194 Fun Facts About Baseball

How many strikes does it take to strike out a batter in baseball?

A batter is called out after accumulating three strikes. This fundamental rule has been part of baseball since the sport's earliest codified rules in the 19th century.

Which Phillies pitcher threw a perfect game and a postseason no-hitter in the same 2010 season?

Roy Halladay. He threw a perfect game against the Marlins on May 29, 2010, then a no-hitter against the Reds in Game 1 of the NLDS on October 6, 2010, his first postseason start.

Vin Scully called Dodgers games for how many years, the longest run with one team in pro sports?

67 seasons. Vin Scully joined the Brooklyn Dodgers' booth in 1950 and called his last game for the Los Angeles Dodgers in October 2016, the longest tenure of any broadcaster with one team.

Which player broke Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947?

Jackie Robinson debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, becoming the first Black player in MLB in the modern era. His number 42 is retired across all of baseball.

Ichiro Suzuki set the MLB single-season record for hits in 2004 with how many?

262 hits. Ichiro Suzuki collected 262 hits for the Mariners in 2004, passing George Sisler's record of 257 that had stood since 1920.

What is the name of the trophy awarded to the World Series champion?

The Commissioner's Trophy has been awarded to the World Series winner since 1967. Unlike trophies in other sports, a new trophy is made each year and the winning team keeps it permanently.

Which baseball position is located between second base and third base?

The shortstop fields the area between second and third base. The position got its name in the early days of baseball when a fielder would 'short stop' balls hit to the infield.

Which song is traditionally sung during the seventh-inning stretch at baseball games?

"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" was written in 1908 by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer. The tradition of singing it during the seventh-inning stretch became widespread thanks in part to Harry Caray at Wrigley Field.

What is it called when a pitcher throws a game without allowing any hits?

A no-hitter. The pitcher or staff finishes the game without allowing a hit, though walks, errors and hit batters can occur; Nolan Ryan threw a record seven.

Bob Gibson's dominance in 1968, the 'Year of the Pitcher', included a season ERA of what?

Pitching was so dominant that MLB lowered the mound and shrank the strike zone the following season.

A players' strike cancelled the World Series for the first time in 90 years in which year, stranding the best-record Expos?

1994's strike began on August 12 and wiped out the postseason; the Montreal Expos had the best record in baseball and never got another chance.

Which Dodgers pitcher is the only player to win the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year in the same season?

Fernando Valenzuela. The 20-year-old Mexican left-hander opened 1981 with eight straight wins and five shutouts, then took both the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year that season.

Who holds the all-time MLB record for career home runs?

Barry Bonds holds the all-time record with 762 career home runs, surpassing Hank Aaron's 755 in 2007. Bonds' record is controversial due to his connection to performance-enhancing drugs.

In which year was the first World Series played?

The first modern World Series was played in 1903 between the Boston Americans (now Red Sox) and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Boston won the best-of-nine series, five games to three.

Which Royals outfielder is the only athlete named an All-Star in both MLB and the NFL?

Bo Jackson. He was MVP of the 1989 MLB All-Star Game for the Royals and was named to the Pro Bowl for the 1990 season with the Raiders, the only athlete selected to both.

Which legendary player was known as 'The Sultan of Swat'?

Babe Ruth earned many nicknames including 'The Sultan of Swat,' 'The Bambino,' and 'The Great Bambino.' He revolutionized baseball with his power hitting, setting records that stood for decades.

What is the distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate in MLB?

The distance from the pitcher's rubber to home plate is 60 feet 6 inches. This distance was set in 1893 when the pitching position was moved back from 50 feet to reduce the dominance of pitchers.

Which MLB team plays its home games at Wrigley Field?

Wrigley Field has been home to the Chicago Cubs since 1916. The ballpark, famous for its ivy-covered outfield walls, is the second-oldest active major league ballpark after Fenway Park.

Which Cardinals outfielder took baseball's reserve clause to the Supreme Court after refusing a 1969 trade?

Curt Flood. After refusing a trade to the Phillies, Flood sued baseball over the reserve clause and lost Flood v. Kuhn at the Supreme Court in 1972, but the case helped bring free agency in 1976.

Which player holds the highest career batting average in MLB history?

Ty Cobb. Cobb batted .366 over 24 seasons from 1905 to 1928, mostly with the Detroit Tigers, the highest career average in MLB history; Rogers Hornsby is second at .358.

Which player's 56-game hitting streak in 1941 is considered one of baseball's most unbreakable records?

Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak in 1941 is regarded as one of the most remarkable records in sports history. The closest anyone has come since was Pete Rose's 44-game streak in 1978.

What famous event in 1919 involved the Chicago White Sox intentionally losing the World Series?

The Black Sox Scandal involved eight members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox who were accused of intentionally losing the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for money from gamblers. All eight were banned from baseball for life.

Who holds the MLB record for most career hits with 4,256?

Pete Rose. Rose collected 4,256 hits over 24 seasons from 1963 to 1986, passing Ty Cobb's 4,191 in September 1985; he was banned from baseball in 1989 for betting on games.

Which pitcher holds the all-time record for career strikeouts with 5,714?

Nolan Ryan recorded 5,714 strikeouts over his 27-year career, nearly 1,000 more than second-place Randy Johnson (4,875). Ryan also threw a record seven no-hitters.

What is the 'Shot Heard 'Round the World' in baseball?

Bobby Thomson's three-run home run on October 3, 1951, gave the New York Giants a dramatic come-from-behind victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers to win the National League pennant. The call by announcer Russ Hodges — 'The Giants win the pennant!' — is one of baseball's most iconic moments.

In 1998, which two players captivated the nation with their race for the single-season home run record?

Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa both surpassed Maris's record of 61 in 1998, with McGwire finishing at 70 and Sosa at 66. Both players' legacies were later tainted by connections to performance-enhancing drugs during the steroid era.

Which slugger earned the nickname 'Mr. October' for his postseason heroics with the A's and Yankees?

Reggie Jackson. He hit three home runs on three consecutive swings off three different Dodgers pitchers in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series, clinching the title for the Yankees.

Which player was the last to hit .400 in a season, batting .406 in 1941?

Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox hit .406 in 1941, the last time any MLB player finished a season with a batting average at or above .400. On the final day, he chose to play rather than sit to protect his average, going 6-for-8 in a doubleheader.

What does 'ERA' stand for in baseball statistics?

ERA stands for Earned Run Average. It calculates the average number of earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings pitched. It is one of the most important statistics for evaluating pitcher performance.

Which team broke an 86-year championship drought by winning the 2004 World Series?

The Boston Red Sox ended the 'Curse of the Bambino' by winning the 2004 World Series, their first championship since 1918. They famously came back from a 3-0 deficit against the Yankees in the ALCS to reach the World Series.

Who hit a pinch-hit walk-off homer in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series while barely able to walk?

Kirk Gibson of the Dodgers, hobbled by injuries to both legs, hit a two-run walk-off homer off Oakland's Dennis Eckersley. Vin Scully's call, 'She is gone!', became a classic; Gibson did not play again in that Series.

What infamous error by Bill Buckner helped the New York Mets win Game 6 of the 1986 World Series?

With two outs in the 10th inning, Mookie Wilson's slow ground ball rolled through Bill Buckner's legs at first base, allowing the winning run to score. The Mets went on to win Game 7 and the World Series.

What two roles did Shohei Ohtani uniquely fill as a 2021 All-Star?

Shohei Ohtani was selected as both a starting pitcher and a designated hitter for the 2021 All-Star Game, the first player ever to be named an All-Star in both roles. He was the AL's starting pitcher and leadoff hitter.

Which 1899 team went 20-134, the worst single-season record in major league history?

The Cleveland Spiders. Before the 1899 season the Robison brothers, who owned both clubs, moved the Spiders' best players to their St. Louis Perfectos, leaving Cleveland to finish 20-134.

Who threw the only perfect game in World Series history?

Don Larsen of the New York Yankees threw a perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. It remains the only no-hitter of any kind in World Series history.

Which country's Nippon Professional Baseball is considered the world's second-strongest league?

Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) is widely considered the second-best professional baseball league after MLB. Many stars including Ichiro Suzuki, Shohei Ohtani, and Hideo Nomo successfully transitioned from NPB to MLB.

After the United States, which country has supplied the most players to Major League Baseball?

The Dominican Republic. Every MLB club runs an academy there, and Dominicans have made up roughly a tenth of Opening Day rosters in recent seasons, far more than any other country outside the United States.

Which Black baseball circuit, founded by Rube Foster in 1920, was the top segregated-era league until 1931?

The Negro National League was founded in 1920 by Rube Foster in Kansas City. It was the first successful organized league for Black baseball players. In 2020, MLB officially recognized the Negro Leagues as major leagues.

Which Angel won three AL MVP awards despite not reaching the postseason until 2014?

Mike Trout won AL MVP in 2014, 2016, and 2019 with the Los Angeles Angels. Despite being widely considered the best player of his generation, the Angels struggled to build competitive teams around him for much of his career.

What is the 'infield fly rule' designed to prevent?

With fewer than two outs and runners on first and second, the batter is out automatically — so the defence cannot let the pop-up drop and turn a cheap double play.

Which pitcher holds the record for the most Cy Young Awards with seven?

Roger Clemens won a record seven Cy Young Awards (1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004). However, his legacy is complicated by allegations of performance-enhancing drug use, which have kept him out of the Hall of Fame.

What is the 'Triple Crown' in baseball batting?

Leading the league in batting average, home runs and RBIs in the same season. Rogers Hornsby's 1922 Triple Crown for the Cardinals came with a .401 average, 42 homers and 152 RBIs.

Which manager holds the record for most career wins in MLB history?

Connie Mack. Mack won 3,731 games as a manager, including 50 seasons running the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901 to 1950 after three with Pittsburgh, and his 3,948 losses are also a record.

What was distinctive about Billy Beane's 'Moneyball' approach with the Oakland Athletics in the early 2000s?

They relied on sabermetrics to find undervalued players, especially high on-base hitters, on a small budget; Michael Lewis's 2003 book made the method famous.

Which company has been the official supplier of baseballs to Major League Baseball since 1977?

Rawlings. Rawlings has supplied MLB's official ball since 1977; each one is hand-stitched with waxed red thread at its factory in Turrialba, Costa Rica.

Which circuit adopted the designated hitter rule first, in 1973?

The American League. The AL introduced the designated hitter for the 1973 season, with Ron Blomberg of the Yankees the first to bat as a DH; the National League only adopted it in 2022.

Which minor league classification is the highest level before the Major Leagues?

Triple-A (AAA) is the highest level of minor league baseball, one step below the major leagues. Players at Triple-A are often the first to be called up when MLB teams need roster reinforcements.

In which year did Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth's career record?

1974. Aaron hit No. 715 off Dodgers left-hander Al Downing on April 8, 1974, at Atlanta Stadium in front of a Braves-record crowd of 53,775.

Effa Manley, co-owner of the Newark Eagles, made history in 2006 as the first woman to do what?

Enter the Baseball Hall of Fame. Effa Manley was inducted at Cooperstown in 2006, the first woman so honored; her Newark Eagles won the 1946 Negro World Series with Larry Doby and Monte Irvin.

What is the 'WHIP' statistic in baseball?

WHIP stands for Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched. It measures how many baserunners a pitcher allows per inning. A WHIP below 1.00 is considered elite, meaning the pitcher averages fewer than one baserunner per inning.

Negro leagues legend Satchel Paige finally made his MLB debut in 1948 at what age?

42. Paige, born July 7, 1906, debuted for the Cleveland Indians on July 9, 1948, two days after his 42nd birthday; Bill Veeck had tracked down his birth certificate in Mobile, Alabama.

Which Cardinals first baseman hit three home runs in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series?

Albert Pujols. In Game 3 of the 2011 World Series at Texas, Pujols went 5-for-6 with three home runs and six RBIs, matching the single-game Series record of Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson.

In baseball, what rare pitching feat sees no opposing player reach base all game?

A perfect game occurs when a pitcher (or pitchers) completes a game without allowing any opposing player to reach base by any means, including hits, walks, errors, or hit batsmen.

Which Major League Baseball team holds the record for the most World Series championships?

The New York Yankees have won more World Series titles than any other franchise in MLB history, with 27 championships.

Eddie Gaedel, sent to bat by Bill Veeck in 1951, was the shortest MLB player ever at what height?

3 ft 7 in. Eddie Gaedel, wearing number 1/8 for the St. Louis Browns on August 19, 1951, walked on four pitches in his only plate appearance and was banned from further games.

In 1959, Pirates pitcher Harvey Haddix threw how many perfect innings before losing the game in the 13th?

12. Haddix retired 36 straight Braves batters on May 26, 1959, then lost 1-0 in the 13th after an error, a sacrifice, an intentional walk and Joe Adcock's hit.

Yogi Berra won more World Series titles as a player than anyone in MLB history. How many?

All ten came with the Yankees between 1947 and 1962, and he later managed both New York teams to the World Series.

What is the common term for a home run hit with the bases loaded?

A grand slam is a home run hit with the bases loaded, resulting in four runs scored on a single play.

Which of these is typically known as the 'hot corner' in baseball?

Third base is often referred to as the 'hot corner' due to the frequent hard-hit balls that come its way, requiring quick reactions from the third baseman.

Japanese slugger Sadaharu Oh holds the world professional career home run record with how many?

868. Sadaharu Oh hit 868 home runs for the Yomiuri Giants between 1959 and 1980, more than any professional player anywhere, using his distinctive one-legged 'flamingo' stance.

Since 2017, what can an MLB manager award a batter just by signalling the umpire?

An intentional walk. From the 2017 season a manager can signal the umpire to send the batter to first base; before that the pitcher had to throw four deliberate wide pitches. It was a pace-of-play change.

Who became Commissioner of Major League Baseball in January 2015?

Rob Manfred took office as the tenth Commissioner of Major League Baseball on January 25, 2015, succeeding Bud Selig.

In a 2001 spring training game, a Randy Johnson fastball famously killed what in mid-flight?

A dove. On March 24, 2001, Johnson's fastball to the Giants' Calvin Murray struck a dove crossing in front of the plate in a burst of feathers; the umpire ruled it no pitch.

Who is often credited with "inventing" baseball, though historians dispute the claim?

Abner Doubleday. The 1907 Mills Commission declared that Doubleday invented baseball at Cooperstown in 1839, a story historians dismiss as myth; Doubleday was a cadet at West Point that year.

How many bases must a runner touch, in order, to score a run in baseball?

A runner must touch all four bases—first, second, third, and home plate—in order, to score a run.

What is it called when the defence records two outs in one continuous action?

A double play is a defensive maneuver in which two offensive players are put out during the same continuous action. This is a highly sought-after play by the defense.

What term describes a ball hit in the air within the foul lines and over the outfield fence?

If a ball is hit in the air within the foul lines over the entire outfield fence, it is a home run, allowing the batter and any runners on base to score freely.

If the home team leads, how much of an MLB game must be completed to count as official?

A Major League Baseball game is considered 'official' if at least 4.5 innings have been completed and the home team is leading, meaning the visiting team has batted in the top of the fifth and the home team is ahead or has taken the lead in the bottom of the fifth.

What does 'RBI' stand for in baseball statistics?

Runs Batted In. A batter is credited with an RBI for each run his plate appearance drives home, whether by hit, walk or sacrifice; Hank Aaron's 2,297 are the career record.

Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis claimed to have thrown his 1970 no-hitter while under the influence of what?

LSD. Ellis said he took the acid thinking it was an off day, learned that afternoon he was starting in San Diego on June 12, 1970, and no-hit the Padres anyway.

Which position is responsible for calling pitches and receiving them behind home plate?

The catcher is positioned behind home plate and is responsible for receiving pitches, framing them, and often calling the game's pitches in conjunction with the pitcher and coaching staff.

What is it called when a pitcher goes the whole game without letting the other team score a single run?

A shutout needs no runs allowed, not no hits; a no-hitter can even be lost, and a reliever can earn one if he enters before the first out.

In what city is Fenway Park, one of MLB's oldest and most iconic stadiums, located?

Boston. Fenway Park opened on April 20, 1912, in Boston's Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood and is the oldest active ballpark in the major leagues.

What is it called when a fielder touches an off-base runner with the ball or glove holding it?

A tag out. The fielder touches the runner with the ball, or with the glove holding it, while the runner is off a base; a force out only needs the fielder to touch the base the runner must reach.

Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman holds a grim distinction as the only MLB player to die from what?

A Carl Mays fastball struck him in the head in 1920; his death helped drive the rule requiring umpires to replace dirty, hard-to-see balls.

Which of these is a measure of a hitter's power, calculated as total bases divided by at-bats?

Slugging percentage is a statistic that measures the average number of total bases a player achieves per at-bat. It is calculated by dividing total bases by at-bats.

The 2002 All-Star Game in Milwaukee ended controversially how?

In a 7-7 tie. Both managers ran out of pitchers, so commissioner Bud Selig called the game after 11 innings; from 2003 to 2016 the winning league received World Series home-field advantage.

What is the name of the award given annually to the best pitcher in each league?

The Cy Young Award is presented annually to the best pitcher in Major League Baseball, one for the American League and one for the National League.

Which surgeon first performed 'Tommy John surgery' in 1974?

Frank Jobe's operation gave John another 14 seasons and 164 more wins.

What is the term for a pitch that deceives the batter by having less speed than anticipated?

A changeup is a pitch thrown with the same arm speed as a fastball but with a grip that reduces its velocity, making it appear slower and often causing the batter to swing too early.

Which statistic is (Hits + Walks + Hit By Pitch) / (At-Bats + Walks + Hit By Pitch + Sacrifice Flies)?

On-Base Percentage (OBP) measures how often a batter reaches base through any means other than a fielding error, calculated as (Hits + Walks + Hit By Pitch) / (At-Bats + Walks + Hit By Pitch + Sacrifice Flies).

What is the term for a home run that ends the game in the bottom of the final inning or extra innings?

A walk-off home run is a home run hit by the home team in the bottom of the final inning (or extra innings) that secures the win, as the game ends immediately.

What is the common name for the area where relief pitchers warm up before entering a game?

The bullpen is the area, usually located in foul territory, where relief pitchers warm up before coming into the game.

What is the term for a batter hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game?

Hitting for the cycle is a rare feat in baseball where a batter collects a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game.

Where do players sit when they are not on the field or at bat?

The dugout. Each team's bench sits in a dugout along the first- or third-base line, sunk below field level so it does not block spectators' views; which side the home team uses varies by ballpark.

Under baseball's designated hitter rule, universal in MLB since 2022, the DH bats in place of which player?

The pitcher sits out the batting order; the DH takes no defensive position, which is why NL purists resisted it from 1973 until 2022.

Which pitch uses topspin to break sharply downward on its way to the plate?

A curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a downward rotation that causes it to curve, or 'break,' as it approaches home plate.

What is the 'Mendoza Line' in baseball slang?

The 'Mendoza Line' refers to a batting average of exactly .200, a threshold often associated with a player struggling offensively, named after infielder Mario Mendoza.

Which backflipping Cardinals shortstop was nicknamed 'the Wizard of Oz'?

Ozzie Smith. 'The Wizard of Oz' won 13 consecutive Gold Gloves at shortstop from 1980 to 1992, famously backflipping onto the field on Opening Day, and entered the Hall of Fame in 2002.

Hall of Fame third baseman Wade Boggs got his poultry-themed nickname because of what habit?

Eating the same bird before every game. Boggs ate chicken before every game, earning the nickname 'Chicken Man' and publishing the cookbook 'Fowl Tips'; he also took exactly 150 ground balls in practice.

What type of hit allows the batter to reach third base safely?

A triple is a hit that allows the batter to reach third base safely without the benefit of a fielding error.

A season mark of 1.000 in which statistic is the classic sign of an elite hitter?

OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging). OPS adds on-base percentage to slugging percentage; a 1.000 OPS over a full season marks an elite hitter, and Barry Bonds set the single-season record of 1.422 in 2004.

What is the term for a batter striking out four times in a single game?

A 'golden sombrero' is an informal term in baseball for a player striking out four times in a single game.

Who in 2012 became the first hitter in 45 years to lead his league in average, homers and RBIs?

The Tigers slugger edged out rookie Mike Trout for AL MVP that year, a debate that still rages.

Whose Game 7 homer won the 1960 World Series for the Pirates, the only walk-off ever to end a Game 7?

Bill Mazeroski, a second baseman better known for his glove, beat a Yankees team that had outscored Pittsburgh 55-27 across the series.

Which portly pitcher became the oldest player to hit his first career homer, at 42 with the 2016 Mets?

Bartolo Colón. On May 7, 2016, at Petco Park in San Diego, the 42-year-old Mets pitcher hit his first career home run off James Shields, the oldest player ever to hit a first homer.

Under MLB rules, the strike zone extends over home plate from the batter's knees up to what point?

Formally the top is the midpoint between the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, judged from the batter's stance as he prepares to swing.

Roberto Clemente died in a 1972 crash flying earthquake relief supplies to which country?

Nicaragua. Clemente's chartered plane crashed off Puerto Rico on December 31, 1972, carrying aid for victims of the Managua earthquake; he had recorded his 3,000th hit three months earlier and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1973.

What year saw the establishment of baseball's first all-professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings?

The Cincinnati Red Stockings were established in 1869, becoming the first fully professional baseball team in the United States. This pivotal moment marked the transition of baseball from amateur to professional status.

What is a batted ball that lands outside the foul lines called?

A foul ball. A batted ball that settles or is first touched outside the foul lines is foul; it counts as a strike unless the batter already has two strikes, except on a bunt.

Which player holds the Major League Baseball record for the most career grand slams?

Alex Rodriguez holds the MLB record for most career grand slams with 25. Lou Gehrig previously held the record for many years with 23.

Which team plays its home games at Citizens Bank Park?

The Philadelphia Phillies. Citizens Bank Park opened in South Philadelphia in 2004, replacing Veterans Stadium, and hosted the Phillies' World Series clincher over Tampa Bay in 2008.

What is a hit on which the batter safely reaches only first base called?

A single. The batter reaches first base on a hit without an error or fielder's choice; Pete Rose's 3,215 singles are the career record.

In what year was the National League, the 'Senior Circuit', founded?

The National League, the older of the two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, was founded on February 2, 1876.

Which franchise won its first World Series title in 2023?

The Texas Rangers. Texas beat the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games in 2023 for the first championship in a franchise history that began as the expansion Washington Senators in 1961.

What is the count called when a batter has three balls and two strikes?

In baseball, a 'full count' is when the batter has accumulated three balls and two strikes. The next pitch will either result in a walk (if it's a ball) or a strikeout (if it's a strike or the batter swings and misses).

In what year was the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs established as a major league?

The American League, originally a minor league known as the Western League, officially began playing as a major league in 1901.

Which Yankees slugger's 1953 'mythic blast' at Griffith Stadium inspired the term 'tape-measure home run'?

Mickey Mantle's prodigious home run at Griffith Stadium on April 17, 1953, was so impressive that it inspired the term 'tape-measure home run' to describe extraordinarily long blasts.

How many players from one team are on the field during a standard baseball game?

In a standard baseball game, each team fields nine players at a time, including the pitcher, catcher, four infielders, and three outfielders.

Which team did Babe Ruth finish his playing career with in 1935?

The Boston Braves. Ruth left the Yankees after 1934 and played 28 games for the Braves in 1935, hitting his final three home runs in one game at Pittsburgh on May 25, 1935.

Which team's 1974 'Ten Cent Beer Night' promotion ended with drunken fans storming the field and a forfeit?

The Cleveland Indians forfeited after fans mobbed the field in the ninth inning; umpire Nestor Chylak awarded the game to Texas.

Which Major League Baseball team's mascot is a bird that 'hatched' in 1979?

The Baltimore Orioles' official mascot is the Oriole Bird, which "hatched" in 1979 and is a cartoon version of the bird of the same name.

The World Series has been a best-of-seven every year since which season?

1922. The Series was best-of-nine in 1903 and again from 1919 to 1921; since 1922 every World Series has been best-of-seven, won by the first team to four victories.

Who became MLB's first Black manager when Cleveland hired him for 1975?

Frank Robinson. Cleveland named Robinson player-manager for 1975, the first Black manager in major league history, and he homered in his first at-bat on Opening Day, April 8, 1975.

What is it called when a pitcher strikes out the side on exactly nine pitches?

An immaculate inning. The pitcher retires all three batters on strikeouts using nine pitches, three strikes apiece; Sandy Koufax threw three of them in the 1960s.

What is the standard distance in feet between each base on a Major League Baseball infield?

On a standard Major League Baseball field, the distance between each base (from home plate to first, first to second, second to third, and third to home) is 90 feet.

Which team became the first based outside the United States to win the World Series, in 1992?

The Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto beat the Atlanta Braves in six games in 1992, then repeated in 1993 when Joe Carter's walk-off homer ended Game 6 against the Phillies.

Which infielder normally plays between first and second base?

The second baseman. He covers the gap between first and second base and turns double plays with the shortstop; Roberto Alomar won ten Gold Gloves at the position.

In the Astros' 2017 sign-stealing scheme, what did staff bang on to signal the coming pitch?

A trash can. Astros staff read signs off a center-field camera feed and banged a trash can in the dugout tunnel to warn hitters of off-speed pitches; pitcher Mike Fiers exposed the scheme in 2019.

Which Giants centre fielder was nicknamed 'the Say Hey Kid'?

Willie Mays. 'The Say Hey Kid' made his over-the-shoulder grab off Vic Wertz's drive in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series at the Polo Grounds, remembered simply as 'The Catch'.

What is a relief pitcher who enters to preserve a lead and finish the game called?

A closer is a relief pitcher specialized in pitching the final inning or two of a game to 'save' a win. This role is often high-pressure and critical to securing victories.

Who is the all-time MLB career leader in saves?

Mariano Rivera holds the MLB all-time record for career saves with 652. He is widely considered one of the greatest closers in baseball history.

Who is largely credited with codifying baseball's 'Knickerbocker Rules' in 1845?

Alexander Cartwright. A member of the New York Knickerbocker Base Ball Club, Cartwright is credited with its 1845 rules, which set foul lines, three outs per side and tagging runners instead of throwing the ball at them.

In baseball, what is the illegal, deceptive pitcher's motion that awards every runner one base called?

A balk nullifies the pitch (usually), moves each runner up a base, and leaves the batter at the plate with the same count.

Which player holds the Major League Baseball record for most career stolen bases?

Rickey Henderson holds the MLB career stolen base record with an astonishing 1,406 stolen bases. He is the only MLB player to steal 1,000 bases.

How many times did Ty Cobb reportedly steal home plate in his career, an MLB record?

54. Cobb stole home 54 times between 1905 and 1928, a record no one has approached; Max Carey is a distant second with 33.

"Merkle's Boner", a notorious 1908 base-running blunder, cost which team a game that decided the pennant?

Rookie Fred Merkle left the field without touching second, the Cubs got the ball to the bag, and Chicago went on to win its last title for 108 years.

The famous 'Slugger' bat brand takes its name from a city in which US state?

Kentucky. The Louisville Slugger has been made by Hillerich & Bradsby in Louisville, Kentucky, since the 1880s, and a 120-foot steel bat leans against its downtown museum.

Who holds the MLB record for most career doubles, with 792?

Tris Speaker. Speaker hit 792 doubles between 1907 and 1928, mostly for Boston and Cleveland; Pete Rose is second with 746.

Which city hosted the first MLB All-Star Game, in 1933?

Chicago. The first All-Star Game was played at Comiskey Park on July 6, 1933, alongside the city's Century of Progress world's fair, and Babe Ruth hit the game's first home run.

Which honour is given annually to the most outstanding player in each league of Major League Baseball?

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is presented annually to the player judged to be the most outstanding in the American League and National League.

Nicknamed the 'Eighth Wonder of the World', which 1965 stadium was the first domed ballpark?

The Astrodome. Houston's dome opened in April 1965 as the first enclosed ballpark; its grass died under the roof, so in 1966 it installed the artificial surface that became known as AstroTurf.

Disco Demolition Night, the 1979 promotion that ended in a riot, was at which ballpark?

Comiskey Park. On July 12, 1979, White Sox fans stormed the field after DJ Steve Dahl blew up a crate of disco records between games of a doubleheader, and Chicago forfeited the nightcap to Detroit.

What is a home run called when the ball never leaves the field of play?

An inside-the-park home run. The batter rounds all the bases on a ball that stays in play; Ichiro Suzuki hit one in the 2007 All-Star Game, the only one in that game's history.

What is the longest game, by number of frames, ever played in Major League Baseball?

The longest game in Major League Baseball history by innings was a 26-inning contest between the Brooklyn Robins and the Boston Braves on May 1, 1920, which ended in a 1-1 tie due to darkness.

What iconic, tall left-field wall is a distinctive feature of Fenway Park?

The Green Monster stands 37 feet 2 inches, one of the quirks of a park squeezed into Boston's dense Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood, alongside Pesky's Pole.

Where does the next scheduled batter wait and take practice swings?

The on-deck circle. The next batter waits and takes practice swings in the on-deck circle, a marked ring in foul territory between the dugout and home plate.

Cal Ripken Jr.'s record streak of consecutive games played, ended in 1998, reached how many games?

2,632. Ripken passed the previous record of 2,130 on September 6, 1995, and played on until he sat out on September 20, 1998, ending the streak at 2,632 games.

What material is most commonly used for professional baseball bats in Major League Baseball?

Major League Baseball requires professional players to use bats made entirely of a single piece of wood, with maple, ash, and birch being common types.

What is the most common type of pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball?

The fastball is the most fundamental and frequently thrown pitch in baseball, known for its velocity and straight trajectory.

What is the primary objective of the offensive team in baseball?

The objective of the offensive team is to hit the ball and advance players around the four bases to score runs.

In which state is the Baseball Hall of Fame located?

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Cooperstown, New York.

What is the term for a batter hitting the ball and reaching second base safely on that hit?

A double occurs when a batter hits the ball and reaches second base safely without the benefit of a fielding error.

The Montreal Expos relocated in 2005 and became which team?

The Washington Nationals. The Expos, MLB's first team outside the United States when they debuted in 1969, moved to Washington for the 2005 season and won the World Series in 2019.

How many outs does each team get per inning in baseball?

In baseball, each team gets three outs per inning before their turn at bat ends.

The T206 card of which Pirates shortstop is among the rarest, most valuable baseball cards ever?

Honus Wagner reportedly objected to the card, so few were printed; one sold for more than $7 million in 2022.

Which early-20th-century Washington Senators pitcher was nicknamed 'The Big Train'?

Walter Johnson. 'The Big Train' pitched 21 seasons for Washington from 1907 to 1927, winning 417 games and throwing a record 110 shutouts; his 3,509 strikeouts stood as the record until 1983.

What is a pitch outside the strike zone that the batter doesn't swing at called?

A 'ball' is called by the umpire when a pitch is thrown outside the strike zone and the batter does not swing, accumulating towards a potential walk.

Which Yankees outfielder hit 61 home runs in 1961 to set a new single-season record?

Roger Maris. Maris hit his 61st on October 1, 1961, the season's final day, off Boston's Tracy Stallard, passing Babe Ruth's 60 from 1927.

What defensive play occurs when a fielder catches a batted ball before it hits the ground?

A fly out occurs when a defensive player catches a batted ball in the air before it touches the ground, resulting in an out for the batter.

Aaron Judge set the American League single-season home run record in 2022 with how many?

62. Judge hit his 62nd home run on October 4, 2022, at Texas, passing the American League record of 61 that had stood since 1961.

Which Yankees shortstop, nicknamed 'the Captain', won five World Series titles between 1996 and 2009?

Derek Jeter. 'The Captain' won titles with the Yankees in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2020 with 396 of 397 votes.

What is the name of the annual championship series in Major League Baseball?

The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, contested between the champions of the American League and National League.

What term is used when a pitcher throws four pitches outside the strike zone to a batter?

When a pitcher throws four 'balls' (pitches outside the strike zone) to a batter, the batter is awarded first base, known as a 'walk' or 'base on balls'.

Which defensive player is positioned furthest from home plate in the outfield?

The center fielder covers the largest area of the outfield, typically positioned furthest from home plate.

Pitcher Jim Abbott, who threw a no-hitter for the Yankees in 1993, was born without which body part?

Missing his right hand, Abbott rested his glove on the end of his right arm while pitching, then switched it to his left hand to field.

After which season did the American and National Leagues cease to be separate business entities?

Club owners voted in September 1999 to consolidate the two leagues into a single entity under the commissioner's office. The league presidencies became honorary titles.

Which pitcher threw the only Opening Day no-hitter in MLB history, in 1940?

Bob Feller. Feller no-hit the White Sox 1-0 at Comiskey Park on April 16, 1940, the only Opening Day no-hitter in major league history; he threw three no-hitters in all.

Which Yankees legend, 'The Iron Horse', played 2,130 consecutive games, a record that stood for over 50 years?

Lou Gehrig's streak ended in 1939, the year of his 'luckiest man on the face of the earth' farewell speech.

What color is home plate in baseball?

Home plate is a five-sided slab of white rubber, distinct from the white bases.

The 1989 film Field of Dreams is set on a corn farm in which US state?

Iowa. The movie's diamond was built on a farm outside Dyersville, Iowa, where MLB staged its first Field of Dreams regular-season game, Yankees against White Sox, on August 12, 2021.

Which team took Ken Griffey Jr. with the first overall pick of the 1987 draft?

He and his father became the first father-son pair to play together, hitting back-to-back homers for Seattle in 1990.

What is the name of the protective headgear worn by batters?

Batters wear a batting helmet to protect their head and face from pitches thrown at high speeds.

Which Royals star had a home run nullified in the 1983 'Pine Tar Incident'?

Brett's furious charge from the dugout is legendary; the AL president later overturned the call and the game was finished weeks later.

How many double stitches hold the cover of an official MLB baseball together?

108. Each official ball is hand-sewn with 108 double stitches of waxed red thread over a cork-and-rubber core wrapped in wool yarn.

What does a starting pitcher need for a 'quality start'?

Six innings with three or fewer earned runs. Sportswriter John Lowe coined the quality start in 1985 as a rough measure of whether a starter gave his team a chance to win.

Who was the first commissioner of Major League Baseball?

Kenesaw Mountain Landis served as the first commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1920 until his death in 1944.

Which Reds left-hander is the only pitcher in MLB history to throw no-hitters in consecutive starts?

He did it in June 1938, and 14 years later threw another no-hitter in the Texas League for Tulsa.

How did Fernando Tatís set the single-inning RBI record against Chan Ho Park on April 23, 1999?

Hitting two grand slams. Tatís hit both slams off Dodgers starter Chan Ho Park in the third inning at Dodger Stadium, driving in eight runs, the only two-slam inning by one player in MLB history.

Which Cleveland second baseman turned the only unassisted triple play in World Series history, in 1920?

Bill Wambsganss. In Game 5 of the 1920 World Series against Brooklyn he caught a line drive, stepped on second and tagged the runner coming from first, the only unassisted triple play in Series history.

Hack Wilson's 1930 season produced how many RBIs, a single-season record no one has approached since?

191. Wilson drove in 191 runs for the Cubs in 1930 (long listed as 190 until a 1999 correction); Lou Gehrig came closest with 185 in 1931, and Wilson's 56 homers stayed the NL record for 68 years.

How many Tigers did Bob Gibson strike out in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series?

17. Gibson struck out 17 Tigers in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series on October 2, breaking Sandy Koufax's single-game Series record of 15 from 1963.

Who was the last major league pitcher to win 30 games in a season, going 31-6 for the 1968 Tigers?

Denny McLain. McLain went 31-6 with a 1.96 ERA for the 1968 champion Tigers, winning the AL MVP and Cy Young Award; Dizzy Dean in 1934 had been the previous 30-game winner.

Which Red Sox outfielder won the 1968 AL batting title with a .301 average, the lowest ever?

Carl Yastrzemski. Yastrzemski's .301 was the only .300 average in the American League in 1968, the 'Year of the Pitcher', a season in which the league as a whole hit .230.

On August 4, 1982, Joel Youngblood became the only player ever to do what?

He singled for the Mets in an afternoon game in Chicago, was traded to the Expos, and singled again that night in Philadelphia.

Pitching for the Class-D Bristol Twins in 1952, Ron Necciai struck out how many in a nine-inning no-hitter?

A passed ball on a third strike gave him a 27th victim; he was pitching through painful stomach ulcers at the time.

Which Yankee threw a perfect game on Yogi Berra Day in July 1999?

David Cone. On July 18, 1999, Yogi Berra Day at Yankee Stadium, with Don Larsen having thrown the ceremonial first pitch, Cone retired all 27 Expos in a 6-0 win.

In which inning did Braves reliever Rick Camp hit his only career home run, in a July 4, 1985 game vs the Mets?

The 18th. Camp, a pitcher with a career average under .100, homered off Tom Gorman on an 0-2 count in the bottom of the 18th; the Mets won 16-13 in the 19th and the game ended at 3:55 a.m.

William Sianis and his goat were ejected from Wrigley Field during which World Series?

1945. Sianis and his goat Murphy were put out of Game 4 of the 1945 World Series against Detroit because of the animal's smell, and the Cubs did not return to the Series until 2016.

Which second baseman set the American League batting record of .426 in 1901?

He had just jumped from the Phillies to the new American League, one of dozens of NL players who defected that year.

Chief Wilson of the 1912 Pirates set a single-season record with 36 of what?

Triples. Wilson's 36 three-base hits for the 1912 Pirates broke Dave Orr's 1886 mark of 31, and no player has reached 30 in any season from 1913 onward.

In which round of the 1988 draft did the Dodgers take Mike Piazza as a favor to his father?

The 62nd round. Piazza was the 1,390th of 1,395 players chosen in 1988, picked because Tommy Lasorda was a friend of his father; he went on to hit 427 home runs.

At which ballpark did the 1983 Pine Tar Incident take place?

Yankee Stadium. The Royals' two-run homer off Goose Gossage on July 24, 1983, was nullified for excess pine tar on the bat; AL president Lee MacPhail overturned the call, and Kansas City won 5-4 when play resumed 25 days later.

Which pitcher won 27 games for the 1972 Phillies, who won only 59 in all?

Steve Carlton. Carlton went 27-10 with a 1.97 ERA and 310 strikeouts for the 1972 Phillies, who won just 59 games, and took the NL Cy Young Award unanimously.

Wrigley Field was built for the Chicago Whales of which short-lived rival league of 1914-15?

The Federal League. It ran as a third major league in 1914 and 1915 before its owners were bought out, and the Baltimore club's antitrust suit led to the Supreme Court's 1922 ruling exempting baseball from antitrust law.

The Seattle Pilots played a single season in 1969 before moving to become which franchise?

The Milwaukee Brewers. Bud Selig bought the bankrupt Pilots days before the 1970 season and moved them to Milwaukee; the Pilots had gone 64-98, a season Jim Bouton chronicled in Ball Four.

Which 1884 Toledo Blue Stockings catcher is credited as the first Black major leaguer?

Moses Fleetwood Walker. An Oberlin and Michigan athlete, Walker caught 42 games for Toledo of the American Association in 1884; his brother Weldy also played for Toledo that year, and no other Black player appeared in the majors until 1947.

Which Negro leagues catcher, called the 'Black Babe Ruth', died in January 1947, months before integration?

Josh Gibson. The Homestead Grays catcher, credited with nearly 800 home runs in league and barnstorming play, died of a stroke on January 20, 1947, three months before the major leagues integrated.

Who was the first Black player in the American League, debuting for Cleveland in July 1947?

Larry Doby. Doby debuted for Cleveland on July 5, 1947, after starring for the Newark Eagles from age 17, and in 1948 became the first Black player to homer in a World Series as Cleveland won the title.

Roughly what is the circumference of a regulation baseball?

About 9 inches. The rules set the circumference at 9 to 9.25 inches and the weight at 5 to 5.25 ounces; a cork-and-rubber core is wound in yarn and covered in white cowhide with red stitching.

In which country is baseball known as 'honkbal'?

Post-war American influence and the Kingdom's ties to Aruba and Curaçao, where it is the most popular sport, gave the Dutch Europe's strongest baseball tradition.

Baseball first appeared as a full Olympic medal sport at which Summer Games?

It was dropped again for 2012, largely because MLB would not release players mid-season; the World Baseball Classic was created in 2006 partly to fill the gap.

Which English-born writer, known as 'Father Baseball', invented the box score and batting average?

A former cricket player living in Brooklyn, Chadwick also created tabular standings and the annual baseball guide in the late 19th century.

Which English football club were the first British baseball champions, winning the 1890 national league?

Aston Villa. The football club won the inaugural 1890 National League of Baseball of Great Britain, set up with backing from American sporting-goods magnate A.G. Spalding, ahead of Derby County, Preston North End and Stoke.