Knowledge Test No. 4

Knowledge Test No. 4
1.	This guy hit .300 in 13 out of 14 seasons in his prime and he hit .298 in the other one. He drove in 100 or more runs seven times and 90 or more two other times. His doubles totals are truly astounding. He slugged over 30 doubles in a season 10 times, 40 or more in seven of those years, and 29 three other years. His two best doubles totals were 60 and 50. His career total was an outstanding 574. He won the MVP award. He won a batting title with his career-high .371 average. It wasn't his career high by too much; he also hit .354 and .352 in other seasons. His defense was superb. He was known as the very best at his position throughout his career. He led the league in fielding at his position eight times. And with all of the slugging and run producing that he did, you'll be surprised to learn he was a middle infielder. Can you name this Hall of Fame great?
2.	In 1996, Mike Piazza had a batting average of .362, the highest batting average for a full season by any catcher in history (Bill Dickey also hit .362, but played in only 112 games). The history-making high average was not high enough to make Piazza the third catcher to win a batting title. Can you name the only two catchers in baseball history who won batting titles?
3.	In the 1960s, Hall of Famer Jim Bunning became the first pitcher in over 50 years to win 100 or more games in both leagues. Since then, four more pitchers have accomplished the same feat. Can you name them?
4.	This slugger won home run titles for two different clubs. But he holds another distinction. His 35 homers in his last major-league season is the all-time record. Can you name the former home run king who holds the record for hitting the most homers of any hitter in his last major-league season?
5.	Can you name the Hall of Famer who's the only guy to win a home run title for three different clubs? He's also the only guy to tie for the home run crown three times. And you are hopelessly hooked on The Game if, after naming the guy, you can name the three guys he tied with.
6.	In 1998, Mark McGwire became the first guy to 50 or more home runs in both leagues. In so doing, he also became the second guy to hit 40 or more homers in both leagues. Can you name the former AL home run champ who was the first major-leaguer to hit 40 or more homers in both leagues?
7.	In 1997, McGwire became the first guy to lead all of baseball in homers without winning either league's home run crown. Of his 58 homers in '97, 34 came in the AL, 24 came in the NL, thus denying him a crown. But there is a guy who won a home run crown while playing for two clubs in the same league. Can you name the only home run champion in baseball history to win a home run title while splitting time between two clubs? If you get this..
8.	The AL batting champ in 1990 was George Brett with a .329 average. The NL champ was Willie McGee, who spent five months of the season with St. Louis compiling a .336 average, and one month of the season with Oakland, during which time his overall season average dropped to .324. But there was this other guy who hit .330, leading all of baseball. Can you name the guy who had the highest batting average in all of baseball in 1990, but did not win a batting title?
9.	In all of baseball history, there have been only 38 30-game hitting streaks and eight of them came before 1900. But of the remaining 30 that have come since 1900, five have come since 1997. Can you name the five players in the last three years who have put together 30-game hitting streaks?
10.	Two of the greatest pitchers who ever lived, these future Hall of Famers pitched against each other in each pitcher's final major-league game. The year was 1916. Can you name these two all-time pitching greats?
11.	In 1951, future Hall of Famer Willie Mays took over as the everyday center fielder on the New York Giants. Can you name the well-known guy who was the Giants' everyday center fielder in 1950?
12.	Can you name the Brooklyn Dodger who hit the last home run at Ebbetts Field?

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