MLB Catchers of the 1960s Trivia Quiz

Answer: Detroit Tigers

Bill Freehan was an outstanding big league catcher who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. A native of Michigan, Freehan earned six All-Star Game selections and five Gold Glove Awards between 1964 and 1969 for Detroit. The right-handed Freehan also had considerable power: he belted 200 home runs during his career which lasted from 1961 to 1976. During the 1968 season, Freehan led the Tigers to a World Series title by hitting 25 home runs and driving in 84 runs. Freehan wore his #11 Tigers uniform with pride and style.

Answer: John Roseboro

Left-handed hitting John Roseboro was an integral part of the the L.A. Dodgers teams which dominated Major League baseball in the early 1960s. Roseboro had fielding prowess behind the plate and good power skills at the plate. He caught such legendary pitchers as Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale with skill and style. Roseboro earned two Gold Glove Awards and three All-Star Game selections while with the Dodgers.

He belted 104 home runs in a big league career which lasted from 1957 to 1970. Unfortunately, most people today only remember Roseboro's name because of a vicious bat-clubbing incident in 1965 perpetrated by San Francisco pitcher Juan Marichal. Roseboro later forgave Marichal for the Giant hurler's involvement in this terrible assault.

Answer: Orlando Cepeda

In 1969, a noteworthy trade occurred between the Braves and Cardinals: Joe Torre in exchange for Orlando Cepeda. Torre played catcher and first base for the Braves; he won two Gold Glove Awards and earned five All-Star Game selections while with the Braves. Perhaps Torre's best season in Atlanta occurred in 1966 when he batted .315 with 36 HRS and 101 RBI. Orlando Cepeda, known as the "Baby Bull", played first base for the Cardinals from 1966 to 1968.

This trade was beneficial to both teams: Cepeda helped the Braves to win the 1969 NL West title, and Torre spent several productive years with the Cardinals.

Answer: Earl Battey

Earl Battey was an All-Star catcher for the Minnesota Twins during the 1960s. Battey won two Gold Gloves for Minnesota and also earned four All-Star Game selections. In 1965, Battey helped the Twins to capture the AL pennant by batting .297 with six home runs and 60 RBI. Battey participated in the '65 World Series, although he didn't fare very well at the plate against the Dodgers- a paltry .120 batting average (3-25). Battey hit 104 home runs in a Major League career which lasted from 1955 to 1967. Rich Rollins played third base for Minnesota, while Bob Allison and Jimmie Hall were outfielders.

Answer: Dalrymple

Clayton Errol Dalrymple was a catcher on the Phillies from 1960 to 1968. Dalrymple wasn't much of a hitter (.233 lifetime batting average), but he had a strong throwing arm and good defensive skills. Dalrymple batted left-handed and managed to hit 55 home runs in a career which lasted from 1960 to 1971. The other players listed in this question were pitchers.

Answer: Tim McCarver

Tim McCarver was the Cardinals' starting catcher throughout most of the 1960s. He served as batterymate to such stalwart pitchers as Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton. The lefty-batting McCarver was a good hitter, compiling a lifetime BA of .271 in a career which lasted from 1959 to 1980.

In the 1964 World Series, McCarver batted an impressive .478 (11-23) to help the Cardinals defeat the Yankees. During the 1960s, Tom Haller played for the Giants and Dodgers; Ed Bailey caught mainly for the Reds and Giants; and Phil Roof played for four different teams, including the A's.

Answer: Buck

Bob "Buck" Rodgers was a switch-hitting catcher who played with the Los Angeles / California Angels from 1961 to 1969. Rodgers wasn't a very good hitter, but he was a top-flight defensive catcher. The highlight of his catching career probably came in 1962 when he caught a no-hitter by Bo Belinsky. Buck Rodgers became a big league manager after his playing days were over. From 1980 to 1994, Rodgers compiled a record of 784-774 with the Brewers, Expos and Angels.

Answer: Johnny Romano and Joe Azcue

Johnny Romano and Joe (Jose) Azcue handled most of the catching duties for the Cleveland Indians during the 1960s. Romano was a right-handed hitter with plenty of power. Romano belted 129 home runs during his Major League career. Perhaps his best season with the Indians occurred in 1961 when he batted .299 with 21 HRS and 80 RBI. Romano was selected to the All-Star Game in 1961 and 1962 for Cleveland. Joe Azcue was also a right-handed hitter.

He played for the Indians from 1963 to 1969, earning an All-Star Game selection in 1968.

In 1966, Azcue and Cleveland pitcher Sonny Siebert combined on a no-hitter. Pagliaroni and May played for the Pirates; Cannizzaro and Gonder caught for the Mets; and Sullivan and Doc Edwards played for the A's during the 1960s.

Answer: Ohio State

Johnny Edwards graduated from Ohio State University in the late 1950s. This native of Ohio had a solid career with the Buckeyes and was then drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. Edwards proved himself to be a solid all-around Major League catcher with excellent fielding skills. Edwards, a lefty batter, hit 81 career home runs.

While playing with the Reds from 1961 to 1967, Edwards won two Gold Glove Awards and three All-Star Game selections. Michigan is known as the Wolverines, Michigan State is nicknamed the Spartans, and Purdue is known as the Boilermakers.

Answer: 32

Elston Howard was a catcher / outfielder who played for the New York Yankees between 1955 and 1967. The right-handed hitting Howard wore uniform number 32 for the Bombers and was a key member of several championship teams in the Bronx. Howard earned six All-Star Game selections during the 1960s along with two Gold Glove Awards.

In 1963, number 32 was named as the Most Valuable Player of the American League; he batted .287 with 28 HRS and 85 RBI to go along with his solid defensive skills behind the plate.

The New York Yankees honored Howard in 1984 by retiring his number 32 uniform. Yogi Berra wore #8, and Whitey Ford wore uniform number 16.