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In 1946, a Million Fans in D.C. and a Tribute to a Dying Hero
The game between the Senators and Red Sox in Washington on Sept. 21, 1946 was memorable for two reasons unrelated to the outcome: it pushed Griffith Stadium’s attendance over one million for the first (and only) time and it turned into a melancholy tribute to the dying Walter Johnson.
Tigers Making Push For October
I don’t remember which announcer said it first, but Detroit is a baseball town. The city and much of the state love the Tigers, and when the Tigers start playing compelling and competitive baseball, the fans show up. Since July 1, the Tigers are 40-27, good for a .597 winning percentage, and have put themselves into the American League Wild Card conversation. Fans are starting to take notice, and the crowds and interest in the team has heated up just like the team.
Looking Back at the Hall of Fame Career of Dennis Eckersley
The final MLB Draft presided over by GM Gabe Paul for the Cleveland Indians in June 1972 saw the club select 17-year-old pitcher Dennis Lee Eckersley out of Washington Union High School in Fremont, California, in the third round.
Oh, Marty! Why Hasn't the Hall of Fame Been Opened To You?
The other day I was doing research, baseball research. It seems that I'm always doing some sort of baseball research... This specific task had me looking at the Top 10 vote-getters for the Baseball Hall of Fame year-by-year dating back to 1970. As I looked at the list of the top ten vote- getters, year-in and year-out, I noticed something very interesting: most of the players who made it into the top ten in any given year eventually made it into Cooperstown.
The Lost Pitchers
Trevor Bauer once won a Cy Young Award. Julio Urías won a World Series ring. And Domingo Germán pitched a perfect game less than a year ago. Yet all three pitchers remain on the outside, looking in, while most of the 30 major-league teams prepare to head into the stretch drive of the 2024 season with patchwork pitching staffs.
In The Big Inning
Arizona’s 14-run explosion in the third inning of its first game this season was not the biggest in baseball history. In 1952, the Brooklyn Dodgers plated 15 runs in the first inning of a game against Cincinnati at Ebbets Field. And a year later, the Boston Red Sox buried the Detroit Tigers with a 17-run frame that remains the record for a single inning.
Meet The Most-Traded Man in Baseball History
Once upon a time, there was a baseball player named Harry Simpson. An outfielder-first baseman who batted left-handed, he played for 11 years in a nondescript career that ended with a .251 batting average, 76 home runs, and an unforgettable nickname.
The Great Collapse: 1964 Philadelphia Phillies
This month marks the 60th anniversary of events that scarred Phillies fans of a certain age for life. After years as a cellar dweller, the Phillies caught fire in 1964. They had a young, innovative manager in former Major League utility infielder Gene Mauch. They had the consensus Rookie of the Year, Dick Allen, pummeling the ball to all fields at third base. They had MVP candidate and matinee idol Johnny Callison, with the lightning quick bat and cannon of an arm, in right field. Veteran Jim Bunning, over from the Detroit Tigers, had steadied the mound core. Lefty Chris Short had emerged as an All-Star-caliber starter. Versatile Cookie Rojas, hustling Tony Taylor, reliable Tony Gonzalez, slick-fielding Ruben Amaro, and slugging Wes Covington filled out the lineup. Jack Baldschun and Ed Roebuck were dependable arms in the bullpen.
Major League Baseball Is Increasingly a Young Man's Game
When first baseman Yuli Gurriel made his season debut on September 1 for the Kansas City Royals, he became the first hitter aged 40 or older to play in the majors this season. That struck up a question...are we turning the game over to the kids?
Celebrating the Anniversary of Sandy Koufax's Perfect Game
Sandy Koufax has a unique place in the hearts and minds of baseball fans. Unlike most of the icons of baseball's golden age, he left by his own volition just as he was hitting his prime. When Koufax walked away in 1966 at the age of 31, he may not have been at the peak; he was probably still ascending. In his final season, he set or tied career highs in wins (27), ERA (1.73), complete games (27), and starts (41), adding 317 strikeouts en route to a pitching triple crown.
Kansas City Royals — You Read That Right — Beef Up For Stretch Drive
In the nine years that passed since the Kansas City Royals defeated the New York Mets to win their second World Series, fans have suffered through payroll slashing, deals predicated on salary dumps, and a parade of pilots unable to save the sinking ship.
Braves Were Knocked Out Early By Injury Bug
Losing their best hitter and best pitcher early was a double whammy that doomed the 2024 Atlanta Braves before Memorial Day. Taking Ronald Acuña, Jr. (torn left ACL) and Spencer Strider (UCL elbow surgery) away from the Braves was like taking Bryce Harper and Zack Wheeler from Philadelphia or Francisco Lindor and Sean Manaea from the Mets. For an American League equivalent, imagine the Yankees without Aaron Judge and Aaron Cole.
Today’s MLB Players Don’t Bunt, And Not Only Because They Can’t
It’s often said that bunting is a lost art. It’s also not a good percentage baseball play, less so today than it’s ever been. Better infield positioning and overall defense are the primary reasons. When bunting for a base hit, the combination of surprise and precision against today’s corner infielders makes little sense, as the attempt must be perfect. Or at least nearly perfect. The fielders are too fast, their arms are too strong, and their overall anticipation is too good for bunters to be successful often enough.
Making Yankees Old Timers' Day Better
Imagine having direct, first-hand access to a host of living former All-Stars such as Bobby Richardson, Al Downing, Chris Chambliss, Mickey Rivers, Ron Davis, Dave Righetti, Steve Sax, Roberto Kelly, Mike Stanley, David Wells, Scott Brosius, Mike Stanton, Robin Ventura, Jason Giambi, Alfonso Soriano, Tom Gordon, Javier Vazquez, Mark Teixeira, Phil Hughes, Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Andrew Miller, and Dellin Betances.
Punk Rockers Rancid Urge Sale of Oakland Athletics While Performing at MLB Stadiums
Green Day, in support of their new album ("Saviors"), and to honor the 30th anniversary of their breakthrough album ("Dookie") and 20th anniversary of their most critically-acclaimed album ("American Idiot"), have been playing to sold out shows at Major League Baseball stadiums this summer. Smashing Pumpkins, a headliner in their own right, have been opening for them.
Majors Might Have Unanimous MVPs For Second Straight Season
Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge are not only about to become multiple MVPs but the second straight players to win the trophies by unanimous vote. That has never happened before. Last year, Ohtani won the award in the American League for the second time while completing his career with the Los Angeles Angels. The National League’s winner was Ronald Acuna, Jr. of the Atlanta Braves in the wake of his 40/70 campaign — a baseball first.
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