Baseball Trivia to Stump Your Friends

Baseball lends itself to those who indulge in trivia, as the endless statistics that those who play the game compile provides fertile ground for one question after another. If you would like to stump that pal of yours who believes he or she knows everything there is to about the nation's pastime, ask him some of these baseball trivia questions, and you will find out just how good he or she is. The answers to the following questions can be found in the book "Curveballs and Screwballs", written by Jeffrey and Doug Lyons. They can also be found on the Baseball Reference Web site at http://www.baseball-reference.com/o/ottme01.shtml, but they are by no means easily researched.

For instance, who was the first man to represent four different teams in the All-Star Game? It was Rich Gossage, as the "Goose" made it as a pitcher with the White Sox in 1975, the Pirates in 1977, as a Yankee in 1978, and finally with the Padres in 1984!

Who committed the first All-Star Game error? That would be none other than the immortal Lou Gehrig, who dropped a foul pop fly in the 1933 version, the first All-Star Game held. What two players comprised the first pitcher-catcher combo with last names beginning with the letter Q? The Royals' Dan Quisenberry threw in relief to catcher Jamie Quirk in an April contest in 1980 to pull off this feat. Who was the first player to belt no less than 20 home runs and steal at least 50 bases in back-to-back campaigns? Cesar Cedeno of the Astros is the answer; he did it in 1972 and 1973.

Make sure your buddy that you are attempting to stump is not a Mets or Astros fan when you ask him who was the first player from a losing squad to be named MVP in a National League Championship Series, as he might recall how hurler Mike Scott of Houston baffled the Metropolitans in 1986, despite New York winning the series in 6 exciting contests. Don't bother asking him any other questions if he can tell you the significance of August 9th, 1946 in Major League Baseball history. That was the first time that every game scheduled for that date was played at night. If he knows that one, he is too good.

The name of Kenny Keltner is remembered, as his fine plays at third base for the Indians helped put an end to Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak in 1941. But if you were to ask what he did that no player has done since, on June 14th of 1949, I doubt anyone could tell you that he was the last player to be used as a "courtesy runner" in a Major League Baseball game. Lou Boudreau had been hit on the elbow with a pitch, and Keltner came in to run for him, but Boudreau returned to the field in the next inning after recovering.

Who was the first player to bat on television? It was Billy Werber of the Reds, who led off in the first televised game, on August 26th, 1939. Who was the last batter to face Sandy Koufax in a big league affair? The Orioles Davey Johnson was that man, in the fourth game of the 1966 World Series. Finally, who was the first and only man to allow a pinch-hit grand slam and hit one of his own? Early Wynn, a Hall of Fame pitcher, who clobbered a pinch-hit homer with the bags full in 1946 for Washington and 15 years later gave up a pinch-hit slam to the Yankees Bob Cerv while throwing for the White Sox! If your friend can answer even a couple of these toughies, then simply bow down to him and move on.

Sources:

"Curveballs and Screwballs" written by Jeffrey Lyons and Douglas Lyons copyright 2001

http://www.baseball-reference.com/o/ottme01.shtml