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Quiz about American Players in Japan
Quiz about American Players in Japan

American Players in Japan Trivia Quiz

A number of American-born baseball players have played in the NPB, or Nippon Professional Baseball.

A multiple-choice quiz by GoodVibe. Estimated time: 7 mins.
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Author
GoodVibe
Time
7 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
253,072
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
9 / 20
Plays
372
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Question 1 of 20
1. During the 1980s, one of the biggest stars of the NBP was Randy Bass. In 1986, Bass went into the record books with a batting average of what? Hint


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Question 2 of 20
2. What did Tuffy Rhodes nearly do in 2001? Hint


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Question 3 of 20
3. Boston Red Sox hero Gabe Kapler briefly played in Japan for what team? Hint


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Question 4 of 20
4. How many years did Warren Cromartie spend in Japan? Hint


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Question 5 of 20
5. From 2003-2006, Alex Ochoa played for the Chinuchi Dragons.


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Question 6 of 20
6. Larry Doby became the _____ American to play professionally in Japan. Hint


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Question 7 of 20
7. In 1973, Joe Pepitone played in ___ games for the Yakult Atoms. Hint


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Question 8 of 20
8. What year did Bob Horner play for the Yakult Swallows? Hint


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Question 9 of 20
9. After twelve years in the minors, infielder Rick Short finally got his shot at the majors with the Washington Nationals. The long journey to the majors included a stop in 2003 with the ____. Hint


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Question 10 of 20
10. Hawaiian-born Benny Agbayani first played for the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2004. Who was the manager of the Marines in 2004?

Answer: (Two Words or just surname)

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Question 11 of 20
11. Jim Lefebvre was the first player to be a member of a World Series winner and a Japan Series winner.


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Question 12 of 20
12. The Hiroshima Carp had the brother of Ben Sheets on the 2002 roster.


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Question 13 of 20
13. Greg LaRocca is a player better known for his time in Japan than America. What year did he play for the Carp? Hint


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Question 14 of 20
14. How many home runs did Cecil Fielder hit while playing for the Hanshin Tigers? Hint


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Question 15 of 20
15. In 1997, what former Red Sox outfielder played seven disappointing games with Hanshin?

Answer: (Two Words or just surname)

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Question 16 of 20
16. Lou Merloni played for the Yokohama Bay Stars in 2000. What position was he? Hint


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Question 17 of 20
17. After sixteen MLB seasons, Clete Boyer played for the Taiyo Whales. How many years did he play third base for them? Hint


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Question 18 of 20
18. For 2007, pitcher Jason Johnson signed with the Seibu Lions. He is known to have this ailment, the same one that affected Ron Santo.

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 19 of 20
19. Kevin Mitchell played for the Daiei Hawks in _____. Hint


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Question 20 of 20
20. During what span did Don Blasingame play for the Nankai Hawks? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. During the 1980s, one of the biggest stars of the NBP was Randy Bass. In 1986, Bass went into the record books with a batting average of what?

Answer: .389

 Bass played in the majors from 1977-1982, then played for the Hanshin Tigers from 1982-1988. In 2004, Bass became an Oklahoma state senator.
2. What did Tuffy Rhodes nearly do in 2001?

Answer: Break Sadaharu Oh's single season home run record

 Rhodes tied Oh's record with 55 home runs, but was denied the record because the Tokyo Giants did not want a foreigner to hold the record. Strangely, Oh is a Taiwanese national. Rhodes has played for the Astros (1990-1993), Cubs (1993-1995), Red Sox (1995), Osaka Buffaloes (1996-2003), and Yomiuri Giants (2004-2005).

He attempted to make a comeback in 2006 with the Cincinnati Reds, but was cut during Spring Training. In 2007, he tried out with the Orix Buffaloes. Depsite his limited American success, Rhodes gained notoriety by hitting three home runs during the Cubs' 1994 Opening Day game.

In 2002, Alex Cabrera of the Seibu Lions tied Rhodes and Oh with a single season high 55 home runs.
3. Boston Red Sox hero Gabe Kapler briefly played in Japan for what team?

Answer: Giants

 Kapler spent part of the 2005 season with the Giants, but soon left Japan and returned to the Red Sox. Kapler retired in 2006 and became a manager of the Single-A affiliate Greenville Drive.
4. How many years did Warren Cromartie spend in Japan?

Answer: seven

 Cromartie, who previously played for the Expos, was with the Yomiuri Giants from 1984-1990. After spending 1991 with the Royals, Cromartie retired. He was manager of the independent Japan Samurai Bears in 2005, the team's only season.
5. From 2003-2006, Alex Ochoa played for the Chinuchi Dragons.

Answer: True

Ochoa had played for the Mets, Twins, Brewers, Reds, Rockies, and Angels prior to playing in Japan. In 2007, Ochoa was invited to Spring Training by the Boston Red Sox.
6. Larry Doby became the _____ American to play professionally in Japan.

Answer: third

 The first two Americans in NPB were Wally Kaname Yonamine and Don Newcombe. Doby played for Chinuchi in 1962. Doby, a seven-time All-Star, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.
7. In 1973, Joe Pepitone played in ___ games for the Yakult Atoms.

Answer: 14

 Pepitone, best known during his days with the Yankees, had often faked injuries in order to go to discos at night. The three-time All-Star first baseman had one home run, two RBI, and a .163 batting average during his stay in Japan.
8. What year did Bob Horner play for the Yakult Swallows?

Answer: 1987

 Horner was the first pick of the 1978 draft and went straight to the majors. In 1987, Horner hit 31 home runs and 73 RBI.
9. After twelve years in the minors, infielder Rick Short finally got his shot at the majors with the Washington Nationals. The long journey to the majors included a stop in 2003 with the ____.

Answer: Chiba Lotte Marines

 Short had a second stint in Japan when his contract was sold to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2006. During his eleven games with the Washington Nationals in 2005, Short had 2 home runs and four RBI in only 15 at-bats. One of his home runs was off Dontrelle Willis.
10. Hawaiian-born Benny Agbayani first played for the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2004. Who was the manager of the Marines in 2004?

Answer: Bobby Valentine

Agbayani helped Chiba Lotte to a Japan Series title.
11. Jim Lefebvre was the first player to be a member of a World Series winner and a Japan Series winner.

Answer: True

Lefebvre was with the 1965 Dodgers and 1974 Lotte Orions.
12. The Hiroshima Carp had the brother of Ben Sheets on the 2002 roster.

Answer: False

While one of Ben Sheets' relatives played professionally in Japan, it was actually cousin Andy. Also, Andy was a member of the Carp in 2003 and 2004 before signing with the Hanshin Tigers.
13. Greg LaRocca is a player better known for his time in Japan than America. What year did he play for the Carp?

Answer: 2005

 LaRocca played for the Carp in 2004 and 2005 before becoming second baseman for the Swallows and Buffaloes.
14. How many home runs did Cecil Fielder hit while playing for the Hanshin Tigers?

Answer: 38

 Fielder played for Hanshin in 1989. A year later, he hit 51 home runs for Detroit. His post-baseball life has been plagued by legal, gambling, and domestic problems. Cecil's son is Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder.
15. In 1997, what former Red Sox outfielder played seven disappointing games with Hanshin?

Answer: Mike Greenwell

Mike Greenwell played for the Red Sox from 1985 to 1996. Hanshin fans viewed Greenwell's time in NPB as a disappointment. He has started that he should be given the 1988 MVP award (Greenwell finished second) due to Jose Canseco's use of steroids. In 2006, Mike Greenwell made his NASCAR Truck Series debut.
16. Lou Merloni played for the Yokohama Bay Stars in 2000. What position was he?

Answer: Third base

 Merloni gained a cult following while playing for the Boston Red Sox. The Framingham, Massachusetts, native was one of the replacement players in 1994 during the strike.
17. After sixteen MLB seasons, Clete Boyer played for the Taiyo Whales. How many years did he play third base for them?

Answer: four

 Boyer was with the Whales from 1972 to 1975. Boyer also played for the A's, Yankees, and Braves.
18. For 2007, pitcher Jason Johnson signed with the Seibu Lions. He is known to have this ailment, the same one that affected Ron Santo.

Answer: Diabetes

 Johnson was the first MLB player to wear an insulin pump while on the field. Johnson played for the Devil Rays, Orioles, Tigers, Indians, Red Sox, and Reds.
19. Kevin Mitchell played for the Daiei Hawks in _____.

Answer: 1995

 Mitchell was the 1989 National League MVP. The two-time All-Star third baseman was part of an urban legend that claimed he decapitated his girlfriend's cat during the 1986 postseason.
20. During what span did Don Blasingame play for the Nankai Hawks?

Answer: 1967-1969

 Blasingame played in Japan after twelve seasons in the Majors, playing for the Cardinals, Giants, Senators, and A's.
Source: Author GoodVibe

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