2019 World Series Quiz and Interesting Facts
The World Series starts on Tuesday featuring the Houston Astros against the Washington Nationals.
1) When was the last time Washington, D.C. hosted a World Series Game?
FDR throwing out the first pitch, 1933 World Series; Note there is a staff person holding him up
a) 1913
b) 1923
c) 1933
d) 1943
Answer: C). In 1933 the Washington Senators played the New York Giants, losing in five games with Game 5 occurring on 10/7/1933. The team never appeared again in the Series and moved to Minneapolis in 1961. The Washington Nationals originally were the Montreal Expos, a 1969 expansion team that moved to Washington, D.C. in 2005. Game 3 of this year’s Series, scheduled for Friday 10/25/2019 represents an 86-year gap between World Series games in D.C.
2) What is the most common number of games played in a World Series?
a) 4 games
b) 5 games
c) 6 games
d) 7 games
Answer: D). The most common World Series length is seven games; about 33% of World Series. The least frequent is a four-game sweep, occurring about 19% of the time.
3) Which National League team has lost the most World Series?
a) Dodgers
b) Giants
c) Cardinals
d) Cubs
Answer: A). The Dodgers and Giants have each appeared in twenty World Series. The Dodgers have lost fourteen of them. The Giants are close behind with twelve losses, about 60% of the time. One reason is the ‘Damn Yankees’ – eight of the Dodgers’ World Series losses were to the Yanks. And five of the Giant losses were to those Yankees.
4) Which American League team has lost the most World Series?
a) Yankees
b) Tigers
c) Athletics
d) Red Sox
Answer: A) Yes, it’s the Yankees, they have appeared in forty World Series, so many that even though they only have lost about 33% of them, that still translates into thirteen losses.
5) Which National League team has won the most World Series?
a) Dodgers
b) Giants
c) Cardinals
d) Cubs
Answer: C). The Saint Louis Cardinals reached the World Series nineteen times, winning eleven times.
6) After the Yankees, which American League team has won the most World Series?
a) White Sox
b) Tigers
c) Athletics
d) Red Sox
Answers: C) and D). It is a tie between the Oakland Athletics and the Boston Red Sox. The Athletics franchise won five times while it was located in Philadelphia, the most recent win in 1930. Since their 1968 move to Oakland, they have won four more times, making a total of nine Series wins. Boston won five series prior to 1919. After they traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees (known as ‘curse of the Bambino’ trade), they waited 86 years for their next victory in 2004, with subsequent victories bringing their total to nine World Championships.
7) Which single franchise has represented three different cities in the World Series?
a) Twins
b) Athletics
c) Braves
d) Orioles
Answer: C). The Braves played in Boston until 1952, twice appearing the Series. After moving the Milwaukee in 1953, they also appeared in two World Series. Since the 1966 move to Atlanta, the Braves have played in five championships, winning once.
(For those interested, all these teams have played in different cities. The Athletics in Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Oakland but no appearances in KC; The Orioles have represented two cities – the Saint Louis Browns and Baltimore; The Twins played World Series games as the Washington Senators before moving the Minneapolis).
8) Which franchise has won the highest percentage of its World Series appearances (minimum five appearances)?
a) White Sox
b) Red Sox
c) Yankees
d) Pirates
Answer: D). It is not the Yankees. Pittsburgh has a record of 5–2, a winning percentage of 71%. Boston has won nine out of thirteen appearances, or 69%. Then you get the Yanks whose 27-13 record is 67%.
9) Which franchise has never appeared in a World Series?
a) Los Angeles Angels
b) Tampa Bay
c) Seattle Mariners
d) Washington Nationals
Answer: C) Seattle.
10) Which franchise has the longest World Series victory drought?
a) Detroit
b) Baltimore
c) Pittsburgh
d) Cleveland
Answer: D). When the Chicago Cubs ended their 108-year drought in 2016, they beat Cleveland, who now has the longest gap since their last championship. They last won in 1948, 71 years ago.
Now for some interesting facts:
· The team that the scores more runs wins, right? In 1960 the Yankees scored 55 runs over the seven-game series, Pittsburgh only 27. The Yanks won games by scores of 16-3, 10-0, and 12-0. Yet Pittsburgh won the dramatic Game 7 when Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th to win Game 7, 10-9.
· Can a four-game sweep be exciting? Yes! One sweep featured four tight games with multiple lead changes in the games. Ninth inning comebacks. Walk off home run. Extra inning game. 1-0 series clincher. Yes, the 2005 White Sox Victory over Houston. ·
(Check out the videos below)
Extra innings in Game 7 – what could be more exciting than that? It has happened five times:
o 1912: Boston played the New York Giants. The Giants scored once in the top of the tenth to take a 2–1 lead, but Boston scored twice in the bottom of the tenth against Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson to win the championship.
o 1924: The longest Game 7 in history went twelve innings was the Washington Senators beat the New York Giants for their only World Championship. It was a back and forth game, and the lead changed hands. Aging star pitcher Walter Johnson pitched the last four innings in relief for the victory.
o 1991: Jack Morris of the Twins pitched all ten innings in a 1–0 series, clinching a win over the Atlanta Braves.
o 1997: Cleveland tried for its first World Series victory since 1948. The Florida Marlins were losing 2–1 going into the bottom of the 9th. They tied the game up in the 9th and then won it in the 11th for their first World Championship.
o 2016: Cleveland has another chance! Down 6–3 to the Cubs, Cleveland used a thrilling home run in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game. The Cubs scored two in the top of the 10th; Cleveland’s bottom of the 10th rally fell short, and they lost 8–7.
(Check out the Videos Below)
What will happen this year between Houston and Washington? We’ll find out. Play Ball!