Decade in a Box: 1890s Quiz | MLB by Season

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In the 1890s, there were only two Championship Series (later World Series) during the decade. The first in 1890 saw the Brooklyn Bridegrooms (later Dodgers) defeat the Louisville Colonels. The second in 1892, saw the Boston Beaneaters (later Braves) defeat which team led by the great Cy Young?

Answer: Cleveland Spiders

No other team existed in 1892. Young went 36-12 for the Spiders in the season, good enough for a second place finish behind the Beaneaters. Boston won the series five games to none with one tie. 36 wins was a career high for Young who was later inducted into the Hall of Fame, and had the Cy Young pitching award named after him.

2. This 1966 Hall of Fame inductee was born on July 30, 1890. He played in 14 seasons, then later in life he managed the Yankees to 10 World Series appearances in a 12-year span. Who was he?

Answer: Casey Stengel

The others never managed the Yankees. Nicknamed the 'Old Perfessor', Casey played mostly for Brooklyn and New York of the National League. The later 60-year old took the Yankees to 10 of 12 World Series between 1949-1960 as a manager. His induction to the hall was 11 years before his death in 1975.

3. This 1899 player led all players in the decade when he blasted 25 home runs in the season. Which slugger was this?

Answer: Buck Freeman

The others were not born yet. Freeman hit 25, which was a monsterous total in the early baseball. He did this for his Washington Senators, but they still finished in 11th place of 12 teams in the standings. The pitcher and outfielder played for 11 seasons and retired with 82 home runs.

4. Which of the following items did umpires have in the 1890s?

Answer: Police protection

The personal protective equipment did not come into play for them for many years later. All umpires were given police protection during the decade, mainly because St. Louis owner Von der Ahe encouraged rowdyism in the 1880s. In the 1890s, fan abuse occurred at an all-time high to umpires, although the saying, "kill the umpire", was never actually carried out.

5. The owner of the first professional baseball team in history died in 1892. Who was this who wrote the first set of baseball rules?

Answer: Alexander Cartwright

The others weren't even born yet. Cartwright owned the Knickerbocker Baseball Club of New York in 1846, then played the first professional game against the New York Nines. Cartwright umpired the game but his team still lost by over 15 runs. He was inducted into the hall in 1938 for being a baseball pioneer.

6. Which league did not exist in the 1890s?

Answer: Federal League

There were three leagues in the 1890s. The Players League folded after their only season in 1890, and the American Association which began in 1882, folded after the 1891 season. The National League began in 1876, and continued consistently throughout the 20th century.

The Federal League existed for only two seasons from 1914-1915 and tried to become the third major league. It did not pan out.

7. Throughout the 1890s, there were 13 teams that played in the National League at some time. How many teams played throughout the entire decade in the league?

Answer: 8

The eight teams were the Boston Beaneaters (later Braves), Chicago Colts/Orphans (later Cubs), Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Spiders, Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Grooms/Superbas (later Dodgers), Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Alleghenys/Pirates, and the New York Giants.

8. Which team in 1899 folded, then had their all-stars join the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1900?

Answer: Louisville Colonels

The other teams were all members of the 1914 Federal League. The Colonels were not a good team during the time they spent with the National League in the 1890s. They finished no better than eighth place in their eight NL seasons. The team rostered Dummy Hoy, Fred Clarke, Honus Wagner, and Tommy Leach.

The Pirates were rewarded with the new talent by winning three consecutive NL pennants from 1901-1903.

9. The worst team in the 1890s decade set a baseball record for losing 134 games in a season, a record never likely to be duplicated. Which miserable team received this distinction?

Answer: Cleveland Spiders

The other teams were all part of the 1875 National Association League that went defunct. The Spiders folded after their horrendous season in 1899. They went 20-134. Cleveland finished in last place (12th), 84 games behind the pennant-winning Brooklyn Superbas.

The Spiders rostered Chief Louis Sockalexis in his third season. He was the first Indian to play, which who the Cleveland Indians were named after in 1901.

10. In 1897, baseball lost a great pitcher who set a record for winning 59 games in the 1884 season. Who was this Hall of Fame pitcher nicknamed 'Old Hoss'?

Answer: Charley Radbourn

The others were not born yet. Radbourn went an amazing 59-12 in 1884 with the Providence Grays. Although with rules changes for the season, and it was made for the pitchers, Radbourn set a mark not likely to be met. Even before those major rules changes in 1884, Charley went 48-25 in 1883.

He died on February 5, 1897, and was inducted into the hall in 1939 with a 309-195 career record.

Source: Author Nightmare

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Decade in a Box: 1890s Trivia Quiz

Another all multiple choice quiz about some decades in professional baseball. This is the 1890s of baseball. I hope that you find something new! :-)

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