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.ÂÂ
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.ÂÂ
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.
No pitcher threw more strikes than Nolan Ryan. He finished his career with 5,714 strikeouts.
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.
Advertisement
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.
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.
In 2004, Randy Johnson became the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game. He was 40 years old.
Advertisement
Pitchers feared Barry Bonds throughout his long MLB career. This was evident by his 2,558 career walks.
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.
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.
Advertisement
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.
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.
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.
Advertisement
Knuckleballs are difficult for everyone involved because of the unpredictability of where the ball will end up.
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.
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.
Advertisement
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.
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."
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.
Advertisement
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.
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.
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.
Advertisement
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.
The pitcher's box proceeded the pitcher's mound. The box allowed pitchers to throw run-up underhanded pitches instead of downhill overhanded pitches.
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.
Advertisement
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.
A perfect game takes incredible defensive focus for all nine innings. That's why there have only ever been 23 thrown.
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.
Advertisement
In 1894, Billy Hamilton of the Philadelphia Phillies scored 198 runs. That's an MLB record that still stands today.
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.
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.
Advertisement
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.
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.
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.
Advertisement
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.