If We Give You the MLB City, Can You Tell Us the Team That Belongs There?

SPORTS

By: Gavin Thagard

6 Min Quiz

Image: Jeff Rutherford / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Did you know that New York City was once home to three MLB teams but two of those teams eventually moved away? Changes like this show how quickly the baseball landscape can shift, as one city gains a baseball team while another city's fanbase is stripped of theirs. Are you familiar with the cities across the United States and Canada that currently house the 30 teams that comprise Major League Baseball? This quiz will challenge your knowledge of just that. 

There's something special about the relationship between a city and its baseball team. Not only do the teams keep fans entertained throughout the warmer months of the year, but they also drive the economy of a city, pulling in millions of dollars to local businesses. That's why maintaining that relationship is so vital to both the team and the city, and fans of the sport should take the time to better understand the relationship by examining how each team fits into each city. 

Do you think you're ready to test your baseball knowledge by matching the MLB city to the team located there? From Seattle to Miami, this quiz covers every team, from the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic Coast. 

If you're confident enough to take a swing at this quiz, get started and see if you can run up a high score.

If you take a trip to Camden Yards in Baltimore on a sunny afternoon, you'll find which team taking the field for games?

As the city of Baltimore looked for a name for its team, they went to the list of state animals and finally settled on the state bird of Maryland, the oriole. These beautiful creatures of the sky are recognized by their orange and gold patches, colors the baseball team has adopted as well.

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The "Windy City" of Chicago has been home to which team since their name change in 1904?

The Chicago White Sox (originally known as the White Stockings) will forever be known for the "Black Sox" scandal that shook the baseball world in 1919 when eight White Sox players were accused of purposely losing the World Series in a gambling operation. All eight players were permanently banned from MLB, including "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, one of the major stars of the game at the time.

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Head down to the Houston, Texas, grab some of the city's legendary barbecue, then watch which MLB team play a game?

The Houston Astros were called the Colt .45s until 1964, the year the team moved into its new stadium, the Astrodome. As is usually the case, money was a central reason for the change, since the Colt Firearms Company sought revenue from merchandise that was being sold.

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Atlanta opened a new stadium for its baseball team in 2017. What team is enjoying the new field?

Many stars have passed through the Braves' organization, from Greg Maddux to Chipper Jones, but none of them match the legendary career of Hank Aaron. Known as "Hammerin' Hank," Aaron was the first player to surpass Babe Ruth's career home run record by sending 755 balls over the back fence.

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Chicago is lucky enough to have two teams playing in the city. Which of those teams has been playing at Wrigley Field for more than 100 years?

After winning back-to-back​ championships in 1907 and 1908, the Chicago Cubs went 108 years without winning another title, finally ending the drought in 2016. This marked the longest stint an MLB team had gone without winning a championship, leaving nearly two generations of fans with little to root for.

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Do you know which National League expansion team found a home in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1998?

Playing for the Diamondbacks from 1999 until 2006, Luis Gonzalez was the first player to have his number retired by the team when they hung his No. 20 above the stands. The honor was well deserved as Gonzalez finished his career as the Diamondbacks' leader in several categories, including runs and hits.

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The 2018 World Series champions are nestled in the city of Boston. Who are they?

The Red Sox have a bitter rivalry with the Yankees that dates back to 1919 when Babe Ruth was traded from the Red Sox to the Yankees, setting in motion the "Curse of the Bambino." The trade launched the Yankees to the forefront of baseball and set the Red Sox back for nearly a century.

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Fans in Cleveland, Ohio, are currently suffering from the longest championship drought in MLB because which team has failed to deliver?

The Cleveland Indians nearly ended their championship drought in 2016 when they faced the Cubs in the World Series. Taking a 3-1 lead over the Cubs in the series, the Indians only needed to win one game to win the World Series. But the team collapsed, losing three games in a row as well as the championship.

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Take a vacation to Los Angeles where you can enjoy both the amazing weather and a game from which baseball club?

Realizing they had a future Hall of Famer, the Angels signed Mike Trout to a 12-year deal that made him the player with the largest contract in North American sports. The contract, which is worth $426 million, will keep Trout on the team through his 39th birthday. It would seem both parties are happy.

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South Beach has spoiled the residents of Miami, but which team has left those residents wanting more?

The Miami Marlins mascot, Billy the Marlin, was given a new outfit and look prior to the start of the 2019 season, as the team sought to rebrand itself. Cutting out all of the orange and a little weight, the Marlins hope Billy's new look will bring some much-needed success to the team.

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When you're done enjoying the Italian architecture in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, what baseball team can you go watch?

The Cincinnati Reds put together an all-star team in the first half of the 1970s that became known as the "Big Red Machine." Led by players like Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan, the team made the playoffs four out of five seasons and won back-to-back World Series in 1975 and 1976.

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Can you identify the team that has a slight home field advantage because of the elevation in the "Mile High City" of Denver, Colorado?

After gaining a Wild Card birth in the 2007 playoffs, the Colorado Rockies made an incredible push, winning seven straight games to reach the World Series. However, the Red Sox put a stop to the Rockies' run, beating them in a 4-0 sweep to win the championship for Boston.

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If you're looking for a championship team, look no further than one located in New York City because the Bronx Bombers have more World Series wins than any other MLB team. Which team is it?

If you're talking about bragging rights, then the New York Yankees and their fans certainly have a reason to bow out their chests. The winners of 27 championships, the Yankees have been in the playoffs 54 times in 105 seasons! That's an unheard of accomplishment in any sport.

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Detroit may be a shell of its former self, but at least the people of the city can enjoy a game from which baseball team?

Started in 1894, the Detroit Tigers are one of the oldest teams in baseball, especially when you consider the teams who have remained in the same city. The ball club began as a minor league team but was added to the majors in 1901, when the American League was founded.

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Once located in Kansas City, do you know the team that found a more permanent home in Oakland, California?

The film, "Moneyball," was based on the Oakland Athletics' 2002 season, where they relied on undervalued players to make a successful run at the playoffs. Even without a roster full of stars, the A's finished at the top of their Division, which included winning 20 straight games.

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City Field replaced Shea Stadium in 2009 for which MLB team in New York City?

After both the Dodgers and the Giants departed New York City, the "Big Apple" was looking for another team to entertain its huge populace. Added as an expansion team in 1962, the New York Mets were the answer, though many still view the team as the little brother to the Yankees.

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You can grab some sun sailing on Lake Michigan before going to a baseball game in Milwaukee, where you can hopefully catch a fly ball from a slugger from what hometown team?

Before he became the Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig started the Milwaukee Brewers franchise when he bought the Seattle Pilots, who had been forced to file for bankruptcy. As owner, Selig gave the team its name based on the city's thriving beer industry.

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Sandy Koufax threw a perfect game in 1965 for which Los Angeles-based team?

The Brooklyn Dodgers made the move from New York City to Los Angeles after the 1957 season. The transition came after New York failed to provide Dodgers' owner Walter O'Malley with the necessary land to build a new stadium after Ebbets Field, the stadium in which the team played, became outdated.

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They only joined the league in 1998. Can you name the team located in Tampa Bay that has yet to win a World Series?

One of the most famous Tampa Bay Rays' players spent less than two years on the team and recorded only 13 strikeouts in the majors. His name was Jim Morris and he was a 35-year-old teacher who tried out for the Rays after losing a bet to the high schoolers which he coached.

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Kansas City is home to one of the most famous rodeos in the United States, along with which baseball team?

If you're looking to be an MLB owner, maybe start out by making millions in another industry like David Glass, the owner of the Royals and a former executive of Walmart. Under his leadership, Walmart saw some of its greatest expansion from the 1970s through 2000, when he stepped down and purchased the Royals.

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Seattle may be known for its rain but luckily, fans of which team can enjoy a game beneath a retractable roof at T-Mobile Park?

In 1977, Juan Bernhardt became the first player to hit a home run for the Seattle Mariners, which was during the team's inaugural season. To add to the uniqueness of the moment, the home run was also Bernhardt's first as a major leaguer.

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You won't find a more insane fanbase than the one located in Philadelphia who root for what MLB club?

Fans of the Philadelphia Phillies will certainly recognize their large, green mascot, Phillie Phanatic, who is one of the most popular mascots in sports. He's also one of the most expensive mascots, racking up lawsuits for things like throwing a woman into a pool and climbing on a fan.

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Known as "The Steel City," do you know the name of the team that the blue-collared city of Pittsburgh cheers on?

Led by star player Roberto Clemente, the Pittsburgh Pirates were the first team in MLB to field a lineup consisting of only black and Latino players. The nine players who were included in the lineup hit the field on September 1, 1971, and though it's often overlooked, the event was an important one in the history of sports.

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Maybe you're taking a flight to San Diego to see Comic Con, but you should also swing by Petco Park to see which team play a game?

The San Diego Padres faced off against the heavily favored Atlanta Braves in the 1998 NLCS. Partly thanks to pitching by Sterling Hitchcock, who would win the NLCS MVP, the Padres defeated the Braves in six games to advance to the World Series, where they lost to the New York Yankees 4-0.

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Can you name the team you can see play in Ontario, Canada, when you finally get through border control?

Though they weren't the first team to have the entire nation of Canada cheering for them, the Toronto Blue Jays are currently the only MLB team located outside of the United States. The other team, the Montreal Expos, moved to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Nationals after the 2004 season.

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The MLB team from Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been around since 1901 but they didn't come to the city until 1961. Who are they?

The Minnesota Twins' franchise began its journey in Washington D.C., where it was founded in 1901 as one of the first eight teams in the American League. The team made its move to Minnesota in 1961 and has had a bit more success there, winning two World Series since making the transition.

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Arlington, Texas, might be best known for the Cowboys of the NFL, but what MLB team calls the city home?

The Texas Rangers are named after the historic law enforcement agency from the state. That agency was born in 1823 to protect settlers entering Texas after the Mexican War of Independence. In 1835, Texas lawmakers formalized the statewide agency that is today known as the Texas Rangers.

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Go to Washington, D.C., to see some of the country's richest history along with which MLB team?

The Washington Nationals damaged their title hopes by failing to re-sign their star player, Bryce Harper, who entered free agency following the 2018 season. Instead, Harper was allowed to sign a 13-year deal with the Phillies, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.

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If you watched this team from St. Louis in the 1990s, you would have seen Mark McGwire knocking baseballs out of the park. What team was it?

The Yankees might hold the most championships in baseball, but the St. Louis Cardinals have the most in the National League with 11. The team also has won a title more recently than the Yankees, as they defeated the Rangers in the 2011 World Series, making them an attractive option for new fans.

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The winner of eight World Series, including three since 2010, do you know which team plays in San Francisco?

You can't tell a story about San Francisco's playoff history without mentioning the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that struck the team's stadium prior to Game 3 of the World Series against the Athletics. The earthquake knocked out power to Candlestick Park, forcing a 10-day World Series delay as the city recovered.

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