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"Ball Four" - The Final Pitch Trivia Quiz

"Ball Four" was the first book ever written to expose athletes for what they really are - human beings. First published in 1970, this behind-the-scenes account of life in Major League Baseball was written by Jim Bouton.

A multiple-choice quiz by seamax. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
seamax

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
139,683

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
284

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Jim Bouton was a major league pitcher for what team at the start of the 1969 season? Hint

New York Yankees

New York Mets

Seattle Pilots

Kansas City Royals

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Question 2 of 10

2. What was Bouton's money pitch during his stay with the Pilots? Hint

fastball

knuckleball

screwball

forked ball

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was Jim Bouton's jersey number? Hint

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Question 4 of 10

4. The frequent rallying cry of Joe Schultz, the Pilots' manager, was "Come'on men let's go pound ______________". Hint

heads

dose bums

Budweiser

salt

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Question 5 of 10

5. What were greenies? Hint

rookies

pep pills

bad pitches

groundskeepers

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Question 6 of 10

6. Bouton was sent to the minors at the start of the 1969 season. For which team did he play? Hint

Vancouver

Hawaii

Portland

Spokane

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was Bouton's nickname?

Answer: (One or Two Words)

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Question 8 of 10

8. Bouton constantly pestered GM Marvin Milkes over payment for something he purchased for the team. What was it? Hint

Baseballs

Gatorade

Cups

A lawnmower

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Question 9 of 10

9. Bouton was traded to what team on August 26, 1969? Hint

New York Mets

Houston Astros

Washington Senators

Los Angeles Dodgers

10. "Ball Four" incited a furor among ballplayers and baseball professionals for its realism. What was the name of the Baseball Commissoner who asked Bouton to recant the book and list it as fiction? Hint

Bowie Kuhn

Nate Cole

A. Bartlett Giamanti

Gene Brabender

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Jim Bouton was a major league pitcher for what team at the start of the 1969 season?

Answer: Seattle Pilots

Bouton's rights were sold by the Yankees in the summer of 1968 to the expansion team from Seattle. Bouton had been a World Series winner and an All-Star with the Yankees.

2. What was Bouton's money pitch during his stay with the Pilots?

Answer: knuckleball

Bouton had lost speed on his fastball and took up the knuckleball in an attempt to lengthen his career.

3. What was Jim Bouton's jersey number?

Answer: 56

Numbers were distributed in training camp. The higher the number the less likely you were to make the team. 56 was the highest number Bouton was given when he made the cut with the Yankees.

4. The frequent rallying cry of Joe Schultz, the Pilots' manager, was "Come'on men let's go pound ______________".

Answer: Budweiser

After trading Lou Pinella in spring training, Schutz famously said "Lou, you're gonna have to pound Budweiser somewhere else".

5. What were greenies?

Answer: pep pills

One of the scandals of the book was Bouton's description of how many players took pills to enhance their performance.

6. Bouton was sent to the minors at the start of the 1969 season. For which team did he play?

Answer: Vancouver

Bouton was sent down to Vancouver, but took a long mai tai-infested road trip to Hawaii.

7. What was Bouton's nickname?

Answer: Bull Dog

Bouton picked up the nickname during his World Series winning days with the Yankees.

8. Bouton constantly pestered GM Marvin Milkes over payment for something he purchased for the team. What was it?

Answer: Gatorade

One of the book's revelations was the cheapness of teams during salary negotiations and the constant squabbles over even the smallest amounts of money. Many credit the book for paving the way for player free agency.

9. Bouton was traded to what team on August 26, 1969?

Answer: Houston Astros

Bouton was traded to the contending Astros during their pennant chase. The Astros fell short and did not make the playoffs.

Answer: Bowie Kuhn

Bouton declined and was blackballed among teams and players for many years. Although tame by today's standards, "Ball Four" changed the way America viewed its superstar athletes.

Dedicated to Laurie Bouton.

Source: Author seamax

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