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This Week in Sports Trivia: July 31, 2025

This Week in Sports Trivia: July 31, 2025

Welcome back to another edition of This Week in Sports Trivia, where we dive deep into the fascinating world of athletic history, records, and those quirky moments that make sports endlessly entertaining. As we wrap up July and head into the dog days of summer, the sports calendar is buzzing with Major League Baseball pennant races heating up, the NFL preseason kicking off, and international soccer tournaments wrapping up their summer slates. But enough preamble—let's get to the trivia! This week, we've got a mix of questions spanning baseball, basketball, football, tennis, and even some Olympic throwbacks to keep things fresh. We'll pose the questions first, then reveal the answers with plenty of context and bonus facts to enrich your knowledge. Grab a cold drink, settle in, and test your sports IQ.

Question 1: Baseball's Midsummer Classic Milestone

In the history of the MLB All-Star Game, which player holds the record for the most home runs hit in a single game, and how many did they hit? Bonus: Name the year and the stadium where this feat occurred. Answer: The record is held by Ted Williams, who hit two home runs in the 1946 All-Star Game at Fenway Park in Boston. Williams, the legendary Boston Red Sox outfielder known as "The Splendid Splinter," showcased his power-hitting prowess in front of his home crowd. The 1946 game was particularly notable as it marked the return of the All-Star festivities after a one-year hiatus due to World War II. Williams' first homer came off Rip Sewell of the Pittsburgh Pirates, a blooper pitch that Williams crushed into the right-field stands. His second was a more conventional blast later in the game. This performance helped the American League secure a dominant 12-0 victory over the National League. Fun fact: Williams wasn't the only star that day; the AL roster featured icons like Joe DiMaggio and Bob Feller, making it a true showcase of postwar baseball talent. This record has stood for nearly eight decades, with no player matching it since, though modern sluggers like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have come close in recent years.

Question 2: NBA's Scoring Explosion

Which NBA player was the first to score 70 or more points in a single game during the modern era (post-1976 merger), and who did they achieve this against? Answer: Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns dropped 70 points against the Boston Celtics on March 24, 2017, at TD Garden. At just 20 years old, Booker became the youngest player ever to reach the 70-point mark, joining an elite club that includes Wilt Chamberlain (who did it six times), Kobe Bryant (81 points in 2006), and David Thompson (73 in 1978). Booker's outburst came in a losing effort, as the Suns fell 130-120, but it was a masterclass in scoring efficiency: he shot 21-of-40 from the field, added 24 free throws, and even dished out six assists. The Celtics, led by Isaiah Thomas, tried everything to stop him, including intentional fouls in the final minutes to prevent him from reaching 70—a tactic that backfired spectacularly. This game highlighted the evolution of NBA offense, with Booker's performance foreshadowing the league's current emphasis on three-point shooting and individual scoring feats. Interestingly, Booker's 70 points tied him with Elgin Baylor for the 10th-highest single-game total in NBA history, and it remains a benchmark for young stars like Luka Dončić and Trae Young who've flirted with similar numbers.

Question 3: NFL's Iron Man Quarterback

Who is the only quarterback in NFL history to start every regular-season game for his team over a span of 20 consecutive seasons? Answer: Brett Favre, the gunslinging legend who played primarily for the Green Bay Packers, achieved this remarkable streak from 1992 to 2010 (with a brief stint in 2008 with the New York Jets and 2009-2010 with the Minnesota Vikings). Favre's durability is stuff of legend; he started 297 consecutive regular-season games, a record that includes playing through injuries like a broken thumb, concussions, and even personal tragedies. His streak began on September 27, 1992, against the Pittsburgh Steelers and ended on December 13, 2010, when he was sidelined by a shoulder injury. This iron-man run surpassed previous records held by players like Jim Marshall and helped Favre amass three MVP awards, a Super Bowl ring (XXX1 in 1997), and Hall of Fame credentials. In an era where quarterback injuries are commonplace—think of modern stars like Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes missing time—Favre's consistency stands out. Bonus trivia: Favre also holds the record for most career interceptions (336), a testament to his aggressive style that balanced brilliance with occasional recklessness.

Question 4: Tennis's Grand Slam Drought Breaker

Which female tennis player ended a 13-year drought for American women by winning the US Open in 2017, and who did she defeat in the final? Answer: Sloane Stephens triumphed at the 2017 US Open, defeating fellow American Madison Keys in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0. This victory marked the first time an American woman had won the tournament since Serena Williams in 2002 (excluding Serena's own wins in the interim, but the question specifies the drought for non-Williams players—wait, actually, the drought was from 2002 to 2017 for any American woman besides Serena, but Stephens broke through as an unseeded player). Stephens, ranked No. 83 at the time due to an injury-plagued year, staged one of the most improbable runs in tennis history. She didn't drop a set throughout the tournament, showcasing blistering groundstrokes and composure under pressure. The all-American final was a feel-good story, with Keys graciously congratulating her friend post-match. This win propelled Stephens to a career-high ranking of No. 3 and highlighted the depth of American women's tennis beyond the Williams sisters. In the broader context, 2017 was a year of surprises in women's tennis, with four different Grand Slam winners, underscoring the sport's parity.

Question 5: Olympic Swimming Sensation

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which swimmer became the first athlete to win eight gold medals in a single Games, breaking Mark Spitz's record? Answer: Michael Phelps, the American phenom, achieved this unprecedented feat across events like the 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly, and various relays. Phelps' dominance in Beijing was mesmerizing; he won golds in the 400m individual medley, 4x100m freestyle relay, 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 4x200m freestyle relay, 200m individual medley, 100m butterfly, and 4x100m medley relay. Each victory came with drama—his 100m butterfly win over Milorad Čavić was by a mere 0.01 seconds, confirmed only after video review. Phelps surpassed Spitz's seven golds from 1972, cementing his status as the most decorated Olympian ever (he'd go on to win 28 medals total). The 2008 Games were a pinnacle for swimming, with advanced suits like the Speedo LZR Racer contributing to 25 world records. Phelps' success inspired a generation, influencing swimmers like Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky. Fun fact: Phelps consumed an estimated 12,000 calories a day during training, including massive breakfasts of eggs, pancakes, and pasta to fuel his aquatic prowess.

Question 6: Soccer's World Cup Upset

Which underdog nation defeated defending champions Germany in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, marking one of the biggest shocks in tournament history? Answer: South Korea stunned Germany with a 2-0 victory on June 27, 2018, in Kazan, Russia. Goals from Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min in stoppage time sealed the deal, eliminating the 2014 champions and sending shockwaves through the soccer world. Germany, boasting stars like Toni Kroos and Thomas Müller, controlled possession but failed to convert, while South Korea's resilient defense and counterattacks prevailed. This result meant Germany finished last in their group, the first time they'd failed to advance since 1938. The upset epitomized the 2018 World Cup's theme of unpredictability, with other giants like Argentina and Brazil facing early scares. Son, Tottenham Hotspur's talisman, became a national hero, his goal celebrated as a moment of poetic justice against a European powerhouse. This match also highlighted tactical evolutions in international soccer, where underdogs leverage speed and organization to topple favorites.

Wrapping It Up with More Nuggets

As we close out this week's trivia, let's sprinkle in a few rapid-fire facts. Did you know that in MLB history, the longest game by innings was a 26-inning marathon between the Brooklyn Robins and Boston Braves in 1920, ending in a 1-1 tie due to darkness? Or that in the NBA, the shortest player to win the Slam Dunk Contest was Spud Webb at 5-foot-7 in 1986? On the football front, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, amassed 18,355 yards primarily with the Dallas Cowboys, edging out Walter Payton. In tennis, Roger Federer's 20 Grand Slam titles were once the record until Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic surpassed him, creating one of sports' greatest rivalries. And for Olympics enthusiasts, the 1936 Berlin Games saw Jesse Owens win four golds, debunking Nazi propaganda in front of Adolf Hitler. If you aced all these questions, pat yourself on the back—you're a true sports savant! If not, no worries; trivia is all about learning and sharing stories. Tune in next week for more brain-teasers, perhaps focusing on emerging stars in the 2025 sports landscape like the rising phenoms in women's basketball or the latest in Formula 1 drama. Until then, keep watching, keep cheering, and remember: in sports, history is always being made. What was your favorite trivia tidbit this week? Share in the comments!

Read the Full The New York Times Article at:
[ https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6525878/2025/07/31/this-week-in-sports-trivia-july-31-2025/ ]