Who's Calling the Right Shots? The Smartest MLB Fanbases Ranked

Every MLB fan thinks they know baseball… until they're asked to prove it.

It's easy to remember who won last year's World Series. It's a little harder to remember which franchise used to be called the Pilots, what actually counts as a balk, or whether a team can record four outs in one inning.

So, we decided to find out which fanbases really know their stuff.

We surveyed 5,000 fans from all 30 MLB teams and challenged them with 20 questions covering baseball history, legendary players, iconic records, rulebook quirks, and modern MLB. Some questions were straightforward. Others have left even seasoned fans arguing long after the final out.

The results revealed which fanbases have truly done their homework, and which ones might need a little revision.

Key Findings:

Mets and Yankees fans lead the rankings with 18/20 (90%)
Blue Jays, Red Sox, Tigers, Angels, and Phillies follow closely with 17/20 (85%)
Most fanbases sit in a tight middle range of 12–15 correct answers (60%–75%)
Rangers' fans were among the most confident in the survey (8/10), yet finished joint last with Diamondbacks fans after scoring 10/20 (50%)

Brains Behind the Bleachers: Ranking MLB's Smartest Fanbases

At the top, New York baseball leads the way.

Mets and Yankees fans both scored 18 out of 20 (90%), showing elite-level MLB knowledge across a wide mix of topics, from franchise history to rules that even experienced fans occasionally second-guess. Despite one of the sport’s fiercest rivalries, their results were identical.

Both fanbases performed strongly on key history questions, correctly answering several of the more difficult prompts around MLB records and franchise milestones. The misses came on more obscure territory, including early league integration and historical franchise changes.

Just behind them is a tightly packed group of five teams: Blue Jays, Red Sox, Tigers, Angels, and Phillies, all finishing on 17/20 (85%). A single correct answer separated this group from the top two fanbases.

Below that, most teams settle into a narrow middle band between 12 and 15 correct answers (60%–75%). This is the most crowded section of the rankings, solid overall knowledge, but where more detailed history, records, and rule-based questions begin to create separation at the top.

The Bottom of the Standings

At the lower end, Rangers fans recorded the lowest score with 10/20 (50%), despite rating their MLB knowledge at 8/10, one of the highest confidence scores in the survey. The numbers didn’t quite back up the scouting report.

The Arizona Diamondbacks also finished on 10/20 (50%).

Just ahead of them, the Giants, Guardians, Royals, and Marlins each scored 11/20 (55%), placing them slightly above the bottom group.

Across this section of the standings, most correct answers came from straightforward MLB knowledge, while rule-based questions and older franchise history proved more difficult.

Confidence vs Reality

Across the league, most fans rated their MLB knowledge around 7/10, regardless of where their team finished in the rankings. In other words, confidence tends to stay steady, even when the box score tells a slightly different story.

The Angels stood out as one of the strongest all-round profiles, scoring 17/20 (85%) while rating themselves 8/10, putting them among the closest matches between confidence and actual performance.

At the other end, the Rangers showed the biggest gap between expectation and results, finishing last despite being one of the most confident fanbases in the survey, the kind of line that doesn’t usually survive a postgame press conference.

At the top, Mets and Yankees fans combined elite scores with more moderate self-ratings, suggesting that even when the numbers are strong, they’re not always calling a perfect game on their own knowledge.

How Many Did You Get Right?

Now it’s your turn. Scroll to the bottom to find the list of the 20 questions.

Across 20 questions covering MLB history, rules, records, and rare game situations, most fanbases finished in the middle of the pack. The separation at the top came down to just a few key questions, the kind that decide whether you’re recalling the detail or second-guessing it.

If you scored 18 or higher (90%), you’re in elite company with the top fanbases in baseball.

If you scored 14–16 (70%–80%), you’re comfortably above average.

If you didn’t reach double digits, the range across all fanbases ran from 10 to 18, you’re still within reach of the main group. In most cases, it wasn’t a lack of general baseball knowledge, but a handful of trickier rule scenarios and older MLB history that made the difference.

The Full MLB Knowledge Test

Which pitcher threw the only perfect game in World Series history?
1. Don Larsen
2. Sandy Koufax
3. Whitey Ford
4. Bob Gibson
What year did MLB introduce interleague play?
1. 1994
2. 1995
3. 1997
4. 1999
Which franchise was the first to integrate in the American League?
1. New York Yankees
2. Cleveland Indians (now Guardians)
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Chicago White Sox
Who was the first player to win MVP in both leagues?
1. Frank Robinson
2. Reggie Jackson
3. Hank Aaron
4. Pete Rose
Can a runner advance on a dropped third strike with two outs?
1. No
2. Only if first base is occupied
3. Yes
4. Only in extra innings
What constitutes a balk?
1. Any pitch outside the strike zone
2. A pitcher dropping the ball
3. An illegal motion or deception while on the rubber
4. A catcher leaving the box early
Can a pitcher switch throwing hands during an at-bat?
1. No
2. Only once per game
3. Yes, but must declare before the at-bat
4. Only in extra innings
Which catcher has the most career home runs?
1. Johnny Bench
2. Yogi Berra
3. Mike Piazza
4. Carlton Fisk
Which player has the most career grand slams?
1. Lou Gehrig
2. Barry Bonds
3. Alex Rodriguez
4. Albert Pujols
Which MLB franchise was originally called the Pilots?
1. Milwaukee Brewers
2. Seattle Mariners
3. San Diego Padres
4. Tampa Bay Rays
True or False: A pitcher can fake a throw to first without stepping off the rubber.
1. True
2. False
If a game is called in the 5th inning due to weather, is it official?
1. No, must reach 6 innings
2. No, must reach 7 innings
3. Yes, after 4.5 innings if home team is leading
4. Only if both managers agree
Can a batter reach first on catcher’s interference even if the pitch is wild?
1. Yes
2. No
Is it possible to record four outs in one inning?
1. No
2. Yes, via an appeal play
Who was the youngest player to reach 500 home runs?
1. Alex Rodriguez
2. Albert Pujols
3. Ken Griffey Jr.
4. Jimmie Foxx
If a runner misses a base but scores, does the run count automatically?
1. Yes
2. No, defense can appeal
Which Hall of Famer was nicknamed “The Georgia Peach”?
1. Ty Cobb
2. Rogers Hornsby
3. Tris Speaker
4. Honus Wagner
Which MLB franchise has never appeared in a World Series?
1. Seattle Mariners
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. Colorado Rockies
4. Tampa Bay Rays
Who was the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season?
1. Barry Bonds
2. Alex Rodriguez
3. Shohei Ohtani
4. José Canseco
What major rule change was introduced in MLB for the 2026 season?
1. Universal DH
2. Automated ball-strike challenge system
3. Expanded playoffs
4. Pitch clock removal

Methodology

We surveyed 5,000 MLB fans across all 30 teams to assess baseball knowledge and fan confidence. Respondents were asked a 20-question multiple-choice quiz covering MLB history, player records, rules, and notable edge-case scenarios. Each correct answer contributed to an overall knowledge score out of 20.

Participants also self-rated their MLB knowledge on a 1–10 scale prior to completing the quiz. Results were then analyzed by team affiliation to produce fanbase-level averages for both knowledge score and self-assessed confidence.

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