Baseball Quiz

1. How many strikes does a batter need before they are called 'out' in baseball?

1. 2
2. 3
3. 4
4. 5

2. What is a 'home run' in baseball?

1. When a batter hits the ball over the outfield fence, automatically scoring a run for everyone on base plus the batter
2. When a runner scores from third base to home plate without stopping
3. When a team scores 10 or more runs in a single game
4. When the batter reaches home plate without being put out after a hit

3. How many innings does a standard Major League Baseball game have?

1. 10
2. 7
3. 8
4. 9

4. What is the 'World Series' in baseball?

1. A special tournament including Japanese and Dominican teams
2. An international baseball tournament between all countries
3. The annual championship series between the American League and National League champions — the MLB season finale
4. The finals of the College World Series

5. Babe Ruth is considered the greatest baseball player of all time. Which team is he most associated with?

1. Boston Red Sox
2. Chicago Cubs
3. Detroit Tigers
4. New York Yankees

6. What is a 'pitcher' and what is their primary role?

1. The fielder who covers the area between shortstop and second base
2. The outfield player positioned behind the infield
3. The player who signals pitch types to the pitcher from home plate
4. The player who throws the ball to the batter from the pitcher's mound — the most important defensive position

7. What is a 'perfect game' in baseball?

1. A game where one team wins by 10 or more runs
2. A game without any errors by either team
3. A pitching performance where the pitcher retires all 27 batters in order without a single batter reaching base
4. A shutout where the pitcher throws all 9 innings and allows no runs

8. What is the 'designated hitter' (DH) rule and which league originally used it?

1. Both leagues introduced it simultaneously in 1973
2. The American League originally used it (1973) — allowing a specialist hitter to bat in place of the pitcher, who doesn't bat
3. The DH rule was introduced to allow older star players to continue batting after retiring from fielding
4. The National League originally used it — allowing a specialist hitter to bat instead of the worst defensive player

9. Shohei Ohtani is unique in modern baseball. What makes him so exceptional?

1. He excels as both an elite starting pitcher AND an elite hitter — a genuine two-way player not seen since Babe Ruth
2. He holds the single-season home run record
3. He is the youngest player ever to win multiple MVP awards
4. He throws the fastest fastball in MLB history at 175 km/h

10. What is a 'stolen base' in baseball?

1. When a baserunner advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to the batter
2. When a baserunner slides aggressively into a base to dislodge it from its anchor
3. When a fielder removes a base from the ground after an argument with the umpire
4. When the batter's hit allows runners to advance multiple bases

11. What is the 'pitcher's mound' and what is its significance?

1. A scoring bonus given to pitchers who strike out the side
2. The area behind home plate where the pitching coach stands
3. The dugout area where pitchers warm up before entering the game
4. The elevated circular area in the centre of the diamond where the pitcher stands — its height gives the pitcher leverage and affects pitch movement

12. What is the 'infield fly rule' in baseball?

1. A rule about how fielders must position themselves during fly ball situations
2. A rule granting the batter extra time when a fly ball is hit to the infield
3. A rule preventing fielders from catching flies hit over the infield boundary rope
4. A special rule automatically calling a batter out when a fly ball is hit in the infield with runners on base and less than two outs — preventing fielders from intentionally dropping the ball to create double or triple plays

13. Which pitcher has the most career strikeouts in MLB history?

1. Cy Young
2. Nolan Ryan
3. Randy Johnson
4. Roger Clemens

14. What is a 'walk-off' in baseball?

1. A game-winning hit or play by the home team in the final inning that immediately ends the game — the opposing team must 'walk off' the field
2. A player celebrating by walking slowly around the bases after a home run
3. When a pitcher walks four consecutive batters and is removed from the game
4. When a player walks off the field in protest after a disputed call

15. What are the 'bases' in baseball and in what order must a batter run them?

1. First, Second, Third, Home — run counterclockwise
2. Home, First, Second, Third — run clockwise
3. Home, First, Second, Third — then back to home
4. The runner chooses their route around four bases placed in a square

16. What is a 'batting average' in baseball statistics?

1. Hits divided by at-bats — a .300 batting average (3 hits per 10 at-bats) is considered excellent
2. The average number of runs scored per game
3. The percentage of times a batter reaches any base safely
4. The total number of runs batted in per season

17. What is the 'MLB Hall of Fame' and where is it located?

1. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio — the birthplace of professional baseball
2. Located in Cooperstown, New York — it honours the greatest players, managers, and contributors in baseball history
3. Located in Los Angeles — home of the first stadium built for baseball
4. Located in New York City, it inducts the best active players each year

18. What is a 'shutout' in baseball?

1. When a team scores 10 or more runs in a single game
2. When one pitcher pitches a complete game (all 9 innings) without allowing the opposing team to score
3. When the umpire removes a player for arguing a called strike
4. When the winning team scores all their runs in one inning

19. What is the 'corked bat' controversy in baseball?

1. Adding pine tar beyond the legal amount to improve grip
2. Illegally hollowing out the barrel of a bat and filling it with cork to make it lighter and increase bat speed, improving power
3. Using a bat made from the wrong type of wood in violation of MLB regulations
4. Using a bat soaked in wine to make it heavier and more powerful

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

1. 2
2. 3
3. 4
4. Variable — play continues until the inning timer expires