The Atlanta Braves! Trivia Quiz

Answer: National Association

It was this team name that some confuse the franchise with the American League Boston Red Sox. They were never connected. In the NA in 1871, in the team's first season ever, they finished third, two games back of the pennant-winning Philadelphia Athletics. Boston's season record was 20-10. Harry Wright led the team in many ways.

He was the owner, manager, and outfielder for the team. Harry's brother George also played for the team at shortstop. Both ended up in the Hall of Fame. Brother George led the team by batting .413, while Al Spalding led their mound with a 19-10 record. Harry Wright also pitched in nine games, going 1-0 with three saves. From 1872-1875, the Red Stockings won the NA crown in each season, then the league folded after the 1875 season.

Answer: Boston Beaneaters

Jack Burdock and John Morrill managed the team in the 1883 season, and they won yet another NL crown in 1883 by four games over the Chicago White Stockings (later Cubs). The franchise had a variety of names in their history. 1907 saw them as the Doves, then Rustlers in 1911, and the Boston Braves in 1912. From 1936-1940, they were renamed the Boston Bees, then went back to the Braves team name in 1941.

Answer: 1914

The franchise went pennant-dry for 16 seasons, winning a NL pennant in 1898 until they won it all in 1914. The team was managed by George Stallings. Joe Connolly was the only regular who batted over .300 with his .306. Bill James and Dick Rudolph both won 26 games for the Braves in the season.

They skunked Connie Mack and his Philadephia Athletics, four games to none in the World Series.

Answer: Sparky Anderson

Anderson managed the Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers from 1970-1995. Selee had the helm of the team for 12 seasons from 1890-1901, eight for McKechnie from 1930-1937, and six for Stengel from 1938-1943. None of those listed ever took the team to a World Series.

Answer: Warren Spahn

Spahn began his career with the Braves in 1942. After 20 loyal seasons, the Mets bought his contract from the Braves in 1964. Spahn won the second Cy Young award presented in 1957, but had the award began a decade sooner, his stats indicate that he probably would have won more. 13 times in his career he won 20+ games in a season, including topping the 20-win mark in six consecutive seasons.

He retired with 363 wins, 356 as a Brave. Kid Nichols also won over 300 for the franchise, winning 329 from 1890-1901. Niekro and Glavine didn't reach the 275-win mark for the Braves.

Answer: Bobby Cox

The others were all former Braves managers. Bobby managed the team from 1978-1981, then left for Toronto. He came back to replace Russ Nixon during the midseason of 1990, then Cox ran his streak from there. Included in those 14 division crowns were five World Series appearances in the 1990s, winning one in 1995.

Answer: He never did

Henry's season high was 47 in 1971. He hit 45 in 1962, and matched his uniform number of 44, four times in his career. Aaron led the league in home runs only four times which showed the consistency during his career. He won the NL MVP award in 1957. Hank's brother Tommie also played seven seasons with the Braves and hit 13 homes. Combined, the two set a brother record for career home runs of 768.

Answer: 1966

The Braves moved from Boston after the 1952 season to Milwaukee. 1957 saw the Milwaukee Braves win the World Series under Fred Haney, then another NL title in 1958. It was on to Atlanta in 1966 for a 5th place finish in the National League. The city of Atlanta's first World Series crown came in 1995 against the Cleveland Indians.

Answer: Eddie Mathews

Eddie was a rookie in 1952 with the Braves in Boston, then made the move to Milwaukee the following season. 1966 saw him in Atlanta, then he was traded to the Astros after the season ended. Mathews hit 493 home runs for the Braves, and with the combination of him, Hank Aaron and Joe Adcock, they were a National League team to be reckoned with.

Answer: John Smoltz

John was in his 19th season as a Brave. He won the NL Cy Young award in 1996 for his 24-8 record along with 276 strikeouts. In 2001, the Braves put Smoltz in the bullpen for four seasons, then brought him back in 2005 from the dugout. In 2007, Tim Hudson also went 16-10 for the Braves in the season.