Miscellaneous sports trivia questions
What horses did jockey Eddie Arcaro ride to the winner's circle
in his two Triple Crown victories?
A: Whirlaway in 1941: Citation in 1948.
How did the game of ninepins, brought to the U.S. by the Dutch in
the 1600s get changed to ten-pins, the popular bowling game of
today?
A: Ninepins was outlawed by New York an Connecticut in the 1840s
because of heavy gambling. Since the ban didn't forbid bowling in
general, a tenth pin was added to circumvent the law.
Who threw New York Giant Bobby Thomason the pennant-winning
home-run pitch in the 1951 National League playoffs?
A: Ralph Branca of the Brooklyn Dodgers, wearing number 13. He gave
up the three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth after relieving
Don Newcombe.
In professional golf, how many clubs is a player limited to
during a round?
A: Fourteen.
What West point cadet's football career came to an abrupt halt
when he injured his knee tackling Jim Thorpe, who was playing for
the Carlisle Indian School?
A: Dwight D. Eisenhower, left halfback on the losing team. Score:27
to 6.
In 1882, who knocked out Paddy Ryan to become the last
bare-knuckle world's heavyweight boxing champion?
A: John L. Sullivan.
What pitcher's career spanned the greatest number of
years--twenty-five seasons?
A: James L. Kaat, who retired in 1983.
What is the name of golfer Jack Nicklaus's international
real-estate conglomerate?
A: Golden Bear, Inc. --inspired by his golf circuit nickname, Golden
Bear.
Participants in the 1960 Olympics were asked what question
concerning their early childhoods on an official questionnaire?
A: They were asked it they had been bottle-or breast-fed.
What Olympic requirement was waived for Princess Anne when she
competed as an equestrian the 1976 summer games in Montreal?
A: she was the only female competitor not given a chromosome (sex)
test.
In what game did William Shakespeare play against Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow?
A: Football--in 1935, Notre Dame's Shakespeare faced Northwestern's
Longfellow. Longfellow's team won, 14 to 7.
What St. Louis Cardinal pitchers won two games each to clinch the
1934 World Series against the Detroit Tigers?
A: Brothers Dizzy and Daffy Dean.
What two time Wimbledon champion became the first tennis
millionaire in 1971?
A: Australian Rod Laver.
Who were the swimming stars in Billy Rose's "Aquacade" at the
1939 New York World's Fair?
A: American Olympic gold medal winners Johnny Weissmuller, Eleanor
Holm, and Gertrude Ederle the first woman to swim across the English
Channel.
On what team did basketball greats Oscar Robertson, Jerry West,
and John Havlicek play together?
A: The winning 1960 U.S. Olympic basketball team.
What is the fist size--in inches--of James "Big Cat" Williams,
the 6-foot-7, 340-pound right tackle of the Chicago Bears?
A: 14-1/2 inches. His biceps are 21 inches; neck, 23; waist,44;
chest 54.
How many bases do major league teams usually have ready for a
regular-season game--home plate not included?
A: Nine.
For what sport did Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr. develop most
of the rules in the United States?
A: Horse racing. He founded Churchill Downs, where the first
Kentucky Derby was held in 1875.
