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Missed It By That Much! Trivia Quiz

All multiple choice quiz about those who almost won a MVP Award in a season, but had to settle for being the runner-up spot. I hope that you have fun with this, because you can do this! :)

A multiple-choice quiz by Nightmare. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Nightmare

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
316,844

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
674

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. After winning four MVPs in a row, Barry Bonds was finally dethroned in 2005 by the Cardinals' Albert Pujols. Which Atlanta Brave finished second to Pujols in the close NL MVP voting? Hint

Rickey Henderson

Andruw Jones

Marcus Giles

Derek Jeter

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Ken Caminiti was the first San Diego Padre to win the Most Valuable Player Award, when he won it in 1996. Which Dodger runner-up could only watch Caminiti's votes pile up? Hint

Ron Cey

Don Drysdale

Mike Piazza

Sandy Koufax

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Which New York Met finished runner-up to Dodger Kirk Gibson for the MVP Award in 1988? Hint

Darryl Strawberry

Eric Davis

John Franco

Brett Butler

4. After Dale Murphy of the Braves won consecutive MVPs in 1982 and 1983, Chicago Cub Ryne Sandberg took the title in 1984. Who was the runner-up in 1984, who was also once a co-MVP for the award prior? Hint

Terry Pendleton

Keith Hernandez

Cal Ripken Jr

Frank Robinson

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Jeff Bagwell became the first Houston Astro to win a MVP Award in 1994. Which San Francisco Giant fell short of preventing that? Hint

Matt Williams

Willie McCovey

Willie Mays

Matty Alou

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In 1998, Juan Gonzalez of the Rangers bagged the season AL MVP. Which Boston Red Sox player in 1998, and later 2006 Los Angeles Dodger was Juan's runner-up? Hint

Nomar Garciaparra

Carlos Delgado

Rafael Palmeiro

Mike Jackson

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. In 1911, the first American League MVP Award was presented to Ty Cobb of the Detroit Tigers. Who was runner-up to Cobb in the first-ever MVP voting? Hint

Guy Bush

Ed Walsh

Lou Gehrig

Jimmie Foxx

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Hal Newhouser was the only pitcher to win consecutive MVP awards in 100 seasons of Major League Baseball. He won back-to-back awards in 1944 and 1945. Who were the runner-ups in each season? Hint

Roy Schalk and Doc Cramer

Dutch Leonard

Vern Stephens and Bob Johnson

Dizzy Trout and Eddie Mayo

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. In 1935, Hank Greenberg won the first of his two MVP awards. Who was runner-up to Greenberg in that season? Hint

Wes Ferrell

Robin Roberts

Roy Campanella

Whitey Ford

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. George Bell was the first Toronto Blue Jay to win a MVP Award, but almost didn't make it in this 1987 close balloting. Which Detroit Tiger was the runner-up? Hint

Ron LeFlore

Alan Trammell

Mickey Stanley

Willie Horton

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. After winning four MVPs in a row, Barry Bonds was finally dethroned in 2005 by the Cardinals' Albert Pujols. Which Atlanta Brave finished second to Pujols in the close NL MVP voting?

Answer: Andruw Jones

Albert pulled in 378 votes to Jones' 351. Pujols had five more first place votes than Andruw. After winning the MVP from 2001-2004, Bonds would not place in the top 50, due to playing in only 14 games in the 2005 season.

2. Ken Caminiti was the first San Diego Padre to win the Most Valuable Player Award, when he won it in 1996. Which Dodger runner-up could only watch Caminiti's votes pile up?

Answer: Mike Piazza

The others were all retired many seasons earlier. Ken Caminiti's name was on 100% of the ballots cast in 1996, while the runner-up Piazza was on only 60%. Caminiti took every single first place vote. Ken hit 40 home runs and batted .326 in the season. He also won his second Gold Glove at third base in the season.

3. Which New York Met finished runner-up to Dodger Kirk Gibson for the MVP Award in 1988?

Answer: Darryl Strawberry

The others weren't Mets in 1988. With the voting score of 272-236, Gibson took only four more first place votes than Strawberry. Strawberry hit 14 more home runs (39) than Gibson, and had 25 more RBIs also.

Answer: Keith Hernandez

Hernandez was a New York Met in 1984, and finished with only one first place MVP vote. Sandberg had 22, while Tony Gwynn was the only other player to receive a first place vote. Hernandez was a St. Louis Cardinal in 1979, and was co-MVP with Willie Stargell of the Pirates.

5. Jeff Bagwell became the first Houston Astro to win a MVP Award in 1994. Which San Francisco Giant fell short of preventing that?

Answer: Matt Williams

The others retired at least 10 seasons earlier. Bagwell appeared on 100% of the ballots, and was the only player to receive first place votes (28). Williams was the runner-up with 281, compared to Bagwell's 392.

6. In 1998, Juan Gonzalez of the Rangers bagged the season AL MVP. Which Boston Red Sox player in 1998, and later 2006 Los Angeles Dodger was Juan's runner-up?

Answer: Nomar Garciaparra

Nomar played with Boston from 1996-2004. He also played for the Cubs before becoming a Dodger in 2006. Gonzalez took 357 point votes to Garciaparra's 232. Jeff Burroughs was the first Ranger to win the MVP, when he won it in 1974. The others listed never played with Boston.

7. In 1911, the first American League MVP Award was presented to Ty Cobb of the Detroit Tigers. Who was runner-up to Cobb in the first-ever MVP voting?

Answer: Ed Walsh

The others did not begin their Major League career for at least 10 seasons. Cobb was on 100% of the ballots in 1911, totaling 64 first place voting points overall. Ed Walsh, a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, went 27-18 with a 2.22 ERA in the season. Ed received 35 first place votes, had 55% of all votes. Neither team went to the World Series in 1911.

8. Hal Newhouser was the only pitcher to win consecutive MVP awards in 100 seasons of Major League Baseball. He won back-to-back awards in 1944 and 1945. Who were the runner-ups in each season?

Answer: Dizzy Trout and Eddie Mayo

Hal Newhouser led the league in wins and ERA in each season, and went 29-9 and 25-9 for Tigers, respectively. While most of the superstars of that era were off fighting in World War II, Newhouser attempted to join the service multiple times, but was refused service because of a heart condition.

9. In 1935, Hank Greenberg won the first of his two MVP awards. Who was runner-up to Greenberg in that season?

Answer: Wes Ferrell

The others listed did not begin their Major League careers for at least another 10 seasons. Wes Ferrell was a pitcher and won a league-leading 25 games in 1935. Greenberg was on 100% of the ballots, and a total of 80 first place voting points. Ferrell received 62 points on the balloting.

10. George Bell was the first Toronto Blue Jay to win a MVP Award, but almost didn't make it in this 1987 close balloting. Which Detroit Tiger was the runner-up?

Answer: Alan Trammell

The others were all Tigers, but had already retired. The 1987 voting points was 332-311, and awarded to Bell in one of the closest MVP chases. Bell had 16 first place votes while Trammell had 12.

Source: Author Nightmare

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