A Striking No-Hitter Quiz

It’s July, the weather is beautiful and my Oakland Athletics are right in the heart of the an amazingly mediocre season. You know, maybe it’s time for me to switch allegiances to the Giants. Hold on, let me check the standings. OK, never mind.

Let’s put the unremarkable play of our local heroes aside for a moment but stay with the subject of baseball again tonight. Howsa ‘bout if we have a little fun by testing your knowledge of the no-hitter? Batter up!

  1. On average about how many no-hitters are thrown during a season?

a. 1

b. 2

c. 3

d. 4

  1. What was noteworthy about the no-hitters thrown by Dave Stewart and Fernando Valenzuela?

a.Both were thrown on the same day.

b.Both pitchers were over 40 years old.

c.Both pitchers hit home runs in the game

d.Both pitchers lost the game

  1. How many no-hitters have been thrown in Major League history?

a. 34

b. 128

c. 234

d. over 500

  1. How many pitchers have thrown more than one no-hitter?

a. none

b. 5

c. 15

d. 25

  1. What makes Johnny Vander Meer unique in baseball history?

a. He threw a 14 inning no-hitter.

b. He threw back-to-back no-hitters.

c. He pitched two no-hitters and lost them both.

d. He threw a no-hitter as a teenager.

  1. How many perfect games have been thrown in Major League history?

a. 6

b. 17

c. 44

d. Over 100

  1. Nolan Ryan pitched seven no-hitters. Who has the next most with four?

a. Steve Carlton

b. Tom Seaver

c. Cy Young

d. Sandy Koufax

  1. What makes Don Larsen unique in baseball history?

a. He threw the only World Series no-hitter.

b. He threw the only World Series perfect game.

c. He threw the only post-season no-hitter.

d. All of the above.

  1. What was unique about Bob Feller’s 1940 no-hitter?

a. It was the last game Feller ever started.

b. It was on opening day.

c. He didn’t strike anybody out.

d. He went five-for-five at the plate.

  1. What was unique about Bobo Holloman’s 1953 no-hitter?

a. It was his first major league start.

b. It was one of only three career wins he would have.

c. A few months after pitching it he was out of major league baseball forever.

d. All of the above.

ANSWERS:

  1. On average about 2 no-hitters are thrown each season. What’s so rare about that, you whine? Well, about 160,000 babies are born each day and we still refer to the little bastards as miracles, right?
  2. Both of these no-hitters were pitched on the same day, that day being June 29th, 1990. Two no-hitters were also thrown on the same day way back in 1898.
  3. There have been 234 official no-hitters thrown in Major League history. And don’t make me remind you aboutall those damn babies again.
  4. 25 pitchers have thrown more than one no-hitter.
  5. One of them was Johnny “Double No-Hit” Vander Meer, who threw his no-hitters back-to-back. This question is a gimme for any true baseball fan, and if you got it wrong my friend Greg would tell you to “Go put on a skirt!”
  6. There have been 17 perfect games thrown in Major League history. Did I ever tell you about the time I almost saw Tom Seaver throw one? He lost it in the ninth because somebody named Jimmy Qualls got a hit. I’ll never forget that punk’s name. Never.
  7. Sandy Koufax pitched four no-hitters in his abbreviated career. Ryan pitched for 27 seasons and also threw 12 one-hitters.
  8. Don Larsen threw the only no-hitter in a World Series. It was also a perfect game and the only post-season no-hitter. Yeah, Chump, that makes it All of the Above. And every real baseball fan knows this one too. Better pick out a blouse to go with that skirt, eh Greg?
  9. Feller’s no-hitter was pitched on Opening Day. You guessed (d) didn’t you? God, I’m so tricky.
  10. If you have been reading my column as religiously as you should you would know that Bobo Holloman pitched a no-hitter in his first start, only got two more wins, and was out of the majors before the season ended. That’s if you have been reading my column religiously.