Geographical Baseball Nicknames Quiz

Answer: Earle Combs

Earle Combs played center field for the great Yankee teams of the late 20s and early 30s, earning a spot in the Hall of Fame. From Pebworth, Kentucky, Combs was known for the gentlemanly demeanor that distinguished him from his more raucous teammates, hence, the "Kentucky Colonel".

It would seem that southern states offered the most euphonious nickname combinations: Guy Bush, a mainstay on the Chicago Cubs pitching staff in the same era, was known as the "Mississippi Mudcat"; Lon Warneke, another stalwart pitcher for the Cubs and, later, the Cardinals in the 30s, was known as the "Arkansas Hummingbird"; and Ron Guidry, Yankee pitching great in the late 70s and early 80s, was known as "Louisiana Lightning".

Answer: Bobby Thomson

Bobby Thomson, best known for his earth-shaking home run in the National League playoffs of 1951, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, but moved to the United States as a child. Scott McGregor, successful Baltimore Orioles pitcher in the 70s and 80s, would seem to have the perfect Caledonian name, but was from Southern California. George Scott, power hitter for the Red Sox and Brewers in the 60s and 70s, from Mississippi and of African-American heritage, was known to the baseball world as "Boomer". And I throw in Cal McLish of Oklahoma, who had a couple of good years pitching for the Cleveland Indians in the 50s, simply for the wonder of his full name: Calvin Coolidge Julius Caesar Tuskahoma McLish. No wonder they called him "Buster".

Answer: Roger Bresnahan

Hall of Famer Roger Bresnahan was catcher for the New York Giants in the early days of the John McGraw era. Reputed to be from Tralee, Ireland, he actually came from Toledo, Ohio. Duke Snider and Duke Carmel had diverging careers. Snider, known as the "Silver Fox", starred for the Dodgers in the 50s, whereas Carmel, a highly touted rookie, played from 1959-1965 with the Cardinals, Mets, and Yankees, but never caught on anywhere.

The legendary John McGraw, who managed the Giants from 1902-1932, was known as "Mugsy" and "Little Napoleon".

Answer: Earl Torgeson

Earl Torgeson, from Snohomish, Washington, was a big, bespectacled, left-handed first baseman in the 40s and 50s, whose best days were with the Boston Braves. He inherited his nickname from Hall of Famer Earl Averill, who also came from Snohomish. Earl Battey was a solid catcher for the early Minnesota Twins teams, while Clint Courtney, a pugnacious catcher for a number of American League teams in the 50s, is included because, like Torgeson, he was one of the few players who wore glasses and I tended to confuse the two when I was a kid.

His nickname was "Scrap Iron". J. T. Snow, still active with the San Francisco Giants, may best be remembered for retrieving Dusty Baker's batboy son from a possible play at home plate in the 2002 World Series.

Answer: Herb Pennock

Pitcher Herb Pennock, of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, started with the A's, moved to the Red Sox in the World War I era, and, following a famous trend, was traded to the Yankees, for whom he won five World Series games over the years. He is in the Hall of Fame. Tim Keefe, also in the Hall of Fame, won 342 games pitching in the pre-1900 era; his nickname was "Sir Timothy". Bob Friend, who pitched for the Pirates in the 50s and 60s, was known as "Warrior". Ray Knight had a successful career with a number of National League teams, mostly as a third baseman, and scored the winning run for the Mets in the 1986 World Series when Bill Buckner made his infamous gaffe.

He is married to golfer Nancy Lopez.

Answer: Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle, from Commerce, Oklahoma, was graced with speed as well as power, and it was this trait that prompted his nickname when he came up to the bigs. Frankie Frisch, famously known as the "Fordham Flash", is, like Mantle, in the Hall of Fame. Other fast players: Mickey Rivers, known as "Mick the Quick", and Ralph "Road Runner" Garr.

Answer: Carl Furillo

Carl Furillo, a fine outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 40s and 50s, grew up near Reading, Pennsylvania, and had a strong throwing arm. Speaking of firearms, Pete Reiser, also beloved of the Ebbets Field crowd in the 40's, was known as "Pistol Pete". Jimmy Wynn, power-hitting outfielder, mostly for the Astros in the 60s and 70s, was known as the "Toy Cannon". And Bob Turley, capable starting pitcher for the Yankees in the 50s, was called "Bullet Bob".

Answer: Clint Hartung

Clint Hartung, of Hondo, Texas, was a highly-rated prospect in the Giants organization, both as a pitcher and a hitter, but his career never took off. His most memorable moment, probably: he was on base when Bobby Thomson hit his home run in 1951. Bob "Hurricane" Hazle had a brief career in the mid-50s (the real Hurricane Hazel had battered the East Coast in 1954). Frank Howard, the "Gentle Giant", played for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the early 60's and acquired the nickname "Hondo", perhaps after the John Wayne movie of 1953.

After being traded to the Washington Senators, the home run-hitting outfielder was known as the "Capital Punisher". Storm Davis (given name, George) was a pitcher who had some success with the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland A's in the 80s.

Answer: Pepper Martin

John Leonard Roosevelt "Pepper" Martin grew up in Eastern Oklahoma and apparently got his more poetic nickname from a sportswriter who saw him playing football there. Martin's most famous moment came in the 1931 World Series, when he hit 12 for 24 against the Philadelphia A's. Speaking of wild, Ed Heusser, a pitcher who had a mediocre career, but led the National League in ERA in 1944 while a Cincinnati Red, was known as " The Wild Elk of the Wasatch". Luis Firpo, a boxer, not a baseball player (just wanted to see if you were paying attention), was styled "The Wild Bull of the Pampas". And relief pitcher Mitch Williams, who, as a Phillie, caused Curt Schilling to hide his head under a towel during the 1993 World Series, was "Wild Thing".

Answer: Juan Marichal

Juan Marichal, from Laguna Verde, Dominican Republic, was one of the early Dominican players to make his mark on the Major Leagues and was a dominant force on the mound for the San Francisco Giants in the 60's. He is now in the Hall of Fame. Dominic DiMaggio, who played for the Red Sox in the 40s and was just as good a center fielder as his more famous brother, was from San Francisco and was known as the "Little Professor". Dolf Luque, one of the earliest Latin players in the game, was a pitcher who had his best years with the Reds in the 20s.

He was known as the "Pride of Havana". And Sammy Sosa, pride of San Pedro de Macoris, D.R., is known to most fans as "Slammin' Sammy".