1. Baseball's Reggie Jackson was the first to hit five home runs in a World Series. Who was the first player to blast four home runs in a World Series?
Answer: Babe Ruth
Interesting Information:
The Sultan of Swat hit four in a 1926 World Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The next player to stand with four in a World Series was Lou Gehrig, whose four in the 1928 series against the same Cardinals, helped the Yankees win it. Ruth's four home runs came in 31 at-bats, while Gehrig came to the plate 17 times.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Reggie Jackson, Duke Snider, Mickey Mantle
2. BASEBALL- In which year was a World Series game won by a walk-off hit (last batter of the game)?
 Answer: 1910
Interesting Information:In 1910, the Cubs and Athletics went at it in the World Series. In game four, the Cubs' Jimmy Sheckard singled home Jimmy Archer in the bottom of the 10th inning. Mordecai Brown took the win while Chief Bender took the loss. It would be the only win for the Cubs, as they lost the series in five games. In 1951, there was a famous walk-off home run by Bobby Thomson, but it was in the NL Playoffs between the Dodgers and Giants.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
1931, 1942, 1951
3. Who was the first person to be a NFL coach, college football head coach, and also a Major League Baseball team manager?
 Answer: Hugo Bezdek
Interesting Information:Bezdek was the head coach of the University of Oregon football squad before taking over the University of Arkansas. He later was also a head coach at Penn State. Bezdek had the helm of the Major League's Pittsburgh Pirates from 1917-1919. He was also a coach for NFLs Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Rams.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Vince Lombardi, Jim Thorpe, Jack Pardee
4. Lou Gehrig was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. What position did he play?
 Answer: First baseman
Interesting Information:Lou Gehrig was inducted into the Hall of Fame, class of 1939. He played first base for the New York Yankees.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Shortstop, Catcher, Pitcher
5. What balloting percentage must a person have to be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame?
 Answer: 75%
Interesting Information:The basic practice is for players to be elected to the ballot by the Baseball Writers Association of America or the Veterans Committee. Then, the Baseball Writers Association members with at least 10 years in membership would cast the final ballot. A player would have to be named on 75% or more of the ballots to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
70%, 80%, 85%
6. What decade saw Major League Baseball's "Big Red Machine" in Cincinnati?
 Answer: 1970s
Interesting Information:The Cincinnati Reds saw great success in the 1970s. They saw World Series action in 1970, 1972, 1975 and 1976, winning the title in 1975 and 1976. Sparky Anderson saw his rookie debut as manager for the Reds in 1970, and stayed through 1978.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
1980s, 1960s, 1990s
7. Of the Major League Baseball DiMaggio brothers, which one played his entire career with the Boston Red Sox?
 Answer: Dom
Interesting Information:Dom played in Fenway Park from 1940-1953. Brother Joe spent all his 13 seasons with the New York Yankees. Vince played for five teams in his 10-season career. Albert did not exist.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Joe, Vince, Albert
8. In which decade did the Major League Baseball teams of the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers move to California?
 Answer: 1950s
Interesting Information:Both teams moved in 1958. The Giants moved to San Francisco, while the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
1970s, 1930s, 1910s
9. The great Babe Ruth, Major League Baseball's shining star, retired with what team?
 Answer: Boston Braves
Interesting Information:Ruth began his career with the Boston Red Sox, then was sold to the Yankees. After playing with the Yankees during the 1920s and 1930s, Ruth signed with the Braves for his final season in 1935.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Atlanta Falcons, New York Yankees, Calgary Flames
10. Who managed the same Major League Baseball team for 50 consecutive seasons?
 Answer: Connie Mack
Interesting Information:After managing the National League Pittsburgh Pirates in the late 1800s, Mack took over the new American League Philadelphia Athletics in 1901. He stepped down in 1950.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Leo Durocher, Casey Stengel, Joe Torre
11. Who was the commissioner of Major League Baseball in 2009?
 Answer: Bud Selig
Interesting Information:Selig took over in 1992 after the departure of Vincent, and served as the acting commissioner until 1998. It was then he was made the official baseball commissioner.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Bart Giamatti, Fay Vincent, Bowie Kuhn
12. The Cy Young Award is presented to the most outstanding pitcher in a season for Major League Baseball. Who won the first award?
 Answer: Don Newcombe
Interesting Information:The award began in 1956, after the death of the great Cy Young in 1955. Brooklyn Dodger Don Newcombe won the first award with his 27-7 record.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Randy Johnson
13. In the 2004 Major League Baseball playoffs, which Boston Red Sox pitcher was made famous for his bloody sock?
 Answer: Curt Schilling
Interesting Information:Curt had an ankle injury that was bleeding through his sock. Like a real hero, he stepped on the mound anyway and shut down the rival Yankees in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Pedro Martinez, Tim Wakefield, Derek Lowe
14. Which Major League baseball team was swept in the 2005 World Series?
 Answer: Houston Astros
Interesting Information:The Houston Astros won 89 games while losing 73 games during the 2005 season. The victor of the World Series, the White Sox, won 99 games and lost 63 games.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves
15. Which Major League Baseball team won their first World Series crown in the 1990s?
 Answer: Toronto Blue Jays
Interesting Information:The Blue Jay franchise began in 1977. 1992 saw their first series crown, then they repeated in 1993. The Phillies' first crown came in 1980, the Pirates in 1909, and the Cubs' first came in 1907.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs
16. Who was the first Baltimore Oriole in Major League Baseball to win an MVP Award?
 Answer: Brooks Robinson
Interesting Information:The others never played for the Orioles. Robinson, a multiple Gold Glove third baseman, won the award in 1964. Teammate Frank Robinson (no relation) also won the award in 1966 while batting for the Triple Crown.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Ty Cobb, Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson
17. Major League Baseball: which franchise was the first to relocate to three different states?
 Answer: Baltimore Orioles
Interesting Information:The Orioles' franchise began in 1901 as the Milwaukee Brewers in the new American League in 1901. The team moved to St. Louis to become the dismal Browns in 1902 through the 1953 season. In 1954, the franchise moved to Baltimore to become the Orioles. The Orioles won their first World Series in 1966. In 1901, the Braves' franchise was in Boston, named the Beaneaters. In 1953, the franchise moved to Milwaukee, then again in 1966 to Atlanta.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds
18. Major League Baseball's great Babe Ruth, appeared in his most World Series with which team?
 Answer: Yankees
Interesting Information:Ruth began his career in 1914 with the Red Sox. He appeared in the 1915 series as a batter, then in 1916 and 1918 as a pitcher for the Red Sox. After being sold to the Yankees for 1920, he appeared in seven World Series with the Bronx Bombers.
Difficulty: Easy.
Some incorrect choices:
Red Sox, Braves, Cardinals
19. Which Major League Baseball team was the first to appear in 10 World Series?
 Answer: New York Giants
Interesting Information:Before the domination of the New York Yankees, the Giants by 1924 had appeared in nine World Series already. Their 10th trip was in 1933. By 1933, the Yankees had appeared in seven.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Minnesota Twins, Brooklyn Dodgers, San Diego Padres
20. In 2008, Albert Pujols won Major League Baseball's National League MVP. Which team did he play for?
 Answer: St. Louis Cardinals
Interesting Information:Pujols was in his eighth season with the Cardinals in 2008, and had already hit 316 career home runs.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds
21. Who was voted Major League Baseball's American League Most Valuable Player of the 2008 season?
 Answer: Dustin Pedroia
Interesting Information:Morneau, Youkilis, and Mauer finished second, third, and fourth, respectively.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Justin Morneau, Kevin Youkilis, Joe Mauer
22. Which Major League Baseball pitcher won his 300th game on June 4, 2009?
 Answer: Randy Johnson
Interesting Information:The Giants' Johnson's 300th win came against the Washington Nationals and made him the 24th pitcher in history to reach the milestone.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Roger Clemens, Jake Peavy, Mike Mussina
23. On April 17, 2009, what player became Major League baseball's 25th player to hit 500 Home Runs?
 Answer: Gary Sheffield
Interesting Information:He hit his 500th as a Met. He was also the first player to hit his 500th home run as a pinch-hitter.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire, Babe Ruth
24. In which season did Major League Baseball switch from a 154-game season to a 162-game season?
 Answer: 1961
Interesting Information:1961 saw the first 162-game season, and it already created controversy. Yankee Roger Maris hit 61 home runs in the first 162-game season, and broke the season record of Babe Ruth, who hit 60 in the 154-game season of 1927. This created an asterisk in the baseball record books until Mark McGwire hit 70 for the Cardinals in 1998.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
1986, 1945, 1928
25. BASEBALL - In 2008, which Los Angeles Angels closer broke the record for saves in a season?
 Answer: Francisco Rodriguez
Interesting Information:Francisco beat the former record of 57 by getting 62 saves in 2008. He was signed by the New York Mets in the 2008 offseason.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Brian Fuentes, Todd Jones, Ervin Santana
26. Baseball: What is the name of the Chicago Cubs fan who interfered with a historical foul ball hit in game 6 of the 2003 NLCS?
 Answer: Steve Bartman
Interesting Information:After this incident, which prevented an out from being recorded, Alex S. Gonzalez made an error at shortstop, and the Cubs went on to allow eight runs in the inning enroute to an 8-3 loss and yet another heartbreaking season.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Jeff Moria, Alex S. Gonzalez, Mark Prior
27. Who wore jersey number "3" on the New York Yankees baseball team?
 Answer: Babe Ruth
Interesting Information:The number "3" jersey of Babe Ruth was later retired by the Yankees.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Joe DiMaggio, Sandy Koufax, Yogi Berra
28. Which Major League Baseball player was the first to have his number retired league-wide in 1997?
 Answer: Jackie Robinson
Interesting Information:As an African-American, Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color line, and ended 60 years of segregation in Major League Baseball. His number 42 was retired throughout the entire league on the 50th anniversary of his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays
29. What famous fictional baseball player was on a team from Mudville?
 Answer: Casey
Interesting Information:"Casey at the Bat" was a poem written in 1888 by Ernest Thayer. It chronicles the tale of "Mighty Casey" who, with perhaps a little too much bravado, appears at the plate, in the bottom of the ninth inning, with his team down two runs, with two runners on base, and two out.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Smokey, Speedy, Dusty
30. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson spent his entire career playing for which team?
 Answer: Baltimore Orioles
Interesting Information:Robinson was one of the very greatest 3rd baseman of all-time. He played all 22 of his Major League seasons with the Orioles.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox
31. Who was the first African-American to play Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees?
 Answer: Elston Howard
Interesting Information:Howard was a great catcher and joined the Yankees in 1955. He won the MVP in 1963. Green was the first African-American to play for the Boston Red Sox. Doby was the first African-American in the American League (Cleveland) and Robinson was the first African-American to break into the Major Leagues (Brooklyn).
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Pumpsie Green, Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby
32. Which Major League Baseball team began their franchise endeavors in the 1960s, by losing 100+ games in each of their first four seasons?
 Answer: New York Mets
Interesting Information:The other franchises all began with the new American League in 1901. The Mets were an expansion team in 1962. Under the helm of manager Casey Stengel, the Mets lost no less than 109 games in each of their first four seasons. What a tremendous adjustment for Stengel, as he had already taken the New York Yankees to 10 American League pennants in a 12-season run. The Mets finally came out of it, and won the World Series in 1969 against the Baltimore Orioles.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians
33. Which Major League Baseball team is known by non-fans and critics as "The Evil Empire"?
 Answer: New York Yankees
Interesting Information:The franchise which was founded as the Baltimore Orioles in 1901, moved to New York and became the New York Highlanders before becoming the Yankees in 1913. As the most successful franchise in history, they like Manchester United in the UK, attract a lot of jealousy from other team's fans and dislike from neutrals.
Difficulty: Average.
Some incorrect choices:
Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Tampa Bay Rays
34. Who was the first Major League Baseball player to hit over 600 career home runs?
 Answer: Babe Ruth
Interesting Information:Both Norman and Trevino were professional golfers. Hank Aaron of the Braves was the third player to hit 600 in 1971. Willie Mays of the Giants was the second player to go over 600 in 1969, 38 years after Ruth did in 1931. The Babe did it in his early days with the New York Yankees.
Difficulty: Average.
Some incorrect choices:
Hank Aaron, Greg Norman, Lee Trevino
35. What significant event occurred during game three of the 1989 Major League Baseball World Series?
 Answer: Earthquake
Interesting Information:In game three of the 1989 World Series between the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants, aptly labeled "The Bay Bridge Series", an earthquake shook through San Francisco measuring 6.9 on the richter scale. More than 60 deaths and 3700 injuries occurred as a result of the quake.
Difficulty: Hard.
Some incorrect choices:
Stadium blackout, Walk-off home run, No-hitter
But that's just the start! Here are more great Baseball trivia questions:
Answers for each are at the bottom of each quiz and on submit:
USAGE: You may use these questions ONLY for personal uses: family trivia, quizzing friends, studying, etc. For commercial or publishing uses, please check out our Trivia Question Store / Services. Please remember to credit FunTrivia.com, add links on your website or newsletters, or otherwise spread the word about our website. Thank you very much, and we hope these questions have been useful!
|