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Jim Bouton's "Ball Four"

Created by d2407

Fun Trivia : Quizzes : Baseball Literature
Jim Boutons Ball Four game quiz
"One of the New York Public Library's 100 Books of the Century, "Ball Four", is funny, informative, and about much more than baseball in 1969."

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  



1. What are the first words of "Ball Four?"
    I can't believe it... just cannot believe it
    [Nuts!] Benched again
    I'm 30 years old and I have these dreams
    "Ball four." Two words that no pitcher wants to hear


2. What is "The Flame?"
    The "mother of all hot-foots"
    That look that Sal 'The Barber' Maglie gives when he's mad at you
    The 96 mph fastball thrown by a 17-year-old who worries Bouton
    A "restaurant" used in a practical joke


3. "One of these days, maybe I'll figure out how to" do something, writes Bouton at one point. "It sounds like a valuable pitching weapon." Do what?
    Smoke him inside
    Zitz a guy
    Bean someone and make it look like an accident
    Focus


4. What is Joe Schultz's seemingly constant companion whenever Bouton wants to discuss getting more time in the pitching rotation?
    A can of tuna fish
    A goldfish who receives more of Schultz's attention than does Bouton
    A fifth of Jack Daniels
    A liverwurst sandwich


5. During Bouton's stint in the minors, what form of poisoning does he claim to suffer?
    Food
    Arm rot
    AAArsenic
    Mai tai


6. What cartoon character impersonation did Marty Pattin frequently draw laughs with?
    Porky Pig as an English Lit professor
    Elmer Fudd explaining how to throw a "cuwve ball"
    Mickey Mouse talking back to Joe Schultz
    Donald Duck having an orgasm


7. Eddie O'Brien is called "Mr. Small Stuff" because of:
    His bottlecap collection
    His anatomy
    His obsession with meaningless matters
    His batting average as a player


8. What does Joe Schultz say when he sees a player's wife drinking a Coke?
    It's the real thing!
    You'll never make it on that, my dear.
    Can I get you some rum for that, honey?
    Hey! When'd they run out of Pepsi?


9. What could be better than a Fourth of July double-header in Kansas City?
    How about a Fourth of July double-header in Kansas City where you're not blown out by the third inning?
    Oh, death maybe. Or facing Boog Powell three times in one inning
    Throw in some of that great KC barbeque between games and you're talking!
    Everything up to and including a kick in the [rear]


10. Who were George Saviano and Al Gornie?
    The last two American League batters Bouton faced
    The original batboys for the Seattle Pilots
    They both claimed to be married to the same woman
    The founders of the Jim Bouton fan club


11. What does "ding dong" mean in the book?
    The sound of the bullpen phone ringing
    A pitched ball hitting the catcher in his protective cup
    A home run
    A fan who talks too much and doesn't know what he's talking about


12. When Mike Hegan is filling out a public relations questionnaire, what is the first answer he proposes to the question "What is the most difficult thing about playing major-league baseball?"
    Answering questions like this
    Hitting, pitching, running, throwing
    Explaining to your wife why *she* needs a penicillin shot for *your* kidney infection
    Keeping a straight face in my ridiculous uniform


13. At Cafe Bohemia in Washington DC, what did Eddie O'Brien have for dinner?
    Buffalo burger
    Fried chicken
    Lambchops
    Steak


14. Which of the following is most closely-related to "chin music?"
    Tweener
    Purpose pitch
    Kicks
    Hose


15. Which player listed below never roomed with Jim Bouton in "Ball Four?"
    Bob Lasko
    Mike Marshall
    Tommy Davis
    Steve Hovley


16. The Pilots' official team photo was taken between July 25 and July 27. What is one thing below that does NOT help us know this?
    The scoreboard in the photo
    Bouton's stories about the photo session
    The players in the photo
    The Pilots' schedule


17. What children's TV show did Bouton mention frequently in the book?
    Howdy Doody
    Tom and Jerry
    Captain Video
    Romper Room


18. During an insult contest, who or what does Merritt Ranew say Fred Talbot looked like?
    A perch
    Woody Allen
    A plumber
    Joe Schultz


19. Why did baseball players love Washington DC's Shoreham Hotel so much?
    The room service
    The location
    The layout
    The bar


20. Where was Jim Bouton when he found out he'd been traded to Houston?
    Hosting his son's birthday party
    Baltimore
    Cleveland
    Chicago


21. What was "Proud to be an Astro?"
    The title of the last section of "Ball Four"
    The Astros' official fight song
    A raunchy ditty that the Astro players sing
    A drinking game


22. Where did Jim's family live in September 1969 while he was with the Astros?
    In the visiting NFL locker room at the Astrodome
    At a NASA training facility that hadn't been used for two years
    With his wife's grandfather
    At Astroworld Hotel


23. Jim was traded to Houston for Dooley Womack. How else does Dooley Womack make an appearance in "Ball Four?"
    The Yankees invented a dance based on Womack's on-field mannerisms
    He'd get mad when Joe Pepitone would call him "Wooley Domack"
    He was on the bullpen's "All-Ugly Team"
    Jim's manager compared him to Dooley Womack after he had a splendid spring training


24. In scolding the team after a sloppy loss, who did Harry Walker say they looked like?
    Barney Fife
    Molly Putz
    Tom Thumb
    Captain Kangaroo


25. Finish the book as Jim did: "You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball..."
    and then, one pitch and... Ball Four!
    and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time.
    but it's baseball that takes a big piece out of you in the end.
    but then it IS only baseball. Time to move on.


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Compiled Jun 20 13