Can you pass this international baseball quiz?

by Zach Pontz  |  Friday, March 10, 2017

by Zach Pontz
Friday, March 10, 2017

David Ortiz is one of many foreign players to have a successful career in the Major Leagues.
Photo: Jim Rogash / Getty Images

In honor of the World Baseball Classic, see how much you know about the game's history beyond U.S. shores.

Photo: Jim Rogash / Getty Images
Dodgers in Syndey
Photo: Matt King / Getty Images

Question 1 of 13 Score: 0

The first official Major League Baseball season opener to be played outside of the United States took place in what country?

The Arizona Diamondbacks played the Los Angeles Dodgers at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Australia, on March 22-23, 2014.

Photo: Matt King / Getty Images
Fernando Valenzuela pitching for the Dodgers
Photo: Rick Stewart/Getty Images

Question 2 of 13 Score: 0

In 1981, in what came to be known as “Fernandomania," Fernando Valenzuela rose from relative obscurity to achieve MLB superstardom. What country was he from?

Valenzuela began the 1981 season winning his first eight games (five of which were shutouts). He was named National Rookie of the Year and the NL Cy Young award winner.

Photo: Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Netherlands' catcher Dashenko Ricardo and pitcher Loek Van Mil
Photo: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images

Question 3 of 13 Score: 0

The tallest professional baseball player in the world is Loek van Mil. How tall is he?

Van Mil has remained a consistent presence on the Netherlands national baseball team, though his professional career has been a bit more erratic. He's played for several Major League organizations and in Japan.

Photo: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images
Scott Burcham hits a single in WBC.
Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Question 4 of 13 Score: 0

This country was deemed the underdog at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Israel is making the most of its debut in the World Baseball Classic, having dominated its first round opponents and shifting swiftly from underdog to one of the tournament favorites.

Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Donruss baseball card of Win Remmerswaal
Photo: source

Question 5 of 13 Score: 0

Who was the first European to be born and raised on the continent to make it to the Major Leagues?

Though hardly the first Major Leaguer to be born in Europe, Dutchman Remmerswaal was the first to be raised on the continent. He played briefly for the Boston Red Sox between 1979 and 1980.

Photo: source
Ichiro Suzuki gets a hit during a game against the Atlanta Braves
Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Question 6 of 13 Score: 0

Between his playing days in both Japan and the United States, this player has the most career hits by anyone in top tier professional leagues:

Pete Rose is still recognized as the all-time Major League hits leader with 4,256 hits in his career, but Ichiro outranks him with 4,308 when it comes to total professional hits.

Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Colombian baseball player Lou Castro
Photo: Wikipedia

Question 7 of 13 Score: 0

Who was the first Latin American-born player to play in the Major Leagues?

The Colombian Castro debuted for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1902. In his brief 42-game stint in the Major Leagues, he posted a .245 batting average, with one home run and 15 runs batted in.

Photo: Wikipedia
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
Photo: Ray Collins - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Question 8 of 13 Score: 0

In what year did Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attend their first Major League Baseball game?

On a state visit, the royals attended a game between the Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics in 1991 at the invitation of Orioles owner Eli S. Jacobs.

Photo: Ray Collins - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Sadaharu Oh, the all-time pro baseball home run king.
Photo: Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Question 9 of 13 Score: 0

Who is the all-time professional baseball home run king?

Sadaharu Oh played 22 professional seasons for the Yomiuiri Giants of Japan's Nippon Baseball League and hit 868 home runs.

Photo: Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Roberto Clemente statue outside Three Rivers Stadium
Photo: Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Question 10 of 13 Score: 0

Who is the only Major League player to be admitted into the Hall of Fame without waiting the required five years?

Clemente died prematurely in a plane crash on Dec. 31, 1972, and in 1973 the Puerto Rican-born ballplayer was elected to Cooperstown. He was the first foreign-born player to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Photo: Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Fergie Jenkins sings the seventh inning stretch at Wrigley Field
Photo: Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images

Question 11 of 13 Score: 0

How many Canadians are in the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Ferguson Jenkins was born in Ontario but made his career in America, playing for 6 different teams and accumulating a win-loss record of 284-226. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991.

Photo: Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images
Montreal Expos vs. St Louis Cardinals at Olympic Stadium.
Photo: Photo by Charles Laberge/Getty Image

Question 12 of 13 Score: 0

The Montreal Expos were the first MLB team located outside of the United States. What year did they debut in the National League?

The American pastime went north in 1969. Due to financial problems, the team was forced to move to Washington, D.C., in 2004 and is today known as the Nationals.

Photo: Photo by Charles Laberge/Getty Image
Blue Lagoon geothermal spa

Question 13 of 13 Score: 0

In which one of these countries has there never been a professional baseball league?

Iceland has many things, including the beautiful Blue Lagoon. But it has never had a professional baseball league.

David Ortiz is one of many foreign players to have a successful career in the Major Leagues.
Photo: Jim Rogash / Getty Images
Photo: Jim Rogash / Getty Images