The Quiz

These questions, some of them toughies and a few that most fans will find as easy to nail as a hanging curve, are taken from David Nemec's "The Even More Challenging Baseball Quiz Book" to be published by Collier Books. To get you started, here's a clue: all the men in the answers wore big league uniforms in 1977.

1 This season or next I'll probably get my 2,000th hit, but no one will notice. I know, because no one has ever noticed that over 15 seasons, playing for six clubs, I've been one of the steadiest and swiftest of outfielders. Never on a pennant winner, I've hit as high as .317 and have 325 stolen bases. Who am I?

2 At 23 I was the second-youngest player ever to win my league's MVP award. Last season, at 26, I was a strong candidate for the Comeback of the Year Award, after suffering through two dismal seasons following my MVP performance. Who am I?

3 Though I'm considered a superstar, I've never hit better than .293, have nearly as many strikeouts as base hits and have had 100 RBIs only four times in an 11-year career. I'm now playing in my fourth city. Who am I?

4 I played only one season—1959, when I hit .218 in 152 games as the Phils' second-sacker—but you'll be mighty embarrassed if you can't guess my name. Who am I?

5 I'm the only slugger who's hit more than 35 homers in a season and batted less than .235. Who am I?

6 We are the only backstops since Ernie Lombardi to have five .300 seasons. Who are we?

7 Except for Joe McCarthy and Steve O'Neill, I am the only man who has managed 1,500 or more games and never had a losing season. Who am I?

8 A As a rook in '72 I was 7-0 in relief, and in '75 I led the American League in saves. But then I was put in the regular rotation in '76. Remember what happened to Ike Delock when he became a starter? Well, I must be another Ike, because I finished 9-17. I've gone back to the bullpen and changed teams twice since then. Who am I?

9 In 1970 I got off to a quick start, racking up 10 wins before my 20th birthday. I have more than 120 victories now, but some fans still think I'm not living up to my potential. I've just joined my third club. Who am I?