# Post your favorite sports trivia question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** baseball-mlb\
**Created:** [September 15, 2023, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164 "2023-09-15T14:45:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 31

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**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/601 "2026-08-28T02:43:10Z")

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LeBron James is 0-5 all-time against this player: 0-4 in the regular season and 0-1 in the playoffs.

Who is TJ Leaf?

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**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/602 "2026-09-18T18:18:13Z")

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I just heard a great one the other day:

Who are the four MLB players to record at least one career win and a 50 HR season (not necessarily in the same year)?

Babe Ruth  
Shohei Ohtani  
Jimmie Foxx  
Chris Davis

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**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/603 "2026-09-18T18:27:34Z")

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Who has the most career home runs against Paul Skenes, and how many do they have?

The Cubs’ Michael Busch, with 2.

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**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/604 "2026-09-28T15:56:25Z")

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Since the regular season has concluded, and he’s the presumptive MVP in the National League, here’s a Pete Crow-Armstrong question (according to MLB Network’s Sarah Langs:

He’s the second player to lead the league in home runs (with ties included) and have at least 40 steals in a season.

Who was the first?

Ty Cobb

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/605 "2026-10-03T18:49:57Z")

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Crow-Armstrong is only 25 next year and is the kind of player who ages well.

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**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/606 "2026-10-03T19:33:08Z")

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As a huge Cub fan, I’m ecstatic to see what he could be if he reaches his full potential.

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**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/607 "2026-10-03T22:58:10Z")

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Part 1: Since 2000, two men have won baseball’s MVP award despite never playing a major league game with the MLB team they originally signed with. Name them.

Part 2: What makes this question topical?

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**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/608 "2026-10-08T01:44:40Z")

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I have no idea.

Edit: if you’re including being drafted and signed by one franchise before making their debut with another, the Part 2 of your question is topical because Pete Crow-Armstrong would be the third.

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

This one astounded me when when I heard it, and I heard it from one of the pitchers involved, and googled it to double-check:

Over their careers, John Smoltz, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Pedro Martinez struck out over 12,000 batters combined.

How many times did Tony Gwynn strike out against those four pitchers combined?

Three. Glavine struck him out once. Smoltz got him twice.

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**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/609 "2026-10-08T01:48:42Z")

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I don’t think anyone (aside from @Superdude who recused himself) has figured this one out, so I’ll repost it.

> [@Smapti](#):
>
> What MLB team had two pitchers who were alumni of the same high school pitch perfect games, and who were they?

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**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/610 "2026-10-08T01:50:30Z")

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> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#):
>
> Since 2000, two men have won baseball’s MVP award despite never playing a major league game with the MLB team they originally signed with. Name them.

I’m clueless as well. And Google and AI are giving me conflicting answers.

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**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/611 "2026-10-08T03:21:08Z")

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Being the fan of the team I am, I’ve known this answer since the last millinium.

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**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/612 "2026-10-08T03:37:37Z")

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Well, then, stop teasing and hit me with it, brother.

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**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/613 "2026-10-08T09:48:52Z")

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Oh sorry, as the team they both played for (yes, they also both played for the same MLB team) was just eliminated from the playoffs, so I went right to bed in a depressed state. At that is, of course, the New York Yankees. The players were Don Larsen, who pitched a perfect game in the World Series in 1956 and David Wells, who pitched one in the regular season in 1998. The Yankees also won the WS that year. Larsen’s perfect game may not show up on some records listings, since it happened in the post-season. Larsen and Wells went to the same high school in San Diego decades apart.

interestingly, David Cone also pitched a perfect game the Yankees the season following Wells’ in 1999, and the Yankees also won that year. And assuming I haven’t missed some the past few years, I think these 3 are still the only teams to have won a World Series in the same season that they had a perfect game.

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**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/614 "2026-10-08T13:20:26Z")

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The New York Yankees have been swept twice in a five-game playoff series. Once was obviously in 2026. When was the other one and by which team?

1980, by the Kansas City Royals

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**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/615 "2026-10-08T13:25:02Z")

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Which team had the most 100 loss seasons in a row and identify who and when.

**Philadelphia Phillies** (5 straight: 1938–1942)

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/616 "2026-10-08T13:27:30Z")

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> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#):
>
> interestingly, David Cone also pitched a perfect game the Yankees the season following Wells’ in 1999, and the Yankees also won that year.

David Cone threw his perfect game on Yogi Berra Day at Yankee Stadium. Don Larsen threw the first pitch to Yogi before the game.

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**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/617 "2026-10-08T14:29:54Z")

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And, of course, Yogi Berra was the catcher for Larsen in 1956.

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**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/618 "2026-10-08T14:34:52Z")

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Since we’re on the topic, who is the only MLB catcher to catch 2 perfect games. For those who don’t know baseball well, for most of baseball history, catchers “call” the game, which means they signal which pitch to throw for the pitcher. So they are a big part of successful perfect games. So a catcher being the one to catch 2 perfect games (out of a total of 24 in MLB history) is pretty exceptional.

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/619 "2026-10-08T14:39:16Z")

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> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#):
>
> catchers “call” the game, which means they signal which pitch to throw for the pitcher.

With PitchCom that can change, but historically catchers have had a huge impact on successful pitcher performance.

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**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-sports-trivia-question/990164/620 "2026-10-08T15:24:54Z")

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Maybe I could have phrased the question better? @Superdude has the right idea–an MVP who never played in the majors for the team that signed him. The two answers I know of are both Joshes and probably rank among the less well-remembered of the twenty-first century MVPs:

--Josh Donaldson signed with the Cubs, played in their minor league system for a spell, then was traded to Oakland before getting in a game with Chicago. He won an MVP some time later with Toronto.

--Josh Hamilton was drafted and signed by Tampa Bay and spent several years in their system without appearing in a major league game. He eventually won an MVP with Texas.

It’s possible there’s a third I missed; if so, sorry.

Yes, Crow-Armstrong will fall into this category as well, having been signed by the Mets (for whom he never played); also the favorite for AL MVP, Yordan Alvarez, was signed by the Dodgers and never played for them either. After about a quarter century of just two (I think), we may be set to add two more.

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