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MLB 30-Game Winners Trivia Quiz

Few pitchers in Major League Baseball in the 20th century reached the 30-game win plateau in a season. It took endurance, mastery, and sometimes a little luck.

A multiple-choice quiz by IronHorse2130. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
IronHorse2130

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
317,436

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
246

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who won 30 games the most times in the 20th century? Hint

Christy Mathewson

Grover Alexander

Cy Young

Walter Johnson

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who was the last person to win 30 games in the 20th century? Hint

Don Newcombe

Warren Spahn

Dizzy Dean

Denny McLain

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Question 3 of 10

3. Only two pitchers have won 40 or more games in the 20th century. Who were they? Hint

Ed Walsh and Jack Chesbro

Three Finger Brown and Walter Johnson

Ed Walsh and Cy Young

Ed Walsh and Addie Joss

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which pitcher was the oldest to win over 30 games? Hint

Christy Mathewson

Cy Young

Grover Alexander

Walter Johnson

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which 1944 pitcher almost won 30 games in a season? Hint

Hal Newhouser

Greg Maddux

Walter Johnson

Jack Morris

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which of the following 30-game winners never achieved 300 wins in their careers? Hint

Grover Alexander

Cy Young

Lefty Grove

Ed Walsh

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Question 7 of 10

7. Smoky Joe Wood and Walter Johnson locked horns in the 1912 season for the most wins. Both won over 30 games that season. By how many games did Wood beat Johnson by? Hint

One

Three

Two

Four

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of these pitchers had the highest winning percentage while winning 30 games? Hint

Walter Johnson

Lefty Grove

Jim Perry

Bret Saberhagen

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the following pitchers had two consecutive 30-game win seasons? Hint

Joe McGinnity

Bob Gibson

Randy Johnson

Ed Walsh

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is unique about Lefty Grove's 31-win season from all other 30-game winners? Hint

He pitched for three different teams

He was the oldest to reach 30 wins

He pitched under 300 innings

All wins were consecutively won

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who won 30 games the most times in the 20th century?

Answer: Christy Mathewson

Mathewson won 30 games four times in the early 1900s. Though aided by the strong New York Giants, Mathewson would win 373 games in 17 seasons.

Cy Young won 20 games five times: 1892, 1893, 1895, 1901 and 1902.

2. Who was the last person to win 30 games in the 20th century?

Answer: Denny McLain

McLain won 31 games in 1968 with the Tigers. This may be attributed to the poor batting that year. This would give him the first of two consecutive Cy Young Awards.

3. Only two pitchers have won 40 or more games in the 20th century. Who were they?

Answer: Ed Walsh and Jack Chesbro

Walsh won 40 games in 1908 and Chesbro won 41 in 1904. Both were users of the legal spitball.

4. Which pitcher was the oldest to win over 30 games?

Answer: Cy Young

In 1902, 35-year old Cy Young won 32 games. He led the league in complete games (41) and innings pitched (384.2).

5. Which 1944 pitcher almost won 30 games in a season?

Answer: Hal Newhouser

With many strong players in the league gone due to World War II, and pure pitching skill, Newhouser was able to win 29 games for Detroit. Newhouser would win his first MVP Award that year and again the following year, making him the first pitcher to ever win back-to-back MVP awards.

6. Which of the following 30-game winners never achieved 300 wins in their careers?

Answer: Ed Walsh

Walsh ended his career with 195 wins over 14 seasons. He played for the Chicago White Sox for most of his career, who were weak batters. He had an ERA of 1.27 in 1910, yet still went 18-20 because of the White Sox lack of offense. His career ERA of 1.82 is one of the lowest of all-time.

7. Smoky Joe Wood and Walter Johnson locked horns in the 1912 season for the most wins. Both won over 30 games that season. By how many games did Wood beat Johnson by?

Answer: One

Wood won 34 games in 1912. Johnson won 33 games, possibly because of the weak offense of his Washington Senators. Johnson had a lower ERA that season. In a historic pitching duel, Wood battled Johnson and won in a 1-0 score. They were both the premier fireballers of their time. An injury to Wood would force early retirement.

8. Which of these pitchers had the highest winning percentage while winning 30 games?

Answer: Lefty Grove

In 1931, Grove's record of 31-4 equated a .886 win percentage. He was a Philadelphia Athletic.

9. Which of the following pitchers had two consecutive 30-game win seasons?

Answer: Joe McGinnity

McGinnity won 31 games in 1903, and 35 games in 1904. McGinnity was famous for hurling two games in the same day in more than one instance.

10. What is unique about Lefty Grove's 31-win season from all other 30-game winners?

Answer: He pitched under 300 innings

Other pitchers pitched at least 300 innings to achieve 30 wins. An act of labor through only 288.2 innings allowed Grove to reach 30 wins in 1931, possibly because he started only 30 games, and was given decisions pitching in relief.

Source: Author IronHorse2130

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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