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Odd Baseball Goings On Trivia Quiz

Just a collection of odd records, dubious distinctions, and feats of daring un-do that has helped make baseball history so colorful. Enjoy and get ready to smile.

A multiple-choice quiz by maddogmaxx. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
maddogmaxx

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
296,213

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1051

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Put me in coach! Despite his career .397 average, what player was called on to hit only 78 times in his 16-year career? Hint

Ty Cobb

Terry Forster

Pete Rose

Abner Doubleday

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Question 2 of 10

2. Give the "Mad Dog" his due! Despite winning four batting titles, a .305 career average and once being traded for Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, what third baseman was dropped from Hall Of Fame balloting after being named on only 4% of ballots in his first year of eligibility? Hint

"Howling Mad" Murdock

Sterling Hitchcock

Ron Cey

Bill Madlock

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Question 3 of 10

3. Bail me out, coach! Which of the following players has spent time in prison? Hint

Orlando Cepeda

Pete Rose

All listed

Denny McLain

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Question 4 of 10

4. I can do it, coach! Or not. What slugger set a new record for the most career plate appearances without a successful sacrifice bunt? Hint

Lou Brock

Frank Thomas

Babe Ruth

Otis Nixon

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Question 5 of 10

5. I can do it this time, coach! Or not. In 1973, what infielder set the dubious record of most plate appearances in a season, without an extra-base hit in 144 plate appearances? Hint

Dwain Anderson

Otis Nixon

Mike Gallego

Ozzie Smith

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Question 6 of 10

6. In 2007, Chase Wright joined Paul Foytack as the second pitcher to accomplish what feat that not even a grandma could love? Hint

Gave up four consecutive home runs

Wore his baseball jersey backwards

Gave up 50 runs in a game

Mooned the umpire

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Question 7 of 10

7. Mama, I mooned the world! (Or blue moon over Chicago!) While we're in this dubious neighborhood, what Chicago White Sox infielder forget where he was, and dropped his uniform pants to dust off after sliding into first base during a nationally televised game? Hint

John Smoltz

Hank Aaron

Fred McGriff

Steve Lyons

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Question 8 of 10

8. Mama, I really did play in that game! On June 25, 1976, what All-Star shortstop did absolutely nothing to get into the record books by playing both games of a doubleheader without touching a ball in play? Hint

Derek Jeter

Toby Harrah

Ernie Banks

Dave Concepcion

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Question 9 of 10

9. Not even Mario Mendoza would be proud of this record. Which of the following players with more than 1000 career at-bats, had the lowest career batting average? Hint

Bob Euker

Bill Sundberg

Bill Bergen

Rob Deer

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Question 10 of 10

10. Boo who? Boo you. What Philadelphia Phillies slugger showed what he really felt about the fans by etching the word "Boo" into the dirt at Veterans Stadium? Hint

Richie Allen

Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams

Mike Schmidt

Jimmy Rollins

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Put me in coach! Despite his career .397 average, what player was called on to hit only 78 times in his 16-year career?

Answer: Terry Forster

Forster, an accomplished relief pitcher, played for five different Major League clubs and recorded 127 saves. He might be best remembered however, for his years with the Atlanta Braves when his weight often overshadowed his pitching prowess. Also as a sidenote, Forster went 0-for-4 in his final season or he would have finished with .400+ career average.

Answer: Bill Madlock

"Mad Dog" Madlock is sort of a baseball enigma. One of those great players that is not remembered as one of the best, despite having career numbers that compares favorably or better than many Hall of Fame infielders. In addition to the accolades listed in the question, he was a three-time All Star, won the 1995 All Star Game MVP Award, and helped the Pirates go all the way in 1979.

3. Bail me out, coach! Which of the following players has spent time in prison?

Answer: All listed

These three players would make an awesome foundation for a great Major League club, but you might reconsider inviting them to the family picnic. McLain was in and out jail during the '80s and received a six-year term for embezzlement, mail fraud, and conspiracy in the 1990s. Cepeda was convicted of drug possession in 1978, and pleaded down another drug case in 2008. Rose's offenses have, of course, been well-documented.

4. I can do it, coach! Or not. What slugger set a new record for the most career plate appearances without a successful sacrifice bunt?

Answer: Frank Thomas

He may be "The Big Hurt", but he will never be called "The Big Bunt", "Speedy Gonzalez", or "The Glove Maestro". At the bat, however, Thomas has had an awesome career, which includes 500+ dingers, and over 1700 RBIs.

5. I can do it this time, coach! Or not. In 1973, what infielder set the dubious record of most plate appearances in a season, without an extra-base hit in 144 plate appearances?

Answer: Dwain Anderson

Anderson played for four teams in four seasons, finishing his career with a .203 lifetime average. His lone crowning moment came in 1972 when he made the Topps All-Star Rookie Team. Gallego almost broke the record when he didn't have an extra base hit in 120 plate appearances a few years later.

6. In 2007, Chase Wright joined Paul Foytack as the second pitcher to accomplish what feat that not even a grandma could love?

Answer: Gave up four consecutive home runs

Manny Ramirez, J. D. Drew, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek victimized Wright in only his second Major League start in 2007. Oddly, the Yankees almost rallied back to win the game, but finally lost to Boston 7-6.

Answer: Steve Lyons

Lyons' exploits had us all in stitches (pun intended) and fit in well with his nickname of "Psycho". After baseball, he stepped behind the microphone.

Answer: Toby Harrah

Colbert Dale "Toby" Harrah played for three different teams from 1969-1986 and managed the Texas Rangers in 1992. He was an accomplished fielder, good hitter, and was a four-time All-Star selection.

9. Not even Mario Mendoza would be proud of this record. Which of the following players with more than 1000 career at-bats, had the lowest career batting average?

Answer: Bill Bergen

Astoundingly, Bergen played in 11 seasons while only hitting a career .170 with a .194 on base percentage. He also set a record for the lowest season average for a player who qualified for a batting title at .139, hit only 2 career dingers, and once went 46 at bats without a hit.

As bad as that may seem, his brother, catcher Marty Bergen, received notoriety for killing his family and then committing suicide. As for Mendoza, his name has become synonymous for futile hitting and the benchmark of a .200 batting average is called the Mendoza line.

In actuality, however, Mendoza had a .215 career average and is not ranked among the ten worst hitters of all-time.

10. Boo who? Boo you. What Philadelphia Phillies slugger showed what he really felt about the fans by etching the word "Boo" into the dirt at Veterans Stadium?

Answer: Richie Allen

Williams might have done it if he thought about it, but Allen was the real culprit. His anger management issues aside, Allen was a superb player. He was a seven-time All Star, won the 1972 NL MVP Award, and was the 1964 NL Rookie of the Year.

Source: Author maddogmaxx

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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