Nicks in the Bronx Multiple Choice Quiz | New York Yankees

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A very recognized name in baseball was "The Babe". Who was this Yankee great?

Answer: George H. Ruth

George Herman Ruth began his career as a Boston Red Sox pitcher in 1914. In 1915, Ruth went 18-8, then 23-12 in 1916 while making a name for himself not only on the mound, but also with his bat. After throwing a 24-13 record in 1917, many other baseball eyes were on him.

After the 1919 season, the world was shocked when the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. The Yankees were not interested in Ruth's arm, but his bat made him more appetizing. Although appearing in only one game from the mound for the Yankees in 1920, Ruth proved his bat was to be something that would have to be dealt with.

He hit 54 home runs while appearing in 142 games for New York. He broke the previous season home run record of baseball with his own 29 that was hit with Boston in 1919.

The rest would be history in the infamy of baseball.

2. This catcher who tragically died in an aircraft crash in 1979, had numerous nicknames including, "Tugboat", "Squatty Body", and "The Wall". Who was this 1970 American League Rookie of the Year winner?

Answer: Thurman Munson

Munson joined the Yankees in 1969 to hopefully replace Jake Gibbs. Thurman was an official rookie in 1970, and won his award over Roy Foster of the Cleveland Indians. Thurman was also the AL MVP in 1976 in a landslide win over George Brett of the Royals. Munson was killed in a plane crash in August 1979.

3. In 1985, the stolen-base king of baseball joined the Yankees from the Athletics of Oakland. After a season record set in 1982 with 130 stolen bases, he stole 'only' 80 for the Yankees in 1985, continuing his ways to retire with 1406 career thefts. His born name was Rickey Henley Henderson. What was his nickname?

Answer: Man of Steal

The 'Man of Steal' began his career with the Athletics in 1979. In 1980, he became the third player in modern baseball history to reach 100 stolen bases in a season, behind Dodger Maury Wills in 1962, and the Cardinals' Lou Brock with 118 in 1974. Henderson was the first player by far to reach the 1000-mark. Rickey set a season record by stealing 130 in 1982.

He retired on the top thieves list with 1406 career stolen bases in 2003 after 25 seasons. Only Lou Brock at the time was the closest, but still with only 938 career stolen bases, made Rickey's career record seem unreachable.

4. I played for nine seasons with the Yankees before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 1962 season. I had revenge as I contributed to my Dodgers' skunking the Yankees in the 1963 World Series. My name is Bill Skowron. What was my nickname?

Answer: Moose

Skowron did indeed have his revenge in the 1963 World Series, as he hit .385 with a home run in game two of the series against his former club. However, it was Dodger pitcher Sandy Koufax who stole the show as the series MVP, winning two complete games and striking 23 Yankees with an ERA of 1.50. Moose Skowron retired after 14 seasons in 1967 as a California Angel.

5. I pitched for 13 seasons in the Majors. My first five were with the Cleveland Indians, then my final eight were in the pinstripes. In every season with the Yankees, I won in double-digits, and was the runner-up AL MVP in 1952. My nickname was "Superchief". Who am I?

Answer: Allie Reynolds

The others never pitched, never played for the Indians or Yankees, and were never runner-up MVPs. The "Superchief" was traded to the Yankees from Cleveland for 1942 AL MVP Joe Gordon in 1946. It was the perfect timing for Reynolds, who won his first World Series game in 1947 for the Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Allie went on to play in six World Series for the Yankees and earn his 7-2 series pitching record, while his New York team won all six World Series.

In 1952, Philadelphia's Bobby Shantz won the AL MVP over Reynolds.

6. I played my entire career in the pinstripes. Amongst my nicknames were the "Commerce Comet" and "Muscles". I won three American League MVPs and a Triple Crown. I was fortunate enough to go to 12 World Series with the Yankees, and showed my appreciation by hitting 18 home runs. Who am I that wore the number 7 on my back?

Answer: Mickey Mantle

New York had two big bombshells in 1951. The NL Rookie of the Year Willie Mays as a New York Giant, and Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees. Mantle played for 18 seasons as a Yankee, hitting 536 career home runs. Of the 12 World Series that he went to, he left the game winning seven.

However, not before winning the AL MVP in 1956, 1957, and 1972. Mickey was a Triple Crown in his historic 1956 season also. His sure Hall of Fame induction came in 1974, before passing away in Dallas in 1995.

7. Earl Combs played for the New York Yankees from 1924-1935. What nickname was he known as?

Answer: The Kentucky Colonel

Combs was one of the Yankees' Hall of Fame outfielders in the era, and led the AL in hits, singles, and triples in 1927, the season that Babe Ruth hit an amazing 60 home runs in the season. Earl went to four World Series with the Yankees, winning three, and was a 1970 Hall of Fame inductee.

8. In the first Yankee season of Babe Ruth, Carl Mays pitched his way into history in 1920. Unfortunately, he went into the record books for being the first pitcher in history to kill a batter by hitting him with a pitch in August of that season. What was Mays' nickname?

Answer: Sub

Mays was a 1915 rookie with the Red Sox, pitching a 6-5 record in 38 game appearances. He came to form in 1916 with a 18-13 record, then 22-9 the following season. Carl was traded mid-season in 1919 to the Yankees, then it happened in August 1920. Mays hit Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians with an unintentional beaning to the head. Chapman died just days later.

The Indians would use this as motivation against the Yankees, and win the 1920 AL crown, winning the title by three games over the Yankees, then going on to win the World Series over the Brooklyn Robins, five games to two.

After 15 seasons, Mays retired with a 207-126 record in 1929. Still after almost 80 years, most felt that it was the demise of Ray Chapman that kept Carl from the Hall of Fame.

9. This ex-Yankee from 1947-1954 who was nicknamed "Major", tried his hand at managing the pinstripes from 1961-1963. Although winning the AL three times and the World Series twice, he was replaced by Yogi Berra for the 1964 season. He did eventually come back to manage the Yankees again. Who was this manager?

Answer: Ralph Houk

Ralph was a catcher for his eight playing seasons with the Yankees. After winning the World Series in 1961 and 1962, the Yankees 'only' won the AL pennant and lost the series to the Dodgers, four games to none. Yogi took over the helm in 1964, then Houk came back again in the midseason of 1966.

10. This primary Yankee first baseman was on the 2007 roster. Nicknamed "Eye Chart", it was his first season in the pinstripes after playing many years in Minnesota. Who is he?

Answer: Doug Mientkiewicz

The others were Yankee pitchers in the season. Mientkiewicz was a fixture with the Twins from 1998-2004. After short stints with Boston, the Mets, and the Royals, Doug signed as a free agent with the Yankees for 2007.

Source: Author Nightmare

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Nicks in the Bronx Trivia Quiz

An all multiple choice quiz about some great Yankee players and their nicknames. I hope that you have a fun time! :-)

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