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The 1969 Chicago Cubs Trivia Quiz

The 1969 Chicago Cubs captured the hearts of fans waiting for their first pennant since 1945. The Cubs started strong in April but faded in September. Lets' see what you remember about this great team that almost was.

A multiple-choice quiz by champsx5. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
champsx5

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
218,277

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
607

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. The Chicago Cubs won 14 of their first 15 games in '69 including a dramatic opening day extra-inning victory over Phillies 7-6. Which Cub hit the game winning home run. Hint

Don Young

Ernie Banks

Jim Hickman

Willie Smith

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Question 2 of 15

2. Joe Niekro was a young pitcher with the Cubs in '69. On April 25, he was traded to the expansion San Diego Padres for which player? Hint

Paul Popovich

Ted Abernathy

Bill Hands

Dick Selma

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Question 3 of 15

3. Who led the 1969 Cubs in home runs? Hint

Ernie Banks

Randy Hundley

Billy Williams

Ron Santo

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Question 4 of 15

4. Which Cub player wore the number 18? Hint

Paul Popovich

Glenn Beckert

Don Kessinger

Willie Smith

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Question 5 of 15

5. Kenny Holtzman threw a no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves on August 19. What was so unusual about the no-hitter? Hint

Hundley dropped a third strike, the last out, allowing the runner to reach base. This ended Holtzman's perfect game.

Holtzman walked one batter every inning

Holtzman didn't strike out any Brave players

Hotzman hit a homer providing the Cubs lone hit and run

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Question 6 of 15

6. What did Ron Santo do after each Cub victory at Wrigley Field that infuriated opponents? Hint

Click his heels

Dance on the pitcher's mound

Light a cigar

Nothing. Santo just walked off the field like everyone else

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Question 7 of 15

7. What significant event happened on July 8 at Shea Stadium that some say this was the turning point for the Mets in '69? Hint

Don Young dropped a ball in centerfield allowing the Mets to score 3 unearned runs in the 9th inning giving the Mets a 4-3 come from behind victory

The Mets rough up Fergie Jenkins for three home runs to beat the Cubs 9-5

Fergie Jenkins and the Cubs lose to the Mets, 1-0

Tom Seaver pitches a one-hitter and beats the Cubs

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Question 8 of 15

8. Who led the Cubs in RBIs in '69? Hint

Jim Hickman

Ernie Banks

Ron Santo

Billy Williams

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Question 9 of 15

9. What was Phil Regan's nickname? Hint

The Eagle

The Vulture

The Raven

Mr. Cub

10. Tom Seaver threw his one and only a no-hitter in 1978. On July 9th, 1968, he came close against the Cubs. With one out in the ninth, which Cub player broke Seaver's no-hit bid with a single? Hint

Jimmy Qualls

Fergie Jenkins

Billy Williams

Glenn Beckert

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Question 11 of 15

11. The Cubs sent 5 players to the all-star game in 1969. Who were they? Hint

Banks, Kessinger, Santo, Jenkins and Regan

Banks, Williams, Santo, Hundley and Jenkins

Hundley, Santo, Kessinger, Beckert and Banks

Banks, Williams, Santo, Jenkins and Hands

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Question 12 of 15

12. What number did manager Leo Durocher wear? Hint

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Question 13 of 15

13. What significant event happened on June 29, 1969? Hint

Billy Williams broke Stan Musial's National League consecutive games streak

Billy Williams tied the Major League record for doubles in a game with four straight

Ernie Banks hit his 500th homer

Ernie Banks had seven RBIs, including his 1,500th on two 3-run homers and a double in the Cubs 19-0 blowout against San Diego

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Question 14 of 15

14. An incident occurred in late July (Saturday, July 26) involving Leo Durocher. Do you remember what he did? Hint

Leo left a game and went up to Camp Ojibwa

Leo punched home plate umpire Harry Wendelstedt while arguing balls and strikes

Leo called Jack Brickhouse a mental midget on the "Tenth Inning" show

Leo won his 1000th career game as a manager

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Question 15 of 15

15. What was the Cubs' final record in 1969? Hint

80-82

98-64

88-74

92-70

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Chicago Cubs won 14 of their first 15 games in '69 including a dramatic opening day extra-inning victory over Phillies 7-6. Which Cub hit the game winning home run.

Answer: Willie Smith

The Phillies actually hit the go-ahead run in the top of the eleventh inning when Don Money doubled, driving in Johnny Callison. With a runner on and the Phillies leading 6-5 in the bottom of the eleventh, Willie Smith hit the ball over the 368 marker in right-centerfield giving the Cubs a 7-6 Opening Day victory.

2. Joe Niekro was a young pitcher with the Cubs in '69. On April 25, he was traded to the expansion San Diego Padres for which player?

Answer: Dick Selma

Niekro was traded for Selma who provided a spark as both a starter and a reliever. But, Selma may be known more for sitting in the Cubs bullpen during games waving a towel whipping the Bleacher Bums into a frenzy.

3. Who led the 1969 Cubs in home runs?

Answer: Ron Santo

Ron Santo led the way with 29 homers. Santo hit 337 home runs as a Cub, and added five more with the White Sox in 1974.

4. Which Cub player wore the number 18?

Answer: Glenn Beckert

Glenn Beckert played second base for the Cubs from 1965 through the 1973 season. Paul Popovich wore number 22. Don Kessinger wore number 11, and Willie Smith wore number 25.

5. Kenny Holtzman threw a no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves on August 19. What was so unusual about the no-hitter?

Answer: Holtzman didn't strike out any Brave players

On September 4, 1923, at Yankee Stadium, Sam Jones no-hit the Athletics 2-0 beating Bob Hasty. Babe Ruth makes the only strikeout of the game, so Ken Holtzman remained the only pitcher in 1969 to throw a no-hitter with no strikeouts. Another note; Holtzman almost lost the no-hitter in the seventh when Hank Aaron hit a drive to deep left field.

The ball seemingly went over the wall only to be blown back into the park and into Billy Williams glove.

6. What did Ron Santo do after each Cub victory at Wrigley Field that infuriated opponents?

Answer: Click his heels

Cubs outfielder Jim Hickman hit a game-winning homer against the Expos early in the season. The first heel clicking incident was spontaneous. Many opponents and in the media thought this was bush. In September, when the Cubs were losing more than winning, the heel clicking stopped.

7. What significant event happened on July 8 at Shea Stadium that some say this was the turning point for the Mets in '69?

Answer: Don Young dropped a ball in centerfield allowing the Mets to score 3 unearned runs in the 9th inning giving the Mets a 4-3 come from behind victory

Ron Santo tore into Cubs' outfielder Don Young for making two costly misplays, one, the dropped ball in the bottom of the ninth inning. Even though he apologized the next day, Cubs' fans booed Santo during his next home game. Brant Brown dropped a ball against the Brewers in 1998, which cost the Cubs a win during their Wild Card season in '98. Ironicaly, Ron Santo, the radio color commentator for the Cubs, could be heard yelling, "Noooo! Nooooo!"

8. Who led the Cubs in RBIs in '69?

Answer: Ron Santo

Ron Santo had his best RBI season in '69 by driving in 123 runs. Willie McCovey led the National League with 126 RBIs.

9. What was Phil Regan's nickname?

Answer: The Vulture

Regan was given the name by Sandy Koufax while both were with the Dodgers. Koufax had said he had the propensity to win many games in relief.

10. Tom Seaver threw his one and only a no-hitter in 1978. On July 9th, 1968, he came close against the Cubs. With one out in the ninth, which Cub player broke Seaver's no-hit bid with a single?

Answer: Jimmy Qualls

Jimmy Qualls was a rookie with the Cubs in '69 and hit .250 in 43 games. He made a pitstop with the Expos in '70, and finished his career with the White Sox in '72.

11. The Cubs sent 5 players to the all-star game in 1969. Who were they?

Answer: Hundley, Santo, Kessinger, Beckert and Banks

The entire Cub infield made the the all-star team in '69 along with Randy Hundley. This was the first time the Cubs had sent their entire infield to the all-star game. They came close in 1955 when second baseman Gene Baker, third baseman Randy Johnson, and shortstop Ernie Banks made the all-star team.

12. What number did manager Leo Durocher wear?

Answer: 2

Leo wore number 2, the same number he wore for most of his career as a player. Durocher was hired by the Cubs in 1966. He hadn't managed since being fired by the Giants in 1955.

13. What significant event happened on June 29, 1969?

Answer: Billy Williams broke Stan Musial's National League consecutive games streak

June 29th was designated Billy Williams day and he passed Stan Musial's National League record for consecutive games played (896). Williams streak would end during 1970 at 1,117 games. Steve Garvey would later break Williams' National League record while a member of the San Diego Padres.

14. An incident occurred in late July (Saturday, July 26) involving Leo Durocher. Do you remember what he did?

Answer: Leo left a game and went up to Camp Ojibwa

Leo left a nationally televised game at Wrigley Field against the Dodgers. He decided to go to Camp Ojibwa in Eagle River, Wisconsin, to visit his bride's 10-year old son. He didn't return until Monday, July 28. Leo never really explained his absence.

15. What was the Cubs' final record in 1969?

Answer: 92-70

The Cubs finished 92-70, 8 games behind the New York Mets. The Cubs were in first place for 155 days.

Source: Author champsx5

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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