MLB Pitching Greats! Quiz | Sports Word Play

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Christy Mathewson played for 17 seasons, and all but one game of his career with the New York Giants. He thought that his new team that would have NICER INDICANTS, but after one game with the team, Christy put his glove in the closet and retired. He knew that RANCID ISN'T NICE. Which team was this?

Answer: Cincinnati Reds

Mathewson played from 1900-1916. In mid-season 1916, the shift was made to the Reds. He threw one complete game for his only win with Cincinnati, and that was it. Christy won two Triple Crowns in 1905 and 1908, and was a runner-up MVP in 1911 to the Cubs' Frank Schulte. After 373 wins, he became a Hall of Fame member in 1936.

2. Some pitching greats played their entire career for one team such as Sandy Koufax, Bob Feller, Walter Johnson, Whitey Ford, and Jim Palmer. Gaylord Perry certainly didn't fit in that category. The two-time Cy Young winner played for eight different teams in his career, and sometimes woke up seeing a SATANIC SKY because he didn't know where he was, but never had A SICK NASTY comment for anyone. Which team did Gaylord retire with?

Answer: Kansas City

From 1962-1971, Perry was a San Francisco Giant. From there it was Cleveland, then Texas, San Diego, Texas again, then the Yankees, Braves, Mariners, and finally retired with the Royals in 1983. Perry's Cy Young awards came in 1972 with the Indians, then in 1978 as a Padre.

He was the first pitcher in history to win a Cy Young in both leagues. When he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991, Gaylord wore a custom made jersey that had every one of his former team's logo on it.

3. This Hall of Fame pitcher would win 44 games before he was given the opportunity to start a game. He was the first pitcher in history to record 200 career saves. THE LOWLY HIM played for nine teams as it seemed that nobody wanted his services. He went 143-122 over 23 seasons. He never said as an option, "WHY OMIT HELL". Who is this pitcher?

Answer: Hoyt Wilhelm

Wilhelm began as a 1952 New York Giant. His rookie season saw him go 15-3. After nine teams, Hoyt retired as a Dodger in 1972. He had 227 career saves. He was inducted into the hall in 1985, and died in 2002.

4. CALL US JERKS, but relief pitcher's services were not solicited in early Major League baseball. The first relief pitcher to throw in an all-star game was Mace Brown of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1938. Who was the first-ever reliever selected for the all-star game, but with his LUCKLESS JAR being empty, he did not play in the game?

Answer: Jack Russell

Russell was a Washington Senator. He didn't fare well in 1934, going 5-10 with only 38 strikeouts in 157.7 innings, but was at the game anyway. After 15 seasons, Jack retired with a 85-141 career record.

5. The great Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators set a record for eight consecutive strikeout crowns. The pitcher that won the strikeout award in 1920 had VIOLENCE TASKS and stopped Johnson's winning streak. He was also so empathetic that he would SO VEST A NICKEL at times for contributions. Who was this pitcher that broke Johnson's streak?

Answer: Stan Coveleski

From 1907-1927, Johnson ruled the American League. He was king of strikeouts from 1912-1919 when he took eight consecutive strikeout titles. 1920 saw Johnson only appear in 21 games, so Coveleski can't have full credit. Walter came back in style in 1921 to take another crown.

In 1922, Urban Shocker of the Browns stopped any streak that Johnson had in mind and won that title. 1923 and 1924 would belong to Johnson once again. Walter won 12 strikeout titles in his career.

6. This pitcher and Hall of Fame great went to five World Series. Like an INBREED CHEF, he might have been known for cooking with a NICE FED HERB. He was the first pitcher in history to cook on the mound when it counted, and threw 50 World Series strikeouts. Who was this American League Philadelphia Athletic?

Answer: Chief Bender

Bender played 12 of his 16 seasons for the Athletics. His five World Series were against the Giants three times, and the Cubs and the Braves once. He walked away with three World Series crowns. He reached the 50-strikeout mark in his fourth series, and retired with 59 in postseason play. He accumulated 1711 strikeouts in his career, and was inducted into the hall in 1953.

7. In 1920, as this pitcher stood on the mound prior to delivery, he must have thought to himself, "I think I'll throw this guy MY RASCAL pitch". The result was a RACY SLAM by hitting the batter in the head, and he later died. Who was this pitcher that caused the first on-field Major League death?

Answer: Carl Mays

Yankee Carl Mays threw the pitch, and Ray Chapman of the Indians was on the receiving end. Chapman was 29 years old. The Indians would go on to win their first World Series title that season. Undaunted by the incident, Mays would still finish the season 26-11, and went 27-9 in 1929. He retired in 1929 with 207 wins.

8. The first organized league in professional baseball was the National Association in 1871. This was beginning of baseball as we know it today. Although he spent a lot time making BOBBY HAM STEW, his goal was to MASH TOBY WEBB, and become the first pitcher in baseball history to win a game. Who was this pitcher that did this?

Answer: Bobby Mathews

The first game was on May 4, 1871. It saw the Fort Wayne Kekiongas go against the Rockford Forest Citys, in the first game ever played in organized professional baseball. Mathews threw a 2-0 shutout in the inaugural game, and that was his only shutout in the year.

He went 6-11 in the season. The Kekiongas would finish in seventh place of nine teams with a 7-12 record, and the Philadelphia Athletics would take the first-ever professional league pennant. Bobby would retire after 15 seasons with a 297-248 record.

Although credited with this win, he was never recognized by induction into the Hall of Fame.

9. This pitcher had the unfortunate position of being a pitcher to lose a World Series on the last pitch of the series. It wasn't LARRY PERTH because he never played professional baseball. Who was this right-handed pitcher who gave up a home run to a right-handed batter, that gave his own personal RH RAT REPLY to the pitch?

Answer: Ralph Terry

This World Series was the 1960 promised land, that pitted the Pirates against the heavily-favored Yankees. In game seven, it was the home run from Pirate second baseman Bill Mazeroski that ended the dreams for the Yankees. Although the Pirates won it four games to three, the Yankees out-scored the Pirates 55 runs to 27.

This was Terry's first World Series, and he would see four more in his Yankee career.

10. This pitcher was a VIP GUN LAD as he was the first in baseball history to win 300 games. He reached this inaugural record in 1887 with the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the National League. With all these games, he had a cool DIVAN GULP many times. Who was this Hall of Fame pitcher?

Answer: Pud Galvin

Pud played for five teams in his 15 seasons, and retired with a 364-310 record. Although retiring in 1892, it took baseball 73 years to recognize Galvin's efforts, and would finally induct him into the hall in 1965.

Source: Author Nightmare

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MLB Pitching Greats! Trivia Quiz

The first anagram with not one but two anagrams per question, and still loaded with clues to help you get the answer to these Major League pitching greats. I hope that you have fun with it! :-)

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