U.S. Presidents and Baseball Trivia Quiz

Answer: Benjamin Harrison

On June 6, 1892 Harrison went to the "Swampoodle Grounds" in D.C. and watched as the Reds beat the Senators 7-4 in 11 innings.

Answer: Astrodome

The Astrodome was billed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". It was the first ballpark to have a roof over the playing surface. It covers nine and a half acres of land and an 18 story building could fit inside of it. Lyndon Johnson had one of the best presidential baseball quotes.

He said, "We cheer for the Senators, we pray for the Senators and we hope that the Supreme Court does not declare that unconstitutional".

Answer: William Howard Taft

April 14, 1910 Taft threw out the opening day pitch to Walter Johnson. The Senators beat the Athletics 3-0 that day. Walter Johnson pitched 7 opening day games with Presidents in attendance.

Answer: Ronald Reagan

On Sept. 30, 1988 Reagan broadcast an inning and a half of the game at Wrigley between the Cubs and the Pirates. In 1934 Reagan had to improvise a game between the Cubs and Cardinals for six minutes when the line went dead in the ninth inning of a scoreless game. Six months after he left office Reagan did some more play by play at the All-Star game.

Answer: He stopped a protestor from burning an American flag on the playing field

The Cubs were playing the Dodgers in LA. Monday was the Cubs centerfielder. Two men ran onto the field and using lighter fluid tried to light an American flag. Monday sprinted to the protesters and snatched the flag away from the men. Monday gave the flag to Doug Rau of the Dodgers.

A month later at Wrigley Field Dodger President Al Campanis presented Monday with the rescued flag. Monday received a heroes welcome wherever he played that year.

Answer: Don Larsen

Larsen needed only 97 pitches to retire 27 straight Brooklyn Dodgers and lead the Yankeees to a 2-0 World Series win. Larsen had a mediocre career with a won/loss record of 81-91 and a 3.78 ERA. Previous to that day the last perfect game was by pitched by Charlie Robertson on April 30, 1922

Answer: Ken Griffey Jr.

Griffey Jr. hit 311 homers during the Clinton years. McGwire had 302 during that period of time, Sosa had 299 and Albert Belle had 288. Jimmie Foxx had the most home runs during one president's adminstration hitting 353 during the FDR years.

Answer: Yale

Yale lost the game to California when future Red Sox Jackie Jensen hit a home run. Bush was also the first US President to attend and throw out a first pitch in Canada when he went to Toronto to see the Blue Jays play Texas on April 4, 1990. Toronto won the game 2-1.

Answer: Woodrow Wilson

Wilson attended the second game of the 1915 World Series. He threw out the first pitch. Philadelphia beat Boston 2-1 on that day. Calvin Coolidge was the first President to throw out the first pitch of the first game of the World Series at Washington in 1924.

Answer: Grover Cleveland Alexander

Alexander played for the Phillies, Cubs and Cards, He had a record of 373-208 with a 2.56 ERA. The Hall of Famer died in 1950. Reagan and Doris Day starred in the movie about Alexander's life. The romance movie was released in 1952.

Answer: Harry Truman

Truman attended 16 games as President. He attended his first game as President on September 8, 1945. It was the first time a President had attended a game since 1941. Truman thought his attendance would symbolize the return of peace after WWII and encourage the nation to begin returning to normalcy. Nixon, a big baseball fan, attended 11 games as President, while Bush (41) attended 10. FDR attended 10 games while in office.

He too was a big fan and wanted to attend more but thought he was a nuisance because of his bad health.

Answer: George W. Bush

Bush was the managing general partner of the Texas Rangers from 1989 to 1994. He is also the first President to have played Little League baseball.

Answer: World War II

FDR, in his letter to Commissioner Landis wrote, "I honestly think it would be best for the country to keep baseball going. ...Everybody will be working longer hours and harder than ever before... and that means everyone should have a chance for recreation." Many fans and citizens did not support FDR's decision and sent "red light letters" to the White House.

Answer: Cincinnati

Taft watched the Phillies beat the Reds 8-5 on May 7, 1912.

Answer: True

Lincoln could often be seen playing baseball with children on the White House lawn. He had a baseball field called the "White Lot" constructed behind the White House so games could be played.