Baseball for Brits Trivia Quiz

Answer: Square

Take the square you've just cut out of a newspaper, rotate it 45 degrees. Now imagine the bottom corner is where the batsman stands to hit the ball. Runners travel counter clockwise around the bases. Remarkably, 1st base is the one you get to first.

Answer: 90 feet

That's 30 yards or 27.43 metres for those unfamiliar with old rulers/Imperial measurements.

Answer: 127 ft

I'm no good at drawing diagrams, but the square of the hypoteneuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other 2 sides.

Answer: Catch it

A "can of corn" is a term used to describe an easily catchable ball.

Answer: 3rd base

If a right handed slugger "turns on a fastball" and clouts it sharply to his left in the vicinity of the 3rd baseline, the resulting missile can sometimes combine high velocity with a relatively low trajectory. If the third baseman can see it, he has several options such as: 1) dive out of the way and avoid decapitation, 2) try catching it, 3) get in the way with some other part of the anatomy, or 4) let it fly past for the outfielder to deal with.

Answer: Lou Gehrig

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, sometimes called Lou Gehrig's Disease) is a progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative disease caused by the degeneration of motor neurons, the nerve cells in the central nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement.

In the UK, it is called Motor Neurone Disease. Lou Gehrig was nicknamed the Iron Horse. For many years, he played in every game his team took part in (2130 consecutive, an MLB record for decades).

Answer: 2

Toronto Blue Jays became the first team from outside the USA to win the World Series in 1992, repeating the feat a year later. Although the Montreal Expo's were leading the standings in 1994, their hopes of a first ever win were left in ruins when the season was curtailed by the players strike.

Answer: Relief pitching staff

Once the Ace (or starting pitcher) has pitched enough innings (at least 5) to get a win (assuming his team is leading when he leaves the game), the relief pitchers will be called upon to take over if the main man shows signs of tiring/is on a strict pitch count making a first start after recovering from injury. Of course, if the starter has been thrashed around the ground, he might get pulled out of the game much earlier.

Answer: Ava Gardner

The curve ball has plenty of nicknames. One is the "deuce". This refers to the fact that it is commonly the No.2 pitch in a pitcher's repertoire. A catcher will often use a two finger signal when requesting the curve.
Other names include: "bender", "Bean-Man", "Egg-Man", "Ischemic Penumbra" "Uncle Charlie" and "Lord Charles". Marilyn Monroe was for a time, married to New York Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio.

Answer: To close out the game

Fireman is another name for team closer, usually only brought in when your team has a narrow lead. Hopefully, he will pitch the final innings, and get the opposition out, without them equalling the score, thereby being credited with a save.