Baseball Quick Quiz.(quiz on players' achievements)(Brief Article)

Collect ten points for each question answered correctly. Answers on page 95.

(If you score 80 or better, you are a baseball expert; 70 or better, superior; between 60 and 70, good, and between 40 and 60, average.

1. Through late-August, Alex Rodriguez was on pace to hit 40 homers and become the fifth player in major league history to have back-to-back 40-homer seasons while playing with different teams. For ten points name two of the other four players to accomplish this feat.

2. Who is the only player to catch 130 or more games and collect 200 hits in one season: Ivan Rodriguez, Mike Piazza, Ted Simmons or Thurman Munson?

3. As the 2001 season was winding down, Rickey Henderson was closing in on 3,000 career hits and becoming the sixth major league player with 3,000-plus hits and more than 500 career stolen bases. Collect two points for each of the five players you can identify who reached 3,000 hits and 500 stolen bases.

4. Among the 17 players who have slugged 500 lifetime home runs, only three never won a league Most Valuable Player Award--Babe Ruth won the League Award in 1923 which was considered the MVP honor during that era. For ten points, name two of the three 500 home run hitters who never won a league MVP Award.

5. Prior to Roger Clemens' bid to lead the American League in strikeouts in 2001, who was the last Yankees pitcher to pace the A.L. in strikeouts: Allie Reynolds, Bob Turley, Ron Guidry or Al Downing?