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THE 2ND ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN BASEBALL TRIVIA QUIZ
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View all articles by Tony McClean
POSTED: Apr 22, 2004
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| Satchel Paige |
-- Hall of Famer Satchel Paige played the majority of his Negro League career with the Kansas City Monarchs. Our question: What Negro League team did Paige make his debut with in 1927?
Answer: The Birmingham Black Barons. Paige went 8-3 and helped lead the Barons to the second-half pennant in the Western Division of the Negro National League. Birmingham lost to the Chicago American Giants in a playoff.
-- What SWAC batting champion in the 60's would later go on to win a National League batting crown in the 70's? Here's a hint: He was also a teammate of Hank Aaron.
Answer: Ralph Garr. The "Road Runner" hit .582 for the Grambling Tigers in 1967 to lead the SWAC in hitting. After being drafted by the Braves a year later, Garr would go on to lead the National League in batting (.353) in 1974.
-- What player was on deck when Pete Rose got his historic 4,192nd hit. Hint: He was also a former NL batting champion for one of the Reds' big rivals during the 70's.
Answer: Dave Parker. The "Cobra", a Cincinnati native,
is better known for his days with the "Family" in Pittsburgh.
A two-time batting champion (1977-78), Parker was a member of the
Bucs' 1979 World Series champions.
-- Southern University's Rickie Weeks was the second overall pick
in last year's Amateur Draft. Our question: Who is the only black
college baseball player to be the No. 1 overall pick in the Amateur
Draft. Hint: He was chosen by the California Angels.
Answer: Danny Goodwin. He also holds the distinction of being the
only player to be the top pick two times. In 1971, he was the nation's
top high school player and was chosen by the White Sox. Four years
later after playing for SU, Goodwin was taken first overall by the
Angels..
-- What player was the first African-American to lead the National
League in runs batted in? Hint: He was a teammate of Willie Mays.
Answer: Monte Irvin. A former Negro Leaguer (Newark Eagles) and
1973 Hall of Fame inductee, Irvin drove in a league-high 121 runs
for the NL champion Giants. A product on Lincoln (Pa.) University,
Irvin was a career .346 hitter for 11 seasons in the Negro Leagues.
-- What three-time all NAIA selection for Morehouse University went
on to win a World Series MVP award? Hint: His team was "Amazin".
Answer: Donn Clendenon. The 1969 World Series MVP was a three-year
letterman for the Maroon Tigers. He hit .357 with two homers for
the Mets in their 1st World Series championship.
-- What player was the first African-American pitcher to toss a
no-hitter? Hint: He did for the Chicago Cubs.
Answer: Sad Sam Jones. Known for pitching with a toothpick in his
mouth, Jones no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field in a
4-0 win on May 12, 1955. It would be another 14 years before another
Black pitcher would throw a no-hitter.
-- What North Carolina A&T standout was the closer for the 1983
NL Champion Phillies? Hint: He began his career with the Pirates.
Answer: Al Holland. The NL Fireman of the Year that season, Holland's
25 saves helped lead the Phillies to the World Series. He still
holds the Aggie single-season record for strikeouts (143 in 1972)
and ERA (0.26 in 1975).
-- What two-time All-MEAC punter would later go on the lead the
NL in stolen bases for six straight seasons? Hint: He did it his
kicking for FAMU.
Answer: Vince Coleman. From 1985-90, Coleman was the sparkplug for
Whitey Herzog's Cardinal clubs. While with the Rattlers, Coleman
was the league's best punter from 1980-81.
Tony McClean is
a reporter/writer for the Black Athlete Sports Network. You can hear
his sports commentaries every Saturday morning at Noon on "Sports
Talk" on WCLM-AM 1450 in Richmond, Virginia (www.WCLMradio.com) .
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