1890s on the Diamond Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cap Anson

Anson spent his first five seasons with the Rockford Forest Citys and the Philadelphia Athletics in the National Association from 1871-1875. When the NA closed its doors, he joined the Chicago White Stockings of the new National League in 1876. Cap spent the next 22 seasons with Chicago and retired in 1897.

He had 423 hits before Chicago and 3012 hits with Chicago. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939.

Answer: Babe Ruth

It was on February 6 that little George Herman Ruth was born. Not having a very good childhood, Ruth was sent off to a reform school and went to St. Mary's High School. Ruth signed with Baltimore (International) before the Red Sox purchased the contracts of Ben Egan, Ernie Shore, and Ruth.

He played with the Red Sox until late 1919 when he was sold to the Yankees. The rest is history for this 1936 Hall inductee.

Answer: Boston

The Beaneaters from Boston dominated the NL during the decade under the management of Frank Selee. They had tremendous seasons in the decade. In 1892 they went 102-48, then 102-47 in 1898. The Baltimore Orioles won three pennants while Brooklyn took two.

Answer: Cleveland

After selling all their good players after the 1898 season while knowing the franchise would close its doors after the 1899 season, the Cleveland Spiders went 20-134. The franchise started in the American Association in 1887 then jumped into the National League in 1890.

Not even the great Cy Young could bring the Spiders a pennant in the decade, but they did finish in second place three times. With the 1899 absence of Cy Young who went to the St. Louis Perfectos for the season, no Spider pitcher won more than four games in the season.

Answer: Buck Freeman

Freeman won the home run crown for his Washington Senators. Hitting 25 big ones was a milestone in the early days of the National League. In 1900, the Boston Beaneaters purchased his contract and the contract of pitcher Bill Dinneen from the Senators. Buck would never hit more than 13 again. The outfielder and first baseman retired in 1907 after 11 seasons.

Answer: Billy Hamilton

Hamilton's first career thievery title came in the American Association in 1889 with the Kansas City Cowboys by stealing 111. In January 1890 the NL Philadelphia Phillies purchased his contract and he led the league again with 102. Billy stole another 111 in 1891.

In 1894 he would reach the 100-mark again to win another title with his fourth century mark. Hamilton also won a fifth stolen base crown in the decade in 1895 with 97. Nicknamed "Sliding Billy", he retired in 1901 after stealing 914 bases over 14 seasons. Hamilton was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1961.

Answer: Baltimore

The Orioles were in the American Association from 1882-1891 and jumped leagues when the AA closed their doors. After their inaugural 1892 season in the National League finishing in last place with only 46 wins, they finished eighth of 12 teams in 1893.

It was all Orioles from there with three consecutive NL crowns from 1894-1896, then two consecutive second place finishes. The team was led to glory by Hall of Fame manager Ned Hanlon. Hanlon would later take the Brooklyn Superbas to two consecutive crowns in 1899 and 1900 also. Ned was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996 by the Veteran's Committee.

Answer: Amos Rusie

Rusie was a pitcher and an outfielder in his 10 seasons from 1889-1901. In 1894 with the New York Giants, Amos won the award as a pitcher. He had a career high with his 36-13 record along with his 2.78 ERA. He retired with his 246-174 record with the Cincinnati Reds. Nicknamed "The Hoosier Thunderbolt", Amos died in 1942 and was later inducted into the Hall by the Veteran's Committee in 1977.

Answer: Hugh Duffy

The 1894 season belonged to Duffy with his .4397 (rounded to .440) batting average. Duffy was a Boston Beaneater in the season and also led the league with his 237 hits. Hugh played in 17 seasons from 1888-1906 and is one of very few players to play in four different leagues in his career.

He played in the National League, Players League, American Association, and American League. The Hall of Famer was inducted in 1945 before passing away in 1954 at the age of 87.

Answer: Boston

The league existed from 1882-1891. The Boston Reds survived in baseball for only two seasons in 1890 and 1891. In their first season of the franchise, they not only played in but won the Players League pennant in 1890. After that league shutdown, they joined the AA and won that pennant in the league's final season before closing their own team doors for good.

The players on the team scattered throughout the National League with their own contracts.