From: gerry@macadam.mpce.mq.edu.au (Gerry Myerson)
Subject: Team trivia test--answers
Organization: ceNTRe for Number Theory Research
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 92 22:54:05 GMT

I posted this quiz a couple of weeks ago; here are the answers. 

>1. The Cubs, Phillies, and Red Sox all had winning records in 1913. When 
>was the next time that happened? 

1967.

>2. They were the best team in the league over a certain 8 season stretch, 
>in the sense of having the highest W-L percentage (.557), but they didn't 
>finish first even once. Which team? Which 8 years? 

The Giants, 1963--70. They finished 2nd 5 times, mostly losing out to the 
Dodgers, Cardinals, and Reds. 

>3. What was the first team (this century) to hit more HR than 3B in a 
>season? What was the last team to hit more 3B than HR in a season? 

The 1911 Phillies (60 HR, 56 3B); the 1981 Padres (35 3B, 32 HR). If you 
don't like 1981, there's the 1979 Astros (52 3B, 49 HR). 

>4. What was the first team to go into the World Series with only two 
>players having over 400 AB? 

The 1969 Mets. Tommie Agee had 565 AB, Cleon Jones had 483. Wayne Garrett 
was third with exactly 400.

>5. What was the last time a player hit more HR in a season than one of the 
>teams in his league? 

1948, when Joe DiMaggio hit 39, and the Senators hit 31 (also, Gordon hit 
32 that year). 

>6. Which was the only team to play a season of over 150 games and not have 
>a player with 100 hits? 

The 1972 Mets. Agee led the team with 96 hits. 

>7. Which was the first team to throw more shutouts in a season than 
>complete games? 

The 1981 Giants threw 9 shutouts, but only 8 complete games. 

>8. By 1950, 14 of the 16 teams had had a 100 HR season. Which were the two
>exceptions, and when did they finally make it? 

The White Sox first broke 100 in 1955, the Senators in 1956. Bonus question; 
what was the only season that every team in MLB hit 100 HR?

>9. The Yankees went 53 seasons without finishing last (1913--1965). Name 
>the only AL team to have had a longer stay out of the cellar. 

The answer I had in mind was the mighty Cleveland Indians, who avoided the 
ignominy for 54 consecutive seasons, 1915--1968, but I overlooked the Red 
Sox, who have an active string dating back to 1933 (thanks to John Rickert 
for setting me straight). 

>10. Here's your chance to catch Bill James. In the '86 Abstract, referring 
>to the 65--67 As, he says, "I would guess that no other team has ever gone 
>three years without having a player drive in more than 66 runs." 
>What team played a season with no player driving in over 46 runs? 

The 1954 Orioles, led by Vern Stephens. 

>What team went two seasons with no player driving in over 55 runs? 

The 1967--68 Dodgers, led by Fairly with 55, and Haller with 53. 

>What team, more recent than James' As, went three seasons with no player 
>driving in over 64 runs? 

The 1972--74 Tigers, led by Cash (61), Rodriguez (58), and Kaline (64). 
The '72 team managed to finish in first place, anyway. 

>What team went *4* seasons with no player driving in over 65 runs? 

The 1945--48 White Sox, led by Schalk (65), Appling (55), York (64), and 
Seerey (64). 

>There's no need to go back before 1945 for question 10, and 1981 is 
>illegal. 

Gerry Myerson