Strike a Match in the World Series Quiz

Answer: Sandy Koufax

It was the 1965 World Series which pitted the Dodgers against the Minnesota Twins. Koufax refused to pitch in game one due to Yom Kippur and Sandy being Jewish. Instead, Don Drysdale opened the series and it threw the Dodger rotation out of kilter. The Dodgers lost the first two games in the series but would come back to take the series crown four games to three.

Answer: Reggie Jackson

Some baseball fans are aware that Jackson hit three home runs with three swings in game six of the 1977 World Series against the Dodgers. However, Reggie hit a home in his final at-bat in game five which was the start of four consecutive home runs. The Yankees won the series four games to two, and "Mr. October" won the World Series MVP Award.

It was his second WS MVP after he won his first in 1973 with the Athletics.

Answer: Bobby Richardson

Bobby was a 12-season and career New York Yankee second baseman. It was the 1960 World Series against the Pirates. Richardson batted .367 with six singles, two doubles, two triples, a home run, and eight RBIs. It was all for not as the Pirates won the series via a walk-off home run by another second baseman, Bill Mazeroski.

The World Series MVP Award began in 1955 with five pitchers winning the first five awards. They were Johnny Podres, Don Larsen, Lew Burdette, Bob Turley, and Larry Sherry.

Answer: Christy Mathewson

It was Mathewson of the New York Giants in the 1905 World Series against the Philadelphia Athletics. Christy played workhorse from the mound by pitching not only three games in six days, but all three were shutouts. The Giants won the series four games to one. With Mathewson taking three of those wins, teammate Joe McGinnity also threw a shutout in game four with his 1-0 win.

The Athletics scored only three total runs in the series.

Answer: Earl Combs

It was the 1927 World Series that watched Murderer's Row take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Yankees took their season terror into the World Series and blanked the Pirates four games to none. Although the Yankees didn't need any help, game four was given to them in the bottom of the ninth inning with the score tied at 3-3. Pirate pitcher Johnny Miljus threw a wild pitch past catcher Johnny Gooch and both watched Combs score from third. Miljus initially walked Combs to start the bottom of the inning, then Combs went to second on a bunt single by shortstop Mark Koenig. Up to the plate came the great Babe Ruth, and Miljus threw a wild pitch to the Babe letting Combs advance to third. Miljus then intentionally walked Ruth to load the bases.

After striking out Lou Gehrig and Bob Meusel, Tony Lazzeri came to the plate. Tony stood and watched the second wild pitch of the inning let Combs score and the series was over.

Answer: Ted Williams

The career Red Sox outfielder had hit .342 in the 1946 season. He finished MVP runner-up to Yankee great Joe DiMaggio. The 1946 World Series saw the Red Sox up against Stan Musial and the St. Louis Cardinals. It was Ted's only World Series and he certainly didn't come through like Bostonians would have hoped.

In 25 at-bats, Williams had only five singles with one RBI. He also struck out five times.

Answer: Bill Mazeroski

Maz spent all his 17 seasons at second base for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The series was in 1960 which pitted the Pirates against the Yankees. It was baseball's first walk-off World Series ending home run in history. The Pirates were blown out in three games by the Yankees, 12-0, 10-0, and 16-3, but came back to win the series. Ralph Terry threw the pitch in the 10-9 game seven and series loss. Mazeroski never hit 20 home runs in a season in his entire career.

Answer: Hughie Jennings

It was the 1907 World Series with the Chicago Cubs going head-to-head with the Detroit Tigers. Jennings was the player-manager of the Tigers but did not play in the series. He was ejected in game two by umpire John Sheridan after he called Ty Cobb out after an attempted stolen base. Jennings and the Tigers were beginning a run of three consecutive World Series appearances but would lose two at the hands of the Cubs, and one to Pittsburgh. Hughie was inducted by the Old Timers Committee into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1945.

Answer: Jose Canseco

Jose had a great season in 1988 with the Athletics. His MVP season was due to his league-leading 42 home runs and 124 RBIs. The Athletics faced the Dodgers in the series in 1988 and things didn't go well for either Oakland or Canseco. In 22 plate appearances, Jose could muster only one hit and batted a measly .053 for his efforts.

The Dodgers rolled over the Athletics four games to one.

Answer: Jim Palmer

Palmer was 20 years, 11 months, and 21 days old when he threw a shutout against the Dodgers in the 1966 World Series. It was game two with Jim up against the great Sandy Koufax. Nicknamed "Cakes", Palmer would blank the Dodgers 6-0 in a four-hit shutout. Jim went 15-10 in the 1966 season and went on to be a 20-game winner an amazing eight times in his career.

He retired in 1984 and was a 1990 Hall of Fame inductee after pitching his entire 19-season career with the Orioles.