Baseball Quick Quiz - Brief Article

Baseball Digest, Nov, 2000

Collect ten points for each question answered correctly. (If you score 80 or better, you are a baseball expert; 70 or better, superior; between 60 and 70, good, and between 40 and 60, average.

This November Quick Quiz is a trivia challenge centered around major league catchers

1. This year, Mike Piazza of the Mets hit 30-plus home runs for the seventh time in his career, the most among catchers. He also has reached more than 30 homers in six consecutive campaigns. Through 1999, who is the only other catcher to post back-to-back 30-homer seasons: Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Yogi Berra or Lance Parrish?

2. In 1999, Ivan Rodriguez became the ninth catcher since 1931 to win a league MVP Award. For ten points, name four of the other eight catchers to win MVP honors.

3. Collect two points for each of the five catchers you can identify who have clubbed 300 or more lifetime home runs in the major leagues.

4. There have been only four catchers in major league history, since 1900, to lead the league in RBI. For ten points, name two of these four run-producing backstops.

5. Who is the only player to catch 160 games in one season in the majors: Carlton Fisk, Bob Boone, Randy Hundley or Thurman Munson?

6. Since the World Series began in 1903, there have been only three catchers to catch Game 7 of the World Series for two different teams. Jimmie Wilson caught Game 7 of the Fall Classic for the Cardinals in 1931 and for the Reds in 1940. Collect ten points if you can name one of the other two receivers to be behind the plate for Game 7 of the World Series for different clubs.

7. Through August 27, 2000, who was the last catcher to hit for the cycle (single, double, triple, home run) in a big league contest: Ivan Rodriguez, Mike Liberthal, Jason Kendall or Jorge Posada?

8. Which of the following players did not break into the majors as a catcher: Carlos Delgado, Todd Zeile, Scott Brosius or Craig Biggio?

9. During the 1990s, the Atlanta Braves reached the World Series five times and had four different catchers play the majorily of games in the Fall Classic. They had a different backstop in 1991, 1992, 1995-96 and 1999. For ten points name three of the four catchers who played most of the World Series games for the Braves in each of the club's appearances during the '90s.

10. Which catcher has the most seasons (15) with 100 or more games caught: Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Bob Boone or Bill Dickey?

Quick Quiz ANSWERS

1. Besides Mike Piazza, the only other catcher in major league history to have consecutive 30-homer seasons is Roy Campanella who did it for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950-1951.

2. The eight catchers other than Ivan Rodriguez to win a league MVP Award since 1931 are Mickey Cochrane (1934 Tigers), Gabby Hartnett (1935 Cubs), Ernie Lombardi (1938 Reds), Roy Campanella (1951, 1953, 1955 Dodgers), Yogi Berra (1951, 1954, 1955 Yankees), Elston Howard (1963 Yankees), Johnny Bench (1970, 1972 Reds) and Thurman Munson (1976 Yankees).

3. The five catchers to hit 300 or more career home runs in the majors are Carlton Fisk (375), Johnny Bench (389), Yogi Berra (358), Gary Carter (324) and Lance Parrish (324).

4. The four catchers to lead the league in RBI since 1900 are Roy Campanella (1953), Johnny Bench (1970, 1972, 1974), Gary Carter (1984) and Darren Daulton (1992).

5. Randy Hundley of the Cubs became the first backstop in major league history to catch 160 games in a season when he did it in 1968. From 1966 through 1969, Hundley averaged 153 games caught per year.

6. Besides Jimmy Wilson, the two other catchers to be behind the plate for Game 7 of the World Series for two different teams are Mickey Cochrance and Elston Howard. Cochrane caught Game 7 of the 1931 Fall Classic for the Philadelphia A's and for the 1934 Detroit Tigers. Howard was the Game 7 receiver for the Yankees in 1962 and 1964 and for the Red Sox in 1967.

7. Through August 28 of the 2000 season, the last catcher to hit for the cycle was Pittsburgh's Jason Kendall who hit a single, double, triple and homer against the Cardinals on May 19 this year at Three Rivers Stadium.

8. Scott Brosius of the Yankees did not break in to the majors as a catcher. He came up in the Oakland organization as infielder playing shortstop, first, second and third base. Todd Zeile broke in with the Cardinals as a catcher in 1989, Carlos Delgado with the Blue Jays in 1993 and Craig Biggio with the Astros in 1988.

9. The catchers for the Braves during the club's World Series appearances in the 1990s were Greg Olson (1991), Danton Berryhill (1992), Javier Lopez (1995-96) and Eddie Perez (1999).

10. Bob Boone posted the most seasons of catching 100 or more games with 15. Boone was behind the plate for 100-plus games for the Phillies (1973, 1974, 1976-1980), Angels (1982-1988) and Royals (1989).