New York Prowess Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dodgers

The Giants franchise began it all in 1883 as the New York Gothams. 1885 saw them change to the New York Giants until 1958, when they moved to San Francisco. The Yankees began it all in 1901 as the Baltimore Orioles, then became the New York Highlanders in 1903. 1913 saw them bring in the Yankee name. The Mets began their endeavors in 1962 as the Mets. The Dodger franchise had already changed their name six times before the end of the 19th Century. Their names included the Brooklyn Atlantics, Grays, Grooms, Bridegrooms, and Superbas.

Answer: Yankees

Pitcher Christy Mathewson of the Giants and the great Babe Ruth of the Yankees were both inducted in 1936. Ruth was inducted with 95.1% of the balloting, while Mathewson took 90.7%. The other three inaugural inductees were Ty Cobb (98.2%), Honus Wagner (95.1%), and Walter Johnson (83.6%).

Answer: New York Giants

In only the fourth season of Major League Baseball, the Giants went 106-47 in 1904. Without a starting player hitting .300 in the season, the pitching staff made up for it. Joe McGinnity led the mound by going 35-8, Christy Mathewson went 33-12, Dummy Taylor went 21-15, and Hooks Wiltse was 13-3. There was no World Series played in 1904.

Answer: Brooklyn Dodgers

The Cy Young Award was first presented in 1956, one year after and in honor of the death of Hall of Fame great Cy Young. Don Newcombe of the Dodgers was the first pitcher to win the award. He won it over Dodger teammate Sal Maglie. Newcombe also won the 1956 NL MVP.

Answer: Mets

After managing the lowly Washington Senators for a few seasons, Hodges came over to helm the Mets in 1968. The Mets had already lost 100+ games in a season numerous times. The 1968 Mets would go 73-89 for a ninth place finish, then win the World Series in 1969.

Answer: Giants

The Giants appeared in the second-ever World Series in 1905. They met Connie Mack and his Philadelphia Athletics. The Giants won it all four games to one. They would win two more before another New York team would take bragging rights. The Yankees won their first crown in 1923, the Dodgers in 1955, and the Mets in 1969.

Answer: Don Larsen

The others never played for a New York team. Don Larsen came through big, when in the 1956 World Series he threw a perfecto against the Dodgers in game five. The Yankees would win the series, four games to three.

Answer: Brooklyn Dodgers

The Rookie of the Year Award began in 1947, with Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers winning it. The Dodgers followed up with pitcher Don Newcombe in 1949, pitcher Joe Black in 1952, and second baseman Jim Gilliam in 1953. Of the other teams, Willie Mays of the Giants was the first for his team to win it in 1951 in the National League, while Gil McDougald of the Yankees won it for the American League in 1951.

The first Mets Rookie of the Year Award winner was Tom Seaver in 1967.

Answer: Brooklyn Dodgers

The original Polo Grounds was built for the Gothams (Giants) in 1883. Polo Grounds IV was erected in 1911, and the Giants used the field until 1957 prior to moving to San Francisco. The Yankees played all their home games at Polo Grounds IV from 1913-1922, before moving into their new Yankee Stadium in 1923.

The Mets used the Polo Grounds IV in their first two seasons in 1962 and 1963. It was demolished the following April. Brooklyn played their home games at Washington Park III and Ebbets Field.

Answer: New York Yankees

The Chairman of the Board was Yankee pitcher Whitey Ford. Ford won the sixth Cy Young Award handed out in 1961. He was the second Yankee to win it, after Bob Turley in 1958. Between 1950-1964, Whitey went to 11 World Series with the Yankees. He was inducted into the hall in 1974.