What Might Have Been Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bo Jackson

"Bo knows," was the Nike ad campaign which made Bo Jackson even more of a household name. His serious hip injury occurred during the 1990 NFL playoff game against Cincinnati. Bo was the the starting running back for a strong Oakland Raider team. Afterward, Bo was diagnosed with avascular necrosis, which resulted in insufficient blood flow to the top of his femur and necessitated a hip replacement.

He had to quit football, and his MLB team, Kansas City Royals, cut him loose. He made a comeback with the White Sox in 1993 and enjoyed some success, but his blazing speed was gone and he was never the same.

Answer: Mickey Mantle

Most know of Mantle's knee problems, but many are not aware that he suffered a severe knee injury his rookie year because he stepped on a drain while chasing a fly ball in the hallowed outfield of Yankee Stadium; or that some of his teammates blamed an aging and jealous Joe DiMaggio for not going after the flyball on which Mick got injured.

Answer: Ken Hubbs

Hubbs debuted in September, 1961, then played 160 games in 1962. He led NL rookies in nearly every offensive category, was the rookie of the year, and was also the first rookie to win a gold glove, at one point playing 78 consecutive games without an error. With Billy Williams at the beginning of a hall of fame career, the Cubs seemed poised to become major players in the National League, but this was another example of their apparently cursed status.

Answer: Tony Conigliaro

Tony C. was an up and coming golden boy when struck by the fateful pitch on Aug. 18, 1967. After an 18 month absence, he did make a remarkable and successful return, winning "comeback player of the year" honors in 1969 and clouting a career high 36 round trippers in 1970.

He played with the Angels for a few years before returning to the Sox in '75 for his final year. Unfortunately, his sight was damaged by the injury, or he could have done even more.

Answer: Jimmy Piersall

Piersall, "the Waterbury Wizard," actually played part or all of seventeen seasons in the majors, from 1950 through 1967. A movie about his fascinating life, 'Fear Strikes Out' starring Anthony Perkins, is a must watch for baseball fans.

Answer: Sandy Koufax

What can you say about perhaps the most dominating left handed pitcher of all time, other than that his time was too short. After a mediocre start to his career, he suddenly hit his stride in 1961. In the six years from '61-'66, he compiled an amazing 129-37 won lost record, won three Cy Young awards and an MVP award, led the league in ERA for five straight years, and led the Dodgers to two World Series titles.

He also endeared himself to countless Jewish fans and many others by refusing to pitch game one of the '65 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur, a Jewish holy day of atonement.

Instead, Don Drysdale started and got shelled, giving up seven runs in less than 3 innings. When manager Walt Alston came to remove him from the game, Drysdale reportedly said, "Walt, I bet you're wishing I was Jewish right now." Koufax went on to pitch three games anyway, winning games five and seven by shutout to close out the Twins.

Answer: Eddie Waitkus

The woman was evidently a stalker who was upset that the Cubs had traded Eddie to the Phillies before the '49 season. He almost died on the operating table, while she never stood trial in the incident, but was put in a mental institution. He actually was known as "the natural" during his rookie season with the Cubs in 1946, hitting .304 and coming in 13th in the MVP voting that year. Waitkus had a solid three years with the Phillies after recovering and returning in late 1949, including being voted comeback player of the year for 1950 while helping the Phils to their first pennant in 35 years.

But after 1955, he was gone, his chance at greatness derailed by a dingbat. Try reading "The Natural," by Bernard Malamud. Way better than the movie.

Answer: Ray Chapman

Ray Chapman was the Cleveland Indians shortstop who died 12 hours after being drilled in the head by a submarine ball from Yankee pitcher Carl Mays, on August 16, 1920. He was 29 years old and in the prime of his career. An excellent fielder and an expert bunter, Chapman was one of the most popular players in the game, whereas Mays, although a stellar pitcher, was a notorious spit baller who did everything possible to doctor the ball and was generally disliked by the other players.

At that time, protective batting helmets were not worn.

Some players took to wearing pieces of hard plastic in their helmets after Chapman's death, but tradition dies hard, and it wasn't 'til decades later that helmets became mandatory. Some web sites list Bob Mongomery, who last played for the Boston Red Sox in 1979, as the last major leaguer to bat without a helmet. According to baseballreference.com, both leagues had mandatory helmet rules on the books by 1958, which evidently were not enforced across the board, at least until 1971.

In my own experience watching games in person starting in the early 1960s, I never saw a batter without a helmet. Interestingly, Dick Allen (see question #9) took to wearing a batting helmet in the field at first base because irate fans threw pennies and who knows what else at his head as they booed him.

Answer: Dick Allen

Dick "don't call me Richie" Allen should have been the greatest Phillie who ever played. Instead, fate, possible alcoholism, some questionable behavior, and the turbulent and racially charged times during which he came up and played all conspired to drive him out of Philly before his limitless potential could be realized.

In '64, Allen's rookie season, the Phils, long time NL doormats, were in a tense pennant race. One day during practice, a confrontation involving veteran Frank Thomas and Allen occurred, during which Thomas hit Allen with a bat, and was subsequently released.

Although team eyewitnesses reported later that Thomas baited Allen, Phillies brass tried to hush up the incident and forbid Allen from talking to the press. The more racially prejudiced element of the fan base blamed Allen and later booed him unmercifully when he messed up on and off the field.

Answer: Lou Gehrig

Lou Gehrig, "the Iron Horse," made the famous speech to the Yankee stadium faithful, July 4th 1939, after learning that ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, would inevitably end his life prematurely. In it he proclaimed, "I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," as he showed grace to the end and refused to get down even as his strength ebbed. A quintessentially American moment.