Where's the John? Online Trivia | MLB Players

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This Hall of Fame John played his entire career with one team. In addition to being a Rookie of the Year, he won two MVP Awards during his career. Who is this 13-time all-star catching great?

Answer: Johnny Bench

Bench's career spanned from 1967-1983 all with the Cincinnati Reds and all with the familiar number 5 on his back. Debuting in late 1967, he did not play in enough games to qualify for the ROY and won the award in the following season. Johnny's MVPs came in 1970 and 1972 with the infamous 'Big Red Machine'. Bench had the power for a catcher and led the league in home runs in those two seasons also.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first season of eligibility in 1989.

2. This Hall of Fame John played the game for 17 seasons and managed for over 20 seasons. Who is this John that has three World Series crowns to his credit?

Answer: John McGraw

McGraw played in three professional leagues in his career (the American Association, the National League, and the American League) all from 1891-1907. John began his managerial career in 1899 with the Baltimore Orioles of the NL, took over the New York Giants in 1902 and kept his spot there until he retired in 1932 with over 30 seasons to his credit. All John's World Series titles came with the Giants.

He died in 1934 after being inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Hall's second round of inductions in 1937. McGraw compiled a tremendous 2,763 wins in his managing career.

3. Here is a Hall of Fame pitcher who played 20 of his 21 seasons with the Braves. He has a Cy Young Award to his credit along with five World Series appearances in the 1990s. Who is this John that led the league twice in strikeouts and was an all-star eight times in his career?

Answer: John Smoltz

Smoltz was a rookie in 1988 with the Atlanta Braves, going only 2-7 in the season. He was a so-so pitcher until 1996 when he exploded with a 24-8 record and led the league with 276 strikeouts, which won him his only Cy Young Award. John went to an amazing five World Series in the 1990s with the Braves but could only find one series title in 1995 against the Cleveland Indians.

After retiring as a St. Louis Cardinal in 2009, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2015 with a 213-155 career win-loss record.

4. This John always used his head behind the plate, but in 1965, his head was on the other end of Giants pitcher Juan Marichal's attacking bat. He played 11 of his 14 seasons wearing the Dodger blue, and retired with three World Series rings. Who was this John?

Answer: John Roseboro

Roseboro was a rookie with the Dodgers in Brooklyn in 1957 and made the move to Los Angeles the following season. John was a four-time all-star and took home his first World Series ring in 1959 against the White Sox. His second WS ring came in 1963 against the Yankees and another in 1965 against the Twins.

The infamous brawl of 1965 between the rivals Dodgers and Giants is very well documented. When Marichal was at-bat with Sandy Koufax on the mound and Roseboro behind the plate, he took offense to how close Roseboro came to his head when returning a pitch, words were exchanged, and the brawl was on. Roseboro took more than 10 stitches to his bloodied head as a result of Marichal's attack. Ironically, Marichal played his final Major League season as a Los Angeles Dodger in 1975, and the Dodger fans never let Marichal forget the 1965 incident as they continually booed him with every mound and plate appearance. John died in August 2002 in Los Angeles.

5. This John played in the early 20th Century and was a household name as part of a double-play combination Tinker to _______ to Chance. He made his name with the Chicago Cubs as a 2nd baseman. He won a MVP Award but it was strangely enough with the Boston Braves of the National League later in his career. Who was this John that became a Hall of Fame inductee?

Answer: Johnny Evers

Evers was a rookie in 1902 with the Cubs, playing at 2nd base. He played for 12 seasons with the Cubs while going to three World Series and winning two crowns. In the season of 1914 with the Braves he won his MVP and his third World Series title. The famous double-play combination of Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance was Joe Tinker at shortstop and Frank Chance at first. Harry Steinfeldt was the third baseman who contributed greatly to this double-play threat but never seemed to get much credit for his glove. Evers died in 1947, the same year as his Hall of Fame induction.

6. This Hall of Fame shortstop played for more than 20 seasons in the big leagues. In addition to having a defensive glove, he won eight batting titles, led the league in doubles seven times, and also triples three times. Who is this career National League slugger?

Answer: John Peter Wagner

Born John Peter Wagner, "Honus" Wagner played his first three seasons with the Louisville Colonels before the team went defunct in 1899. He and a few other of the team's star players then joined the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1900 which resulted in the Pirates winning the NL crown three of the next four seasons. Wagner retired after 21 seasons in 1917, then was inducted into the coveted Hall of Fame in the very first round of inductions in 1936.

He died in 1955 at the age of 81 just 32 days after the death of the immortal Cy Young.

7. This John helped his team win the World Series for their first time in baseball history. His left arm earned him the first-ever World Series MVP Award during this World Series also. He pitched for 13 seasons with the Dodgers and retired in the 1960s. Who was this John?

Answer: John Joseph Podres

For the first time in Dodger history, they finally bagged a World Series crown in 1955 after seven previous failed attempts. Podres went only 9-10 in the regular season but came to play in the World Series by throwing two complete game wins. Koufax was a rookie Dodger in 1955, went 2-2 in the season and did not play in the series.

After Podres' 13 seasons with the Dodgers, he played two with the Tigers, one with the Padres, then retired in 1969 with a 148-116 career record.

8. I played most of my career with the Cincinnati Reds. I was never a 20-game winner but the 1938 season was mine. Fans only remember me for throwing two consecutive no-hitters just four days apart. Who am I?

Answer: Johnny Vander Meer

The 23-year-old joined the ranks of the Major Leagues in 1937. It took him only one season to get comfortable on the mound. The 1938 season saw him go only 15-10, but his lasting memory came in the month of June. On the 11th he no-hit the Boston Braves in front of Cincinnati fans, then on the 15th duplicated his feat against the Brooklyn Dodgers in an away game. Vander Meer had the help of home runs in both games by Ernie Lombardi and Frank McCormick. Johnny retired after only 13 seasons in 1951.

9. Some players called me "Big John", possibly because my weight was between 320 and 400 pounds. I didn't need to be that big because when I say "strike", it is a strike. When I say, "You're outta here!", you're ejected from the game. See, I was a National League umpire going into my 25th season in the Major Leagues, but opening day didn't go very well for me in Cincinnati. As millions of fans have seen on video, I had a massive heart attack behind the plate and died on the field in 1996. Which John am I?

Answer: John McSherry

The other umpire names were fictitious. McSherry began his umpiring career in 1971. Officially listed at 6'2" and 328 pounds with Major League Baseball, the coroners report had him documented at close to 400 pounds which was a major contributor to his heart attack and death.

It was not an April Fools Day joke, although it was April 1, 1996 when it happened and it was opening day for the season. Cincinnati Reds' owner Marge Schott showed her true colors once again by vehemently protesting because the remaining umpires wanted to postpone the game.

She did not win her argument. McSherry is in the record books for being the home plate umpire during the 1977 World Series when Yankee Reggie Jackson hit three home runs with three swings. The season prior he called the no-hitter thrown by Houston Astro Larry Dierker. John was 51 when he died.

10. This John had an intimidating nickname of "Home Run" even though he never hit 100 home runs in his career or hit more than 12 home runs in a season. He played his entire 13 seasons with the Athletics of Philadelphia and the Yankees before retiring in 1922. John was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1955. Who is this John?

Answer: John Franklin "Home Run" Baker

Frank went to four consecutive World Series with the Athletics from 1910-1914, but then had a falling out with owner Connie Mack over his contract. Mack then sold him to the Yankees where he played from 1916-1922 before retiring. He also saw two World Series with the Yankees in 1921 and 1922 along with the great Babe Ruth. Baker tied or led the league in four consecutive seasons with home runs, but never hit more than 12 in a season. Home runs in the 1910s really didn't mean much until the Bambino started putting big numbers up in the 1920s.

Source: Author dg_dave

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Fifiona81 before going online.
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Where's the John? Trivia Quiz

A look at some of the famous Johns of Major League Baseball in all multiple choice. Good luck!

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