Red Sox vs. Yankees: Rivalry Quiz | Baseball

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. On April 20, 1912, in the first game ever played at Fenway Park, the Red Sox defeated the New York Highlanders (as the Yankees were then named) 7-6 in 11 innings. Which Red Sox batter drove in the winning run?

Answer: Tris Speaker

The first-ever game at Fenway park, rain-delayed for two days, was played before approximately 27,000 fans. In the bottom of the 11th inning, Tris Speaker drove in the winning run.

2. What was the name of the Red Sox owner who made the deal that sent Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees?

Answer: Harry Frazee

Red Sox owner Harry Frazee, whose primary interest was producing and promoting Broadway shows, sold Babe Ruth's contract to Colonel Jacob Ruppert's New York Yankees for cash and a loan from Ruppert secured by the mortgage on Fenway Park. Frazee used the money to finance several new shows.

3. From 1901 through 1918, how many times did the Red Sox finish ahead of the New York franchise in the American League standings?

Answer: 15

During the first two decades of major league baseball, no team was more dominant than the Boston Red Sox. From 1901 through 1918, the Red Sox finished ahead of the Highlanders/Yankees 15 times in 18 years, and won five World Series championships to the Yankees' none. The Highlanders began their stint in 1903, and became the Yankees in 1913.

4. From 1920 through the end of the 2002 major league baseball season, how many times did the Yankees finish ahead of the Red Sox in the American League or American League East divisional standings?

Answer: 63

Talk about a turn-around in fortunes! From 1920 (Babe Ruth's first season with the Yankees) through the end of the 2002 season, the Yankees finished ahead of the Red Sox 62 times, and the Sox finished ahead of the Yanks only 18 times. During the same period, the Yankees won 26 World Series titles, and the Red Sox none.

5. Who managed the Yankees from 1931 through 1946, and then the Red Sox from 1948 through the early part of the 1950 season?

Answer: Joe McCarthy

From 1931 through 1946, Joe McCarthy led the Yankees to 9 American League and 8 World Series championships, before leaving New York in 1948 to manage the Red Sox. With the Red Sox, McCarthy compiled a 223-145 record, but didn't lead them to any league or World Series titles.

6. On September 22, 1935, the largest crowd ever at Fenway Park saw the Yankees sweep a doubleheader from the Red Sox. On that date, how many fans were on hand to see those games?

Answer: 47,627

In 1935, the seating capacity of Fenway Park was approximately 34,000 people. Incredibly, though, 47,627 fans were on hand on September 22, 1935 to see the Yankees beat the Red Sox 6-4 in the first game of a doubleheader, and 9-0 in the second game.

7. On April 14, 1967, at Yankee Stadium, Red Sox outfielder Carl Yastrzemski made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch of a line drive to left field, thereby keeping Red Sox pitcher Bill Rohr's attempted no-hitter intact. Which Yankees batter hit that line drive?

Answer: Tom Tresh

With no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Tom Tresh's long fly ball into left center field should have resulted in an extra base hit. But Sox left fielder Carl Yastrzemski, running directly away from home plate and nearing the fence, made a leaping catch, and somersaulted after landing with the ball in his glove.

8. On April 14, 1967, which Yankees batter eventually broke up Bill Rohr's bid for a no-hitter ?

Answer: Elston Howard

Yankees catcher Elston Howard lined a single into right center field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was the only hit the Yankees got in a 3-0 loss to the Red Sox.

9. Which relief pitcher began his major league career with the Red Sox during the "Impossible Dream" season of 1967, and later played for the Yankees from 1972 to 1978?

Answer: Sparky Lyle

Sparky Lyle, who played a key role in the Red Sox winning the American League pennant in 1967, is sometimes credited with being the first true "closer" in baseball. His primary pitches were a sinking fastball and a sharply breaking "slider."

10. Which series of games between the Red Sox and the Yankees became known as the "Boston Massacre?"

Answer: Four game series, played September 7-10, 1978

During the "Boston Massacre," the four game series played at Fenway Park from September 7-11, 1978, the Yankees outscored the Red Sox 42-9. The series completely reversed the fortunes of both teams. The Red Sox, who had led the Yankees by as many as 14� games in July, saw their "September swoon" accelerate; the Yankees eventually overtook the Red Sox in a one-game playoff highlighted by Bucky Dent's home run.

11. On October 2, 1978, Yankees infielder Bucky Dent hit a towering fly ball out of Fenway Park, putting the Yankees ahead for good in a game that ensured the Yankees went to the 1978 American League playoffs. Which Red Sox pitcher threw the pitch that Dent hit out of Fenway Park?

Answer: Mike Torrez

In a television interview twenty years later, Mike Torrez said he threw a slider to Dent "just a little too perfectly..." right into Dent's strike zone, instead of just outside where he intended to throw it. The light-hitting Dent blasted Torrez' pitch all the way over Fenway's "Green Monster..." and the rest is history.

12. On September 10, 1999, Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez tossed a one-hitter against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees' one hit came as the result of a home run hit in the second inning by whom?

Answer: Chili Davis

Chili Davis' second inning home run was all the offense the Yankees got that night. Pedro Martinez struck out 17 Yankees batters in the nine innings he pitched. Twelve of the last fifteen Yankees went down via the strikeout.

13. During Game 5 of the 1999 American League Championship Series (ALCS) at Fenway Park, which Yankees relief pitcher got two Red Sox batters out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to ensure a Yankees victory?

Answer: Ramiro Mendoza

In the eighth inning, Yankees reliever Ramiro Mendoza struck out Sox catcher Scott Hatteberg, and then induced Sox right fielder Trot Nixon to hit a fly ball that was caught by the Yankees third baseman. Mendoza also pitched the ninth inning, during which he retired three Red Sox batters in order.

The Yankees eventually won the game 6-1, and the ALCS 4 games to 1. Ironically, Mendoza was released by the Yankees in December 2002, and signed with the Red Sox later that same month.

14. On May 28, 2000, which Red Sox batter broke a 0-0 tie in the ninth inning when he blasted a 92 mile-per-hour pitch, thrown by Yankees ace (and former Red Sox superstar) Roger Clemens, into Yankee Stadium's right field stands?

Answer: Trot Nixon

This was a vintage pitcher's duel between Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens. In the top of the ninth inning, Trot Nixon hammered Clemens' pitch into the right field stands, giving the Sox a 2-0 lead. It was all they needed. Martinez shut out the Yanks in the bottom of the ninth, earning victory in which he struck out 13 batters.

15. On September 1, 2001, Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina came within one strike of throwing the first perfect game in the 89-year history of Fenway Park. Which Red Sox batter broke up the perfect game bid?

Answer: Carl Everett

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Red Sox center fielder Carl Everett lashed a clean single into left field, thereby breaking up Mussina's bid for a perfect game. It was the only hit for the Red Sox. The Yankees won the game 1-0.

Source: Author mkp51

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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Red Sox vs. Yankees: Rivalry Trivia Quiz

See how much YOU know about the great rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. Have fun!

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