Unsung Pitchers of the 1960s Quiz | MLB by Season

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This relief pitcher was nicknamed "The Monster" and earned 104 saves for the Boston Red Sox between 1962 and 1966. Can you identify him?

Answer: Dick Radatz

This huge man terrorized opposing American League batters with his blazing fastball. Radatz's best season probably occurred in 1964, when he posted a 16-9 record with 29 saves. Radatz earned All-Star Game selections in 1963 and 1964. The Monster also pitched for the Indians, Tigers, Cubs, and Expos during the 1960s.

2. In 1961, the Cincinnati Reds won the National League pennant. Which member of the Reds' starting pitching staff threw primarily knuckleballs?

Answer: Bob Purkey

During the 1961 season, Purkey posted a record of 16-12. Purkey appeared in two games for the Reds in the 1961 World Series, compiling an ERA of 1.64. Purkey enjoyed his best Major League season in 1962, winning 23 of 28 decisions. Overall, this knuckleballer compiled a record of 129-115 in a big league career which lasted from 1954 to 1966.

3. Right-handed pitcher Dean Chance won the 1964 Cy Young Award. Some of Chance's teammates that year included Bob Rodgers and Jim Fregosi. For which team did Chance pitch during the 1964 season?

Answer: Los Angeles Angels

This stylish right-handed pitcher posted a record of 20-9, with an impressive 1.65 ERA. Bob ("Buck") Rodgers was lucky enough to be Chance's catcher on the 1964 Angels. Chance played for the Angels from 1961 to 1966, compiling a record of 74-66. For his career, Chance won 128 games in the big leagues.

4. Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry won 314 games in the Major Leagues. Gaylord's older brother was also successful, earning 215 big league victories. Can you supply his first name?

Answer: Jim

During the 1960s, Jim Perry pitched for the Cleveland Indians and the Minnesota Twins. Perry's best season during the sixties occurred in 1969 when he posted a 20-9 record to lead the Twins to the American League West title. Jim was born in 1935, and Gaylord was born in 1938.

5. San Francisco Giants pitcher Stu Miller had a bizarre experience in the first All-Star Game of 1961. He was charged with a balk which was supposedly caused by a gust of wind. In which stadium did Miller's balk take place?

Answer: Candlestick Park

Right-handed hurler Stu Miller pitched in the Major Leagues from 1952 to 1968, earning 105 victories and 154 saves during his career. Miller is best remembered for what happened in the ninth inning of the first All-Star Game played in 1961. This contest was held in San Francisco's Candlestick Park, notorious for its brutal winds. Legend has it that a wind gust blew Miller off the pitching mound, causing a balk. Miller later contended that the Candlestick Park wind had nothing to do with the balk.

He said he simply stopped in the middle of his pitching motion and got called for a balk. Miller's mistake moved Al Kaline from second base to third base, and Kaline scored the tying run (3-3) for the American League on an error by Ken Boyer on Rocky Colavito's ground ball. Miller, however, emerged as the winning pitcher for the National League in the bottom of the 10th inning when Roberto Clemente singled home Candlestick Park hero Willie Mays for the winning run in a 5-4 NL victory.

6. Southpaw hurler Juan Pizarro was named to the 1963 American League All-Star team. Two of Pizarro's teammates that season were Nellie Fox and Jim Landis. For which team did Pizarro pitch in 1963?

Answer: Chicago White Sox

In 1963, Pizarro posted a record of 16-8, with an impressive 2.39 ERA. Pizarro had an overall mark of 75-47 with the White Sox, including a 19-victory season in 1964. Pizarro was undoubtedly aided by such defensive stalwarts as Nellie Fox (2b) and outfielder Jim Landis.

7. Phil Regan was a right-handed starter/reliever for the Tigers, Dodgers, and Cubs during the 1960s. What was Regan's nickname?

Answer: The Vulture

Phil Regan was nicknamed "The Vulture" because he had a knack of snatching victories late in ballgames. In 1966, for example, Regan had a record of 14-1 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, with all of his wins coming in relief of starting pitchers. Regan pitched for three different teams during the 1960s, the Tigers, Dodgers, and Cubs. For his career, "The Vulture" compiled a record of 96-81 with 92 saves.

8. This Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed pitcher named Bob was known for his blazing fastball. He won the 1964 National League strikeout title. Can you supply his last name?

Answer: Veale

Lefty Bob Veale pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1962 to 1972, and he earned two All-Star Game selections for the Bucs in 1965 and 1966. Veale possessed an overpowering fastball which he utilized to strike out more than 1650 batters during his days with Pittsburgh. One of Veale's best seasons occurred in 1965, a year in which he compiled a 17-12 record with 276 strikeouts. Overall, Bob Veale had a record of 120-95 in 13 big league seasons.

9. On June 26, 1962, righty pitcher Earl Wilson of the Boston Red Sox hurled a 2-0 no-hitter against the Los Angeles Angels in Fenway Park. What was so unusual about this feat?

Answer: Wilson also hit a home run in this contest

Earl Wilson became only the second pitcher to hit a home run and pitch a no-hitter in the same contest. Wilson's pitching and batting skills helped Boston to a 2-0 victory over Bo Belinsky and the Los Angeles Angels. Wilson belted a solo home run in the second inning.

He struck out five batters and walked four en route to his historic performance. Wilson thus duplicated Wes Ferrell's feat accomplished in 1931, a home run and a no-hitter in the same game. During his career, the righty Wilson won 121 big league games and hit 35 home runs (33 of them as a pitcher).

10. This lefty pitcher from the Baltimore Orioles won 20 games during the 1963 season, and was named to the American League All-Star team. Can you identify him?

Answer: Steve Barber

Barber, a native of Maryland, compiled a record of 20-13 with an ERA of 2.75 and 180 strikeouts. Barber pitched for the Orioles from 1960 to 1967, posting a record of 95-75. Unfortunately, elbow tendinitis greatly curtailed Barber's effectiveness late in his career. The other three pitchers listed threw right-handed.

Source: Author mrgrouchy

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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Unsung Pitchers of the 1960s Trivia Quiz

Sure, most fans know about Koufax, Gibson, and Marichal, but the 1960s had plenty of other good pitchers. Here is a quiz on some of the unsung heroes who pitched during the 1960s. Have fun and good luck.

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