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Wed, 04/13/2022 - 9:15am
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Thank you George Will but now… Baseball trivia for the rest of us
By:
Suzanne Detar
In case you missed it, because you were absorbed with the Credit One Charleston Open or because the start of baseball was delayed by a labor dispute, Major League Baseball kicked off its season last Thursday, April 7.
And, in honor of Opening Day, Washington Post political columnist George Will wrote his annual baseball trivia column. Will’s column is carried locally in The Post and Courier. Whether you agree with his opinions or not, his column is a valuable read. It is always beautifully written, well-researched, insightful, and it will expand your vocabulary, sure to send you to consult a dictionary from time to time.
Will is also famously known as a baseball fan. He’s written several books on baseball – “Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball” is often referred to as one of the best baseball books ever written.
But, come on George Will, last week’s column on baseball trivia was just ridiculously hard. If you, dear reader, tried it and failed miserably like me, perhaps you can celebrate the boys of summer with this Opening Day 2022 bit of trivia. I guarantee you won’t need to consult the Encyclopedia of Baseball, or a dictionary, to answer these:
1. What baseball mascot parachuted into their ballpark on Opening Day this year? Hint: He’s big and green and famously got into a fight with Danny Lasorda.
2. What team was Freddie Freeman playing for on Opening Day 2022? Hint: It isn’t the Atlanta Braves.
3. Cleveland opened this season with a new nickname. What is it? Hint: _____ of the Galaxy.
4. Who won the 2021 World Series and who did they open against this year? Hint: You should know – no hints.
5. Which Diamondbacks player hit a 3-run walk off homerun on Opening Day in the bottom of the ninth to win 3-2. Hint: What do you like to drink at the ballpark?
6. What two arch rivals had their Opening Day 2022 canceled due to weather? Hint: The Bambino curse comes to mind.
Answers: 1.The Phillie Phanatic. 2. Los Angeles Dodgers. 3. Guardians. 4. Braves are the defending champs and opened on April 7 against the Reds with a 6-3 loss. 5. Seth Beer. 6. Yankees and Red Sox. (The wait was worth it, the game went into extra innings with the home team Yankees winning 6-5 in the 11th inning).