MLB Players Lost Too Soon Quiz | MLB Players Deaths

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. If you were a New York Yankees Fan in the 1950s and 1960s, more than likely this guy was your hero. He was famous for winning the Triple Crown, Tape-Measure Home Runs and a hard living lifestyle. He died in August 1995 after a brief battle with cancer at age 63. Who was he?

Answer: Mickey Mantle

The great Mickey Mantle was indeed a an icon and a hero to an entire generation of baseball fans. During his rookie season Mantle injured his knee when he fell while pursuing a fly ball; he would play hurt for the rest of his career. By 1965 his knees were so bad that he had to transition to first base where he played the final three seasons of his career.

In the summer of 1995 Mantle announced he had liver cancer and did receive a successful liver transplant soon after. Cancer continued to spread rapidly despite the operation and a hero was lost on August 13, 1995.

2. This good natured relief pitcher played for only two teams in his twenty year MLB career, winning a World Series with each. In 1973 he coined the phrase "You gotta believe" which became the N.Y. Mets ralling cry into the post season. He died of a brain tumor in January 2005 at age 59; who was he?

Answer: Frank "Tug" McGraw

Frank "Tug" McGraw joined the New York Mets in 1965 and was used as both a starter and a relief pitcher during his early career. In the early 1970s he evolved into one of the game's premiere closers and his passion to win was infectious among his teammates.

In 1974 McGraw was traded to Philadelphia where he helped the Phillies win a World Series in 1980 before retiring at the close of the 1984 season. In late 2003 "Tug" had surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor and despite some early positive results died thirteen months later at age 59.

3. This fiery infielder was the spark plug on 1984 San Diego Padres, a team which eventually went to the Fall Classic that year. That year would prove to be his finest as personal demons halted his once promising career in 1988. In January 1991 at age 32 he died of AIDS; who was this often forgotten player?

Answer: Alan Wiggins

Alan Anthony Wiggins is the often forgotten about second baseman of the 1984 San Diego Padres. Usually batting in the lead off spot it was Wiggins role to get on base and promptly get some runs on the board. Unfortunately, Wiggins also battled a severe drug addiction which lead to his being traded the following year to Baltimore where he was largely unproductive for three seasons.

In January 1991 he died of complications from AIDS, which he contracted during his time as a drug user. Such a waste as he died because of his choices at age 32, an age where he could have still been playing ball.

4. From 1991 to 2004, this pitcher was one of the premiere relief pitchers in the league. He triumphantly returned in 2003 after successful "Tommy John" surgery the prior year. He was found dead in his apartment in June 2007 at age 38. Who was he ?

Answer: Rod Beck

In a career that spanned 13 seasons, Rod Beck played for four different MLB teams and was one of the most dominant relievers for some of those seasons. In 1994 he won The Rolaids Relief Man of the Year in the National League and in 2003 was voted the NL's Comeback Player of the Year. Sadly, just one year later, he was gone from the game and he died in 2007.

5. This relief pitcher will forever be remembered as "the goat" who lost the 1986 ALCS for the California Angels against the Boston Red Sox. After a very distinguished career he gave up one of the biggest home runs in history. Sadly his career spiraled downward and in July 1989 he committed suicide at age 35. Who was he?

Answer: Donnie Moore

The sad story of Donnie Moore literally could break your heart. The California Angels were one strike away from winning the 1986 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox when Dave Henderson hit a home run and the Red Sox eventually won the game and the series.

Henderson's HR was the definite turning point in the series as California never recovered and neither did Moore. In July 1989 after shooting his wife he killed himself, distraught over the loss of his career. In an eerie coincidence Boston would blow a similar lead against the N.Y. Mets in 1986 World Series.

6. This mild mannered player was one of "The Boys of Summer" for the Brooklyn and later Los Angeles Dodgers. He later became a successful manager and led the underdog N.Y. Mets to the World Series crown in 1969. He was stricken with a massive coronary and died in 1972 at age 47. Who was he?

Answer: Gil Hodges

Gilbert Ray Hodges also known as "The Quiet Man" was a fixture at first base for the Dodgers for over fifteen seasons. He briefly played for the fledgling N.Y. Mets before becoming their manager in 1968. Hodges led his team to the promised land the following year. He died in April 1972 just two days short of his 48th birthday.

7. This short and quiet manager was a bench coach for the N.Y. Yankees during the era of "The Bronx Zoo" in the late 1970s. He managed the team in 1980 and the following year became the skipper for the rival K.C. Royals. He died in June 1987 of a brain tumor at the tender age of 51, just twenty months after winning the World Series. Who was he?

Answer: Dick Howser

Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, who was in his heyday then, fired Howser at the end of the 1980 season. Howser responded by joining the rival Royals the following season and just four years later led them to their only World Series title. The following season Howser was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and despite three surgeries he died in June 1987.

8. This man was the "Captain" on the N.Y. Yankees squad that won back-to-back Championships in 1977 and 1978. A winner of the Rookie of the Year Award, he died in a plane crash in August 1979 at the age of 32. Who was this man?

Answer: Thurman Munson

The 1970 A.L. Rookie of The Year, Thurman Munson's rough and tumble style of play led manager Billy Martin to name him team captain in 1976. Munson solidified his manager's confidence in him by taking the Yankees to back-to-back titles, their first since 1962. Munson's position often put him at odds with teammate Reggie Jackson who felt he was the genuine superstar of the team and often challenged Thurman and Martin's authority.

9. This Gold Glove third baseman played the bulk of his 15 year career with the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1964 he opposed his younger brother as the Cardinals played the N.Y Yankees in the World Series. Lung cancer cut short his life in September 1982 at the age of 51. Who was he?

Answer: Ken Boyer

An eleven time All-Star and a five time Gold Glove winner Ken Boyer fielded the hot corner for four different clubs in his 15 seasons. Boyer also managed the St. Louis Cardinals from 1978 thru 1980, Keith Hernandez credits Boyer with putting many of the pieces in place for the 1982 Cardinals, the World Series winning team.

10. One of the main parts of the 1986 N.Y. Mets, this man was one of the top catchers in baseball for over a dozen years. His desire to win and his youthful exuberance earned him the kickname of "The Kid". He died in February 2012 at age 57 from a brain tumor. Who was he?

Answer: Gary Carter

Gary Carter already had a distinguished baseball career with the (now defunct) Montreal Expos when the N.Y. Mets acquired him in a blockbuster trade during the winter of 1984. Carter proved to be the final piece of the puzzle and two years later the Mets were champions. Carter was a class act on a team which was as notorious for their hard partying as well as their hard nosed playing. Gary was one of the few veteran players, along with Keith Hernandez and Ray Knight, who kept the young lions in check, somewhat unsuccessfully.

11. This N.Y Yankees relief pitcher died tragically in a plane crash right over Manhattan, just days after the end of the 2006 season, at age 34. Who was he?

Answer: Cory Lidle

On July 30, 2006 (right at the trading deadline), pitcher Cory Lidle and Bobby Abreu were dealt from the Philadelphia Phillies to the N.Y. Yankees. On October 7, 2006 just four days before his untimely demise Lidle gave up three runs in Game 4 of the 2006 ALDS against the Detroit Tigers.

He later was ridiculed for some post game comments for which he tried to defend himself. He died when his private plane crashed into an apartment dwelling in Manhattan, killing him and his instructor.

12. This third baseman was a three time All-Star, first for the Houston Astros and later the San Diego Padres. While a member of the Padres he helped them go to the 1998 World Series where they lost to the N.Y. Yankees. He died in October 2004 after a well known battle with substance abuse. Who was he?

Answer: Ken Caminiti

Ken Caminiti was a three-time Gold Glove winner as well as the 1996 National League MVP, but ultimately drugs cut short his career in 2001 and later his life in 2004. Caminiti died at age 41 from a drug overdose; another waste of talent.

13. This pitcher was a "Big Game Pitcher" in the 1960s and 1970s where he won not one but five World Series crowns. He was one of the first big stars to be signed when "The Free Agency Era" began in 1975. He died in September 1999 at age 53 while battling "Lou Gehrig's Disease". Who was this pitcher?

Answer: Catfish Hunter

During the decade of the 1970s there was arguably no more successful pitcher than Jim 'Catfish" Hunter who won five of the decade's World Series. Hunter was the ace of the Oakland Athletics which won the Fall Classic in 1972, 1973 and 1974. In 1975 he became the highest paid player in the game when he signed with The N.Y Yankees and the free agency era was born.

In New York, Hunter won another two rings in 1977 and 1978 before retiring in 1979. In 1998 Hunter was diagnosed with "Lou Gehrig's Disease" and died the following year when he took a fall down a staircase in his home.

14. This man was one of the most feared power hitters in The National League during the 1960s and 1970s. A two-time World Series champion he was affectionately referred to as "Pops" by his teammates while pursuing the last title. He died in 2001 at age 61 due to a stoke and complications from renal disease. Who was he?

Answer: Willie Stargell

At the height of the disco movement in the late 1970s the Pittsburgh Pirates used Sister Sledge's popular "We are Family" as their rally song. To this family veteran slugger and seven-time All-Star Willie Stargell was given the role of "Pops" which signified his experience as well as his respect among the other players. Stargell retired from the game after the 1982 season as one of the most beloved Pirates of all time.

15. This player played for ten seasons in the shadow of his famous older brother, who was one of the most famous players to ever play the game. He died in 1984 at age 45 from leukemia. Who was he?

Answer: Tommie Aaron

The younger brother of the famous Henry Aaron, Tommie Aaron, played ten seasons for the Milwaukee and later Atlanta Braves. After his playing days were over he served as a minor league manager and then as a major league coach. He died in August 1984 just two weeks after his 45th birthday.

Source: Author jperrone

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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MLB Players Lost Too Soon Trivia Quiz

Professional Baseball has provided fans with many thrills and many heartbreaks. One of the worst tragedies is when a player we have admired and cheered dies prematurely. This quiz will test you knowledge of players/managers who left us too soon

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