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Random Baseball Trivia Quiz

I hope you enjoy. I am certainly trying to make them as challenging as possible, within reason.

A multiple-choice quiz by Optimo52Pats. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Optimo52Pats

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
155,929

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
363

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In 2003, Alex Rodriguez became the second player to win an MVP award while playing on a last place team. In 1987, when Andre Dawson won the MVP while on the last-place Cubs, the Cubs were actually in 1st place part of the season. The Cubs, who finished 18-1/2 games back in the end, remained in 1st until after how many games were played? Hint

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which player was picked off using the 'ol hidden ball trick no less than 3 times in his career, including twice within a few months? Hint

Rickey Henderson

Brian Daubach

Delino DeShields

Ozzie Guillen

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Question 3 of 10

3. In 1985, which Boston Red Sox player would have had 3 grand slams in 5 games, but the 3rd struck the light tower above the green monster, and was incorrectly ruled in play for a 3-run double? Hint

Rich Gedman

Jim Rice

Tony Armas

Mike Easler

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who set the Major League single season record for sacrifice hits in a season with 67? Hint

Ray Chapman

Dick Bartell

Jay Bell

Bert Campaneris

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who delivered the fastball that derailed Boston slugger Tony Conigliaro's promising career? Hint

Ray Sadecki

Al Jackson

Jack Hamilton

Dave McNally

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Question 6 of 10

6. The 1899 Cleveland Spiders hold the all-time record for futility with a ghastly 20-134 record. However the year before the Spiders were 81-68 with the great Cy Young on their team. What happened to them? Hint

The owner sold every player and replaced them with minor leaguers

The Spiders were swapped with the St. Louis Browns that year

Young got traded, and every other key player demanded to leave as a result

The Spiders had to forfeit a 97 game stretch for using an illegal player

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Question 7 of 10

7. Since the inception of the Championship Series in 1969, which team was the first to run the table in the playoffs, and not lose a single game? Hint

Los Angeles Dodgers

New York Yankees

Cincinnati Reds

Oakland Athletics

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Question 8 of 10

8. Who was the 1982 Seattle Mariners starting third baseman? Hint

Ted Cox

Jamie Allen

Manny Castillo

Len Randle

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Question 9 of 10

9. Mario Mendoza, the utility infielder for which the phrase the "Mendoza line" was named, pitched one game in his career and let up a 3-run homer in 2 innings of work. Who hit the homer off Mendoza? Hint

Ken Reitz

Dave Kingman

Garry Templeton

Dave Winfield

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Question 10 of 10

10. In the 1977 home opener for the Yankees, Catfish Hunter threw a 5-hitter. Which major leaguer with an absolutely hilarious name had 3 of the 5 hits in that game? Hint

Urban Shocker

Boots Day

Von Joshua

Zip Zabel

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: 37

The 76-85 Cubs were in 1st until 5/20 and were at one point 30-21. However, after a 22-7 thrashing of the Astros on 6/3, the Cubs would finish out the season 46-64. This Cubs' team happened to have such future stars as Greg Maddux, Jamie Moyer, and Rafael Palmeiro.

2. Which player was picked off using the 'ol hidden ball trick no less than 3 times in his career, including twice within a few months?

Answer: Ozzie Guillen

Guillen fell victim to this scam twice in the '89 season, then once more in the '91 season. Henderson only fell for it only once.

3. In 1985, which Boston Red Sox player would have had 3 grand slams in 5 games, but the 3rd struck the light tower above the green monster, and was incorrectly ruled in play for a 3-run double?

Answer: Mike Easler

Easler hit the first off Bert Blyleven at Minnesota on 8/31, the 2nd off Chris Welsh at Texas on 9/2, the supposed 3rd one came off Neal Heaton of Cleveland on 9/5.

4. Who set the Major League single season record for sacrifice hits in a season with 67?

Answer: Ray Chapman

Yes, the same Ray Chapman who would later become the only Major Leaguer to die from getting hit by a pitch (via Carl Mays) had a record 67 sac. hits in 1917, 3 years before his untimely death. Campaneris and Bell have the two highest season totals in the last 70+ years, with 40 and 39, respectively.

5. Who delivered the fastball that derailed Boston slugger Tony Conigliaro's promising career?

Answer: Jack Hamilton

In the midst of their pennant-winning 1967 season, the Boston Red Sox suffered a tragedy on August 18 when Tony C. got beaned in the face and was lost for the rest of the season as well as the next. In his first stint with Boston, Conigliaro had 160 homers in the equivalent of five full seasons. Sadly, a look at the numbers say it is quite possible the HBP ruined 2 careers at once. That season with the Angels, Hamilton was 6-2 2.30 ERA before the injury, and 3-4 4.80 ERA after. Furthermore, Hamilton's career ERA is a half run higher after the incidental beaning.

Answer: The Spiders were swapped with the St. Louis Browns that year

Apparently the 1898 Spiders became the new St. Louis Perfectos, and the 1898 Browns became the Spiders in a move that wasn't uncommon and probably didn't seem so bizarre at the time. That same year, the Baltimore and Brooklyn teams which shared the same owners, saw the transfer of every good player to the Brooklyn team, which won it all that next year.

By the way, that Brooklyn team changed its name to the Superbas from... the Bridegrooms!?

7. Since the inception of the Championship Series in 1969, which team was the first to run the table in the playoffs, and not lose a single game?

Answer: Cincinnati Reds

The '76 Reds team swept the Phillies (3-0) and then went on to sweep the Yankees (4-0). The year before they did sweep the Pirates in the NLCS, but needed 7 games to down Boston in debatably the best World Series ever. The '89 A's almost pulled the feat off but lost game 3 of the ALCS to the Blue Jays.

8. Who was the 1982 Seattle Mariners starting third baseman?

Answer: Manny Castillo

The other 3 3rd basemen for Seattle from 1980-1983 were Cox('80), Randle('81), and Allen('83). Castillo hit .257 with 3 homers in '82, as the Mariners somehow managed 4th place at 76-86.

Answer: Ken Reitz

The Mendoza Line, which former Mendoza teammate George Brett referred to as batting .215, or more commonly .200, caught on when Brett would routinely point out players that were batting lower than Mendoza's typically low average in the day's newspaper. Ken Reitz also had a grand slam in a 13-3 St. Louis victory over the Pirates in 1977.

10. In the 1977 home opener for the Yankees, Catfish Hunter threw a 5-hitter. Which major leaguer with an absolutely hilarious name had 3 of the 5 hits in that game?

Answer: Von Joshua

Joshua played 10 seasons and hit 30 homers, but what a name! (Note: Definetely not as good as Urban Shocker.)

Source: Author Optimo52Pats

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