Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In 1999, Mark McGwire was the first player in history to belt 50+ home runs in a season four years in a row. Beginning in 1996, he hit 52, 58, 70, and 65, with both the Tigers and Cardinals. His home run total was cut in half in 2000 when he hit 32. 2001 saw Mark hit 29 in his final season before retiring. He won the 1987 Rookie of the Year Award, and also a Gold Glove in 1990.
2. Eddie Gaedel was a name that went down in history, as Indians' owner Bill Veeck had the 3'7" little one, pinch-hit in a game against the Tigers in a doubleheader in 1951. Gaedel wore the number 1/8 on his back. He was walked on four pitches from the arm of Bob Cain. Eddie was replaced by a pinch runner. Gaedel died in 1961, and pitcher Bob Cain attended his funeral.
3. The American League began in 1892 and fielded eight franchises, from Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Cleveland, and Milwaukee. The White Sox won the league's first pennant, but it was the Boston Pilgrims (later Red Sox) who won the first World Series in 1903.
4. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays almost tied a record in 2004 for finishing in last place six consecutive seasons. The record belonged to the Philadelphia Athletics from 1915-1921 with this humble stat. Tampa Bay was in their second season with Lou Piniella at the helm, but they still could only muster 70 wins. Only one pitcher won 10 games in the season. The franchise began in 1994.
5. 1987 saw the Minnesota Twins post the poorest road record for a pennant winner in history. It was good enough however to put them in their first World Series since moving from Washington. They met the St. Louis Cardinals and defeated them four games to three. Frank Viola won two games and took the series MVP award.
6. In Babe Ruth's final season in 1946, he received his final walk, number 2062 in his career. The Babe had come to play with the Boston Braves in hopes of landing a manager's position, but that never came about. Ruth hit his final six home runs of 714 in a Braves' uniform. He died in 1948.
7. The 1995 Colorado Rockies was the second team in history to have a lineup with four 30 home run players. With Galarraga, Walker, Castilla, and Bichette, they terrorized National League pitchers. The one problem with the team was that their pitching staff threw only one complete game in the season, and only three of their pitchers won 12 games each. They finished second in the Western Division behind the Dodgers.
8. Mike Marshall of the Los Angeles Dodgers made history by being the first pitcher in the Majors to appear in 100 games in a season. In 1974, Mike appeared in 106 games in relief, and had a record of 15-12 which won him a batting title. This was his first season in Los Angeles after being a relief pitcher with the Expos in 1973, where he appeared in 92 games.
9. When Bret Boone joined Seattle in 1992, following on the heels of grandfather Ray and father Bob, the Boone's became the first grandfather-father-son combination in baseball history. Combined, the Boone family had 5495 career hits, with Ray leading his family with 1260. Ray died in 2004.
10. Mickey Mantle, the all-time great Yankee donned the pinstripes in 1951 and he was off and running, hitting 13 home runs in 96 games. He won the Triple Crown in 1956 earning him MVP honors. To top that, he won it again in 1957, beating out Ted Williams of the Tigers. He was much overshadowed in 1961 by Roger Maris, who hit a record 61 home runs in the season, although Mickey had 54 of his own and batted almost 50 points higher. 1962 cinched another season MVP over runnerup teammate Bobby Richardson. The end came in 1968, after 18 seasons and 536 home runs, Mickey Mantle retired.
Source: Author
Nightmare
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