Baseball’s bosses have finally ended their lockout, and the Cleveland Guardians will start their first regular season under their new name this Wednesday, April 7 (the home opener at Progressive Field next Friday, April 15).
Let’s celebrate with a trivia quiz about the team’s long, mostly frustrating history.
1: What other nicknames have the Guardians had?
A: Indians.
B: Naps.
C: Blues and Bluebirds.
D: All of the above, plus Bronchos, Broncos, and Lake Shores.
2: Which ballfield hasn’t been the Guardians’ home?
A: League Park.
B: First Energy Stadium.
C: Municipal Stadium.
D: Progressive Field.
3: After 102 years, Cleveland’s Ray Chapman is still the only player fatally injured in a major league game. How did it happen?
A: He was beaned by a notorious Yankees headhunter.
B: He collided with Babe Ruth.
C: He was struck by Ty Cobb’s thrown bat.
D: He was hit by Tris Speaker’s line drive.
4: Which didn’t Bob Feller do?
A: Debut for Cleveland at age 17.
B: Be nicknamed “Rapid Robert” and “The Heater from Van Meter.”
C: Win a World Series game.
D: Become the nation’s first pro athlete known to enlist in World War II.
5: Which didn’t Larry Doby do?
A: Break the color barrier in the American League.
B: Become the first Black player to homer in the World Series, and the first—along with teammate Satchel Paige—to win the Series.
C: Become the Major Leagues’ second Black manager, leading the White Sox for former Cleveland owner Bill Veeck.
D: Be named the American League’s most valuable player.
6: What didn’t pitcher and broadcaster Jim “Mudcat” Grant do?
A: Punch a Cleveland coach for a racial taunt.
B: Lead “Mudcat and the Kittens” in performances on Johnny Carson’s and Mike Douglas’ television shows.
C: Become the first Black pitcher to earn a win in the World Series (for the Twins, unfortunately).
D: Homer in the World Series (for the Twins).
7: In Frank Robinson’s 1975 debut as Major League Baseball’s first Black manager, what did he do?
A: Homer in the first.
B: Steal home in the ninth.
C: Pull starter Gaylord Perry.
D: Get ejected by an umpire.
8: How many fans attended Len Barker’s perfect game on the damp, chilly night of May 15, 1971?
A: 7,290.
B: 13,517.
C: 33,157.
D: 78,186.
9: What Cleveland player was known as Mr. Freeze for smashing a clubhouse thermostat? Hint: Teammate Jason Grimsley crawled above a drop ceiling to retrieve this player’s corked, confiscated bat.
A: Buddy Bell.
B: Jay Bell.
C: David Bell.
D: Albert Belle.
10: Cleveland is the only major league team to do what?
A: Forfeit a game (the infamous 10-cent beer night).
B: Lose the seventh game of two different World Series in extra innings.
C: Sell out 455 games in a row.
D: Lose its last eight postseason games.
11: Cleveland beat the hated Yankees in a 2007 playoff game with help from:
A: Fans.
B: Ushers.
C: Midges.
D: Hail.
12: What Clevelander didn’t win a Cy Young Award as the American League’s best pitcher?
A: Cy Young.
B: Gaylord Perry.
C: CC Sabathia.
D: Shane Bieber.
How do you think you did? Find out by clicking here for the quiz answers.