Killer Baseball Potpourri [3] Quiz | MLB Mixture

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Each season from 1944-1946, a St. Louis Cardinals pitcher led the National League in winning percentage, and each year it was a different pitcher. Which one of these pitchers was not one of the three leaders?

Answer: Dizzy Dean

Dizzy Dean retired in 1941, although he made a four-inning cameo appearance for the St. Louis Browns in 1947. Wilks led in 1944 as a rookie (17-4, .810), Harry "The Cat" Brecheen led in 1945 (15-4, .789), and Murry Dickson led in 1946 (15-6, .714).

2. Families that have had multiple players and managers are quite frequent in MLB. All but one of the players listed had a father and a brother who played or managed in MLB. Which one did not have both a father and a brother associated with the game?

Answer: George Brett

Although he came from a baseball family, George Brett only had a brother, Ken Brett play MLB. Aaron Boone had a brother Bret. Their father was Bob Boone, a catcher for many years. Aaron Boone's grandfather, Ray Boone, also played. Billy Ripken was the brother of Cal Ripken Jr. and the son of Cal Ripken Sr. Roberto Alomar was the brother of Sandy Alomar Jr and the son of Sandy Alomar Sr.

3. Which person played on three last place teams in the same season?

Answer: Johnnie LeMaster

Not only did Lemaster play on three last place teams, but the three teams lost 100 games in the season. In 1985, Johnnie LeMaster started the season for the San Francisco Giants, who finished last in the NL West at 62-100. LeMaster moved to the Cleveland Indians, who finished last in the AL East at 60-102.

Then, he finished up the season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who finished last in the NL East at 57-104.

4. Which pitcher broke Pud Galvin's all-time baseball record for career losses, when he lost his 316th career game?

Answer: Cy Young

Young not only lost 316 games in his career, but he won the most with his 511. It was not uncommon for a pitcher to be the only one (or two) pitcher on a team in the 'old days'. Cy Young, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history had an award named after him, the Cy Young Award which was first presented in 1956, for the most outstanding pitcher in a season. Mathewson went 373-188 in his career, Spahn retired with a 363-245 record, and Feller had a 266-162 career record. Galvin pitched from 1875-1892 and retired with a 365-310 record. Young broke Galvin's record in 1911, a record that would stand throughout the entire 20th Century.

5. Several players who debuted in MLB as catchers had to be moved to other positions, with varying degrees of success, because they could not accurately throw the ball back to the pitcher. Which of these ex-catchers did not move to another position because of throwing problems?

Answer: Manny Sanguillen

Manny Sanguillen had some speed and the Pittsburgh Pirates wanted to lengthen his career. They had a hole in right field after the 1972 death of Roberto Clemente and moved Sanguillen there the next year. Ironically, Sanguillen was supposed to be on the same plane trip that killed Clemente, but missed the plane because he couldn't find his car keys! Sanguillen eventually returned to catching. Dale Murphy moved to the outfield after starting as a catcher with the Atlanta Braves. Mike Ivie was a catcher before being moved to first base with the San Diego Padres. Mackey Sasser started as a catcher with the San Francisco Giants, but moved around to several teams playing first and third bases as well as in the outfield.

6. Throwing problems can affect the careers of players. All but one of the following players had their careers significantly altered by throwing accuracy problems. Which one did not?

Answer: Pete Ward

Ward's career was shortened by an auto accident. Garvey came up as a third baseman, but throwing problems prompted a moved to first base. He was a great fielder, but did not want to throw the ball. It was well known that sacrifice bunts should be directed at him, because he would never attempt to throw out the lead runner. Knoblauch and Sax were second basemen who suddenly lost accuracy. Knoblauch came up in 1991.

In 2000, he started experiencing problems and ended up as a left fielder and designated hitter.

While with the Yankees, one of his errant throws ended up hitting sportscaster Keith Olbermann's mother in the face. Sax came up with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981, but finished his career playing mostly outfield positions.

7. Over the years, there have been players who have died during their playing careers, including former Pittsburgh Pirates great Roberto Clemente. Which of these did not die while he was an active MLB player?

Answer: Donnie Moore

Donnie Moore was never the same after being the goat of the 1986 ALCS. As a relief ace for the Angels, he was one strike away from finishing off the Boston Red Sox and sending the Angels to their first World Series. However, a two-out, two-strike home run by Dave Henderson shocked Moore and the Angels.

He struggled through 1987, but he was never the same. He left MLB after the 1988 season and in 1989, he committed suicide. New York Yankee catcher Munson died in a plane crash during the 1979 season. California Angels outfielder Bostock was shot and killed in Gary, Indiana, late in 1978 season. St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kile died of a heart attack in June 2002.

8. Which of these outfielders, all named Henderson, never played for the Oakland A's?

Answer: Ken Henderson

Ken Henderson played 16 years, but never played for the Oakland A's. Rickey Henderson played for the A's from 1979-1984 and again from 1991-1995, although he spent part of 1994 with the Toronto Blue Jays. He took a third tour with the A's in 1998. Steve Henderson played for the A's from 1985-86, took a tour with the Chicago White Sox organization, and then returned in 1987. Steve Henderson just missed playing with Dave Henderson, who played with the A's from 1988 to 1993.

9. Which of these outfielders, all named Henderson, never played in the postseason?

Answer: Steve Henderson

Steve Henderson never saw post-season action. Ken Henderson played for the 1971 San Francisco Giants. Dave Henderson was famous for his 1986 home run off Donnie Moore to propel the Red Sox into the World Series. He later played for the Oakland A's, who made post-season trips in 1988, and 1989, and 1990. Rickey Henderson saw post-season play four times for the A's, and also made it with the Blue Jays, Padres, Mets, and Mariners.

10. Which one of these Hall of Fame players was known by his first name or an abbreviated version of his first name?

Answer: Willie Stargell

Willie Stargell was born Wilver Dornell Stargell. Nolan Ryan was born Lynn Nolan Ryan. Tom Seaver is actually George Thomas Seaver. Cy Young was born Denton True Young. The name "Cy" was short for "Cyclone", a name Young acquired after his fast balls shattered a wooden backstop and an observer said it looked as though a cyclone hit it.

Source: Author captainboom

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Killer Baseball Potpourri [3] Trivia Quiz

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