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Quiz about Wayne Terwilliger The Definition of Dedication

Wayne Terwilliger - The Definition of Dedication Quiz

Wayne Terwilliger isn't a name you'll ever hear in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Over his playing career, he was the poster boy of average. However, his coaching and managing career meant he spent 62 seasons in baseball, something few others can say.

A multiple-choice quiz by AlexT781. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
AlexT781

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
395,601

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
197

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. "Twig", as he was called, began playing baseball while serving in the Marines during World War II. Wayne and his buddies would play during their down time with equipment donated from major league teams. His unit went 28-0 during that time, which is surprising as Twig played what sport in high school? Hint

football

baseball

basketball

hockey

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Delaying college until after World War II, Wayne caught the attention of a recruiter while playing for Michigan College of Education (now Western Michigan University) in Kalamazoo. With what team did he sign with in 1948, playing in their single-A farm team? Hint

Detroit Tigers

Brooklyn Dodgers

Philadelphia Athletics

Chicago Cubs

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Twig was called up to the majors in 1949 after playing only 133 games in the minor leagues. Which Cubs second-baseman was injured and replaced by Twig, who became the starting second-baseman for the Cubs? Hint

Don Johnson

Johnny Evers

Phil Cavarretta

Emil Verban

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Now wearing a Dodgers uniform, what was Wayne doing just before Bobby Thomson's famous "shot heard around the world" that ended Twig's, and the Dodgers, World Series hopes? Hint

Congratulating Jackie Robinson on an earlier catch.

Thinking of what to do with the $5,000 bonus for making the World Series.

Heading to the lockerroom since everybody thought the game was about to be over.

Realizing the New York Giants had been stealing signs all season.

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Wayne didn't stay with the Dodgers for long. In 1952, he was sent back to the minor leagues before having his contract bought halfway through the season by which team infamous for their inability to win? Hint

Detroit Tigers

Washington Senators

Cleveland Spiders

New York Mets

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. While spending most of the 1955 to 1957 seasons with the Minneapolis Millers, Wayne joined the New York Giants occasionally in 1955. Since he wasn't being used much by the Giants, what did Twig request of Giants manager Bill Rigney? Hint

To be traded back to the Senators

To return to the Minneapolis Millers

To know why they signed a contract to pay someone they were never using

To get more playing time

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Becoming frustrated with the politics of baseball and never getting a chance to play, Twig began playing baseball during the off-season in which Caribbean country? Hint

Jamaica

Haiti

Dominican Republic

Puerto Rico

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. With his playing time behind him, Twig didn't have to wait long to figure out what to do next. In 1961, he began managing minor league teams. But in 1969, that all changed when he was picked to be third-base coach for the Washington Senators (soon to become the Texas Rangers) by which baseball great? Hint

Ned Yost

Ted Williams

Red Schoendienst

Leo Durocher

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. After his second time with the Rangers ended, he moved to Minnesota to be first-base coach for the Twins. In 1987, he finally won a World Series ring, repeating it again in 1991. In 1988 and 1992, what other event demonstrated his coaching abilities and the respect of his fellow coaches and players? Hint

Admitted into the Hall of Fame as a coach and had his number retired

Awarded lifetime achievement awards for his dedication

Played and coached in two "Old Timers" games

Coached for the American League during the All-Star games

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Twig made a joking promise in 2005 to get his ear pierced if the team he was managing won the championship. Did Wayne, at 80 years old, get his ear pierced that season?

Yes

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: basketball

Twig tried playing football, but was too short and skinny to play effectively. So he played basketball throughout high school, where his agility was put to good use.

Answer: Chicago Cubs

Despite playing only 18 games and hitting a dismal .186, Wayne was transferred to the Los Angeles Angels in 1949, at the time a AAA team for the Cubs in the Pacific Coast League.

Answer: Emil Verban

Emil Verban was traded to the Boston Braves soon after his injury. Wayne Terwilliger wasn't with the Cubs much longer either, being traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers in the middle of the 1951 season.

4. Now wearing a Dodgers uniform, what was Wayne doing just before Bobby Thomson's famous "shot heard around the world" that ended Twig's, and the Dodgers, World Series hopes?

Answer: Thinking of what to do with the $5,000 bonus for making the World Series.

In his autobiography, Twig stated he was thinking about how he could use the $5,000 bonus when Bobby Thomson hit his famous homerun. He also said he fell off the bench watching the ball sail over the outfield fence.

Answer: Washington Senators

Another famous event Twig witnessed was Mickey Mantle's 565-foot homerun. Despite his outstanding fielding playing second base and ability to turn double plays, he soon found himself in the minors yet again.

Answer: To return to the Minneapolis Millers

Since he wasn't being used by the Giants as anything other than a bench-warmer, Wayne decided he'd be better off back in the minor leagues. He was right, earning some of his highest batting averages with the Millers.

7. Becoming frustrated with the politics of baseball and never getting a chance to play, Twig began playing baseball during the off-season in which Caribbean country?

Answer: Dominican Republic

Wayne played for Escogido, a highly-successful Dominican winter league team. He later said he found the players' enthusiasm and cooperation refreshing after the politics and disappointments of American major league ball. He also played a season in Venezuela.

Answer: Ted Williams

Ted Williams kept Twig as his third-base coach until 1972, when Ted decided to retire. Wayne then went back to managing minor league farm teams for the major leagues. He returned to coach for the Texas Rangers again from 1981 to 1985.

Answer: Coached for the American League during the All-Star games

Wayne coached the American League players in both the 1988 and 1992 All-Star games, both of which were won by the American League. Despite his 10 years and two championships with the Twins, he was fired along with most of the staff in 1994. He left Minneapolis for St. Paul, where he coached for the minor league St. Paul Saints, where he coached players such as Darryl Strawberry.

10. Twig made a joking promise in 2005 to get his ear pierced if the team he was managing won the championship. Did Wayne, at 80 years old, get his ear pierced that season?

Answer: Yes

Wayne stepped down as manager of the Fort Worth Cats in 2005, intending to retire. But he came back as a coach the following season and stayed until 2010, when he finally hung up his glove after 62 seasons in professional baseball.

Source: Author AlexT781

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