Sports Trivia

Here's trivia for everyone who knows how to spell Titanic, and doesn't give a rat's ass about the price of lard in 1803.

As the thread starter, I'll define "Sports" as:

a) an athletic event or challenge during which the participant competes against one or more opponents, in accordance with a prescribed set of rules, and

b) all participants would normally perspire due to physical exertion during the activity.

Certain competitions will be excluded, subject to the following conditions:

i) If a participant would normally wear his/ her wristwatch during the event, or have a wallet, coins or keys in their pocket during competition, it's not sports.

ii) if a participant could drink alcohol or smoke during the event, it's not sports.

This rules out competitions such as lawn bowling, chess, darts, billiards, rock-paper-scissors, poker, competitive eating and curling, among others, but we'll make an exception for golf.

Question #1:

Describe a situation in baseball where a member of the fielding team can record a put out, without having possession of the ball in either hand, nor having the ball 'cradled' in some other part of their anatomy.

maurice93 said:

When a batted ball hits a runner?

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jazzpig said:

When a player is positioned closest to a player who is called out for interference.

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Correct!

Name a sport where there can be four possible team results, (win, lose, draw, tie), from the final "play".

bobistheowl said:

Name a sport where there can be four possible team results, (win, lose, draw, tie), from the final "play".

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jazzpig said:

Cricket?

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Yes, but specifically Test Cricket.

Suppose that the batting side trails by one run, with nine wickets lost.

If the batsman is dismissed, or if the non-striker is run out, the fielding side wins by one run.

If the batsman scores exactly one run, the match ends tied.

If the batsman scores two or more runs, the batting side wins by one wicket.

If the batsman successfully defends the final delivery, without scoring, the match is drawn.

Nad Smith said:

also to question 1....fan interference..happened recently in a Jays game

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Correct!

What world velocity record was set by Canadian Jason Zuback in 2007?

bobistheowl said:

What world velocity record was set by Canadian Jason Zuback in 2007?

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Pleezerwell said:

It's gotta be either golf clubhead speed or golf ball speed.

I'll guess clubhead speed.

PW

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I can't rule your answer out, but neither can I confirm it; he may well have achieved a record in both.

Per Wikipedia: , on a 2007 episode of Sport Science, Zuback hit a golf ball with a recorded speed of 328 km/h (204 mph), breaking the previous record of 302 km/hr held by José Ramón Areitio, for fastest ball speed.

In what sport did Areitio set the standard, prior to Zuback?

bobistheowl said:

I can't rule your answer out, but neither can I confirm it; he may well have achieved a record in both.

Per Wikipedia: , on a 2007 episode of Sport Science, Zuback hit a golf ball with a recorded speed of 328 km/h (204 mph), breaking the previous record of 302 km/hr held by José Ramón Areitio, for fastest ball speed.

In what sport did Areitio set the standard, prior to Zuback?

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eguapo said:

Jai Alai?

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Nicely done!

Which former Canadian resident and pancake aficionado set the record for oldest player to start, complete, and win a professional baseball game, (oldest to do so for all three criterion), at age 65, on August 23, 2012?

What famous baserunning mistake, (the name of which brings a smile to the face of one's inner eight year old), helped the Chicago Cubs win the National League Pennant, which led to their most recent World Series victory, in 1908?

bobistheowl said:

What famous baserunning mistake, (the name of which brings a smile to the face of one's inner eight year old), helped the Chicago Cubs win the National League Pennant, which led to their most recent World Series victory, in 1908?

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shack said:

The Merkel Boner.

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Correct!

On September 23, 1908, Fred Merkel, a nineteen year old rookie first baseman for the New York Giants, (and starting a game, for the first time in his career), was the runner on first base in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 1-1 game against the Cubs, with the two teams tied for first place. Team mate Moose McCormick was the runner on third base, with two men out. Shortstop Al Bridwell hit what seemed to be a walk off single, and many in attendance at The Polo Grounds stormed the field in celebration. In the pandemonium, Merkel returned to his dugout, without ever touching second base, and was eventually ruled out, on appeal. The game was suspended due to darkness, and because the score was tied, it was replayed after the end of the regular season, resulting in a Cubs' win.

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle's_Boner

The play is included in the Second Inning of Ken Burns' Baseball, in which the dramatics moments are recreated by slowly panning the camera across black and white still photographs, with narration by some famous actor.