Slightly Simmered Baseballs Online Trivia | Baseball

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This second baseman was drafted in 1978 by the Phillies directly out of high school. He played one season for the Phillies, then the next 15 for the Cubs. He won the 1984 NL MVP and was a nine-time Gold Glove winner. What is the last name of this Hall of Famer?

Answer: Sandberg

Nicknamed "Rhino" and "Ryno", Ryne Sandberg was initially a third baseman. When made the move to the Cubs. Ron Cey was already at that position so Ryne was moved to second base and became known for many stretches of errorless games, not common for an infielder.

His MVP was won over Keith Hernandez of the Mets and Tony Gwynn of the Padres. Sandberg also hit 282 career home runs. Unfortunately, Rhino never saw a World Series game in his career. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

2. This multiple Gold Glove winner played in four seasons with the Padres, then the Cardinals stole him for the next 15 seasons. He was the runner-up for the MVP in 1987, and was a 13-time all-star. What is the last name of this player?

Answer: Smith

Nicknamed the "Wizard of Oz", the Padres traded Steve Mura and Ozzie Smith to the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named later, Sixto Lezcano, and Garry Templeton. Ozzie wore the number one with the Cardinals, and went to three World Series with them, winning one.

His MVP runner-up status was behind winner Andre Dawson of the Cubs. Ozzie won 13 Gold Gloves. The hall inducted Smith in 2002.

3. This Detroit Tiger pitcher came out of the Minor Leagues with a goal. His 19-9 record earned him the 1976 AL Rookie of the Year along with being runner-up for the Cy Young Award. Unfortunately, due to an injury his career fell apart and he was out of baseball in five seasons. Who was this promising pitcher?

Answer: Mark Fidrych

He was given his nickname "The Bird" by his Minor League manager because of his resemblance to the "Sesame Street" character 'Big Bird', and his gyrations on the pitcher's mound. He won the Rookie of the Year Award over Butch Wynegar of the Twins, and was the Cy Young runner-up to Jim Palmer of the Orioles. After his injury, Mark went 10-10 over the next four seasons, and his career was over.

4. I began my career with the Athletics. I was the first rookie in history to bat over .400 in a season. Even with that, I still didn't win the batting title. I played in 13 seasons before leaving baseball, and had a .358 career average. I was in the top 10 for the MVP voting four times also. My final season was with the White Sox. The Hall of Fame will never induct me. Who am I?

Answer: Joe Jackson

Nicknamed "Shoeless Joe", Jackson played in very limited duty in his first three seasons, and still had rookie status with the Indians in 1911. He batted a tremendous .408, but lost the batting crown to Ty Cobb who had a .420 season average. Jackson was one of a few players on the Chicago White Sox team who was banned from baseball in 1920 for his participation in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal. That scandal was rigging the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.

5. This Detroit Tiger was the fourth player in history to hit 50 home runs in a season. Hall of Fame great Hank Aaron would also adopt his nickname later in the century. The Tiger would play in only 13 seasons, but still hit 331 career home runs. Who is this Hall of Famer?

Answer: Hank Greenberg

Greenberg and Aaron had the nickname of "Hammerin Hank". The first four sluggers to hit 50 home runs in a season were Babe Ruth, Hack Wilson, Jimmie Foxx, then Greenberg's 58 in 1938. Greenberg went to four World Series with the Tigers, winning two. He retired after one season with the Pirates in 1947. The hall took him in 1956.

6. This Hall of Famer played in only one Major League game, long enough to bat one time with a strikeout, and commit one error at first base. That was it for his playing career. Trying his hand at managing, he had the reins of one team for 23 seasons, going to seven World Series. An illness make him step down with only four games left in a season, opening the door for new manager Tom Lasorda. Who was this manager?

Answer: Walter Alston

Nicknamed "Smokey", Alston played his sole game in 1936 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Manager Frankie Frisch was not impressed with Walt, and that was as far as his playing career went. He managed the Dodgers from 1954-1976, taking the team to their first-ever World Series title in 1955.

There would be three more World Series crowns to come under Alston. Walt was inducted into the hall in 1983, then died in 1984.

7. Cy Young was the first player in history to win a strikeout crown in both the American and National Leagues. Who was the next player to accomplish this?

Answer: Nolan Ryan

Young's first crown was in 1896 with the Cleveland Spiders of the National League, then with the Boston Americans of the American League in 1901. Ryan, wearing both the number 30 and 34, won seven titles with the California Angels from 1972-1979, then two with the Astros in 1987 and 1988.

He wasn't done yet, as he won two more back in the American League with the Rangers in 1989 and 1990. Randy Johnson accomplished this after Ryan by winning four with the Mariners, then five with the Diamondbacks. Hideo Nomo also pulled this off after Johnson, winning a crown with the Dodgers and the Red Sox.

8. The Angels franchise began as an expansion team in 1961. Where did they play their home games during their inaugural season?

Answer: Wrigley Field

Having nothing to do with P.K. Wrigley, the chewing magnate which the Chicago Cubs' home park was built in honor of, the Angels had their own Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. When Dodger Stadium was finished in 1962 for the city's National League team, it was shared by the Angels until 1965 while the concession companies were making huge profits by having two teams in the same ballpark. Anaheim Stadium was built and ready for the Angels in 1966.

The Angels experienced their first postseason in an ALCS loss to the Orioles in 1979.

Their first World Series appearance and championship both came in 2002 against the Giants.

9. In 1986, pitcher Roger Clemens had a tremendous season by going 24-4. His season performance came close but did not break the winning percentage record of Yankee Ron Guidry, who went 25-3 in 1978. Whose 1951 winning percentage record did Guidry break with a minimum of 20 wins?

Answer: Preacher Roe

The others listed did not exist in Major League Baseball. After playing in five seasons with the Cardinals and Pirates, Roe became a Dodger in 1948. His 1951 record of going 22-3 set a new Major League record. Although Guidry broke Roe's Major League record, Preacher still held the National League record.

10. Which lonely Hall of Fame player set a record by playing in 2934 games in the outfield?

Answer: Ty Cobb

Cobb must have felt like he was in the cornfields, playing in almost 3000 games by standing out in the outfield by himself. He played in a total of 2954 games over 24 seasons. He also appeared as a first baseman 14 times, a pitcher three times, twice as a second baseman, and once at the hot corner at third base. Cobb played from 1905-1928.

Source: Author Nightmare

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Slightly Simmered Baseballs Trivia Quiz

A mix of baseball to hopefully make you think. The pictures might help you with clues about the answer. I hope you enjoy it. :)

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