Professor O'Grady's Baseball Quiz
 
1. In the 1880's a thoroughly disliked Manhattanite owned both New York major league teams (Brooklyn was not part of New York City until 1903). Both played at a field below Coogan's Bluff that later became the Polo Grounds. The National League team was the New York Giants.
 
 To its fans, what was the nickname of the team in the American Association (the other major league)?
 
2. Most afficianados consider the dream outfield that of the Boston Red Sox of the early teens of the last century. It featured Harry Hooper, Tris Speaker and Duffy Lewis. The first two are in the Hall of Fame and Lewis probably should be. when Hooper retired, he pursued another career in the game.
 
What was it?
 
3. On August 17, 1920, the Cleveland Indians had to call up from the minors (on less than 24hrs notice) a young shortstop named Joe Sewell. Probably the most difficult hitters to strike out in the history of the game, he fanned a total of only 114 times in 7132 regular season at bats. He played 14 years and had a lifetime batting average of .312 and is in the Hall of Fame.
 
 Why was he called up on such short notice?
 
4. In the mid 1920's the Brooklyn Dodgers were leading a game by eight runs, on the road, in the top of the ninth. With two outs and a journeyman first baseman named Jake Fournier at bat (he was six for six that day) Wilbert Robinson, the Dodger manager, inexplicably put the steal sign on and a molasses footed runner on first was easily thrown out ending the inning.
 
Why did Uncle Robbie order the steal?
 
5. I was privileged to have a conversation with Ted Williams in 1959.
I asked him if he thought anyone would hit .400 again. His .406 in
1941 was the last of its ilk. He said he thought 60 home runs in
one year would be surpassed and that more than 712 for a career
might be as well. But he thought DiMaggio's 56 consecutive game
hitting streak was untouchable. As to over .400 he said it was
possible, but unlikely for five reasons viz: the kids are taught
that to get rich, swing for the fences, night games, coast-to-coast
travel and the development of relief specialists who throw high
heat for an inning or two. The fifth reason was a post WWII
development, initially derided by the game's experts.
 
What was it?
 
Tie Breaker
 
What was the last year a baseball player and a horse won the triple crown?
 
Hint: it was a significant year for many of us.
 
 
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