Baseball for Dummies No. 15 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Juan Marichal

Marichal played all but 2 years of his 16 season career with the Giants. This 23 year old rookie from the Dominican Republic, started his career in 1960 at Candlestick Park. He was 6-2 as a rookie and progressively got better. He won more than 20 games in a season, 6 out of 7 years with the Giants.

His greatest season was in 1963 when he went 25-8 and struck out 248 batters. Juan experienced 1 World Series in 1962, but lost to the Yankees 4 games to 3.

Answer: St. Louis

Born Pack Robert Gibson, this St. Louis star pitched for the Cardinals from 1959-1975. In 1970 at age 34, Bob went 23-7 for the club and helped them to a 4th place National League East finish. He pitched in 3 World Series, 1964, 1967 and 1968, and struck out 92 batters. He was also credited with 24 home runs throughout his career. Catcher Joe Torre, caught Gibson for many years.

Answer: Hank Bauer

All managers listed except for Bauer won more than 2000 career games. Bauer retired with only 594 wins. Hank managed for 8 seasons in the Majors mostly with the Baltimore Orioles. He won 1 World Series in 1966 with a 4-0 skunk against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Answer: Rogers Hornsby

There were no inductees into the Hall in 1940, 1941, and 1943. In 1944, Kenesaw Landis was the only inductee, and as a baseball pioneer. However, Hornsby made into the Hall in 1942 as a player. In 23 seasons ending in 1937 with the St. Louis Browns, Rogers batted an amazing .358 lifetime average.

He reached the .400 milestone four times in his career, in 1922, 1924, 1925 and finally 1936. Few know that he also retired by breaking the 300-home run barrier with 301.

Answer: Chicago Cubs

The Orphans were from the National League Chicago franchise. From the inaugural Chicago White Stockings in 1876, to the Chicago Colts in 1890, the Orphans arose in 1898 before becoming the Cubs in 1903. The best that the Orphans could muster was a 4th place finish.

Answer: Mel Ott

The only listed Giant player was the great Mel Ott. 22 loyal seasons saw him with the New York Giants beginning in 1926. A very consistent home run hitter, Ott hit his season best, 42 in 1929. He had the opportunity to appear in 3 World Series, winning the 1933 Series against Washington where he smacked 2 home runs, and then losing the 1936 and 1937 Series to the Yankees, and smacked another two four-baggers.

Answer: Warren Spahn

Spahn retired with 363 wins after 21 seasons. The others listed retired with 40 or more wins less. Spahn spent almost his entire career with the Braves from Boston, then moving the team to Milwaukee. He retired in 1965. Warren was blessed by having the bat of Henry Aaron on his side.

Answer: 1957

After finishing in 2nd place for the National League in 1955 and 1956, the Braves from Milwaukee finally won the National League pennant in 1957. They went to the World Series against the New York Yankees and won 4 games to 3. The Braves were led by Del Crandall, Red Schoendienst, Eddie Mathews, Joe Adcock, and Hank Aaron.

Their pitching arms were contributed by Warren Spahn, Bob Buhl, and Lew Burdette. The Braves franchise did not win another World Series until 1995.

Answer: Reggie Jackson

'Mr. October' earned his nickname by hitting 18 postseason home runs, 10 of them in the World Series. Starting his career with the Kansas City Athletics in 1967, and moving with the team to Oakland in 1968, he played 21 seasons with various teams. He retired in 1987 with Oakland again. His World Series batting average was .357.

Answer: 0

Wagner nicknamed the 'Flying Dutchman', came close to the MVP but finished his best season as runner-up in 1912 with the Pittsburgh after collecting 181 hits in the season. Larry Doyle of the New York Giants won the Award with better statistics in 1912.