Sandberg hit 282 home runs and was selected to 10 All-Star teams in his days with the Cubs.

In 2005, Sandberg was inducted into Cooperstown, and his number 23 uniform was retired by the Cubbies.

Answer: Collins batted left-handed

Eddie Collins, a left-handed batter, used his speed and excellent bunting ability to collect 3315 base hits in a career which spanned 25 years. Collins played first for the Philadelphia As and later for the Chicago White Sox. He compiled a lifetime batting average of .333 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939. Collins' last season in the show (1930) was with the As.

Answer: Rhode Island

Nap Lajoie was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, in 1874. Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania are not located in New England as they are Middle-Atlantic states. Lajoie was one of baseball's first superstars. He had over 3200 base hits, compiled a lifetime batting average of .338, and drove in 1599 runs. Lajoie was inducted into Cooperstown in 1937.

Answer: Jimmy Dykes

In 1960, Joe "Flash" Gordon and Jimmy Dykes became involved in a trade of managers. Gordon's Cleveland Indians team had a record of 49-46 when it was decided that a change of managers was necessary. Jimmy Dykes of the Detroit Tigers was traded to Cleveland, but he compiled a record of just 26-32. Gordon's record with the Tigers was only 26-31. Gordon was much more effective as a second baseman.

He hit 253 home runs and drove in 975 runs. Gordon was inducted into Cooperstown in 2008. In 1960, Casey Stengel managed the Yankees, Paul Richards was the Orioles' skipper, and Al Lopez managed the White Sox.

Answer: Boston Red Sox

Bobby Doerr, a native of Los Angeles, is one of the greatest players in Boston Red Sox history. The second baseman provided solid defense and power hitting for the Bosox. Doerr belted 223 home runs during his career and drove in 1247 runs. Doerr was particularly effective at Boston's Fenway Park, hitting nearly 150 home runs in Boston. Doerr's number 1 uniform was retired by the Red Sox.

He was inducted into Cooperstown in 1986.

Answer: Tony Lazzeri

Tony Lazzeri hit 178 home runs during his Major League career. Lazzeri played in the show from 1926 to 1939, mostly with the New York Yankees. He was inducted into Cooperstown in 1991. Frankie Frisch hit 105 big league home runs, Red Schoendienst had 84 round trippers, and Billy Herman hit 47 home runs.