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Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 60 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
Special Topics
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 MLB in the 1980s
| In a balanced decade with no real dynasty at hand, which NL team led the majors by appearing in three (the most) World Series in the 1980s? | Decade in a Box: 1980s
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St. Louis Cardinals. The others did not make an appearance in the 1980s. St. Louis were victors in 1982 against the Brewers, lost in 1985 to the Royals, then lost to the Twins in 1987. The 1982 appearance was their first since the 1968 World Series against the Tigers.
| Five National League teams lost more than 100 games in a season during the decade. Which American League team topped all those by losing 107? | Decade in a Box: 1980s
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Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles went 54-107 in 1988. Baltimore had only two eight-game winners in the season. The Braves went 54-106 in 1988 and were almost tops for losses in the decade. Rick Mahler led the '88 pitching staff with only nine wins while losing 16. It was the worst season the franchise had seen since their horrendous 1935 season, going 38-115. Ironically, that 1935 season was with the immortal Babe Ruth on their roster.
| In 1980, which Houston Astro outfielder attacked a fan in the stands which resulted in many changes throughout Major League ballparks? | Decade in a Box: 1980s
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Cesar Cedeno. For true Astro fans, the others listed were all infielders. Cedeno had been taunted for three consecutive days by a fan calling him 'murderer' and using racials slurs. Cedeno had enough and jumped into the stands to 'adjust' the situation. This one incident catapulted Major League baseball to look at fan interaction. As a result, more security was hired in all ballparks, and each security agent was equipped with a walkie-talkie. In addition, beer sales were stopped after the seventh inning to help curb any fan violence. After many seasons of losing vending money, beer sales were introduced later in the games again. Another indicator that it is about money and not the fans.
| There were two new ballparks that opened in the 1980s. One was the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minnesota. What was the other? | Decade in a Box: 1980s
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Skydome. The Skydome was the new home of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989. The team had played at Exhibition Stadium since their inception to the majors in 1977. They went to their first World Series in 1992. Safeco Field was the new home of the Mariners in 1999. Seals Stadium was used for two seasons when the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958, and the Astrodome was built in the 1960s.
Milwaukee Brewers. This was the 1982 Brewers. After replacing manager Buck Rodgers midseason, Harvey Kuenn took the reins of the team. A team which was all offense but had no defense, the team went all the way to the World Series, but lost to the Cardinals.
Brian Kingman. Kingman of the Oakland As was the last pitcher in the century to lose 20 also. He went 8-20 in 1980. A feat unseemingly to be duplicated with the invention of set-up specialists, relief pitchers, and closers, still Mike Maroth of the Tigers threw a 9-21 season for the Tigers in 2003.
Roger Maris. The others were all pitchers and all died 15 years later in 2000. Maris played for 12 seasons with four teams, and the most famous was with the Yankees in 1960 and 1961. Even with teammate Mickey Mantle tearing up the American League, Maris won the the AL MVP in those two consecutive seasons. Maris' marker was breaking Babe Ruth's season home run record of 60, which was set in 1927. Roger died at the age of 51.
NY Mets. The Mets went 108-54 in the 1986 season, and ultimately won the World Series against the Red Sox. The others listed never won more than 85 games in a season during the decade.
| 1989 finished out the decade with the rumble for sure. The World Series between Oakland and San Francisco rocked the baseball world with an earthquake on October 17th. The quake delayed the series 10 days, then everyone watched the Athletics continue to pummel the Giants, four games to none. Who was the series MVP? | Decades on the Diamond: 1980s
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Dave Stewart. The others all retired in the 1970s. Stewart was the AL Cy Young runner-up in the season with his 21-9 record. He was second to Bret Saberhagen of the Royals. Stewart won two games in the series while striking out 14 in 16 innings. The A's outscored the Giants 32-14 in the series.
| 1988 was the year of the Dodgers. Pitcher Orel Hershiser broke Dodger Don Drysdale's record for consecutive scoreless innings with 67. Kirk Gibson was named the NL MVP. The Dodgers also went to the World Series, and their motivation was hugely propelled by which injury-riddled player, who hit a bottom of the ninth inning, pinch-hit home run to win game one of the series against the Athletics? | Decades on the Diamond: 1980s
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Kirk Gibson. The others were not Dodgers in 1988. Gibson was not expected to play in the World Series because of leg issues. Manager Tom Lasorda put him in to pinch-hit against Oakland's Dennis Eckersley in the last of the ninth. Gibson's two-run home run defeated the Athletics 5-4. It was Gibson's only at-bat of the series. The Dodgers won the series, four games to one.
| 1987 saw the Milwaukee Brewers begin the season with a 13-game winning streak, but finish third in the AL East. The Blue Jays set a record for hitting 10 home runs in one game during the season. 1987 found an AL Rookie of the Year and future home run king in the name of Mark McGwire. How many home runs did McGwire hit to help win the Rookie of the Year award? | Decades on the Diamond: 1980s
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49. Mark tied for the Major League lead with Andre Dawson of the Cubs with his 49 home runs. McGwire would go on to hit 50+ home runs in a season four times, including his record-setting 70 in 1998 with the Cardinals. He retired in 2001 after 16 seasons with 583.
| 1986 saw Roger Clemens of the Red Sox win both the AL MVP and AL Cy Young awards. Roger also struck out a record 20 Mariners in a game. A left-hander, Steve Carlton struck out his 4000th victim in his career in the season. The Twins' Bert Blyleven gave up 50 home runs to set a new season record. Who was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1986? | Decades on the Diamond: 1980s
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Jose Canseco. The others were not rookies in 1986. Canseco of the Athletics belted out 33 home runs to win the honor. Jose would go on to win the AL MVP in 1988 also. The 1986 Athletic team also rostered a player who appeared in only 18 games. His name was Mark McGwire.
| In the 85th anniversary of Major League baseball, Vince Coleman of the Cardinals set a rookie record by stealing 110 bases in the season. It saw Don Sutton as the first pitcher in history to strikeout 100+ batters in 20 consecutive seasons. It also saw Phil Niekro and Tom Seaver win their 300th game, Rod Carew obtain his 3000th career hit, Pete Rose become the new career hit leader by surpassing Ty Cobb, and also saw which team celebrate their first World Series title? | Decades on the Diamond: 1980s
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Kansas City Royals. The Royals appeared in their second World Series since joining the league in 1969. Their first attempt was a loss to the Phillies in 1980, but in 1985 they won it all against the Cardinals, four games to three. The series MVP was the AL Cy Young winner, Bret Saberhagen.
| The 1984 season began with the Detroit Tigers starting off with a 35-5 record, to finish the season going 104-58 and taking the World Series crown against the Padres. Pete Rose got his 4000th hit in the season while with the Expos. Reggie Jackson hit his 500th home run on September 17th. Which Angels' pitcher finished the season off with a perfect game on the last day? | Decades on the Diamond: 1980s
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Mike Witt. The others weren't pitchers and retired long before the 1980s. Witt was in his fourth Major League season when he threw his perfecto against the Texas Rangers. Witt went 15-11 in the season, and the Angels finished second in the AL West.
| 1983 witnessed the famous 'pine tar' incident of the Royals' George Brett and his bat. While the season saw Atlanta's Dale Murphy win his second consecutive NL MVP, it also saw the Pirates' Bill Madlock win this fourth and final batting title in the National League. Finally, which chicken-eating Boston player won his first of five AL batting titles in 1983? | Decades on the Diamond: 1980s
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Wade Boggs. The others listed never played for the Red Sox. Boggs batted .361 in 1983. He also won the batting titles in 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988. In 1984, Wade finished third with his .325 average behind the Yankees' Don Mattingly (.343) and Dave Winfield (.340).
| 1982 saw Robin Yount win the AL MVP with Dale Murphy winning the NL MVP. 1982 also saw this speedster break the stolen base record with 130 thefts in the season. Who was this athletic person? | Decades on the Diamond: 1980s
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Rickey Henderson. The others were already retired before the 1980s. Henderson went on to break Ty Cobb's career stolen base record, and retired with 1406 steals after 25 seasons.
| Milwaukee's Rollie Fingers won the AL MVP and AL Cy Young award in 1981. The National League saw a pitcher win both the Rookie of the Year award and the NL Cy Young award. Who was this pitcher? | Decades on the Diamond: 1980s
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Fernando Valenzuela. The others did not begin their MLB careers until the 1990s. Valenzuela, who had "Fernando Mania" named after him, led the Dodgers to the World Series championship in 1981 against the Yankees.
| The 1980s was brought in with a team winning their first World Series in their franchise history. Which team was this? | Decades on the Diamond: 1980s
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Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies' franchise began in 1883 in the lone National League. The franchise had been to two World Series in all those years in 1915 and 1950, but lost both times. The Phillies took their first crown against the Kansas City Royals, four games to two.
| Glenn Davis was a powerful right-handed hitting Major League first baseman from 1984 to 1993. Which fact was unusual about Davis' home run production? | First Basemen of the 1980s
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He never hit a grand slam home run in the big leagues.. Glenn Davis played during the 1980s for the Houston Astros. During his career, Davis topped the 20-home run mark six times; his highest single-season total was 34 (1989). Davis homered once during the 1986 NLCS, and he hit 24 home runs as a member of the AL's Baltimore Orioles during the 1990s. However, Davis never hit a grand slam homer in his career. According to "The Home Run Encyclopedia", Davis belted 105 solo homers, 65 two-run blasts, and 20 three-run round trippers. When Davis retired after the 1993 season, he was the leader for most career home runs (190) without hitting a grand slammer.
| Alvin Davis was a left-handed power hitting first baseman. With which team did Davis play from 1984 to 1991? | First Basemen of the 1980s
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Seattle Mariners. Alvin Davis was a prominent member of the Seattle Mariners during the 1980s. This first baseman batted lefty and threw right-handed. Davis won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1984 and hit 160 home runs during his time with the Mariners. Davis was nicknamed "Mr. Mariner" because of his excellent service with the Seattle team. Davis retired in 1992 after playing one season with the Angels.
| Keith Hernandez was an All-Star first baseman for the Cardinals (1974-1983) and Mets (1984-1989) during his days in the National League. In which two years did Hernandez win a World Series title ring? | First Basemen of the 1980s
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1982 and 1986. Keith Hernandez batted and threw left-handed. His clutch hitting and smooth fielding helped the Cardinals (1982) and Mets (1986) to win World Series championships. Hernandez hit 162 home runs, drove home 1,071 runs, and batted .296 during his Major League career, which ended with the Cleveland Indians in 1990. Hernandez won eleven Gold Glove Awards for fielding excellence. The following teams won Series titles during some of Hernandez's years in The Show: Pirates (1979), Phillies (1980), Dodgers (1981), and Tigers (1984).
Willie Upshaw. Willie Upshaw was the main first baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays between 1982 and 1987. Upshaw, a left-handed batter and thrower, joined the Jays in 1978 and secured the starting first base job in 1982. His best season with Toronto occurred in 1983 when he belted 27 HRS, drove in 104 runs, and had a .306 batting average. During the 1980s, Dan Driessen played with the Reds, Giants and Expos; Jason Thompson played for the Pirates and Expos; and Darrell Evans played for the Giants and Tigers.
| Rod Carew was an outstanding hitter in the Major Leagues from 1967 to 1985. During the 1980s, Carew played first base for the Angels. Where was this Hall of Famer born? | First Basemen of the 1980s
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Panama Canal Zone. Rod Carew was one of the greatest batters of his generation. Carew was born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1945. When Carew was 14 years old, his family moved to New York City where Carew played sandlot baseball. Carew notched 3,053 base hits and batted an impressive .328 during his big league career. Carew batted left-handed and threw right-handed and was selected 18 times as an All-Star. His uniform number 29 was retired by both the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels. Carew was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.
| First baseman Kent Hrbek played his entire Major League career (1981-1994) with the Minnesota Twins. Which uniform number did Hrbek wear for the Twins? | First Basemen of the 1980s
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14. Kent Hrbek was a power-hitting first baseman who batted lefty and threw right-handed. Hrbek wore uniform number 14 for Minnesota, and he was a key member of the Twins teams which won World Series titles in 1987 and 1991. Hrbek belted 293 regular season and three post-season home runs for Minnesota. Hrbek's uniform #14 was retired by the Twins following his retirement in 1994. Harmon Killebrew wore uniform #3, Tony Oliva was #6, and Kirby Puckett wore #34.
| Don Mattingly was an outstanding Major League first baseman from 1982 to 1995. With which big league team did Mattingly play his entire career? | First Basemen of the 1980s
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New York Yankees. Don Mattingly was one of the most beloved players in New York Yankees history. This lefty-hitting and fielding first baseman hit 222 home runs, drove in 1,099 runs, had 2,153 hits, and finished with a .307 career batting average. "Donnie Baseball" was named to six All-Star teams and won nine Gold Gloves for fielding excellence. The Yankees retired Mattingly's uniform number 23 in 1997.
| In 1981, which lefty-hitting catcher was behind the plate for Cleveland pitcher Len Barker's perfect game? | MLB Catchers of the 1980s
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Ron Hassey. Left-handed hitter Ron Hassey was behind the plate for Cleveland on May 15, 1981, when Len Barker pitched a perfect game against Toronto. Hassey played with the Indians from 1978 to 1984. Hassey's best season with Cleveland occurred in 1980 when he batted .318 with 8 home runs and 65 RBIs. In 1991, Hassey became the first player ever to catch two perfect games when he teamed with Expos' hurler Dennis Martinez on another pitching masterpiece. Chris Bando was a switch hitter. Bo Diaz and Andy Allanson were right-handed batters.
| During the 1980s, Terry Kennedy was San Diego's catcher for six seasons. In which year did Kennedy appear in the World Series for the Padres? | MLB Catchers of the 1980s
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1984. Terry Kennedy was a catcher with the San Diego Padres from 1981 to 1986. Kennedy represented the Padres in three All-Star games, and in 1984 was a member of the 1984 San Diego team which captured the National League pennant. The Padres lost to the Detroit Tigers in that year's World Series. Kennedy batted just .211 against Detroit, but he managed to hit a home run in the five-game series. Overall, Kennedy played in the Major Leagues from 1978 to 1991, hitting 113 career home runs.
| During the 1980s, catcher Harold Wynegar played for the Twins, Yankees, and Angels. What was Wynegar's nickname? | MLB Catchers of the 1980s
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Butch. Harold "Butch" Wynegar was a big league catcher from 1976 to 1988. During the 1980s, Wynegar's best season at the plate occurred in 1983 as a member of the Yankees when he batted .296 with 6 HRs and 42 RBIs. Wynegar was never fortunate enough to play for a team which qualified for the postseason. He received two All-Star game selections with the Twins during the 1970s.
| Mike Scioscia was a big league catcher from 1980 to 1992. For which club did Scioscia play throughout his career? | MLB Catchers of the 1980s
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Los Angeles Dodgers. Mike Scioscia played his entire Major League career with the L.A. Dodgers. Scioscia caught nearly 1400 games for the Dodgers and was known as a hard-nosed competitor. In 1988, Scioscia hit a key playoff home run which helped L.A. to defeat the New York Mets in the NLCS. Scioscia became a successful Major League manager with the Angels after he retired as a player in the early 1990s.
Ernie Whitt. Ernie Whitt was an important part of the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1980s. In 1987, the lefty-hitting Whitt had perhaps his finest season at the plate, batting .269 with 19 home runs and 75 RBIs. Whitt wore uniform number 12 for the Jays. The other three catchers listed in this question batted right-handed.
| This righty-hitting All-Star catcher played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals during the 1980s. Can you identify him? | MLB Catchers of the 1980s
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Tony Pena. Tony Pena was an outstanding defensive catcher who played for the Pirates (1980-1986) and Cardinals (1987-1989) during the 1980s. Pena earned five All-Star game selections and four Gold Glove awards during the 1980s. Pena also had solid hitting prowess. For his Major League career, he hit 107 home runs and batted in more than 700 runs. In the 1987 World Series, Pena batted an impressive .407 (9-22) for St. Louis.
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