World Series and World Leaders Quiz

Answer: Calvin Coolidge

The Washington Senators won the World Series once, in 1924, beating the New York Giants, four games to three. Calvin Coolidge, who threw out the first pitch for this Series, was President from 1923 to 1929. William McKinley was in office 1897-1901, Woodrow Wilson 1913-1921, and Franklin D. Roosevelt 1933-1945.

Answer: Pope Pius XII

The Brooklyn Dodgers won the World Series for the first time in 1955, beating the New York Yankees, four games to three; the franchise has won several more championships since moving to Los Angeles. The Pope in 1955 was Pius XII, who reigned from 1939 to 1958. John XXIII succeeded him, reigning from 1958 to 1963, followed by Paul VI (1963-1978), John Paul I (1978), and John Paul II (1978-2005).

Answer: Margaret Thatcher

The Philadelphia Phillies won it all for the first time in 1980, beating the Kansas City Royals, four games to two. Newly in residence at 10 Downing Street at the time was Margaret Thatcher, who served from 1979 to 1990. Harold Macmillan was PM from 1957 to 1963, Harold Wilson from 1964 to 1970 and 1974 to 1976. Tony Blair came into office in 1997.

Answer: François Mitterand

The Kansas City Royals first won the World Series in 1985, beating the St. Louis Cardinals, four games to three. Occupying the Élysée Palace at the time was François Mitterand, who served from 1981 to 1995. Charles De Gaulle was the first President of the Fifth French Republic, in office 1959 to 1969. He was followed by Georges Pompidou, who served from 1969 to 1974. Jacques Chirac became President in 1995.

Answer: Kaiser Wilhelm II

The Boston Braves, known as the "Miracle Braves", won their first World Series (and only one in Boston) in 1914, upsetting the highly favored Philadelphia A's in a four game sweep. The Braves franchise won subsequent World Series in Milwaukee and Atlanta.

In 1914, World War I had just begun, and Kaiser Wilhelm II continued to lead Germany until his abdication in 1918. Adolf Hitler was Chancellor of the Third Reich from 1933 to 1945. Konrad Adenauer was Chancellor of the Bundesrepublik (West Germany) from 1949 to 1963.

Helmut Kohl was Chancellor of the Bundesrepublik, and then unified Germany from 1982 to 1998.

Answer: Cyrus Vance

The Pittsburgh Pirates of 1979, led by Willie Stargell, took on Sister Sledge's popular hit as their theme song. They beat the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series, four games to three. Cyrus Vance was Secretary of State under Jimmy Carter, serving from 1977 to 1980, resigning over his opposition to the ill-fated operation meant to rescue U.S. hostages from Iran. John Foster Dulles was Secretary of State under Dwight Eisenhower, serving from 1953 to 1959.

Henry Kissinger served under Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford from 1973 to 1977, and Madeline Albright served under Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2001.

Answer: Pierre Trudeau

The Oakland Athletics won their first World Series in 1972, defeating the Cincinnati Reds, four games to three. Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister of Canada at the time; he was in office twice, from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984. W. L. Mackenzie King was Prime Minister three different times between 1921 and 1948. Lester Pearson served from 1963 to 1968 and Jean Chrétien from 1993 to 2003.

Answer: Colin Powell

The Twins, who won their first championship in 1987, won again in 1991, beating the Atlanta Braves in a terrific World Series, four games to three. In 1991, Colin Powell was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, overseeing the armed forces in Operation Desert Storm that year. Powell served in this capacity from 1989 to 1993. Maxwell Taylor served from 1962 to 1964 and Earle Wheeler from 1964 to 1970. Richard Myers became Chairman of the JCS in 2001.

Answer: Richard Nixon

The New York Giants won the World Series in 1954, sweeping the Cleveland Indians in four games. Four years later they were gone to San Francisco. Richard Nixon was Vice President under Dwight Eisenhower from 1953 to 1961. Theodore Roosevelt was Vice President briefly in 1901, when he became President after the assassination of William McKinley. John Nance Garner was Vice President under Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1941, and Lyndon Johnson was Vice President under John Kennedy from 1961 to 1963, becoming President when Kennedy was assassinated.

Answer: King Edward VII

The Chicago Cubs won their first World Series in 1907, when they swept the Detroit Tigers in four games. Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom from 1901 to 1910. His son, George V reigned from 1910 to 1936, and his grandson, George VI, reigned from 1936 to 1952. His great-granddaughter, Elizabeth II, became Queen in 1952.