I’ve been a bit of a trivia junkie my whole life, but there’s something special about baseball trivia that just gets me going. Maybe it’s the rich history, the legendary players, or those quirky stats that make this sport so fascinating.
I remember sitting with my dad during a rain delay at a Tigers game years ago, and we started asking each other baseball questions to pass the time. Before we knew it, the whole section was chiming in with answers and laughing at the wild stories that came out. That’s when I realized baseball trivia isn’t just about knowing facts – it’s about sharing the love of the game with others.
Whether you’re planning a family game night, looking for something fun to do during those long commercial breaks, or just want to see how much you really know about America’s pastime, I’ve got you covered. I’ve put together 100+ questions that’ll challenge everyone from casual fans to die-hard baseball buffs. Trust me, some of these might surprise you!
Baseball History Trivia
Let’s start with some good old-fashioned baseball history! These questions cover everything from the early days of the sport to some of the most iconic moments that shaped the game we love today.
- When was the first official baseball game played?
Answer: June 19, 1846 (between the New York Nine and Knickerbockers) - Who is credited with inventing baseball?
Answer: While often attributed to Abner Doubleday, baseball actually evolved from earlier games – no single person invented it - What year was the first World Series played?
Answer: 1903 - Which team won the first World Series?
Answer: Boston Red Sox (then called the Boston Americans) - When did Jackie Robinson break baseball’s color barrier?
Answer: April 15, 1947 - What was the original name of the New York Yankees?
Answer: The New York Highlanders (1903-1912) - In what year was the National League founded?
Answer: 1876 - When was the American League established?
Answer: 1901 - Who was baseball’s first commissioner?
Answer: Kenesaw Mountain Landis (1920) - What year was the designated hitter rule implemented in the American League?
Answer: 1973 - When was the last time a player hit .400 or better for a season?
Answer: 1941 (Ted Williams hit .406) - What was the name of the first enclosed baseball stadium?
Answer: Union Grounds in Brooklyn (1862) - When did Major League Baseball expand to 30 teams?
Answer: 1998 (with the addition of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays) - What year was the Baseball Hall of Fame established?
Answer: 1936 - Who threw the first perfect game in MLB history?
Answer: Cy Young (1904)
Want to dive deeper into historical topics? Our deep topics to talk about collection has some fascinating conversation starters.
Famous Players and Records
This is where things get really exciting! These questions cover some of the greatest players to ever step on the diamond and the records that still amaze us today.
- Who holds the record for most career home runs?
Answer: Barry Bonds (762) - Who has the most career hits in MLB history?
Answer: Pete Rose (4,256) - Which pitcher has the most career strikeouts?
Answer: Nolan Ryan (5,714) - Who is the only player to have his number retired by all 30 MLB teams?
Answer: Jackie Robinson (#42) - What is the record for most stolen bases in a single season?
Answer: Rickey Henderson (130 in 1982) - Who hit the most home runs in a single season before steroids became an issue?
Answer: Roger Maris (61 in 1961) - Which player has the highest career batting average?
Answer: Ty Cobb (.366) - Who was the youngest player to hit 500 home runs?
Answer: Alex Rodriguez (32 years old) - Which pitcher has the most career wins?
Answer: Cy Young (511) - Who holds the record for most RBIs in a single season?
Answer: Hack Wilson (191 in 1930) - What is the record for most consecutive games with a hit?
Answer: Joe DiMaggio (56 games in 1941) - Who was the first player to hit 60 home runs in a season?
Answer: Babe Ruth (1927) - Which player has played for the most teams in MLB history?
Answer: Octavio Dotel (13 teams) - Who is the only pitcher to throw two no-hitters in the same season?
Answer: Johnny Vander Meer (1938) - What is the record for most grand slams in a single season?
Answer: Don Mattingly (1987) – tied by Travis Hafner (2006)
Looking for more sports-related questions? Check out our sports trivia questions collection!
World Series Questions
The Fall Classic is the pinnacle of baseball, and these questions cover some of the most memorable moments in World Series history.
- Which team has won the most World Series titles?
Answer: New York Yankees (27) - What is the only team to win back-to-back World Series three times?
Answer: New York Yankees (1936-39, 1949-53, 1998-2000) - Who was the MVP of the 2016 World Series?
Answer: Ben Zobrist (Chicago Cubs) - Which team came back from a 3-0 deficit to win a World Series?
Answer: Boston Red Sox (2004) - What year did the Chicago Cubs end their 108-year championship drought?
Answer: 2016 - Who hit the famous “walk-off” home run to win the 1993 World Series?
Answer: Joe Carter (Toronto Blue Jays) - Which team won their first World Series in 2020?
Answer: Los Angeles Dodgers (their first since 1988) - What is the longest game in World Series history by innings?
Answer: Game 3, 2018 (Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Dodgers – 18 innings) - Who pitched a perfect game in the World Series?
Answer: Don Larsen (1956, Game 5) - Which team has appeared in the most World Series without winning one?
Answer: San Diego Padres (2 appearances, 0 wins) - What year was the last time the World Series was canceled?
Answer: 1994 (due to the players’ strike) - Who has the most World Series home runs in history?
Answer: Mickey Mantle (18) - Which team swept the Yankees in the 2012 ALCS to reach the World Series?
Answer: Detroit Tigers - What is the record for most strikeouts by a pitcher in a single World Series game?
Answer: 17 (Bob Gibson, 1968) - Which team won the World Series in their very first season?
Answer: Florida Marlins (1997)
Team-Specific Trivia
Every team has its own unique history, traditions, and quirks. Let’s see how well you know the individual teams!
- What is the oldest ballpark still in use in MLB?
Answer: Fenway Park (opened 1912) - Which team is known as “The Amazin’s”?
Answer: New York Mets - What is the name of the Green Monster?
Answer: The left field wall at Fenway Park - Which team has a goat curse?
Answer: Chicago Cubs (broken in 2016) - What do the Atlanta Braves fans do during games?
Answer: The Tomahawk Chop - Which team plays at Coors Field?
Answer: Colorado Rockies - What is the nickname for the New York Yankees’ home field?
Answer: The House That Ruth Built (now The New Yankee Stadium) - Which team’s mascot is the Phillie Phanatic?
Answer: Philadelphia Phillies - What team plays their home games in Tropicana Field?
Answer: Tampa Bay Rays - Which team was originally known as the Expos?
Answer: Washington Nationals - What is the name of the Mets’ mascot?
Answer: Mr. Met - Which team plays at Angel Stadium?
Answer: Los Angeles Angels - What team is known for their “Curse of the Bambino”?
Answer: Boston Red Sox (ended in 2004) - Which team’s stadium features the Pesky Pole?
Answer: Boston Red Sox (Fenway Park) - What team was the last to integrate African American players?
Answer: Boston Red Sox (1959)
For more fun team-related conversation starters, check out our conversation starters for texting guide!
Rules and Regulations
Think you know the rules of baseball? These questions might be trickier than you think!
- How many innings are in a regulation baseball game?
Answer: 9 innings - What happens if a batter hits a foul ball on the third strike?
Answer: The batter is only out if the foul ball is caught by a fielder - How many outs are there in each half-inning?
Answer: 3 outs - What is the minimum number of batters a starting pitcher must face?
Answer: 3 batters (as of 2020) - When was the pitch clock introduced in MLB?
Answer: 2023 season - How many seconds does a pitcher have with the bases empty?
Answer: 15 seconds (as of 2023) - What happens if a game is tied after 9 innings?
Answer: Extra innings are played until one team has a lead at the end of a complete inning - Can a designated hitter bat for any position player?
Answer: No, only for the pitcher in American League (now both leagues as of 2022) - What is the minimum roster size for an MLB team?
Answer: 26 players - Can a pitcher throw to first base multiple times in one at-bat?
Answer: Yes, but there are limits (maximum of 2 disengagements per plate appearance as of 2023) - Is there a mercy rule in MLB regular season games?
Answer: No - How many mound visits are allowed per team per game?
Answer: 5 mound visits (as of 2023) - Can a runner steal a base during a walk?
Answer: No, not during the actual walk - What is the infield fly rule?
Answer: An automatic out when an infielder can easily catch a pop fly with runners on first and second (or bases loaded) and less than two outs - Can a game be called a forfeit?
Answer: Yes, under certain circumstances such as team misconduct or field conditions
Ballpark and Stadium Questions
Every ballpark has its own personality and quirks. Let’s test your knowledge of these cathedral-like venues!
- Which stadium is known for its ivy-covered outfield walls?
Answer: Wrigley Field - What is the shortest outfield wall in baseball?
Answer: Fenway Park’s left field wall (310 feet) - Which stadium features a 200-foot tall Ferris wheel?
Answer: Minute Maid Park (Houston Astros) - What ballpark has a swimming pool beyond the outfield fence?
Answer: Chase Field (Arizona Diamondbacks) – though it’s been removed - Which stadium is built near a real steel mill?
Answer: Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers) - What ballpark features a manual scoreboard?
Answer: Wrigley Field - Which stadium has the largest foul territory?
Answer: Oakland Coliseum - What is the highest elevation ballpark in MLB?
Answer: Coors Field (Denver, Colorado) - Which stadium features a train on the tracks?
Answer: Minute Maid Park (Houston Astros) - What ballpark has a Ruthian home run seat painted red?
Answer: Briggs Stadium/Tiger Stadium (Detroit) - Which stadium is known for its “Kauffman Stadium Fountains”?
Answer: Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City Royals) - What ballpark features a bobblehead museum?
Answer: Marlins Park (Miami Marlins) - Which stadium has the deepest outfield?
Answer: Kauffman Stadium (410 feet to center) - What ballpark features a giant glove and ball sculpture?
Answer: Miller Park/American Family Field (Milwaukee Brewers) - Which stadium was the first to have a retractable roof?
Answer: Rogers Centre (Toronto Blue Jays)
Modern Era Baseball
Let’s bring things up to the present day with some questions about recent baseball happenings!
- Who hit the most home runs in the 2023 season?
Answer: Matt Olson (54) - Which team won the 2023 World Series?
Answer: Texas Rangers - Who was the NL MVP in 2023?
Answer: Ronald Acuña Jr. - What rule change was implemented in 2023 to speed up games?
Answer: The pitch clock - Who threw the first pitch clock violation in MLB history?
Answer: Cal Conley (Seattle Mariners) in spring training 2023 - Which player signed the largest contract in baseball history?
Answer: Shohei Ohtani ($700 million with the Dodgers) - Who is the current commissioner of MLB?
Answer: Rob Manfred - Which team has the longest current playoff drought?
Answer: Seattle Mariners (last made playoffs in 2001) - What is the newest team in MLB?
Answer: Miami Marlins (1993) - Who was the 2022 World Series MVP?
Answer: Jeremy Peña (Houston Astros)
Want more modern trivia questions? Check out our interesting questions to ask a guy or interesting questions to ask a girl for great conversation starters!
Fun and Random Baseball Facts
Here are some quirky, fun facts that’ll make you the hit of any baseball conversation!
- What is the longest game in MLB history by time?
Answer: 8 hours and 6 minutes (Red Sox vs Yankees, 2006) - Who was the tallest player in MLB history?
Answer: Jon Rauch (6’11”) - What player once requested to wear #00?
Answer: Jeffrey Leonard - Which stadium served hot dogs with chili, cheese, and onions as the signature dish?
Answer: Fenway Park (Fenway Franks) - What is the official weight of a regulation baseball?
Answer: 5-5.25 ounces - Who was the first Japanese player to join the MLB?
Answer: Masanori Murakami (1964) - What player hit home runs in 8 consecutive games?
Answer: Ken Griffey Jr. (1993) – tied with Dale Long (1956) - Which player has been hit by a pitch the most times in history?
Answer: Hughie Jennings (287 times) - What is the fastest recorded pitch in MLB history?
Answer: 105.8 mph by Aroldis Chapman - Who was the first player to hit a home run in an All-Star Game?
Answer: Babe Ruth (1933)
Why Baseball Trivia is the Perfect Game-Time Activity {#why-baseball-trivia}
You know what’s great about baseball trivia? It’s the perfect mix of entertainment and education – kind of like sneaking vegetables into a kid’s favorite dish, but way more fun! I don’t know about you, but I find that throwing out a good trivia question during a slow inning can really get everyone engaged and talking.
My family uses these questions all the time during our backyard barbecues. Last summer, my nephew stumped everyone with a question about the longest baseball game in history (spoiler alert: it’s in here somewhere!). It’s amazing how these little facts can spark conversations that last for hours.
Plus, let’s be honest – baseball has downtime. Unlike basketball or football where the action is pretty constant, baseball gives you these perfect moments to chat, think, and share knowledge. That’s what makes trivia such a natural fit for the sport.
For more conversation starters that work great during sports watching, check out our interesting topics to talk about guide.
Final Thoughts
Whew! That was quite a journey through baseball history, wasn’t it? I hope you enjoyed testing your baseball knowledge as much as I enjoyed putting these questions together. Whether you aced most of them or learned something new (like I did while researching a few of these!), the real fun is in sharing these questions with other baseball fans.
Did you know all the answers? I bet there were a few that surprised even the biggest baseball buffs! That’s the beauty of this sport – there’s always something new to learn, from the tiniest statistical oddity to the grandest historical moment.
Why not use these at your next watch party, family gathering, or even during those long stretches of a pitcher’s duel? They’re perfect for breaking the ice with fellow fans at the ballpark too. Trust me, I’ve seen how a good trivia question can turn strangers in bleacher seats into instant friends.
Want more conversation starters for different occasions? Check out our first date questions or questions to ask your best friends – perfect for when you want to move beyond baseball but keep the good conversations going!
Thanks for playing along, and remember – the next time someone tells you they know everything about baseball, you’ve got a whole arsenal of questions to test them with. Play ball!