Baseball · Level 7: Upper-Advanced · Sub-level 7.5
The Outfielders and the Designated Hitter
10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown
Three outfielders cover the grass beyond the infield. Centre field has the most ground to cover, and the centre fielder takes charge on balls in the gaps; the corner outfielders need strong arms, since the throw from right to third is the longest in the outfield. Willie Mays ran down Vic Wertz's long drive with his back to home plate in 1954, the most famous catch of all, and Griffey, Jones and Trout followed in centre. Clemente's throws from the corner stopped runners cold, and Ichiro's rookie throw to nail Terrence Long became famous.
Ballparks shape the game: the Cubs played only day games at home until Wrigley added lights in 1988, a ball lost in the ivy gives the batter two bases, and every wall angle sends caroms a different way. The designated hitter bats every day but does not play the field. The American League brought it in to boost offence, Blomberg became the first DH for the Yankees on April 6, 1973, and the universal DH arrived with the 2022 labour deal.
Further down: famous catches, robbing home runs, great corner outfielders, the best designated hitters and Shohei Ohtani's 50-50 season.
Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.
Test 1Great centre fieldersTake a test
Mays ran down Vic Wertz's long drive with his back to home plate.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Griffey's glove and swing made him a star in Seattle.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Jones played shallow and still ran down deep balls.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
'Joltin' Joe' was also a graceful fielder.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The centre fielder takes charge on balls in the gaps.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Trout won in 2014, 2016 and 2019.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Centre field has the most ground to cover.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The 1930s-40s, the 1950s-60s, the 1990s.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Drive, sprint, catch, throw.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Mays's over-the-shoulder grab is the most famous catch.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 2Famous catchesTake a test
Puckett's night forced a Game 7 that Minnesota won.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Chávez reached over the wall and doubled a runner off first.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Leaping too early or too late means missing it.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The fielder catches a sinking liner near his feet.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
If he misses, the ball may roll to the wall for extra bases.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Late with a lead, stopping extra bases matters more.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Good fielders get to the landing spot and wait.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
1954, 1991, 2006.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Charge, lower, catch, show.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
A catch near the feet is a shoestring catch.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 3Outfield armsTake a test
Clemente's throws from the corner stopped runners cold.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Ichiro threw out Terrence Long with a laser from right field.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Throwing a runner out earns the fielder an assist.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Runners learn not to run on a great arm.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Statcast records the speed of each throw.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A one-hop throw arrives low and true.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
MLB's award for humanitarian work bears his name.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Low, strong throws arrive fastest.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Charge and throw beat the runner.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Ichiro's rookie throw became famous.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 4Robbing home runsTake a test
The fielder leaps and pulls the ball back into the park.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Feeling the wall tells them where to jump.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A fielder may reach over the wall to make the catch.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Umpires rule what would have happened without the fan.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Padding protects fielders who crash into the wall.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A lower fence lets fielders reach over.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The change underfoot tells a fielder the wall is near.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Race, track, wall, leap.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
The lower the wall, the easier the robbery.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Catching a ball above the fence robs a homer.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 5Great corner outfieldersTake a test
Aaron finished with 755 homers.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Williams hit .406 for Boston.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Ichiro also had 262 hits in 2004, a single-season record.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
He broke George Sisler's 257 from 1920.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Bonds was a fine fielder early in his career.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
'Yaz' led the league in all three categories.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The throw from right to third is the longest outfield throw.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The 1940s-50s, the 1950s-70s, the 2000s.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
262, 257, then about 200.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
No player has had more hits in a season.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 6Night games and lightsTake a test
The Reds played under lights at Crosley Field.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The Cubs played only day games at home until 1988.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Between day and night, the light plays tricks.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Glare can hide a fly ball completely.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Using the glove as a shade can bring the ball back into view.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Evening games fitted working people's hours.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A roof can close for rain or heat.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
1935, the 1950s, then 1988.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Shade, find, catch.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Wrigley added lights in 1988.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 7Walls and quirksTake a test
The batter is awarded two bases.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The hill was removed in 2017.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Every wall angle sends caroms a different way.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A fair ball that bounces into the stands gives two bases.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Fielders must read caroms to hold hitters to singles.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Balls landing above the line are home runs.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Daily play teaches the bounces.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
1937, 1947, 2000.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Lost ball, signal, two bases.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Raising arms tells the umpire the ball is lost in the ivy.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 8The designated hitter's historyTake a test
The AL brought in the DH to boost offence.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Blomberg walked for the Yankees on April 6, 1973.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Pitchers rarely hit well, so the AL replaced them.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The universal DH arrived with the 2022 labour deal.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Traditionalists liked strategy around the pitcher's spot.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
He bats every day but does not play the field.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A half day off keeps the bat in the line-up.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
1973, 1976, 2022.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
BP, at-bat, cage, at-bat.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Blomberg was the first designated hitter.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 9Great designated hittersTake a test
The Outstanding DH Award was renamed for him in 2004.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
'Big Papi' starred in 2004, 2007 and 2013.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
He was elected in his first year on the ballot.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Thomas won two MVPs with the White Sox.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Some voters doubted a player who did not field.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Baines was chosen by a veterans' committee.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Staying loose in the cage helps them stay ready.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
2014, 2019, 2022.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
541, 521, 309.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Ortiz pointed skyward after his home runs.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 10Shohei OhtaniTake a test
He starred both on the mound and at the plate.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
He hit 54 homers and stole 59 bases.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
He played for the Fighters from 2013 to 2017.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
He chose the Angels after being posted.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
His ten-year, $700 million deal was a record.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Ruth pitched and hit for Boston around 1918-1919.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
He rested his arm from pitching after elbow surgery.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Japan, the Angels in 2018, the Dodgers in 2023-24, the 50-50 season in 2024.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
1918-1919, 2021, then 2024.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Ohtani created the 50-50 club in 2024.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Questions people ask
- Who made the most famous catch in baseball?
- Willie Mays, who ran down Vic Wertz's long drive with his back to home plate in 1954.
- How does an outfielder rob a home run?
- He tracks the ball to the wall, feels for it, then leaps and pulls the ball back into the park, sometimes reaching over the fence. The lower the wall, the easier the robbery.
- What happens when a ball gets lost in the outfield ivy?
- The fielder raises his arms to tell the umpire the ball is lost, and the batter is awarded two bases.
- When did the designated hitter start?
- The American League brought in the DH in 1973 to boost offence, and Blomberg was the first. The universal DH arrived with the 2022 labour deal.
- Who holds the record for most hits in a season?
- Ichiro, with 262 hits in 2004. He broke George Sisler's 257 from 1920.
- What is the 50-50 club?
- Shohei Ohtani created it in 2024, when he hit 54 homers and stole 59 bases.
- Who was Big Papi?
- Ortiz, known as 'Big Papi', starred in 2004, 2007 and 2013 and pointed skyward after his home runs.
Sources
General baseball references, WBSC and league material, coaching manuals; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category.
- General baseball reference100