4. Name the first AL expansion team to accomplish each of the following:\u00a0 Your hint is the year<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
First Division Title (1976) ___________________________<\/p>\n
First League Pennant (1980) ________________________<\/p>\n
First World Series Champion (1985) __________________<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
5. \u00a0Name the pitcher with the best won-lost percentage of any hurler with at least with 15 wins against the New York Yankees.\u00a0 Hint (but not a very good one), he was a 20-game winner twice, with a lifetime .671 winning percentage.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
6. \u00a0What was the original name of the NY Yankees franchise? \u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Hint:\u00a0 A little birdie told me.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Early in the 2010 season, Albert Pujols broke the record for most home runs in the first ten seasons of a big league career.\u00a0 Who held the previous record (at 370 homers over the first ten years)?\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 This Hall of Famer was featured on the cover of the first issue of Sports Illustrated<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong>8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Name the only player to hit a major league home run and score an NFL touchdown in the same week.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 If he\u2019d concentrated on one sport, this guy might have truly been \u201clights out.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Sticking with multi-sport athletes, who is the only player to play on a championship team in both MLB and the NBA?\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 Hurler \/ Forward.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
10.\u00a0 <\/strong>On June 9, 1966, the Minnesota Twins became the first American League team to hit five home runs in one inning \u2013 the 7th<\/sup> inning of a 9-4 home victory over the Kansas City A\u2019s.\u00a0 The feat of five home runs in an inning has been accomplished eight times.\u00a0 This is one of those \u201cironic\u201d rather than \u201ciconic\u201d questions.\u00a0 In four of those instances, the same team has been the victim.\u00a0 Name that team.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 This city gained some level of fame for a \u201cdancing pig.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
11.\u00a0 <\/strong>Let\u2019s stick with multiple home run games.\u00a0 Name the teams that hold the record for most home runs in a game in the NL and AL.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 One of these team has more often been victim than victor in record-setting slugfests (see question 10).<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
12.\u00a0 <\/strong>Question 12 focuses on batting and HR titles.\u00a0 Babe Ruth holds the record with 12 HR titles, while Ty Cobb earned 12 batting titles (one disputed).\u00a0 Eight is the next most hallowed number, as second place on both lists (HR titles and batting titles) is held by players with eight of each (two tied with 8 batting titles.)\u00a0 Name these 8-time winners (all in da Hall.).\u00a0 Hint: 2 infielders and an outfielder \u2013 initials MS, HW, TG.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
13.\u00a0 <\/strong>Everyone likes the long ball, so let\u2019s include another home run question. In the decade of the 1960s (which I remember fondly) five players hit their 500th<\/sup> home run.\u00a0 All are now in the Hall of Fame.\u00a0 Name them.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 One also hit his 600th<\/sup> during the decade and three of them have last names that start with \u201cM.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
14.\u00a0 <\/strong>Here\u2019s one of those \u201coff the wall\u201d questions, but one baseball fans should be (or become) aware of.\u00a0 Juan Marichal was the starting pitcher in Major League Baseball\u2019s only<\/span> Hispanic-American All-Star Game, won by the National League by a 5-2 score.\u00a0 Your question \u2013 In what year was the game played?\u00a0\u00a0 Hints: It was the last MLB game ever played at the Polo Grounds in New York and Vic Power (honored as MLB\u2019s top Latin American player) was a Minnesota Twin at the time. \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
15.\u00a0 <\/strong>Back in 1966, Jim Kaat of the Minnesota Twins won 25 games and did not win the Cy Young Award. (From 1956-66 there was only one Cy Young winner each year, and Kaat lost out to NL 27-game winner Sandy Koufax.)\u00a0\u00a0 But Kaat had no reason to complain.\u00a0 Can you name the NL pitcher who won 25 or more games three times and never won the Cy Young?\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 He could also hit, just ask Johnny Roseboro.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
16.\u00a0 <\/strong>Let\u2019s stick with pitching honors.\u00a0 What major league pitcher racked up the most career wins without ever winning the Cy Young Award?\u00a0 Hint: This is an irony question.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
17.\u00a0 <\/strong>How the game has changed!\u00a0 This hurler, now in the Hall of Fame, averaged \u2013 yes,\u00a0<\/strong>averaged<\/span><\/strong> – 301 inning pitched per year for the decade of the 1950s, completing 237 of\u00a0<\/strong>370 games started in that ten-year span.\u00a0 Can you name him? Hint:\u00a0 Not really a<\/strong>\u00a0hint, but a hint of irony – made the 1956 NL All-Star team in a year in which he led the<\/strong>\u00a0league in losses.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
18.\u00a0 <\/strong>As noted, the answer to question 17 made the All-Star team in a year in which he led NL in losses.\u00a0 The AL calls and raises one MVP.\u00a0 Can you name the only player to win an MVP Award while leading the league in errors as a fielder and<\/span> strikeouts as a hitter?\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 Despite his 39 errors, this shortstop won his second Gold Glove in his MVP year.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
19.\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0A case of less is more?\u00a0 Perhaps.\u00a0 Name the\u00a0 player who holds the low-water mark for \u00a0<\/strong>the lowest batting average ever by a league leader.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 A Triple Crown winner and<\/strong>\u00a0member of the Hall of Fame.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
20.\u00a0 <\/strong>1968 was considered the year of the pitcher (Hey, maybe that can help with #19).\u00a0 What was the score of the All-Star Game that year?\u00a0 Here\u2019s a bonus query, who got the game winning RBI?\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 Again, it was<\/span> the year of the pitcher.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
21.\u00a0 <\/strong>1968<\/strong> may have been the year of the pitcher, but that year, this big bopper set a record with ten homers in one week \u2026 six games \u2026 only 20 at bats.\u00a0 Can you name him?\u00a0 Hint: Former All-American in basketball and baseball at Ohio State, he was one big guy.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
22.\u00a0 <\/strong>Which pitcher holds the MLB record for the most strikeouts in a single game? Hint: A very weak hint, it\u2019s not Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood or Randy Johnson, and I didn\u2019t say a nine-inning game.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
23.\u00a0 <\/strong>With only 23 perfect games in MLB history, 2012 proved a boon, with three perfect games in the regular season. Here\u2019s a multiple kwestion. Who threw 2012\u2019s \u201cperfectos?” \u00a0 \u00a0Finally, a bonus, what is the most popular score for a perfect game \u2013 with seven of the 23 ending with this tally?\u00a0 Hint: You rise to the level of the competition.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
24.\u00a0 <\/strong>Retired numbers are pretty common these days, but they had to start somewhere.\u00a0 Whose number was the first ever retired by a MLB team?\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 Some\u00a0<\/strong>iron-y here<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
25.\u00a0 <\/strong>Can you name the Hall of Famer who led the NL in home runs as a rookie \u2026 and went on to win the HR crown in each of his first seven seasons. Hint:\u00a0 Eddie Mathews broke the string of home run titles in 1953.\u00a0 Not much of a hint, but I did get to mention my favorite player – Mathews.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
26.\u00a0 <\/strong>The 1969 TOPPS #10 baseball card (1968 Pitching Leaders) featured three NL hurlers who all went on to the Hall of Fame.\u00a0 One was Juan Marichal. Can you name the other two?\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 The other two both played for the Harlem Globetrotters (like that\u2019s gonna help). <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
27.\u00a0 <\/strong>Can you name the three\u00a0 pitchers who share the record for striking out ten consecutive <\/strong>batters in a game.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 Think New York, Milwaukee and Philadelphia.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
28.\u00a0 <\/strong>Who is the only pitcher to lead (tie) both the Al and NL in \u00a0 <\/strong>shutouts in the same season.\u00a0 Hint: I \u201cinitially\u201d wasn\u2019t going to include this one<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
29.\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0Name the Oakland A\u2019s player who, in the late 1970s, scored 33 runs and\u00a0<\/strong>stole 31 bases without ever making a plate appearance \u2013 and is the only player to have <\/strong>\u00a0his positioned listed as \u201cpinch runner\u201d on his baseball card.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 Michigan State All-<\/strong>American sprinter with a president\u2019s last name<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n30.\u00a0 <\/strong>What to the following Hall of Famers have in common? Sparky Anderson.\u00a0 Tom Seaver.\u00a0 Babe Ruth.\u00a0 Rube Waddell.\u00a0 Ken Griffey, Jr.\u00a0 “Gee” Whiz!\u00a0 That’s your hint.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
31.\u00a0 <\/strong>Another Hall of Fame combo.\u00a0 On April 30, 1946, Bob Feller no-hit the Yankees (winning 1-0) \u2026 the first time the Yankees had been no-hit at Yankee Stadium.\u00a0 Can you name future Hall of Famer who started in centerfield in that game?\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 As the Brits say, \u201cBob\u2019s your uncle!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
32.\u00a0 <\/strong>Name the only player ever to pinch hit for Ted Williams.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 You\u2019ll get some career perspective knowing he also pinch-hit for Carl Yastrzemski and hit his first home run pinch hitting for Roger Maris.\u00a0 Oh yeah, and he caught four touchdown passes for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1955 NFL season.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n33.\u00a0 <\/strong>Can you name the only two players to hit five homers in a double header? \u00a0Hint and a bit of irony:\u00a0 An iconic National Leaguer accomplished the feat in 1954 and when he did, a future major leaguer (who, in 1972, would become the second National Leaguer to achieve the feat) was in the ballpark (at 8-years-old) as a fan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
34.\u00a0 <\/strong>Name the only pitcher to throw consecutive no-hitters.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 He was no Johnny-come-lately.<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n35.\u00a0 <\/strong>Easy one here.\u00a0 Name the five original HOF electees.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 1 infielder; 1.5 outfielders; 2.5 pitchers.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
36.\u00a0 <\/strong>A rarity, only twice in ML history has a player driven in 12 runs in a single game \u2026 and both times it was a St. Louis Cardinal.\u00a0 I\u2019ll give you the first one, \u201cSunny Jim\u201d Bottomley, who drove in 12 runs with six hits (2 HR, 1 2B, 3 singles) as the Cardinals bested the Brooklyn Robins (later Dodgers) at Ebbetts Field on September 16, 1925.\u00a0 Name the other 12-RBI Cardinal.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 The year was 1993 and this player also tied a major league record with 4 home runs in the game.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
37.\u00a0 <\/strong>Let\u2019s go iconic again.\u00a0 Rank the iconic power combinations below in terms of holds home runs as teammates (one holds the record at 863.)\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 The leading combo had one hitter on each side of the plate.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nBabe Ruth \/ Lou Gehrig \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Hank Aaron \/ Ed Mathews<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Willie Mays \/ Willie McCovey<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
38.\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0As long as we\u2019re talking long ball, let\u2019s take a look at the most exciting long ball \u2013 the Grand Slam.\u00a0 We\u2019ll go through a series of grand slam question, getting progressively more difficult \u2013 some might say more inane, or even more insane.\u00a0 First, what player holds the record for most career grand slams at 25? \u00a0 Hint: Yankee \u00a0ties.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
39.\u00a0 <\/strong>This shouldn\u2019t be too hard, it got plenty of publicity.\u00a0 Who was the only player to hit two grand slams in one inning<\/span>?\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 They were a couple of long \u201cTat-ers.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
40.\u00a0 <\/strong>Just a little more difficult, name the only major leaguer to a grand slam hitting right-handed and left-handed in the same game.\u00a0\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 Red Sox, 2003.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
41.\u00a0 <\/strong>A tougher grand slam question.\u00a0 Who was the first National Leaguer to hit two grand slams in one game?\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 A good argument against the DH.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong>42.\u00a0 <\/strong>One more grand slam question, then we\u2019ll give the pitchers a chance.\u00a0 Players have hit two grand slams in a game 13 times.\u00a0 How many times this has been accomplished in the hitter\u2019s home<\/span> park.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 Lots of disappointment for the fans in this one.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
43.\u00a0 <\/strong>Okay, this will take you back, but not as far as you might expect.\u00a0 Name the last major league hurler to notch a season of 30 or more victories.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 You might have a \u201chard time\u201d with one.<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n44.\u00a0 <\/strong>In 1968, an NL hurler tossed a still-record six consecutive complete game shutouts on the way a record 58 consecutive scoreless innings.\u00a0 Twenty years later, that scoreless “innings” streak was broken by another National Leaguer.\u00a0 Name these two hurlers.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 Both were Dodgers.<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n45.\u00a0 <\/strong>Way back now.\u00a0 Name the pitcher who in 1884, playing for the National League’s\u00a0<\/strong>Providence entry, compiled a 59-12 record (disputed, some say it was 60-12, either way a record for wins in a season), pitched a record 678 2\/3 innings, tossed 73 complete games in 75 starts, achieved a 1.38 ERA and 441 strikeouts.\u00a0 Due to the suspension of Providence\u2019s second-best pitcher, this stalwart started 40 of Providence final 43 games, winning 36 and bringing Providence the pennant.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong>46.\u00a0 <\/strong>Name the HOFer who is the oldest pitcher to throw a no-hitter.\u00a0 Hint:<\/strong>\u00a0 <\/em>\u201cExpress\u201d your inner baseball self.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
47.\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Enough fastballs (another hint to #46) how about a change of pace?\u00a0 Name the Hall of Famer who holds the career record for hitting into triple plays (4 times). Hint:\u00a0 Ironically known for his glove work, he hit into one more triple play than he participated in as a fielder.<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n48.\u00a0 <\/strong>More on triple plays, what was the score of the game in which the Minnesota Twins became the only team ever to turn two triple plays in a single game?\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 See question 1<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
49.\u00a0 <\/strong>Barry Bonds hold the career record for intentional bases on balls at 688.\u00a0 The second player on the list has fewer than half that many. Name that player.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
50.\u00a0 <\/strong>Back to a bit of irony or, perhaps tom-foolery.\u00a0 Name the future Hall of Famer who was pitching when pitcher Joe Niekro smacked his only career homer, in 1976?\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 Think about why this might have caught the kwizmaster\u2019s attention.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
51.\u00a0 <\/strong>Brotherly love is wonderful (hint to number 50).\u00a0 Can you name the trio of brothers who, in the eighth inning of a game played on September 15, 1963, made history by playing together in the outfield for the San Francisco Giants.\u00a0\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 The team was the San Francisco Giants and the NL leader in hits came from among these brothers in 1966, 1968 and 1969<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
52.\u00a0 <\/strong>Ouch!\u00a0 Name the ex-Twin hurler who holds the career record for most losses without ever notching a win.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 Lots of folks \u201cfelt\u201d bad for him.<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n53.\u00a0 <\/strong>Another \u201cHow the game has changed.\u201d\u00a0 Name the pitcher who holds the NL and AL records for most appearances in a season.\u00a0\u00a0 Hint: Only one answer.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
54.\u00a0 <\/strong>Don Mattingly set the Major League record for grand slams in a season with 6 in 1987 (tied by Travis Hafner in 2006).\u00a0 How many grand slams did Mattingly hit in his 14-year career.\u00a0\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 Think irony.<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n55.\u00a0 <\/strong>Time for a little \u201cguesswork.\u201d Get within three of the fewest number of pitches ever thrown in a nine-inning complete game.\u00a0 No hint, you\u2019re supposed to be guessing.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
56.\u00a0 <\/strong>Guess again.\u00a0 If you liked that last exercise in the informed guess, how about this one?\u00a0 How long (time) did the major league\u2019s shortest doubleheader last? \u00a0Count it right if you get within 45 minutes. \u00a0Note:\u00a0 Do not include the time between games (usually 20 minutes).<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
57.\u00a0 <\/strong>Not a serious question, just proof that baseball fans will count anything.\u00a0 Yankee pitcher Jim Bouton, of the small hats and violent follow-through, holds the record for the most times having his hat fall of in a World Series game.\u00a0 What is the record?\u00a0\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 If you guess 37, you\u2019ll be right.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
58.\u00a0 <\/strong>How many innings was the longest game (innings) in major league history?\u00a0 Not a hint, but another look at how the game has changed \u2013 both starting pitchers went the distance in a 1-1 tie.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
59.\u00a0 <\/strong>On August 25, 2011, the Yankees hit a record 3 grand slams in a nine-inning game, topping Oakland 22-9.\u00a0 How many (another record) plate appearance with the bases loaded did NY record?\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 They went 6 for 13 with the sacks full, but remember the question asks for plate appearances not at bats.<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/DSC_0207-22-300x199.jpg\" "\\"DSC_0207")
<\/a> baseball trivia questions (everybody does a top 100, and 99 formats better) \u2013 all tested by intrepid Ball Park Tours participants during long stints of baseball, beverages and bus rides.\u00a0\u00a0 Some represent important milestones or events that committed baseball fans should be aware of, others document unique, quirky or off-the-wall facts that BBRT feels need to be shared. The questions can be old (question 6) or new (question 3). The answers can be ironic (question 2) or iconic (question 13) or even iconic and ironic (question 5).\u00a0\u00a0 And, even if you find the questions overly challenging, take the time to read through the answers \u2013 you\u2019ll find lots of additional tidbits there.\u00a0 And remember, baseball is just like life, only less trivial. Enjoy! (Note: Updated in January 2016.)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/DSC_0207-22.jpg\" "\\"DSC_0207")
<\/a> baseball trivia questions (everybody does a top 100, and 99 formats better) \u2013 all tested by intrepid Ball Park Tours participants during long stints of baseball, beverages and bus rides.\u00a0\u00a0 Some represent important milestones or events that committed baseball fans should be aware of, others document unique, quirky or off-the-wall facts that BBRT feels need to be shared. The questions can be old (question 6) or new (question 3). The answers can be ironic (question 2) or iconic (question 13) or even iconic and ironic (question 5).\u00a0\u00a0 And, even if you find the questions overly challenging, take the time to read through the answers \u2013 you\u2019ll find lots of additional tidbits there.\u00a0 And remember, baseball is just like life, only less trivial. Enjoy! (Note: Updated in January 2016.)<\/p>\n