Strange Moments in Baseball Trivia Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This team's fans are very loyal, and so are the bees in the local area. The bees watched their team down 6-1 in the ninth inning of a 2009 game, and decided to create their own wave by swarming the field and causing a 52-minute delay. Who was this home team that the bees were rallying for?

Answer: San Diego Padres

The game was on July 2. Left fielder Kyle Blanks watched the swarm come from over the centerfield wall, then head towards the left field foul line. They all seemed to want the ballgirl in foul territory. After she took off running, they settled on her Padres jacket and chair, and all found a new home without paying for a ticket. It took 52 minutes for the city to bring in beekeepers to passively remove the unpaid fans. The Astros ended up winning the game, 7-2.
Pictured was a Padre at a mission.

2. Which pitcher in 1986 was bitten by a coyote?

Answer: Nolan Ryan

Ryan was in Texas as a Houston Astro when he was out hunting with friends. It turned into the hunted being the hunter when Nolan took the hit. It must have been an omen, because the Astros went on to have five pitchers win in double figures in 1986, along with teammate Mike Scott winning the Cy Young Award. The Astros won their NL West crown also. They went on to lose to the Mets in the NLCS.
The photo was of television star, Ryan Seacrest.

3. Only five games into the 1984 season, Houston Astro shortstop Dickie Thon was hit in the face with a pitch, that eventually ended his career. Who threw the pitch?

Answer: Mike Torrez

Thon was in his sixth season of baseball and fourth with the Astros when Mets pitcher Mike Torrez hit him in a game. Thon missed the rest of the 1984 season, and only played in half of the 1985 season. Dickie was never quite right after that. He played in only 32 games in 1987. He finally retired in 1993. Torrez was in his 18th season when he hit Thon. Torrez wasn't quite right after throwing the pitch either, and was released one month later by the Mets, signed with the Athletics, then quit baseball before the season ended.
Pictured was basketball star, Michael Jordan.

4. Whose 1985 Topps baseball card didn't have his picture on the front, but had a picture of his brother printed instead by mistake?

Answer: Gary Pettis

Pettis was entering his fourth season with the Angels in 1985. Pictured on the card was his younger brother, Lynn, who was only 14 years old at the time. Nobody has ever solved how the error was made. Gary, the centerfielder, won his first of five Gold Gloves in 1985. He retired in 1992 after 11 seasons.
The photo was of television and movie actor, Gary Sinise.

5. For whatever reason, which Boston Red Sox pitcher took his 1.41 ERA into the 1986 World Series, then allowed three walks, six runs, and seven hits all in a four-inning span for an ERA of 13.50?

Answer: Calvin Schiraldi

The Red Sox were controlling the New York Mets with a three games to two lead entering game six. Before game six was over, Schiraldi came in and gave the win away. Game seven ended the same way, Schiraldi came into the game in the eighth inning, and gave up the winning run again. The Mets won the series four games to three.
Pictured was former U.S. President Calvin Coolidge.

6. In the same week in the 2011 season, two different American League teams in the same division, each threw a no-hitter just four days apart. Which teams were they?

Answer: Twins - Tigers

The American League Central Division witnessed these two no-hitters. The Twins' Francisco Liriano no-hit the Chicago White Sox on May 3. Four days later, Justin Verlander of the Tigers no-hit the Blue Jays 9-0. In the entire 2010 season, the American League threw two no-hitters while the National League threw four.
The photo was of a tiger.

7. Sacrifice flies were used in early baseball as a strategy to get a run home in exchange for an out. In 2009, which Cardinal player took it to the extreme when he hit a sacrifice fly that scored two runs?

Answer: Albert Pujols

The June 7th game was played in St. Louis and both runs were scored in the first inning by the Cardinals. With Skip Schumaker and Colby Rasmus on base, Pujols hit the ball to deep left, and while Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez had an arm, he couldn't get Rasmus and the Rockies were caught off guard. Those two runs were the only runs that the Cardinals could muster, and they lost the game 7-2.
The photo was a can of Prince Albert pipe tobacco.

8. It is alright for a player to get caught stealing during a game. Getting caught a second time might indicate that you just don't have 'your jump' today, and might make you think twice for a third attempt. This player in 1986 didn't think twice, a third, or even a fourth time. Which Giant player was caught stealing four times in one game?

Answer: Robby Thompson

The June 27th Giants game was hosted by the Reds in Cincinnati. Although Thompson went 3-for-5, he was gunned down four times by catcher Bo Diaz. The Giants went on to win the 12-inning game, 7-6.
Pictured was motorcycle daredevil, Robbie Knievel.

9. Which American League team in 1990 performed two triple-plays in the same game, and still lost?

Answer: Minnesota Twins

The Red Sox were playing host to the Twins on July 17. Minnesota did the deed in the bottom of the fourth inning, then again in the eighth inning, using the same players. It was Gaetti (3b) to Newman (2b) to Hrbek (1b). The Red Sox still won the game, 1-0.
The photo was of Spring Lamb twins.

10. In 1990, Major League Baseball saw a first when this father and son combination played on the same team in the same season. They were the Griffeys. Which father and son was the next combination to play on the same roster?

Answer: Tim Raines and Tim Raines Jr

The Griffeys played on the 1990 and 1991 Seattle Mariners. Father Ken hit 152 career home runs, while Junior hit 630. The Raines family hooked up on the 2001 Baltimore Orioles. Tim Sr played from 1979-2002, while Tim Jr played from 2001-2004. The other father/son combinations never existed.
Pictured were rain clouds.

Source: Author Nightmare

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A look at some rather odd happenings in the world of baseball. The pictures might or might not help depending on how deep you think. I had fun creating it, and I hope you have fun playing it. :)

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