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If you are a fan of sports trivia questions, these baseball trivia should be right up your alley!
They make for excellent ice breaker questions, quiz night prompts, road trip games, and more.
So, without further ado, let’s jump right into our favorite baseball trivia questions!
Contents
10 Best Baseball Trivia
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Curious to find out which questions made it to the top of our list? We won’t keep you guessing.
1. The game baseball originated from which country?
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2. In which year was the American League founded?
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Answer
1901
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The association was initially founded as a minor league called the Western League in 1893. It was renamed the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs in 1899 and declared a major league in 1901. In 1903, it was granted equal status by the National League.
3. What was specifically designed to be the size and weight of a baseball?
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The hand grenade
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It was thought that US soldiers would find baseball-shaped grenades easier to throw.
4. Which team won the first World Series?
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Boston Americans
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They played against National League champion Pittsburgh.
5. What player has the longest hitting streak in Major League history?
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Joe DiMaggio
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DiMaggio scored a 56-game hitting streak in the 1941 season while playing for the New York Yankees.
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6. What baseball player was inducted into the Hall of Fame for inventing the curveball?
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Candy Cummings
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His real name was William Arthur Cummings. In the summer of 1863, 14-year-old Cummings and a few other boys were throwing clam shells and observing their trajectory. Cummings figured it would be fun if he could make a baseball curve the same way.
7. What baseball innovation was legalized in 1884?
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Overhand pitching
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That was one of the five most significant rule changes in the history of baseball.
8. In what year did the first recorded baseball game take place?
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1791
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In the first known mention of the game, the city of Pittsfield, MA, banned people from playing baseball within 73 meters of the town meeting house.
9. Who was the first Major League player to pitch a ball over 100 mph?
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Nolan Ryan
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Ryan is among the most successful and hardest-throwing pitchers in Major League history. His legendary fastball was nicknamed the “The Ryan Express.”
10. What is the most often-stolen base?
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Second base
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Second base is the farthest from the home plate and requires a longer throw from the catcher to prevent it from being stolen.
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8 Baseball Trivia for Kids
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If you are looking for a great selection of sports trivia for kids, look no further. Our baseball trivia for kids is just the thing.
11. What does “DP” stand for?
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Answer
Double play
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A double play takes place when two offensive players are ruled out within the same play — which is why it’s also known as “a pitcher’s best friend.”
12. When a baseball pitcher has “cheese,” what does he possess?
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An overpowering fastball
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More precisely, a fastball high in the strike zone is called “high cheese,” whereas a fastball low in the zone is known as “cheese at the knees.”
13. Which umpire position is known as “the rocking chair”?
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Third base
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That nickname probably has to do with the fact that a third base umpire does not (typically) have to make as many calls as other umpires.
14. How many balls do you need to get a walk?
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4
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No more and no less.
15. Where is the “keystone sack” located on a baseball diamond?
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Second base
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As second base is essential to both scoring and defense, it plays a critical function in the game — as critical as that of the keystone of an arch.
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16. A batted ball hits the foul pole. What is the umpire’s call?
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Answer
Home run
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If the ball hits the foul pole, it is fair. And if it hits it above the wall, it is a home run!
17. What is the most popular ballpark food item?
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Hot dogs
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And these are (allegedly) the best food items at each MLB stadium. Those smothered French fries look quite appetizing!
18. Who was the first baseball player to appear on a Wheaties cereal box?
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Answer
Lou Gehrig
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In 1934, Wheaties featured Gehrig on its cereal box — a first for an athlete.
9 Easy Baseball Trivia
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All you want to do is relax, have fun, and take it easy? In that case, our easy trivia questions are your perfect match.
19. What is the “symbol” for a balk?
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BK
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A balk is called when a pitcher on the rubber makes any motion associated with his pitching delivery but does not actually deliver the ball.
20. The “tools of ignorance” refer to what?
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Catcher’s equipment
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The tools of ignorance include the catcher’s mask, chest protector, and shin guards.
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21. What does the term “twin killing” mean in baseball lingo?
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A double play
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“Twin killing” is a play on “twin billing,” which is when a movie house offers two films on the same ticket.
22. What are the only two defensive positions allowed or required to use a mitt?
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Catcher and first base
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Curiously, baseball mitts are described by the handedness of the wearer and not the hand on which they are actually worn. So, a mitt that fits on the left hand but is worn by a right-handed thrower would be referred to as a right-handed mitt.
23. What does the abbreviation “A” stand for?
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Assists
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Fielders get an assist when they touch the ball before one of their teammates manages to record a putout. That usually happens when the ball is fielded by one player and thrown to another, as with most ground balls.
24. What does “IRS” stand for in respect to baseball?
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Inherited Runners Stranded
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An inherited runner is a baserunner who is on base when a relief pitcher joins the game.
25. Why was Babe Ruth’s jersey number 3?
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He batted third
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The legendary No. 3 jersey was acquired by the Hall of Fame on June 13, 1948.
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26. What was Babe Ruth’s first name?
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George
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His full name was George Herman Ruth, Jr.
27. What nickname was used for the 1970s Cincinnati Reds?
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Big Red Machine
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The Big Red Machine dominated the National League from 1970 to 1979, averaging over 95 wins per season.
7 Funny Baseball Trivia
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Could use a good laugh? Our funny trivia questions should come in handy.
28. What player holds the career record for being hit by pitches?
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Answer
Hughie Jennings
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Shortstop Hughie Jennings was hit by a pitch a whopping 287 times in his career! In one notorious game, he was hit in the head but continued to play until the end. As soon as the match finished, Jennings collapsed and remained unconscious for three days afterward.
29. How many baseballs could Johnny Bench hold in one hand?
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30. What is the lowest recorded turnout for a Major League Baseball game?
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0
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The dismal record goes to the 2015 White Sox-Orioles game. It was the first-ever crowd less Major League game. Ten days earlier, African-American Freddie Gray had suffered critical injuries and died in police custody. His death resulted in civil unrest in Baltimore, which meant that there were not enough security resources available for the game. For security reasons, it was decided to play the game without fans attending.
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31. Which team debuted a rainbow uniform in 1975?
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Answer
Houston Astros
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The uniforms looked great. You can read the history of their making here.
32. What female pitcher once struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig?
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Jackie Mitchell
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17-year-old Jackie Mitchell pitched against the New York Yankees on April 2, 1931. She faced both Ruth and Lou Gehrig — and struck them both out, becoming the Depression era’s overnight sports sensation.
33. What player was killed by a pitch from Yankees pitcher Carl Mays?
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Ray Chapman
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To this day, that accident remains the only fatality caused by a pitch in Major League history.
34. Which pitcher had no right hand?
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Jim Abbott
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Despite being born with no hand, Jim Abbott achieved a career record of 87 wins and 108 losses.
7 Hard Baseball Trivia
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Think you can tackle our hard trivia questions? Let’s see!
35. This shortstop used to hold the Major League records for games played, assists, and double plays.
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Ozzie Smith
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Also known as “The Wizard,” Ozzie Smith ended his career with 8,375 assists and 1,590 double plays.
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36. Which team has won more World Series than any other?
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New York Yankees
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As of 2020, the Yanks hold 27 World Series titles and are the only team to win the Series at least four times in a row… twice.
37. Which team was the first to introduce salaries for its players?
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Cincinnati Red Stockings
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The salary for the entire team during the 1869 season was $11,000.
38. In which year were the Texas Rangers founded?
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1961
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At the time, the franchise was known as the Washington Senators.
39. What baseball player died on the same day as actor Christopher Reeve?
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Ken Caminiti
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Ken Caminiti died on October 10, 2004.
40. What was the original name of the Cleveland Indians?
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Grand Rapids Rustlers
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The team eventually relocated to Cleveland and was renamed the Cleveland Lake Shores.
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41. What player drew the Hebrew word “Chai” in the batter’s box before each at-bat?
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Wade Boggs
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In Hebrew, “Chai” means “life.” Boggs, however, was not Jewish — he just liked the word.
7 Random Baseball Trivia
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We are not out of baseball topics yet, but it doesn’t hurt to spice things up a bit with a bunch of random trivia questions and answers!
42. Who hired dwarf vendors on opening day at Wrigley Field in 1961?
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Answer
Bill Veeck
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St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck hired several dwarfs as vendors, reportedly due to complaints from fans about blocked sightlines.
43. Who is the rookie pitcher for the Red Sox that got injured during a game by biting himself in the butt?
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Clarence Blethen
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Clarence Blethen had false teeth and would carry them in his pocket when running the bases. Once, as he slid into second base, his false teeth took a bite out of him.
44. Which player got the nickname “The Big Unit”?
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Randall David Johnson
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During batting practice in 1988, Johnson collided head-first with an outfielder, prompting the latter to cry out, “You’re a big unit!”
45. What Baltimore Orioles manager was ejected from a record 91 games?
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Earl Weaver
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Earl Weaver was ejected a minimum of 91 times during the regular season — not to mention several more times during post-season play.
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46. Major League Baseball (MLB) was founded in which year?
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1903
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MLB is the oldest major professional sports league in both the US and Canada.
47. Which city has the oldest baseball stadium?
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Boston
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Fenway Park in Boston is the oldest MLB stadium and home of the Boston Red Sox.
48. What player was nicknamed “Mr. November”?
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Derek Jeter
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New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter scored the winning home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks just after midnight on October 31, 2001.
5 Baseball Trivia Video Game Trivia
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When it’s too cold to play or watch baseball outside, you can always stay in and play video games — and then challenge your friends and family with some tricky video game trivia.
49. Which video game offers 15 classic stadiums, 60+ legendary players, and 100 uniforms?
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MVP Baseball 2005
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The announcers in MVP Baseball 2005 are Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow, who are also real-life announcers for the San Francisco Giants.
50. This game has bowling, tennis, and baseball.
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Wii Sports
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Not to mention golf and boxing!
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51. What is the first baseball game to have licenses from both the MLB and MLB Players Association?
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World Series Baseball
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The game was originally released in 1994.
52. Who is the real-life player featured in a game released in 1994?
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Ken Griffey, Jr.
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The game is called Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball.
53. When Backyard Baseball started, it was exclusively played on what?
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Windows and Macintosh
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Later versions were compatible with Game Boy Advance, GameCube, iOS, PlayStation 2, and Wii.
6 American Baseball History Trivia
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Are you a sports history trivia buff? If that’s a yes, these baseball-themed American history trivia are for you.
54. What was the first professional baseball team?
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Cincinnati Red Stockings
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The Cincinnati Red Stockings played their first professional game on May 4, 1869.
55. What set of baseball rules was formalized in 1845?
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Knickerbocker Rules
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The Knickerbocker Rules were formalized by William H. Tucker and William R. Wheaton of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club.
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56. In what year did the first officially recorded baseball game in America take place?
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1846
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The New York Nine played against the Knickerbockers on June 19, 1846, in Hoboken, NJ.
57. What player hit 70 home runs in 1998?
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Mark McGwire
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McGwire’s 70th home run ball sold for $3 million.
58. How long was the shortest game in Major League Baseball history?
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51 minutes
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The New York Giants won against the Philadelphia Phillies 6-1.
59. Who is the only pitcher in Major League history to record both 200 wins and 150 saves?
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John Smoltz
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His nicknames included “Smoltzie” and “Marmaduke.”
Downloadable List of Baseball Facts
Here is a downloadable list of baseball facts (right-click the image and select Save Image As...):
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How to Pick the Best Baseball Trivia
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Not sure if your MLB trivia is as good as it could be?
1. Do Your Research
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A lot of baseball trivia is all about stats, figures, and dates. If you get the numbers wrong, you will come across as unprepared or simply lacking in baseball knowledge — and you won’t impress anyone. So, for best results, be sure to always do your homework and back up your claims before sharing them.
2. Know Baseball Rules Well
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You can’t get into the specifics if you’re not familiar with the general rules of the game. Many baseball trivia are situational and context-specific, requiring a good grasp of the rules and positions. Plus, if you really care about baseball, you should be able to recite the rules in your sleep.
3. Cross-Reference Your Sources
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Don’t base your trivia on the first search result that comes up in Google. The Internet is rife with so-called facts that are unsubstantiated or just plain wrong. Double-check any claim and only use reliable sources.
More Awesome Trivia Questions
How about some more awesome sports trivia questions?
- Check out our selection of NFL trivia.
- Have a look at these NBA trivia.
- Follow it up with our favorite football trivia.
In Conclusion
Whether you end up using our baseball trivia as inspiration for ice breaker questions, miscellaneous trivia questions, or sports trivia questions, we hope you have tons of fun with them!
