I Know What I'm Doing! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tony LaRussa

All the other managing greats retired long before then. LaRussa was the first American League manager to win it in 1983 with the White Sox, then two more with the Oakland Athletics in 1988 and 1992. Tony took another bow in the National League with the Cardinals in 2002 for his fourth award. Ironically, LaRussa and his Cardinals would win the World Series in 2006, yet not finish in the top five for the Manager of the Year Award.

Answer: Dallas Green

After taking over the helm of the Phillies in 1979 with only 30 games left in the season, Green took the Phillies with the compliments of Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton to their first franchise World Series victory. Green's managing days lasted only eight seasons, and he retired with a 454-478 record overall with the Phillies, Yankees, and Mets.

Answer: Billy Martin

The George Steinbrenner-Billy Martin endeavors were well documented throughout the years of Major League Baseball. Billy was run out of town by pressure from Twins fans after he punched his own starting pitcher Dave Boswell in a bar fight. Boswell went on to go 20-12 in that 1969 season, but Martin was history as a Twin. Billy took the Yankees to consecutive World Series in 1976 and 1977, but owner Steinbrenner had enough of Billy's dealings with players, and mainly Reggie Jackson. Martin had a history of alcoholism and failed rehabs, and died on Christmas Day in 1989 at the age of 61. Steinbrenner died on July 13, 2010.

Answer: Earl Weaver

Weaver was the notorious manager of the Baltimore Orioles, who would frequently taunt umpires with the bill of his cap on the bridge of umpires noses. He was the first manager to be ejected before a game even started. The second manager to be tossed before the start of a game was Joe Torre in 1997. Joe while still fuming over the previous days call by umpire Rich Garcia, the Yankee manager began to let Rich have it during the line-up card exchange. Joe never saw the first pitch.

Answer: John McGraw

The others weren't managers yet, and were inducted into the hall at least 20 years later. Mack had the helm of the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901-1950, after three years with Pittsburgh in the late 1890s. McGraw began his managerial career with the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association and the National League.

He later had the helm of the New York Giants for over 30 seasons.

Answer: Connie Mack

McCarthy won his fifth World Series crown with the Yankees in 1939. Stengel was also with the Yankees, and won his first of seven with the Yankees in 1949. Huggins was also a Yankee manager and won three series titles. However, it was Mack who took his fifth crown in 1930 with the Philadelphia Athletics.

Answer: Gene Mauch

The other managers all had shining careers by winning over 2000 games, except for Stengel who went 1905-1842. Mauch had a 26-season record of 1902-2037. He managed the Phillies, Expos, Twins, and Angels from 1960-1987. In his 26 seasons (he missed the 1984 and 1985 seasons), he would only make the postseason twice with the Angels, but could never get past the ALDS.

Answer: Harry Wright

Wright was the player-manager for the Boston Red Stockings of the National Association. The first league game win came against the New York Mutuals. Although finishing in third place behind the Philadelphia Athletics, Wright and his Red Stockings would win every National Association pennant from 1872-1875 before the league went defunct. Wright and the team moved over to the new National League in 1876 with the name of Boston Red Caps (later the Boston/Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves). Harry was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1953.

Answer: Guy Hecker

Hecker and his Pittsburgh Alleghenys (later Pirates) of the National League went 23-113 in the 1890 season for a last place finish. He was the player-manager by helming the team and playing first base and pitcher in the season. Guy's big season came with the Louisville Eclipse of the American Association as a pitcher, when he went 52-20.

In nine seasons as a pitcher, he went 175-146. As a manager, 1890 was his only managerial season. Hecker's and the Alleghenys season was not quite as bad as the 1899 Cleveland Spiders who went 20-134 in that season.

Answer: Gil Hodges

Hodges played his final two seasons of 18 as a New York Met in 1962 and 1963. He played most of his career with the Dodgers, hitting over 350 home runs. After trying his hand at managing the Senators for many seasons, he couldn't get the team to a better than sixth place finish.

He took over the Mets in 1968, finished ninth of ten teams, then won it all in 1969 against the Orioles in a four games to one World Series win.