Average Minnesota Twins History Quiz | 10 Questions

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The 2007 Minnesota Twins team did not begin their franchise with the Twins' name. Their franchise was one of eight teams in the new American League in 1901. What was the team's first name?

Answer: Washington Senators

The other teams were all National League teams. The Senators began their history in 1901 by posting a 61-73 record under manager Jim Manning for a sixth place finish. That was Manning's only season of managing.

2. The franchise saw their first World Series with the tremendous help of a pitcher by the name of Walter Johnson. Which year did they not only appear in it, but win it all?

Answer: 1924

Walter Johnson didn't play in any of the other seasons listed. In Johnson's 18th season in Major League baseball in 1924, he went 23-7, winning his second AL MVP and third Triple Crown. What an amazing feat in itself, and not to mention him being 36-years old at the time.

Although winning only one game in that World Series in 1924, Walter struck out 20 New York Giants in 24 innings. The Senators won the series, four games to three. Johnson and the Senators went to the World Series the following season in 1925, but lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The franchise also won the AL pennant with manager Joe Cronin in 1933.

3. In which year did the franchise become the Minnesota Twins?

Answer: 1961

After playing as the Washington Senators since the new American League started in 1901, the franchise packed their bags for Minnesota in 1961 under the watchful eye of manager Cookie Lavagetto. They moved into Metropolitan Stadium which had been built five years earlier in 1956. The Twins and the NFL Vikings shared the stadium.

4. In 1965, manager Sam Mele took the Twins' ballclub to their first World Series but lost to the Dodgers. Which manager took them all the way and won it in 1987?

Answer: Tom Kelly

The others were all managers, but died 30+ years earlier. Kelly took the Twins to two World Series under his tenure, in 1987 and 1991. After 16 seasons in Minnesota, Kelly retired from the game in 2001. The Twins were the only team that he had ever managed. Ron Gardenhire took over the following season.

5. Who was the franchise's first slugger to hit 500 home runs for them?

Answer: Harmon Killebrew

The others did not reach the 500-plateau and never played for the Twins. Killebrew hit 84 as a Senator before the team moved to Minnesota, and he hit another 475 as a Twin. He hit 573 home runs in his career with 559 as a Senator/Twin. His final 14 home runs were as a Kansas City Royal in 1975. Harmon was a 1984 Hall of Fame inductee.

6. Nine times by the franchise's 100th anniversary, they had a pitcher that won 25 games in a season. Unfortunately, it was only three pitchers who did it. The great Walter Johnson did it seven times, Alvin Crowder who won 26 in 1932, and which pitcher who did it in 1966?

Answer: Jim Kaat

The others were all Baltimore Oriole pitchers in 1966, and never pitched for the Twins. Kaat went 25-13 with over 200 strikeouts, but was overshadowed by virtually every Baltimore Oriole player, because Baltimore went on to skunk the Dodgers in the World Series. That was Jim's first of three 20-game seasons in his career (only one as a Twin).

He retired in 1983 after 25 seasons. Walter Johnson won over 30 games in a season twice.

7. Who was the franchise's first Cy Young award winner?

Answer: Jim Perry

The Cy Young award began in 1956, long after the retirement of Walter Johnson. Santana won his first Cy Young award in 2004. Viola won the award in 1988, but it was Perry that went 24-12 in 1970, who was the franchise's first. In the 1970 Cy Young balloting, the top four were only 11 points apart.

The finish was Perry with 55, Dave McNally of the Orioles with 47, Sam McDowell of the Indians with 45, and Mike Cuellar of the Orioles with 44. This was the closest balloting since the award had begun.

Another Oriole, Jim Palmer, rounded out the top five with 11 points.

8. After winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1967, this Twin won seven batting titles in Minnesota, including an AL MVP in 1977. After being traded to the Angels before the 1979 season, he played in seven more seasons, but failed to win any batting title or major award. Who was this Twin infielder?

Answer: Rod Carew

The others never played for the Twins. Carew played first and second base throughout his career. His 1977 AL MVP saw him hit .388. It was also the only time in his career that he reached the 100 RBI and 100 run club. After 19 seasons, he retired in 1985, and was inducted into the hall in 1991.

9. Who was the franchise's first pitcher to win the Triple Crown?

Answer: Walter Johnson

While the others won the Triple Crown, they never played for either Washington or Minnesota. Johnson won three Triple Crowns in his career. In 1913, his Triple Crown also brought him the AL MVP award, then he won another triple in 1918, but unfortunately, no MVP was awarded due to WWI.

His third Triple Crown came in 1924, and with that came another MVP, and also the first World Series title that the franchise had won. They defeated the New York Giants, four games to three.

10. Which Twins first baseman led the team by hitting 34 home runs in 2006, and was in the 2007 Home Run Derby?

Answer: Justin Morneau

The others were former Twins, but not for less than 10 years earlier. Justin Morneau was in his fourth season in the Majors and with the Twins in 2006. He also led the team with 190 hits, 130 RBIs, and a .321 batting average.

Source: Author Nightmare

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Average Minnesota Twins History Quiz | 10 Questions | Sports

All multiple choice in a series about another great team and their franchise. Please read each answer option carefully and you can do this even though you may not be Twins fanatic! Have fun. :-)

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