The Nightmare Challenge of Baseball [2] Quiz

Answer: Ken Johnson

Johnson was a Houston Astro on April 23, 1964, when he went up against Joe Nuxhall and the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds scored in the top of the ninth when a Vada Pinson ground ball was bobbled and the third out could not be made. Pete Rose scored in the process. The Astros and Johnson lost, 1-0.

Answer: Cleveland Indians

On September 25th, the Indians played a rain makeup game against the Chicago White Sox. The Indians won the game 9-2. After the game, Cleveland players showered, put on fresh uniforms, then played the Twins in a 4-2 loss three hours later.

Answer: Bill Madlock

Madlock won the four batting titles. They came in 1975, 1976, 1981, and 1983. He won them with three different teams for the Cubs, Giants, and Pirates. He was also runner-up to Al Oliver of the Expos in 1982. In 1987 after 15 seasons, Bill retired with a .305 career average.

Answer: Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies won the NL pennant in 1915 by seven games over the Boston Braves. They went head-to-head against Tris Speaker, Rube Foster, and the Boston Red Sox. After it was looking good with a Phillies 3-1 in game one, Philadelphia dropped the next four, 2-1 three times, then final of 5-4. Six of the Phillies' RBIs came from first baseman Fred Luderus.

He also hit the only Phillies' home run.

Answer: Dave Anderson

Anderson played for only two seasons, and did this in his final season in 1890. His Pittsburgh Innocents of the National League went up against the Brooklyn Bridegrooms on September 1st. Anderson lost both games that he pitched in, and the Innocents lost all three. Anderson went 2-11 on the season, and Brooklyn would go on to win the National League crown.

Answer: Boston

The Yankees lost their first two World Series in 1921 and 1922 to the Giants before winning one. The Athletics lost their first World Series to the Giants in 1905. The Detroit Tigers lost four of their first five, with three consecutive from 1907-1909. Boston won them in 1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918. Their first World Series loss would come in 1946 against the Cardinals.

Answer: Brooklyn Robins

On May 1, 1920, the Robins (later Dodgers) and the Braves hooked up in a game of many records. It went 26 innings, ended in a 1-1 tie, and both pitchers went the entire distance. Leon Cadore was on the mound for the Robins, and Joe Oeschger was throwing for the Braves.

The following day the Robins went 13 innings with the Phillies. On May 3, once again the Robins went into overtime with the Braves, losing 2-1 in 19 innings.

Answer: No player had an RBI

The July 9th historical game saw the National League hosting the American League in the home of the Houston Astros. The Giants won the game 1-0. In the bottom of the first inning, Willie McCovey grounded into a double play which scored the game's only run. Dodger Don Drysdale took the win, while Willie Mays of the Giants won the MVP Award.

Answer: Pete Alexander

Alexander came so close many times, but never thew a no-hitter in his life. In 1916, wearing the Phillies uniform for the fifth season, Pete came up short an amazing four times. He still went 33-12 in the season, and threw his second of three Triple Crowns. His third came as a Chicago Cub in 1920. He retired with 373 wins, tied in the career mark with Giant Christy Mathewson.

Answer: Tom Tresh

Tresh of the Yankees actually set a record for this loneliness. From August 30 to September 1, 1968, it was a boring time for the 1962 American League Rookie of the Year. The Yankees swept the three-game series against the Indians, at Cleveland Stadium.