Jim Baker’s World Series quiz

Jim Baker wrote and administered this quiz at the World Series Watch Party on Saturday, Oct. 26. Answers are listed at the end. Jerry Miller won the quiz with 61 points, and Tom Thayer was second with 57 points.

TEAM SECTION

The first World Series of the so-called Modern Era was played in 1903. Since then, how many seasons did not end in a World Series and which seasons were they? (1 point each)

The Nationals (nee, Expos) are in their franchise’s first World Series this year, leaving just one franchise never to have made it to the Fall Classic. Which team is that? (1 point)

Since the advent of the LDS format in 1995, which two teams became World Champions while losing only one postseason game, going 11-1? (Team, 2 points each; Year, 1 point each)

In the same era, which two teams became World Champions in spite of losing seven postseason games? (Team, 2 points each; Year, 1 point each)

If the Nationals win the World Series in 2019, they will have to win 12 games to do it and will become the second wildcard team to do so since the advent of the play-in game in 2012. Name the first team to do it (Team and Year, 2 points each)

Which team had the worst regular season record ever for a World Champion? (1 point)

  1. 1985 Royals
  2. 2006 Cardinals
  3. 1987 Twins
  4. 2000 Yankees

INDIVIDUAL SECTION

Two legendary players were on either end of the first run scored in modern World Series history. Who was the pitcher who surrendered it and the player who got the RBI? (2 points each)


Who won the very first World Series MVP Award? (1 point)

  1. Mickey Mantle
  2. Lew Burdette
  3.  Don Larsen
  4.  Johnny Podres

Name the two Florida Marlins who were World Series MVPs. (2 points each)

Four Red Sox players have been World Series MVPs in the 21st Century. Which one of these players is NOT one of them? (1 point)

  1. Mike Lowell
  2. David Ortiz
  3. Curt Schilling
  4. Steve Pearce

Which of these players has the lowest career WAR ever by a Series MVP? (2 points)

  1. Larry Sherry, 1959 White Sox
  2. Ray Knight, 1986 Mets
  3. Bobby Richardson, 1960 Yankees
  4. Pat Borders, 1992 Blue Jays

Owing to ties, there are 13 players in the top 10 all-time World Series home run hitters. Of the 13, only four never appeared with the Yankees in a World Series. Three are Hall of Famers and the fourth is a recently retired second baseman who averaged a home run every 8 World Series plate appearances. Can you name any or all of the four? They have 11, 8, 7 and 7 Series homers respectively. (4 points each)

Three men have hit five homers in a Series and nine have hit four. Of those nine, who is the only one to do it in a sweep? It took him just 17 plate appearances. (3 points)

Who turned the first—and so far, only—unassisted triple play in World Series history? (3 points and an extra point each for naming his team and the year in which it took place and another point on top of that if you spelled his name correctly)

Give yourself a point for every member of the 1919 Chicago White Sox outside the infamous eight you can name (provided they appeared in the World Series). There are 11 of them, including a Hall of Famer, a player who shares his name with a famous modern comedian and another who shares his name with a famous sabermetrician. (11 points in total)

Did you put Lefty Williams on that list? Take him off! He was crooked and lost three games for the Black Sox in 1919. Now name the only pitcher who lost three games in a single World Series while trying to win. (3 points)

Name the only two pitchers with two World Series home runs. They each hit theirs in consecutive seasons over a four-year period from 1967 to 1970. (1 point each)

ANSWERS: Team Section

1904, 1994

The Seattle Mariners, born 1977

1999 Yankees and 2005 White Sox.

2011 Cardinals and 2017 Astros.

2014 Giants

2006 Cardinals, 82-79

ANSWERS: Individual Section

Cy Young of Boston and Honus Wagner of Pittsburgh

Johnny Podres, 1955

Livan Hernandez (1997) and Josh Beckett (2003)

Curt Schilling. Manny Ramirez was the fourth in 2004

Borders, 3.6; Sherry, 5.8; Richardson, 8.2; Steve Pearce, 9.7; Ralph Terry, 11.9; Bob Turley, 13.2; Ray Knight, 13.3

Duke Snider 11, Frank Robinson 8, Goose Goslin 7 and Chase Utley 7 in 56 PA

Lou Gehrig, 1928

Bill Wambsganss, 1920 Indians

Eddie Collins, Shano Collins, Bill James, Dickey Kerr, Nemo Leibold, Grover Lowdermilk, Byrd Lynn, Erskine Mayer, Eddie Murphy, Ray Schalk, Roy Wilkinson.

George Frazier, 1981 Yankees.

Bob Gibson, 1967 and 1968; Dave McNally, 1969 and 1970.