Think You Could Be an MLB Umpire? Take This Quiz!

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Think You Could Be an MLB Umpire? Take This Quiz!
Image: DavidMadison/DigitalVision/gettyimages

About This Quiz

It's a hot, summer day with popcorn and a cold drink. It's the sound of bats cracking and fans cheering. It's the great American pastime. It's baseball. When we think about baseball, there are so many components that go into making the game a great experience whether it's the snacks, the players, or the fans. One critical component that is often overlooked, however, is the role of the umpires who govern the game. 

Umpires are integral to the success of a baseball game as they are responsible for sorting out what is happening on the field. They make calls, settle disputes, and are ultimately supposed to be the voice of reason and fairness for the two teams competing against one another. However, umpires are rarely ever paid any mind, unless they make a bad call, of course. Then the entire stadium is booing them for the rest of the game. Still, an umpire's role is critical for a game to run properly. 

Do you think you have what it takes to be an MLB umpire? Could you make all the right calls in the most crucial moments of the game? If you believe you can, then take this quiz and prove it! 

How many strikes until a batter is out?
Two
Three
Four
Five
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of the worst records in baseball history is the most strikeouts by a batter in a career. However, that record is held by one of the greatest players in MLB history, Reggie Jackson.

How many bases are there NOT including home plate?
Two
Three
Four
Five
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chipper Jones played third base for the Atlanta Braves throughout his entire career. Jones won the NL MVP in 1999 and was the MLB batting champion in 2008.

What's a pitch that a batter swings at but doesn't hit called?
A strike
A ball
A miss
An out
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Over the course of Nolan Ryan's 27-year career, he struck out 5,714 batters. That's an MLB record that might not ever be broken.

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Where does a batter stand to bat?
Batter's square
Batter's circle
Batter's box
On home plate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pete Rose was a ferocious switch-hitter who played professionally from 1963 until 1986. During that time, he set the MLB record for most hits in a career at 4,256.

Which defensive player is behind home plate?
The shortstop
The back baseman
The home baseman
The catcher
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Carlton Fisk, who played catcher for the Red Sox and White Sox, was unanimously named the AL Rookie of the Year in 1972. He was the first player to receive​ every vote for the award.

How many points is a score worth?
1
2
3
4
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Points in baseball are known as runs. The most runs scored in a game by a single team in the modern era of baseball is an astounding 30. This was accomplished by the Rangers against the Orioles in 2007.

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What's a pitch outside of the strike zone called?
A ball
A foul
Outsider
Off the plate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Despite his association with steroids, Barry Bonds was one of the greatest hitters in the history of the game. He was also walked more than any other player in baseball history, as he was given a free pass 2,558 times.

How many players are allowed on defense?
Five
Seven
Eight
Nine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Rawlings Gold Glove Award is given to the best fielder at each position in both the American League and the National League. No player has won the award more times than Greg Maddux, who was named a Golden Glove winner 18 times.

Where does a batter go if he's walked?
First base
Second base
Third base
Home plate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lou Gehrig played first base for the New York Yankees from 1923 until 1939. He was forced to retire because of a debilitating disease that would eventually take his life.

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How many balls until a batter walks?
Two
Three
Four
Five
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Only four players have been walked more than 2,000 times in their career. Babe Ruth was the first to achieve this mark.

Where does a player have to reach to score?
First base
Third base
Home plate
Fourth base
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rickey Henderson holds the record for runs scored in an MLB career. Henderson spent his career with several teams, but he's most known for his time with the Athletics where he was part of the World Series-winning team in 1989.

Where does a pitcher stand?
First base
Pitcher's​ mound
Home plate
The box
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

From 1966 until 1993, pitcher Nolan Ryan dominated the league from the mound. He finished his career as the all-time leader in strikeouts.

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Where does an umpire stand to call balls and strikes?
In front of home plate
To the right of home plate
To the left of home plate
Behind​ home plate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There is one certainty in baseball. Both players and coaches are going to argue with umpires over balls and strikes.

What's it called when a batter makes it to second base?
Two shot
A double
A second
Run plus one
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Throughout Jackie Robinson's MLB career with the Dodgers, he played second baseman for the team. His success with the Dodgers on the field culminated in a World Series in 1955, when the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in seven games.

What is a ball hit out of the park called?
A home run
A fly ball
A slam run
A full
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Barry Bonds hold the MLB record for home runs in a career. He finished his career with 762 home runs, seven more than Hank Aaron.

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How many foul balls can a batter hit?
Three
Four
Five
Unlimited number
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alex Cora, who played for the Dodgers, had an 18 pitch at-bat in 2004 that included 14 straight foul balls. The final pitch resulted in a home run.

What's called if a ball is hit to the outside of first base?
A ball
Out of bounds
A foul
A fair
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2018, Brandon Belt of the Giants had an at-bat that included 21 pitches, a record for modern baseball when the stat was first recorded. The at-bat took 12 minutes to complete.

How many outs does a defense need to get off the field?
Two
Three
Four
Five
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1968, the Astros and the Mets had a game that was scoreless for 23 innings. The Astros finally won the game in the 24th inning with a grounder from Bob Aspromonte.

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Where does a ball have to be thrown for it to be a strike?
The end zone
The batter's arena
The strike zone over home plate
The strike box
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pitching in Major League Baseball is a game of style. The best pitchers master their craft but are also good at a variety of pitches, from fastballs to changeups.

How many innings are in a regular game?
Six
Eight
Nine
10
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Yankees and Red Sox, two bitter rivals, played a nine-inning game in 2004 that lasted four hours and 45 minutes. That's the longest nine-inning game in baseball history.

What happens if a runner is tagged with the ball while NOT on base?
He goes back a base
He goes back to first
He goes back to bat
He's out
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stolen bases have been on the decline in baseball over the years. This is largely due to the incredible arm strength that catchers now possess.

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What happens after the 9th inning if the game is tied?
More innings
Overtime
Extra innings
Additional innings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The longest game, by innings, in MLB history took place in 1920 between the Boston Braves and Brooklyn Robins. The game lasted 26 innings and ended in a tie when the game couldn't continue because of nightfall.

Which base can a runner run past and NOT be called out?
First base
Second base
Third base
None
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Joe DiMaggio, who played center fielder for the Yankees, had a 56-game hitting streak that has still not been broken. In the modern era, no player has come close to hitting that mark.

What do you call a player who bats for a defensive player?
Lead hitter
Starting hitter
Top hitter
Designated hitter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

David Ortiz, who retired in 2016, spent most of his career as a designated hitter. Ortiz hit 541 home runs and had 1,768 runs batted in.

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How far is it from home plate to first base?
50 feet
90 feet
120 feet
150 feet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fenway Park is the oldest stadium in MLB. The stadium was built in 1912 and is the current home of the Boston Red Sox.

What base can a player steal?
First base
Second base
Third base
An uncovered base
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Billy Hamilton, who played baseball from 1888 until 1901, stole 912 bases. He was such a great base stealer, he received the nickname "Sliding Billy."

What was introduced to baseball in 2014?
Counter runs
Extra-long home runs
Instant replay
Automatic doubles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Instant replay has been controversial because of the desire by MLB to speed up the game. Tactics such as a time frame on how long replays can last​ have been implemented to help in the process.

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How many umpires are on the field during a regular season game?
One
Four
Five
Eight
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At 65 years old, Joe West is the oldest umpire in MLB. He has called six World Series. His first was in 1992.

Where does a batter who's up next stand?
Batter's circle
On-deck square
On-deck circle
Dugout
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2017, Giancarlo Stanton was the home run leader with 59 home runs. He was followed by his new Yankees' teammate Aaron Judge who had 52 home runs.

How far is it from home plate to the pitcher's mound?
60 feet 6 inches
70 feet
80 feet 2 inches
90 feet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The fastest pitch ever recorded in an MLB game was 105.1 mph. It was thrown by Aroldis Chapman in 2010 against the Padres.

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What's the head umpire called?
Lead umpire
Umpire one
Crew head
Crew chief
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bill McGowan, who umpired 4,424 games, founded the Bill McGowan School for Umpires. The school was later renamed the Wendelstedt Umpire School.

How wide is the pitcher's plate?
20 inches
24 inches
35 inches
40 inches
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tony Mullane was one of the first ambidextrous pitchers in baseball. However, he wasn't always the most accurate pitcher, throwing a record 343 wild pitches throughout his career.

What are the umpires near first and third base called?
Base umpires
Side umpires
Back umpires
Line umpires
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bill Klem, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1953, was an umpire in the early years of MLB. He officiated 18 World Series, the most all-time.

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Which is NOT reviewable?
Potential home run calls
Collisions at home plate
Fly balls in the infield
Fly balls in the outfield
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ernie Banks played in the infield, mostly at shortstop, for the Chicago Cubs. In 1960, he was the first Golden Glove winner for the Cubs.

What is the minimum distance between home plate and the center field fence?
325 feet
350 feet
400 feet
450 feet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Statcast started tracking the distance of home runs in 2015, though teams had less accurate methods of tracking home runs prior to Statcast. Since the introduction of the technology, the longest recorded home run was 504 feet, which was hit by Giancarlo Stanton in 2016.

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