Decade in a Box: 1980s Trivia Quiz

Answer: NY Mets

The Mets went 108-54 in the 1986 season, and ultimately won the World Series against the Red Sox. The others listed never won more than 85 games in a season during the decade.

Answer: Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates found the World Series in 1979 after a drought since the 1971 win against the Orioles. Pittsburgh went the rest of the century without seeing the promised land. The other teams listed went to two World Series in the 1980s.

Answer: Roger Maris

The others were all pitchers and all died 15 years later in 2000. Maris played for 12 seasons with four teams, and the most famous was with the Yankees in 1960 and 1961. Even with teammate Mickey Mantle tearing up the American League, Maris won the the AL MVP in those two consecutive seasons. Maris' marker was breaking Babe Ruth's season home run record of 60, which was set in 1927. Roger died at the age of 51.

Answer: Brian Kingman

Kingman of the Oakland As was the last pitcher in the century to lose 20 also. He went 8-20 in 1980. A feat unseemingly to be duplicated with the invention of set-up specialists, relief pitchers, and closers, still Mike Maroth of the Tigers threw a 9-21 season for the Tigers in 2003.

Answer: Andre Dawson

During the 1980s, Rice's season high was 39, Kingman's high was 36, as was McGriff's season high also. Dawson of the 1987 Cubs hit 49 to lead the National League. However, he shared the ML crown with Mark McGwire of the Athletics who also hit 49 in 1987, winning the AL Rookie of the Year.

Answer: Milwaukee Brewers

This was the 1982 Brewers. After replacing manager Buck Rodgers midseason, Harvey Kuenn took the reins of the team. A team which was all offense but had no defense, the team went all the way to the World Series, but lost to the Cardinals.

Answer: Skydome

The Skydome was the new home of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989. The team had played at Exhibition Stadium since their inception to the majors in 1977. They went to their first World Series in 1992. Safeco Field was the new home of the Mariners in 1999. Seals Stadium was used for two seasons when the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958, and the Astrodome was built in the 1960s.

Answer: Cesar Cedeno

For true Astro fans, the others listed were all infielders. Cedeno had been taunted for three consecutive days by a fan calling him 'murderer' and using racials slurs. Cedeno had enough and jumped into the stands to 'adjust' the situation. This one incident catapulted Major League baseball to look at fan interaction.

As a result, more security was hired in all ballparks, and each security agent was equipped with a walkie-talkie. In addition, beer sales were stopped after the seventh inning to help curb any fan violence.

After many seasons of losing vending money, beer sales were introduced later in the games again. Another indicator that it is about money and not the fans.

Answer: Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles went 54-107 in 1988. Baltimore had only two eight-game winners in the season. The Braves went 54-106 in 1988 and were almost tops for losses in the decade. Rick Mahler led the '88 pitching staff with only nine wins while losing 16. It was the worst season the franchise had seen since their horrendous 1935 season, going 38-115. Ironically, that 1935 season was with the immortal Babe Ruth on their roster.

Answer: St. Louis Cardinals

The others did not make an appearance in the 1980s. St. Louis were victors in 1982 against the Brewers, lost in 1985 to the Royals, then lost to the Twins in 1987. The 1982 appearance was their first since the 1968 World Series against the Tigers.