Professional Baseball: The Rise of Leagues and Legendary Players

Question 1

Which factor played a crucial role in the rise of professional baseball in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Establishment of organized leagues

Answer

Invention of the metal bat

Answer

Introduction of the designated hitter rule

Answer

Popularity of televised baseball games

Question 2

Which rule from the early 1900s is different from professional baseball today?

Accepted Answer

The pitcher's mound was 15 inches high.

Answer

Games were played with a smaller ball.

Answer

Batters were allowed to bunt.

Question 3

Who is widely known as the 'Father of Professional Baseball'?

Accepted Answer

Alexander Cartwright

Answer

Abner Doubleday

Answer

Henry Chadwick

Answer

Ty Cobb

Question 4

Which league was the first organized professional baseball league?

Accepted Answer

National Association

Answer

National League

Answer

American League

Answer

Federal League

Question 5

What was the scandal that rocked professional baseball in 1919 called?

Accepted Answer

Black Sox Scandal

Answer

Pete Rose Betting Scandal

Answer

Steroid Era

Answer

Shoeless Joe Scandal

Question 6

What is the name of the award given annually to the best player in Major League Baseball?

Accepted Answer

Most Valuable Player Award

Answer

Cy Young Award

Answer

Silver Slugger Award

Answer

Gold Glove Award

Question 7

Which rule change in the 1960s significantly increased scoring in baseball?

Accepted Answer

Designated Hitter

Answer

Expansion Draft

Answer

Free Agency

Answer

Instant Replay

Question 8

Which team has won the most World Series titles?

Accepted Answer

New York Yankees

Answer

Boston Red Sox

Answer

Los Angeles Dodgers

Answer

St. Louis Cardinals

Question 9

Jackie Robinson's entry into the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 was a major moment in baseball history. What was the most significant impact of his entry into the league?

Accepted Answer

Broke the unwritten rule against African Americans playing in the Major Leagues

Answer

Led to a surge in home run records

Answer

Caused several major league teams to move to the West Coast

Answer

Reduced attendance at Major League Baseball games

Question 10

Who is credited with forming the rules and structure of modern baseball, known as the 'Father of Baseball'?

Accepted Answer

Alexander Cartwright

Answer

Abner Doubleday

Answer

William H. Vanderbilt

Answer

Henry Chadwick

Question 11

Which major league was the first to be established?

Accepted Answer

National League

Answer

American League

Answer

Federal League

Answer

Union Association

Question 12

Which African American player broke the racial barrier in Major League Baseball, paving the way for integration?

Accepted Answer

Jackie Robinson

Answer

Roy Campanella

Answer

Wendell Scott

Answer

Satchel Paige

Question 13

Who was the first player to serve as a designated hitter in the American League?

Accepted Answer

Ron Blomberg

Answer

Dick Allen

Answer

Davey Johnson

Answer

Thurman Munson

Question 14

Which scandal in baseball history involved players wagering against their own team in the 1919 World Series?

Accepted Answer

Black Sox Scandal

Answer

Pete Rose Scandal

Answer

Steroid Era

Answer

Houston Astros Sign Stealing Scandal

Question 15

Which organization serves as the governing body for professional baseball in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Major League Baseball (MLB)

Answer

National Basketball Association (NBA)

Answer

National Hockey League (NHL)

Answer

National Football League (NFL)

Question 16

Which of the following is recognized as the very first professional baseball league?

Accepted Answer

National Association of Professional Base Ball Players

Answer

National League

Answer

American League

Answer

Federal League

Question 17

Who is widely regarded as the 'Father of Professional Baseball'?

Accepted Answer

Alexander Cartwright

Answer

Babe Ruth

Answer

Ty Cobb

Answer

Cap Anson

Question 18

Which legendary pitcher was known for his unique submarine pitching style?

Accepted Answer

Satchel Paige

Answer

Cy Young

Answer

Walter Johnson

Answer

Christy Mathewson

Question 19

What was the name of the famous exhibition game between the New York Giants and the New York Yankees in 1921?

Accepted Answer

The Subway Series

Answer

The World Series

Answer

The Polo Grounds Classic

Answer

The Battle of the Bronx

Question 20

Which team won the first World Series in 1903?

Accepted Answer

Boston Americans

Answer

Pittsburgh Pirates

Answer

Chicago White Sox

Answer

New York Giants

Question 21

Which professional baseball league was established first?

Accepted Answer

National League

Answer

American League

Question 22

Considered the 'Father of American Baseball', who is credited with developing the game's rules?

Accepted Answer

Alexander Cartwright

Answer

Ty Cobb

Answer

Babe Ruth

Question 23

Which event is considered the start of the modern era of baseball?

Accepted Answer

The inception of the World Series

Answer

The invention of the baseball bat

Answer

The adoption of metal cleats

Question 24

Which team has won the most World Series championships?

Accepted Answer

New York Yankees

Answer

Boston Red Sox

Answer

Los Angeles Dodgers

Question 25

What is the name of the award given to the pitcher with the best performance in each league?

Accepted Answer

Cy Young Award

Answer

Gold Glove Award

Answer

Silver Slugger Award

Question 26

Which rule in baseball prohibits a runner from advancing more than one base on a passed ball?

Accepted Answer

Infield Fly Rule

Answer

Dropped Third Strike Rule

Answer

Base Running Rule

Question 27

Which stadium is commonly known as the 'House that Ruth Built'?

Accepted Answer

Yankee Stadium

Answer

Fenway Park

Answer

Wrigley Field

Question 28

Which league, formed in 1876, marked the start of the professional baseball era in the United States?

Accepted Answer

National League

Answer

American League

Answer

Federal League

Answer

Union Association

Question 29

Who is widely recognized as the pioneer of professional baseball?

Accepted Answer

Alexander Cartwright

Answer

Abner Doubleday

Answer

Henry Chadwick

Answer

Babe Ruth

Question 30

How did the reserve clause impact professional baseball contracts?

Accepted Answer

It guaranteed that teams could retain players for multiple seasons.

Answer

It allowed unrestricted player movement between teams.

Answer

It prevented teams from acquiring players from other teams without consent.

Answer

It prohibited players from playing for more than one team per season.

Question 31

What primarily motivated the establishment of the American League as a rival to the National League?

Accepted Answer

Structural differences with the National League.

Answer

Expansion of baseball to new cities.

Answer

Labor disputes between players and management.

Answer

Implementation of the designated hitter rule.

Question 32

How did organized crime influence professional baseball?

Accepted Answer

It engaged in illegal gambling, game manipulation, and player betting.

Answer

It played no significant role.

Answer

It offered financial support to struggling teams.

Answer

It facilitated the integration of African American players into baseball.

Question 33

Which event is NOT widely considered a significant milestone in the professional baseball era?

Accepted Answer

Developing the curveball pitch.

Answer

Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.

Answer

Establishing the Hall of Fame.

Answer

Introducing night games.

Question 34

How have innovations like instant replay and pitch tracking influenced the strategies, tactics, and results of professional baseball games?

Accepted Answer

Reduced errors in umpiring and improved accuracy in pitch calling

Answer

Eliminated the need for human umpires and pitch callers

Answer

Made the game more predictable and less exciting

Answer

Had no significant impact on the game

Question 35

When Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in professional baseball in 1947, what was the initial response from within the sport?

Accepted Answer

Strong resistance and protests from some fans and players

Answer

Immediate acceptance by all teams and fans

Answer

No significant impact on the game or its culture

Answer

Immediate integration of all professional sports teams

Question 36

Who was the legendary baseball player nicknamed 'The Bambino' who had a profound impact on the sport during the professional era?

Accepted Answer

Babe Ruth

Answer

Jackie Robinson

Answer

Hank Aaron

Answer

Willie Mays

Question 37

Who is credited with forming the first professional baseball team in 1869?

Accepted Answer

Harry Wright

Answer

Alexander Cartwright

Answer

Babe Ruth

Answer

Ty Cobb

Question 38

Which league, founded in 1901, challenged the dominance of the National League?

Accepted Answer

American League

Answer

Pacific Coast League

Answer

Eastern League

Answer

Federal League

Question 39

Who was the prominent player known as the "Father of Modern Baseball"?

Accepted Answer

Cap Anson

Answer

Roger Clemens

Answer

Hank Aaron

Answer

Jackie Robinson

Question 40

Which pitcher achieved a perfect game in 1956, becoming the first pitcher to do so in over 40 years?

Accepted Answer

Don Larsen

Answer

Sandy Koufax

Answer

Cy Young

Answer

Bob Gibson

Question 41

In the first World Series, played in 1903, which team emerged victorious?

Accepted Answer

Boston Americans

Answer

Pittsburgh Pirates

Answer

New York Giants

Answer

Philadelphia Athletics

Question 42

Which statistic measures a player's ability to get on base safely?

Accepted Answer

On-base percentage (OBP)

Answer

Slugging percentage

Answer

Batting average

Answer

Wins Above Replacement (WAR)

Question 43

Throughout professional baseball history, which team holds the distinction of having won the highest number of World Series championships?

Accepted Answer

New York Yankees

Answer

St. Louis Cardinals

Answer

Los Angeles Dodgers

Answer

Boston Red Sox

Question 44

Which of the following was the first organized professional baseball league in the United States?

Accepted Answer

National League

Answer

Western League

Answer

American Association

Question 45

Who is recognized as the 'Father of Professional Baseball' for his contributions to the game's organization and development?

Accepted Answer

Harry Wright

Answer

Abner Doubleday

Answer

Alexander Cartwright

Question 46

Which technological advancement played a major role in increasing the popularity and reach of baseball during the Professional Era?

Accepted Answer

Telegraph

Answer

Television

Answer

Internet

Answer

Radio

Question 47

What was a significant factor contributing to the development of intense rivalries between baseball teams in different regions?

Accepted Answer

Geographical proximity

Answer

Similar fan demographics

Answer

Similar team strategies

Answer

Shared historical events

Question 48

Which issue was a major catalyst for the formation of the American League as a rival to the National League?

Accepted Answer

Reservation clause

Answer

Umpire bias

Answer

Unequal distribution of revenue

Question 49

Who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, paving the way for greater diversity and inclusion in the sport?

Accepted Answer

Jackie Robinson

Answer

Hank Aaron

Answer

Roberto Clemente

Answer

Willie Mays

Question 50

What was NOT a key feature of the Professional Era in baseball?

Accepted Answer

Strict amateurism

Answer

Growing popularity and commercialization

Answer

Formation of professional leagues

Answer

Emergence of famous players

Question 51

When was the first professional baseball team established?

Accepted Answer

1869

Answer

1903

Answer

1846

Answer

1884

Question 52

Who is often called the 'Father of Modern Baseball' and was the first professional player?

Accepted Answer

Alexander Cartwright

Answer

Ty Cobb

Answer

Jackie Robinson

Answer

Babe Ruth

Question 53

Which team won the very first World Series in 1903?

Accepted Answer

Boston Americans

Answer

Pittsburgh Pirates

Answer

Chicago White Sox

Answer

New York Giants

Question 54

Who played a major role in breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball?

Accepted Answer

Jackie Robinson

Answer

Roy Campanella

Answer

Willie Mays

Answer

Hank Aaron

Question 55

What technology had a big impact on baseball during the Professional Era?

Accepted Answer

Motion picture cameras

Answer

Swing analyzers

Answer

Radar guns

Answer

Helmet cages

Question 56

What was the name of the very first professional baseball league?

Accepted Answer

National League

Answer

Federal League

Answer

American League

Question 57

What did NOT help professional baseball become more popular?

Accepted Answer

Strict government rules

Answer

Lots of media coverage

Answer

Better transportation

Answer

More people having free time