Sick MLB [1] Trivia Quiz

Answer: Fritz Peterson/Mike Kekich

This was the swingin' (no pun intended) '70s, and even the Bronx Bombers got into the act. The awkwardness that resulted from this odd arrangement coming to light caused Yankee GM Lee McPhail to remark, "We may have to call off Family Day". While Kekich's coupling with Mrs. Peterson did not work out well, Fritz Peterson and Susanne Kekich would marry and have a family of their own.

Answer: Never determined

All three have been given as a potential reason at one time or another. Ruth's collapse on a train during spring training was called "the bellyache heard round the world" by some newspapers of the day, and the London Evening News even ran an obituary.

Answer: Hugh Mulcahy

Playing for some dismal Phillie squads in the '30s and '40s, "Losing Pitcher" Mulcahy only won about a third of his career decisions (45-89). He was also the first Major Leaguer drafted into the military prior to WWII.

Answer: Harry Chiti

Chiti was one of seven catchers used by the New York Mets during their disastrous inaugural season (Landrith was another). After hitting .195 in 15 games, the Mets opted to send him back to where they got him. He would never appear in another big league contest.

Answer: "First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League."

Washington's two American League franchises (the first moved to Minnesota and became the Twins, and the second to Dallas-Ft. Worth and became the Rangers) combined for three pennants, one championship (1924) and 10 100-loss seasons across seven decades. "First in shoes, first in booze, and last in the American League" was a variation applied to the equally futile St. Louis Browns.

Answer: Ed Delahanty

Although all the above were Hall of Famers who were taken from us before the completion of their playing careers, Delahanty was the one who perished in this mysterious (and gruesome) way during the 1903 season. Did he fall? Did he jump? Or did someone follow and give him a bit of a nudge?

Answer: A female

At less than four feet tall, Eddie Gaedel (wearing uniform number 1/8) appeared to pinch hit in a 1951 game as a publicity stunt. One-armed Pete Gray hit .218 in 77 games for them during the war year of 1945. And the Browns became the third MLB team to integrate in 1947 by signing former Negro Leaguers Willard Brown and Hank Thompson.

Answer: Chicago Cubs

As they say, too many cooks spoil the broth. After experimenting with a rotating collective for two seasons, the Cubs dumped the much-maligned idea in 1963 by tapping Bob Kennedy as the full-time field boss.

Answer: Ted Turner

The experiment lasted a single game, as MLB put a stop to Turner's career change. The Atlanta Braves, already mired in a losing streak that would reach 17 games, would go down 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates in what was considered a game lacking in excitement aside from the obvious.

Answer: They replaced him with the Cardinal manager.

After the stunning World Series victory, much-maligned Johnny Keane pretty much told Cardinal brass what they could do with their job before joining the Yankees for the 1965 season. However, the story did not have a happy ending for Keane. The Yankees were at the tail end of their original dynasty, and would spend much of the next decade in rebuilding mode. Keane would not be around to see it.

He was gone as manager before the end of the Yankees cellar-dwelling 1966 season, and passed away before the beginning of the 1967 season.