Baseball for Dummies #29 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Willie Mays

Although all players are a member of the 500-club, Mays retired with 660 round-baggers. Like Yogi Berra, Mays played all his seasons with one team, and then one full season with the Mets before retiring. The 'Say Hey Kid' played for 22 seasons.

Answer: John Smoltz

Smoltz recorded 55 saves in his 2nd season as a relief pitcher. After 12 seasons with the Braves as a starter, he was moved to the bullpen in 2001. Billy Koch of the Athletics won the award for the American League.

Answer: 1999

The Yankees took the century out in style with a 4 games Series against the Atlanta Braves in 1999. Mariano Rivera was the Series MVP, which saw the Yankees win by no less than 3 runs in each game, except for game 3. The Yankees scored 21 runs in the 4 games.

Answer: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers flourished with rookie prospects in their farm clubs. Their shining rookies who won the awards were Eric Karros in 1992, Mike Piazza in 1993, Raul Mondesi, Hideo Nomo, and finally, Todd Hollandsworth in 1996. All other teams listed are in the American League.

Answer: 3

Cobb's first taste of the .400 mark came in 1911. He batted .419 for the Tigers. He reached the mark again when he hit .408 the following season. In 1922, he hit .401 again with the Tigers. He played all his 22 seasons of baseball with Detroit, except for his final two with the Philadelphia Athletics. He retired in 1928, with a tremendous lifetime average of .366.

Answer: Chicago Cubs

The White Sox were always the White Sox, since their inception in 1901. The Chicago Cubs were once named the White Stockings, from 1876-1889. During that time, the White Stockings won 6 National League Crowns. The franchise was also named the Colts and Orphans, before becoming the Cubs in 1903.

Answer: Joe Pepitone

Pepitone played his colorful years from 1962-1973, mostly in the pinstripes at first base. Amongst his accomplishments were 3 Gold Glove Awards. His career highlight was game 6 of the 1964 World Series against the Cardinals, where he hit a home run and a double, gaining 5 RBIs in the game that saw the Yankees win 8-3. The Yankees lost the Series 4 games to 3.

Answer: Sparky Anderson

Of those listed, only Anderson had won more than 1000. When George Lee 'Sparky' Anderson retired, he was number 3 on the all-time manager wins list with 2194. In his 26 managerial seasons, he managed only two teams, in the likes of the Reds and the Tigers.

He won 2 Manager of the Year awards with Detroit. As a player, Anderson played in only one season of baseball in 1959, with the Philadelphia Phillies. He batted .218.

Answer: 1962

The initiation of the award was shared by 2 west coast players. Leon Wagner of the Los Angeles Angels, and Maury Wills of the Los Angeles Dodgers, shared the award in 1962. Only twice in the 20th century was the award shared by more than one player. In 1975, Bill Madlock of the Cubs, and Jon Matlack of the Mets, shared the award. Cal Ripken Jr. and Willie Mays won the award twice.

Answer: Don Drysdale

Drysdale was true Dodger blue from 1956-1969. The 'Cy' came in 1962 for him earning a record of 25-9, along with 232 strikeouts. He beat out Jack Sanford and Billy Pierce of the Giants for the award.