Shuffled Baseball Trivia Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which hard-luck slugger in 2008 fell one home run short of the career milestone of 500 home runs?

Answer: Gary Sheffield

The others were already retired and didn't reach the 500-mark. Gary ended the 2008 season with the Tigers and a sigh at 499. In September, he was suspended for four games which could have been a factor in not reaching this milestone. On the day back from his suspension, he hit two home runs in that game.

2. Which of the following was the only active manager in 2008?

Answer: Mike Scioscia

While the others did not manage in 2008, they all just barely cleared the 1000-win mark in their careers. Scioscia was in his ninth season of managing the Angels, and finished the season with 803 career wins. Under Mike, the Angels took their fourth division title in five seasons.

3. The Yankees dominated the 1950s in the American League by going to an amazing eight World Series. Which National League team dominated its league by going to five?

Answer: Dodgers

The Pirates did not make the World Series in the 1950s, but the Braves and Giants made two appearances. The Yankees won six of their eight World Series, losing only twice to the Dodgers and Braves. The Dodgers represented the National League five times, winning only two. They defeated the Yankees while in Brooklyn in 1955, then in Los Angeles against the White Sox in 1959.

4. Chicago White Sox second baseman Nellie Fox won the AL MVP in 1959. Who was the next American League second baseman to win the MVP Award?

Answer: Dustin Pedroia

Dustin won the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2007, then topped it off with a MVP in 2008. The Red Sox second baseman batted .326, hit 17 home runs, and had 213 hits in the season. He beat out Justin Morneau of the Twins and teammate Kevin Youkilis for the MVP award.

5. Which of the following baseball greats never wore the number 32 on their back?

Answer: Denny McLain

The familiar 32 was seen on Koufax of the Dodgers, Howard of the Yankees, and Carlton of the Phillies. Denny McLain became a household name with the Detroit Tigers in the late 1960s. He went 31-6 in 1968, the first pitcher to win 30 games in a season since Dizzy Dean of the Cardinals did it in 1934. Denny wore the number 17 on the field, but was issued another number later in life. McLain's name went into the garbage can after being convicted of a variety of gambling charges and other issues, and was given a new prison number and term.

6. In modern baseball history (post 1920), who was the first player to play first base for an entire season, and not hit a home run?

Answer: Pete Rose

Rose was a Philadelphia Phillie in 1983. After taking the NL Eastern Division, the Phillies rolled over the Dodgers in the NLCS, but then lost to the Orioles in the World Series. Pete was never known as a power hitter, and hit only 160 home runs in 24 seasons.

7. The Braves' franchise began it all in the National Association in 1871 named the Boston Red Stockings, before joining the new National League in 1876 as the Boston Red Caps. The franchise has gone through many team name changes throughout its history. Which of the following team names was not one of them?

Answer: Blue Jays

The franchise was named the Doves from 1907-1910, then the Rustlers in 1911 for only one season. In 1936, they were called the Bees for five seasons. There were two teams called the Blue Jays. They were the AL Toronto franchise which began in 1977, and before them with the NL Philadelphia Phillies franchise, who went from Phillies name to the Blue Jays in 1943 and 1944.

The club went back to the Phillies name in 1945.

8. Which of the following did not happen in the 1920 World Series?

Answer: A player died as a result of being hit by a pitch

A player did die after being beaned, but it was late in the 1920 reguar season. Ray Chapman of the Indians was hit in the head by Yankee pitcher Carl Mays in August. The Indians rebounded to meet the Brooklyn Robins in the World Series. Cleveland's Stan Covelski won the three games, a feat that would not happen again until 1946 when Harry Brecheen of the Cardinals would win three.

The Indians' Jim Bagby would not only be the first hitter to smack a grand slam in a World Series, but he was also the Indians' pitcher in game five. Bill Wambsganss was also the first to pull off the unassisted triple-play in a series. What a tremendous World Series it was to help over-shadow the Black Sox Scandal of 1919.

9. After the 2008 season, Seattle Mariner managers John McLaren and Jim Riggleman were gone. Who did the franchise hire to helm the team in 2009?

Answer: Don Wakamatsu

Mike Hargrove resigned in July 2007, leaving John McLaren with a bucket of worms for the rest of the season. In 2008, McLaren was fired and replaced by Riggleman. The Mariners finished the season with a 61-101 record. Wakamatsu was the very-first of Asian descent to manage a Major League team.

10. Only one pitcher in 2008 surpassed the 3000 strikeout mark in their career. Which pitcher was it?

Answer: John Smoltz

They others weren't close. Glavine ended the season at 2607, Moyer compiled 2248, and Pettitte surpassed the 2000-mark with 2002. Smoltz was in his 20th season with the Braves in 2008. He struck out only 36, but went down early in the season for a career-threatening injury, and did not return. He limped away from the season with 3011 career strikeouts.

Source: Author Nightmare

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Another mixture of a variety of Major League Baseball stuff. I hope that you have fun with it. :-)

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