Who Doesn't Belong? [4] Quiz | MLB Players

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Many players have hit a home run in their first Major League at-bat. Even more rare is to hit a home run on the very first pitch seen in the Major Leagues. Which player did not accomplish this?

Answer: Joe DiMaggio

On May 10, 1936, DiMaggio made his New York Yankee home debut, hitting a home run off the Philadelphia A's George Turbeville, but not on the first pitch thrown to him. Joe DiMaggio hit 29 home runs in his rookie season with the New York Yankees.

2. Which player did not steal second, third, and home, in the same game?

Answer: Lou Brock

The speedy Lou Brock never accomplished this feat, although he did steal 938 bases in his 19 year career. Brock, a baseball Hall of Fame member, had his best year swiping bases in 1974, when he stole 118 bases. Of all players to steal second, third, and home, Ty Cobb had the most success.

He accomplished that feat on six separate occasions. Ty Cobb also stole home more times than anyone else listed, with 54 successful steals.

3. Hitting a grand slam is quite a thrilling play in baseball. Hitting two grand slams in one game is incredible. Which player never hit two grand slams in one game?

Answer: Lou Gehrig

Although Lou Gehrig hit 23 grand slams in his storied career, he never hit two in the same game. Possibly the most surprising person to hit two grand slams in one game is Tony Cloninger. Usually, pitchers aren't known for their skills with the long ball. That's right, a pitcher. Cloninger was a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves during the 1966 season when he hit his two grand slams, off Bob Priddy and Ray Sadecki of the San Francisco Giants.

The date was July 3, which is usually a day early for fireworks. Plenty of rockets went off that day as Atlanta beat San Francisco 17-3.

4. For many players, playing in a World Series is the most coveted accomplishment possible. There are many great players who never were afforded the opportunity to play in the Fall Classic? Of the players listed below, which one actually did get to play in the World Series?

Answer: Nolan Ryan

Nolan Ryan got his lone chance to play in the World Series in 1969, when his New York Mets beat the Baltimore Orioles four games to one. Ryan got into one game as a relief pitcher, gaining a save in 2.3 innings of shutout work. Poor Phil Niekro, played 24 years with no World Series appearances. Rod Carew and Ernie Banks each played 19 years with no World Series experience.

5. Which player never stole more than 100 bases in a season?

Answer: Tim Raines

The stolen base is a dying art form. Henderson had his best year stealing bases in 1982 when he swiped 130 bases. Lou Brock's best year was 1974 when he stole 118 bases. Vince Coleman had a great year in 1985 when he stole 110 bases. The most Tim Raines ever stole was 90 in 1983, as a member of the Montreal Expos.

6. It's unusual to have two brothers playing on the same team at the same time. It's even stranger to have those same brothers both hit home runs on the same day. Which brothers never hit homers on the same day playing for the same team?

Answer: Jesus and Felipe Alou

Although Jesus and Felipe Alou never hit a homer on the same day on the same team, Jesus and Matty Alou did, on August 12, 1965, while playing for the San Francisco Giants against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Felipe and Matty Alou, also playing for the San Francisco Giants, hit homers on the same day on May 15, 1961, against the Chicago Cubs. Too bad all three brothers never connected for homers in the same day on the same team. That would have been the first time that feat ever happened.

7. Which pitcher did not strike out at least 200 hitters in his rookie season?

Answer: Fernando Valenzuela

Fernando Valenzuela had a great rookie year, but due to the strike shortened year he only struck out 188 batters. Gooden is tops on this list with 276, Sutton had 209, and Langston had 204.

8. Consecutive hit streaks are usually measured by how many games a player hits safely in. Let's go one better, and measure this hitting streak contest by at-bats. Which player never had a streak of hitting safely in at least ten at-bats?

Answer: Ted Williams

The great Ted Williams had an at-bat hitting streak of nine in 1939. All others listed hit safely in exactly 10 at-bats: Delahanty in 1897, Medwick in 1936, and Sisler in 1921.

9. Which player did not hit at least five grand slam home runs in one season?

Answer: Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth's best year for grand slams was 1919, when he hit four for the Boston Red Sox. Don Mattingly hit six for the Yankees in 1987. Ernie Banks hit five for the Cubs in 1955. Jim Gentile hit five for the Orioles in 1961.

10. Many players measure batting success by surpassing the .300 average plateau. Many players have hit .300 for an entire season, but not many of those players were over 40 years old. Which player did not hit .300 after the age of 40?

Answer: Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron's final year hitting .300 for a full season was 1973, when he was 39 years old, hitting .301 for the season. He played until he was 42, but never had an average higher than .262 after his 40th birthday. Pete Rose hit .325 during the year he was 40. Stan Musial hit .330 during the year he was 41. Luke Appling hit .306 when he was 40, .314 when he was 41 and .301 when he was 42.

Not too bad for an "over the hill" ball player.

Source: Author ralzzz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Who Doesn't Belong? [4] Trivia Quiz

Can you pick which player does not belong with his peers? Each question will describe a milestone or feat, that only three players will have accomplished. All you have to do is indicate which player does not belong.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>