Famous 15 - 15 Questions Reflecting Sports History Quiz

Answer: Greg Maddux

He was a Gold Glove player and his 18 Gold Gloves were the most by any pitcher in MLB history, surpassing Jim Kaat's 16. He was known for his form when he finished throwing a pitch. This form allowed him to be in position like an infielder, always balanced and ready, allowing him to dive for grounders and leap for line drives.

Answer: Sammy Sosa and Tony Gwynn

In the commercial, Sammy Sosa notably talks about a trade, telling Tony Gwynn, "Don't take it so hard Tony, I got traded for Wade Boggs, and a side of rice pilaf". This line referred to the common perception that the baseball cards given away at Denny's had little market value at the time, making the side dish seem like a more valuable part of the trade for a star player's baseball card.

Answer: Neil Rackers

Neil Rackers...rack 'em up! He was also notorious for eating at La Salsa burritos. He was an American former professional football player who was a placekicker for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini. Rackers was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft, and also played for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans.

Answer: 8

He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018. The Bears improved from their 6-10, 2000 record, to a stellar 13-3, 2001 season. Brian Urlacher had 8 sacks in his rookie season (2000) with the Chicago Bears, a career-high for him that season, leading the team and earning him the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. In 2012, in the final year of his playing, Urlacher won the Ed Block Courage Award, given to those who showed a commitment to sportsmanship and courage.

Answer: Black Magic

The New Zealand boat that beat the U.S. in the 1995 America's Cup was Black Magic (NZL 32), representing Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. It swept the defending U.S. yacht, Young America, 5-0 in San Diego. It was Skippered by Russell Coutts and led by Sir Peter Blake.

It was this fast black-hulled yacht which secured New Zealand's first-ever America's Cup victory.

Answer: True

While his longest field goal in an actual high school game was 60 yards (the second-longest in Florida history at the time), reports and personal accounts confirm he successfully booted an 82-yard field goal during a practice session. Sebastian went on to a highly successful 18-season NFL career, mostly with the Raiders.

At one point he tied the NFL record for the longest field goal in a game with a 63-yarder in 2011.

Answer: Ozzie Smith

He revolutionized the position with his acrobatic defense by winning 13 Gold Gloves, and wore the iconic number 1 jersey for most of his career. His nickname was "The Wizard" / "The Wizard of Oz". He was born, like many Hall of Fame players, in Mobile, Alabama.

Answer: Corey Pavin

Corey was an American professional golfer. In 1982, Pavin turned professional but failed at PGA Tour Qualifying School. His nickname is the "Bulldog". His highest ranking was in June 1996 when he was ranked the number two player in the world.

Answer: Orel Hershiser

Orel took the record from Don Drysdale by going 59 innings. It was Hershiser of the Los Angeles Dodgers who set the Major League Baseball record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched, with 59 innings during the 1988 season. He broke Don Drysdale's previous record of 58. Orel was known as "the Bulldog", a name given to him by his manager Tommy Lasorda.

Answer: Sammy Sosa

The Incident: On June 4, 2003, during a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Sosa hit a grounder and broke his bat. Umpires discovered cork inside, leading to his ejection and a seven-game suspension. Sosa claimed he grabbed the wrong bat by mistake and apologized, stating, "I lost the fans and they have been great to me.

It's a mistake, and I take the blame for it". The incident sparked controversy, with some questioning Sosa's integrity, though the Cubs supported him, and investigations found no cork in his other bats.

Answer: John Wetteland

John Wetteland supposedly wore the same hat for the entire season. Without getting a decision (a win), he saved 4 games in the Series, and helped beat the Braves.He recorded a record-tying four saves in the series to help the Yankees defeat the Atlanta Braves. The Yankees beat the Braves 4 games to 2. While with the New York Yankees he was known for mentoring Mariano Rivera.

Answer: Jerome Bettis

He attended Notre Dame for three seasons. He played in the NFL for 13 seasons (1993 to 2005). Bettis received the nickname "the Bus" during his time at Notre Dame. A reporter at the university's newspaper, "The Observer", came up with it, stating that he looked like a bus taking guys for a ride. During the games the students would chant, "Nobody stops the bus!" and that stuck for the rest of his tenure at the school.

However, Bettis was given the nickname "the Closer" by his Steeler head coach Bill Cowher because whenever Pittsburgh was ahead at the end of the game, Cowher would send in Bettis to run out the clock.

Answer: A. Bartlett Giamatti

Controversial doesn't even begin to explain, but in time, let's hope that Pete gets in the Hall of Fame. The Commissioner of Baseball banned Rose in August 1989 for betting on games. He negotiated a deal with Rose, who was managing the Cincinnati Reds, to accept permanent ineligibility, ending the investigation and preventing a formal hearing into his gambling activities. Rose was known for playing for the Big Red Machine, know as the Cincinnati Reds. Giamatti Giamatti served as Commissioner for only five months before dying suddenly of a heart attack.

Answer: Chris Sabo

The 1988 National League Rookie of the Year (NL ROY) was Chris Sabo, the scrappy third baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, who earned the award with his hustle, power (11 HR), speed (46 SB), and strong defense, leading the Reds to a World Series title two years later and beating out runners-up like Mark Grace and Tim Belcher. Chris Sabo is famous for his iconic "Rec Specs" goggles.

He was a Pete Rose clone.

Answer: Dante Culpepper

He was a highly decorated player, earning accolades like the Sammy Baugh Trophy (Passer of the Year) in 1998. In college he played for the UCF Knights. Culpepper was adopted when he was a day old and raised as one of over 15 children of the late Emma Lewis Culpepper, who worked in the correctional facility where his mother was held.