1.
Run (baseball)
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A player may score by hitting a home run or by any combination of plays that puts him safely on base as a runner and subsequently brings him home. The object of the game is for a team to score more runs than its opponent. But if the out is not a force out, but a tag out, then if that other baserunner crosses home plate before that tag out is made. Example 1, With a runner on third and two outs, batter hits a ball to the second baseman. The runner on third races home, the second baseman fields the ball and throws on to the first baseman in time to get the batter on the force out at first for the third out of the inning. Even if the runner on third had touched home plate before that force out was made at first, example 2, With a runner on third and two outs, batter hits a fly ball over centerfielders head. It bounces several times as it rolls to the wall, the runner on third runs safely home and easily scores a run. Meanwhile, the batter reaches first, then tries to advance to second. The centerfielder, having retrieved the ball, throws the ball to the second baseman, since the runner stepped on home plate before the batter was tagged out at second for the third out of the inning, his run will count. In baseball statistics, a player who advances around all the bases to score is credited with a run, while runs scored is considered an important individual batting statistic, it is regarded as less significant than runs batted in. Both individual runs scored and runs batted in are heavily context-dependent, for a more sophisticated assessment of a contribution toward producing runs for his team. If the inning is reconstructed without the error, and if that third batter, instead of reaching on an error, registered an out, thus, the two runs that did score will be classified as unearned, and will not count in the pitchers personal statistics. Be advised though that unearned runs are a statistical animal only, all runs count the same in the score, whether they are earned or unearned. The career record for most runs scored by a player is 2,295. The season record for most runs scored is 198, set by Billy Hamilton of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1894, the so-called modern-day record is 177, achieved by Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees in 1921. The record for most seasons leading one of the leagues in runs scored is 8. The record for most consecutive games with at least one run scored is 18, shared by the Yankees Red Rolfe and the Cleveland Indians Kenny Lofton. The record for most runs scored by a player in a game is 7
2.
Hit (baseball)
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If a batter reaches first base because of offensive interference by a preceding runner, he is also credited with a hit. A hit for one base is called a single, for two bases a double, and for three bases a triple, a home run is also scored as a hit. Doubles, triples, and home runs are also called extra base hits, an infield hit is a hit where the ball does not leave the infield. Infield hits are uncommon by nature, and most often earned by speedy runners, a no-hitter is a game in which one of the teams prevented the other from getting a hit. Throwing a no-hitter is rare and considered an accomplishment for a pitcher or pitching staff. In most cases in the game, no-hitters are accomplished by a single pitcher who throws a complete game. A pitcher who throws a no-hitter could still allow runners to reach safely, by way of walks, errors, hit batsmen. If the pitcher allows no runners to reach base, the no-hitter is a perfect game, in 1887, Major League Baseball counted bases on balls as hits. The result was skyrocketing batting averages, including some near.500, Tip ONeill of the St. Louis Browns batted.485 that season, the experiment was abandoned the following season. There is controversy regarding how the records of 1887 should be interpreted, the number of legitimate walks and at-bats are known for all players that year, so computing averages using the same method as in other years is straightforward. In 1968, Major League Baseball formed a Special Baseball Records Committee to resolve this issues, the Committee ruled that walks in 1887 should not be counted as hits. Most current sources list ONeills 1887 average as.435, as calculated by omitting his walks and he would retain his American Association batting championship. However, the variance between methods results in differing recognition for the 1887 National League batting champion, cap Anson would be recognized, with his.421 average, if walks are included, but Sam Thompson would be the champion at.372 if they are not. The official rulebook of Major League Baseball states in Rule 10, Rule 10.05 Comment, In applying Rule 10.05, the official scorer shall always give the batter the benefit of the doubt. Runner is called out for interference with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, unless in the scorers judgment the batter-runner would have been safe had the interference not occurred
3.
Error (baseball)
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The term error can also refer to the play during which an error was committed. In that case, the play will be scored both as a hit and an error. Similarly, a batter does not receive credit for a run batted in when runs score on an error, passed balls and wild pitches are separate statistical categories and are not scored as errors. There is a loophole in the rules on errors for catchers. There is therefore a no fault condition for the attempting to prevent a steal. However, when considering that the majority of stolen base attempts are successful, if the runner takes an additional base due to the wild throw, an error is charged for that advance. However, if the catchers glove is hit by the bat, it is counted as a catchers interference, traditionally, the number of errors was a statistic used to quantify the skill of a fielder. However, fans and analysts have questioned the usefulness and significance of errors as a metric for fielding skill, notably, mental misjudgments, such as failure to cover a base or attempting a force out when such a play is not available, are not considered errors. A more subtle, though more significant objection to the error, in order for a fielder to be charged with an error, he must have done something right by being in the correct place to be able to attempt the play. A poor fielder may avoid many errors simply by being unable to reach batted or thrown balls that a fielder could successfully reach. Thus, it is possible that a poor fielder will have fewer errors than any fielder with higher expectancies, however, this still leaves statistics, such as fielding percentage, that are based on errors as a way to compare the defensive abilities of players. Errors also hold significance in calculating the earned run average of a pitcher, runs scored due to an error are unearned, and do not count toward a pitchers ERA. In Major League Baseball, Herman Long holds the Major League records with 1096 errors in his career between 1889 and 1904, bill Dahlen, Deacon White and Germany Smith are the only other players to make 1,000 errors during their MLB careers. All of these players played at least one season before 1900, the 20th century record is held by Rabbit Maranville with 711 errors. Among active players, Adrián Beltré leads with 275 errors over 2475 career games as of June 14,2015, the major league record for errors by a pitcher in a career is held by Hippo Vaughn, with 64 errors. That also is the National League record, the American career mark is held by Ed Walsh. The most errors made by a pitcher in a season is 28 by Jim Whitney, the American League record of 15 is held by three pitchers, Jack Chesbro, Rube Waddell, and Ed Walsh. The record for most errors made by a pitcher in one inning is three, first set by Cy Seymour in 1898, the record was tied by Tommy John in 1988, Jaime Navarro in 1996 and Mike Sirotka in 1999
4.
American League
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The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League, is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a league based in the Great Lakes states. It is sometimes called the Junior Circuit because it claimed Major League status for the 1901 season,25 years after the formation of the National League. At the end of season, the American League champion plays in the World Series against the National League champion. Through 2016, American League teams have won 64 of the 112 World Series played since 1903, the 2016 American League champions are the Cleveland Indians. The New York Yankees have won 40 American League titles, the most in the history, followed by the Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland Athletics. Originally a minor league known as the Western League, the American League later developed into a major league after the American Association disbanded, in its early history, the Western League struggled until 1894, when Ban Johnson became the president of the league. Johnson led the Western League into major league status and soon became the president of the newly renamed American League, babe Ruth, noted as one of the most prolific hitters in Major League Baseball history, spent the majority of his career in the American League. The American League has one notable difference versus the National League, in 1902, the Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis and were renamed the St. Louis Browns. In 1902, The Cleveland Bluebirds were also renamed the Cleveland Broncos, in 1903, the Broncos were renamed the Cleveland Naps. In 1915, the Naps were renamed the Cleveland Indians, in 1903, the Baltimore Orioles moved to New York and were renamed the New York Highlanders. In 1913, the Highlanders were renamed the New York Yankees, in 1904, the Chicago White Stockings were renamed the Chicago White Sox. In 1908, the Boston Americans were renamed the Boston Red Sox, in 1954, the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore and were renamed as the Baltimore Orioles. In 1955, the Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City and were renamed as the Kansas City Athletics, in 1961, the league expanded and added two teams as the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Senators, expanding the league to 10 teams. The original Senators team moved to Minneapolis/St, Paul in 1961 and were renamed as the Minnesota Twins. The Angels team name changed to the California Angels in 1966, then to the Anaheim Angels in 1997, the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Pilots were added to the American League, expanding the league to 12 teams. In 1970, the Seattle Pilots moved to Milwaukee and were renamed the Milwaukee Brewers, in 1972, the Washington Senators relocated to the Dallas/Fort Worth area and were renamed the Texas Rangers. In 1977, the league expanded to fourteen teams, when the Seattle Mariners, in 1998, the Tampa Bay Rays was added to the American League and at the same time, the Milwaukee Brewers were switched to the National League, leaving the American League with 14 teams
5.
National League
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Both leagues currently have 15 teams. The two league champions of 1903 arranged to compete against each other in the inaugural World Series, after the 1904 champions failed to reach a similar agreement, the two leagues formalized the World Series as an arrangement between the leagues. National League teams have won 48 of the 112 World Series contested from 1903 to 2016, the 2016 National League champions are the Chicago Cubs. By 1875, the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players was dangerously weak, additionally, Hulbert had a problem—five of his star players were threatened with expulsion from the NAPBBP because Hulbert had signed them to his club using what were considered questionable means. Hulbert had a vested interest in creating his own league. After recruiting St. Louis privately, four western clubs met in Louisville, Kentucky, Boston Red Stockings, the dominant team in the N. A. Hartford Dark Blues from the N. A. Mutual of New York from the N. A. St. Louis Brown Stockings from the N. A, the only strong club from 1875 excluded in 1876 was a second one in Philadelphia, often called the White Stockings or Phillies. The first game in National League history was played on April 22,1876, at Philadelphias Jefferson Street Grounds, 25th & Jefferson, the new leagues authority was tested after the first season. The National League operated with six clubs during 1877 and 1878, over the next several years, various teams joined and left the struggling league. By 1880, six of the eight members had folded. The two remaining original NL franchises, Boston and Chicago, remain in operation today as the Atlanta Braves, in 1883 the New York Gothams and Philadelphia Phillies began National League play. Both teams remain in the NL today, the Phillies in their original city, the NL encountered its first strong rival organization when the American Association began play in 1882. The A. A. played in cities where the NL did not have teams, offered Sunday games and alcoholic beverages in locales where permitted, the National League and the American Association participated in a version of the World Series seven times during their ten-year coexistence. These contests were less organized than the modern Series, lasting as few as three games and as many as fifteen, with two Series ending in disputed ties, the NL won four times and the A. A. only once, in 1886. Starting with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1887, the National League began to raid the American Association for franchises to replace NL teams that folded and this undercut the stability of the A. A. Other new leagues that rose to compete with the National League were the Union Association, the Union Association was established in 1884 and folded after playing only one season, its league champion St. Louis Maroons joining the NL. The NL suffered many defections of star players to the Players League, the Brooklyn, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and New York franchises of the NL absorbed their Players League counterparts. The labor strife of 1890 hastened the downfall of the American Association, after the 1891 season, the A. A. disbanded and merged with the NL, which became known legally for the next decade as the National League and American Association
6.
Riverfront Stadium
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Located on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, the stadium was best known as the home of The Big Red Machine, as the Reds were often called in the 1970s. Construction began on February 1,1968, and was completed at a cost of less than $50 million, on June 30,1970, the Reds hosted the Atlanta Braves in their grand opening, with Hank Aaron hitting the first ever home run at Riverfront. Two weeks later on July 14,1970, Riverfront hosted the 1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and this game is best remembered for the often-replayed collision at home plate between Reds star Pete Rose and catcher Ray Fosse of the Cleveland Indians. In September 1996, Riverfront Stadium was renamed Cinergy Field in a deal with Greater Cincinnati energy company Cinergy. In 2001, to room for Great American Ball Park. There was a wall in center field visible after the renovations. The stadium was demolished by implosion on December 29,2002, the astroturf panels covering the tracks could be seen in left field during Reds games. Riverfront Stadiums scoreboard was designed by American Sign and Indicator, and that scoreboard would be upgraded in the 1980s with the addition of an adjacent Sony JumboTron. Riverfront quickly earned a place in Cincinnatis century-long baseball tradition as the home of one of the best teams in baseball history, the World Series would return in 1990, with Cincinnati winning the first two of a four-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics at Riverfront. Players who combined power and speed like Joe Morgan, Pete Rose and Ken Griffey, catcher Johnny Bench and first baseman Tony Pérez played here. The artificial turf covered not only the grass area of the ballpark but is usually the skinned portion of the infield. Only the pitchers mound, the plate area, and cutouts around first, second. This was the first stadium in the majors with this sliding pit configuration, Riverfront hosted the MLB All-Star Game twice. First on July 14,1970 with President Richard Nixon in attendance, despite Cincinnatis love of baseball, it was the prospect of a professional football team that finally moved the city to end 20 years of discussion and build a new stadium on the downtown riverfront. Perhaps the most memorable game at Riverfront was the AFC Championship on January 10,1982. The game became known as the Freezer Bowl and was won by the Bengals over the San Diego Chargers, the air temperature during the game was −9 °F and the wind chill was −37 °F, the coldest in NFL history. The win earned the Bengals their first of two trips to the Super Bowl while playing at Riverfront, Riverfront Stadium hosted the 1988 AFC Championship, as the Bengals beat the Buffalo Bills 21–10 to advance to their second Super Bowl appearance. During the Bengals tenure, they defeated every visiting franchise at least once, enjoying perfect records against the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Eagles
7.
Cincinnati
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Cincinnati is a city in the U. S. state of Ohio that serves as county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the side of the confluence of the Licking with the Ohio River. With a population of 298,550, Cincinnati is the third-largest city in Ohio and its metropolitan statistical area is the 28th-largest in the United States and the largest centered in Ohio. The city is part of the larger Cincinnati–Middletown–Wilmington combined statistical area. In the 19th century, Cincinnati was an American boomtown in the heart of the country, it rivaled the larger cities in size. Throughout much of the 19th century, it was listed among the top 10 U. S and it was by far the largest city in the west. By the end of the 19th century, with the shift from steamboats to railroads drawing off freight shipping, trade patterns had altered and Cincinnatis growth slowed considerably. Cincinnati is home to two sports teams, the Cincinnati Reds, the oldest franchise in Major League Baseball. The University of Cincinnati, founded in 1819, is one of the 50 largest in the United States, Cincinnati is known for its historic architecture. In the late 1800s, Cincinnati was commonly referred to as Paris of America, due mainly to such ambitious projects as the Music Hall, Cincinnatian Hotel. The original surveyor, John Filson, named it Losantiville, in 1790, Arthur St. Ethnic Germans were among the early settlers, migrating from Pennsylvania and the backcountry of Virginia and Tennessee. General David Ziegler succeeded General St. Clair in command at Fort Washington, after the conclusion of the Northwest Indian Wars and removal of Native Americans to the west, he was elected as the mayor of Cincinnati in 1802. Cincinnati was incorporated as a city in 1819, exporting pork products and hay, it became a center of pork processing in the region. From 1810 to 1830 its population tripled, from 9,642 to 24,831. Completion of the Miami and Erie Canal in 1827 to Middletown, Ohio further stimulated businesses, the city had a labor shortage until large waves of immigration by Irish and Germans in the late 1840s. The city grew rapidly over the two decades, reaching 115,000 persons by 1850. Construction on the Miami and Erie Canal began on July 21,1825, the first section of the canal was opened for business in 1827. In 1827, the canal connected Cincinnati to nearby Middletown, by 1840, during this period of rapid expansion and prominence, residents of Cincinnati began referring to the city as the Queen City
8.
Ohio
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Ohio /oʊˈhaɪ. oʊ/ is a Midwestern state in the Great Lakes region of the United States. Ohio is the 34th largest by area, the 7th most populous, the states capital and largest city is Columbus. The state takes its name from the Ohio River, the name originated from the Iroquois word ohi-yo’, meaning great river or large creek. Partitioned from the Northwest Territory, the state was admitted to the Union as the 17th state on March 1,1803, Ohio is historically known as the Buckeye State after its Ohio buckeye trees, and Ohioans are also known as Buckeyes. Ohio occupies 16 seats in the United States House of Representatives, Ohio is known for its status as both a swing state and a bellwether in national elections. Six Presidents of the United States have been elected who had Ohio as their home state, Ohios geographic location has proven to be an asset for economic growth and expansion. Because Ohio links the Northeast to the Midwest, much cargo, Ohio has the nations 10th largest highway network, and is within a one-day drive of 50% of North Americas population and 70% of North Americas manufacturing capacity. To the north, Lake Erie gives Ohio 312 miles of coastline, Ohios southern border is defined by the Ohio River, and much of the northern border is defined by Lake Erie. Ohios neighbors are Pennsylvania to the east, Michigan to the northwest, Ontario Canada, to the north, Indiana to the west, Kentucky on the south, Ohio is bounded by the Ohio River, but nearly all of the river itself belongs to Kentucky and West Virginia. Ohio has only that portion of the river between the rivers 1792 low-water mark and the present high-water mark, the border with Michigan has also changed, as a result of the Toledo War, to angle slightly northeast to the north shore of the mouth of the Maumee River. Much of Ohio features glaciated plains, with a flat area in the northwest being known as the Great Black Swamp. Most of Ohio is of low relief, but the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau features rugged hills, in 1965 the United States Congress passed the Appalachian Regional Development Act, at attempt to address the persistent poverty and growing economic despair of the Appalachian Region. This act defines 29 Ohio counties as part of Appalachia, the worst weather disaster in Ohio history occurred along the Great Miami River in 1913. Known as the Great Dayton Flood, the entire Miami River watershed flooded, as a result, the Miami Conservancy District was created as the first major flood plain engineering project in Ohio and the United States. Grand Lake St. Marys in the west central part of the state was constructed as a supply of water for canals in the era of 1820–1850. For many years this body of water, over 20 square miles, was the largest artificial lake in the world and it should be noted that Ohios canal-building projects were not the economic fiasco that similar efforts were in other states. Some cities, such as Dayton, owe their emergence to location on canals. Summers are typically hot and humid throughout the state, while winters generally range from cool to cold, precipitation in Ohio is moderate year-round
9.
Tom Kelly (baseball)
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Jay Thomas Kelly is the former manager of the Minnesota Twins baseball team from 1986 to 2001. Currently, he serves as a Special Assistant to the General Manager for the Twins, Kelly grew up in Sayreville, New Jersey and attended St. Marys High School in nearby South Amboy. Kelly was drafted by the Seattle Pilots in the 8th round of the 1968 Major League Baseball draft, after three unspectacular years in the Pilots/Milwaukee Brewers organization, he was given his unconditional release on 6 April 1971. On 28 April 1971, Kelly was signed as a minor league free agent by the Twins, from 1972 through 1975, Kelly would spend most of his playing time at AAA Tacoma Twins in the Pacific Coast League, splitting time between first base and the corner outfield positions. After starting the 1975 season again in Tacoma, Kelly was called up to the big club, Kelly would play in 49 games with the Twins over the 1975 season while seeing playing time at first base and the outfield. Prior to the start of the 1976 season, Kelly was purchased from the Twins by the Baltimore Orioles and assigned to Rochester Red Wings, in 1977, he returned to the Twins organization and AAA Tacoma – this time as a player-manager. In 1978, Kelly played for the Twins new AAA affiliate, following the 1978 season, Kelly was sent down to manage the Twins A-affiliate, the Visalia Oaks in the California League, staying there through the 1980 season. After taking a year off, Kelly was named the manager of the Twins AA affiliate, in 1983, Kelly was added to manager Billy Gardners big-league coaching staff where he would remain until being named Twins manager during the 1986 season. Kelly was the 11th manager of the team and his tenure as manager was the longest in team history. A run of eight losing seasons ended in 2001, when the Twins led the division for much of the year before fading, finishing at 85–77. He then resigned at age 51, citing burnout, and the threat of contraction, the Minnesota Twins announced on January 26,2012 that they would retire Tom Kellys jersey number, No. 10, before a September 8,2012 game, the World Series was a well-fought contest between the Twins and the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals, each team winning all of its home games. Games 1,2,4 and 6 were decidedly lopsided contests, with Games 3,5 and 7 being much closer contests, after a 63-year drought, Tom Kellys leadership helped propel the Twins to their second World Championship. After finishing the 1990 season in last place, the Twins dominated the AL West in 1991, in the AL Championship, the Twins easily defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in 5 games, winning the right to face the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. Marked by a series of close contests filled with dramatic plays and extra-innings, following two closely contested victories at home, the Twins traveled to Atlanta where they suffered three straight defeats. Tom Kelly, prior to the Series move to Atlanta, infamously suggested that managing without the designated hitter was right up there with rocket science. Although he was being facetious, the grueling Game 3 proved Kelly prescient as a series of switches and substitutions emptied the Twins bench. After a similarly close Game 4 and a dominating 14–5 Braves victory in Game 5, Game 6 featured two climactic plays by Kirby Puckett who, in the top of the 3rd, made a sensational leaping catch against the center field acrylic glass to prevent a Braves run
10.
Minnesota Twins
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The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the American League Central division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area comprising Minneapolis and they played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome from 1982 to 2009. They played their game at the newly completed Target Field on April 12,2010. The team was founded in Washington, D. C. in 1901 as one of the eight teams of the American League. Manager Clark Griffith joined the team in 1912 and became the owner in 1920. The franchise remained under Griffith family ownership until 1984, in 1960, Major League Baseball granted the city of Minneapolis an expansion team. Washington owner Calvin Griffith, Clarks nephew and adopted son, requested that he be allowed to move his team to Minneapolis and instead give Washington the expansion team. Upon league approval, the moved to Minnesota after the 1960 season, setting up shop in Metropolitan Stadium. Success came quickly to the team in Minnesota, through the 2016 season, the franchise has won three World Series championships, and has fielded 18 American League batting champions. The Washington Senators spent the first decade of their existence finishing near the bottom of the American League standings and their fortunes began to improve with the arrival of 19-year-old pitcher, Walter Johnson, in 1907. Johnson blossomed in 1911 with 25 victories, although the Senators still finished the season in seventh place, in 1912, the Senators improved dramatically, as their pitching staff led the league in team earned run average and in strikeouts. Johnson won 33 games while teammate Bob Groom added another 24 wins to help the Senators finish the season in second place, the Senators continued to perform respectably in 1913 with Johnson posting a career-high 35 victories, as the team once again finished in second place. The Senators then fell into another period of decline for the next decade, the Senators faced John McGraws heavily favored New York Giants in the 1924 World Series. The two teams traded wins back and forth until the reached the seventh and deciding game. Two runners scored on the play, tying the score at three, an aging Walter Johnson then came in to pitch the ninth inning, and held the Giants scoreless into extra innings. In the bottom of the inning with Ruel at bat, he hit a high. The Giants catcher, Hank Gowdy, dropped his protective mask to field the ball but, failing to toss the mask aside, stumbled over it and dropped the ball, thus giving Ruel another chance to bat
11.
Whitey Herzog
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Dorrel Norman Elvert Whitey Herzog is a former Major League Baseball manager. Born in New Athens, Illinois, he made his debut as a player in 1956 with the Washington Senators. After his playing career ended in 1963, Herzog went on to perform a variety of roles in Major League Baseball, including scout, manager, general manager and farm system director. Most noted for his success as a manager, he led the Kansas City Royals to three playoff appearances from 1976 to 1978. Hired by Gussie Busch in 1980 to helm the St. Louis Cardinals and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 25,2010, and was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum on August 16,2014. A left-handed batter and thrower, Herzog originally signed with the New York Yankees by scout Lou Maguolo, while he never appeared in a major league game for them, Herzog was profoundly influenced by their manager, Casey Stengel, during several spring training sessions with the Yanks. After being traded by New York as a prospect, he played for the Washington Senators, Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers. In eight seasons, Herzog batted.254 with 25 home runs,172 runs batted in,213 runs scored,60 doubles,20 triples, and 13 stolen bases in 634 games. In reference to his success as a player versus his success as a manager, Herzog once said, after his playing career ended, Herzog rejoined the Athletics for two seasons, as a scout in 1964 and a coach in 1965. The next seven years were spent with the New York Mets, beginning in 1967 Herzog then made his mark with the club as its director of player development for the next six campaigns. Under his watch, the Mets produced young talent that became part of the nucleus of its World Series teams in 1969 and 1973 or eventually had successful major league careers. Among them were Gary Gentry, Wayne Garrett, Jon Matlack, John Milner, Amos Otis and Ken Singleton. Perceiving Grants actions as a snub, Herzog left the Mets to accept the first managerial assignment of his career when he signed a contract with the Texas Rangers on November 2,1972. He took over a ballclub that finished 1972 in last place in the American League West with the majors worst record at 54–100 under Ted Williams. Hired based on recommendations from general manager Joe Burke to owner Bob Short and his debut at the helm was a 3–1 Rangers loss to the Chicago White Sox at Arlington Stadium on April 7,1973. His first victory was a 4–0 decision over the Kansas City Royals five nights later on April 12 at Royals Stadium and he never got the chance to finish the 1973 season. Three days after a 14–0 defeat to the White Sox at Comiskey Park and Texas with a 47–91 record, he was dismissed on September 7. He was succeeded in the interim for one game by Del Wilber and in the term by Billy Martin
12.
St. Louis Cardinals
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The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the National League Central division. Busch Stadium has been their home ballpark since 2006, with origins as one of the early professional baseball clubs in St. Upon the discontinuation of the AA, St. Louis joined the NL in 1892, at time, they were called the Browns. One of the most successful franchises in history, the Cardinals have won 11 World Series championships. Their 19 National League pennants rank third in NL history, in addition, St. Louis has won 13 division titles in the East and Central divisions. While still in the AA, St. Louis won four league championships, the Cardinals have won 105 or more games in four different seasons and won 100 or more a total of nine times. Cardinals players have won 20 league MVPs, four batting Triple Crowns, and three Cy Young Awards. Baseball Hall of Fame inductees include Lou Brock, Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson, Whitey Herzog, Rogers Hornsby, Joe Medwick, Stan Musial, Branch Rickey, Red Schoendienst, Ozzie Smith, and Bruce Sutter. In 2016, Forbes valued the Cardinals at $1.6 billion, making them the 7th-most valuable franchise in MLB, their revenue the year was $300 million. Since their purchase in 1995, owner William DeWitt, Jr. s investment group has seen enormous growth from the $147 million purchase price, John Mozeliak is the general manager and Mike Matheny is the manager. Professional baseball began in St. Louis with the inception of the Brown Stockings in the National Association in 1875, the NA folded following that season, and the next season, St. Louis joined the National League as a charter member, finishing in third place at 45-19. George Bradley hurled the first no-hitter in Major League history, the NL expelled St. Louis from the league after 1877 due to a game-fixing scandal and the team went bankrupt. Without a league, they continued play as a barnstorming team through 1881. For the 1882 season, Chris von der Ahe purchased the team, reorganized it, and made it a member of the American Association. 1882 is generally considered to be the first year existence of the St. Louis Cardinals, the next season, St. Louis shortened their name to the Browns. Soon thereafter they became the dominant team in the AA, as manager Charlie Comiskey guided St. Louis to four pennants in a row from 1885 to 1888. Pitcher and outfielder Bob Caruthers led the league in ERA and wins in 1885 and he also led the AA in OBP and OPS in 1886 and finished fourth in batting average in 1886 and fifth in 1887
13.
Oakland Athletics
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The Oakland Athletics are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the American League West division. The club plays its games at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum. The club has won nine World Series championships, the third most of all current Major League Baseball teams, the Athletics 2017 season will be the teams 50th season in Oakland. One of the American Leagues eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Philadelphia and they won three World Series championships from 1910 to 1913 and two in a row in 1929 and 1930. The teams owner and manager for its first 50 years was Connie Mack and Hall of Fame players included Chief Bender, Frank Home Run Baker, Jimmie Foxx, the team left Philadelphia for Kansas City in 1955 and became the Kansas City Athletics before moving to Oakland in 1968. They won three World Championships in a row from 1972 to 1974, led by players including Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, ace reliever Rollie Fingers, after being sold by Finley to Walter A. Haas, Jr. The film Moneyball, and the book on which it is based, the As made their Bay Area debut on Wednesday, April 17,1968, with a 4-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at the Coliseum, in front of an opening-night crowd of 50,164. The Athletics name originated in the term Athletic Club for local gentlemens clubs—dates to 1860 when an amateur team, the team later turned professional through 1875, becoming a charter member of the National League in 1876, but were expelled from the N. L. after one season. A later version of the Athletics played in the American Association from 1882–1891, McGraw and Mack had known each other for years, and McGraw accepted it graciously. By 1909, the As were wearing an elephant logo on their sweaters, over the years the elephant has appeared in several different colors. In 1963, when the As were located in Kansas City and this is rumored to have been done by Finley in order to appeal to fans from the region who were predominantly Democrats at the time. Since 1988, the Athletics 21st season in Oakland, an illustration of an elephant has adorned the sleeve of the As home. Beginning in the mid 1980s, the on-field costumed incarnation of the As elephant mascot went by the name Harry Elephante, in 1997, he took his current form, Stomper. Through the seasons, the Athletics uniforms have usually paid homage to their forebears to some extent. Until 1954, when the uniforms had Athletics spelled out in script across the front, furthermore, neither Philadelphia nor the letter P ever appeared on the uniform or cap. The typical Philadelphia uniform had only a script A on the left front, in the early days of the American League, the standings listed the club as Athletic rather than Philadelphia, in keeping with the old tradition. Eventually, the city came to be used for the team
14.
Ceremonial first pitch
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The ceremonial first ball is a longstanding ritual of baseball in which a guest of honor throws a ball to mark the end of pregame festivities and the start of the game. Now, the guest stands in front of the pitchers mound and he or she may also sometimes stand on the mound. The recipient of the pitch is usually a player from the home team, the ceremonial thrower may be a notable person who is in attendance, an executive from a company that sponsors the team, or a person who won the first pitch opportunity as a contest prize. Often, especially in the leagues, multiple first pitches are made. The practice of having a mayor, governor, or other local celebrity throw out ceremonial first pitches dates back to at least 1890, governor William McKinley of Ohio, for example, threw the ball into the diamond before an opening day game between Toledo and Columbus in 1892. President William Howard Taft started the American tradition of Presidential first pitches in 1910 at Griffith Stadium, Washington, D. C. on the Washington Senators Opening Day. Every President since Taft has thrown out at least one ceremonial first ball or pitch, either for Opening Day, donald Trump opted to decline the Washington Nationals invitation to throw the ceremonial first pitch in 2017. U. S. Presidents & Major League Baseball
15.
Vice President of the United States
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The executive power of both the vice president and the president is granted under Article Two, Section One of the Constitution. The vice president is elected, together with the president. The Office of the Vice President of the United States assists, as the president of the United States Senate, the vice president votes only when it is necessary to break a tie. Additionally, pursuant to the Twelfth Amendment, the president presides over the joint session of Congress when it convenes to count the vote of the Electoral College. Currently, the president is usually seen as an integral part of a presidents administration. The Constitution does not expressly assign the office to any one branch, causing a dispute among scholars whether it belongs to the executive branch, the legislative branch, or both. The modern view of the president as a member of the executive branch is due in part to the assignment of executive duties to the vice president by either the president or Congress. Mike Pence of Indiana is the 48th and current vice president and he assumed office on January 20,2017. The formation of the office of vice president resulted directly from the compromise reached at the Philadelphia Convention which created the Electoral College, the delegates at Philadelphia agreed that each state would receive a number of presidential electors equal to the sum of that states allocation of Representatives and Senators. The delegates assumed that electors would typically choose to favor any candidate from their state over candidates from other states, under a plurality election process, this would tend to result in electing candidates solely from the largest states. Consequently, the delegates agreed that presidents must be elected by a majority of the number of electors. To guard against such stratagems, the Philadelphia delegates specified that the first runner-up presidential candidate would become vice president, the process for selecting the vice president was later modified in the Twelfth Amendment. Each elector still receives two votes, but now one of those votes is for president, while the other is for vice president. The requirement that one of those votes be cast for a candidate not from the electors own state remains in effect. S, other statutorily granted roles include membership of both the National Security Council and the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. As President of the Senate, the president has two primary duties, to cast a vote in the event of a Senate deadlock and to preside over. For example, in the first half of 2001, the Senators were divided 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats and Dick Cheneys tie-breaking vote gave the Republicans the Senate majority, as President of the Senate, the vice president oversees procedural matters and may cast a tie-breaking vote. As President of the Senate, John Adams cast 29 tie-breaking votes that was surpassed by John C. Calhoun with 31. Adamss votes protected the presidents sole authority over the removal of appointees, influenced the location of the national capital, on at least one occasion Adams persuaded senators to vote against legislation he opposed, and he frequently addressed the Senate on procedural and policy matters
16.
George H. W. Bush
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George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who was the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993 and the 43rd Vice President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Republican Party, he was previously a congressman, ambassador, and he is the oldest living former President and Vice President. Prior to his sons presidency, he was referred to as George Bush or President Bush. Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to Prescott Bush and Dorothy Walker Bush. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Bush postponed his university studies, enlisted in the U. S. Navy on his 18th birthday and he served until the end of the war, then attended Yale University. Graduating in 1948, he moved his family to West Texas and entered the oil business, Bush became involved in politics soon after founding his own oil company, serving as a member of the House of Representatives and Director of Central Intelligence, among other positions. He failed to win the Republican nomination for President in 1980, but was chosen as a mate by party nominee Ronald Reagan. During his tenure, Bush headed administration task forces on deregulation, in 1988, Bush ran a successful campaign to succeed Reagan as President, defeating Democratic opponent Michael Dukakis. Foreign policy drove the Bush presidency, military operations were conducted in Panama and the Persian Gulf, the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, and the Soviet Union dissolved two years later. Domestically, Bush reneged on a 1988 campaign promise and, after a struggle with Congress and his presidential library was dedicated in 1997, and he has been active—often alongside Bill Clinton—in various humanitarian activities. Besides being the 43rd president, his son George also served as the 46th Governor of Texas and is one of only two other being John Quincy Adams—to be the son of a former president. His second son, Jeb Bush, served as the 43rd Governor of Florida, George Herbert Walker Bush was born at 173 Adams Street in Milton, Massachusetts, on June 12,1924, to Prescott Sheldon Bush and Dorothy Bush. The Bush family moved from Milton to Greenwich, Connecticut, shortly after his birth, growing up, his nickname was Poppy. Bush began his education at the Greenwich Country Day School in Greenwich. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Bush decided to join the US, Navy, so after graduating from Phillips Academy in 1942, he became a naval aviator at the age of 18. He was assigned to Torpedo Squadron as the officer in September 1943. The following year, his squadron was based on USS San Jacinto as a member of Air Group 51, during this time, the task force was victorious in one of the largest air battles of World War II, the Battle of the Philippine Sea. After Bushs promotion to Lieutenant on August 1,1944, San Jacinto commenced operations against the Japanese in the Bonin Islands, Bush piloted one of four Grumman TBM Avenger aircraft from VT-51 that attacked the Japanese installations on Chichijima
17.
Al Michaels
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Alan Richard Al Michaels is an American television sportscaster. He is also known for famous calls in other sports, including the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Winter Olympics, Michaels was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, to Jay Leonard Michaels and Lila Roginsky/Ross. He grew up as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, coincidentally, at the time the Dodgers left Brooklyn, Michaelss family also moved to Los Angeles in 1958. Michaels attended Alexander Hamilton High School in L. A. and was a baseball player and he graduated in 1962 and later attended Arizona State University, where he majored in radio and television and minored in journalism. He worked as a writer for ASUs independent student newspaper. He also is a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Michaelss first job in television was with Chuck Barris Productions, choosing women to appear on The Dating Game. His first sportscasting job came in 1964, when he was hired to do public relations for the Los Angeles Lakers. Later, he was hired by the team to eight games as a color commentator but fired after the first four. Michaels, who had worked on the media guide, was also considered to be the first color commentator of the Los Angeles Kings. That assignment went to Ed Fitkin instead, Michaels resumed his professional broadcasting career in 1968, calling the games of the Hawaii Islanders baseball team in the Pacific Coast League. He also called play-by-play for the University of Hawaiis football and basketball teams as well as high school football games, in 1970, Michaels appeared as attorney Dave Bronstein in an episode of Hawaii Five-O called Run, Johnny, Run, the episode also featured a young Christopher Walken. In 1971, Michaels moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became the announcer for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball. In 1972, the Reds won the National League Championship Series, Michaels helped cover the Fall Classic for NBC Sports, and also was the networks play-by-play man for the hockey coverage at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan. In 1973, two days before he was assigned to call the regular-season NFL finale between the Houston Oilers and Cincinnati Bengals, Bill Enis died from an attack at the age of 39. NBC proceeded to bring Michaels in to replace Enis in the booth with Dave Kocourek and he left NBC that year and announced regional NFL games for CBS Sports in 1975. He called the no-hitter by John Candelaria on August 9,1976 and he signed with ABC Sports in January 1977. Michaels initially joined ABC as the announcer on Monday Night Baseball in 1977. The following year, he was promoted to the network on a full-time basis and he became the lead announcer replacing Keith Jackson in 1982
18.
Jim Palmer
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Palmer was the winning pitcher in 186 games in the 1970s, the most wins in that decade by any MLB pitcher. He also won at least twenty games in each of eight seasons and his 268 career victories are currently an Orioles record. A six-time American League All-Star, he was one of the rare pitchers who never allowed a grand slam in any major league contest. Palmer appeared in the eight times and was a vital member of three World Series Champions, six AL pennant winners and seven Eastern Division titleholders. He is the pitcher in the history of the Fall Classic with a win in each of three decades. He is also the youngest to pitch a shutout in a World Series just nine days short of his 21st birthday in 1966. He was one of the starters on the last rotation to feature four 20-game winners in a season in 1971. He has also been a spokesman, most famously for Jockey International for almost twenty years. He was nicknamed Cakes in the 1960s because of his habit of eating pancakes for breakfast on the days he pitched, Palmer was born in New York City. Shortly after his birth, Palmer was adopted by Moe Wiesen, a garment industry executive, after his adoptive father died in 1955, the nine-year-old Jim, his mother and his sister moved to California, where he began playing in youth-league baseball. In 1956, his mother married actor Max Palmer, from whom Jim Palmer took his last name, showing talent at the amateur level, upon graduating from Arizonas Scottsdale High School in 1963, Palmer signed a minor-league contract at the age of 18. A high-kicking pitcher known for a smooth delivery, Palmer picked up his first major-league win on May 16,1965. He hit the first of his three career home runs, a two-run shot, in the fourth inning of that game off of Yankees starter Jim Bouton. Palmer finished the season with a 5–4 record, in 1966, Palmer joined the starting rotation. Baltimore won the pennant behind Frank Robinsons MVP and Triple Crown season, Palmer won his final game against the Kansas City Athletics to clinch the AL pennant. In Game 2 of that World Series at Dodger Stadium, he became the youngest pitcher to win a complete-game, World Series shutout, defeating the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The underdog Orioles swept the series over a Los Angeles team that featured Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, the shutout was part of a World Series record-setting 33 1⁄3 consecutive shutout innings by Orioles pitchers. The Dodgers last run was against Moe Drabowsky in the third inning of Game 1, Palmer, Wally Bunker and Dave McNally pitched shutouts in the next three games
19.
Tim McCarver
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James Timothy Tim McCarver is an American sportscaster and former professional baseball catcher. McCarver played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Expos and he appeared in the MLB All-Star Game in 1966 and 1967, and was the starting catcher for the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 and 1967. McCarver was the recipient of the 2012 Ford C, McCarver was born in Memphis, Tennessee. McCarver, following his years with Memphis Christian Brothers High School, was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1959, playing with the Cardinals minor league teams of Keokuk and Rochester, McCarver reached the MLB level for the first time at the age of only 17. He spent the 1960,1961, and 1962 seasons shuttling between St. Louis and the league teams of Memphis, Charleston, and Atlanta. In 1963, he was called up to the majors for good, in 1964, his tiebreaking home run in the 10th inning won Game 5 of the World Series. In 1966, McCarver was named to the All-Star Team, scored the winning run in the 10th inning of that 1966 All-Star Game, in 1967, he finished second to teammate Orlando Cepeda for the National League Most Valuable Player award. McCarver was a member of two World Series championships during his time in St. Louis and he was the favorite catcher of the notoriously temperamental Bob Gibson, and fostered a relationship with young pitcher Steve Carlton that would keep him in the major leagues later in his career. After a trade to Philadelphia involving, among others, his teammate Curt Flood before the 1970 season, McCarver played for the Phillies, Expos, Red Sox, and another brief stint with the Cardinals. McCarvers career might have taken a different turn in 1975, when, according to Peter Gammons, McCarver, however, was released, and Johnson led the Red Sox to the 75 AL pennant. During his first stint with the Phillies, McCarver caught Rick Wises no-hitter on June 23,1971, at the end of the season, the Phillies traded Wise to the Cardinals for Steve Carlton, the deal reuniting McCarver with Carlton. During the 1972 season, the Phillies traded McCarver to the Montreal Expos where, on October 2, he caught the second of Bill Stonemans two career no-hitters. On July 4,1976, McCarver hit what is known as a Grand Slam Single when, after hitting a grand slam, he passed his teammate Garry Maddox on the basepath. While hosting the HBO special The Not-so-Great Moments in Sports, McCarver later claimed to have said to the umpire, I didnt pass him, asked how Maddox could have done that, McCarver replied, Sheer speed. The event was commemorated in the book The Baseball Hall of Shame 3 as Tim McCarvers Grand Sob, McCarver finished his career as the personal catcher for Steve Carlton for the Phillies in the late 1970s. Carlton preferred McCarver to Phillies regular Bob Boone and it was quipped that when Carlton and McCarver eventually died, they would be buried 60 feet,6 inches apart. He retired after the 1979 season to begin a broadcasting career, McCarver briefly returned to duty in September 1980, thus becoming one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to appear in Major League games in four different decades. He caught 121 shutouts during his career, ranking him 9th all-time among major league catchers, as a broadcaster, McCarver has enjoyed prominence as a color commentator on the network level
20.
Brent Musburger
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Brent Woody Musburger is an American sportscaster, recently retired from the ESPN and ABC television networks. He has also performed postgame wrap-up segments and covered championship trophy presentations and he is a member of the Montana Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. Musburger was born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Billings, Montana and he was an umpire for minor league baseball during the 1950s. He was also a friend of former Major League pitcher Dave McNally. His brother, Todd Musburger, is a prominent sports agent, Musburgers youth included some brushes with trouble, when he was 12, he and his brother stole a car belonging to their mothers cleaning lady and took it for a joy ride. His parents sent him to the Shattuck-St, educated at Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism, he was kicked out for a year for owning and operating a car without a license. Musburger began his career as a sportswriter for the now-defunct Chicagos American newspaper, in it he stated Smith and Carlos looked like a couple of black-skinned storm troopers who were ignoble, juvenile, and unimaginative. In a 1999 article in The New York Times, Musburger stated that comparing the two to the Nazis was harsh, but he stood by his criticism of the pairs action, Smith and Carlos aside, I object to using the Olympic awards stand to make a political statement. According to Carlos, Musburger never apologized, We are talking about someone who compared us to Nazis, here we are standing up to apartheid and to a man in Avery Brundage who delivered the Olympics to Hitler’s Germany. And here’s Musburger calling us Nazis and it hurt my wife, my kids. I’ve never been able to confront him about why he did this, every time I’ve been at a function or an event with Brent Musburger and I walk towards him, he heads the other way. In 1968, Musburger began a 22-year association with CBS, first as a anchor for WBBM radio. Beginning in late 1973, Musburger was doing play-by-play for CBS Sports and he started out doing regular season National Football League games. Musburger was paired with Tommy Mason or Bart Starr, who provided the color commentary, a year later, Wayne Walker would be paired with Musburger in the booth. By 1975 at CBS, Musburger went from doing NFL play-by-play to rising to prominence as the host of the networks National Football League studio show, suddenly, Musburger began to cover many assignments for CBS Sports. He would even lend his talents to weekend afternoon fare such as The Worlds Strongest Man contests, Musburger also called Major League Baseball games for CBS Radio. But it was Musburgers association with The NFL Today that made him famous, during his tenure, CBS NFL pregame show was consistently the #1 rated pregame show. One of the signatures of the program was Musburgers show-opening teases to the various games CBS would cover, Musburgers accompanying intro to each visual, You are looking live at
21.
Jerry Coleman
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Gerald Francis Jerry Coleman was a Major League Baseball second baseman for the New York Yankees and manager of the San Diego Padres for one year. Coleman was named the rookie of the year in 1949 by Associated Press, Yankees teams on which he was a player appeared in six World Series during his career, winning four times. Coleman served as a Marine Corps pilot in WW II and the Korean War, flying missions with the VMSB-341 Torrid Turtles. He later became a broadcaster, and he was honored in 2005 by the National Baseball Hall of Fame with the Ford C, Frick Award for his broadcasting contributions. Born in San Jose, California, Coleman graduated from Lowell High School and he played six years in the Yankees minor league system before reaching the big club in 1949. Coleman hit.275 in his first year and led all second basemen in fielding percentage and he was the Associated Press rookie of the year in 1949, and finishing third in balloting by Baseball Writers Association of America. Coleman avoided a sophomore jinx by earning a selection to the All-Star team in 1950 and he then shined in the World Series with brilliant defense, earning him the BBWAAs Babe Ruth Award as the seriess most valuable player. While a Marine Corps aviator he flew 120 combat missions, and received numerous honors and medals including two Distinguished Flying Crosses. In recent years Coleman received numerous honors, including, being inducted into the USMC Sports Hall of Fame, Coleman was the only Major League Baseball player to have seen combat in two wars. Colemans career declined after he was injured the season, relegating him to a bench role. He was forced to retire after the 1957 season, but he left on a good note and he appeared in the World Series six times in his career, winning four of them. In 1958, New York Yankees general manager George Weiss named Coleman personnel director, roy Hamey terminated Coleman from that position, when Harney became the Yankees general manager. It was only after Coleman met with Howard Cosell that Coleman considered becoming a broadcaster, in 1960, Coleman began a broadcasting career with CBS television, conducting pregame interviews on the networks Game of the Week broadcasts. His broadcasting career ended that year, he was in the midst of an interview with Cookie Lavagetto when the national anthem began playing. Coleman kept the interview going through the anthem, prompting an avalanche of angry letters to CBS, in 1963 he began a seven-year run calling Yankees games on WCBS radio and WPIX television. Colemans WPIX call of ex-teammate Mickey Mantles 500th career home run in 1967 was brief and from the heart, Heres the payoff pitch. During his time broadcasting with the Yankees he lived in Ridgewood, New Jersey, which he described as being 19.9 miles from Yankee Stadium and he was known in San Diego for his signature catchphrase, You can hang a star on that one, baby. Which he would deliver after a spectacular play, during home games, the phrase would be accompanied by a tinsel star swinging from a fishing pole that emanated from his broadcast booth
22.
Johnny Bench
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Johnny Lee Bench is an American former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. ESPN has called him the greatest catcher in baseball history, Bench played baseball and basketball and was class valedictorian at Binger High School in Binger, Oklahoma. His father told him that the fastest route to becoming a major leaguer was as a catcher and he hit only.163, but impressed many with his defense and strong throwing arm, among them Hall of Famer Ted Williams. Williams signed a baseball for him which predicted that the catcher would be a Hall of Famer for sure. Williams prediction eventually became fact with Johnny Benchs election to the Hall of Fame in 1989, during a spring training game in 1968, Bench was catching the eight-year veteran right-hander Jim Maloney. Once a noted hard thrower, injuries had reduced Maloneys fastballs speed dramatically by this time, however, Maloney insisted on repeatedly shaking off his younger catcher and throwing the fastball instead of the breaking balls Bench called for. An exasperated Bench bluntly told Maloney, Your fastballs not popping, Bench was the Reds catcher on April 30,1969 when Maloney pitched a no hitter against the Houston Astros. He also won the 1968 National League Gold Glove Award for catchers and his 102 assists in 1968 marked the first time in 23 years that a catcher had more than 100 assists in a season. During the 1960s Bench also served in the United States Army Reserve as a member of the 478th Engineer Battalion and this unit included several of his teammates, among them Pete Rose. In the winter of 1970–1971 he was part of Bob Hopes USO Tour of Vietnam, the Reds swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1970 National League Championship Series, but lost to the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. One of his most dramatic home runs was likely his ninth-inning, lead off, the solo shot tied the game 3–3, in a game the Reds went on to win later in the inning on a wild pitch, 4–3. It was hailed after the game as one of the great clutch home runs of all time, however, the Reds would lose in the World Series to a strong Oakland Athletics team in seven games. In the winter of 1972, Bench had a growth removed from his lung, Bench remained productive, but he never again hit 40 home runs in a season. But the Mets boasted three of the starting pitchers in the NL, future Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman. In 1974, Bench led the league with 129 RBI and scored 108 runs, becoming only the fourth catcher in major league history with 100 or more runs, the Reds won the second-most games in the majors but lost the West Division to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1975, the Reds finally broke through in the post season, Bench contributed 28 home runs and 110 RBI. The Reds swept the Pirates in three games to win the 1975 National League Championship Series, and defeated the Boston Red Sox in a memorable seven-game World Series. Battling ailing shoulders, Bench had one of his least productive years in 1976, however, he recovered in the 1976 National League Championship Series to hit for a.333 batting average against the Philadelphia Phillies
23.
1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
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The game was held on July 14,1987, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, the home of the Oakland Athletics of the American League. The game resulted in the National League defeating the American League 2-0 in 13 innings, Montreal Expos outfielder Tim Raines was named the Most Valuable Player. Players in italics have since been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, while the last 3 All-Star games had good pitching, the 1987 Midsummer Classic had great pitching. Never before was an All-Star game scoreless after five innings, however, after 12 scoreless innings, National League catcher Ozzie Virgil began the 13th with a single off American League pitcher Jay Howell. Howell would get pitcher Lee Smith to strike out trying to bunt, however, shortstop Hubie Brooks followed with a single, outfielder Willie McGee lined out for the second out of the inning, bringing up outfielder Tim Raines. Raines delivered in the clutch, with a triple, giving the National League a 2-0 lead. Second baseman Juan Samuel lined out, ending the inning, in the bottom of the 13th, Sid Fernandez walked leadoff man Kevin Seitzer, but retired the next three batters in order to give the National League the victory. Due to the length of the game, Lee Smith, a Cubs pitcher at the time and he did not bring his Cubs helmet so he used a Montreal Expos helmet likely from either Tim Wallach or Hubie Brooks. 1987 All-Star Game on Baseball Almanac 1987 All-Star Game on Baseball-Reference. com
24.
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
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The game usually occurs on either the second or third Tuesday in July, and is meant to mark a symbolic halfway-point in the MLB season. Both of the major leagues share a common All-Star break, with no games scheduled on the day before or two days after the All-Star Game itself. Some additional events and festivities associated with the game take place each year close to, no official MLB All-Star Game was held in 1945 including the official selection of players due to World War II travel restrictions. The first All-Star Game was held on July 6,1933 as part of the 1933 Worlds Fair in Chicago, at Comiskey Park and was initiated by Arch Ward, initially intended to be a one-time event, its great success resulted in making the game an annual one. The venue for the All-Star Game is chosen by Major League Baseball, the criteria for the venue are subjective, generally, cities with new ballparks and those who have not hosted the game in a long time—or ever—tend to get selected. New York City has hosted more than any city, having done so nine times in five different stadiums. At the same time, the New York Mets failed to host for 48 seasons, in the first two decades of the game there were two pairs of teams that shared ballparks, located in Philadelphia and St. Louis. This led to some shorter-than-usual gaps between the use of venues, The Cardinals hosted the game in 1940, and the Browns in 1948. The Athletics hosted the game in 1943, and the Phillies in 1952, the venues traditionally alternate between the American League and National League every year. This tradition has been several times, The first time was in 1951. Detroit Tigers were chosen to host the game as part of the citys 250th birthday. The second was when the format during the 1959–1962 seasons resulted in the A. L. being one game ahead in turn. This was corrected in 2007, when the N. L, San Francisco Giants were the host for the 2007 All-Star Game, which also set up the 2008 game to be held at the A. L. s Yankee Stadium in its final season. This decision was made following the announcement of Miami as host for the 2017 All Star Game, the coaching staff for each team is selected by its manager. This honor is given to the manager, not the team and this happened in 2003, when Dusty Baker managed the National League team despite having moved from the National League champion San Francisco Giants to the Chicago Cubs. This has also included situations where the person is no longer actively managing a team, mcGraw came out of retirement for that purpose. Dick Williams resigned after managing the Oakland Athletics to the 1973 World Series, in 1974, he became manager of the California Angels, whose uniform he wore for the game. Tony La Russa, who managed the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, in 1979, Bob Lemon managed the American League team after having been fired by New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner
25.
1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
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The game was held on July 11,1989, at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California, the home of the California Angels of the American League. The game is noted for being the first in All-Star Game history to include the designated hitter, the game resulted in the American League defeating the National League 5-3. The game is remembered for Bo Jacksons monstrous lead-off home run to center field, Jackson was named the games MVP. The game also featured former U. S. President and former baseball announcer Ronald Reagan sharing the NBC broadcast booth with Vin Scully for the first inning, the pregame ceremonies featured Disney characters joining this years players in sprinting onto the field for the introduction of the starting lineups. Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies, who had retired on May 29, was elected by the fans as the starting third baseman for the NL All-Star team. Schmidt decided not to play, but he did participate in the opening ceremony in uniform. Doc Severinsen later led The Tonight Show Band in the playing of the Canadian, Severinsen and The Tonight Show Bands performance of the U. S. National Anthem was the last non-vocal performance of the Anthem at the All-Star Game to date. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by longtime Angels coach Jimmie Reese and this was the second All-Star Game to be played in Anaheim, which last hosted the Midsummer Classic in 1967. It would return to the renovated and renamed Angel Stadium of Anaheim in 2010. Players in italics have since been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the NL got off to a fast start off Dave Stewart in the first on RBI singles by Kevin Mitchell and Howard Johnson. The AL would counter in spectacular fashion in their half when game MVP Bo Jackson took the pitch by Rick Reuschel, a low sinker. Wade Boggs followed with a homer of his own to tie it. The AL took the lead the next inning when Jackson beat out a double play grounder. Jackson then stole second, making him the player to have a home run. The AL expanded their lead to 5-2 in the third on RBI singles by Harold Baines, the NL would get no closer than a run in the eighth when Von Hayes singled home Glenn Davis
26.
Major League Baseball
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Major League Baseball is a professional baseball organization, the oldest of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. A total of 30 teams now play in the National League and American League, the NL and AL operated as separate legal entities from 1876 and 1901 respectively. After cooperating but remaining legally separate entities since 1903, the merged into a single organization led by the Commissioner of Baseball in 2000. The organization also oversees Minor League Baseball, which comprises about 240 teams affiliated with the Major League clubs, with the World Baseball Softball Confederation, MLB manages the international World Baseball Classic tournament. Baseballs first professional team was founded in Cincinnati in 1869,30 years after Abner Doubleday supposedly invented the game of baseball, the first few decades of professional baseball were characterized by rivalries between leagues and by players who often jumped from one team or league to another. The period before 1920 in baseball was known as the dead-ball era, Baseball survived a conspiracy to fix the 1919 World Series, which came to be known as the Black Sox Scandal. The sport rose in popularity in the 1920s, and survived potential downturns during the Great Depression, shortly after the war, baseballs color barrier was broken by Jackie Robinson. The 1950s and 1960s were a time of expansion for the AL and NL, then new stadiums, Home runs dominated the game during the 1990s, and media reports began to discuss the use of anabolic steroids among Major League players in the mid-2000s. In 2006, an investigation produced the Mitchell Report, which implicated many players in the use of performance-enhancing substances, today, MLB is composed of thirty teams, twenty-nine in the United States and one in Canada. Baseball broadcasts are aired on television, radio, and the Internet throughout North America, MLB has the highest season attendance of any sports league in the world with more than 73 million spectators in 2015. MLB is governed by the Major League Baseball Constitution and this document has undergone several incarnations since 1875, with the most recent revisions being made in 2012. Under the direction of the Commissioner of Baseball, MLB hires and maintains the sports umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, MLB maintains a unique, controlling relationship over the sport, including most aspects of Minor League Baseball. This ruling has been weakened only slightly in subsequent years, the weakened ruling granted more stability to the owners of teams and has resulted in values increasing at double-digit rates. There were several challenges to MLBs primacy in the sport between the 1870s and the Federal League in 1916, the last attempt at a new league was the aborted Continental League in 1960. The chief executive of MLB is the commissioner, Rob Manfred, the chief operating officer is Tony Petitti. There are five other executives, president, chief officer, chief legal officer, chief financial officer. The multimedia branch of MLB, which is based in Manhattan, is MLB Advanced Media and this branch oversees MLB. com and each of the 30 teams websites. Its charter states that MLB Advanced Media holds editorial independence from the league, MLB Productions is a similarly structured wing of the league, focusing on video and traditional broadcast media
27.
Cincinnati Reds
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The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the National League Central division. They were a member of the American Association in 1882. The Reds played in the NL West division from 1969 to 1993 and they have won five World Series titles, nine NL pennants, one AA pennant, and 10 division titles. The team plays its games at Great American Ball Park. Bob Castellini has been executive officer since 2006. The origins of the modern Cincinnati Reds can be traced to the expulsion of a team bearing that name. Both were important activities to entice the citys large German population, while Hulbert made clear his distaste for both beer and Sunday baseball at the founding of the league, neither practice was actually against league rules in those early years. On October 6,1880, however, seven of the eight team owners pledged at a league meeting to formally ban both beer and Sunday baseball at the regular league meeting that December. Only Cincinnati president W. H. Kennett refused to sign the pledge, when these attempts failed, he formed a new independent ballclub known as the Red Stockings in the Spring of 1881, and brought the team to St. Louis for a weekend exhibition. The Reds first game was a 12–3 victory over the St. Louis club, upon arriving in the city, however, Caylor and Thorner discovered that no other owners had decided to accept the invitation, with even Phillips not bothering to attend his own meeting. By chance, the duo met a former pitcher named Al Pratt, the ploy worked, and the American Association was officially formed at the Hotel Gibson in Cincinnati with the new Reds a charter member with Thorner as president. The club never placed higher than second or lower than fifth for the rest of its tenure in the American Association, the National League was happy to accept the teams in part due to the emergence of the new Players League. This new league, a failed attempt to break the reserve clause in baseball. Because the National League decided to expand while the American Association was weakening and it was also at this time that the team first shortened their name from Red Stockings to Reds. The Reds wandered through the 1890s signing local stars and aging veterans, during this time, the team never finished above third place and never closer than 10½ games. At the start of the 20th century, the Reds had hitting stars Sam Crawford, seymours.377 average in 1905 was the first individual batting crown won by a Red. In 1911, Bob Bescher stole 81 bases, which is still a team record, like the previous decade, the 1900s were not kind to the Reds, as much of the decade was spent in the leagues second division
28.
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
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The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, and operated by private interests. The Halls motto is Preserving History, Honoring Excellence, Connecting Generations, the word Cooperstown is often used as shorthand for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The Hall of Fame was established in 1939 by Stephen Carlton Clark, Clark had sought to bring tourists to a city hurt by the Great Depression, which reduced the local tourist trade, and Prohibition, which devastated the local hops industry. A new building was constructed, and the Hall of Fame was dedicated on June 12,1939, the erroneous claim that U. S. Civil War hero Abner Doubleday invented baseball in Cooperstown was instrumental in the early marketing of the Hall. An expanded library and research facility opened in 1994, dale Petroskey became the organizations president in 1999. In 2002, the Hall launched Baseball As America, an exhibit that toured ten American museums over six years. The Hall of Fame has since also sponsored educational programming on the Internet to bring the Hall of Fame to schoolchildren who might not visit, the Hall and Museum completed a series of renovations in spring 2005. The Hall of Fame also presents an annual exhibit at FanFest at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Jeff Idelson replaced Petroskey as president on April 16,2008. In 2012, Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed a law ordering the United States Mint to produce and sell commemorative, non-circulating coins to benefit the private, non-profit Hall. The bill, House Bill H. R.2527, was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Rep. Richard Hanna, a Republican from New York, the coins, which depict baseball gloves and balls, are the first concave designs produced by the Mint. The mintage included 50,000 gold coins,400,000 silver coins, the Mint released them on March 27,2014, and the gold and silver editions quickly sold out. The Hall receives money from surcharges included in the sale price,114 members of the Hall of Fame have been inducted posthumously, including four who died after their selection was announced. Of the 35 Negro league members,29 were inducted posthumously, the Hall of Fame includes one female member, Effa Manley. The newest inductees, enshrined on July 24,2016, are players Mike Piazza, the incoming class of 2017, to be formally enshrined on July 30, consists of executives John Schuerholz and Bud Selig and players Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, and Iván Rodríguez. In addition to honoring Hall of Fame inductees, the National Baseball Hall of Fame has presented 40 men with the Ford C, while Frick and Spink Award honorees are not members of the Hall of Fame, they are recognized in an exhibit in the Hall of Fames library. ONeil Award honorees are also not Hall of Fame members, but are listed alongside a permanent statue of the namesake and first recipient, Buck ONeil. From a final ballot typically including 25–40 candidates, each writer may vote for up to 10 players, until the late 1950s, any player named on 75% or more of all ballots cast is elected. A player who is named on fewer than 5% of ballots is dropped from future elections, players receiving 5% or more of the votes but fewer than 75% are reconsidered annually until a maximum of ten years of eligibility
29.
Pitcher
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In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is assigned the number 1. The pitcher is often considered the most important defensive player, there are many different types of pitchers, such as the starting pitcher, relief pitcher, middle reliever, lefty specialist, setup man, and closer. The National League in Major League Baseball and the Japanese Central League are among the leagues that have not adopted the designated hitter position. In most cases, the objective of the pitcher is to deliver the pitch to the catcher without allowing the batter to hit the ball with the bat. A successful pitch is delivered in such a way that the batter either allows the pitch to pass through the zone, swings the bat at the ball and misses it. If the batter elects not to swing at the pitch, it is called a strike if any part of the passes through the strike zone. A check swing is when the batter begins to swing, If the batter successfully checks the swing and the pitch is out of the strike zone, it is called a ball. There are two legal pitching positions, the windup and the set position or stretch, either position may be used at any time, typically, the windup is used when the bases are empty, while the set position is used when at least one runner is on base. Each position has certain procedures that must be followed, a balk can be called on a pitcher from either position. A power pitcher is one who relies on the velocity of his pitches to succeed, generally, power pitchers record a high percentage of strikeouts. A control pitcher succeeds by throwing accurate pitches and thus records few walks, nearly all action during a game is centered on the pitcher for the defensive team. A pitchers particular style, time taken between pitches, and skill heavily influence the dynamics of the game and can determine the victor. Meanwhile, a batter stands in the box at one side of the plate. The type and sequence of pitches chosen depend upon the situation in a game. The relationship between pitcher and catcher is so important that some teams select the starting catcher for a game based on the starting pitcher. Together, the pitcher and catcher are known as the battery, although the object and mechanics of pitching remain the same, pitchers may be classified according to their roles and effectiveness. The starting pitcher begins the game, and he may be followed by relief pitchers, such as the long reliever, the left-handed specialist, the middle reliever. In Major League Baseball, every team uses Baseball Rubbing Mud to rub game balls in before their pitchers use them in games, a skilled pitcher often throws a variety of different pitches to prevent the batter from hitting the ball well
30.
Catcher
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Catcher is also a general term for a fielder who catches the ball in cricket. Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player, when a batter takes his/her turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to primary duty, the catcher is also called upon to master many other skills in order to field the position well. The role of the catcher is similar to that of the wicket-keeper in cricket, positioned behind home plate, the catcher can see the whole field, and is therefore in the best position to direct and lead the other players in a defensive play. The catcher typically calls for using hand signals. The calls are based on the mechanics and strengths, as well as the batters tendencies and weaknesses. Foul tips, bouncing balls in the dirt, and contact with runners during plays at the plate are all events to be handled by the catcher and this includes a mask, chest and throat protectors, shin guards, and a heavily padded catchers mitt. The physical and mental demands of being involved on every defensive play can wear catchers down over a long season, because of the strategic defensive importance of catching, if a catcher has exceptional defensive skills, teams are often willing to overlook their relative offensive weaknesses. A knowledgeable catchers ability to work with the pitcher, via selection and location. Many great defensive catchers toiled in relative anonymity, because they did not produce large offensive numbers, notable examples of light-hitting, defensive specialists were, Ray Schalk, Jim Hegan, Jim Sundberg and Brad Ausmus. Schalks career batting average of.253 is the lowest of any player in the Baseball Hall of Fame. That he was selected for enshrinement in 1955 was largely a tribute to his defensive skills. Catchers are often able to play first base and less commonly third base, in the numbering system used to record baseball plays, the catcher is assigned the number 2. In the middle of the century, the game of baseball began to evolve from a sport played by amateurs for recreation into a more serious game played by professionals. One of the most dramatic changes was the transition of the delivery from an underhand motion to an overhanded throw. As the game progressed towards professionals and became serious, pitchers began to attempt to prevent the batter from hitting the ball by throwing faster pitches. With the introduction of the strike in 1858, catchers began inching closer to home plate due to the rules requirement that a strikeout could only be completed by a catch. These developments meant that catchers began to take on a defensive role
31.
First baseman
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First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that players team. A first baseman is the player on the team playing defense who fields the area nearest first base, in the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the first baseman is assigned the number 3. Also called first sacker or cornerman, the first baseman is ideally a tall player who throws left-handed and possesses good flexibility, flexibility is needed because the first baseman receives throws from the other infielders, the catcher and the pitcher after they have fielded ground balls. In order for the runner to be called out, the first baseman must be able to stretch towards the throw and they often are power hitters who have a substantial number of home runs and extra base hits while maintaining a.270 plus batting average. Good defensive first basemen, according to Bill James, are capable of playing off first base so that they can field ground balls hit to the side of first base. The first baseman then relies upon the pitcher to cover first base to receive the ball to complete the out, indications of a good defensive first baseman include a large number of assists and a low number of throwing errors by other infielders. The nature of play at first base often requires first basemen to stay close to the bag to hold runners or to reach the bag before the batter. First basemen are not typically expected to have the range required of a baseman, shortstop. As a result, first base is not usually perceived to be as physically demanding as other positions, however, it can also be a very hard position to play, a large amount of concentration and timing is required. Though many play at first base their entire career, it is common for players to be moved to first base in order to extend their careers or to accommodate other recently acquired players. Facing a possible trade or a reduction in playing time. Catchers and corner outfielders are often moved to first base due to deteriorating health or if their fielding abilities at their position are detrimental to the team. When first base is not occupied by a baserunner, the first baseman usually stands behind first base, the distance he plays from the base and foul line is dependent on the current hitter and any runners on base. The exact position may depend on the first basemans experience, preference. For a known right-handed pull hitter, the first baseman might position himself further towards the second basemans normal fielding position, for a known left-handed pull hitter, the first baseman will position himself closer to the foul line in order to stop a ball hit down the line. To protect against a bunt on the first base side of the infield, as soon as the pitcher commits to throwing towards home plate, the first basemen will charge towards the hitter to field the bunt. During these plays, it is the responsibility of the second basemen to cover first base, with a base runner present at first base, the first baseman stands with his right foot touching the base to prepare for a pickoff attempt. Once the pitcher commits to throwing towards home plate, the first baseman comes off the bag in front of the runner and gets in a fielding position
32.
Mark McGwire
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Mark David McGwire, nicknamed Big Mac, is an American former professional baseball player and currently a bench coach in Major League Baseball. As a first baseman, his MLB career spanned from 1986 to 2001 while playing for the Oakland Athletics and he appeared in six straight All-Star Games from 1987 to 1992 despite a brief career decline related to injuries. Another string of six consecutive All-Star appearances followed from 1995 to 2001, each season from 1996 to 1999, he again led the major leagues in home runs. McGwire also led the league in runs batted in, twice in bases on balls and on-base percentage, injuries significantly cut into his playing time in 2000 and 2001 before factoring into his retirement. He finished with 583 home runs, which was fifth all-time when he retired, for his career, McGwire averaged a home run once every 10.61 at bats, the best at bats per home run ratio in baseball history. McGwire also holds the distinction of being the fastest player to hit 500 home runs, in 2010, McGwire publicly admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during a large portion of his career. McGwire was born in Pomona, California and he attended Damien High School in La Verne, California, where he played baseball, golf, and basketball. He played college baseball at the University of Southern California under coach Rod Dedeaux, after three years at Southern California and a stint on the 1984 U. S. Olympic team, the Oakland Athletics drafted McGwire tenth overall in the 1984 Major League Baseball draft. In a short cameo, McGwire debuted in the leagues in August 1986. Retaining his rookie status in 1987, McGwire took center stage in baseball with his home runs and he hit just four in the month of April, but followed in May with 15, and another nine in June. Before the All-Star break arrived, he totaled 33 HR and earned a spot on the American League All-Star team, on August 11, he broke Al Rosens AL rookie record of 37 home runs. Three days later, McGwire broke the league record of 38. In September, McGwire hit nine home runs while posting monthly personal bests of a.351 batting average.419 on-base percentage and 11 doubles. With 49 HR and two remaining in the regular season, he chose to sit them out with an opportunity for 50 home runs to be present for the birth of his first child. McGwire also totaled 118 runs batted in.289 batting average,97 runs scored,28 doubles, a.618 slugging percentage and a.370 on-base percentage. Not only did he lead the AL in home runs in 1987, McGwire also led the major leagues in SLG, finished second in the AL in adjusted on-base plus slugging percentage total bases, third in RBI and on-base plus slugging. He was thus a unanimous choice for the AL Rookie of the Year Award and finished sixth overall in the AL Most Valuable Player Award voting. From 1988 to 1990, McGwire followed with 32,33, on July 3 and 4,1988, he hit game-winning home runs in the 16th inning of both games
33.
Second baseman
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In baseball and softball, second baseman is a fielding position in the infield, between third and first base. The second baseman often possesses quick hands and feet, needs the ability to get rid of the ball quickly, in addition, second basemen are usually right-handed, only four left-handed throwing players have ever played second base since 1950. In the numbering system used to record plays, the second baseman is assigned the number 4. Good second basemen need to have very good range, since they have to field balls closer to the first baseman who is often holding runners on, on a batted ball to right field, the second baseman goes out towards the ball for the relay. Due to these requirements, second base is sometimes a primarily defensive position in the modern game, the second baseman catches line drives or pop flies hit near him, and fields ground balls hit near him and then throws the ball to a base to force out a runner. In this case, if the runner is to be forced out at second base then that base is covered by the shortstop. With a runner on first base, on a ball to the shortstop or third baseman the second baseman will cover second base to force out the runner coming from first. com
34.
Paul Molitor
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Paul Leo Molitor, nicknamed Molly and The Ignitor, is an American former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Minnesota Twins, who is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. During his 21-year baseball career, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays and he was known for his exceptional hitting and speed. He made seven All-Star Game appearances and was the World Series MVP in 1993, Molitor grew up in Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota before beginning his MLB career. Molitor served as a coach for the Seattle Mariners and the Twins after his retirement as a player. In 2004, he was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility and he was a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. On November 3,2014, Molitor was announced as the 13th manager for the Minnesota Twins, Molitor was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He was a starter for the Golden Gophers, earning All American honors as a shortstop for his sophomore. Between his junior and senior seasons, Molitor suffered a broken jaw, with his jaw wired shut for eight weeks, Molitor lost 40 pounds. After his junior year in college, he was selected third overall in the 1977 Major League Baseball draft by the Milwaukee Brewers and he signed with the Brewers and began his professional career in Iowa, playing for the Class A Burlington Bees of the Midwest League. In 64 games with Burlington, Molitor hit for a.346 batting average,8 home runs,50 runs batted in and 14 stolen bases, Molitor began as a shortstop, then moved to second base when Robin Yount returned from a brief injury. He made his MLB debut in 1978, playing in 125 games, in 1981, he spent time at center field and right field to avoid the injuries associated with infield play. Molitor was moved to base before the 1982 season. Molitor was part of a young Milwaukee Brewers team that lost the 1982 World Series in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals, in Game 1, he had five hits, a World Series record. During the 1982 season, he hit.302 and led the American League with 136 runs scored, Molitor struggled with injuries for much of his early career, being placed on the disabled list six times between 1980 and 1986. In 1984, Molitor struggled with problems, played in only 13 games. He played in 140 games in 1985, hitting.297 with 10 home runs and 48 RBI and he followed that with a.281 average,9 home runs and 55 RBI in 1986. That year he suffered an injury, returned for a few days. He played in 105 games that season, Molitor attracted national media attention in 1987 during his 39-game hitting streak
35.
Milwaukee Brewers
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The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team and are based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The team is named for the association with the brewing industry. Since 2001, the Brewers have played their games at Miller Park. The team was founded in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots, an team of the American League, in Seattle. The Pilots played their games at Sicks Stadium. After only one season, the relocated to Milwaukee, becoming known as the Brewers. In 1998, the Brewers joined the National League and they are the only franchise to play in four divisions since the advent of divisional play in Major League Baseball in 1969. The teams only World Series appearance came in 1982, after winning the ALCS against the California Angels, the Brewers faced off against the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, losing 4-3. In 2011, the Brewers won the NLDS versus the Arizona Diamondbacks 3–2, the Brewers were part of the American League from their creation in 1969 through the 1997 season, after which they moved to the National League Central Division. Milwaukee had previously been a National League city when its team was the Milwaukee Braves, in 1981, Milwaukee won the American League East Division in the second half of the strike-shortened season. In the playoffs, they lost the series to the New York Yankees. In 1982, Milwaukee won the American League East Division and the American League Pennant, in the Series, they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals, four games to three. In 1998, the Brewers changed leagues, going from the American League to the National League, in 2008, for the first time in the 26 years since their World Series appearance, the Brewers advanced to postseason play by winning the National League wild card. They were eliminated in the National League Division Series by the eventual World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, on September 23,2011, the Milwaukee Brewers clinched their first division title in 29 years. The first Brewers uniforms were hand-me-downs from the Seattle Pilots, because the move to Milwaukee received final approval less than a week before the start of the season, there was no time to order new uniforms. However, the outline of the Pilots logo remained visible, the uniforms had unique striping on the sleeves left over from the Pilots days. The cap was a version of the Milwaukee Braves cap in blue. Ultimately, it was decided to keep blue and gold as the team colors, the Brewers finally got their own flannel design in 1971
36.
Third baseman
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In the scoring system used to record defensive plays, the third baseman is assigned the number 5. The third baseman requires good reflexes in reacting to batted balls, the third base position requires a strong and accurate arm, as the third baseman often makes long throws to first base. The third baseman sometimes must throw quickly to second base in time to start a double play, the third baseman must also field fly balls in fair and foul territory. Third base is known as the hot corner, because the third baseman is relatively close to the batter, a third baseman must possess good hand-eye coordination and quick reactions in order to catch hard line drives sometimes in excess of 125 miles per hour. Third basemen often must begin in an even closer to the batter if a bunt is expected. As with middle infielders, right-handed throwing players are standard at the position because they do not need to turn their body before throwing across the infield to first base. Mike Squires, who played fourteen games at third base in 1982 and 1983, is a rare example of a third baseman who threw lefty. Some third basemen have been converted from middle infielders or outfielders because the position does not require them to run as fast. Players who could hit with more ability often were not suited for third base, since the 1950s the position has become more of a power position with sluggers such as Eddie Mathews, Mike Schmidt and Ron Santo becoming stars. There are fewer third basemen in the Baseball Hall of Fame than there are Hall of Famers of any other position
37.
Wade Boggs
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Wade Anthony Boggs is an American former professional baseball third baseman. His hitting in the 1980s and 1990s made him a contender for American League batting titles. He is 33rd on the list of leaders for batting average among Major League Baseball players with a minimum of 1000 plate appearances. Boggs was elected to the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2004, with 12 straight All-Star appearances, Boggs is third only to Brooks Robinson and George Brett in number of consecutive appearances as a third baseman. In 1997, he ranked number 95 on the Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, Boggs, a 1976 graduate of Plant High School in Tampa, Florida, currently resides in the Tampa Palms neighborhood of Tampa. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, the youngest of three sons of Sue and Winfield K. Boggs, Wade had a military upbringing. Winfield and Sue met in 1946 at a base in Georgia. Winfield served with the Marines in World War II and flew for the Air Force in the Korean War while Sue piloted mail planes in World War II, the Boggs family lived in several different places before settling in Tampa, Florida when Wade was 11 years old. He attended Plant High School in Tampa, where he played baseball and was an All-State football player as a senior, Boggs played quarterback until senior year when he switched positions to avoid injury and thereby protect his baseball career. His success as a placekicker and punter earned him a scholarship offer from the University of South Carolina. He graduated from Plant High School in 1976 and was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the round of the 1976 MLB draft on the advice of veteran scout George Digby. He signed with the club for $7,500, Sue Boggs was killed in a car accident during the 1986 season when a cement truck being driven by a prisoner on work detail ran a red light and struck her car. Boggs played in the longest game in baseball history as a member of the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1981 against Cal Ripken, Jr. The Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings, two teams from the Triple-A International League, played the longest game in baseball history. It lasted for 33 innings over eight hours and 25 minutes,32 innings were played from 18 to 19 April 1981 at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. During his last year in the leagues with Pawtucket, he led the league with a.335 batting-average,167 hits. A left-handed hitter, Boggs won five batting titles starting in 1983 and he also batted.349 in his rookie year which would have won the batting title, but was 121 plate appearances short of the required minimum of 502. From 1982 to 1988, Boggs hit below.349 only once, Boggs also had six seasons with 200 or more hits, 100+ runs and 40+ doubles
38.
Boston Red Sox
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The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the American League East division. The Red Sox have won eight World Series championships and have played in 13, founded in 1901 as one of the American Leagues eight charter franchises, the Red Sox home ballpark has been Fenway Park since 1912. The Red Sox name was chosen by the owner, John I. Taylor, around 1908, following the lead of previous teams that had known as the Boston Red Stockings. Boston was a dominant team in the new league, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first World Series in 1903 and winning four more championships by 1918. Following their victory in the 2013 World Series, they became the first team to win three World Series trophies in the 21st century, including championships in 2004 and 2007. Red Sox history has also marked by the teams intense rivalry with the Yankees. The Boston Red Sox are owned by Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Liverpool F. C. of the Premier League in England. The Red Sox are consistently one of the top MLB teams in road attendance. From May 15,2003 to April 10,2013, the Red Sox sold out every home game—a total of 820 games for a professional sports record. Neil Diamonds Sweet Caroline has become an anthem for the Red Sox, the name Red Sox, chosen by owner John I. Taylor after the 1907 season, refers to the red hose in the team uniform beginning 1908. Sox had been adopted for the Chicago White Sox by newspapers needing a headline-friendly form of Stockings. The team name Red Sox had previously used as early as 1888 by a colored team from Norfolk. The Spanish language media sometimes refers to the team as Medias Rojas, the official Spanish site uses the variant Los Red Sox. The Red Stockings nickname was first used by a team by the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Managed by Harry Wright, Cincinnati adopted a uniform with white knickers and red stockings and earned the famous nickname, the Boston Red Stockings won four championships in the five seasons of the new National Association, the first professional league. Other names were used before Boston officially adopted the nickname Braves in 1912
39.
Shortstop
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Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. The position is filled by defensive specialists, so shortstops are generally relatively poor batters who bat later in the batting order. In the numbering used by scorers to record defensive plays. More hit balls go to the shortstop than to any position, as there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters. Like a second baseman, a shortstop must be agile, for example performing a 4-6-3 double play. Also, like a third baseman, the shortstop fields balls hit to the side of the infield. Doc Adams of the Knickerbockers created the concept of the position, according to Thorn. In the first five years the Knickerbockers played, the team fielded anywhere from eight to eleven players, the only infielders were the players covering each of the bases, if there were more than eight players, extra outfielders were sometimes used. The outfielders had difficulty throwing baseballs into the infield, because of the light weight. Adams shortstop position, which he started playing at some time from 1849 to 1850, was used to field throws from the outfielders, with the advent of higher-quality baseballs, Adams moved to the infield, since the distance the balls could travel increased. Adams had a playing career with the Knickerbockers, he remained a player with the team until 1860. The shortstop ordinarily is positioned near second base on the third-base side, a shortstop must also be extremely agile, because balls hit to or near the shortstop position are usually hit harder than to other infield positions. Shortstops are required to cover second base in double play situations when the ball is hit to the second baseman or first baseman and they also cover second when a runner is attempting a stolen base, but only when a left-handed hitter is batting. This is because the infield will respond to a batter by shifting toward first base. They often become the man on balls to any part of the outfield that are being directed towards third base and all balls to left. Depending on the system the shortstop may cut balls from left field heading home, however, the emphasis on defense makes the position unusually difficult to fill. Historically, a strong shortstop did not have to be a good hitter.200, since the 1960s, however, such mediocre hitting has become rarer as teams increasingly demand players with ability to both field and hit. Alex Rodríguez, Michael Young, or Miguel Tejada, the year in which the player was inducted is given in brackets after his name
40.
Cal Ripken Jr.
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Calvin Edwin Cal Ripken Jr. nicknamed The Iron Man, is an American former baseball shortstop and third baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Baltimore Orioles. One of his positions most offensively productive players, Ripken compiled 3,184 hits,431 home runs, and 1,695 runs batted in during his career and he was a 19-time All-Star and was twice named American League Most Valuable Player. Ripken holds the record for games played,2,632, surpassing Lou Gehrigs streak of 2,130 that had stood for 56 years. In 2007, he was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, born in Maryland, Ripken grew up traveling around the United States as his father, Cal Sr. was a player and coach in the Orioles organization. After a fine career at Aberdeen High School, Ripken Jr. was drafted by the Orioles in the round of the 1978 MLB draft. He reached the leagues in 1981 as a third baseman. That year, Ripken also won the AL Rookie of the Year Award, in 1983, he won a World Series championship and his first AL MVP Award. He switched back to base for the final five years of his career. In 2001, his season, Ripken was named the All-Star Game MVP and was honored with the Commissioners Historic Achievement Award. Ripken is considered one of the best shortstops and third basemen in baseball history, at 6 ft 4 in,225 lb, he pioneered the way for the success of taller, larger shortstops. He is a member of the 3,000 hit club and is behind Derek Jeter, Ripken is a best-selling author and the President and CEO of Ripken Baseball, Inc. whose goal is to grow the love of baseball from a grassroots level. Since his retirement, he has purchased three minor league baseball teams and he has been active in charity work throughout his career and is still considered an ambassador of the game. Ripken was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, the son of Violet Vi Ripken and he has German, English, and Irish ancestry. Though the Ripkens called Aberdeen, Maryland, their home, they were often on the move because of Cal Sr. s coaching duties with the Baltimore Orioles organization. Cal Sr. in fact, was in Topeka, Kansas with one of his teams when his son was born, Cal Jr. grew up around baseball and got started in it at a very young age. He was able to receive instruction from players on his fathers teams and he also got advice from his father, who once remarked to his mother that his questions were better than the ones reporters had. At the age of three, Ripken knew he wanted to be a ballplayer and, at the age of 10, Ripken knew the game inside, Ripken and his brother Billy attended Aberdeen High School. They both played there, Cal also played soccer
41.
Baltimore Orioles
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The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball as a member of the American League East division, Louis, Missouri to become the St. Louis Browns. After 52 often-beleaguered years in St. Louis, the franchise was purchased in November 1953 by Baltimore business interests led by Clarence Miles, the franchise officially moved to Baltimore for the 1954 season and adopted the historic Orioles name in honor of the official state bird of Maryland. The Orioles name had also used by several previous major and minor league baseball clubs in Baltimore. Nicknames for the team include the Os and the Birds, the Orioles experienced their greatest success from 1966 to 1983, when they made six World Series appearances, winning three of them. The franchise has won a total of nine division championships, six pennants. The Orioles are also known for their successful stadium, the trend-setting Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The modern Orioles franchise can trace its roots back to the original Milwaukee Brewers of the minor Western League, the Brewers were there when the WL renamed itself the American League in 1900. At the end of the 1900 season, the American League removed itself from baseballs National Agreement, two months later, the AL declared itself a competing major league. As a result of several shifts, the Brewers were one of only two Western League teams that didnt fold, move or get kicked out of the league. In its first game in the American League, the team lost to the Detroit Tigers 14–13 after blowing a lead in the 9th inning. To this day, it is a league record for the biggest deficit overcome that late in the game. During the first American League season in 1901, they finished last with a record of 48–89 and its lone Major League season, the team played at Lloyd Street Grounds, between 16th and 18th Streets in Milwaukee. The Miles-Krieger -Hoffberger group renamed their new team the Baltimore Orioles soon after taking control of the franchise, the name has a rich history in Baltimore, having been used by a National League team in the 1890s. In 1901, Baltimore and McGraw were awarded a franchise in the growing American League. After a battle with Ban Johnson, the Head of the American League in 1902, McGraw took many of the top players including Dan McGann, Roger Bresnahan and Joe McGinnity to the New York Giants. As an affront to Johnson, McGraw kept the black and orange colors of the New York Giants, which San Francisco wears to this day. In 1903, the rest of the team was transferred to New York where they were nicknamed the Highlanders until circa 1912, as a member of the high-minor league level International League, the Orioles competed at what is now known as the AAA level from 1903 to 1953
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Outfielder
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An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the fielder. An outfielders duty is to try to catch fly balls before they hit the ground or to quickly catch or retrieve. Outfielders normally play behind the six members of the defense who play in or near the infield. By convention, each of the nine positions in baseball is numbered. The outfield positions are 7,8 and 9 and these numbers are shorthand designations useful in baseball scorekeeping and are not necessarily the same as the squad numbers worn on player uniforms. Outfielders named to the MLB All-Century Team are Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Pete Rose, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, players can be characterized as either corner outfielders or a center fielder. Corner outfielders are often slower and have less value than the center fielder. However, there are important differences between right fielders and left fielders. Right fielders tend to have the best throwing arms of the outfield so they can make the throw to third base. For example, Babe Ruth was moved from pitcher to the outfield, left fielders and right fielders are more often slow power hitters, and center fielders are usually fast base-runners and good defensive players. Center field is considered the most difficult outfield position, requiring both a good throwing arm and speed. Center fielders on many teams often bat lead off, players who do not routinely start games, but often substitute as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement in the outfield are referred to as fourth outfielders or even fifth outfielders. These players can play any of the three outfield positions. Corner outfielders are outfielders who play the positions of right field. Corner outfielders often have less speed than center fielders, but make up for this deficiency with their offensive play, many left fielders have had the speed to play center field, but have lacked the throwing ability required. Gorman Thomas is an example of the reverse theory and he was a centerfielder his entire career, but was not nearly in shape as the typical player for this position. He compensated for it with sheer hustle and determination, often, when an outfield prospect arrives in the majors, he plays both corner positions before settling at one or another
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Jose Canseco
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José Canseco Capas Jr. is a Cuban-American former Major League Baseball outfielder, and designated hitter. After retiring from Major League Baseball, he competed in boxing. Canseco is the twin brother of former major league player Ozzie Canseco. Canseco was born in Havana, Cuba, the son of Jose Sr. and he has a twin brother, Ozzie. When Fidel Castro came into power in 1959, Jose Sr. a territory manager for the oil and gasoline corporation Esso as well as a part-time English teacher, lost his job and eventually his home. The younger Jose Canseco played baseball at Miami Coral Park High School and he was named Most Valuable Player of the junior varsity team in his junior year, and of the varsity team the following year. He graduated in 1982 and was drafted by the Oakland Athletics, the Oakland Athletics drafted Canseco in the 15th round of the 1982 Major League Baseball draft. He played minor league baseball with the Medford As, Madison Muskies, Idaho Falls As, Canseco started the 1985 season with the Class-AA Huntsville Stars and became known as Parkway Jose for his long home runs that went close to the Memorial Parkway behind Joe Davis Stadium. In 1985, Canseco won the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award and he made his Major League debut on September 2 and struck out in his one at-bat against the Baltimore Orioles. His first hit was off Ron Guidry of the New York Yankees on September 7. and he played in 29 games in the major leagues in 1985. He established himself in 1986, his first full season, being named the American Leagues Rookie of the Year, in 1987, Mark McGwire joined Canseco on the Athletics, McGwire hit 49 home runs that year and was also named the American League Rookie of the Year. Together, he and Canseco formed a fearsome offensive tandem, known as the Bash Brothers, in April 1988, Canseco guaranteed he would hit at least 40 home runs and steal at least 40 bases in the upcoming season. He went on to record 42 home runs and 40 steals becoming the first player in MLB history to hit the 40-40 mark in a single season. In recognition of his record the street in front of his high school was named after him but was later rescinded in 2008 after he admitted to previously using drugs throughout his career. That same year, he helped the Athletics sweep the Boston Red Sox in 4 games in the ALCS, Canseco hit a grand slam in Game 1 in his first official World Series at bat, but it would be his only hit in the Series. He was unanimously named the American Leagues Most Valuable Player in 1988, with a.307 batting average,120 runs scored,124 RBIs,42 home runs, and 40 stolen bases. Canseco had a solid postseason hitting for a.323 batting average and 2 home runs including one in the ALCS against the Blue Jays that reached the deck of the Sky Dome. Against the Giants in the World Series he hit for a.357 average with a run in game 3
44.
Dave Winfield
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David Mark Winfield is an American former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is currently assistant to the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association. Over his 22-year career, he played for six teams, the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins and he had the winning hit in the 1992 World Series with the Blue Jays over the Atlanta Braves. Winfield is a 12-time MLB All-Star, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, the Padres retired #31, Winfields uniform number, in his honor. He also wore #31 while playing for the Yankees and Indians and wore #32 with the Angels, Blue Jays, in 2004, ESPN named him the third-best all-around athlete of all time in any sport. He is a member of both the Baseball Hall of Fame and the College Baseball Hall of Fame, Winfield was born the same day Bobby Thomson hit his pennant-winning home run for the New York Giants, known as the shot heard round the world. He grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, the Winfield brothers honed their athletic skills in St. Pauls Oxford playground, where coach Bill Peterson was one of the first to take the young Winfield under his wing. Winfield did not become a formidable 66 athlete until his year of high school. He earned a full scholarship to the University of Minnesota in 1969. His college baseball coach was former MLB player Dick Siebert, Winfields 1972 Minnesota team won a Big Ten basketball championship, the schools first in 53 years. During the 1972 season, he also was involved in a brawl when Minnesota played Ohio State, Winfield also played for the Alaska Goldpanners for two seasons and was the MVP in 1972. In 1973, he was named All-American and voted MVP of the College World Series—as a pitcher, following college, Winfield was drafted by four teams in three different sports. The San Diego Padres selected him as a pitcher with the fourth pick in the MLB draft. Though he never played football, the Minnesota Vikings selected Winfield in the 17th round of the NFL draft. He is one of four players ever to be drafted by three sports, and one of two athletes along with McCarty to be drafted by four leagues. Winfield chose baseball, and gained another distinction when the San Diego Padres signed in him the first round draft, although he was a pitcher, the Padres wanted his powerful bat in the lineup and put him in right field, where he could still use his rifle arm. He proved up to the task, batting.277 in 56 games his first season, for the next several years, he was an All-Star player in San Diego, gradually increasing his power and hits totals. In 1977, he appeared in his first All-Star game at New Yorks Yankee Stadium, in 1978, he was named Padres team captain and in 1979, he batted.308 with 34 home runs and 118 RBI
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New York Yankees
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The Essendon Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League, the sports premier competition. Formed in 1871 as a club and playing as a senior club since 1878. It is historically associated with Essendon, a suburb in the north-west of Melbourne, dyson Heppell is the current team captain. A founding member club of both the Victorian Football Association, in 1877, and the Victorian Football League, in 1896, the club claims to have over at least one million supporters Australia wide. Essendon has won 16 VFL/AFL premierships which, along with Carlton, is the most of any club in the competition, the club was founded by members of the Royal Agricultural Society, the Melbourne Hunt Club and the Victorian Woolbrokers. The Essendon Football Club is thought to have formed in 1872 at a meeting it the home of a well-known brewery family, the McCrackens, whose Ascot Vale property hosted a team of local junior players. Robert McCracken, the owner of several city hotels, was the founder and first president of the Essendon club and his son, Alex, Alex would later become president of the newly formed VFL. Alexs cousin, Collier, who had played with Melbourne, was the teams first captain. The club played its first recorded match against the Carlton second twenty on 7 June 1873, Essendon played 13 matches in its first season, winning seven, with four draws and losing two. The club was one of the junior members of the Victorian Football Association in 1877. During its early years in the Association, Essendon played its matches at Flemington Hill. In 1878, Essendon played in the first match on what would be considered by modern standards to be a field at Flemington Hill. In 1879 Essendon played Melbourne in one of the earliest night matches recorded when the ball was painted white, in 1883 the team played four matches in Adelaide. In 1891 Essendon won their first VFA premiership, which they repeated in 1892,1893 and 1894, one of the clubs greatest players, Albert Thurgood played for the club during this period. Essendon was undefeated in the 1893 season, at the end of the 1896 season Essendon along with seven other clubs formed the Victorian Football League. Essendons first VFL game was in 1897 was against Geelong at Corio Oval in Geelong, Essendon won its first VFL premiership by winning the 1897 VFL finals series. Essendon again won the premiership in 1901, defeating Collingwood in the Grand Final, the club won successive premierships in 1911 and 1912 over Collingwood and South Melbourne respectively. The nickname first appeared in print in the local North Melbourne Advertiser in 1889 and it was known firstly as Essendon Town and, after 1905, as Essendon
