You Name the Decade V Quiz | Baseball

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of the following decades saw a Detroit Tiger/San Diego Padre World Series?

Answer: 1980s

The Padre franchise did not begin until 1969. San Diego won the National League title in 1984 by winning only 92 games. The Tigers, who was the only team to reach the 100-win mark in the season, put the Padres away easily, four games to one.

2. Some of this decade had some rather unpleasant moments. The great Roberto Clemente was killed in an offseason, and Patty Livingston, the last original member of the 1901 American League died. They joined some other greats in the names of Charlie Root, George Sisler, Lefty Grove, Casey Stengel, and Yankee catcher Thurman Munson. Which decade saw all this sorrow take place?

Answer: 1970s

Probably the most memorable shocking moments were Roberto Clemente and Thurman Munson. Clemente, the 18-season Pittsburgh Pirate, was killed in a plane crash shortly after the 1972 season. He had exactly 3000 hits. Munson, the 1970 AL Rookie of the Year and 1976 AL MVP, was killed before the end of the 1979 season in an accident.

3. The Cleveland Indians won 100 games in a season for the first time during their history in which decade?

Answer: 1950s

1954 was the year of the Cleveland Indians. Building up to their third World Series appearance, they won an amazing 111 games in the 154-game season. They were led by the bats of Larry Doby and Al Rosen, and the arms of Early Wynn and Bob Lemon. The Indians were outrageously skunked by the New York Giants in the World Series, four games to none.

4. Babe Ruth played most of his fantastic career with the New York Yankees. He began his career with the Red Sox of Boston before a long run in the pinstripes. He ended his career in Boston also, but with the National League Braves. Which decade saw the Babe hit three home runs in one game during his final and only season with the Braves?

Answer: 1930s

The Babe's final season was in 1935. Ruth had the hopes of managing a Major League team but that never came about. He did land a job as a coach on the Brooklyn Dodgers but that never passified him. He left baseball with a dream untouched, and died in 1948 at the age of 53.

5. The great all around athlete, Jim Thorpe, was an Olympic medalist, pro football player, and also played Major League baseball. Which decade did this great American-Indian play in the big leagues?

Answer: 1910s

Thorpe was signed by the New York Giants in 1913. In the mid-season of 1917 he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, but was traded back to the Giants after the season. The outfielder retired in 1919 and died in 1953 amongst many controversies about his Olympic medals.

6. The Milwaukee Brewers joined the new American League in 1901 along with seven other teams. After finishing in last place in the season, the team moved to St. Louis to become the Browns. The franchise stayed in St. Louis until 1953 when the team moved to Baltimore to become the Orioles. In which decade did the Browns win a World Series?

Answer: They never did

The Browns went to only one World Series. The year was 1944 and their manager was Luke Sewell. Still a rather dismal finish with a 89-65 record in 1944, the team went head-to-head against the 105-49 National League champions St. Louis Cardinals. For the first time in history the World Series was held in St. Louis.

After winning game one, the Browns were out-batted and out-armed, and lost the series four games to two. This was the Browns' only appearance in a World Series. After moving to Baltimore, the franchise won their first World Series in 1966 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

7. The great Denton True 'Cyclone' Young retired with 511 career wins. He was the first pitcher to reach the 400 and 500-win plateau. In which decade was the next pitcher seen to break the 400-win barrier?

Answer: 1920s

The great shutout king, Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators, was right behind Cy Young, but could only muster a 'measly' 417 wins in his career. Walter hit the 400 mark in the 1926 season. No other pitcher came close to 400 career wins throughout the rest of the 20th century, and will probably not ever duplicate this.

In the early days of baseball, it was common for a pitcher to throw 40+ games and sometimes over 60 games in a season. With the invention of relievers, set-up specialists, and closers, the matching feat is improbable. Even the great Roger Clemens, who won his 341st game at the close of the 2005 season wasn't within reach. Roger had already played for 22 seasons.

8. There were many greats throughout baseball history, Rogers Hornsby, Ty Cobb, George Sisler, Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, etc. Which decade saw the first switch-hitter in history win a batting title?

Answer: 1950s

None of those listed above were switch-hitters, but there have been many switch-hitting greats throughout baseball's history. The first batter to hit from both sides of the plate and win the batting crown was the 'The Commerce Comet', Mickey Mantle. In 1956, Mantle of the Yankees not only won the batting crown, but won the Triple Crown also. Mickey was an easy selection for the 1956 MVP award over runner-up and teammate Yogi Berra. Mantle was the only player to win first place votes.

9. The Kansas City Cowboys appeared in three different leagues in their franchise history. From the Union Association to the National League to the American Association, which decade saw this team come and go?

Answer: 1880s

The franchise's inception was in 1884 in the Union Association, and found them finishing 11th of 12 teams with a 16-63 record. In 1886, the team found themselves in the National League, finishing seventh of eight teams with a 30-91 record. In 1888 and 1889, in the final seasons of the franchise, they finished next to last and in last place.

In the age of non-home runs, the team banged out 18 in their final season, with outfielder Jim Burns leading the team with five.

10. Only two pitchers in the 20th century reached the 40-win plateau in a season. One was Jack Chesbro of the American League New York club. The other was four years later when Ed Walsh of the White Sox went 40-15. Which decade did this happen?

Answer: 1900s

Chesbro pitched for the New York Highlanders (later Yankees) in 1904 with a record of 41-12. He appeared in 55 games in the season and started 51. Walsh appeared in 66 games in 1908 with a record of 40-15. This was the only time these pitchers reached even the 30-win plateau in their careers.

Source: Author Nightmare

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You Name the Decade V Trivia Quiz

The last in a series of five decade baseball quizzes. You just pick the decade that the event happened in. I hope that you've had fun with them. :-)

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