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.
...
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Ichiro reaches 2,500 career hits in MLB
Seattle slugger Ichiro Suzuki recorded career hit No. 2,500 Tuesday night.
During another four-hit game for Ichiro, amidst a downtrodden season for the perennial all-star, he made history by reaching the plateau faster than any player (1,817 games) since 1936. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Al Simmons reached the milestone in 1,784 games.
“I’ve broken many records over the past...
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Dickey continues to impress with knuckle
At this point, there isn’t a baseball fan on the planet who doesn’t want to tune in to see how R.A. Dickey pitches during each outing. His command of the plate - with a knuckeball no less - has been legendary and the 2012 season isn’t even half over.
During his last two starts, the Mets pitcher has thrown back-to-back complete game one-hitters, something that hasn’t been achieved since 1944 in...
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Mets celebrate all-time team for 50th anniversary
All season the New York Mets have shed light on their 50th anniversary season and recently announced an all-time team with the help of media members who cover the franchise and the New York sports scene.
At the SNY Studios in New York City on Monday, Keith Hernandez, Jerry Koosman and Edgardo Alfonzo, all selections from the all-time team, were on-hand to sign autographs and greet fans in a...
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Baseball Hall of Famers play in Classic
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – While wins and loses are the least bit of concern at the Baseball Hall of Fame Classic, Desi Relaford did happen to lead Team Knucksies to a victory with a two-run walkoff single against Team Wizards Saturday at historic Doubleday Field.
For that, Relaford earned Bob Feller Player of the Game honors and Phil Niekro has bragging rights over hall of fame brother Ozzie Smith and...
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Cain makes history, throws perfect game
We let the Matt Cain hype die down slightly this morning before we posted something. It also helped to wait while every bit of historical information is available, to find the interesting, odd and fun facts about Cain’s dance with perfection Wednesday night.
According to Elias Sports Bureau …
Matt Cain struck out 14 batters on Wednesday, tying the most in a perfect game - Sandy...
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Looking back: Dodgers infield plays together
By the headline, it doesn’t sound like a thrilling moment in baseball history. But Dodgers fans, and baseball fans, would appreciate June 13, 1973.
That day was the first time that Steve Garvey (1B), Davey Lopes (2B), Ron Cey (3B) and Bill Russell (SS) played together and stayed together for another 8.5 years.
On that day, the Dodgers lost, 16-3, to the Phillies. Here’s how those...
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Looking back: Interleague play begins
It’s hard to picture Major League Baseball without interleague play at this point. It’s also hard to believe the first interleague game took place 15 years ago, on June 12, 1997.
Baseball was played for 126 years before its first interleague game took place between the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers that day. The Giants captured a 4-3 win on the road.
Glenallen Hill, who...
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Looking back: Astros no-hit Yankees
In one of the most unique moments in Astros and Yankees history, six pitchers from Houston combined for a no-hitter on June 11, 2003.
It marked the first time since 1958 that a team no-hit the Yankees when Hoyt Wilhelm and his knuckleball blanked the Bronx Bombers, 1-0.
In 2003, Roy Oswalt, Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner, combined to break the...
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Looking back: Torre wins 2,000th game
On June 7, 2007, Joe Torre earned career win No. 2,000 when the New York Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox, 10-3, at U.S. Cellular Field.
That night Torre became the first person in Major League Baseball history to have 2,000 career hits as a player and 2,000 wins as a manager.
Torre, who is now the Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for Major League Baseball, is the fifth...
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Closer look: Astros No. 1 pick Carlos Correa
The Houston Astros have selected shortstop Carlos Correa with the first pick in the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Astros Assistant General Manager/Director of Scouting Bobby Heck announced tonight.
Correa, 17, played amateur baseball at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy in Gurabo, P.R. The 6-foot-4 shortstop is the highest-drafted player ever out of Puerto Rico. That label...
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Live from Studio 42! MLB Draft news and notes
SECAUCUS, N.J. — Each year the Major League Baseball Draft becomes more of a spectacle with robust media coverage from the lavish Studio 42 at MLB Studios in Secaucus, N.J.
This year five prospects made the trip to hold a jersey from their new team and enjoy the festivities similar to those of draftees in football, hockey and basketball.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig...
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Big names expected at MLB Draft
A number of well-known baseball figures are expected at this year’s Major League Baseball Draft being held inside Studio 42 at the MLB Network.
According to Major League Baseball, Hall of Famers Pat Gillick, Ferguson Jenkins, Tommy Lasorda and Frank Robinson are among the group of stars and front office figures who are scheduled to attend.
Others include five-time All-Star and 2007 American...
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Share your #MetsMemories from Topps Pennant
Mets great John Franco will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame Sunday, June 3. In honor of the event, we’re rolling out our #MetsMemories campaign and asking fans to submit their favorite #MetsMemories from the Topps Pennant app.
To have an inside look at baseball history, check out the new Topps Pennant app today and follow us on Twitter @ToppsPennant.
-Chris R. Vaccaro
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Johan Santana throws first Mets no-hitter
Johan Santana made history Friday night throwing the first no-hitter in Mets history against the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.
“Tonight we made history @mets,” Santana said on Twitter. “I want to thank all my teammates and all the fans for the support…Believe it!! You guys are the best!!!”
You can read the game story through dozens of...
