First Time is the Charm! Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1962

In 1961, the American League expanded to 10 teams, leaving the National League with eight still. With the addition of the Mets and Colt .45s (later Astros) in 1962 to the NL, both leagues had 10 teams. 1969 saw both leagues with 12 teams, and the first time in history that they were split into divisions.

Answer: Japan

It happened on the opening day of the season on March 29. In front of 55,000 fans at the Tokyodome in Tokyo, the Cubs won the game 5-3. There were a lot of firsts in this game because of the situation. Mark Grace hit the first home run outside North America, and he was also the first batter hit by a pitch (earlier in the game). Eric Young stole the first base off Mike Hampton and Mike Piazza.

The Cubs' Jon Lieber took the first win also, going seven innings and allowing one earned run.

Answer: Mark McGwire

From 1996-1999, McGwire did it while playing for Oakland and St. Louis. His totals were 52, 58, 70, and 65. Sosa also accomplished this, and ended his streak in 2001. His totals were 66, 63, 50, and 64. In 2002, Sammy was one home run shy of the 50-mark again, preventing another historical record. On the final day of the season, although the Cubs defeated the Pirates 7-3, Sosa did not hit one out, and was left on number 49. Babe Ruth hit over 50 home runs four times in his career, but was not all done in consecutive seasons. Barry Bonds hit over 50 only once.

Answer: 1973

It is ironic that the designated hitter rule was first proposed by the National League in 1928, and all the owners wanted it. However, it was the American League owners who adamantly vetoed the issue. Dan Driessen of the Cincinnati Reds was the first DH to appear in a World Series in 1976.

Answer: 1882

A Baltimore Oriole team first existed in the American Association in 1882, experiencing a last place finish. The same team name was seen in the National League in 1892, then folded after the 1899 season. The name would reappear again but as a new franchise in 1901 with the new American League. This new franchise would later become the New York Yankees.

Answer: George Stovall

The others all signed with the Federal League in 1914, but Stovall took the first contract for a Major League player. Stovall played with the Indians and Browns from 1904-1913, then signed with the Kansas City Packers of the Federal League. He retired from baseball when the Federal League closed its doors in 1915.

The first Major League star to cross over the line was Joe Tinker, who after a Hall of Fame career with the Cubs, signed with the Chicago Chi-Feds in 1914.

Answer: 1994

The baseball strike of 1994 caused all this. The season ended on August 12 with 115 games played. No division, league, or World Series champion was ever declared. In 1904, there were league champions declared in both the American and National League, but the two league commissioners could not get together on the provisions of a World Series, therefore it did not happen. 1904 would have been the second Major League World Series.

Answer: One ball was used the entire game

On August 4th, in a test by the National League, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals used one ball from start to finish at Brooklyn's Washington Park. This would be the first and last time this was attempted after the shape that the ball was in, in addition to the major delays in the game for chasing down the ball from fans who had caught it in the stands.

Answer: Tommy and Homer Thompson

With the New York Highlanders on October 5, 1912, Homer was the catcher, and in his only game of his career, caught for his brother Tommy. It was also Tommy's only season in the Major Leagues. He went 0-2 in seven games for the season. Two months later, the franchise would change their name to the historical New York Yankees.

Answer: Julio Franco

On June 3, 2004, Franco's Atlanta Braves went up against the Phillies. Franco's shot came off pitcher Josh Hancock in the first inning. The Braves won the game 8-4. The grand slam was only Julio's 156th home run of his 19 seasons.