Quiz: They caught the out that ended the World Series

There’s no bigger thrill in baseball than catching the out that ends a World Series…unless of course, it’s getting a hit that ends a World Series.

Only 99 players in history have had the distinction of grasping the ball that ended a World Series, and none has done it more than twice.

A look back at some of the players to catch the last out of the World Series

This 12-question quiz will challenge your knowledge of the small fraternity of players – some famous, many obscure – whose fielding play formally clinched the game’s greatest title for their team. Answers are furnished below.

Questions:

1.       It’s the last season the World Series did not end on an out.

2.       A probable future Hall of Famer at catcher, he’s the most recent player to have recorded a final World Series out twice.

3.   A player at this position recorded the final World Series out only 10 times between 1903 and 1980. Since 2006, a player at that position has recorded the final World Series out 10 times.

4.       No second baseman has recorded the final out of a World Series since this St. Louis Cardinal did so by catching a popup in 1964.

5.       In 1950, this Yankee immortal became the only player to record a final World Series out in consecutive World Series. He could thank batterymates Allie Reynolds and Bob Kuzava for giving him the opportunity.

6.       This obscure St. Louis Cardinal was the last outfielder to record a final World Series out. He did so by catching a pop fly in left field.

7.       Only four pitchers have recorded a final World Series out, and this Florida Marlin was the most recent. In the sixth game of the 2003 Series, he fielded Jorge Posada’s weak ground ball and out-ran him to first base.

8.       Only three players have recorded the final out of a World Series for two different teams. Stuffy McInnis did it for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1911 and for the Boston Red Sox in 1918. Bill Skowron did it for the New York Yankees in 1956 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1963. The third was a future Hall of Famer who did so for the New York Giants in 1921 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1934. Name him.

9.       This pitcher is the most recent of 12 Hall of Famers to have recorded the final out of a World Series. He did so for the Oakland Athletics in 1989. Who is he?

10.   Only two World Series have ended on anything other than a hit or an out. The 1912 World Series ended on a sacrifice fly. How did the 1927 World Series end?

11.   In 1917 this first baseman caught Eddie Collins’ throw from second base to win the World Series for the Chicago White Sox. Two years later, he was ringleader of the White Sox’ effort to throw the 1919 World Series.

12. The three most recent players to record a final World Series out were all catchers, Javier Vazquez for Boston, Yan Gomes for Washington, and Austin Barnes for the Dodgers. In 2017, this Astro became the most recent non-catcher to record final World Series out.

Answers

1. The 2001 World Series ended on a base hit by Arizona Diamondbacks Luis Gonzalez. It scored Jay Bell with the run that defeated the New York Yankees.
2. Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants, ended the 2010 and 2012 World Series by catching third strikes.
3. Catcher. Since 2006, strikeouts have accounted for 10 Series-ending outs, infield grounders for just three, with one infield pop up and one outfield fly ball. Between 1903 and 1980, only nine Series ended on strikeouts; the 1968 Series ended on a foul pop caught by Tigers catcher Bill Freehan.
4. Dal Maxvill. Although better known as a shortstop, Maxvill played second during the 1964 Series because regular second baseman Julian Javier had a bruised hip and veteran Dick Groat was a fixture at shortstop.
5. Yogi Berra, catcher, both times on strikeouts.
6. Allen Craig ended the 2011 World Series by catching a fly ball to left field off the bat of Texas Ranger David Murphy.
7. Josh Beckett made that play to finish off a series-clinching 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees.
8. Frank Frisch. At third base for the 1921 Giants, he was the final leg of an odd second-to-first-to-third double play. Thirteen seasons later, as player-manager of the Cardinals, he completed a short-to-second force that closed out the Detroit Tigers.
9. Dennis Eckersley. When Giant Brett Butler’s ground ball drew A’s first baseman Mark McGwire off the bag, second baseman Tony Phillips fielded the ball and flipped to Eckersley for the final out.
10. On a wild pitch by Pittsburgh’s Johnny Miljus that scored Yankee Earle Combs with the Series ending run.
11. Chick Gandil
12. Yuli Gurriel, first baseman