The 1960s: Sports in America Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pittsburgh Pirates

Mazeroski's solo home run came in the bottom of the ninth inning of game seven to give the Pirates a 10-9 win. The Yankees dominated the Pirates in the seven games, scoring 55 runs to Pittsburgh's 27, but the win column is what counts. Although Maz's shot won the World Series, Yankee Bobby Richardson still won the series MVP, setting a record with his 11 hits and 12 RBIs.

The year also saw Pete Rozelle named Commissioner of the National Football League. Ohio State won the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Also, boxer Cassius Clay won gold for the United States at the Rome Olympic Games.

Answer: Gary Player

Gary was born in Johannesburg. He went on to win three U.S. Masters and nine major tournaments in his career overall. Players was later inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

In women's golf, Mickey Wright won the LPGA Championship. In the NHL, the Chicago Black Hawks defeated the Detroit Red Wings four games to two. Also in the year in Formula One racing, Phil Hill of the United States won the World Drivers' Championship.

Answer: Philadelphia Warriors

Wilt played in five seasons for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors before being traded to the 76ers in the 1964-65 season. He became a Laker in 1968, then retired in 1973 with 31,419 career points. Chamberlain died in 1999.

In 1962 baseball, the Dodgers lost to the Giants in a season-ending playoff series for the National League crown. The Giants went on to lose the World Series to the Yankees. Also, the NHLs Bobby Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks won the Art Ross Memorial Trophy by being the leading scorer in the season.

Answer: Joe Weatherly

Weatherly took his two championships in the number 8 Pontiac, racing for Bud Moore. Joe's life was cut short just months later, when in January 1964 he was killed in a racing accident at Riverside International Raceway.

Also in 1963, Sonny Liston won boxing's Heavyweight Championship of the World by knocking out Floyd Patterson. College football's Heisman Trophy was won by Roger Staubach of Navy. Also in NCAA basketball, Loyola (Illinois) won the championship over Cincinnati 60-58.

Answer: UCLA Bruins

Under the guidance of the legendary coach John Wooden, the Bruins won their first championship in 1964 against Duke. Championships in 1965, 1967-1973, and 1975 would follow.

Also in 1964, the Bills won the American Football League while the Browns won the NFL Championship. Jim Bunning of the Philadelphia Phillies threw a perfect game against the New York Mets. In track and field, Tom O'Hara became the first U.S. born runner to break the four-minute mile at 3:59.4.

Answer: Don Garlits

Don Prudhomme won three Top Fuel Championships of his own and was nicknamed "The Snake". Shirley Muldowney was nicknamed "Cha-Cha", and also won three championships. Force didn't win any Top Fuel Championships, but won many in the funny car competition.

Also in 1965, the Celtics won the NBA Finals over the Lakers. In the world of golf, Jack Nicklaus shot a Masters Tournament record 271, 17-under par. The Chicago Black Hawks lost the Stanley Cup Finals to the Montreal Canadiens.

Answer: Baltimore Orioles

Although respected for his decision, Sandy Koufax was said to cause the World Series loss. Being Jewish, he refused to pitch on Opening Day which conflicted with Yom Kippur. This allegedly threw the entire karma out of the Dodger rotation with the shuffling, and their pitching staff became no match for the bats of Luis Aparicio, Davey Johnson, Boog Powell, and Frank Robinson. The Dodgers scored only two runs in the entire series and were shutout three times.

The year of 1966 also saw Jim Ryun set a new world record for the mile at 3:51.3. Boston great Ted Williams was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame. Also, Peggy Fleming won the World Figure Skating Championships.

Answer: Damascus

There was little hype when Proud Clarion won the Kentucky Derby, then Damascus
won the Preakness. Damascus would follow up with another win at Belmont.

In boxing, 1967 was not a good year for Muhammad Ali who was stripped of his World Heavyweight Champion title for refusing Army induction. The NHL also expanded by adding six new teams for their 1967-68 season.

Answer: Denny McLain

McLain went 31-6 and helped lead his Detroit Tigers to a World Series win against Bob Gibson and the Cardinals. After winning the Cy Young Award in 1968 and 1969, his career plummeted and he went 3-5 the following season. In 1971 with the Senators, Denny went 10-22, and was clouded with allegations of gambling, drugs, and organized crime charges. McLain spent time in prison for his off-field endeavors.

The year also saw Olympic runners John Carlos and Tommie Smith suspended from the Olympic Games for what was deemed as a racist gesture on the medals podium. In the NHL, Chicago Black Hawk Stan Mikita took the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP) for the season.

Answer: New York Jets

The Jets went up against the Colts in Super Bowl III. After Joe Namath's alleged guaranteed victory, the Jets went out there and won 16-7.

Baseball also witnessed the "Amazin' Mets" win their first World Series in a win against the Orioles. In 1963, pitcher Gaylord Perry's manager was quoted as saying, "They'll put a man on the moon before Gaylord hits a home run". In 1969, just hours after Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, Perry hit the first home run of his career.