Baseball is America’s pastime and has a rich history full of interesting stories, facts, and trivia. Baseball fans love to challenge each other with brain teasers and riddles that test their knowledge of the game. Below are 63 riddles about baseball that will get the wheels spinning for any baseball enthusiast. The answers follow each riddle – no peeking ahead!
Baseball Riddles
1. What has 18 legs and catches flies?
Answer: A baseball team.
2. What kind of bat doesn’t need a baseball?
Answer: A vampire bat.
3. What do you call a baseball player with a rubber toe?
Answer: Roberto.
4. What position was abbreviated as “SS” before it was called shortstop?
Answer: Short fielder
5. What baseball playing siblings’s last name is synonymous with excellence?
Answer: The DiMaggios (Joe, Dom and Vince)
6. What was the original name of the Atlanta Braves?
Answer: Boston Braves
7. What is the term for a batter who substitutes for another batter?
Answer: Pinch hitter
8. What is the name of the fictional character who said “If you build it, he will come”?
Answer: Ray Kinsella from Field of Dreams
9. What was extraordinary about Johnny Vander Meer’s back-to-back no-hitters in 1938?
Answer: No pitcher has ever thrown three no-hitters in a row
10. How many stitches are there on a baseball?
Answer: 108
11. What player holds the record for the longest hitting streak in MLB history?
Answer: Joe DiMaggio
12. What Hall of Fame third baseman was nicknamed “The Human Vacuum Cleaner”?
Answer: Brooks Robinson
13. What Pittsburgh outfielder once said, “They give you a round bat and they throw you a round ball and they tell you to hit it square”?
Answer: Willie Stargell
14. What active MLB player has made the most opening day starts at shortstop?
Answer: Elvis Andrus
15. What player co-holds the record for most home runs hit by a rookie, with 49?
Answer: Aaron Judge
16. Who was the first African American player to break the color barrier in American baseball’s major leagues when he started for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947?
Answer: Jackie Robinson
17. Which Hall of Fame pitcher was known for his intimidating fastball called “The Express”?
Answer: Nolan Ryan
18. What is the term for a ball that is hit high in the air and caught for an out?
Answer: Pop fly or pop up
19. What player was nicknamed “Charlie Hustle” for his aggressive and hard-nosed play?
Answer: Pete Rose
20. What team did Babe Ruth play for before being traded to the Yankees in 1920?
Answer: Boston Red Sox
21. What future Hall of Fame catcher made his MLB debut in 1969 at the age of 19 and played for the Kansas City Royals?
Answer: Iván Rodríguez
22. What is the oldest existing Major League Baseball team?
Answer: Atlanta Braves (established 1871 as the Boston Red Stockings)
23. What pitcher holds the record for most career wins, with 511?
Answer: Cy Young
24. What is the term for successfully hitting the ball and safely reaching all four bases to score a run?
Answer: Hitting for the cycle
25. Who did Babe Ruth hit his famous “Called Shot” home run against in the 1932 World Series?
Answer: Chicago Cubs
26. What city hosted the first night game in Major League history in 1935?
Answer: Cincinnati
27. What future Hall of Fame third baseman made his MLB debut in 1978 playing for the Royals, and is now a beloved national broadcaster?
Answer: George Brett
28. What pitcher holds the record for most strikeouts in an MLB career?
Answer: Nolan Ryan
29. What Baseball Hall of Famer’s number 3 was the first number retired by the New York Yankees?
Answer: Babe Ruth
30. What venue hosted the first MLB All Star Game in 1933?
Answer: Comiskey Park
More Baseball Brain Teasers
31. I’m a bird that catchers try to avoid. What am I?
Answer: A swallow.
32. You’ll find me on the mound, though I don’t make a sound. Throw me and I’ll spin around and around. What am I?
Answer: A baseball.
33. I’m an outcome players always try to prevent. I occur when runners are stranded on base. What am I?
Answer: A shutout.
34. I circle 90 feet between places where players wait. Run to me before the other team can get you out. What am I?
Answer: A base.
35. I’m the name of the area beyond the outfield fence. Hit a ball over me and you’ll score big for your team. What am I?
Answer: The bleachers or outfield stands.
36. I’m the thing that tells an umpire a pitch was in the zone. Swing at me and you just might hit a home run. What am I?
Answer: A strike.
37. I’m the catcher’s best friend, help him call every pitch. Frame me just right and the ump won’t twitch. What am I?
Answer: The strike zone.
38. I’m the name for hitting a ball that cannot be fielded. Do it with bases loaded and your team’s surely sealed the deal. What am I?
Answer: A grand slam.
39. I’m a hopeful hit that makes the crowds rise. Send me to the stands and you’ll score a run sometimes. What am I?
Answer: A sacrifice fly.
40. I’m a tactic the defense employs, in hopes runners can’t score. I involve multiple throws – do me fast and cover all the bases! What am I?
Answer: A double play.
41. I’m the prized possession you earn with a hit up the creek. March your way around and plant me firmly on the peak. What am I?
Answer: The pennant.
42. I’m the name for four hits scored in just one play. Clear the diamond with me in one powerful swing. What am I?
Answer: A home run.
43. I’m a mishap that lets a runner advance. Missed catch? Wild pitch? Either way I give your team a chance. What am I?
Answer: An error.
44. I’m the act of preventing a double before it starts. Catch that long fly in mid air – show off your defensive arts. What am I?
Answer: An outfield assist.
45. I’m the prize given to the best player each year. Win one of me and it’s clear you’ve got skill, talent and flair. What am I?
Answer: The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Riddles for Serious Baseball Fans
46. Poor Joba couldn’t throw me, which led to a hurt knee and cortisone shots. Derek Jeter warned that I better not come inside, or Joba’s retaliation would sting a lot. What am I?
Answer: A midge (bug).
47. I’m a tactic frowned upon by traditionalists but utilized often by teams. I involve the skipper going to his closer before the game is close to done. What am I?
Answer: The closer pitching in the 8th inning.
48. I’m a prank star Dodgers players once pulled, leading umpires to throw the book. I was a fake rookie named Sidd Finch who could throw 168 miles per hour. What was I?
Answer: An April Fools Day hoax.
49. Armando Galarraga should have pitched me, but an umpire’s miss took that away. 28 batters down on 82 pitches – the “Almost Perfect Game” is what some still call it today. What am I?
Answer: A perfect game.
50. I’m sometimes shouted by a manager to argue a call. Throw me out, ump, if you dare at all! What am I?
Answer: “You’re missing a good game!”
51. I’m the player Billy Chapel strived so hard to pitch. He fought through pain while I eluded his every wish. Who am I?
Answer: A no-hitter (in the movie For Love of the Game)
52. Supposedly I was the reason for the famous spitball ban. Loading me up made Ray Chapman the hit-by-pitch man. What am I?
Answer: A baseball.
53. I’m the speedster traded for baby Babe Ruth back in the day. Won 3 World Series in Boston while the Colossus went on to hit 714 homers in pinstripes of gray. Who am I?
Answer: Harry Hooper
54. Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris competed to break my record in 1961. Maris bested the Babe with 61 – though a 162-game season helped his chase. Whose record did they break?
Answer: Babe Ruth’s record of 60 home runs in a season.
55. Don Larsen threw me in game 5 of the ’56 series, retiring 27 straight with no hits, walks or errors on the board. Yogi Berra jumped into his arms – it was the only perfect game pitched in the World Series! What was I?
Answer: A perfect game.
More Brain Busting Baseball Riddles
56. I’m a famous curse plaguing fans of a losing team. Some blame a goat, some blame Bartman, either way it’s heartbreak they routinely seem. What am I?
Answer: The Curse of the Billy Goat
57. You’ll find me on the lineup card, batting between the shortstop and left field. With my mask and gear I’m ready to take the wheel. Who am I?
Answer: The catcher.
58. I’ve retired for good, so spotting me now is rare. Come October you might spy me if the teams make it there. Legends like Mantle and Jackson put me to use without care. What am I?
Answer: A black batting helmet worn during World Series play.
59. I’m the name of the brave one who broke the color line. Faced taunts and threats as the first black player, which was no life of ease. Who am I?
Answer: Jackie Robinson.
60. When I come out of the bullpen, fans know it’s time for the end. No more scoring now that I’m here – the other team’s hopes I will send. Who am I?
Answer: The closer.
61. You’ll find me on the lineup card between the third and fourth hitter. With my first baseman’s mitt, I guard the infield dirt like no other. Who am I?
Answer: The first baseman.
62. I’m the term for a ball hit so high it seems lost from view. Circle the bases, look toward the clouds, and hope I make it over too. What am I?
Answer: A moonshot.
63. When I was called safe after crossing the plate, it was a historic run that many still relate. Breaking the color barrier took courage and grace – for that Jackie Robinson I’ll always embrace. What was I?
Answer: Jackie Robinson’s first major league run.
Conclusion
Baseball has a rich history full of colorful characters, legendary achievements and dramatic moments. These riddles cover baseball trivia, records, player nicknames, memorable games and more. How many did you know off the top of your head? Even the biggest baseball fans surely learned a new fact or two! Baseball fans young and old will enjoy challenging their friends and family with these brain teasers. So grab a bat, ball and glove and get quizzing!
