Pinches of Baseball Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cy Young

Young was starting 50 games in a season during the 1890s. His best season was 36-12 with the Clevland Spiders in 1892. He was a 30-game winner five times. The others never won 30 games in a season. Carlton's best was in 1972 with the Phillies, winning the Cy Young Award with his 27-10 record. Spahn of the Braves went 23-7 in both 1953 and 1963. Ryan went 22-16 with the Angels in 1974.

Answer: Tony LaRussa

The others had not won even 2000 games in their careers. Tony was in his 31st season and 14th with the Cardinals in 2009. LaRussa left the season with 2552 wins, number three on the all-time managerial record behind the great Connie Mack and John McGraw.

Answer: St. Louis Cardinals

This was started all by Ken Griffey Jr. who called Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. Griffey wanted to wear the number 42 on that day to honor Robinson. From there, Selig communicated with all Major League teams and asked them to outfit just a few players with the 42.

The Cardinals came out big with everyone wearing the number 42. The Dodgers, Astros, and Phillies also went over and above, and had every member of the team wear the number 42 on that day also.

Answer: Fred McGriff

The others were already retired before the 2000 season. Nicknamed 'Crime Dog', it was the first of 27 home runs that he hit in the season for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Fred retired in 2004, just short of the 500 Home Run Club with 493.

Answer: Kenesaw Landis

After the 1919 World Series and Black Sox Scandal, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis took over the new position to 'help' straighten out the game of baseball with the rules, gambling, and other issues. Ban Johnson was the American League President from 1901-1927, Cronin was in the same position from 1959-1973, and Chandler succeeded Landis as Commissioner of Baseball in 1945.

Answer: Pittsburgh Pirates

All the other teams listed went to two World Series in the 1980s. The Pirates had just won the 1979 World Series against the Orioles, but came up dry in the 1980s without even one postseason game appearance.

Answer: Jack Clements

Left-handed catchers in baseball go as much together as peanut butter and spinach. Clements played his career from 1884-1900. 14 of those seasons was with the Philadelphia Quakers/Phillies. He retired with 1073 games caught behind the plate as a left-hander.

Answer: He hit the batter

The game was against the Philadelphia Phillies, and the batter was George McQuillan. Wiltse and the Giants won the game in the 10th inning, and Hooks was still credited with a no-hitter. Wiltse hit a career-high nine batters in the season.

Answer: 1994

1969 was the emergence of the new American League Division Series and the National League Division Series in the postseason. In 1994, the National League shifted some teams to the new Central Division. They were the Reds, Pirates, Astros, Cardinals, and Cubs.

The American League moved the White Sox, Indians, Royals, Twins, and Brewers to their new Central Division also. Ironically, 1994 was a strike-shortened season, and no postseason or World Series was played.

Answer: Tommie

Tommie Lee Aaron actually played in the same outfield with his brother Hank on the Braves from 1962-1971, while Hank was a Brave from 1954-1974. That was it for Tommie's career. Tommie hit 13 career home runs, while brother Hank hit a few more with 755. Tommie died in 1984.