A CELEBRATION OF BASEBALL GALLERY FORUMS SEARCH CONTACT US

It was once said that every boy builds a shrine to some baseball hero, and before that shrine, a candle always burns.                   Welcome to this virtual celebration of baseball where many candles glow in honor of big league heroes.

During the 2000 World Series, a local New York news crew randomly polled fans outside Yankee Stadium with the question:  Lou Gehrig was the Iron "Blank." Very surprisingly, many fans did not now the answer "Horse."  It was only then did the following notion become clear to us - there are many baseball fans out there; but, not all of them are very knowledgeable about the game.  With that in mind, NetShrine has decided to establish a baseball fan expertise certification process.  We're calling it the "NetShrine Certified Baseball Devotee Challenge." 

The test is simple.  Fifty questions which should require no more than sixty minutes of your time.  In fact, if you "know your stuff" you should be able to answer most of these questions right off the top of your head.  If you can answer 43 of the 50 questions correctly, you are a Certified Baseball Devotee.  Answer all fifty correctly and you're an ace!  (Note:  For those questions which require multiple answers, you have to get all the answers correct to receive credit for that question.)  All those who pass the test will be included in the on-line NetShrine Certified Baseball Devotee Honor Roll (unless you request otherwise).

Are you up to the challenge?  Here's what you need to do:

• Use the NetShrine Certified Baseball Devotee Challenge Form 

or...................

• COPY the 50 questions below and PASTE them into an E-MAIL to be sent to staff@netshrine.com along with your ANSWERS.
• Be sure to INCLUDE your NAME and HOMETOWN (e.g., Willie Mays, Westfield, Alabama) - this is required.  Without your name and hometown, NetShrine will not grade your test.
• If you DO NOT want to be INCLUDED in the on-line NetShrine Certified Baseball Devotee Honor Roll, please INDICATE that in your e-mail. 

Any questions?  Contact us at info@netshrine.com.   Good luck!  The NetShrine Certified Baseball Devotee Challenge follows:

What is the procedure involved in "Tommy John" Surgery? Who scored Major League Baseball’s one millionth run? Name a baseball record most likely to never be broken. Describe the provisions of the Infield Fly Rule. What baseball related device does the "Jugs" Company manufacture? Who is the father of the boxscore? Name the battery in Abbott and Costello’s "Who’s on First?" skit. The term "Can of Corn" describes what? What post-season experience do Mark Littell, Mitch Williams, and Ralph Terry have in common? Who is the only Major League pitcher to win more than 40 games in a single season? Name the first switch-hitter to collect 100 hits from each side of the plate in a season. Ernest Thayer wrote what? What is the difference between a Safety and a Suicide Squeeze? Who is the only man ever killed while playing a Major League Baseball game? How wide is home plate? Why is Buck Weaver infamous? What newspaper was once considered the "Bible of Baseball"? Who is the only player to win a Rookie of the Year Award while playing for his third big league club? How does the rotation work for a Major League umpiring crew with respect to base assignments? Which player got the hit to spoil the Harvey Haddix extra inning no hit game? What other name was Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy known by? Who did the Houston Astros trade for Jeff Bagwell? How was Roberto Clemente killed? Where was the first All-Star Game played? What player ran around the bases backward to commemorate his 100th career homerun? Who was on base when Kirk Gibson homered in the 9th inning of Game One of the 1988 World Series? Name two favorable hitter’s counts. Where was Elysian Fields located? What two players comprise the "Keystone Combo"? Who was the first player to hit 40 homeruns in a season in both leagues? How many innings were played in the longest game in big league history? What was Pete Gray’s challenge? Where was the Baker Bowl located? What was Bob Gibson’s St. Louis Cardinals’ uniform number? Who was the General Manager fired for his racist statements made during an airing of "Nightline" in 1987? Name three classic baseball books and/or movies. What significant event occurred during the first night name at Ebbets Field? Who was one of the men known as the "Clown Prince of Baseball"? What was the relationship between Ruth Steinhagen and Eddie Waitkus? How is "Production" (aka "OPS") calculated? What was distinguishing about Herb Washington playing career? Name the only pitcher to fan over twenty batters in a Major League game. What was Cap Anson’s primary position? Name three of the Greatest Baseball teams of all-time. What two franchises played the first inter-league regular season game in Major League history? Who was the last pitcher to legally throw a spitball? What was unique about Ernie Shore’s perfect game? Who is the only player to win a Rookie of the Year Award with less than two months experience in the Majors? What year was the first World Series night game played? Who was the last pitcher to win 30 games in a season?