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August in Baseball History Trivia Quiz

The eighth of 12 all multiple choice quizzes, designed to be educational about some months in baseball history. Which is your month to score the highest? Good luck! :-)

A multiple-choice quiz by Nightmare. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
Nightmare

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
222,011

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
733

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Question 1 of 10

1. August 19, 1951: This was little Eddie's debut in baseball history. The 43" midget walked on four pitches in his only appearance in baseball. Who was it? Hint

Bream

Yost

Collins

Gaedel

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Question 2 of 10

2. August 2, 1979: Tragedy struck the baseball world when this Yankee catcher was killed in a plane crash that he was piloting a Canton, Ohio airport. Who was this baseball great? Hint

Jake Gibbs

Yogi Berra

Thurman Munson

Elston Howard

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Question 3 of 10

3. August 18, 1965: This day saw Hank Aaron hit one of his 756 career home runs, but this one didn't count as home plate umpire Chris Pelekoudas called him out. Why was Aaron called out? Hint

He used a corked bat

He stepped out of the batter's box when he hit it

Aaron ran backwards around the bases

He used profanity as the pitch was delivered

4. August 1, 1954: After hitting four home runs and a double, combining for a record-setting 18 total bases the day before, this Milwaukee Brave was beaned and knocked out by Clem Labine of the Dodgers. Who was this Braves' slugger? Hint

Orel Hershiser

Dave McNally

Jim Palmer

Joe Adcock

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Question 5 of 10

5. August 16, 1920: This day saw a tragedy in Major League baseball. Who was hit by a pitch, then died the following day? Hint

Ray Chapman

Dick Wakefield

Burleigh Grimes

Auggie Walsh

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Question 6 of 10

6. August 12, 1966: This Cincinnati Red came off the bench to pinch-hit in the eighth inning. He hit a home run to tie the game, then hit two more home runs in extra innings. Who was he? Hint

Ernie Banks

Carl Yastrzemski

Art Shamsky

Willie Stargell

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. On August 22nd in the 1960s, which Yankee player was the first in history to hit his 50th season home run in August? Hint

Harmon Killebrew

Roger Maris

Willie Stargell

Eddie Mathews

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. August 30, 1931: This Brooklyn Robin player hit for the cycle for his third time in the season! Who accomplished this amazing feat? Hint

Sam McDowell

Donn Clendenon

Babe Herman

Bill Freehan

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Question 9 of 10

9. August 18th was the birthday of Burleigh Grimes, Ron Darling, and this Pittsburgh Pirate who was killed in a plane crash just months after collecting his 3000th hit. Who was he? Hint

Tony Cloninger

Ted Sizemore

Roberto Clemente

Jose Cruz

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. August 16, 1948: The world mourned as this baseball legend died of cancer at the age of 53 in New York. He was New York in his day. Who was this Hall of Famer? Hint

Sam Crawford

Babe Ruth

Vern Stephens

Tommy Bridges

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. August 19, 1951: This was little Eddie's debut in baseball history. The 43" midget walked on four pitches in his only appearance in baseball. Who was it?

Answer: Gaedel

Gaedel was used as a pinch-hitter for the St. Louis Browns. Pitcher Bob Cain threw four pitches and history was made. Gaedel died as a result of being mugged 10 years later at the age of 36.

2. August 2, 1979: Tragedy struck the baseball world when this Yankee catcher was killed in a plane crash that he was piloting a Canton, Ohio airport. Who was this baseball great?

Answer: Thurman Munson

Munson was in his 11th season with the Yankees after winning the Rookie of the Year in 1970, and the AL MVP in 1976. He was 32 years old when he he died.

3. August 18, 1965: This day saw Hank Aaron hit one of his 756 career home runs, but this one didn't count as home plate umpire Chris Pelekoudas called him out. Why was Aaron called out?

Answer: He stepped out of the batter's box when he hit it

This Curt Simmons' pitch went off the top of the pavilion roof at Sportman's Park in St. Louis. Pelekoudas was a controversial umpire. One example was in 1968 when he called three illegal pitches against Cubs ace Phil Regan, allowing batters to continue their at-bat after a strike three was called. Pete Rose was one of these beneficiaries as he singled after 'striking out'.

Answer: Joe Adcock

The others were not Braves. In Adcock's first at-bat the day following his 18 total bases, the Dodgers' Labine paid him back. Labine was ejected after the incident. It was the first baseman's best season in the majors as hit 23 home runs in the season.

5. August 16, 1920: This day saw a tragedy in Major League baseball. Who was hit by a pitch, then died the following day?

Answer: Ray Chapman

The others all died in 1985. Chapman of the Indians was hit by a pitch from Carl Mays of the Yankees. This was the first on-field death in baseball history. The Indians went on to win the World Series in 1920.

6. August 12, 1966: This Cincinnati Red came off the bench to pinch-hit in the eighth inning. He hit a home run to tie the game, then hit two more home runs in extra innings. Who was he?

Answer: Art Shamsky

The other never played for the Reds. Shamsky's home runs came in the 8th, 10th, and 11th inning. The Reds still lost the game to the Pirates. 1966 was Shamsky's season-best of eight. He hit 21 home runs.

7. On August 22nd in the 1960s, which Yankee player was the first in history to hit his 50th season home run in August?

Answer: Roger Maris

The others never hit 50 in a season and weren't Yankees. The year was 1961, which saw Maris' record-breaking season of hitting 61 home runs with the Yankees. Roger played for 12 seasons, and never hit 40 home runs in a season except for this big one.

8. August 30, 1931: This Brooklyn Robin player hit for the cycle for his third time in the season! Who accomplished this amazing feat?

Answer: Babe Herman

The others did not begin their MLB careers until 30 years later, and none ever played for Brooklyn. Floyd Caves 'Babe' Herman was in his sixth season in 1931. After coming off seasons of batting .381 and .393, the outfielder's average dropped to .313 in 1931, but still did this rare feat in baseball, three times in the same season.

9. August 18th was the birthday of Burleigh Grimes, Ron Darling, and this Pittsburgh Pirate who was killed in a plane crash just months after collecting his 3000th hit. Who was he?

Answer: Roberto Clemente

Clemente had played with the Pirates for 18 seasons with a .317 career batting average. He won the NL MVP in 1966. His final and 3000th hit came in his final game on October 3, 1972. It was a fourth inning double against the Mets.

10. August 16, 1948: The world mourned as this baseball legend died of cancer at the age of 53 in New York. He was New York in his day. Who was this Hall of Famer?

Answer: Babe Ruth

The others all died in 1968. Ruth's well documented career followed him from 1914 with the Red Sox, the Yankees, to the Boston Braves in 1935. His 714 home runs stood at the top of the books until Hank Aaron came along. Ruth was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the first induction ceremony in 1936.

Source: Author Nightmare

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