National League's New York City Quiz / Test | Sports

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Brooklyn Dodgers outfielders Carl Furillo and Al Gionfriddo were born on the same day. Which date is it?

Answer: March 8, 1922

They were both born in Pennsylvania. Gionfriddo in Dysart, and Furillo in Stony Creek Mills, outside of Reading. Furillo was nicknamed "The Reading Rifle." Gionfriddo played for the Dodgers in only the 1947 season. Furillo stayed with them, in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, until his retirement after the 1960 season.

2. John McGraw started as a player/manager for the New York Giants in 1902. What was the final year he managed the team?

Answer: 1932

The always interesting and controversial "Mr. Mac" was only 29 when he began managing the Giants. He was their manager until 1932, except for brief stints by Hughie Jennings in 1924, and '25, and Rogers Hornsby in 1927. John McGraw died in New Rochelle, New York, in February of 1934.

3. In 1912, Charles Hercules Ebbets built Ebbets Field, in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, with his own money. How much did it cost?

Answer: $750,000

It's been reported that it took every dollar Ebbets had to realize his dream of a new home for his team. A lot of money in 1912.

4. The last ballplayer to hit .400 before Ted Williams in 1941 did so in 1930. He was a New York National Leaguer. What was his name?

Answer: Bill Terry

Terry, of the Giants, hit .401 in 1930. His teammate, Lindstrom, hit .379. Herman and Bissonette, both Brooklyn players, hit .393 and .336, respectively.

5. In the first Subway series, played in 1921 between the Giants and the Yankees, what Giant pitcher won the eighth and deciding game?

Answer: Art Nehf

Game 8 was Nehf's only victory in that series. Barnes won Games 2 and 6. Toney pitched only 2 and 2/3 innings in the series, in Game 3, compiling an ERA of over 25. Douglas won games 4 and 7.

6. Christy Mathewson, the great Giants pitcher, came to the Giants in 1900 by way of a trade with the Cincinnati Reds. What was the name of the pitcher the Giants traded to get Mathewson?

Answer: Amos Rusie

Christy had been signed by the Reds but had never played a game for them before he was traded. He played for the Giants, as a star pitcher and a team leader, until 1916, when he was traded to, you guessed it, the Cincinnati Reds. He only pitched one game for the Reds before becoming their full-time manager, which he was for part of the 1916 season, all of the 1917 season, and part of the 1918 season.
Amos Rusie, who had had a good career with the Giants, appeared in only three games for Cincinnati, and then retired.
Both men are in the Hall of Fame.

7. Which of these Mets starters finished the 1986 regular season with the most wins?

Answer: Bob Ojeda

Ojeda had 18 wins. Gooden 17, Darling 15, Fernandez 16.

8. The Brooklyn Dodgers had how many players named Rookie of the Year?

Answer: 4

They were: first baseman Jackie Robinson in 1947, pitchers Don Newcombe in 1949 and Joe Black in 1952, and second baseman Jim "Junior" Gilliam in 1953. Joe Black was the first black pitcher to win a World Series game, beating the Yankees in Game 1 of the 1952 Series.

9. What was the seating capacity of the Polo Grounds at the time the Giants played their final game there in 1957?

Answer: 56,000

The Polo Grounds final location was at 155th Street and 8th Avenue in Manhattan. By walking across the Macombs Dam Bridge over the Harlem River at 155th Street, you could walk directly to Yankee Stadium.

10. Who was the 1969 World Series MVP for the Mets?

Answer: Donn Clendenon

Although Weis batted a team best .455, Agee made some acrobatic catches, and Koosman won two games, Clendenon's .357 Series average, smart baserunning and three home runs in the Series earned him this honor.

11. How many New York Mets have been named Rookie of the Year?

Answer: 4

They were: Pitchers Tom Seaver in 1967, Jon Matlack in 1973, and Dwight Gooden in 1984, and Outfielder Darryl Strawberry in 1983.

12. In the Brooklyn Dodgers Championship year, 1955, how many players on the roster had been born in New York City?

Answer: 2

They were pitchers Sandy Koufax, born in Brooklyn in 1935, and Billy Loes, born in Long Island City 1n 1929. Koufax did not appear in the 1955 World Series, and Loes threw 3 and 2/3 innings in Game 2, and was the losing pitcher for that game.

13. Casey Stengel made his Major League debut at _____________ Park?

Answer: Washington

Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel made his debut in July of 1912 for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Washington Park in South Brooklyn. It was the last home of the Brooklyn Dodgers before Ebbets Field, which opened the following year. Casey has been either a player or manager for the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, New York Mets, and New York Yankees. Casey Stengel died in California in 1975. You could look it up.

14. How many no-hitters had been pitched by Brooklyn players after 1900?

Answer: 9

Mal Eason in 1906 against St. Louis; Nap Rucker in 1908 against Boston; Dazzy Vance in 1925 against Philadelphia; Tex Carleton in 1940 against Cincinnati; Ed Head in 1946 against Boston; Rex Barney in 1948 against the Giants; Carl Erskine in 1952 against Chicago; Erskine again in 1956 against the Giants; and finally, Sal Maglie in 1956 against Philadelphia.

15. In 1973, the Mets were defeated by the Oakland Athletics in the World Series. How many regular season games were won by the 1973 Mets?

Answer: 82

The Mets had a winning percentage of .509. The National League East was not exactly a formidable division in 1973.

16. Monte Irvin, the first black player on the New York Giants, was a Negro League player?

Answer: True

Monte was a star on the Newark Eagles from 1937-1949, except for a short interval in the Mexican League, and four years ('42-'45), during which he served in World War II. He came to the Giants in 1949, and stayed through the 1955 season. He played for the Chicago Cubs in 1956, and retired at the end of that season. Monte Irvin was inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 1973.

17. How many times was a Brooklyn player named MVP?

Answer: 6

They were: first Baseman Dolph Camilli in 1941, second baseman Jackie Robinson in 1949, catcher Roy Campanella in 1951-53-55, and pitcher Don Newcombe in 1956.

18. In game 1 of the 1954 World Series, Willie Mays made a spectacular catch of a ball hit by Vic Wertz of the Cleveland Indians. Which Giant pitcher served up that ball?

Answer: Don Liddle

Maglie had started the game. Liddle came in to pitch to one batter; Wertz. After Willie put Wertz out in phenomenal fashion, Marv Grissom came on to relieve Liddle, who, as he handed the ball to Grissom, said, "I got my man." The Giants went on to sweep the Indians in that Series.

19. On what date was the first game at Shea Stadium played?

Answer: April 17, 1964

The Mets played the Pittsburgh Pirates that day and lost, 4-3. It would be the first of 109 games they would lose that season.

20. What number did the great Gil Hodges wear for most of his career?

Answer: 14

Gil Hodges played one game in 1943, wearing the number 4. He served his country from 1943-46, returning to the Dodgers, wearing number 14, in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, through the 1961 season. In 1962, he became an original New York Met, still wearing 14.

He retired after the 1963 season. He later managed the Mets from 1968-71, bringing them to their first World Championship in 1969. He died way too soon, two days shy of his 48th birthday, in 1972. Gil Hodges number 14 has been retired by the Dodgers and Mets.

He belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

Source: Author rootsgrrl

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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National League's New York City Quiz

There have been three NL ballclubs representing New York City since 1900. Sometimes great; always interesting. Here's my quiz on the players, managers, and ballparks that made them so New York.

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