Sports in 1964 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Oscar Robertson

The "Big O", Oscar Robertson of the Cincinnati Royals, averaged 31.4 points per game. He played college ball at the University of Cincinnati. Jerry West and Elgin Baylor of the Los Angeles Lakers went to West Virginia University and Seattle University respectively. Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks went to Louisiana State University.

Answer: Gail Goodrich

Gail Goodrich led all scorers with 27 points, while teammate Kenny Washington tallied 26, and Walt Hazzard who was voted MVP of the tournament, scored 11. Goodrich was even more impressive in 1965 when he scored 42 points in the finals against Michigan to ensure UCLA's second championship. Lew Alcindor and Lucius Allen, future UCLA greats, were still in high school at the time, while Willie Naulls who went to UCLA in the 50s, was a star for the New York Knicks in the early 1960s.

Answer: Terry McDermott

Terry McDermott, a barber from Essexville, Michigan, beat out the favored Evgeni Girshin of Russia in the 500 meter speed skating event. Alpine skier Billy Kidd won a silver medal in the slalom, while the 14-year old figure skater Peggy Fleming placed sixth in her first Olympic competition. Eric Heiden, speed skating star of the future, turned six in 1964.

Answer: Sonny Liston

The big brooding Sonny Liston ran out of steam, frustrated by his quicker adversary. Cassius Clay became known to the world as Muhammad Ali the following year, after he converted to the Nation of Islam. He defeated Sonny Liston in a rematch with the famous "phantom punch", and then successfully took on former champion Floyd Patterson. Clay KO'd Britsh champion Henry Cooper in a fight preceding his title match with Liston, although he was knocked down for the first time in his career. Joe Frazier won a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics; he and Ali would not meet until 1971.

Answer: Northern Dancer

All of these horses had Triple Crowns on the line and lost at Belmont. They were Northern Dancer in 1964, Kauai King in 1966, Majestic Prince in 1969, and Canonero II in 1970. Northern Dancer, from Canada, became one of the most successful studs in thoroughbred history.

Answer: Bob Hayes

Bob Hayes was the world's fastest man for several years in the early 1960s. He went on to terrorize defensive backs in the NFL as a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, becoming the first person to win a gold medal and a Super Bowl ring. His later life was marred by a narcotics conviction and he died in 2002. Jim Hines followed Hayes with a record-breaking performance in the 100 meter dash in the 1968 Olympics. Frank Budd was a sprinter from Villanova who briefly held the world record in the 100 yard dash before Hayes broke it.

Henry Carr won the the 200 meter gold medal at Tokyo. Hines and Budd both tried and failed to parlay their speed into football careers. Henry Carr was a cornerback for the New York Giants for a few seasons, during which he could be seen unsuccessfully attempting to catch Bob Hayes.

Answer: Gene Mauch

Gene Mauch was faulted for overusing pitchers Jim Bunning and Chris Short down the stretch. Eddie Sawyer managed the Phils in the 50s, including the pennant-winning Whiz Kids of 1950. Danny Ozark was the manager who oversaw some painful Phillies' near misses in the 70s, while Dallas Green, who was a pitcher on the 1964 team, was at the helm when the Phils finally won it all in 1980.

Answer: Third base

Third basemen Ken Boyer of the St. Louis Cardinals and Brooks Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles were chosen MVPs of their respective leagues in 1964.

Answer: John Huarte

John Huarte passing to Jack Snow, led Notre Dame back to glory under new coach Ara Parseghian. Huarte subsequently had a negligible career with several pro football teams. Roger Staubach won the Heisman Trophy the previous year, but he played for Navy. Terry Hanratty and Joe Theismann were successful quarterbacks with later Notre Dame teams, but neither won the Heisman.

Answer: Blanton Collier

Blanton Collier looked more like a high school science teacher than a football coach, and his low-key approach contrasted with the more rigorous methods of Cleveland legend Paul Brown, who he replaced in 1963. Don Shula was the coach of the losing Colts. Nick Skorich succeeded Collier, becoming coach of the Browns in 1971.