Promised Land in the 1990s Trivia Quiz

Answer: Oakland Athletics

The Athletics took on the Giants in 1989, but the Loma Prieta earthquake put a 10-day delay on game three. After skunking the Giants, the Athletics could only muster eight runs in the series, compared to 22 by the Reds. Oakland batted only .207, and their pitching staff put out a 4.33 ERA. Reds pitcher Jose Rijo was the series MVP, allowing only one run in his two games, ending the series with a 0.59 ERA.

Answer: Lonnie Smith

Both Davis and Gagne were with the Twins. Smith hit his home runs in games three, four, and five, and each of those games resulted in victory for the Braves. So from going down two games up front, the Braves came back with three consecutive wins, then lost two one-run games to the Twins to lose the series. Twins pitcher Jack Morris was the series MVP with his two wins.

Answer: Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays began their franchise in Toronto in 1977. Their first three seasons found them losing 100+ games in each season. Manager Bobby Cox turned the team around with their first .500+ season in 1983, then went 99-62 in 1985 to win their division. Cito Gaston had the helm in their 1992 World Series endeavors. Blue Jay catcher Pat Borders was the MVP for hitting .450 in the series.

Answer: Toronto Blue Jays

Molitor also had eight RBIs in the series and batted .500. Paul fell one hit short of tying the World Series record of 13, held by Marty Barrett, Lou Brock, and Bobby Richardson. The Blue Jays won the series four games to two.

Answer: There was no World Series

The player's strike curtailed the season with less than 120 games played. The National League leader at the time was Montreal, eight games ahead of the next best record of the Reds. The American League leader was the Yankees with 70 wins of their own.

Answer: Atlanta Braves

It was the Braves' third World Series of the decade, and they finally won it all after two previous defeats. Pitcher Tom Glavine was the series MVP. In a close series, all but one game was decided by one run. The Braves outscored the Indians 23-19 in their four games to two win.

Answer: They lost to the Orioles in the ALDS, and the Yankees won the World Series

The Orioles put the Indians down, three games to one in the ALDS. The Yankees marched into the playoffs with their 92-70 record, and defeated the Rangers and Orioles to get to the promised land against the Atlanta Braves. The Braves would not repeat from 1995, and went down four games to two. Yankee pitcher John Wetteland appeared in five games, but threw only 4.3 innings.

His four saves earned him the series MVP award.

Answer: Florida Marlins

The Marlins were only in their fifth season after beginning their franchise in 1993. Under the helm of Jim Leyland, they won over 90 games for the first time. The Braves were the only team in Major League baseball to win 100 games in the season with their 101-61 record.

The Marlins put the Braves down in the NLCS four games to two, then the Indians in seven games in the World Series. Pitcher Livan Hernandez was the series MVP, despite having a 5.27 ERA.

Answer: San Diego Padres

The Padres had a 98-64 season of their own, and stepped on the Astros and Braves in the playoffs to meet the Yankees in the World Series. Unfortunately, Andy Pettitte and David Cone had their own agenda, and helped the Yankees skunk the Padres, four games to none. Yankee third baseman Scott Brosius was the series MVP.

Answer: Chipper Jones

The others weren't Braves. Jones' shot came in game one, the only run for the Braves in a 4-1 loss. Mariano Rivera pitched 4.7 innings in only three games, and left with two saves and the series MVP for his efforts. The Braves won only one World Series during the decade in five trips.