A Baseball Quiz Show

Last week officially ended the longest layoff of the century, and all that rust and all those signings were enough to challenge even the most astute fan. If you’ve sworn off Major League Baseball, then you’re probably on the wrong page anyway. If you’re still following along, then we invite you to take a post-strike test.

If you answer 13-15 correctly, you’re a True Fan; 10-12, Extended Spring Training; 7-9, Eighth-Inning L.A. Traffic-Beater; under 7, Bill Usery Buff. As a bonus, we’ve included a replacement question (No. 16) in case one of these is a stumper.

1. Jody Reed switched leagues for a third time last week. What team took the second baseman this time?

2. The 1994 American League West may have been the worst grouping in major league history, but it did produce the league’s ERA champion. Who was he, and what team re-signed him?

3. True or false, according to Section 7.03 of the MLB Official Baseball Rules published by The Sporting News: “Two runners may not occupy a base, but if, while the ball is alive, two runners are touching a base, the preceding runner shall be out when tagged. The following runner is entitled to the base.”

4. Who are the six new managers (not including Sparky Anderson), and which one of them was a Dodger reliever?

5. We told you last Nov. 21 how Tim Wakefield has coped with his fluttering career since leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to the 1992 playoffs as a rookie. Which of these things happened last week: (a) Wakefield was released by the Pirates and signed by the knuckleball-loving Marlins, who train and have a Class-A affiliate in his hometown of Melbourne, Fla.; (b) Wakefield was released by the Pirates.

6. In what divisions can you find the Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers?

7. Who threw the last World Series pitch, and what star closer was he sharing the bullpen with entering this week?

8. How many former Atlanta Braves now wear Cincinnati Reds uniforms, and which one of them hit the most homers in a season?

9. Where is the player who drove in 98 runs as the Chicago White Sox’s designated hitter in 1994, and who is replacing him?

10. There are two new playing fields, one in each league. Where are they?

11. Four former All-Star pitchers retired last week, leaving with a combined total of 622 victories, 682 saves, 9,464 2/3 innings and 6,536 strikeouts. Who are they?

12. True or false, according to Rule 4.03 (a): “Except the pitcher and the catcher, any fielder may station himself anywhere in fair territory.”

13. Who was expected to win the Minnesota Twins’ regular left-field job? (Head immediately for the showers if you miss this one.)

14. Roberto Kelly went from the New York Yankees to the Reds to the Braves to . . .

15. Name six of the 12 players involved in last December’s Houston Astros-San Diego Padres trade, the biggest since 1957.

16. Sept. 6 probably will be the biggest day of the season. Why?

The Baseball Quiz Answers

1. The Padres.

2. Steve Ontiveros of Oakland.

3. False. The preceding runner stays and the following runner is out.

4. Bruce Bochy (Padres), Bob Boone (Kansas City Royals), Kevin Kennedy (Boston Red Sox), Johnny Oates (Texas Rangers), former Dodger reliever Phil Regan (Baltimore Orioles) and Jim Riggleman (Chicago Cubs).

5. b.

6. N.L. Central, A.L. Central.

7. Mitch Williams and Lee Smith.

8. Six--Damon Berryhill, Ron Gant, Brian Hunter, Deion Sanders, Pete Smith and Manager Davey Johnson, who hit 43 home runs for the Braves in 1973.

9. Julio Franco went to Japan and is replaced by Chris Sabo.

10. Colorado’s Coors Field and Kansas City’s grass.

11. Goose Gossage, Jack Morris, Jeff Reardon and Rick Sutcliffe.

12. True.

13. Marty Cordova.

14. The Montreal Expos.

15. The Padres traded Phil Plantier, Derek Bell, Pedro Martinez, Doug Brocail, Craig Shipley and Ricky Guttierez to Houston for Ken Caminiti, Steve Finley, Andujar Cedeno, Roberto Petagine, Brian Williams and a player to be named.

16. Cal Ripken can break Lou Gehrig’s record of 2,130 consecutive games.