Impossible Yankees Trivia Quiz

by Paul Semendinger

July 25, 2023

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Like so many baseball fans, I have been enjoying the Immaculate Grid on Baseball-Reference. In my spare time, I am often reading about baseball, but lately, since I am engrossed in a project about different Yankees (and Confederates) as my next book project, I have not had as much time to delve into baseball texts and such. But, the other day, I came across an old copy of the 1983 Yankees Information Guide that I had laying around.

As I read the guide, and came across some of the most obscure facts ever, I thought, "These would make some great trivia questions." I don't think that many people will get very many of these correct. In fact, I don't think many people will get any of these questions correct. These questions are so difficult, I deem this quiz as impossible to pass. To make it even more difficult, you'll need to get 15 correct (75%) to pass the quiz, but I suspect most will get fewer than 5 correct answers. It's simply too impossible.

Give it a try and let us know your score in the comments - but no cheating. You have to know these yourself without looking up the answers. (I'm also not fact checking any of these. The questions come directly from what is printed as fact in the 1983 Information Guide. )

For questions with more than one answer, you need to get all of the players correct to earn any points for that question. It's all or nothing. (I said this was an impossible quiz.)

The answers are below the quiz, but don't look at them until you have finished the entire quiz.

SCORING:

15 correct is 75% - that is the mark you must earn to pass

Good luck. (You'll need it.)

The Impossible Yankees Trivia Quiz

1. What Yankee had six hits in a game on June 6, 1934?

2. Name the Yankees who had four doubles in one game. (A hint - one did it in 1944, the other in 1974.)

3. This Yankee had three triples in a game on August 30, 1906. Who is it?

4. The 1982 Yankees set an A.L. record in this pitching category in 1982. What record was set?

5. Name the five different left-handed pitchers who won at least one game for the 1980 Yankees.

6. Who was the first Yankees outfielder to lead the league in fielding?

7. Who hit the only inside-the-park home run for the Yankees in 1982?

8. Name the three players who hit inside-the-park homers against the Yankees in 1982.

9. Who was the only Yankee to hit more than one grand slam in 1982?

10. Name the four Yankees pitchers who hit grand slam home runs.

11. What future Hall of Famer once wore uniform #3 in Spring Training (after Babe Ruth)?

12. Through the 1982 season, only three players whose last name begins with the letter Y played for the Yankees. Name them.

13. What pitcher one-hit the Yankees in 1979?

14. How many singles did Joe DiMaggio have during his 56-game hitting streak?

15. What player pinch-hit for Babe Ruth on August 9, 1925?

16. What former Yankee played for the Yankees, Twins, Reds, Indians, A's, and Tigers?

17. What free agent did the Yankees sign on December 15, 1982?

18. What is Doyle Alexander's middle name?

19. Who was the Yankees' #1 draft choice in 1976?

20. Through the 1982 season, how many games did the Yankees win by forfeit in their entire history?

DO NOT LOOK BELOW UNTIL YOU HAVE FINISHED THE QUIZ!

DO NOT LOOK BELOW UNTIL YOU HAVE FINISHED THE QUIZ!

DO NOT LOOK BELOW UNTIL YOU HAVE FINISHED THE QUIZ!

DO NOT LOOK BELOW UNTIL YOU HAVE FINISHED THE QUIZ!

DO NOT LOOK BELOW UNTIL YOU HAVE FINISHED THE QUIZ!

ANSWERS:

1. Myrl Hoag

2. Johnny Lindell and Jim Mason

3. Hal Chase

4. Most balks in a season (15)

5. Tommy John, Ron Guidry, Rudy May, Tom Underwood, and Tim Lollar

6. Birdie Cree (1913)

7. Dave Collins

8. Willie Wilson, Hal McRae, and Tom Brunansky

9. Roy Smalley

10. Red Ruffing, Spud Chandler, Don Larsen, and Mel Stottlemyre

11. Joe Medwick

12. Joe Yeager (1905-6), Jim York (1976), Ralph Young (1913)

13. Nolan Ryan

14. 56

15. Bobby Veach

16. Billy Martin

17. Bob Shirley

18. Lafayette

19. Pat Tabler

20. Four