Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Sammy Sosa came up through the Texas Rangers farm system. After playing just 25 games with them in 1989, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox. Coming to Texas were journeyman second baseman Fred Manrique and which other famous player?
2. Flame-throwing pitcher Randy Johnson was drafted by the Montreal Expos. In 1989, Johnson was traded to Seattle to obtain veteran Mark Langston. Johnson would go on to win 130 games for Seattle, dazzling fans there until 1998. How many games did Langston win for Montreal in the season?
3. The Chicago Cubs have had bad luck over the years, and it doesn't help when they made bad trades like their 1988 deal with the Texas Rangers. Chicago sent both Jamie Moyer and Rafael Palmeiro away for six players. The deal was primarily designed to get the Cubs a closer. Which pitcher, who had saved 18 games the previous year for Texas, went over to Chicago and was briefly a Cubs closer as a result of this lopsided deal?
4. In 1982, the Philadelphia Phillies decided to swap shortstops with the Chicago Cubs. They would give up Larry Bowa and obtain Ivan De Jesus. To make the deal a little sweeter for Chicago, the Phillies decided to throw in a young player who had just 13 games of major league experience at the time. Who was this young man?
5. Curt Schilling may be the player that has been involved in more lopsided deals than any other in history. The Red Sox, the Orioles, the Astros, and the Phillies all traded Schilling. None were good moves. Which of these players was Schilling not traded for at some point in his career?
6. In 1999, the New York Yankees made the decision to go long term with third baseman Scott Brosius. In doing so, they traded youngster Mike Lowell to the Florida Marlins for a trio of pitchers. These pitchers combined for how many wins during their time in pinstripes?
7. Sometimes a bad trade isn't noticeable until time elapses. In 1987, in the midst of a playoff spot, the Detroit Tigers traded for experienced starter Doyle Alexander, who went a scintillating 9-0 down the stretch, helping Detroit to win the AL East. Alexander came from Atlanta however, and he cost the Tigers which future All-Star player?
8. There are some trades that are just baffling in how lopsided they are. Which of these bonehead deals is truly fictional?
9. A lot of teams kick themselves when they see the young pitcher they let go at the beginning of his career, begin racking up the Cy Young Awards. Which of these all-time great hurlers was not foolishly traded away by his original team?
10. The Seattle Mariners have been maligned for giving up so much talent in the early '90s and getting so little in return. Which of these fine players did the Mariners not ship out?
11. It's 1981. Your team's shortstop is 26 years old, has 1 career home run, and has never hit better than .258 in a season. You obtain another shortstop, who is 25 years old and has never hit worse than .280 in his 6-year career. Seems like a no-brainer, right? Of course, the San Diego Padres thought so, and they ended up giving Ozzie Smith (the no-hit guy) to the St. Louis Cardinals, in exchange for which other player?
12. Kenny Lofton was one of the best leadoff men of the '90s, starring for the powerful Cleveland Indians. However, he was originally drafted by another team, who stupidly traded him in 1991 for Willie Blair and Eddie Taubensee. Which team was it?
13. In an episode of "Seinfeld," George was thought to be dead by his employers at the time, the New York Yankees. George Steinbenner thus calls to inform George's father (Costanza, that is). Instead of being grieved about his son's "death," Mr. Costanza attacks Steinbrenner for trading which player in 1988?
14. 1981 was one heck of a year for the San Diego Padres. They drafted three players who would go on to have very successful major league careers. Unfortunately for the Padres, two of them would so after being traded by San Diego. Which of these players did the Padres trade first?
15. In 1920, the worst trade of all was made. The Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees. How was the trade set up?
Source: Author
cheynem
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
