Can You Get 29/35 On This Baseball Knowledge Quiz?

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Get 29/35 On This Baseball Knowledge Quiz?
Image: DonaldMiralle/DigitalVision/GettyImages

About This Quiz

Since the earliest years of competing with friends in Little League, baseball players have one dream that is almost universal among all who play the game: make it to the World Series and win a championship. This one goal drives players through years of summer practices, weekends in the batting cages, and miles on the road for travel ball. But only the best players will even make it to the majors, let alone have the opportunity to play on baseball's biggest stage. Do you think you have what it takes? Here's your chance to find out!

Baseball can seem like a simple game on the surface. You throw a ball, someone tries to hit it, and they run the bases while you try to get them out. However, to be one of the greats and compete in the World Series, you will have to know more about the game than the simplest of rules. You will have to know the concepts and strategy that professional players spend years learning and mastering. 

If you think you are a baseball expert and could pass this quiz, go ahead and give it a shot. If you do well enough, you might actually have what it takes to win the World Series. 

What happens if a batter swings and misses a pitch?
A strike
A miss
An out
A ball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though his career was cut short by injury, Sandy Koufax had one of the most gifted arms in baseball history. He's most known for the perfect game he threw in 1965 against the Chicago Cubs.

Where does a strike have to be thrown?
The hitting area
The batter's box
The strike square
The strike zone
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No pitcher threw more strikes than Nolan Ryan. He finished his career with 5,714 strikeouts.

What happens if a pitch is thrown outside of the strike zone?
A foul
A ball
A curve
Out of bounds
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Some pitchers dance around the strike zone, electing to throw balls close enough to the edge of the zone that the batter will swing. Inexperienced batters often fall victim to this tactic.

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Where do you score?
Third base
Fourth base
Home plate
The scoring plate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Throughout the team's history, the Yankees have obtained the greatest scorers in the game, from Babe Ruth to Joe DiMaggio. That's one of the reasons the team has won 27 World Series, more than any other franchise.

What's a ball hit out of the park called?
A home run
Full score
Full run
A batting goal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Babe Ruth transformed baseball in the 1920s with his incredible hitting ability. He finished his career with 714 home runs, a longstanding record until Hank Aaron broke it.

How many strikes until you are called out?
two
three
four
five
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2004, Randy Johnson became the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game. He was 40 years old.

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How many balls until you are walked?
two
three
four
five
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pitchers feared Barry Bonds throughout his long MLB career. This was evident by his 2,558 career walks.

Where does a batter stand to bat?
On-deck square
On-deck circle
Batter's circle
Batter's box
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Batters are not always safe in the batter's box. Pitchers have been known to peg batters with fastballs for a multitude of reasons, from retaliation for a previous event, to slowing down a batter who's hot.

What's it called when a batter makes it to second base on his own hit?
Second start
A double
Two base hit
Go two
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As a batter, Pete Rose knew how to get on base. He was a three-time NL batting champion and finished his career as the all-time leader in hits.

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Which type of pitch uses spin to give movement to the ball while in the air?
Slide ball
Twist ball
Breaking ball
Change ball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

From 1992 until 1995, Greg Maddux won four straight NL Cy Young awards, given annually to the best pitcher in each league. He capped his success off with a World Series win in 1995.

Which type of ball is all about max speed?
Fastball
Speedball
Quickball
Highball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2010, Aroldis Chapman threw a pitch against the Padres that traveled 105.1 mph. It was the fastest pitch during a Major League game in baseball history.

What is a purposely thrown slow pitch called?
Slowball
Downball
Ball reduction
A change-up
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A change-up is about 10 mph slower than a pitcher's fastball. The best pitchers are able to make a change-up look like a fastball when it's released from their arm.

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Which type of pitch takes away spin to make the motion of the ball unpredictable?
Straightball
Pushball
Tightball
Knuckleball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Knuckleballs are difficult for everyone involved because of the unpredictability of where the ball will end up.

Which player doesn't play defense but is subbed in as a hitter?
Designated hitter
Switch hitter
Sub hitter
Single hitter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

David Ortiz spent much of his career as a designated hitter, slamming in 541 home runs. Ortiz helped the Red Sox win three World Series before retiring in 2016.

What is it called when a fielder drops a fly ball?
Penalty
Error
Turnover
Drop
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Golden Glove Awards are given to the best fielders at each position each year. No player has won more Golden Glove Awards than Greg Maddux, who earned the award 18 times.

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What is a home run hit while the bases are loaded?
A full house
Four home
A grand slam
Fill the house
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In modern baseball, the Rangers hold the record for most runs scored in a game at 30. They hit that mark in 2007 against the Orioles in a game that included both home runs and grand slams.

Which defensive position is between second and third base?
Middle base
Digout
Shortstop
Center fielder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Derek Jeter is one of the most well-known shortstops in Yankees' history. He was often a star in the playoffs, earning the nickname "Mr. November."

What is a ball hit outside the lines that run past first and third base called?
Foul ball
Incomplete ball
Off the grounds
Outside
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you're a Cubs fan, you'll remember the name Steve Bartman. He's the fan who stole the fly ball from Moises Alou during a postseason game in 2003.

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How many foul balls can a batter hit?
three
four
five
Unlimited
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Richie Ashburn once hit 14 foul balls in one at bat. One of those foul balls hit a lady in the stands, breaking her nose.

What's it called when a batter holds the bat out to tap the baseball instead of launching a full swing?
A single
A bunt
A hold
A quick hit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If a pitcher is throwing a no-hitter late in the game, you'd better not bunt the ball. That's an important unwritten rule in baseball.

If more than one runner is on base, what is the runner on the furthest base called?
Lead runner
Head runner
Start runner
First runner
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The steroid era hurt the game of baseball and affected the careers of many players. Users like Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa still haven't been voted into the Hall of Fame despite dominating the league in the '90s and '00s.

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How do you refer to the next batter up?
Hot
Second
On-deck
Order-up
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Joe DiMaggio once went 56 straight games with a hit, setting an MLB record. He also won nine World Series and was a two-time AL batting champion.

From where does the pitcher throw?
Pitcher's box
Pitcher's mound
Dugout
Pitcher's base
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The pitcher's box proceeded the pitcher's mound. The box allowed pitchers to throw run-up underhanded pitches instead of downhill overhanded pitches.

What do you call a pitcher who replaces the starting pitcher?
Backup pitcher
Pulled pitcher
Relief pitcher
Bullpen pitcher
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mariano Rivera was a relief pitcher who closed games for the New York Yankees. Anytime he entered the game, the song "Enter Sandman" began playing, and Yankee fans went crazy.

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What's it called when the defense gets two outs on one play?
Two out
Strong play
Power play
Double play
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mickey Vernon spent 20 seasons in MLB for several teams. During his career, he racked up more double plays at first base than any other player in baseball history.

How many innings are in a regular game?
seven
nine
10
12
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A perfect game takes incredible defensive focus for all nine innings. That's why there have only ever been 23 thrown.

What happens after the ninth inning if the game is still tied?
Overtime
Bat-off
Extra innings
Coin flip
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1920, the Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Braves played the longest game ever in MLB. It lasted 26 innings. The game ended in a tie when it was canceled because of darkness.

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When is a runner first considered in scoring position?
First base
Second base
Third base
When they're up to bat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1894, Billy Hamilton of the Philadelphia Phillies scored 198 runs. That's an MLB record that still stands today.

What do you call the best starting pitcher on a team?
The ace
Pitcher one
The mark
The top gun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Roger Clemens was the ace pitcher on several different teams, including the Red Sox and Yankees. He won two World Series with the Yankees, in 1999 and 2000.

Which base can a runner run past and not be out?
First base
Second base
Third base
None
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2010, Armando Galarraga was one out away from pitching a perfect game. However, umpire Jim Joyce ruled, on the final out, that batter Jason Donald reached first base, though he clearly had not.

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What's it called when a batter moves his hands up the bat to get more control over it?
High grip
Tough grip
Choke up
Pull up
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hank Aaron was the first player to break Babe Ruth's home run record. Some say he's the only player to break the record because of Barry Bonds' association with steroids.

Where are each team's benches located?
The sideline
The dugout
The corner
The locker room
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Throughout a game, managers are in and out of the dugout. If they want to argue a call, you can guarantee they'll be on the field, letting their opinion be heard.

How many games does a team have to win to be champions in the World Series?
Three
Four
Five
Six
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Red Sox faced the Curse of the Bambino, which was an 86-year drought during which they didn't win a championship. The drought began after the team traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919.

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What do you call it when a runner goes from one base to another while the pitcher is throwing the ball?
A fake
A forward base
Progress one
A steal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rickey Henderson far exceeded anyone else when it came to stolen bases. He had nearly 500 more career stolen bases than the next closest player, Lou Brock.

What's it called when a pitcher only throws strikes?
Attacking the strike zone
Strike heavy
Entering the field
Playing the zone
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Randy Johnson wasn't one to shy away from the strike zone. That's one of the reasons he is second all-time in career strikeouts.

You Got:
/35
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