A Guy Named Bill Trivia Quiz

Answer: "Memphis" Bill

"Memphis" Bill was born in Atlanta but moved to Memphis as a young man, married his sweetheart and got a job with Standard Oil. He was playing for their semi-pro team when a scout for the New York Giants discovered him.

When New York manager John McGraw offered Terry a chance to play in the majors he got an unexpected reply. Instead of being thrilled to have the chance, Terry asked him: "For how much?" According to the Society for American Baseball Research website, he further went on to tell McGraw: "If I can make more money (than my current job) going to New York, I'll go...Remember, I didn't come (to you) looking for a job."

Answer: "Sliding" Billy

"Sliding" Billy actually had more runs than games played. He scored 1,697 runs in 1,594 games. Four times he stole over 100 bases and in 1893, playing for Philadelphia, batted .380. Unlike, perhaps, some of the other stars of his era "Sliding" Billy Hamilton was not a rowdy fellow.

He did not drink. He preferred the family life to one of carousing. He reserved his rowdiness for the baseball field where he ran and hit with abandon.

Answer: "Whispering" Bill

Barrett was indeed a utility player, playing every infield and outfield position during his career. He even appeared in four games as a pitcher in 1921-although he walked 9 of the 25 batters he faced and had an earned run average of 7.20. As a hitter he was good but not exceptional. His career batting average was .288. Perhaps his most notable baseball achievement was stealing home twice in the same game, which he accomplished on May 1, 1924 against the Indians.

A Washington Post story from 1925 included this about "Whispering" Bill: "Bill Barrett's chief difficulty in life is to remain quiet. He doesn't succeed very well."

Answer: "Bad" Bill

"Bad" Bill got his nickname because he often feuded with teammates and umpires. He managed from 1910-1913 (615 games) and was ejected 65 times - a healthy 10.5% rate of ejection. He was also known to skip games because he was mad about something someone may or may not have done.

Dahlen was an excellent fielder for the era. He stands among the career leaders in assists with 8,138 and among the leaders for putouts among shortstops with 4,856. But then he also made the leader board with 1,080 career errors. He was also a good hitter, setting a record with a 42-game hitting streak in 1894 - the year he batted .359.

When John McGraw traded with the Dodgers to get "Bad" Bill for the Giants he called it the most successful deal he ever made (Society for American Baseball Research website).

Answer: "Wild" Bill

"Wild" Bill threw eleven wild pitches three times and threw ten wild pitches once in his career. On the plus side, he led the league in strikeouts twice (both times also leading the league in walks). As a member of the Gashouse Gang, Hallahan appeared in four World Series recording two shutouts and an overall earned run average of 1.36 for the St. Louis Cardinals. Since he was such a good pitcher it may not surprise you to know that he was the National League's starting pitcher in the first ever All-Star Game, held in 1933. Since he was named "Wild" Bill it also may not surprise you to know that he walked five of the thirteen batters he faced (and gave up hits to two others).

Answer: "Big" Bill

"Big" Bill pitched for Cleveland in 1911 and 1912. He pitched for the St. Louis Browns in 1914 and 1915. He was traded to Detroit in 1915 and played with them until 1919. He finished his career with the Chicago White Sox in 1919 and pitched in the last game of the World Series that year. This was his brush with fame. He relieved "Lefty" Williams after Williams gave up four runs while only getting one out in the first inning. Williams was one of the so-called "Black Sox" who conspired to throw the series.

Answer: "Broadway" Bill

"Broadway" Bill was known variously as "The Clown Prince" and "Madman Muntz II" during his playing days with the minor league Los Angeles Angels. He would scamper across the field from first to third when it was obvious he would be forced out at second, climb onto the backstop to jabber at hecklers, pretend to faint when being called out, and once, after nearly being hit with a pitch, "Broadway" Bill pretended to dig a hole in the batter's box with his bat, then crawled behind the catcher and waved a white flag at the pitcher. He was a mediocre player in the major leagues whose main claim to fame was being Honus Wagner's roommate on the road.

A Los Angeles Times sportswriter probably best summarized Schuster's personality when he wrote: "He is probably the last person in the world to be wrecked with on a desert island." (Previous is according to SportspressNW's website.)

Answer: "Scrappy" Bill

"Scrappy" Bill broke into the major leagues with the Brooklyn Wonders in 1890. He also played for the Boston Red Stockings, Brooklyn Bridegrooms, Washington Senators and New York Giants. His best year was 1894 when he hit .355 with seventeen home runs. Perhaps Joyce's biggest claim to fame, other than fighting with opposing players, was being responsible for the term "Texas leaguer". In his first at-bat with Toledo of the International League, Joyce, who had come from the Texas League, hit a bloop single over the infield. The next batter, who had also come from the Texas League, also hit a bloop single over the infield. From that time on these bloop hits became known as "Texas Leaguers".

(He should not be confused with the William Joyce who broadcast propaganda for the Nazis during WWII as "Lord Haw Haw". To my knowledge that William Joyce could not hit a major league fastball.)

Answer: "Good Time" Bill

"Good Time" Bill broke into the major leagues at the age of twenty. His best years were with the Athletics from 1924 to 1927 when he batted as high as .356 and .321 overall for those four seasons. After the 1927 season he was traded to the Washington Senators but refused to sign when they would not give him a raise. He thought they needed him. They didn't. He never played in the major leagues again.

Clark Griffith, the Senators owner, said at the time: "Lamar...tried to hold us up but he was barking up the wrong tree."

Answer: "Seattle" Bill

"Seattle" Bill had one big year with the Braves. He went 26-7 in 1914 for a .788 winning percentage. He also had thirty complete games in 37 starts. The next year he was only 5-4 in ten starts. Then WWI intervened. He came back in 1919 but only pitched five innings and he was done. The Seattle part of his nickname came from his play at Seattle in the Northwestern League. He pitched remarkably there in 1912. He finished the season 29-7 with a 2.17 earned run average as the team took the League crown. At one point he won sixteen games in a row.

They couldn't name him "Big" Bill James because Cleveland already had a "Big" Bill James. Cleveland also had a "Lefty" William James. I suppose they could have called him "Righty" Bill James but, while there has been a team-load of "Lefty's", I am not aware of any baseball player ever being nicknamed "Righty".