FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about First AfricanAmericans in Baseball
Quiz about First AfricanAmericans in Baseball

First African-Americans in Baseball Quiz


Most people know that Jackie Robinson broke the "color barrier" in the major leagues, but what do you know about other first in baseball accomplished by African-American players? This quiz may surprise you. Good luck. Play ball!

A multiple-choice quiz by AirBossJohnson. Estimated time: 5 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Sports Trivia
  6. »
  7. MLB Players
  8. »
  9. African-American MLB Players

Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
247,938
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
8 / 15
Plays
1377
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 15
1. I was the first African-American to play in the American League. I played my first game in 1947. Who am I? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. Who were the first African-American brothers to play on the same Major League team in the same season? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. Who was the first African-American to umpire a game in the Major Leagues? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. Do you know me? I was the first African-American baseball pitcher to win a World Series' game. Who am I? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. Who was the first player in baseball history to win all three of Major League Baseball's major sports awards? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. I was the first African-American pitcher in the Major Leagues. Do you happen to know my name? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. I was the first African-American player to pitch a no-hitter in the Major Leagues. Some say I did it the hard way in the last inning. Do you know my name? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. I became the first African-American umpire in the National League. Do you remember my name? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. What was John "Buck" O'Neill's contribution to Major League baseball? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. Who was the first African-American to manage a team in the Major Leagues? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. I had the distinction of being the first African-American pitcher to win 20 games in six consecutive years. Do you know my name? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. I was actually the first African-American to pitch in the American League. Do you know my name? Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. Which Major League team included on it's roster, the first African- American player to appear in a World Series? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. Who was the first player to hit 30 or more home runs in a season, in 15 seasons? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. Who was the first African-American to play for the last Major League team to integrate it's roster? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Mar 08 2024 : Guest 24: 6/15
Feb 23 2024 : Guest 73: 4/15

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. I was the first African-American to play in the American League. I played my first game in 1947. Who am I?

Answer: Larry Doby

Larry Doby joined the Cleveland Indians on July 5, 1947. In 1948, he hit the winning home run in game four of the World Series. He was the first African-American player to hit a home run in the World Series. Doby was also the the first African-American home run champion in 1952, with 32 home runs for the Cleveland Indians.
2. Who were the first African-American brothers to play on the same Major League team in the same season?

Answer: Aaron

It happened in 1968, where Brothers Hank and Tommie played together for the 1968-1971 Atlanta Braves, and shared the outfield together in many games. Hank's 755 career home runs is a well-known feature in Major League baseball. Brother Tommie, older by five years, hit only 13 home runs in his seven-season career, and four of those as a Brave. Tommie died in 1984 at the age of 45.
3. Who was the first African-American to umpire a game in the Major Leagues?

Answer: Emmett Ashford

The appointment of Ashford in 1966 as an American League umpire (after umpiring for 14 years in the minor leagues) made him the first African-American to umpire in the Major Leagues. Ashford went on to umpire both an All-star Game in 1967, and a World Series in 1970 before the mandatory retirement age of 55 years ended his Major League umpiring career. Ashford worked his first Major League game in Washington D.C. on opening day, in a game between the Washington Senators and the Cleveland Indians. Vice President of the United States Hubert H. Humphrey was in attendance to throw out the ceremonial first baseball to start the game. Ironically, Ashford and his wife had difficulty getting into the stadium because security people did not believe he was an umpire.
4. Do you know me? I was the first African-American baseball pitcher to win a World Series' game. Who am I?

Answer: Joe Black

A member of the 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers, and the 1952 Rookie of the Year, Black recorded a victory over the New York Yankees on October 1, 1952. The final score was, Dodgers 4, Yankees 2.
5. Who was the first player in baseball history to win all three of Major League Baseball's major sports awards?

Answer: Don Newcombe

In 1949, Newcombe was named Rookie of the Year. In 1956, he was named both Most Valuable Player and was the recipient of the Cy Young Award for his pitching performances.
6. I was the first African-American pitcher in the Major Leagues. Do you happen to know my name?

Answer: Dan Bankhead

As a member of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers, Bankhead became the first African-American pitcher in the Major Leagues on August 26, 1947. A native if Empire, Alabama, he played in the Major Leagues until 1951. Bankhead along with his four brothers all had played in the Negro Baseball League. Dan went on to play with the Memphis Red Sox, and in the Canadian and Mexican leagues before signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

He pitched in the Major League All-Star games of 1941, 1946, and 1947.
7. I was the first African-American player to pitch a no-hitter in the Major Leagues. Some say I did it the hard way in the last inning. Do you know my name?

Answer: Sam "Toothpick" Jones

Jones accomplished this fete on May 12, 1955, as a member of the Chicago Cubs, throwing a 4-0 shut out against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Jones ended the game by striking out the last three batters he faced in the ninth inning, after he has walked the bases loaded. This was the first no-hit game in Chicago's Wrigley Field since 1915.
8. I became the first African-American umpire in the National League. Do you remember my name?

Answer: Art Williams

A former minor league pitcher in the mid 1950s, and the first African-American player with the Detroit Tigers, Williams learned the umpiring trade by attending and graduating from baseball's Umpire Development School. After serving as a minor league umpire for four seasons, he made his Major League debut at third base in a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres on September 18, 1972, in San Diego, California.

He was later fired from his position. His lawsuit with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was pending when he died in 1979.
9. What was John "Buck" O'Neill's contribution to Major League baseball?

Answer: First African- American coach in the major leagues

O'Neill was signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1962. A notable former first baseman in black baseball, he had served for several years as a baseball scout.
10. Who was the first African-American to manage a team in the Major Leagues?

Answer: Frank Robinson

Robinson was hired to manage the Cleveland Indians on October 3, 1975. Later in his career, Robinson managed the San Francisco Giants from 1981 to 1984, and the Baltimore Orioles from 1988 to 1991.
11. I had the distinction of being the first African-American pitcher to win 20 games in six consecutive years. Do you know my name?

Answer: Ferguson Jenkins

Ferguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins was born on December 13, 1943 in Chatham. Ontario, Canada. Other accomplishments throughout his career included playing in three All-Star games, Winning the National League Cy Young Award in 1971, leading the National League in strikeouts in 1969 with 273, and being elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1991. Jenkins spent most of his career with the Chicago Cubs.
12. I was actually the first African-American to pitch in the American League. Do you know my name?

Answer: Leroy "Satchel" Paige

Paige first pitched in the American League in 1948. He was also the first African-American to actually pitch in a World Series game. One of the best known players in black baseball, he became the first African-American elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame for his career in the Negro Baseball League in 1971. During his five seasons in the Major Leagues (1949-1953), he won 28 games and lost 32.
13. Which Major League team included on it's roster, the first African- American player to appear in a World Series?

Answer: Brooklyn Dodger

The first African-Americans to appear in the World Series were Brooklyn Dodger players Dan Bankhead and Jackie Robinson in 1947.
Bankhead played in only one game and Robinson participated in all seven games against the New York Yankees.
14. Who was the first player to hit 30 or more home runs in a season, in 15 seasons?

Answer: Henry Aaron

Aaron's career spanned 23 seasons from 1954 until 1976. Aaron hit 30 or more home runs in seven consecutive seasons from 1957 through 1963, three consecutive seasons from 1965 through 1967, and five consecutive seasons from 1969 until 1973. Born on February 5, 1934, right fielder Henry Louis "Hammerin Hank" Aaron became best known for setting the Major League record for the most home runs in a career (755), surpassing the previous mark of 714 held by Babe Ruth. Aaron is also the first player to hit at least 20 home runs in 20 different seasons. Aaron won three Gold Glove awards in right field, and was named to a record number of 24 All-Star teams. Aaron was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1982, after receiving 406 votes of the 415 votes cast by the baseball sports writers.
15. Who was the first African-American to play for the last Major League team to integrate it's roster?

Answer: Pumpsie Green

That distinction went to Elijah Jerry "Pumpsie" Green. The native of Oakland, California, was born October 27, 1933. Green made his debut with the Boston Red Sox on July 21, 1959, as a pinch-hitter against the Chicago White Sox. During his career with Boston, he served mostly as a pinch-hitter and days off replacement for infielders Pete Runnels and Frank Malzone.
Source: Author AirBossJohnson

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
3/29/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us