Major League Baseball: 1960s Challenge Quiz

Answer: Harmon Killebrew

Killebrew led the decade five times in home runs, and six overall in his career. His season high was 49, which he hit twice in 1964 and 1969. In the decade, he smacked 393 home runs and 573 in his career. Harmon began his career with the Senators of Washington, then moved with the team to Minnesota to become a Twin. He retired in 1975, then was inducted into the hall in 1984.

Answer: New York Yankees

The Yankees defeated the Reds in 1961, then followed that up with a win over the Giants in 1962. They would make five appearances in the 1960s, while winning only those two.

Answer: Norm Cash

Cash spent the entire decade in a Tigers uniform. His batting title in 1961 came from him hitting .361. It would be the only time in his career that he would bat over .300. Norm also hit 377 home runs over his 17 seasons.

Answer: Ty Cobb

Nicknamed "The Georgia Peach" for being born in Narrows, Georgia, Cobb played from 1905-1928. 22 of those seasons were as a Detroit Tiger, and his final two with the Philadelphia Athletics. Cobb batted for the Triple Crown in 1909, and won the AL MVP in 1911.

He is well known for being the most hated player in baseball, both by the players and fans. Cobb was one of the first five players inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936. He died in Atlanta in 1961 at the age of 74.

Answer: Maury Wills

Wills stole 535 bases in the 1960s, including setting a new season record in 1962 with 104 thefts with the Dodgers. Lou Brock would go on to break Wills' season record with 118 in 1974, then Rickey Henderson would steal 130 in 1982. Wills was a Dodger shortstop.

Answer: 8

Candlestick Park was first played in by the Giants in 1960. Dodger Stadium followed in 1962, and Shea Stadium for the Mets in 1964. The Houston Astrodome opened in 1965, along with Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The Angels had Anaheim Stadium in 1966, along with Busch Stadium in St. Louis. San Diego Stadium opened in 1967, and the Padres first played there in 1969.

Answer: Juan Marichal

Koufax would be standing at this podium if elbow problems did not force him to retire in 1966. Marichal was a San Francisco Giant and led the league twice in wins. He won 191 games in the decade and a career 243. Juan was a Hall of Fame inductee in 1983.

Answer: 3

The Washington Senators moved to Minnesota in 1961, the Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966, and the Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland in 1968.

Answer: 1966 Dodgers

1966 was Sandy Koufax's final season, and he went 27-9 while winning his third Cy Young Award and throwing his third Triple Crown. Claude Osteen won 17, Don Drysdale 13, and Don Sutton won 12. Even their closer, Phil Regan, got into the act by going 14-1.

The entire pitching staff threw 1084 strikeouts in the season, and had a combined amazing ERA of only 2.62. It was all for nought as the Orioles put the Dodgers down in the 1966 World Series, four games to none.

Answer: 3

Jim Bunning of the Phillies went 19-8 in 1964, and was complimented with a perfecto against the Mets in the season. Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers threw one against the Cubs in 1965. Catfish Hunter of the Athletics threw his against the Twins in 1968.