Ok, Someone Blew It, So? Quiz | Baseball

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The 1993 World Series found the Philadelphia Phillies down three games to two against the Toronto Blue Jays in game six. With the Phillies going into the bottom of the ninth inning with a 6-5 lead to apparently tie it up at three games each, which Phillies pitcher gave up a three-run home run to Joe Carter to end the World Series then and there?

Answer: Mitch Williams

The Phillies closing specialist, Williams, came into the game for the bottom of the ninth inning. He was facing the top of the Blue Jays order. He started by walking Rickey Henderson. After getting Devon White to flyout, he gave up a single to Paul Molitor.

Then it was on to Carter who hit a Wiliams 2-2 pitch over the left field wall to win the game 8-6, and the series four games to two.

2. The 1953 World Series saw the Yankees and Dodgers go at it. The Yankees won the series four games to two, on behalf of whose series-ending scoring hit in the bottom of the ninth inning that bagged another title for New York?

Answer: Billy Martin

Down three games to two, the Dodgers went with Carl Erskine on the mound against future Hall of Famer Whitey Ford. The Dodgers tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the ninth with Carl Furillo's two-run home run which scored Duke Snider. In the bottom of the ninth, manager Walter Alston brought in pitcher Clem Labine to hold the Yankees.

Instead, Clem walked Hank Bauer, gave up a single to Mickey Mantle, then the game and series-winning RBI hit by Billy Martin, a single to centerfield. The Dodgers were once again denied a World Series in their seven appearances.

3. In the 1935 World Series with the Cubs facing the Tigers, it came down to an ending in game six. Which Tiger Hall of Fame catcher scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, hosted by Detroit's Navin Field?

Answer: Mickey Cochrane

Cubs pitcher Larry French had gone the distance going into the ninth inning with a 3-3 tie in game six. As he was facing the top of the Tigers' batting order, he gave up a single to Cochrane, who then advanced to second on a ground out by Charlie Gehringer.

It was Goose Goslin's single to right field that scored Cochrane, and shrugged the Cubs off 4-3 in the game. That was it for the series, with the Tigers winning it four games to two.

4. The Atlanta Braves went to five World Series in the 1990s. Somebody blew it in the 1991 series against the Twins. In the bottom of the 10th inning in game seven, which Atlanta pitcher gave up the winning hit to Gene Larkin, losing it all to the Twins?

Answer: Alejandro Pena

Pena came in upon the request of manager Bobby Cox to face the top of the Twins' batting order in the bottom of the 10th with the scored tied at 0-0. On his first pitch, Pena gave up a double to Dan Gladden. After two intentional walks to Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek, and now with the bases loaded, Twins manager Tom Kelly was playing chess.

He pinch-hit Gene Larkin for his designated-hitter Jarvis Brown. Larkin's single scored Gladden, ending the game and the series with the Twins winning their second World Series in Minnesota.

5. The 1903 World Series was the first-ever World Series for Major League Baseball. It pitted the NL Champion Pittsburgh Pirates against the AL Champion Boston Americans. Although pitcher Deacon Phillippe won Pittsburgh's three games, mainly because the rest of their pitching staff was 'out to lunch', the Americans shined in this five games to three title. Which Pirate and Hall of Fame shortstop made the last out in the series in game eight?

Answer: Honus Wagner

Wagner joined the Pirates in 1900 with numerous other defunct Louisville Colonel players. With winning three consecutive National League pennants from 1901-1903, the Pirates were heavily favored to win the series against the new Boston American League team. Instead, they were put down five games to three in the best-of-nine series. The Americans won game eight 3-0.

6. The Washington Senators won their first World Series in 1924, but it was not without a wild ending. In game seven in the bottom of the 12th inning, the Senators scored the game-winning and series-ending run on a double by which Washington outfielder against the New York Giants?

Answer: Earl McNeely

McNeely came to the plate against Jack Bentley, and drove in Muddy Ruel with a double who reached base on an error earlier. The great Walter Johnson took the win by coming in and pitching four innings in relief.

7. The 1997 World Series had the fans on the edge of their seats. The Indians were facing the Marlins in game seven at Joe Robbie Stadium in the 11th inning with the score tied at 2-2. The Marlins came through in the bottom of the ninth to tie it up at 2-2 with a Jose Mesa sacrifice fly scoring Moises Alou. In the 11th inning, which Cleveland pitcher gave up the unearned run that gave the Marlins the World Series title?

Answer: Charles Nagy

With a game seven score of 3-2, the Marlins gave their World Series crown to Florida for the first time. Nagy had 15 wins in the season against 11 losses, but none bigger than this game seven loss.

8. Murderers Row, the 1927 New York Yankees were having their time with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series. With the Yankees dominating the series in three games to that point, they both went to game four. Which Pittsburgh pitcher threw a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning that allowed the Yankees to win 4-3, and win their second World Series title?

Answer: Johnny Miljus

With the game tied at three each going into the bottom of the ninth, manager Donie Bush brought Miljus to hold the Yankees. Instead, he walked Earle Combs, then Mark Koenig beat a bunt out for a single. Miljus was in trouble now with Babe Ruth at the plate.

He threw a wild pitch to the Babe and both Combs and Koenig advanced a base. In fear of Ruth's bat, he finished the at-bat with an intentional walk. Now with the bases loaded, he struck out both Lou Gehrig and Bob Meusel, the other Yankees power in the order. With Tony Lazzeri at the plate with two outs, bases loaded, it was a situation that every kid dreams about.

However, Miljus threw a wild pitch to Lazzeri and Combs scored the winning and series-ending run. The Yankees won it all four games to none.

9. The 1912 World Series saw the Boston Red Sox go up against the powerful New York Giants. In the final in game eight, which Giants pitcher gave up a sacrifice fly that would allow Boston to score the series-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning?

Answer: Christy Mathewson

Mathewson started three games in the series, and lost two games in one of very few negatives in his career. In game eight with the Giants leading 2-1 in the 10th, Christy faced Clyde Engel in the bottom of the 10th, who was pinch-hitting for pitcher Joe Wood. Engel reached base on a two-base error, then Mathewson allowed a run on a single, then an error for another run to let the series slip through their fingers.

10. The 1954 Cleveland Indians set a new American League record by winning 111 games in a 154-game season. However, they were skunked in the World Series by the New York Giants. Who was Cleveland's manager that didn't show much strategy in the series?

Answer: Al Lopez

The Indians lost every game by at least two runs. The Giants outscored the Indians 21-9 in the series. Four Giant starting pitchers won one game each, while Indians pitcher Bob Lemon, the 1954 AL TSN Pitcher of the Year, took two of Cleveland's losses.

Source: Author Nightmare

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Ok, Someone Blew It, So? Trivia Quiz

A look back at some World Series, with some ending with a memorable last at-bat. :)

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