"Casey Stengel: Baseball's Greatest Character"

Casey Stengel is one of the legendary names in baseball history, and everyone knows him as the man who led the Yankees to seven World Series wins and five straight titles from 1949-1953. He was also the man who put the Mets on the map in the early 1960s with his wit and clownish charm. There have been biographies written about him before, most notably Robert Creamer's wonderful book about him in 1984. So why another book about the life of the "Old Perfessor?"

Marty Appel, who worked for the Yankees for as their PR Director and producer of their local TV broadcasts as well as having written many books about the team and its stars, has answered that question, and he's hit one out of the park with his new tome, "Casey Stengel: Baseball's Greatest Character," which was just released by Doubleday.

For this book, Appel had access to an unpublished memoir by Edna Stengel (Casey's beloved wife), and it is an inside look at the man who was one of the most well-known people in America in the 1950s, but few really knew. The Stengels never had any children, as they thought they too old to begin a family. We learn about Casey's investments in Texas oil wells, and how the returns on that made him comfortable (but not really a millionaire) for life.

But Appel's book takes a ride through the baseball life of a man who just adored the game, and was simply miserable if he couldn't be a part of it. Casey was a good ballplayer with the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Braves. His career wouldn't have made him a Hall of Famer, but he could always hang his hat on the fact that he played on two Giants World Series championship teams in the early 1920s under the legendary John McGraw (and he hit the first ever World Series home run in Yankee Stadium in 1923). Playing under McGraw would be a great learning experience for Casey, and he would bring that knowledge with him as his managerial career got under way.

Appel takes us through Casey's life as he became a manager, and the results weren't anything special. He managed two mediocre clubs in the 1930s and 1940s, the Dodgers and Braves. He would then return to the minors to manage clubs in Milwaukee, Kansas City and Oakland, and won a title with the Oaks in 1948. That set the stage for his return to MLB, with the Yankees in 1949.

He managed the Yankees for 12 seasons, and put up the greatest resume any manager ever has: 10 AL pennants, 7 WS titles, and five straight to begin his tenure. But Appel points out that he had very complicated relationships with two of the team's biggest stars: Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. He and DiMaggio didn't speak much, and Joe had his own set of rules. Casey is painted as being disappointed in Mantle because he wasn't more like Babe Ruth in the numbers he could have put up. He also talks about the way Stengel treated Phil Rizzuto at the end of his career, especially embarrassing him by batting him ninth in some games. It was a slight Rizzuto never forgot. And Casey's complicated relationship with Billy Martin is also explored, and how their relationship was splintered when Casey didn't defend him after the Copacabana incident in 1957 that got him traded shortly after to Kansas City. Martin never really forgave Casey for that.

Appel also addresses the charges of Casey and racism. The Yankees didn't get their first black player until Elston Howard joined the club in 1955, and Appel deftly explains his behavior in the context of the day. He doesn't excuse some of Casey's callous remarks towards Howard.

We also see why the Yankees eventually let Casey go after the World Series loss in 1960, and the anger he had towards them for many years. (He stayed away from the Yankees and any events the club had for 10 years until he returned to have his number retired in 1970.) His return to baseball with the Mets in 1962 was in many ways was to stick it to his old employers in their own backyard. Casey rolled out the charm and the "Stengelese" as the Mets were historically bad, and it served the club well. (I must correct an error I found in the book. Not a major one. Marty called Ed Kranepool "an original Met." Having watched Mets games from my youth, Lindsey Nelson on TV would always go to great lengths when talking about Kranepool that he was NOT an original Met, as he was signed by the club in June of 1962, and an "Original Met" was someone who was with the club since their first game in April. Sorry, Marty.)

Casey will always be a beloved figure for what he did for establishing the Mets, and leading the Yankees to a decade of unprecedented success. He still loved baseball right up until his death in 1975, even watching the NBC Game of the Week in his hospital room as cancer was taking his life. The book is also a wonderful love story of Casey with his beloved wife Edna, who he slowly lost to Alzheimer's in the early 1970s. Casey Stengel was truly a renaissance man, more than just a clown or a great baseball manager. He truly enjoyed being with people, and loved the attention from the fans. He was a baseball lifer, and someone you'd love to have a beer with and talk about the game of baseball.

In 2009, the MLB Network ranked Casey as the most beloved character in baseball history. And it is a perfect title for Marty Appel's book. It's an enjoyable ride with one of MLB's most colorful figures. No matter who you support in MLB, you will enjoy this wonderful book.

Trivia Q&A: March 29

We had 18 teams in on Wednesday night, on another great night of Trivia. It seems like the number of people playing per team has gone up, and the bar was crowded once again. Always great to see that.

We had another tight race to finish last night, as going into IQ Trivia, the top five teams only had four points between them, and one point between each team. But it was another great night for the team of DIMS, who had a perfect round of IQ Trivia to win the night with a total of 51 points. Congratulations to the boys on another well-earned victory.

Second place went to my old friends Reunited and It Feels So Good with 46 points, and Quiz On Your Face (who won for Best Team Name) finished in third with 44 points.

Current Events
1. Last week, the US Senate confirmed bankruptcy lawyer David Friedman as the new ambassador to what country?
2. Fortune magazine selected what MLB executive as the "World's Greatest Leader" over such dignitaries as Pope Francis and Amazon head Jeff Bezos?
3. What longtime TV show will be debuting a character with autism later next month?
4. One person was killed and fifteen injured at a nightclub last Saturday night in what midwestern city, in a shooting spree that was unrelated to terrorism?
5. What airline caused an firestorm on social media on Sunday when it wouldn't let two girls on a plane because it now has a leggings ban?
6. The NFL owners voted 31-1 on Monday to allow the Oakland Raiders to move to this city, but they will remain in Oakland for at least two more years until their new stadium is built.
7. What college basketball team qualified for their 20th Final Four this past weekend, a record for men's teams?

Pop Music Trivia
1. In 1985, the Live Aid concerts were held in London and what other city?
2. What R&B legend was known as "Mr. Dynamite?"
3. Bruce Springsteen won an Oscar and a Grammy in 1994 for what song?
4. Name 1 of the 2 artists to win eight Grammys in one year, the record?
5. What Boston-based rock band won MTV's first Best Video Award in 1984?
6. What future rap star was, as a 13-year-old youth, an advisor to the owner of the Oakland A's baseball team in the 1970s?
7. "Kerplunk" and "American Idiot" were albums by what rock band?

The Q Train: 1, 2, 3 or 4 Trivia
1. Cancer is this number sign of the Zodiac.
2. Catcher is this number on a baseball team.
3. On a telephone, this number key is associated with the letters D, E and F.
4. The number of US presidents who have been impeachment.
5. The number of MLB platers who've hit at least 700 home runs in a career.
6. This is the number of Super Bowls won by the New York Giants in their history.
7. The number of state capitals named after US presidents.
8. This number was a hit song for the Bee Gees, Faith Hill and U2.
9. This is the atomic number of helium.
10. The total number of Oscars won by Al Pacino in his career.

General Knowledge
1. The majority of London buses are what color? ( 1 pt)
2. Tabasco is a state in what country? ( 1 pt)
3. What is the second largest city in Canada by population after Toronto? ( 1 pt)
4. What was the name of the first film featuring the Beatles? ( 2 pt)
5. What American general was nicknamed "Old Blood and Guts?" ( 2 pt)
6. Which is the most easterly of the Great Lakes? ( 2 pt)
7. The daiquiri cocktail is named after a town in what Caribbean country? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, Leon Trotsky, Franz Joseph and Sigmund Freud all lived in what city in the year 1913? ( 4 points)
2. The poem "The New Colossus" can be found inscribed in what famous place? ( 3 points)
3. What was the first southern state capital to fall to Union troops in the Civil War in 1862? ( 5 points)
4. Bianca, Miranda and Portia are all satellites of what planet? ( 4 points)
5. Bernard Barker, James McCord and Frank Sturgis were three of the men involved in what infamous early 1970s event? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Israel; 2. Theo Epstein; 3. Sesame Street; 4. Cincinnati; 5. United; 6. Las Vegas; 7. North Carolina Tar Heels.

Pop Music Trivia
1. Philadelphia; 2. James Brown; 3. "The Streets of Philadelphia;" 4. Michael Jackson and Santana; 5. The Cars (You Might Think); 6. MC Hammer; 7. Green Day.

The Q Train: 1, 2, 3, or 4 Trivia
1. 4; 2. 2; 3. 3; 4. 2; 5. 3; 6. 4; 7. 4; 8. 1; 9. 2; 10. 1.

General Knowledge
1. Red; 2. Mexico; 3. Montreal; 4. "A Hard Day's Night;" 5. George S. Patton; 6. Lake Ontario; 7. Cuba.

IQ Trivia
1. Vienna; 2. Statue of Liberty; 3. Nashville, TN; 4. Uranus; 5. Watergate break-in.

Pop Music Trivia On Tap This Wednesday

Wednesday Night Trivia at Professor Thom's will feature "Pop Music Trivia" as the Special Category this week. It will be seven questions on the wonderful world of Popular music down through the years. Two of the questions this week will be worth two points apiece.

The Q Train lightning round will feature "!, 2, 3 or 4 Trivia." I will give you ten potpourri questions, and every answer will be a number, either 1, 2, 3 or 4.

The Sneak Peek question this week is:
"The majority of London buses are what color?"

We get going at 8:30 PM tomorrow night. We've had some huge crowds over the past few weeks, so I would encourage you to get in as soon as you can to make sure you get a prime table. I look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow night for another great night of Trivia!

Trivia Q&A: March 22

It was another very cold night in New York last night, but we had another great turnout, as 21 teams took part in the Trivia festivities. We had an extremely tight race heading into IQ Trivia, as there was 7 teams that were within 3 points of each other. But the teams of DIMS and Team Mercy had a great final round, and both teams ended up tied at 42 points. So we broke the tie with a question based on one of the Current Events questions: "How many countries can you visit with a German passport?" (A German passport allows you to visit the most countries on earth, according to a new survey.) The answer was 176, and DIMS was closest to the answer, so they were crowned champions, their fourth win in the last five weeks. Their dominance continues!

Team Mercy took second place, and third place went to Kellyanne's Bowling Green Massacre, who finished with 40 points. We had a rare three-way tie for fourth, between Welcome Home Tom Brady's Jersey (Best Team Name winner), Ohio Against Tha World, and Chuck E. Cheese Better Watch Out!, all with 36 points.

Current Events
1. The Twitter account of this restaurant chain was hacked last week to attack President Trump with a very derogatory tweet.
2. What NBA Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star said on his podcast last week he believes the earth is flat, but later on said on TV that he was only joking.
3. A recent study by the 2017 Visa Restriction Index ranked this European country number one in the world for allowing travel to the most countries on Earth.
4. A 39-year-old man was shot dead at an airport in what European capital city after he tried to steal a soldier's weapon?
5. The Vatican announced last week that Pope Francis will visit this Muslim country on April 28th in response to the country's president, who visited the Vatican in 2014.
6. What northern European country was selected number one in the 2017 World Happiness Report as the world's happiest country?
7. What team knocked out the second-seeded Duke Blue Devils last Sunday in one of the biggest upsets in the NCAA Men's basketball tournament so far?

Space Trivia
1. On July 20, 1976, Viking I became the first spacecraft to land where?
2. Exactly how many Apollo missions landed on the Moon: 5, 6, or 7?
3. Titan is the largest satelitte of what planet?
4. Within 5 million, how many miles are there between the Earth and the Sun?
5. At its closest, which planet is closer to Earth, Venus or Mars?
6. When Voyager I was sent into deep space in 1977, what rock'n'roll legend's song was included on it as an example of the sounds of Earth?
7. What physicist gained worldwide fame with his best-selling book about space, "A Brief History of Time?"

The Q Train: Name The Month
1. The Titanic sank in the North Atlantic in 1912.
2. The Challenger space shuttle exploded after liftoff in 1986, killing all 7 astronauts.
3. Japan signed the formal surrender to the US in 1945.
4. The Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday of this month.
5. Black History Month is this month every year.
6. The anniversary of the assassination of Julius Caesar is this month.
7. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is traditionally observed in this month.
8. The Stonewall riots, marking the turning point in the gay rights movement, occurred in 1969 in this month.
9. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally takes place in South Dakota for a week each year this month.
10. Canada Day is celebrated by our neighbors to the north each year this month.

General Knowledge
1. What is the most widely spoken language on Earth? ( 1 pt)
2. "Double Fantasy" was a 1980 album by what rock immortal? ( 1 pt)
3. Appomattox Court House, where the Civil War officially ended, is located in what state? ( 1 pt)
4. How many hours difference is there between Pacific Standard Time and Atlantic Standard Time? ( 2 pt)
5. What is the top-selling tie color in the US? ( 2 pt)
6. What hit 2010 film was based on the book called "The Accidental Billionaires?" ( 2 pt)
7. What western US state had the largest increase in population in the US between 2015 and 2016? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What Midwestern state is the only state in the US that still accepts pennies at their tollbooths? ( 4 points)
2. What is the real first name of the movie character Indiana Jones? ( 4 points)
3. What was the first human organ to be successfully transplanted? ( 3 points)
4. Pitcairn Island and the Cook Islands use what country's dollar as their currency? ( 4 points)
5. Who was the first actor to win Emmy Awards for acting, directing and writing for the same TV series? ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. McDonald's; 2. Shaquille O'Neal; 3. Germany; 4. Paris; 5. Egypt; 6. Norway; 7. South Carolina.

Space Trivia
1. Mars; 2. six; 3. Saturn; 4. 93 million; 5. Venus; 6. Chuck Berry; 7. Stephen Hawking.

The Q Train: Name That Month
1. April; 2. January; 3. September; 4. May; 5. February; 6. March; 7. October; 8. June; 9. August; 10. July.

General Knowledge
1. Mandarin Chinese; 2. John Lennon; 3. Virginia; 4. four; 5. blue; 6. "The Social Network"; 7. Utah.

IQ Trivia
1. Illinois; 2. Henry; 3. kidney; 4. New Zealand; 5. Alan Alda.

Get Spaced Out On Wednesday

Trivia Night tomorrow at Professor Thom's will featured as the Special Category "Space Trivia," seven questions about our missions into the unknown, and other questions about the vast worlds beyond our wonderful planet. The Q Train lightning round will be "Name The Month Trivia." I will give you a famous event in recent history, and you have to tell me what moth of the year this event occurred in. Every answer will be a different month of the year.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What is the most widely spoken language in the world?"

We get going at 8:30 PM on Wednesday night. We've had some really great turnouts since my return last month, so I would suggest getting into the bar a bit early to guarantee a prime table.

Hope to see many of you for a great night of Trivia on Wednesday!

Trivia Q&A: March 15

It was a very cold night on Wednesday, and I thought with the cold and snow that we'd have a very small turnout for Trivia. But I was pleasantly surprised to see 17 teams in, and the bar kept filling up as we got closer to the start. I thank all of you for your support, and I will certainly never underestimate your loyalty again!

It was a really close race all night, and we even had another perfect game going, which ended in the General Knowledge round. We had the top five teams separated by just six points going into IQ Trivia, but the team of The Scrappy 16 Seed won the night by getting all five IQ Trivia questions correct, and jumped over the top two teams to win the night with 51 points. Congrats to them on their first win.

Second place was actually a tie at 50 points between DIM (who had won the previous three weeks) and Dr. Anzus (who lost the perfecto earlier). We broke the tie with "Taylor Swift made the most money of any musician in 2016. How much did she earn?" It was $170 million, which DIM was closer and won second place.

Best Team Name: F*** This F***ing Week (It got such a laugh in the first round it had to be picked!)

Current Events
1. The president of what Asian country was impeached and removed last Friday over a corruption scandal and is now facing prison.
2. What European country was ranked number one in a recent ranking by US News and World Report of the world's best countries by categories such as peace, power and investment?
3. The son of what legendary athlete was stopped at two airports this past month, and claims that on both occasions he was racially and religiously profiled?
4. The 68 teams for the NCAA basketball tournament were announced on Sunday, and what team was named the overall number one seed?
5. What pop singer will make a guest appearance in the upcoming season of "Game of Thrones" later this year in a yet-to-be-named cameo role?
6. What rap star caused controversy this week by releasing a video showing him shooting a "clown version" of President Trump?
7. An attack on a hospital last week in what Asian country left 49 dead and injured 63, and was thought to have been done by ISIS?

Ireland Trivia
1. How many counties are there in the Republic of Ireland? a. 19; b. 26; c. 30; d. 33.
2. Which Irish saint is said to have visited America 1000 years before Columbus? a. St. Patrick; b. St. Finbar; c. St. Brendan; d. St. Thomas.
3. What is the most popular team sport in Ireland? a. soccer; b. rugby; c. cricket; d. Gaelic football.
4. Larry Mullen Jr. is a member of what Irish rock band? a. U2; b. Black 47; c. The Pogues; d. Thin Lizzy.
5. To make Irish coffee, what alcohol ingredient would you use? a. rye; b. whiskey; c. vodka; d. bourbon.
6. In what century did Ireland's Potato Famine take place? a. 17; b. 18; c. 19; d. 20.
7. Which of the follwing entertainers was not born in Ireland? a. Bono; b. Elvis Costello; c. Bob Geldof; d. Sinead O'Connor.

The Q Train: States' Largest City Trivia
1. North Carolina
2. Kansas
3. Missouri
4. Florida
5. Alaska
6. Texas
7. Connecticut
8. Delaware
9. Tennessee
10. New Mexico

General Knowledge
1. What musical instrument is featured on Guinness' logo? ( 1 pt)
2. What European country was victorious in the Hundred Years War? ( 1 pt)
3. What folk singer wrote the classic song "This Land is Your Land?" ( 1 pt)
4. The Berlin Wall was originally built in what year? ( 2 pt)
5. In what US state was the first atomic bomb test successfully exploded? ( 2 pt)
6. Which of the year's four seasons boasts more US federal holidays than any other? ( 2 pt)
7. Maracaibo and Valencia are two of the largest cities in what South American country? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. In 1974, what married couple had the last variety show ever to finish in the Nielsen ratings Top 20? ( 4 points)
2. At 1,558 miles, the Murray River is the longest river in what country? ( 3 points)
3. In 1781, what was the first planet in our solar system to be discovered by using a telescope? ( 4 points)
4. What day of the week is named after the wife of Odin, the Norse god? ( 4 points)
5. For which novel did Ernest Hemingway win a Pulitzer Prize in 1953, and the Nobel Prize for literature in 1954? ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. South Korea; 2. Switzerland; 3. Muhammad Ali; 4. Villanova; 5. Ed Sheeran; 6. Snoop Dogg; 7. Afghanistan.

Ireland Trivia
1. b; 2. c; 3. d; 4. a; 5. b; 6. c; 7. b.

The Q Train: States' Largest City Trivia
1. Charlotte; 2. Wichita; 3. Kansas City; 4. Jacksonville; 5. Anchorage; 6. Houston; 7. Bridgeport; 8. Wilmington; 9. Memphis; 10. Albuquerque.

General Knowledge
1. Harp; 2. France; 3. Woody Guthrie; 4. 1961; 5. New Mexico; 6. winter (5); 7. Venezuela.

IQ Trivia
1. Sonny and Cher; 2. Australia; 3. Uranus; 4. Friday; 5. "The Old Man and the Sea."

Test Your Emerald Isle Knowledge Wednesday

Wednesday Night Trivia at Professor Thom's  this week will feature "Ireland Trivia," seven questions about the Emerald Isle in honor of this Friday being St. Patrick's Day. The questions will also be multiple choice, the first time we have done multiple choice since my return.

The Q Train lightning round will be "States Largest City Trivia." I will give you the names of ten US states, and you have to tell me what the largest city by population is in that particular state.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What musical instrument is featured on Guinness' logo?"

We get going at 8:30 PM tomorrow. As you all know, we have gotten some really awful weather on Tuesday, but fortunately it is not as bad as originally forecasted for New York City. The subways should be up and running above ground in Brooklyn on Wednesday, so I should be in for Trivia. If anything changes that, I will inform you here or on our Facebook group page. See you tomorrow for a great night of Trivia!

11 Years and Counting

It was 11 years ago today that Yours Truly started The Mighty Quinn Media Machine. It's been a memorable ride to say the least.

The blog has evolved over the years, first starting out talking about my favorite sports teams, and then adding my Trivia Night to the mix. I have been writing less as the years have progressed, but I am glad we're back doing Trivia again. And I'll be writing more about the Red Sox as the season begins.

I want to thank all of you for all the kind thoughts and wishes about my blog as the years have gone on. Here's hoping to more successful years of writing ahead!

Trivia Q&A: March 8

We had another terrific turnout for Trivia on Wednesday night, with 22 teams taking part. Not as many as the previous two weeks, but there seemed to be more folks in the bar taking part this week. That's always a good thing.

The story of the night was the team called DIMS, who were the winners the past two weeks, and they were going for the hat trick last night. After three rounds, I noticed they had not gotten a questions wrong yet, and a "perfect game" going. I decided not to say a word about it as the trivia was progressing, as like in baseball, I didn't want to "jinx" it. It was still going into the IQ Trivia round, but they got the question about the state of Franklin wrong, guessing Kentucky instead of the correct answer, which is Tennessee. It would be the only one they got wrong all night. Oh, so close.

DIMS won the night with 51 points, and the second place team was I'm a Girl Standing In Front of a Bull with 45 points. Third place went to Psyclones, getting 42 points.

Best Team Name: John Quinn, Let Us Win, We'll Show You Some Skin

Current Events
1. Former Red Sox and Cubs catcher David Ross will become the first MLB player to take part in what reality show later this year?
2. What Hollywood Oscar-winner sent an espresso maker to the White House press corps last week, the third time he has done so over the past few years?
3. What British-born actor says that he is applying for US citizenship in order to help "fight back" against President Trump?
4. Disney announced that their upcoming live-action remake of this classic will feature the studio's first ever gay character and love scene.
5. What 1950s rock'n'roll star is suing his daughter, claiming she abused him by giving him a diet of drug cocktails and spent his fortune?
6. Louis Tomlinson, lead singer of what pop group, was arrested last Friday at LAX after attacking a photographer after arriving on a flight with a girlfriend.
7. Robert Osborne, the film historian and author, died on Monday at the age of 84. What film channel was he a host for 23 years?

Brooklyn Trivia
1. Brooklyn gets its name from a town in what European country?
2. What county is Brooklyn in?
3. What current member of the Supreme Court was born and raised in Brooklyn?
4. What year in the 19th century did the Brooklyn Bridge open?
5. In the movie "Saturday Night Fever", the character Bobby C falls to his death from what bridge?
6. Between Al Pacino, Jerry Seinfeld and Barbra Streisand, which was NOT born in Brooklyn?
7. What was the final year the Dodgers played in Brooklyn before moving to LA?

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. The Super Bowl actually got its name from the Wham-O Superball.
2. The president and his family pay for their own food and incidentals while in the White House.
3. Transylvania is part of Albania.
4. The US men's national soccer team has never played in the World Cup Final.
5. "Call me Ishmael" is the first line of the book "Moby Dick."
6. George Washington appeared on the first US postage stamp.
7. About 20% of the US population are left-handed.
8. More than 1,000 languages are spoken on the continent of Africa.
9. Horse racing is called the "sport of kings."
10. The French Open is the first tennis tournament of the Grand Slam every calendar year.

General Knowledge
1. What is the largest city in New Jersey by population? ( 1 pt)
2. According to the census of 2010, what is the most common surname in the US? ( 1 pt)
3. Bart Giamatti was once commissioner of what sport? ( 1 pt)
4. Ted Kaczynski is better known to the public by what nickname? ( 2 pt)
5. Rolling Stone named what Beatles LP the greatest of all-time in 2003? ( 2 pt)
6. Haile Selassie was once emperor of what African country? ( 2 pt)
7. How many feet are there in a nautical fathom? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. Tenerife, El Herro and La Palma all belong to what island group? ( 4 points)
2. The state of Franklin was an autonomous 18th century American territory that today is part of what US state? ( 5 points)
3. Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris were up close witnesses of what historic event in American history? ( 4 points)
4. What MLB position hasn't been played by a left-handed player since the Pirates' Benny DiStefano in 1989? ( 3 points)
5. In 1988, who became the first majority-Islamic country to elect a female head of the government? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. "Dancing With the Stars:" 2. Tom Hanks; 3. Patrick Stewart; 4. "Beauty and the Beast;" 5. Jerry Lee Lewis; 6. One Direction; 7. Turner Classic Movies.

Brooklyn Trivia
1. Netherlands; 2. Kings; 3. Ruth Bader Ginsburg; 4. 1883; 5. Verrazano-Narrows Bridge; 6. Al Pacino; 7. 1957.

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. true; 2. true; 3. false; 4. true, Romania; 5. true; 6. false, Ben Franklin; 7. false, 7%;  8. true; 9. false, chess; 10. false, Australian Open.

General Knowledge
1. Newark; 2. Smith; 3. baseball; 4. The Unabomber; 5. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band; " 6. Ethiopia; 7. six.

IQ Trivia
1. Canary Islands; 2. Tennessee; 3. Assassination of Abraham Lincoln; 4. catcher; 5. Pakistan (Benazir Bhutto).

Trivia From The Garden Spot Of the World On Wednesday

On Wednesday night, March 8th, Trivia Night at Professor Thom's will feature "Brooklyn Trivia" as the Special Category. I'll ask you seven questions about the greatest of all of New York City's boroughs down through the years. The Q Train lightning round will be "True or False Trivia."

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"According to the census of 2010, what is the most common surname in the US?"

We get started at 8:30 PM on Wednesday night. Professor Thom's is located at 219 2nd Avenue, between East 13th and 14th Streets. I would suggest trying to get in a little bit early as we've had some huge crowds lately. Hope to see many of you for a great night of Trivia tomorrow night!

Trivia Q&A: March 1

We had another tremendous turnout for Trivia on Wednesday night, as we had 26 teams in, beating last week by one. The support has been great, and I thank you all for making my second go round at Professor Thom's such a success so far.

We had a good race throughout the night, as there were six teams separated by six points going into the final round. But the team of DIMS, last week's champions, repeated their win, getting 12 points in IQ Trivia to ice their victory. They ended up with 44 points and won by three.

Second place went to Heard You Got a New Beau (Biden) with 41 points, and The Mighty Quinn's Mightiest Fans finished third with 39 points. (And it was great seeing my old friends Charles, Pian and Emily back at Thom's, as they have been my loyalest Trivia supporters over the years.)

Best Team Name: John Wilkes Kissing Booth

Current Events
1. Designer Karl Lagerfeld called this Hollywood actress a "cheapskate" for canceling at the last minute an Oscar dress he designed for her in favor of one he says she was paid to wear.
2. What eastern US state was ranked the number one state in the country by US News and World Report in terms of health care, crime, education, opportunity and other categories?
3. What major retail store announced last week that it will close about 140 stores across the US due to declining sales, and will try to reinvent itself online?
4. Tom Perez was elected as the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee. What position did he serve in President Obama's cabinet?
5. What NBA team became the quickest team in league history to clinch a playoff berth last week, breaking their own record set last season?
6. What "superhero" film from last March took home four "Razzie" awards for film ineptitude last Saturday at the Golden Raspberry Awards?
7. "LaLa Land" was the big winner at the Academy Awards on Sunday, winning in how many categories?

Name the Decade Trivia
1. Nirvana releases the much-acclaimed album "Nevermind" and achieve mainstream success.
2. The American Football League begins play and challenges the NFL, resulting in a merger 10 years later.
3. Nearly one million Armenians die at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in what is called "The Armenian Genocide."
4. Henry Fonda wins his first Academy Award for "On Golden Pond," shortly before his death.
5. Stephen King's first novel "Carrie" is published.
6. Dr. Jonas Salk announces a vaccine for polio.
7. The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates as it reenters Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven crew members.

The Q Train: US Historic Places Trivia
1. Little Big Horn
2. Fort Knox
3. Mount Rushmore
4. Yellowstone National Park
5. Leavenworth Prison
6. Mount McKinley
7. Tombstone, home of the OK Corral
8. The Space Needle
9. The Alamo
10. Antietam

General Knowledge
1. The Canadian city of Edmonton is located in what province? ( 1 pt)
2. How many chess pieces in total are there for each player in a standard chess match? ( 1 pt)
3. What US state has the longest coastline? ( 1 pt)
4. How many times have the Olympic Games been canceled because of war? ( 2 pt)
5. What is TV's current longest-running game show? ( 2 pt)
6. Robert Fulton tested his first steamboat on what northeastern US river? ( 2 pt)
7. What is the most populous state capital in the US? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What fictional character was known as "Knight of the Woeful Countenance?" ( 3 points)
2. The name "Helvetia" appears on what European country's stamps and coinage? ( 4 points)
3. The world's oldest wooden building was built in the 7th century AD and is located in what country? ( 5 points)
4. Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers and Gene Wilder did voiceovers for what 1970s children's TV program? ( 4 points)
5. What war film's concluding scene is American troops marching into battle singing the theme to "The Mickey Mouse Club?" ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Meryl Streep; 2. Massachusetts; 3. J.C. Penney; 4. Labor secretary; 5. Golden State Warriors; 6. "Batman vs. Superman;" 7. six.

Name the Decade Trivia
1. 1990s; 2. 1960s; 3. 1910s; 4. 1980s; 5. 1970s; 6. 1950s; 7. 2000s.

The Q Train: US Historic Places Trivia
1. Montana; 2. Kentucky; 3. South Dakota; 4. Wyoming; 5. Kansas; 6. Alaska; 7. Arizona; 8. Washington; 9. Texas; 10. Maryland.

General Knowledge
1. Alberta; 2. sixteen; 3. Alaska; 4. five; 5. "The Price Is Right;" 6. Hudson River; 7. Phoenix.

IQ Trivia
1. Don Quixote; 2. Switzerland; 3. Japan; 4. "The Electric Company;" 5. "Full Metal Jacket."