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Quiz about No Minor League Experience Needed

No Minor League Experience Needed! Quiz

In the first 100 years of the Major Leagues, less than 50 players went to the Major Leagues without any Minor League experience, and spent more than 10 seasons in the big time. See if you can identify them. Good luck. :-)

A multiple-choice quiz by Nightmare. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Nightmare

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
223,232

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
1054

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Question 1 of 10

1. I debuted as an 18-year old in 1953 with the Tigers. I wore only one uniform in the Major Leagues for 22 seasons with the number six on my back. I was an all-star 15 times and won 10 Gold Gloves. I retired after hitting my 399th home run. Who am I? Hint

Al Kaline

Gates Brown

Rickey Henderson

Willie Horton

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Question 2 of 10

2. This one-team career pitcher never played in the minors or semi-pro ball. He was a rookie 19-year old in 1955. It took him four seasons to win more than 10 games in a season. After settling down, in a four-season span, he won three Cy Young awards, three Triple Crowns, two World Series MVPs, and a NL season MVP. Who is this Hall of Fame pitcher? Hint

Sandy Koufax

Walter Johnson

Brooks Robinson

Chuck Dobson

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Question 3 of 10

3. As a 1915 St. Louis Browns rookie, this outfielder, first baseman, and pitcher, went on to set a season hit record of 257 that stood for over 75 years before being broken. Who was this 1922 AL MVP, and later Hall of Famer? Hint

Luke Appling

George Sisler

Hank Greenberg

Joe DiMaggio

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Question 4 of 10

4. I barely finished high school when the New York Giants signed me. I was 17 years and one month old. I showed my appreciation of 22 seasons with them. Six times I led the league in home runs, and retired with 511. Who am I? Hint

Al Kaline

Mel Ott

Ralph Kiner

Johnny Mize

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Question 5 of 10

5. Debuting as a 17-year old in 1936, some people say that I was the greatest pitcher in history. Six times I won 20+ games in a season. I pitched a Triple Crown in 1940. Although playing 18 seasons as an Indian, I pitched only in one World Series. Who am I? Hint

Grover Cleveland Alexander

Preacher Roe

Bob Feller

Guy Bush

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Question 6 of 10

6. I went from high school to the Kansas City Monarchs, to the Major Leagues in 1953. I played my entire career of 19 seasons with the Cubs and won two MVPs in 1958 and 1959. Chicago took a chance with me, and I didn't let them down. Who am I? Hint

Ron Santo

Don Kessinger

Billy Williams

Ernie Banks

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Question 7 of 10

7. From 1944-1958, this Washington Senator third baseman was overshadowed by other powerhouses in the American League. He retired as a L.A. Angel in 1962. Who was he? Hint

Frankie Crosetti

Schoolboy Rowe

Eddie Yost

Jackie Robinson

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Question 8 of 10

8. This 21-year old began his 22-season career as a San Diego Padre. After eight seasons he moved to New York to become a Yankee. This outfielder and DH hit 465 home runs and is a member of the 3000-hit club. Who is he? Hint

Carlton Fisk

Mark McGwire

Dave Winfield

Orlando Cepeda

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Question 9 of 10

9. I had just turned 20 when I began my Major League career with no Minor League experience. With the Athletics and Yankees, I won 20+ games in five consecutive seasons. I was the 1974 Cy Young winner. After over 2000 strikeouts and 224 wins, I retired in 1979. Who am I? Hint

Catfish Hunter

John Roseboro

Jim Gilliam

Boog Powell

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Question 10 of 10

10. I never played in the Minor League, but I did play in the Negro League before becoming the first black American League player in 1947. Who am I? Hint

Herb Pennock

Larry Doby

Lefty O'Doul

Burleigh Grimes

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Al Kaline

The others played with at least four teams in their career. Kaline and the Tigers won his only World Series in 1968 with the arms of Denny McLain and Mickey Lolich. Al was a 1980 Hall of Fame inductee.

Answer: Sandy Koufax

The others never played in the National League or ever won a Cy Young award. Koufax began his climb in 1961, and exploded from 1963 through 1966. He once held the season strikeout record of 382 in 1965. Born Sanford Braun, he retired on top of the heap in 1966 due to an arthritic elbow.

Answer: George Sisler

The others did not begin their career until the 1930s. Sisler smacked 257 hits in the 1920 season. Had a MVP been awarded in 1920, George certainly would have received it. One of those unreachable records was reached in 2004 by Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki who had 262 hits in the season. Sisler was inducted into the hall in 1939.

Answer: Mel Ott

The others never reached the 400-plateau in their careers. Ott debuted just one month after his 17th birthday in 1926. Mel was the third player in baseball history to hit 500 home runs, behind Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx. He retired in 1947 and was a 1951 Hall of Fame inductee, the same year that some kid named Willie Mays was a rookie with the Giants.

Answer: Bob Feller

The others listed never pitched in the American League. Nicknamed 'Rapid Robert', Feller also struck out more than 200 batters in a season five times. The 1948 World Series gave Cleveland the title, but ironically, the only two games that the Indians lost were both charged to Feller. He was an easy induction into the hall in 1962.

Answer: Ernie Banks

Although the others were great Cubs, they were not career Cubs. Banks played with the Monarchs of the Negro Leagues before joining the majors. Nicknamed Mr. Cub, Ernie hit 512 career home runs, topping the great Mel Ott by one. Banks never saw a World Series with the Cubs, and retired in 1971. His Hall of Fame induction was in the minimum allowable time of six years in 1977.

7. From 1944-1958, this Washington Senator third baseman was overshadowed by other powerhouses in the American League. He retired as a L.A. Angel in 1962. Who was he?

Answer: Eddie Yost

The others never played for the Senators. Eddie hit a career high of 21 home runs with the Tigers in 1959.

Answer: Dave Winfield

The others never played for either San Diego or New York. Winfield also played for the Angels, Blue Jays, Twins, and Indians. Hit hit over .300 only four times in his career, but was a consistent .283 hitter. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

Answer: Catfish Hunter

The others weren't pitchers and never played for the Athletics or Yankees. Hunter and the Athletics won three consecutive World Series from 1972-1974. Hunter then tested the free agency market because Oakland owner Charles Finley didn't want to give his players raises. This led to the dismembership of the Athletic team's greatness. Jim Hunter was inducted into the hall in 1987.

10. I never played in the Minor League, but I did play in the Negro League before becoming the first black American League player in 1947. Who am I?

Answer: Larry Doby

The others retired more than 10 years earlier. Doby broke the color barrier in the American League in 1947 with the Cleveland Indians. Larry played for five seasons with the Newark Eagles of the Negro League as a second baseman before joining the majors.

Source: Author Nightmare

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