Major League Baseball: 1950s Challenge Quiz

Answer: Dodgers

The Yankees won the World Series from 1950-1953, then lost to the Dodgers in 1955. They beat the Dodgers in 1956, lost to the Braves in 1957, then defeated the same Braves in 1958. The Dodgers found five World Series in the 1950s, winning their first-ever World Series title against the Yankees in 1955, then their next title against the White Sox in 1959.

They also took three losses in 1952, 1953, and 1956.

Answer: Cy Young

Both Bresnahan and Davis died more than 10 years earlier than Young, and Rickey died 10 years after Young. Cy Young was a pitching great from 1890 with the Cleveland Spiders, to 1911 with the Boston Rustlers, both of the National League. He died in 1955, and Major League Baseball honored him with the Cy Young Award starting in 1956 for the greatest pitcher in a season in Major League Baseball. Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers was the first recipient of the award by going 27-7 with a 3.06 ERA. Young set a career record not likely to be broken by winning 511 games in his career.

He died at the age of 65. Young was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the second round of inductions in 1937.

Answer: Connie Mack

Mack was an icon as a manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1896-1898, then took on the Philadelphia Athletics in the new American League from 1901-1950. His career managerial record was 3731 wins against 3948 losses. Cornelius Alexander "Connie" Mack took his Athletics to nine American League pennants while winning five World Series in 1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, and 1930.

However, his heyday was over beginning in 1933 by not having a proper finish for the club, and his win total was dismal until his retirement in 1950. Mack died in early 1956 in Philadelphia.

Answer: Early Wynn

Wynn threw 1544 Ks in the decade. He pitched from 1939-1963 with a number of teams. Early won the Major League Cy Young Award in 1959, when only one pitcher in all of baseball would receive the award. His season high was 184 with the Cleveland Indians in 1957. Wynn retired with 2334 strikeouts after 23 seasons. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

Answer: Cleveland Indians

The Indians went an amazing 111-43 in 1954, which earned them an eight-game lead and American League pennant. They met the New York Giants (97-57) in the World Series, but lost four games to none. Indians pitchers Bob Lemon and Early Wynn, both 23-game winners, and Mike Garcia who was a 19-game winner in the season, could not stop the Giants.

Answer: Willie Mays

Mantle hit 52 home runs in 1956, batting for the Triple Crown with the Yankees. Mickey was the first switch-hitter in baseball history to bat for the Triple Crown also. Mays of the Giants hit 51 in 1955, and another 49 in 1949, 49 in 1962, 47 in 1964, and 52 in 1965 to lead the National League. Kiner hit 50 home runs in a season twice for the Pirates in the 1940s.

Answer: 0

Hal Newhouser was an American League pitcher who threw the Triple Crown with the Tigers in 1945, then Sandy Koufax was the next pitcher to throw one with the Dodgers in 1963. No pitcher threw for the Triple Crown in-between.

Answer: Bob Miller

The others had not begun their Major League careers yet in 1950. Jethroe of the Boston Braves won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1950 with his 159 hits, 18 home runs, and his .272 batting average. Bob Miller of the Philadelphia Phillies who was the runner-up, was a pitcher who went 11-6, didn't hit any home runs and batted only .180 in the season.

Answer: Ted Williams

In 1957, Williams batted .388 with the Boston Red Sox. Ted played in 19 seasons with the Red Sox, somewhat interrupted by the war, but still batted .344 for his career. Williams batted for the Triple Crown in 1942 and 1947, and won the American League MVP in 1946 and 1949.

Answer: Robin Roberts

Spahn and Maglie never won more than 23 games in a season in their careers, and Dean was a pitcher from the 1930s. Robin played from 1948-1966 and was a six-time 20-game winner. In 1952, Robin went 28-7 with the Phillies with 148 strikeouts also. He was the 1952 Major League Player of the Year, the 1952 National League TSN Pitcher of the Year, and also the 1955 National League TSN Pitcher of the Year. If the Cy Young Award had been presented earlier than 1956, then Roberts would have been close in many ballots for the award.