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SWING AND A MISS!

Fred Wham was the Federal Judge.

Sparky Anderson was the Baseball Player.

Fred Wham

Not only did Fred L. Wham work his way through school while earning a law degree from the University of Illinois, he also played as an all-star tackle on the Illini football team. After both private practice and experience in the solicitor’s office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wham became Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois. Even though Judge Wham’s courtroom became hot in the summer (air conditioning did not exist at the time), and the open windows brought the noise of traffic into the building, he always enforced his rules of formality. Nobody could wear shirtsleeves into his courtroom — officers of the court, spectators, and newspapermen alike. When a defendant appeared without a coat, Wham sent the United States Marshal to provide one. When Wham took his position on the federal bench, prohibition was in effect and bootleggers were not seriously being restrained in Southern Illinois. Wham changed this, and in the late 1920s, the Eastern District of Illinois had more jury trials of bootleggers than any other district in the United States. One of the most unusual trials in Wham’s court involved a family of eight who spent 12 years collecting insurance money for fake accident claims. The family, dubbed the eight “tumbling Womacks,” comprised a father, mother, three daughters, and three sons-in-law. Two of these sons-in-law made excellent “tumblers”— they were professional wrestlers.

Sparky Anderson

As a player, George Lee “Sparky” Anderson went from the minor leagues to the majors and back. He started to truly shine, however, once he became manager of the Cincinnati Reds at the relatively young age of 35. Although a newspaper headline read, “Sparky Who?” the day after his hiring, his appearance soon conformed to the typical veteran manager look: his hair prematurely turned white soon afterwards to match his craggy features. And regardless of who knew his name at the time, his leadership ensured his recognition. Called “Sparky” for his fiery style, he became the first manager to win a World Series in both the National and American Leagues. One of the tactics that led to his teams’ successes was his removal of starting pitchers upon any hint of trouble, a maneuver that sometimes prompted others to call him Captain Hook. But, that method is now part of modern baseball wisdom. With Anderson’s management, the Big Red Machine won four pennants and two World Series championships in the 1970s. A couple of years later, he managed Detroit to a World Series title. Upon induction into the Hall of Fame, Anderson opted for a Reds cap to be shown on his plaque. “That was a tribute to Bob Howsam, the Cincinnati general manager who gave a career minor leaguer a chance at the big leagues.”

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CORRECT!

Fred Wham

Not only did Fred L. Wham work his way through school while earning a law degree from the University of Illinois, he also played as an all-star tackle on the Illini football team. After both private practice and experience in the solicitor’s office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wham became Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois. Even though Judge Wham’s courtroom became hot in the summer (air conditioning did not exist at the time), and the open windows brought the noise of traffic into the building, he always enforced his rules of formality. Nobody could wear shirtsleeves into his courtroom — officers of the court, spectators, and newspapermen alike. When a defendant appeared without a coat, Wham sent the United States Marshal to provide one. When Wham took his position on the federal bench, prohibition was in effect and bootleggers were not seriously being restrained in Southern Illinois. Wham changed this, and in the late 1920s, the Eastern District of Illinois had more jury trials of bootleggers than any other district in the United States. One of the most unusual trials in Wham’s court involved a family of eight who spent 12 years collecting insurance money for fake accident claims. The family, dubbed the eight “tumbling Womacks,” comprised a father, mother, three daughters, and three sons-in-law. Two of these sons-in-law made excellent “tumblers”— they were professional wrestlers.

Sparky Anderson

As a player, George Lee “Sparky” Anderson went from the minor leagues to the majors and back. He started to truly shine, however, once he became manager of the Cincinnati Reds at the relatively young age of 35. Although a newspaper headline read, “Sparky Who?” the day after his hiring, his appearance soon conformed to the typical veteran manager look: his hair prematurely turned white soon afterwards to match his craggy features. And regardless of who knew his name at the time, his leadership ensured his recognition. Called “Sparky” for his fiery style, he became the first manager to win a World Series in both the National and American Leagues. One of the tactics that led to his teams’ successes was his removal of starting pitchers upon any hint of trouble, a maneuver that sometimes prompted others to call him Captain Hook. But, that method is now part of modern baseball wisdom. With Anderson’s management, the Big Red Machine won four pennants and two World Series championships in the 1970s. A couple of years later, he managed Detroit to a World Series title. Upon induction into the Hall of Fame, Anderson opted for a Reds cap to be shown on his plaque. “That was a tribute to Bob Howsam, the Cincinnati general manager who gave a career minor leaguer a chance at the big leagues.”

CONTINUE WITH QUIZ