Hey! Who Was That Masked Man? Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This masked man was one of the ring leaders on the "Big Red Machine" in the 1970s. The catcher won a Rookie of the Year Award and has two MVP Awards to his credit. He also helped his team to four World Series invitations. Who is this 14-time All-Star?

Answer: Johnny Bench

Bench was a 17-season career Cincinnati Red from 1967-1983. He pulled off the two MVPs in 1970 and 1972 while leading the league in home runs both seasons. He helped the "Big Red Machine" of Cincinnati to four World Series in the 1970s and won two. Johnny retired with 389 home runs and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

2. Nicknamed "Black Mike", this catcher won a Most Valuable Player Award with the Athletics and Tigers. He played in the 1920s and 1930s and is a member of the Cooperstown bunch. Who was that masked man?

Answer: Mickey Cochrane

Cochrane played from 1925-1937 all with the Athletics of Philadelphia and the Detroit Tigers. He finished at 10th place in the MVP voting as a rookie. Hitting 119 home runs in his career, he topped out for a season high of 23 in 1932. Mickey went to five World Series with his two teams and won three of them.

The downside of him was that he led the league six times for most passed balls, and a season high of 12 as a rookie. He was inducted into the Hall in 1947. Gordon Stanley Cochrane died in 1962 at the age of 59.

3. With being in the top five for the MVP voting an amazing seven times in seven seasons, it should not be hard to identify this Hall of Fame catcher who went to a record 14 World Series. Who was this masked man that died in September 2015?

Answer: Yogi Berra

Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra began his pristine career in 1946 with the Yankees. He played 18 of his 19 seasons with them and finished his career out with the New York Mets in 1965. From 1950-1956 he had a tremendous streak of greatness with seven consecutive top 5 voting for the AL MVP Award.

He won three in 1951, 1954, and 1955. Yogi might have made it three in a row in 1956 but was runner-up MVP to teammate Mickey Mantle who batted for a Triple Crown Award.

4. This masked man was the first catcher inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame. He was considered by many analysts as the greatest catcher in all the 19th Century. Who was this that played from 1880-1897?

Answer: Buck Ewing

Buck spent 17 of his 18 seasons in the National League with the Troy Trojans, New York Giants, Cleveland Spiders, and Cincinnati Reds. He caught for the great Cy Young in two seasons. Ewing went to two World Championship Series (considered exhibition games) and won both in 1888 against the St. Louis Browns and the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in 1889 of the American Association. William "Buck" Ewing died just seven years after retiring from the game in 1906 at the age of 47, then was inducted into the Hall in 1939.

5. This huge catcher and future Hall of Famer was a rookie with the Brooklyn Robins and then traded after the season to the Reds. It was in Cincinnati where he blossomed into a ball player and led the league in batting once and won a MVP Award also. He later won another batting crown with the Boston Braves. Who was that masked man?

Answer: Ernie Lombardi

Ernie was the first big catcher being over six feet and over 200 pounds. He made quick friends with Brooklyn owner Wilbert Robinson, but business was business and he was traded along with Babe Herman to the Reds in 1931. Lombardi's MVP was awarded in 1938 when he won his first batting crown.

The second crown came in 1942 in his first season with the Braves after the Reds sold his contract. He went to two World Series with the Reds in his career. Ernie became a member of the Hall of Fame in 1986.

6. This masked man not only caught balls for greats such as Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, and Claude Osteen, but he was also famous for catching a bat with his head from Giants pitcher Juan Marichal during an infamous brawl. He went to four World Series with the Dodgers and was a four-time All-Star behind the plate. Who was this catcher who wore the number 8 on his back?

Answer: John Roseboro

The brawl was in August 1965 with Koufax on the mound, Roseboro behind the plate, and Giant pitcher Marichal at-bat. Juan took offense to how close Roseboro was to him while returning the pitches. A few words were exchanged and the fight was on beginning with a blow to head with Marichal's bat, then both dugouts emptied out into a brawl. Roseboro took many stitches to his bloodied head after being clubbed. Koufax, who refuses to retaliate stood, and watched the initial blows to his catcher and everything else unfold ahead. Roseboro took World Series wins from the White Sox, Yankees, Twins, then lost one to Baltimore. John retired in 1970 after a 14-season career.

7. This Hall of Famer played for 20 seasons with 13 being behind the plate. He is credited by being the first professional player to wear a catcher's mask and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for this accomplishment. Who was this masked man?

Answer: Deacon White

The mask was invented by Harvard College third baseman Fred Thayer for his catcher Jim Tyng. It was made out of an old birdcage and later modified with parts of a fencing mask. The mask was first worn by Deacon White with the Boston Red Stockings of the National Association in 1875 and it seemed to work with a little viewing obstructions.

Although White won two batting titles, it was him wearing the mask that got him into the Hall. James Laurie "Deacon" White was inducted into the Hall in 2013.

8. This masked man Hall of Famer won seven of his eight World Series and played from 1928-1946. He never led the league in any offensive category but was a MVP runner-up once in his career. His team retired his jersey number in honor of himself and another teammate. Which catcher was this?

Answer: Bill Dickey

Dickey was a New York Yankee during his entire 17-season career. He played with some of baseball's greatest in the names of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and many great Yankee pitchers. Bill was MVP runner-up in 1938 to Jimmie Foxx of the Red Sox. His number 8 was later worn by another Yankee great, Yogi Berra. Dickey's final season in 1946 was Berra's rookie season. Yogi wore the number 8 beginning in 1948.

The Yankees retired the number in honor of them both. Between the two catchers, they accounted for a total of 22 World Series appearances. William Malcolm Dickey was inducted into the Hall in 1954, then died in 1993 at the age of 86.

9. This player began his career as a pitcher in the National League with the Washington Senators. He went 4-0 as a pitcher to include throwing a six-hit shutout, then was released by the Senators in his rookie season. He came back three seasons later as a catcher with Chicago, then joined John McGraw and his Baltimore Orioles in 1901. He finally retired after a 17-season career in 1915 as a Chicago Cub. Who was this Hall of Fame player and New York Giant masked man?

Answer: Roger Bresnahan

For whatever reason, the Senators management didn't much care for Bresnahan and let him go. He decided that he wanted something else but that changed with a contract with the Chicago Orphans (Cubs) in 1900. McGraw who owned the Baltimore franchise thought in 1901 that Roger was the greatest catcher of all-time, signed him to a contract and kept him when the team moved to become the New York Giants in 1902. Bresnahan never led the league in any major offensive or defensive category, but was still inducted into the Hall just a few weeks after his death in 1944.

10. This mask-wearing player was a runner-up rookie of the year with the Montreal Expos. He was a 11-time all-star and also a season MVP runner-up over his 19-season career with the Expos, Mets, Dodgers, and Giants. Who was this two-time All-Star MVP masked man?

Answer: Gary Carter

Gary played his MLB career from 1974-1992. He came so close to the Rookie of the Year Award but took a backseat to pitcher John Montefusco of the Giants. He was runner-up to the MVP in 1980 to Mike Schmidt of the Phillies. After 11 seasons with the Expos, Montreal traded him to the Mets for four no-name players. Carter played five seasons in New York, then a solo season each with the Dodgers and Giants, and came home in Montreal to retire in 1992. Gary was inducted into the Hall in 2003 and died in 2012 at the age of 57.

Source: Author dg_dave

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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A look back at some who played behind the plate and rarely showed their face in all multiple choice. Sit back and have fun.

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