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170 Rules of Baseball Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts

How much do you know about Rules of Baseball? This category is for trivia questions and answers related to Rules of Baseball (Sports). Each one is filled with fun facts and interesting information.
Related Questions & Answers:   Ballparks   
1 How many outs in an inning?
Answer: 6

A half an inning contains 3 outs - a full inning contains 6.
  From Quiz: Brush up on Baseball 101
2 Where is the "keystone sack" located on a baseball diamond?
Answer: Second base

Second base is the "keystone sack" on a baseball diamond. It is considered "key", or important, because this base is the halfway point of scoring a run. Runners who are on second base have a good chance to score a run on any subsequent hit. Therefore, the defensive team attempts to hold enemy runners at first base, from where it is much more difficult to score.
  From Quiz: Baseball Jargon
3 What is the term for the dubious feat of striking out four times in a game?
Answer: Golden Sombrero

The term comes from adding on to the "Hat Trick", where a player strikes out three times a game. It also is used in hockey to refer to a player scoring three goals in a game. There were seven times in the 1900s where a player actually struck out five times in a nine inning game, and several have struck out six times in an extra-inning game.
  From Quiz: Unofficial Baseball Terms
4 How would you score an error on the shortstop?
Answer: E6

An error stands for E and the number associated for shortstop is "6".
  From Quiz: MLB Scoring
5 Section 1: Objectives of the Game: What is the minimum number of umpires needed for a game?
Answer: 1

Rule 1.01 prescribes "one or more umpires". Confirmed by Rule 9.03 which stipulates that if a game has one umpire, he may stand wherever he wants.
  From Quiz: Baseball Rules From The Book
6 What does AB mean?
Answer: at bat

In the original score pad rule book, at bats were not counted.
  From Quiz: Scorepad Baseball
7 What happens when the ball is foul tipped into the catcher's glove and he hangs on to it?
Answer: The batter is out if there are two strikes

When the batter foul tips the ball into the catcher's mitt, he is out if there are two strikes.
  From Quiz: Baseball Basic Rules
8 A batted ball hits the FOUL pole. What is the umpire's call?
Answer: Home Run

The foul pole is actually in fair territory.
It is a fair ball if it hits the base of the pole below the fence line (and thus it's not a dinger).
  From Quiz: Baseball Umpires
9 With men on 1st and 3rd, a batter hits a ball that hits an umpire that is standing behind the pitcher, but in front of the fielder. What is the ruling?
Answer: It is a dead ball, the batter gets 1st, the man on 1st gets 2nd and the man on 3rd stays there

Rule 5.09(f) If a fair ball touches an umpire working in the infield after it has bounded past, or over, the pitcher, it is a dead ball.
The batter gets first and all runners forced to advance get one base - Rule 7.04(b).
  From Quiz: Rules of the Game
10 What does the abbreviation A stand for?
Answer: assists

An 'assist' is throwing to a base to get an out. ex. the 2nd baseman throws to the 1st baseman to get an out, the 2nd baseman gets an assist.
  From Quiz: Baseball Abbreviations [2]
11 What does AB stand for?
Answer: at bats

At Bats are counted every time you come up to the plate, not counting walks or hit by pitches. All-Time Leader: Pete Rose held the record with 14,053 at bats when he retired in 1986.
  From Quiz: Baseball Abbreviations [1]
12 _____________ is also known as the "hot corner"?
Answer: Third Base

Third Base is called "the hot corner" because you get very hard hit balls there.
  From Quiz: Baseball Slang
13 What are the only two defensive positions allowed/required to use a 'mitt'?
Answer: Catcher and First Base

Remember, there is a difference between a glove and a mitt.
Rule 1.12 states the the catcher must wear a catcher 's mitt.
  From Quiz: Baseball Rules
14 In Abbott and Costello's 'Who's on First,' I Don't Know is playing which position?
Answer: Third Base

Who's on First, What's on Second, I Don't Know is on Third.
    Your options: [ Catcher ] [ Second Base ] [ Third Base ] [ Shortstop ]
  From Quiz: Baseball Fielding Positions
15 Assuming the pitcher commits no infractions on the mound, what is the minimum number of pitches he must throw to complete a half an inning?
Answer: 3

If three batters come to the plate, swing and connect with their first pitch, hitting into an out, the minimum number of pitches a pitcher must throw to complete a half an inning is 3 - recording 3 outs.






  From Quiz: Brush up on Baseball 101
16 When a manager fills out his lineup card before a baseball game, where does he place his "cleanup" hitter?
Answer: In the fourth position

The cleanup hitter bats fourth in the opening lineup. A manager normally chooses a hitter who has tremendous power to bat cleanup because this player can hit a home run which will "clean the bases", scoring all runners who were on base. It is considered a badge of honor for a player to be selected to bat cleanup- the fourth spot in the lineup indicates strength and batting prowess.
  From Quiz: Baseball Jargon
17 A batter with an average below .200 is said to be below what?
Answer: The Mendoza Line

The term refers to light-hitting infielder, Mario Mendoza. Mendoza actually batted .215 in his career, but usually he struggled to reach .200. As evidence of his "light-hitting" label, Mendoza finished with only 4 career home runs. However, "Mr. Baseball", Bob Uecker did finish with a career average of .200, just as he boasted in his famous "Miller Lite" commercials.
  From Quiz: Unofficial Baseball Terms
18 What does "IRS" stand for in respect to baseball?
Answer: Inherited Runners Stranded

This means how many runners that a relief pitcher kept on the basepath.
  From Quiz: MLB Scoring
19 Section 1: Objectives of the Game: What is the length (in inches) of one side of first base?
Answer: 15

Rule 1.06 also denotes that bases must be white canvas, between 3 and 5 inches high, and filled with soft material.
  From Quiz: Baseball Rules From The Book
20 How many balls do you need to get a walk?
Answer: 4

4 balls = a walk and 3 strikes = a strike-out.
  From Quiz: The Rules Of MLB
21 What is the "symbol" for a walk?
Answer: BB

Base on balls means a walk. A walk happens when you get four balls.
  From Quiz: Scorepad Baseball
22 What does DP stand for?
Answer: double plays

A double play is when you get two players out on one play.
  From Quiz: Baseball Abbreviations [2]
23 A grand slam is also called what?
Answer: A grand salami

I do not have any idea how they came up with this one.
  From Quiz: Baseball Slang
24 In a 6-3 scoring play, which position does the '6' represent?
Answer: Shortstop
    Your options: [ Third Base ] [ First Base ] [ Shortstop ] [ Second Base ]
  From Quiz: Baseball Fielding Positions
25 Once a base runner reaches 1st base, what is the minimum number of pitches a pitcher must throw before that runner can reach home safely?
Answer: 0

If he balks three times, the runner advances three bases and can score without the pitcher ever attempting a pitch home!
  From Quiz: Brush up on Baseball 101
26 What does the baseball expression "a can of corn" mean?
Answer: An easy fly ball to catch

A "can of corn" is a batted fly ball (pop up) which is easy for the defensive team to catch. Some people say that this expression originated from grocery clerks who would stack cans of corn on store shelves and then gently lob these cans to customers. In baseball, a "can of corn" is basically worthless because it does nothing to help the batting team. Batters who have hit a "can of corn" often throw their bat to the ground in disgust,
  From Quiz: Baseball Jargon
27 Which umpire position is known as "The Rocking Chair"?
Answer: Third Base

The term refers to the lack of plays taking place at the third base bag. The third base umpire does however have to monitor the left side foul line as well as to verify any check swings from a left handed batter. An interesting side bar is that the legendary Negro-League pitcher Satchel Paige kept his own rocking chair in the bullpen, from which he would watch the game in comfort. Leo Mazzone, known as "The Mad Rocker", would often rock back and forth on the bench for hours during games, especially during tight game situations.
    Your options: [ Third Base ] [ Second Base ] [ First Base ] [ Home Plate ]
  From Quiz: Unofficial Baseball Terms
28 Section 2: Definition of Terms: A team is behind 5 to 7 when the other team forfeits. What is the final score?
Answer: 9 - 0

A forfeited game is defined with a final score of 9 - 0 unless the forfeiting team is behind, in which case the final score is the score at time of forfeit.
  From Quiz: Baseball Rules From The Book
29 If the batter gets hit by a pitch, what happens?
Answer: They are awarded first base without the threat of being put-out

They get to automatically go to first base (unless the batter swings and it's a strike).
  From Quiz: The Rules Of MLB
30 The runner rounds second and stops. As he returns to the bag, the shortstop fakes a tag. What is the infraction and award?
Answer: Obstruction--runner gets third base

Fake tags are considered obstructions. The award is a minimum of one base from the last base attained. Since the runner had already attained second, he gets third. A fake tag also comes with a team warning, and the next person who fakes a tag is automatically ejected.
  From Quiz: FED High School Baseball Rules
31 What is the "symbol" for a balk?
Answer: BK

In scoring, some people don't mark balks.
  From Quiz: Scorepad Baseball
32 The umpire awards three (3) bases when _____ .
Answer: a fair batted ball is contacted with detached player equipment or an illegal glove or mitt

This is the only occasion when three bases are awarded. The other three choices warrant a two base award.
    Your options: [ fair batted ball or thrown ball lodges in defensive player's or umpire's equipment or uniform ] [ the first throw by an infielder that goes out of play or lodges in or under a fence ] [ an intentional catch and carry ] [ a fair batted ball is contacted with detached player equipment or an illegal glove or mitt ]
  From Quiz: Baseball Umpires
33 H is short for what word?
Answer: hits

Hits count everytime you get a single, double, triple or home run. Pete Rose with 4356 hits was the all-time leader when he retired in 1986.
  From Quiz: Baseball Abbreviations [1]
34 Is a tipped ball directly into the catcher's mitt live or dead?
Answer: Live

There is a difference between a tipped ball and a foul ball. On a tipped ball, runners may advance at their own risk.
  From Quiz: Baseball Rules
35 In a 6-3 scoring play, which position does the '3' represent?
Answer: First Base
    Your options: [ Third Base ] [ Second Base ] [ First Base ] [ Shortstop ]
  From Quiz: Baseball Fielding Positions
36 What is the maximum number of strikeouts a pitcher can record per game?
Answer: There is no limit

If the pitcher strikes out a batter and the catcher drops strike 3 an infinite amount of times, the runners can reach base safely if no one cannot throw them out at 1st. The pitcher records the strikeout, the runner reaches base safely, and no out is recorded. Therefore, technically, there is no limit of strikeouts a pitcher can record per game!
  From Quiz: Brush up on Baseball 101
37 When does a batter get a "golden sombrero"?
Answer: When he strikes out four times in a game.

Every batter in Major League baseball dreads the "golden sombrero": it means that he has struck out four times in the same game. A "golden sombrero" is one of the ultimate symbols of batting futility. Some baseball historians claim that this expression originated in the late 1980s with Reds' manager Pete Rose- however, there doesn't seem to be any conclusive evidence as to the origination of the " golden sombrero."
  From Quiz: Baseball Jargon
38 A bloop hit, just over the infield and in front of the outfield is called what?
Answer: Texas Leaguer

"Texas Leaguer" refers to the minor league association of "Double A" farm teams. It came about because those slight and freak hits were said to be common from lesser skilled, minor league players. A "Tater" is a home run. While an "Atom Ball" is a line shot, directly at a fielder.
  From Quiz: Unofficial Baseball Terms
39 How many umpires are in a World Series game?
Answer: 6

There is one for each of the bases and home plate, left, and right field.
  From Quiz: MLB Scoring
40 Section 2: Definition of Terms: How long before a game must the league president or umpire-in-chief be notified of who is the team's manager?
Answer: 30 minutes

Under the definition of "The Manager", players can still be managers.
  From Quiz: Baseball Rules From The Book
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