Those 'Left' Behind Quiz | Baseball

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. I became even more famous after my death than for my bat. I was the last player in the 20th Century to hit .400. I spent my entire career of 19 seasons with the same team. I retired in 1960, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966. I died in 2002. Who am I?

Answer: Ted Williams

The others were all right-handers and never played for just one team. Williams of the Red Sox had a career avg. of .344 along with 521 home runs. His 521 sits alongside the great left-hander Willie McCovey of the Giants. After Williams' death in 2002, there were some family issues and controversy over freezing his remains.

2. Which former left-handed pitcher managed the LA Dodgers to four World Series appearances?

Answer: Tom Lasorda

Lasorda pitched for three seasons in the 1950s with the Dodgers and Kansas City Athletics. He never won a game in his career. After the illness of long-time manager Walter Alston, Lasorda took over the reins in 1976. In 1977 and 1978, he led the Dodgers to the World Series but lost to the Yankees both times.

In 1981 and 1988, Lasorda and the Dodgers hit the mark by adding more titles to their name. Tommy retired from the podium in 1996.

3. Who was the first southpaw hurler to throw 4,000 career strikeouts?

Answer: Steve Carlton

The others were right-handers, and never reached the 3,000 mark in their careers. Carlton, whose nickname was 'Lefty', played mostly with the Cardinals and Phillies throughout his 24 seasons. His 4,000th strikeout came in 1986. He retired in 1988, and was inducted into the Hall in 1994.

4. I had some pretty stellar seasons, but most were overshadowed by the right arm of teammate Denny McLain. With more wins, more saves, and twice as many strikeouts as Denny, I never seemed to get the respect from the fans, or the Hall of Fame. Who am I?

Answer: Mickey Lolich

The others were not pitchers. Although Mickey took a backseat in 1968 to McLain's 31-6 record, he had his revenge by taking the World Series MVP against the Cardinals, by pitching three wins and batting .250.

5. Which Yankee hurler led the Yankees to 11 World Series from 1950-1964?

Answer: Whitey Ford

Although all Yankees hurlers, the others pitched in the pinstripes in the 1930s. Retiring in 1967 with a career record of 236-106, 'The Chairman of the Board', won the Cy Young Award in 1961. His win/loss record in his 11 World Series was 10-8.

6. I was one of the first two batters to hit .400 in the 20th Century, but I wasn't the one who was banned from baseball. In 1912, I followed it up again with another .400 season. If my bat wasn't good enough, my feet were, as I set a stolen base record of 96. 22 of my 24 seasons were as a Tiger. Who am I?

Answer: Ty Cobb

Although all Tigers, the others played well after Cobb set these landmarks. In 1911, Cobb batted .420, then in 1912 batted .409. The other player to hit .400 in 1911 was the great Joe Jackson of the Indians, who hit .408, and was banned from baseball for rigging the 1919 World Series as a Chicago White Sox player. This was the infamous 'Black Sox Scandal'.

7. Who was the first full time left-handed hurler to be inducted into the Hall of Fame?

Answer: Rube Waddell

The others were all right handed. Ironically, it took Major League baseball 11 years to recognize a southpaw pitcher in the Hall of Fame. Waddell played for the Louisville Colonels turned Pittsburgh Pirates at the transition of the century. He then played most of his career with the Philadelphia Athletics, and retired in 1910.

He died four years later. His best season was in 1905 when he threw a 27-10 record. The Hall of Fame which began in 1936, waited until 1946 to see Waddell's name etched in history.

8. Which southpaw was the first to win the Cy Young Award?

Answer: Warren Spahn

Although all Cy Young winners, the others were right handers. Spahn played 20 of his 21 seasons with the Braves. He won the Award in its 2nd presentation in 1957. Newcombe, in his sixth season with the Dodgers and in the Majors, threw a 27-7 season, beating out fellow Dodger Sal 'The Barber' Maglie, for the first winner in 1956. From 1956-1966, Major League baseball handed out only one Cy Young Award each season. Beginning in 1967, the Award went to each outstanding pitcher in both the American and National League.

9. I won the Rookie of the Year in 2003, and helped my Florida Marlins to the World Series against the Yankees. I went 14-6 in the season. I didn't shine in the World Series, but my teammate Josh Beckett did. Who am I?

Answer: Dontrelle Willis

The others were rookies long before the turn of the century. Willis, from a high school in Alameda, California, was initially scouted and signed by Steve Hinton of the Cubs. Dontrelle flourished in 2003 as a Marlin rookie. He was also the first Marlin in history to throw a one-hitter.

The Marlins won the 2003 World Series against the Yankees, four games to two. Josh Beckett was the Series MVP.

10. The first perfect game in professional baseball history was thrown by J Lee Richmond. In which season did he throw it?

Answer: 1880

At the young age of 23, the left-handed Richmond placed his permanent mark in history. Playing with the Worcester Ruby Legs, he appeared in 66 games in the season, a normality for that time period. His record was 32-32 for the season. His perfecto victims on this June 12th, were the Cleveland Blues.

Source: Author nightmare

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Those 'Left' Behind Trivia Quiz

All multiple choice on some of the greatest southpaw pitchers and hitters in baseball history. This is for the dummies like me. I hope that you enjoy it. :-)

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