October 2012
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Pennant shots: Giants win 2012 World Series
You can get the game recaps and player profiles just about anywhere, but at Topps, you’ll get the official Pennant infographics depicting the action from this year’s 2012 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Detroit Tigers.
Here’s a run down of some of the top moments from each of the four games played in this series:
GAME 1
Pablo Sandoval was 4-for-4 in...
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Buckner. Mookie. 86. Mets. Boston.
This photo doesn’t need a caption or descriptive paragraph.
It happened on Oct. 25, 1986.
To have an inside look at baseball history, check out the new Topps Pennant app today and follow us on Twitter @ToppsPennant.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro
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Pedroia hits leadoff HR in World Series opener
It’s been five years since Dustin Pedroia’s leadoff home run opened the 2007 World Series, but his blast, as a rookie for the Red Sox against the Rockies, was historic for a number of reasons.
Aside from being the 31st major leaguer to hit a home run in his first World Series appearance, he joined Don Buford as the only other player to hit a dinger in the leadoff at-bat in Game 1....
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Clemens almost hits Piazza with bat
This happened on Oct. 23, 2000. Roger Clemens fielded a bat and chucked it towards the first base line as Mike Piazza was running out a ground ball.
Clemens had beaned Piazza earlier that year in July, so this just added fuel to the fire. Benches cleared as New York’s biggest baseball stars jarred with one another on the diamond.
To have an inside look at baseball history, check out the...
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A's trump Reds in Game 7, win '72 World Series
The Oakland Athletics captured their first title in 42 years and won the first world title in the Bay Area after beating the Reds, 3-2, in Game 7 of the 1972 World Series on Oct. 22.
Gene Tenace was awarded the World Series MVP after hitting four home runs in the series. He hit just five during the regular season.
To have an inside look at baseball history, check out the new Topps Pennant...
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1971: Clemente homers, Pirates win series
Robert Clemente had a strong post-season in 1971 and finished in stride, hitting safely in all seven games of the World Series against Baltimore.
In Game 7 on Oct. 17, Clemente delivered with a solo shot in the fourth inning off Orioles pitcher Mike Cuellar and the Pirates won, 1-0.
Eleven years earlier, Clemente also hit safely in all seven games of the Series against the Yankees in 1960,...
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Looking back: Maris hits 61st homer
Today is the anniversary of Roger Maris breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record on Oct. 1, 1961.
The historic 61st homer was hit off Tracy Stallard, a pitcher for the Red Sox, in a 1-0 victory over Boston.
To have an inside look at baseball history, check out the new Topps Pennant app today and follow us on Twitter @ToppsPennant.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro
September 2012
7 posts
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Greinke, Angels record 20 strikeouts
On Tuesday night, Zach Greinke became the first pitcher since 1920 to record as many as 13 strikeouts in five innings for the Angels. He was pulled due to a high pitch count.
His teammates added seven more strikeouts throughout the next four innings to amass a team total of 20. That ties the most ever in a nine-inning game.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, they are the first to do it with...
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Looking back: Kaline hits No. 3,000
On Sept. 24, 1974, Tigers legend Al Kaline recorded career hit No. 3,000.
Kalie hit a double off Orioles pitcher Dave McNally in a 5-4 loss at Memorial Stadium.
To have an inside look at baseball history, check out the new Topps Pennant app today and follow us on Twitter @ToppsPennant.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro
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Looking back: Final game at Yankee Stadium
Friday marks the four year anniversary of the final game at the old Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees beat the Orioles, 7-3, as they said goodbye to the 85-year old ballpark.
Julia Ruth Stevens, the daughter of Babe Ruth, threw out of the ceremonial first pitch. Derek Jeter gave a speech to the 54,000-plus in attendance at the end of the game.
To have an inside look at baseball history, check out...
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Looking back: Ripken breaks Gehrig's record
Cal Ripken Jr. reached legendary status on Sept. 6, 1995 when he broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played streak.
The Hall of Famer played his 2,131st straight game and took his famous victory lap around the field at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Ripken went 2-for-4 and homered during the game.
The Orioles will honor Ripken with his own statue outside Camden today to mark the anniversary...
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Looking back: Abbott throws no-hitter
On Sept. 4, 1993, Yankees pitcher Jim Abbott threw a no-hitter against the Indians.
Abbott, who was born without a right hand, had an 87-108 career record and played in the majors from 1989-1999.
To have an inside look at baseball history, check out the new Topps Pennant app today and follow us on Twitter @ToppsPennant.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro
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Profar makes history with first homer
Texas Rangers prospect Jurickson Profar hit a home run in his first major league at-bat Saturday.
Profar turned on a fastball from Indians pitcher Zach McAllister and became the youngest player since Adrian Beltre in 1998 to hit a home run. Beltre was 19 years and 171 days old then.
Ranked as the No. 4 prospect with the Rangers, Profar is 19 years and 195 days old.
According to MLB.com, the...
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Uecker statue unveiled "way outside" Miller Park
Baseball’s funny man, Bob Uecker, was honored with the unveiling of his own statue outside Miller Park in Milwaukee this week.
Uecker, a former major league player turned broadcaster, has been a part of baseball for over 50 years and has brought a hall of fame personality to the game unlike anyone else.
Noted for his role as Harry Doyle in the film “Major League,” Uecker...
August 2012
13 posts
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Indians one loss away from historic month
With a loss Friday night at Progressive Field, the Cleveland Indians would set a franchise record with 24 losses in one month, breaking the existing mark of 23 set in July 1914. To put it harshly, it’s been 98 years since Cleveland has had this bad of a month.
Unfortunately Cleveland is hosting Texas, who leads the AL West and is 7-3 in its last 10 games. The handful of Indians fans who...
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Looking back: Erstad gets 200th hit of season
On Aug. 29, 2000, Angels slugger Darin Erstad recorded his 200th hit of the season. He reached the 200-hit plateau faster than any player in baseball history since Ducky Medwick did it in 131 games with the 1935 Cardinals.
Erstad, who retired from playing professionally in 2009 and is the current head baseball coach at the University of Nebraska, finished the 2000 season with 240 hits, an...
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Report: Twins lands 2014 MLB All-Star Game
Target Field will play host to the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Only a few months ago, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said that Citi Field would host the 2013 All-Star Game during a speech at City Hall in New York City. Selig and other baseball executives are expected to host a news conference Wednesday in Minnesota to make this...
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Scully's 'love affair' with baseball still strong
Some would like to be able to walk and remember their grandkids’ names at 84. Vin Scully is still worried about calling Dodgers games.
Scully announced last weekend he’ll return for his 64th season in the broadcast booth, citing a “constant love affair” he has with the game.
He noted how impressed he is with the current ownership group and has a feeling this team could...
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Yankees have large international reach
(Sports apparel store in Brussels loaded with MLB hats in various colors.)
LONDON – Truth is, this column started on a plane home from London after a three-week European journey that started with my engagement and ended with covering the Olympics. The idea and text sat nicely on the top right hand corner of my laptop until three weeks worth of “to-do list” items were successfully demolished.
It...
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Looking back: Ernie Banks goes deep ... for the...
Ernie Banks hit 512 career home runs.
He hit the final dinger of his career on Aug. 24, 1971. Mr. Cub went yard off Reds pitcher Jim McGlothlin in the fourth inning.
To have an inside look at baseball history, check out the new Topps Pennant app today and follow us on Twitter @ToppsPennant.
-By Chris R. Vaccaro
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Looking back: Bonds joins 400/400 club
On Aug. 23, 1998, Barry Bonds accomplished something no other major league player has yet to achieve: he joined the 400/400 club by launching his 26th homer of the season off Kirt Ojala of the Marlins in a 10-5 Giants victory.
Bonds finished his career with 776 home runs and 514 stolen bases. Right now he is the only member of the 400-400 and 500-500 clubs.
To have an inside look at baseball...
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Looking back: Nolan Ryan strikes out 5,000
Most people don’t remember Rickey Henderson as the 5,000th hitter Nolan Ryan struck out, but he was just that on Aug. 22, 1989.
On his patented 96 mph fastball, Ryan caught Henderson swinging. He struck out 13 hitters in the 2-0 loss to the Athletics.
Ryan, the principal owner, president and CEO of the Rangers, finished his career with 5,714 strikeouts, a major league record.
To have an...
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Looking back: Fingers saves No. 300
Rollie Fingers finished his hall of fame career with 341 saves, but No. 300 turned out to be extra special since he was the first major league player to reach the plateau at the time on August 21, 1982.
Pitching for the Brewers, he closed out a game in which Milwaukee beat Seattle, 3-2. It didn’t come easy as Fingers allowed two earned runs in a two-inning appearance.
To have an inside...
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Looking back: McGwire hits 50 HR three straight...
On August 20, 1998, Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire became the first major league player to hit 50 home runs in three consecutive seasons. He hit a solo homer in the seventh inning against the Mets in the first game of a double header.
McGwire, of course, went on to hit 70 home runs that season, breaking Roger Maris’ home run record and capturing baseball fans worldwide with his...
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Looking back: Willie Mays hits final homer
It was Aug. 17, 1973. Willie Mays was 42 at the time and in his final season of Major League Baseball.
That day in 1973, the same year the Mets won the National League pennant, Mays hit his 660th and final home run of his career off Cincinnati pitcher Don Gullett. The Mets took a 1-0 lead over the Reds in the bottom of the fourth with the Mays blast, but eventually lost the contest, 2-1.
To...
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King Felix perfect in quest for immortality
As we’ve done for all perfect games and no-hitters this season - and there have been a lot - we’re taking the historical bullet points from the moment and presenting as many interesting and unique facts about the performance as we can. Considering Felix Hernandez threw the first perfect game in Seattle Mariners’ history, there’s plenty of historic undertones to talk...
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Remaining Topps Pennant Time Capsule Giveaways
If you haven’t been paying attention to the @ToppsPennant Twitter account the last few weeks, you’re missing out. We’ve been giving away autographed items by the dozens.
The good news is you still have a chance to win some prizes.
Here’s what’s left:
Pittsburgh Pirates, John Candelaria signed ball, ending 8/16
Colorado RockieS, Troy Tulowitzki signed ball,...
July 2012
17 posts
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Enter the Topps Pennant Time Capsule Giveaway
The walk-off home run. The called third strike. The leaping catch at the wall. The first time you laid eyes on that beautiful, green field. The best part about being a fan is the memories that stick with you for a lifetime. Now, we’re asking you to share them with us. And you’ll get some cool gear along the way.
Enter the Topps Pennant Time Capsule contest for your chance to win an...
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MLB Cave Dwellers down to five
For the MLB Cave Dwellers, it’s been one long, wild and exciting marathon of baseball excitement since they were chosen from 22,000 applicants to live a year of fantasy in New York City.
Narrowed to 50, and then finally nine official Dwellers, that total is down to five after four have been eliminated at this point in the season. Left dwelling are Ricardo Marquez (pictured above), Kyle Thompson,...
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Larkin, Santo officially inducted to Baseball HOF
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Barry Larkin, straight laced and proper on the field, opened his Hall of Fame speech by saying, “this is Unsticking believable.” For the next half hour, Larkin, a career-long member of the Cincinnati Reds, thanked everyone from Pete Rose to Lou Pinella and made a constant point to say he always had the interest of Cincinnati – his hometown – in mind when he played...
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HOF Weekend: Award winners, inductees meet press
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — This weekend’s honored guests spent time talking with baseball writers Saturday afternoon, their only scheduled time for press engagements for their induction ceremonies this weekend at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Cincinnati Reds legend Barry Larkin, as well as the children of Cubs great Ron Santo, broadcaster Tim McCarver and writer Bob Elliott were all...
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Larkin ready for Sunday's HOF induction
In a conference call with media Tuesday, Barry Larkin touched on everything from his preparation leading up to Sunday’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame to his playing days for his hometown Cincinnati Reds and a transition from football to baseball that changed his life.
Here’s a look at some Larkin quotes from the call:
On the anticipation for Sunday: “I’m really excited about how many...
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PHOTOS: MLB Fan Cave in all its glory
To say the MLB Fan Cave is baseball heaven is an understatement. The Cave Dwellers get to live, eat, sleep and devour baseball 24/7 from the confines of a baseball friendly environment in New York City, complete with everything you could possibly want to keep your diamond fever running high.
Topps had a chance to visit the Fan Cave this week and here’s what we saw:
Here’s the view...
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Postal Service to Unveil New HOF Stamps
On the weekend when heroes return to Cooperstown, some of the game’s legendary names of yesteryear will be honored with a uniquely American celebration at the home of baseball.
Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn will help celebrate the lives of four Hall of Fame teammates on Friday during the First-Day-of-Issue Major League Baseball All-Stars stamps dedication ceremony in Cooperstown.
The new Baseball...
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A walk through the Baseball Hall
Last month, Topps Pennant ventured to Cooperstown, N.Y. for the Baseball Hall of Fame Classic. With that trip came a tour of the beloved museum on Main Street.
You know about many of the key items that exist in the hall, but we tried to find some other interesting artifacts currently on display that have a fun and meaningful place in baseball’s long and extensive history.
In no specific...
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ASG Notes, Photos: NL pounds AL in 8-0 victory
KANSAS CITY — For the third straight year, the National League defeated the American League in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, gaining home field advantage for the World Series.
In an 8-0 defeat, the National League captured victory in what many would deem as an unlikely scenario prior to the contest; they managed to score five runs off Tigers ace Justin Verlander in the first...
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PHOTOS: ASG Home Run Derby
KANSAS CITY — Here’s a look at some of our photos from Monday’s Home Run Derby at Kauffman Stadium. Prince Fielder beat Jose Bautista in the final.
CLICK HERE, to see a complete gallery from the derby and all all-star events.
To have an inside look at baseball history, check out the new Topps Pennant app today and follow us on...
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ASG Notes: Futures Game and Celebrity Softball
KANSAS CITY — The MLB Futures Game and Celebrity Softball contest were played Sunday Kauffman Stadium, kicking off three strong days of on-field baseball fun in KC. Rather then recap the action, which you can get anywhere, enjoy a visual representation of some moments from throughout the day and of the stadium.
One of three statues of Royals players/coaches who have their numbers...
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ASG Notes: FanFest Highlights from KC
KANSAS CITY – A little over 48 hours in Kansas City and baseball fever has fully set in for all FanFest attendees. If they weren’t excited enough about a convention center filled with baseball goodies and free diamond swag, they also had an opportunity to meet Royals legend Bo Jackson and a handful of other baseball notables like Rollie Fingers and Andre Dawson on Saturday.
Ladies from AAGPBL...
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Live from Kansas City: MLB All-Star Week
KANSAS CITY — This year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game comes to the heartland of America, to a city located geographically in the center of a country that has long dubbed baseball as its National Pastime.
Under scorching temperatures, with the smell of succulent barbeque penetrating the streets, and a passionate fan base still drenched in the history that legends like George Brett,...
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Looking back: Juan Gonzalez reaches 100 RBI
On July 5, 1998, Juan Gonzalez became just the second player in major league history to slug in 100 RBI in the first half of the season before all-star break.
The record is 103 set by Hank Greenberg in 1935. While Greenberg finished with 170 that season, Gonzalez recorded 157.
This season, Josh Hamilton currently leads all major leaguers with 74 RBI, following by Melky Cabrera (68), Jose...
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Baseball HOF launches new mobile app
Baseball fans can now have Cooperstown in the palm of their hand, thanks to new mobile applications for Apple and Android devices available from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Through a new licensing relationship with Celebrity Apps of Pleasanton, Calif., the Museum has launched its first mobile device application: “Baseball Hall of Fame Trivia.” The 90-seconds per round game...
June 2012
22 posts
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Thorn delivers keynote, Gebhard honored
MINNEAPOLIS - During his keynote address on Friday at this year’s Society of American Baseball Research conference, John Thorn, Major League Baseball’s official historian, told his fellow baseball aficionados that it’s completely acceptable and commendable to be “nerds” of this game.
“We are nerds, you and I,” he said. “We endured the predictable slings and arrows on the whole...
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SABR42 Notes: Deal with MLBAM, Award Winners
MINNEAPOLIS - Friday was an eventful day at SABR42. Twins General Manager Terry Ryan (pictured above) made the opening speech in the morning, which was followed by big news about SABR’s new deal with Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM), and the annual SABR awards luncheon.
SABR and MLBAM partner
SABR announced the finalization of a licensing deal with MLBAM, which will provide valued...
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Two knuckles up for knuckleball film
MINNEAPOLIS - You might not remember Jim Leyland referring to Tim Wakefield as the Elvis Presley of the National League but it happened. It was 1992 and Wakefield burst onto the scene with his newly found knuckleball pitch.
He helped the Pirates to a strong run in that season’s National League Championship Series against Atlanta and then fell apart during the following 1993 campaign. He was...
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Looking back: Santo makes debut
Normally we’ll mix up our “looking back” posts to not repeat teams on consecutive days, but we’re rolling with another Cubs post today. We couldn’t pass up noting that today, June 26, is the anniversary of Ron Santo’s major league debut from 1960.
Against the Pirates, Santo, who is set to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this year alongside...
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Looking back: Sosa has big month
On June 25, 1998, Sammy Sosa broke the major league record for home runs in a month. He hit homer No. 19 in June that season, breaking the mark set by Tigers player Rudy York in August 1937.
Sosa, of course, went on to make baseball history that season alongside Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire. He hit 66 homers, while McGwire hit 70. They both famously passed Roger Maris’ mark of 61 set in 1961.
...
