Hardest World Series Challenge Trivia Quiz | World Series

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Washington Senators began their Amerioan League franchise endeavors in 1901. The franchise had some great Hall of Fame players in the names of pitching great Walter Johnson, Clark Griffith, Bucky Harris, Goose Goslin, Sam Rice, Joe Cronin, and Lefty Gomez to name a few. The franchise moved in 1960 to Minnesota. How many World Series did the Washington Senators team win before they moved to Minnesota?

Answer: 1

The Senators had to wait 24 seasons before they appeared in even one World Series in 1924. Under the watchful arm of pitcher Walter Johnson, with his 23-7 record, the Senators defeated the New York Giants four games to three. With two 12-inning games in the series, they Giants and Senators each won one. Johnson went 1-2 in the series, while the hero who had the arm for the Senators was Tom Zachary who went 2-0.

The Senators went to the 1925 World Series also, but lost to the Pirates four games to three.

Although winning over 400 games, striking out over 3500 batters, throwing over 100 shutouts in his career, pitching for three Triple Crowns and winning two AL MVPs, it was amazing that he never won more than one World Series title. Walter Johnson played his entire 21-season career with the Senators, and 1924 would be his and team's only World Series crown.

2. In 1998, the New York Yankees entered the World Series with 114 wins in the season, and swept the San Diego Padres four games to none. Which of the following teams won 111 games in a season, but were swept themselves in the World Series that season?

Answer: Cleveland Indians

In 2001, the Mariners won 116 games in the season, but never made it to the World Series. The Indians went an amazing 111-43 in their 154-game season in 1954, winning the AL pennant by 8.0 games over the Yankees. The Indians were led by two 20-game winners with Bob Lemon and Early Wynn, and the bats of Larry Doby, Al Rosen, and Bobby Avila.

The Indians met the New York Giants in the World Series, and were stopped in their tracks, four games to none.

3. All these managers have had the helm of a team in at least 2000 games. Three of them never took their team to a World Series. Who was the only one listed who took a team to the promised land?

Answer: Chuck Tanner

Tanner managed from 1970-1988 in 2738 games, and was mostly noted for having the reins of the Pirates for nine seasons. He took the Pirates to a World Series crown in 1979 with the help of Willie Stargell and Dave Parker. It was Tanner's only league and World Series pennant, although he took a team to a league runner-up spot five other times. Mauch managed in 3942 games over 26 seasons split between the Phillies, Expos, Twins, and Angels. Mauch couldn't muster even a league pennant. Rigney managed for 18 seasons in 2561 games.

He managed the Giants in both New York and San Francisco, the inaugural Angels in 1961, and the Minnesota Twins. Bill could not win a league pennant either. Howe didn't fare much better, managing 14 seasons in 2266 games with the Astros, Athletics, and Mets. No league pennant for any of his teams either.

4. The New York Yankees won their first World Series title in 1923, defeating the New York Giants four game to two. This was after losing two series to the Giants in 1921 and 1922. In the deciding game six of the 1923 series, the Yankees entered the eighth inning being down, 4-1. The Yankees scored five runs in the eighth inning against the Giants to go ahead 6-4. What was the biggest hit in that inning for the Yankees that took the lead?

Answer: Single

Scoring five runs in the inning, the Yankees had only three hits, all singles. After a popout by Aaron Ward, Wally Schange singled, followed by another single by Everett Scott. Fred Hofmann then walked, another courtesy of Giant pitcher Art Nehf. Pinch-hitter Joe Bush was then walked by Nehf which scored Schang. With a fresh Rosy Ryan replacing Nehf, he walked Joe Dugan, walking in another run. With the bases loaded still, and with all the drama of Babe Ruth at-bat, Ryan struck out the Babe. With Bob Meusel facing Ryan, he singled, scoring three runs. Wally Pipp ended the Yankee scoring drive with a ground out. That was it, the Yankees won the game 6-4, and their first World Series four games to two.

5. Which pitcher had the dubious honor of giving up the very first World Series grand slam?

Answer: Burleigh Grimes

The first World Series grand slam was hit in 1920. With the Brooklyn Robins (later Dodgers) facing the Cleveland Indians, the Indians wasted no time in game five of the World Series. In the bottom of the first inning, Brooklyn's Burleigh Grimes gave up three singles to Charlie Jamieson, Bill Wambsganss, and Tris Speaker, before having Elmer Smith come to bat with the bases loaded with nobody out. Smith hit the historical shot, and the Indians led 4-0, and would win the game 8-1. Cleveland won the series five games to two.

In 1936, Giants pitcher Dick Coffman gave up a grand slam to the Yankees' Tony Lazzeri. In 1951, the Giants' Larry Jansen gave up a game five grand slam to Yankee Gil McDougald.

6. In 1980, the Philadelphia Phillies won their first World Series in their 98-year history. Mike Schmidt was the series MVP for his eight hits, two home runs, and his .381 average. However, the Royals' Willie Aikens out-hit Schmidt with eight hits, four home runs, a double, and batted .400. Which player in that series out-hit both of them with 11 hits, three home runs, and a .478 batting average?

Answer: Amos Otis

Brett of the Royals had nine hits with a home run and batted .375. The Phillies won the series over the Royals, four games to two. If it weren't for the Phillies' win, who knows which player between Otis and Aikens would have won the MVP.

7. Major League Baseball began in 1901 with the merge of the National and American Leagues. 1903 saw the first World Series between the two leagues. In 50 seasons of the these merged leagues, which of the following National teams won at least two World Series titles?

Answer: Cincinnati Reds

The Phillies appeared in two World Series in the 50 seasons of World Series action. Their first was in 1915 in a four games to one loss to the Red Sox, then in 1950 were swept by the Yankees. The Phillies' first World Series crown was in 1980 against the Kansas City Royals, four games to two.

The St. Louis Browns' only World Series appearance was in 1944 against crosstown rivals Cardinals in a four games to two loss, but the Browns were in the American League. The Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers franchise would wait for 55 seasons after the merge of the two leagues to win their first World Series, in a win against the Yankees four games to three.

The Reds won their first World Series appearance in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal against the White Sox.

Their next victory was in 1940 in a four games to three win over the Tigers.

8. Who was the first manager in history ejected from a World Series game?

Answer: Earl Weaver

Earl managed the Baltimore Orioles from 1968-1986. In his second season in Baltimore, Earl helmed the team to a 103-53 record. It happened in the 1969 World Series against the "Amazin' Mets". New York put the Orioles down four games to one. Weaver took the Orioles to a 1970 World Series crown, then his third consecutive AL pennant in 1971. Earl was ejected from a game 97 times in his managing career.

9. Babe Ruth was the first player in history to hit three home runs in one game of a World Series in 1926. Who was the next player to do this?

Answer: Babe Ruth

Ruth hit three shots in game four of the 1926 series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Although the Yankees won the game 10-5, the Cardinals won the series four games to three. The next time a player hit three home runs in one World Series game was in 1928, and it was the Babe again, against the same Cardinals.

This time the Yankees swept the Cardinals four games to none. Jackson hit three in game six of the 1977 series against the Dodgers, and five total in that World Series. In 100 seasons of Major League Baseball, those two were the only ones to hit three out in one game in the promised land.

10. Who was the first pitcher in Major League history to strike out more than 20 batters, while pitching less than 20 innings in a World Series?

Answer: Sandy Koufax

Koufax of the Dodgers was the only one to accomplish this great feat. It was the 1963 World Series against the Yankees, which the Dodgers swept four games to none. Sandy appeared in only two games in the series, throwing both complete games. He struck out 23 Yankees in his 18 innings.

Source: Author Nightmare

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World Series Challenge Trivia Quiz

A mix of some World Series action for baseball fans. I hope that you have fun with it, but you might need some luck. :)

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