OK! You've Twisted My Arm! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Robin Roberts

From 1948-1966 Robin played for the Phillies, Orioles, Astros, and Cubs. All his highs and lows came with the Phillies. In six consecutive seasons from 1950-1955 he was a 20-game winner. Unfortunately from 1954-1960 he led the NL by giving up the most home runs in a season. Those home runs would haunt him when he retried in 1966 by giving up a total of 505 career home runs, the first pitcher in history to give up 500 big ones. Roberts had a 286-245 record and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976.

He died in 2010 at the age of 83.

Answer: Sandy Koufax

Koufax pitched in only 12 seasons for the Dodgers from 1955-1966 and wore the famous number 32. He exploded in 1963-1966 before retiring with elbow problems. He won the Triple Crown in 1963, 1965, and 1966. He won the Cy Young Award in every one of those same seasons. Koufax had four season strikeout crowns to his credit and a season strikeout record with 382.

He also won the NL MVP in 1963 and the World Series MVP in 1963 and 1965. Sandy went 27-9 in his final season and retired with a 165-87 record.

The Hall of Fame inducted him in his first year of eligibility in 1972.

Answer: Don Larsen

Larsen pitched 14 seasons from 1953-1967. With the Baltimore Orioles he went 3-21 in 1954. His best season was with the Yankees in 1956 when he went 11-5. Don never led the league in any serious pitching category but shined for one day in his life on October 8, 1956, in game five of the World Series. Against the Dodgers he threw baseball's first World Series perfect game. Nicknamed 'Gooney Bird' after his perfect game he played for the Kansas City Athletics, White Sox, Giants, Astros, Orioles, and Cubs. Larsen just didn't have it in his career with an 81-91 career record except for that one magical day in 1956.

Answer: Johnny Vander Meer

Vander Meer played from 1937-1951 with 11 of those seasons in Cincinnati. In his second season and the month of June in 1938 he threw a no-hitter against the Boston Braves. Just four days later in his next start on June 15th he threw another no-no against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

He was the first pitcher in history to throw consecutive no-hitters. Johnny went only 15-10 in that season. Vander Meer went 119-121 in his career. He died in 1997.

Answer: Lee Richmond

Richmond wasn't a dominating pitcher and only pitched in six seasons from 1879-1886. On June 12, 1880 with the Worcester Ruby Legs of the NL he threw baseball's first perfect game against the Cleveland Blues. Richmond won 32 games in the season but also lost 32 games.

He retired with a 75-100 record. Ironically enough, baseball's next perfect game would come only five days later with the arm of the National League Providence Grays' John Ward.

Answer: Harvey Haddix

Haddix was most famous for his game on May 26, 1959. From the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates he faced the Milwaukee Braves and fireballer Lew Burdette. Haddix was perfect through 12 innings in a scoreless tie. The Braves' Joe Adcock spoiled it all in the 13th and took it all away with a double that scored Felix Mantilla. Mantilla was on base after a throwing error by the Pirates' Don Hoak, then the rest fell apart. Haddix was never given any type of credit for his 12 innings of perfection.

Answer: Octavio Dotel

Dotel probably owned just one suitcase because by the time he unpacked, he was either traded or released as a free agent. Octavio started his travels to become a rookie New York Met in 1999. The following season found him in Houston and he stayed there until they traded him in 2004 to the Athletics. From there he went to the Yankees in 2006. Dotel was a Royal and a Brave in 2007 then 2008 with the White Sox.

In 2010 he played for the Pirates, Dodgers, and Rockies. The Blue Jays and Cardinals shared him in 2011 while the Tigers had him in 2012 and 2013 where he finally retired, probably not knowing where he was.

Answer: Ed Cushman

Cushman pitched in only six seasons from 1883-1890. He threw a no-no on September 28, 1884, in his second season of baseball. He played for the National League's Buffalo Bisons in his first season, then threw his no-hitter with the Milwaukee Brewers of the Union Association against the Washington Nationals in his second season.

After the UA shutdown after the season, Ed pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Metropolitans in 1885 with the American Association. He retired in the AA with the Toledo Maumees in 1890.

Answer: Nolan Ryan

The great 'Ryan Express' was on the mound from 1966-1993. He pitched for the Mets, Angels, Astros, and Rangers. In addition to Nolan leading the league in strikeouts 11 times in his career, he also led the American League four times and the National League twice with wild pitches. Nolan threw 5714 strikeouts but also threw 277 wild pitches, both being the most in modern-day history when he retired.

He was an easy Hall of Fame inductee in 1999 with a tremendous 98.8% of the balloting in his first eligible season.

Answer: Al Spalding

Spalding was a tremendous pitcher in early baseball. With the Boston Red Stockings of the National Association he won 19, 38, 41, 52, and 54 games in a season before the league closed. In the new National League in 1876 with the Chicago White Stockings he won 47 games and then only one in his final of seven seasons in 1877. Al was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Old Timers Committee as a pioneer/executive for his contributions to baseball and not from the mound in 1939.