1.
Baseball
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Baseball is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of nine players each, who take turns batting and fielding. A run is scored when a player advances around the bases, Players on the batting team take turns hitting against the pitcher of the fielding team, which tries to prevent runs by getting hitters out in any of several ways. A player on the team who reaches a base safely can later attempt to advance to subsequent bases during teammates turns batting. The teams switch between batting and fielding whenever the team records three outs. One turn batting for both teams, beginning with the team, constitutes an inning. A game is composed of nine innings, and the team with the number of runs at the end of the game wins. Baseball has no clock, although almost all games end in the ninth inning. Baseball evolved from older bat-and-ball games already being played in England by the mid-18th century and this game was brought by immigrants to North America, where the modern version developed. By the late 19th century, baseball was widely recognized as the sport of the United States. Baseball is now popular in North America and parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, in the United States and Canada, professional Major League Baseball teams are divided into the National League and American League, each with three divisions, East, West, and Central. The major league champion is determined by playoffs that culminate in the World Series, the top level of play is similarly split in Japan between the Central and Pacific Leagues and in Cuba between the West League and East League. The evolution of baseball from older bat-and-ball games is difficult to trace with precision, a French manuscript from 1344 contains an illustration of clerics playing a game, possibly la soule, with similarities to baseball. Other old French games such as thèque, la balle au bâton, consensus once held that todays baseball is a North American development from the older game rounders, popular in Great Britain and Ireland. Baseball Before We Knew It, A Search for the Roots of the Game, by David Block, suggests that the game originated in England, recently uncovered historical evidence supports this position. Block argues that rounders and early baseball were actually regional variants of other. It has long believed that cricket also descended from such games. The earliest known reference to baseball is in a 1744 British publication, A Little Pretty Pocket-Book, David Block discovered that the first recorded game of Bass-Ball took place in 1749 in Surrey, and featured the Prince of Wales as a player. William Bray, an English lawyer, recorded a game of baseball on Easter Monday 1755 in Guildford and this early form of the game was apparently brought to Canada by English immigrants
2.
Batting (baseball)
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In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for ones team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher. The three main goals of batters are to become a baserunner, drive home, or advance runners along the bases for others to drive home. Hitting uses a motion that is unique to baseball, one that is rarely used in other sports. Hitting is unique because unlike most sports movements in the plane of movement hitting involves rotating in the horizontal plane. In general, batters try to get hits, however, their primary objective is to avoid making an out, and helping their team to score runs. There are several ways they can help their team score runs and they may draw a walk if they receive and do not swing the bat at four pitches located outside the strike zone. In cases when there is a runner on third and fewer than two outs, they can attempt to hit a fly to drive the runner in by allowing the runner on third to tag up. They might even be hit by a pitch, reach on an error or—if first is empty or there are two outs—on a dropped third strike, the defense attempts to get the batter out. The pitchers main role in this is to throw the ball in such a way that the batter strikes out or cannot hit it cleanly so that the defense can get him or her out. Batting is often cited as one of the most difficult feats in sports because it consists of hitting a small ball, usually moving at high velocity. In fact, if a batter can get a hit in three out of ten at bats, giving him an average of.300, he or she is considered a good hitter. In Major League Baseball, no batter has had over a.400 average at the end of the season since Ted Williams in 1941, an OPS at or near 1.000 is considered to be the mark of an exceptional hitter. A sustained OPS at or above 1.000 over a career is a only a few hitters have ever been able to reach. Batters vary in their approach at the plate, some are aggressive hitters, often swinging at the first pitch. Others are patient, attempting to work the count in order to observe all the types of pitches a pitcher will use. In preparation of hitting, every player has their own particular warm-up routine. Warming up before the game is usually done as a team, at the amateur level, the most notable drill used is the Tee Drill, where you hit a ball off a baseball tee and correct any issues you found during previous games or practices
3.
Base running
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In baseball, base running is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat. In general, base running is a part of the game with the goal of eventually reaching home to score a run. The goal of batting is generally to produce base runners, or help move base runners along, runners on second or third base are considered to be in scoring position since a normal hit, even a single, will often score them. Part of the goal of a runner and a batter is to get the runner into scoring position, for any base running to occur, a batter must initially become a base runner. The term is not applied if the batter hits a foul ball or to a player awarded first base. A player ceases to be a runner when, he scores a run, he is put out in any way. If a base runners teammate is put out for the out of the inning. A runner who is touching a base which he is entitled to occupy may not be tagged out, runners may attempt to advance from base to base on any fair ball that touches the ground. When a ball is hit in the air and caught by the team, runners must return. Once they do this, they may attempt to advance at their own risk, on a ball that touches the ground in fair territory, if there is a force, runners are required to run. Base runners may attempt to advance at any time while the ball is alive, the catcher—or pitcher, in lieu of delivering the pitch—often tries to prevent this by throwing the ball to one of the infielders in order to tag the runner. This pick-off attempt is unsuccessful in tagging out the runner but is effective in keeping the runner closer to the base. If the runner is tagged out while diving back to the base, if the runner attempts to advance to the next base but is tagged out before reaching it safely, he is caught stealing. A successful attempt by the runner is called a stolen base, if a pitch gets away from the catcher, runners may also try to advance. This may be a pitch, if the pitcher is held responsible for the ball getting away. Sometimes the defending team will ignore a runner who is trying to steal a base, in case a runner is not credited with a steal. The standard dimensions of a field, with 90 feet between bases, generate many close base running plays. On one hand, an infielder who fields a ball hit on the ground, then throws it quickly and accurately
4.
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
5.
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
6.
Strikeout
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In baseball or softball, a strikeout occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means the batter is out, a strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is denoted by K. Although a strikeout suggests that the pitcher dominated the batter, the style that generates home runs also leaves batters susceptible to striking out. Some of the greatest home run hitters of all time — such as Alex Rodriguez, Gorman Thomas, Reggie Jackson, and Sammy Sosa — were notorious for striking out. A pitched ball is ruled a ball by the if the batter did not swing at it and, in that umpires judgment. Any pitch at which the batter swings or, that in that umpires judgment passes through the zone, is ruled a strike. Each ball and strike affects the count, which is incremented for each pitched ball with the exception of a ball on any count with two strikes. That is, a strike may only occur by the batter swinging and missing at a pitched ball. A pitched ball that is struck by the batter with the bat on any count, a batter may also strike out by bunting, even if the ball is hit into foul territory. In Japan, this is called furinige, or swing and escape, in Major League Baseball, it is known as an uncaught third strike. When this happens, a strikeout is recorded for both the pitcher and the batter, but no out is recorded, because of this, a pitcher may occasionally be able to record more than three strikeouts in one half-inning. In baseball scorekeeping, a strikeout is recorded as a K. A strikeout looking is often scored with a backward K, and sometimes as a K-L, CK, despite the scorekeeping custom of using K for strikeout, SO is the official abbreviation used by Major League Baseball. K is still used by fans and enthusiasts for purposes other than official record-keeping. The K may be placed backward in cases where the batter strikes out looking, the use of K for a strikeout was invented by Henry Chadwick, a newspaper journalist who is widely credited as the originator of the box score and the baseball scorecard. As is true in much of baseball, both the box score and scorecard remain largely unchanged to this day, Chadwick decided to use K, the last letter in struck, since the letter S was used for sacrifice. Chadwick was responsible for several other scorekeeping conventions, including the use of numbers to designate player positions and those unaware of Chadwicks contributions have speculated that K was derived from the last name of 19th century pitcher Matt Kilroy. If not for the evidence supporting Chadwicks earlier use of K, Kilroy raised the prominence of the strikeout, setting an all-time single-season record of 513 strikeouts in 1886, only two years after overhand pitching was permitted
7.
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
8.
Tag out
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In baseball, a runner must sometimes advance to the next base because a batter, advancing to first, forces that runner to advance ahead of him to the next base. Two runners are not allowed on one base at one time, so a batter can, in effect, such a runner is spoken of as having been forced to the next base. A defensive play against that runner is called a play and, if successful. In force plays, the way a fielder gets a runner out is by, with the ball in his hand, a batter can also advance to the next base because he chooses to. For example, suppose, with a runner on first, the batter hits a single into the outfield, as the batter runs to first, the runner on first is forced to advance ahead of him to second. However, that runner can then choose to run past second, in this situation, a defensive play against such an unforced runner will be called a tag play and, if successful, a tag out. To get the runner out on a tag play, the fielder must tag him with the ball before the runner gets to the targeted base, tag plays are much more difficult to execute than force plays. Tag plays can also be utilized in other cases when the runner is in jeopardy, runners attempting to advance are sometimes thrown out, which means that a fielder throws the ball to someone covering the base, who then tags the runner before the runner touches the base. A runner who leads off a base too far might be picked off, that is, the pitcher throws to a fielder covering the base, when a runner is tagged out, a farther advanced runner who had been forced to advance no longer has to do so. The result of such a tag is called removing the force, if a defensive player tags the runner with his glove and the baseball is in his other hand, or with his free hand while the baseball is in his glove, then the runner is not out. Attempted tag outs sometimes can instigate fights in baseball, often the infielder will tag the baserunner too hard, or the baserunner will slide into base with enough speed and force to knock over the infielder attempting to tag out. Additionally, the runner may run the infielder over in an attempt to make the drop the ball
9.
Baseball field
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A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The term is used as a metonym for baseball park.5 inches. Adjacent to each of the two parallel 8. 5-inch sides is a batters box, the point of home plate where the two 12-inch sides meet at right angles is at one corner of a ninety-foot square. The other three corners of the square, in order from home plate, are called first base, second base. Three canvas bags fifteen inches square mark the three bases and these three bags along with home plate form the four points at the corners of the infield. All the bases, including home plate, lie entirely within fair territory, thus, any batted ball that touches those bases must necessarily be in fair territory. Thus, although the points of the bases are 90 feet apart, the lines from home plate to first and third bases extend to the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction and are called the foul lines. The portion of the field between the foul lines is fair territory, the rest is foul territory. The area in the vicinity of the square formed by the bases is called the infield, most baseball fields are enclosed with a fence that marks the outer edge of the outfield. The fence is set at a distance ranging from 300 to 420 feet from home plate. Most professional and college baseball fields have a right and left foul pole and these poles are at the intersection of the foul lines and the respective ends of the outfield fence and, unless otherwise specified within the ground rules, lie in fair territory. Thus, a ball that passes over the outfield wall in flight and touches the foul pole is a fair ball. First base is the first of four bases that must be touched by a player on the team in order to score a run. Unlike when a player reaches second or third base, it is permissible for a batter-runner to overrun first base without being in jeopardy of being put out. After contact is made with the base, the batter-runner may slow down and return to first base at his leisure, the runner cannot be tagged out if he is touching the base with any part of his body. The first baseman is the player responsible for the area near first base. A professional first baseman is often a slow runner and tall, a tall first baseman presents a large target to which other fielders can throw, and his height gives him a larger range in reaching and catching errant throws. Also, a right-handed first baseman must, when setting himself up to receive a throw from an infielder, execute a half-pivot near the base, there are three infield positions that can only effectively be occupied by right-handed players, 2nd base, 3rd base, and shortstop
10.
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
11.
Infielder
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An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive infield positions on the baseball field. In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. Although there are rules to baseball, in general the team playing offense tries to score runs by batting balls into the field that enable runners to make a complete circuit of the four bases. There are nine defensive positions on a baseball field, the part of the baseball field closest to the batter is known as the infield The infield is composed of four positions, first base, second base, third base and shortstop. Generally, the first three have responsibility for plays at their bases, although the shortstop often shares responsibility for second base with the second baseman. Each position requires a different set of skills, the second baseman tries to field balls hit between first and second base. The shortstop does the same second and third base. Once fielded, the balls must be thrown to the first baseman before the batter can reach first base, second basemen and shortstops—known as the middle infielders—also share responsibility for tagging runners who are attempting to steal second base. Because a shortstop has a throw to make to first base, he must reach the ball faster. For this reason, the shortstop must have the best fielding skills of any infielder, the third baseman primarily fields balls hit and bunted down the third base line, but can also attempt to reach balls hit between second and third base. The third baseman must also have a strong arm, since the throw from his position to first base is the longest on the infield. The first baseman is largely responsible for keeping one foot on first base while catching throws from the three infielders before the batter can reach first base. Because these throws are often hurried and thus off-target, the first baseman must have the ability to cleanly field thrown balls that hit the ground before they reach first base. Since the first baseman mostly stands close to his base, his mobility and throwing skills do not need to be high, good hitters who are slow of foot are often placed at first base. In some cases, a third baseman or outfielder who has lost some speed but is still a good hitter will be moved to first base to keep his bat in the line-up
12.
Batted ball
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In baseball, a batted ball is any ball that, after a pitch, is contacted by the batters bat. One or more of several terms are used to describe a ball, depending on how it comes off the bat. There are generally three categories for balls hit in the air, A fly ball or simply fly is a ball that is hit in the air. Fielders attempt to fly balls on their descent. A pop fly or pop-up is a type of fly ball that goes very high while not traveling very far laterally. From the perspective of the fielder, pop-ups seem to come straight down, a fly ball is usually caught in flight and thus results in an out, called a fly out or a pop out as the case may be. A pop fly in or near the infield is almost always easily caught because infielders can easily approach the fly ball before it falls. A special rule, the fly rule, applies to any fair fly ball that looks like an easy catch for an infielder when baserunners are on first. When fielder drops a fly ball, runners that expected having to tag up must run immediately to avoid the incoming batsman, allowing an easy force play on them at third base or home plate. The umpire calls Infield fly if fair, indicating if the batted ball remains fair. The infield fly rule does not apply to a ball of any kind or a foul fly of any kind. This is a hit, low-flying batted ball. The threshold between a line drive and a fly ball is subjective, liners tend to have little noticeable arc, line drives can be especially dangerous to baseball players and spectators. As recently as July 22,2007, Tulsa Drillers first base coach Mike Coolbaugh was killed in a line drive accident at a minor league stadium in Little Rock, a ground ball or grounder is a batted ball that rolls or bounces on the ground. A line drive in the infield may become a hard grounder to an outfielder, any of the above types of balls might be fair balls or foul balls. Umpires will also signal first signal fair or foul on fly outs near the foul line, a foul tip, a very different type of batted ball, is a ball tipped off the bat which goes sharply and directly to the catchers mitt or hand. If the catcher does not catch the ball, it is a foul ball. If the catcher has to either his mitt/hand or body to catch the ball, it is not a foul tip
13.
Albert Pujols
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José Alberto Pujols Alcántara, better known as Albert Pujols, is a Dominican American professional baseball first baseman for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Major League Baseball. He stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds and he previously played for the St. Louis Cardinals, where he received three National League MVP awards and was a nine-time MLB All-Star. He was also an All-Star with the Angels in 2015, Pujols was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the United States in 1996. After one season of baseball, he was selected by the Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 MLB draft. As a rookie for the Cardinals in 2001, he was voted the NL Rookie of the Year. Pujols played for the Cardinals for 11 seasons, contributing to two World Series championships in 2006 and 2011, after the 2011 season, Pujols became a free agent and later signed a 10-year contract with the Angels. Pujols is a highly regarded hitter who has shown a combination of hitting ability, patience. He is a six-time Silver Slugger who has led the NL in home runs. He is significantly above-average in career regular season batting average, walk rate, Pujols is considered a strong future candidate for the Hall of Fame. Born on January 16,1980, Pujols was raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, mostly by his grandmother America Pujols and 10 of his uncles and his father, Bienvenido Pujols, was a softball pitcher, but he was also an alcoholic. Albert often had to take his home when his father got drunk following the games. Growing up, Pujols practiced baseball using limes for balls and a milk carton for a glove, Pujols, his father, and his grandmother immigrated in 1996 to New York City, where Albert witnessed a shooting at a grocery store. Partly because of the shooting, they moved to Independence, Missouri, Pujols played baseball at Fort Osage High School in Independence and was named an All-State athlete twice. As a senior, he was walked 55 times in protest because opposing coaches believed he was older than 18, one of his home runs travelled 450 feet. After graduating from school a semester early in December 1998. Pujols hit a grand slam and turned a triple play in the first game of his only college season. Playing shortstop, he batted.461 with 22 home runs as a freshman before deciding to enter the Major League Baseball draft, few teams were interested in Pujols because of uncertainty about his age, which position he would play, and his build. Tampa Bay Rays scout Fernando Arango recommended that his team sign Pujols, Pujols was not drafted until the 13th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft, when the St. Louis Cardinals selected him with the 402nd overall pick
14.
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
15.
Bill Buckner
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William Joseph Buckner is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He appeared in MLB from 1969 through 1990, during his career, he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, California Angels, and Kansas City Royals. Buckner accumulated over 2,700 hits in his career, won a batting title in 1980. Buckner was born in Vallejo, California and grew up in American Canyon and he graduated from Napa High School in 1968 after playing on the schools baseball and football teams. While playing football, he was a two-time All-Statewide receiver Coaches, Buckner was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 1968 Major League Baseball draft. His friend, Bobby Valentine, was the Dodgers first round pick, upon signing with the Dodgers, Buckner was assigned to the Ogden Dodgers of the Pioneer League. After two minor league seasons, in which he batted.323, Buckner made his league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a September call-up in 1969 at the age of 19. He appeared in one game, September 21 against the San Francisco Giants, Buckner began the 1970 season with the Dodgers, but after batting.121 with no home runs and no RBIs, he was returned to Triple-A Spokane. His.335 batting average with the Spokane Indians earned him a second chance and he batted.257 in the months of September and October, with four RBIs and five runs scored. Buckner earned a job with the Dodgers in 1971 as their opening day right fielder. Buckner played a role in a baseball milestone on April 8,1974. Playing left field, Buckner climbed the fence in an attempt to catch Hank Aarons 715th home run, in his Dodger career, Buckner batted.289 with 38 home runs and 277 runs batted in in 773 games. Following the season, Buckner was traded to the Chicago Cubs with Iván DeJesús and Jeff Albert for Rick Monday and Mike Garman. He had suffered an infection in his ankle in 1976, so the Cubs shifted him to first base. During his career in Chicago, he batted over.300 four times, leading the league in 1980 at.324, and was the Cubs sole representative at the 1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. On May 17,1979, in a famous slugfest at Wrigley Field that included three homers by Dave Kingman and two by Mike Schmidt, Buckner went four-for-seven with a grand slam and seven RBIs. When manager Herman Franks resigned late in the 1979 season, he made comments about several players. Early in the 1984 season, the Boston Red Sox were in the market for an upgrade at first base, on May 25, they acquired Buckner from the Cubs for Dennis Eckersley and Mike Brumley
16.
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
17.
Chicago Cubs
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The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the National League Central division. The team plays its games at Wrigley Field, located on the citys North Side. The Cubs are one of two league teams in Chicago, the other, the Chicago White Sox, is a member of the American League Central division. The Cubs, first known as the White Stockings, was a member of the NL in 1876. The Cubs have appeared in a total of eleven World Series, the 1906 Cubs won 116 games, finishing 116–36 and posting a modern-era record winning percentage of.763, before losing the World Series to the Chicago White Sox by four games to two. The Cubs won back-to-back World Series championships in 1907 and 1908, the 108-year drought was also the longest such occurrence in all major North American sports. Since the start of play in 1969, the Cubs have appeared in the postseason eight times through the 2016 season. The Cubs are known as the North Siders, a reference to the location of Wrigley Field within the city of Chicago, there is a divisional rivalry with the St. Louis Cardinals and also a newer rivalry with the Milwaukee Brewers. There is also a rivalry with the White Sox. The Cubs began play in 1876 as the Chicago White Stockings, joining the National League as a charter member. Owner William Hulbert signed multiple star players, such as pitcher Albert Spalding and infielders Ross Barnes, Deacon White, the White Stockings played their home games at West Side Grounds and quickly established themselves as one of the new leagues top teams. Spalding won forty-seven games and Barnes led the league in hitting at.429 as Chicago won the first ever National League pennant, which at the time was the games top prize. After back-to-back pennants in 1880 and 1881, Hulbert died, and Spalding, the White Stockings, with Anson acting as player-manager, captured their third consecutive pennant in 1882, and Anson established himself as the games first true superstar. In 1885 and 86, after winning N. L. pennants, both seasons resulted in match ups with the St. Louis Brown Stockings, with the clubs tying in 1885 and with St. Louis winning in 1886. This was the genesis of what would become one of the greatest rivalries in sports. In all, the Anson-led Chicago Base Ball Club won six National League pennants between 1876 and 1886. As a result, Chicagos club nickname transitioned, and by 1890 they had known as the Chicago Colts, or sometimes Ansons Colts
18.
Pittsburgh Pirates
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The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the National League Central division. Founded on October 15,1881 as Allegheny, the franchise has won five World Series championships, the Pirates are also often referred to as the Bucs or the Buccos. They also won the 1971 World Series, led by the talent of Roberto Clemente, overall, the Pirates have won five World Series and lost two. They would then advance to the NL Division Series round, where they lost in 5 games to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pirates would continue their success and make the playoffs in both 2014 and 2015, losing in the Wild Card Game both times. Professional baseball has been played in the Pittsburgh area since 1876, the teams of the era were independents, barnstorming throughout the region and not affiliated with any organized league, though they did have salaries and were run as business organizations. On October 15,1881, the strongest team in the joined the American Association as a founding member to begin play in 1882. Their various home fields in the 19th century were in a city called Allegheny City. After five mediocre seasons in the A. A, Pittsburgh became the first A. A. team to switch to the older National League in 1887. At this time, the team renamed itself the Pittsburgh Alleghenys, at that time, owner-manager Horace Phillips sold the team to Dennis McKnight, Phillips stayed on as manager. Before the 1890 season, nearly all of the Alleghenys best players bolted to the Players Leagues Pittsburgh Burghers, the Players League collapsed after the season, and the players were allowed to go back to their old clubs. However, the Alleghenys also scooped up highly regarded second baseman Lou Bierbauer, although the Athletics had failed to include Bierbauer on their reserve list, they loudly protested the Alleghenys move. In an official complaint, an AA official claimed the Alleghenys signing of Bierbauer was piratical and this incident quickly accelerated into a schism between the leagues that contributed to the demise of the A. A. Although the Alleghenys were never found guilty of wrongdoing, they made sport of being denounced for being piratical by renaming themselves the Pirates for the 1891 season, the nickname was first acknowledged on the teams uniforms in 1912. The Pirates were a team in the early 1900s, winning National League pennants from 1901–1903. They again won the NL in 1925 and 1927 and the World Series in 1925, after a slow period, they returned to dominance and won the 1960 World Series,1971 World Series and 1979 World Series. They won Eastern Division titles from 1990–1992 but did not return to the post-season after that until 2013, on Opening Day 2015 the Pirates loss to the Cincinnati Reds represented its 10, 000th franchise loss since moving to the NL. This made the Pirates the fourth MLB team to achieve distinction, following the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves
19.
Todd Helton
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Todd Lynn Helton is a former American professional baseball first baseman who played his entire 17-year career for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball. In 2000, he won the title with a.372 average, and also led MLB with a.698 slugging percentage,59 doubles,147 RBI. Helton amassed his 2, 000th career hit against the Atlanta Braves on May 19,2009, Helton attended Central High School in Knoxville, Tennessee and was a letterman in football and baseball. In football, he posted 2,772 total yards as quarterback, in baseball, as a senior, Helton posted a.655 batting average and 12 home runs and was named the Regional Player of the Year. Baseball America also bestowed him with All-American honors for his senior season, Helton was drafted in the 2nd round by the San Diego Padres during the 1992 MLB draft. He did not sign and chose to attend college, Helton received an athletic scholarship from the University of Tennessee to play both football and baseball. He was named a Gatorade Player of the Year for football and baseball at Tennessee, as a freshman and sophomore, he backed up Heath Shuler at quarterback. Entering his junior season in 1994, he was the back-up to senior Jerry Colquitt, after Colquitt tore knee ligaments in the season opener at UCLA, Helton took over as the starter. Three weeks later against Mississippi State, he suffered an injury himself and was replaced by Manning. Manning went on to several records and eventually be drafted first overall by the Indianapolis Colts after his senior year. Helton appeared in 12 games during his career with UTs football team, completing 41 of 75 passes for 484 yards, four touchdowns, in baseball, Helton was awarded the Dick Howser Trophy as National Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year following his junior baseball season in 1995. During his career at UT, he registered a.370 batting average, in 1995, he set the Tennessee saves record with 11, while posting a 0.89 ERA. During his career, he pitched 193 innings, registering an ERA of 2.24, Helton spent the summer of 1994 playing for the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Todd qualified as a U. S. Army ROTC Cadet by successfully completing the basic course, Helton was drafted in the first round, eighth overall, in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft by the Colorado Rockies. He was signed on August 1,1995, Helton spent the next couple of years playing for the class-A Asheville Tourists, AA New Haven Ravens and AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox before getting a crack at the major leagues. He made his debut on August 1,1997, in a 6–5 road loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Helton started in field and flied out in his first at-bat. He recorded his first hit, a single, in his second at-bat off Francisco Córdova, Helton also hit his first home run, a solo shot, that day off Marc Wilkins
20.
Colorado Rockies
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The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the National League West division. The teams home venue is Coors Field, located in the Lower Downtown area of Denver, the Rockies have won one National League championship, in 2007, after having won 21 of their final 22 games in order to secure a Wild Card position. In the World Series they were swept by the American League champion Boston Red Sox in four games and they are one of two MLB franchises to have never won a division title. Denver had long been a hotbed of Denver Bears/Zephyrs Minor League Baseball, following the Pittsburgh drug trials, an unsuccessful attempt was made to purchase the Pittsburgh Pirates and relocate them. However, in 1991, as part of Major League Baseballs two-team expansion, Monus were granted a franchise, they took the name Rockies due to Denvers proximity to the Rocky Mountains, which is reflected in their logo. Monus and Antonucci were forced to out in 1992 after Monus reputation was ruined by an accounting scandal. Trucking magnate Jerry McMorris stepped in at the 11th hour to save the franchise, the Rockies shared Mile High Stadium with the National Football League s Denver Broncos for their first two seasons while Coors Field was constructed. It was completed for the 1995 Major League Baseball season, in 1993, they started play in the Western division of the National League. Since that date, the Rockies have reached the Major League Baseball postseason three times, each time as the National League wild card team, twice they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. In 2007, the Rockies advanced to the World Series, only to be swept by the Boston Red Sox, the Rockies have played their home games at Coors Field since 1995. Their newest Spring training home, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the start of the 2012 season, the Rockies introduced Purple Mondays in which the team wears its purple uniform every Monday game day. No inducted members of the Baseball Hall of Fame have played for or managed the Rockies. 1997 – Larry Walker 2007 – Matt Holliday In 1998, Todd Helton finished second in Rookie of the Year voting 2002 – Jason Jennings In 2007, jackie Robinsons number,42, was retired throughout all of baseball in 1997. Keli McGregor had worked with the Rockies since their inception in 1993, rising from senior director of operations to team president in 2002 and he is honored at Coors Field alongside Helton and Robinson with his initials. As of 2010, Rockies flagship radio station is KOA 850AM, Jerry Schemmel and Jack Corrigan are the radio announcers which both serve as backup TV announcers whenever Drew Goodman is not on the broadcast. The Rockies Radio Network is composed of 38 affiliate stations in eight states, as of 2013, Spanish broadcasts of the Rockies are heard on KNRV1150 AM. As of 2013, all games will be produced and televised by Root Sports Rocky Mountain, all 150 games produced by Root Sports Rocky Mountain will be broadcast in HD
21.
Mickey Vernon
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James Barton Mickey Vernon was an American Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Braves, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Vernon served in World War II during two major league seasons and he retired as a player in 1960 with 2,495 hits, and holds the major league record for career double plays at first base. He has the American League record for games, putouts, assists. Mickey Vernon was born in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, and attended Villanova University and he was the father of Gay Vernon. Vernon played for 14 full major league seasons in his 20-year career and he wound up batting over.335 twice, over.300 five times, and over.290 nine times. In 1954, he had a career high 20 home runs,97 RBIs, and he led the AL in doubles with a total of 33. He also had 294 total bases, which was 2nd in the AL, over time, Vernon became one of the best-liked ballplayers, mainly through his unique personality and charismatic, but quiet, style. By his last game on September 27,1960, before being released by the Pirates he was, at 42, the oldest player by almost a year, and one of the most popular players in the game. He had spent that season as the Bucs first-base coach before being activated, Vernon is one of only 29 players in baseball history to have appeared in a major league game in four decades. Vernon posted a career.286 batting average with 172 home runs and 1,311 RBIs in 2,409 games, the left-hander averaged 88 RBIs a year, and had 11 seasons with 80 or more,3 with 90 or more. He accumulated 1196 runs with 137 stolen bases and a.359 on-base percentage and his career slugging percentage was.428, with a career high of.518 in 1953. He compiled 2,495 hits, with 490 doubles and 120 triples and he had 3,741 career total bases, with his career high coming in 1953. Vernon coached for the Pirates in 1960 under his longtime friend, during that world championship season, Vernon made his final appearance as a player, when he was activated on September 1 when the rosters expanded to 40 men. He appeared in nine games as a hitter, with one hit in eight at-bats. The following year, in 1961, he was given the job of managing the expansion Senators in their first year of existence and he did so from 1961 until the beginning of 1963. He had a record of 135–227, a.373 winning percentage. He was a major league coach for the Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, and New York Yankees. He managed at the AAA and AA levels of the minor leagues, Vernon died from a stroke at age 90, on September 24,2008
22.
Cleveland Indians
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The Cleveland Indians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the American League Central division. Since 1994, they have played at Progressive Field, the teams spring training facility is at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona. The Indians current World Series championship drought is the longest active drought, the name Indians originated from a request by club owner Charles Somers to baseball writers to choose a new name to replace Cleveland Naps following the departure of Nap Lajoie after the 1914 season. The name referenced the nickname Indians that was applied to the Cleveland Spiders baseball club during the time when Louis Sockalexis, common nicknames for the Indians include the Tribe and the Wahoos, the latter being a reference to their logo, Chief Wahoo, a controversial Native American caricature. The teams mascot is named Slider, the franchise originated in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1894 as the Grand Rapids Rustlers, a minor league team in the Western League. The team moved to Cleveland in 1900 and changed its name to the Cleveland Lake Shores, one of the American Leagues eight charter franchises, the major league incarnation of the club was founded in Cleveland in 1901. Originally called the Cleveland Bluebirds, the played in League Park until moving permanently to Cleveland Stadium in 1946. At the end of the 2016 season, they had a regular season record of 9. In 1857 baseball games were a spectacle in Clevelands Public Squares. City authorities tried to find an ordinance forbidding it, to the joy of the crowd, – Harold Seymour 1865–1868 Forest Citys of Cleveland 1869–1872 Forest Citys of Cleveland From 1865 to 1868 Forest Citys was an amateur ball club. During the 1869 season, Cleveland was among several cities which established professional baseball teams following the success of the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first fully professional team. In the newspapers before and after 1870, the team was called the Forest Citys. In 1871 the Forest Citys joined the new National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, ultimately, two of the leagues western clubs went out of business during the first season and the Chicago Fire left that citys White Stockings impoverished, unable to field a team again until 1874. Cleveland was thus the NAs westernmost outpost in 1872, the year the club folded, Cleveland played their full schedule to July 19 followed by two games versus Boston in mid-August and disbanded at the end of the season. 1879–1881 Cleveland Forest Citys 1882–1884 Cleveland Blues In 1876, the National League supplanted the NA as the professional league. Cleveland were not among its members, but by 1879 the league was looking for new entries. The Cleveland Forest Citys baseball team was then re-created, the National League required distinct colors for the 1882 season, so the Cleveland Forest Citys became the Cleveland Blues
23.
Eddie Murray
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Eddie Clarence Murray, nicknamed Steady Eddie, is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and designated hitter. Spending most of his MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles, he ranks fourth in history in both games played and hits. Though Murray never won a Most Valuable Player Award, he finished in the top ten in MVP voting several times, after his playing career, Murray coached for the Orioles, Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003, in the New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, Murray is described as the fifth-best first baseman in major league history. He was 77th on the list of the Baseballs 100 Greatest Players by The Sporting News, Murray was the eighth child of twelve and still has five sisters and four brothers. He has often quipped that as a child he did not have to go far for a baseball game. The games were quite fierce and his brothers never let him win. Murray played Little League baseball under coach Clifford Prelow, a minor leaguer. Prelow remembers that young Murray was a well behaved player, Murray attended Locke High School in Los Angeles, where he batted.500 as a senior and was a teammate of Ozzie Smith. Murray was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the round of the 1973 amateur draft and had several successful seasons in the minor leagues. He debuted at the league level on April 7,1977. He won the American League Rookie of the Year award by batting.283, hitting 27 home runs and contributing 88 RBI. With the Orioles from 1977 until 1988, Murray averaged 28 home runs and 99 RBI and was a candidate for the MVP award. His best season was 1983, when he hit. 306/. 393/.538 with 110 RBI, the Orioles also appeared in the post-season twice, in 1979 and 1983, and won the World Series in 1983. He won the Gold Glove Award three consecutive times from 1982 to 1984, Murrays close-knit friendship with fellow Oriole Cal Ripken, Jr. was highly publicized in Baltimore at the time. Murray was traded on December 4,1988 to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Juan Bell, Brian Holton, louis Cardinals to the American Leagues Oakland As. McGee won the NL batting crown with a.335 average, prior to the 1992 season, Murray signed a two-year deal with the New York Mets. Murray was one of several acquisitions the Mets made to try to regain their winning ways, however, in Murrays two years with the team they finished with 90 and 103 losses, respectively
24.
Jeff Bagwell
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Jeffrey Robert Bagwell is an American former professional first baseman and coach who spent his entire 15-year Major League Baseball playing career with the Houston Astros. Originally a Boston Red Sox fourth-round selection from the University of Hartford as a third baseman in the 1989 amateur draft, he was then traded to the Astros in 1990. The National League Rookie of the Year in 1991, Bagwell then won the NL Most Valuable Player in 1994, was a four-time MLB All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger winner and they qualified for the playoffs six times, culminating in Bagwells lone World Series appearance in 2005. He was elected to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, Bagwell was part of the trade that sent relief pitcher Larry Andersen to the Red Sox, now regarded as one of the most lopsided trades in sports history. Andersen pitched just 22 innings for Boston while Bagwell hit 449 home runs for the Astros and he excelled at every major aspect of the game, including hitting, on-base ability, running, defense, and throwing. One of the most consistent players of his generation, in each of his first 11 seasons and his 1994 season was perhaps his finest. In 1999, he finished second in the MVP voting, producing his second career 30–30 season. He is just one of 12 players in history to hit 400 home runs and record an on-base percentage of.400, overall, Bagwell batted over.300 six times, had a career OBP of.408 and a slugging percentage of.540. He is the only first baseman to achieve the 30–30 club more than once and his 79.6 career WAR per Baseball-Reference. com ranks sixth all-time among first basemen. Since his playing career ended, Bagwell has served in sporadic instructor assignments with the Astros, born in Boston, Massachusetts, as the only son of Janice and Robert Bagwell, Jeff Bagwell and his family moved to Killingworth, Connecticut, when he was one year old. Much of Bagwells family is from the Greater Boston area, including both his parents, and are fans of the Boston Red Sox. His favorite player, Carl Yastrzemski, was a left fielder for the Red Sox. Robert, from Watertown, pitched college baseball at Northwestern University, Janice, a police officer, grew up in Newton and played softball in local Boston leagues until her 20s. Bagwells parents divorced when he was 11, precocious and demonstrating much athletic ability early in life, he played a wide variety of sports as a youth. Recalled Janice, Jeff could throw a ball before he could walk, when he was six months old, we’d throw a ball to him and he would throw it back. Bagwell graduated from Xavier High School, a private all-male Catholic school located in Middletown, a versatile athlete, he excelled at soccer, setting the school goal-scoring mark, played shortstop, and lettered in basketball. In early 1989, Bagwell was honored by Xavier for his character and he also excelled in American Legion Baseball under coach Fred Tremalgia for Post 75 in Middletown and went on to be named the 2003 American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year. Bagwell accepted the invitation and Denehy switched him to third base, over three seasons playing for Hartford, he batted.413 in 400 at bats, a school record, and, for a time, a New England collegiate record
25.
Keith Hernandez
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Keith Hernandez is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played the majority of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. Hernandez was a five-time All-Star who shared the 1979 NL MVP award, a contact hitter with a.296 career average and a great walk rate of 12. 5%, Hernandezs career hitting productivity was 31% above league average, by wRC+. For his defensive work he received Gold Glove awards in consecutive seasons. Hernandez retired as a player after spending one year with the Cleveland Indians in 1990. Since 1999, he has served as a broadcaster for Mets games. Hernandez was born in San Francisco, and grew up in Pacifica and Millbrae and he attended Terra Nova High School in Pacifica during his freshman year, then transferred to Capuchino High School in nearby San Bruno for the remainder of his high school years. Hernandez was an athlete in high school and graduated in 1971. One of his teammates at Terra Nova High School was future major league pitcher Bob McClure, given his surname, and the fact that he is from California, it was incorrectly assumed that Hernandez was of Mexican descent, and he was nicknamed Mex by his teammates. In actuality, his fathers ancestry is Spanish and his mothers is Scots-Irish, Hernandez was perceived as having poor attitude issues because he sat out his entire senior year of high school due to a dispute with a coach. He batted and threw left-handed, and through most of his career was listed as being 6 tall and 195 lbs, during his childhood, Hernandezs brother bought a book on Civil War history. His passion for Civil War history landed him guest spots on KMOX radio when with the Cardinals and was featured in the New York Times when he was with the Mets. Hernandezs batting average hovered around.250 for most of his league career. With the Cardinals triple-A affiliate, Hernandez batted.333 with five home runs, the following season, Hernandezs average jumped to.351, earning him a promotion to the big league club. He made his league debut at Candlestick Park on August 30,1974, against the San Francisco Giants. Following the season, the Cards traded first baseman Joe Torre to the New York Mets for Tommy Moore, Hernandez ended up splitting 1975 between Tulsa and the Cardinals. Though his fielding was spectacular, Hernandez struggled with major league pitching, batting only.250 with three runs and twenty RBIs. Hernandez wore uniform number 18 for the first two years of his career, in 1976, he switched to number 37, insisting that his uniform number end with a 7 in honor of Mickey Mantle. While Hernandez became more comfortable with his bat, he was recognized as a fielder first
26.
George Sisler
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George Harold Sisler, nicknamed Gentleman George and Gorgeous George, was an American professional baseball player for 15 seasons, primarily as first baseman with the St. Louis Browns. From 1920 until 2004, Sisler held the Major League Baseball record for most hits in a single season, Sislers 1922 season — during which he batted. After Sisler retired as a player, he worked as a major league scout and he was on a team of scouts appointed by Branch Rickey to find black players for the Brooklyn Dodgers, the teams work resulted in the signing of Jackie Robinson. Sisler was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939, in 1999 editors at The Sporting News named him 33rd on their list of Baseballs 100 Greatest Players. Sisler was born in the hamlet of Manchester. His paternal ancestors were immigrants from Northern Germany in the middle of 19th century, when he was 14, Sisler moved to Akron to live with his older brother so that he could attend an accredited high school. When Sisler was a school senior, his brother died of tuberculosis but Sisler was able to move in with a local family. In 1911, Sisler signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates to play minor league baseball in the Ohio–Pennsylvania League and he played college baseball for the University of Michigan. As a freshman, Sisler struck out 20 batters in seven innings during a 1912 game and he lettered in baseball from 1913 to 1915. At Michigan he played for coach Branch Rickey and he earned a degree in mechanical engineering, after his graduation from Michigan, Sisler sought legal advice from Rickey about the status of his contract with Pittsburgh. The three-time Vanity Fair All-American had become highly sought-after by major league scouts, Rickey talked to Pittsburgh owner Barney Dreyfuss about releasing Sisler from the contract he had signed as a minor, but Dreyfuss maintained his claim to Sisler. Rickey wrote to the National Commission, baseballs governing body, who ruled that the contract was illegal, Rickey, now managing the St. Louis Browns, signed Sisler to a contract worth $7,400. Sisler entered the leagues as a pitcher for the Browns in 1915. He posted a pitching record of 5–6 with a 2.35 earned run average in 24 career mound appearances. He defeated Walter Johnson twice in complete-game victories, in 1916, he moved to first base and finished the season with a batting average above.300 for the first of seven consecutive seasons. He also had 34 stolen bases season, he stole at least 28 bases in every season through 1922. In 1917, Sisler hit.353, registered 190 hits, the next year he hit.341 and stole a league-leading 45 bases. He then enlisted in the army, joining major league players in a Chemical Warfare Service unit commanded by Rickey
27.
Fred McGriff
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Frederick Stanley McGriff is an American former professional baseball first baseman, who played for six Major League Baseball teams from 1986 through 2004. A power-hitting first baseman, he became a five-time All-Star and led both leagues in runs in separate years – the American League in 1989 and the National League in 1992. McGriff finished his career with 493 home runs, tied with Hall of Fame player Lou Gehrig and he won a World Series title as a first baseman with the Atlanta Braves in 1995. He currently works in the Atlanta Braves front office as Special Assistant to Baseball Operations, at first, McGriff stated he would prefer Fire Dog, but since has stated that he actually is fond of the Crime Dog nickname. McGriff was a prospect in the New York Yankees minor league system in the early 1980s and he was drafted by the Yankees in the 9th round of the 1981 amateur draft and signed June 11,1981. In 1982, the Yankees dealt McGriff, Dave Collins and Mike Morgan to the Toronto Blue Jays for Dale Murray, the trade is now considered one of the most one-sided deals in baseball history, and one of the worst in Yankees history. However, it appeared to some sense from the Yankees perspective. Nonetheless, the Yankees didnt get nearly enough in return, Murray won only three games in three years with the Yankees, and was out of baseball by 1986. Dodd was released at the end of the season, and apart from a month with the Baltimore Orioles in 1986 spent the remainder of his career in the minors. In 2006, Rob Neyer wrote that the trade looked particularly lopsided because it was one of the few instances that a player of McGriffs stature was traded before getting to the majors. McGriff reached the majors full-time in 1987 and hit 34 home runs the next year and his power numbers remained steady in 1990, as McGriff batted.300 and established himself as a consistent producer. His numbers remained consistent in the National League, hitting. 278/. 396/.474 for San Diego in 1991. He made his first All-Star appearance the year and led the NL in home runs in 1992. On July 18,1993, the Padres, out of contention and seeking to unload their high-priced veterans, dealt McGriff to the Atlanta Braves for prospect Vince Moore, Donnie Elliott and he finished with a career high 37 homers and fourth place in the NL MVP voting. In the strike-shortened 1994 season, McGriff was batting.318 and had 34 home runs when play ended in August 1994. He won the All-Star Game MVP Award that year after hitting the home run for the National League. McGriff was runner-up to Ken Griffey Jr. in the 1994 Home Run Derby, McGriff remained with the Braves in 1995 and continued to be a successful cleanup hitter. He hit two home runs in the 1995 World Series en route to his only World Series championship ring, McGriff hit. 295/. 365/.494 with a career-best 107 RBIs on his way to another World Series appearance in 1996
28.
Fred Tenney
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Over his career, Tenney compiled a batting average of.294,1,278 runs scored,2,231 hits,22 home runs, and 688 runs batted in in 1,994 games played. Born in Georgetown, Massachusetts, Tenney was one of the first players to enter the league after graduating college, signing with the Beaneaters, Tenney spent the next 14 seasons with the team, including a three-year managerial stint from 1905–1907. After retiring from baseball, Tenney worked for the Equitable Life Insurance Society before his death in Boston on July 3,1952, Tenney was born in Georgetown, Massachusetts, the third of five children to Charles William and Sarah Lambert Tenney. Charles Tenney attended Dummer Academy from 1850 to 1853, and served for the 50th Massachusetts Regiment in the Civil War, growing up, Fred led his class in drawing and sketching. He reportedly started playing baseball around 1880, in 1892, Tenney played his first professional game for the Binghamton Bingos of the Eastern League, going 1 for 4 with a single. He played as Brown Universitys catcher for the 1893 and 1894 seasons, in 1894, the team had a 23–8 record and were selected as national champions by Harpers Weekly. In his MLB debut on June 16,1894, Tenney had to be removed from the game in the fifth inning due to a finger on his throwing hand from a foul tip. After Tenney had his finger addressed, James Billings, an owner of the Beaneaters, Tenney, later writing about the day, stated, I thought they were trying to have a little joke with me, and I concluded that I could do a little kidding myself. So I thought I would call their bluff by asking for some advance money, I screwed up my courage and asked Mr. Billings whether, if I signed the contract at once, I could get some advance money. He asked how much I wanted, and I thought I would mention a big sum in order to call their bluff good and strong. He consulted with Mr. Conant, another Director, and said that I could have the money all right and he returned to the team a month later, and finished the year batting.395 in 27 games. The following season, Tenney moved to the due to an erratic throwing arm behind the plate. For the season, he hit.272 in 49 games, in 1896, Tenney again caught and played outfield, offensively, however, Tenney hit.336 in nearly double the games from the previous year despite playing in the minors for the Springfield Ponies. In 1897, Tenney moved to first base to replace the aging Tom Tucker, according to Alfred Henry Spink, within two weeks of the move it was evident that Tenney had become one of the finest first sackers that the game ever seen. On June 14,1897, in a game against the Cincinnati Reds, Boston again won the NL in 1898 while Tenney hit.328 with 62 RBIs. In 1899 he collected 209 hits, fifth most in MLB, in 1900 Tenney, at age 28, batted.279 over 112 games played. He began a streak of seven seasons where he led the NL in assists in 1901, he holds the record for most seasons leading a league in assists, with eight. For the season, he hit.313, with 41 RBIs, in 1904, Tenney again led his team in walks and on-base percentage, as he tied for the team lead in runs with Ed Abbaticchio
29.
Jake Beckley
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Jacob Peter Beckley, nicknamed Eagle Eye, was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century. He played for major league teams between 1888 and 1907. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1971, Beckley was born in Hannibal, Missouri. He was the son of Bernhart and Rosina Beckley, Beckley began playing semi-pro baseball while still a teenager. A former Hannibal teammate, Bob Hart, suggested the 18-year-old Beckley to the Leavenworth Oilers of the Western Association. After playing one and a half seasons for the Alleghenys, Beckley and eight of his teammates jumped to the Pittsburgh Burghers, manager Ned Hanlon crossed over as well. Beckley stated he was willing to go to the PL because after all, the league lasted only one season, and Beckley spent the next five and a half seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. His days in Pittsburgh finished, on July 25,1896, Beckley was traded to the New York Giants for Harry Davis, Beckley was released by the Giants the following season on May 22, and he signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds five days later. In his first season with the Reds, Beckley was unsuccessful in getting rookie Honus Wagner out with the ball trick. But later when Wagners Louisville Colonels came to play at Cincinnati, Beckley was successful in getting Wagner out, employing a strategy that involved the use of two baseballs. Against the St. Louis Cardinals, Beckley belted three home runs in the game on September 26,1897, a feat not again matched until 1922 by Ken Williams. He played with Cincinnati for seven seasons and was purchased by the St. Louis on February 11,1904. Beckley retired after the 1907 season with 2,930 career hits and he continues to rank fourth all-time among major leaguers in triples with 244. As of the 2014 season, Beckley holds the all-time best batting average amongst Pirates first basemen, Beckley married Molly Murphy of Hannibal in 1891. She died of tuberculosis a few months after their wedding and he served as an umpire in the Federal League in 1913 and also served as a baseball coach at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. In addition to his umpiring and coaching after retirement from professional play and he died of heart disease in Kansas City, Missouri at the age of 50. He was interred at the Riverside Cemetery in Hannibal, elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971. Member of Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame, elected into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2014 First all-time, Career putouts
30.
Frankie Frisch
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Frank Francis Frisch, nicknamed The Fordham Flash or The Old Flash, was a German American Major League Baseball player and manager of the first half of the twentieth century. Frisch was a second baseman who threw right-handed. He played for the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals and he managed the Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs. He is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, born in The Bronx, New York City, Frisch attended Fordham Preparatory School, graduating in 1916. He went on to Fordham University where he continued to star in four sports, baseball, football, basketball and his speed earned him the nickname The Fordham Flash. In 1919, Frisch left Fordham to sign with the New York Giants of the National League and he made an immediate impact, finishing third in the NL in stolen bases and seventh in RBI in 1920, his first full season. Manager John McGraw was so impressed by Frisch that he named him team captain. The Giants played Frisch at both base and second base early in his career, but by 1923 he was installed as the teams full-time second baseman. Frisch batted over.300 in his last six seasons with New York and he was also an expert fielder and a skilled baserunner. In 1921, he led the National League with 48 steals, in 1923 in hits, with Frisch adding his fiery competitiveness to the team, the Giants won the World Series in 1921 and 1922, winning the NL pennant the following two seasons as well. Frisch is tied with Pablo Sandoval for the franchise post-season multi-hit games record of 15, after the 1926 season, Frisch was traded – with pitcher Jimmy Ring – to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for star Rogers Hornsby. Playing second base for the Cardinals, Frisch appeared in four more World Series and he was the driving force of the Gashouse Gang, the nickname for the Cardinals clubs of the early 1930s, which were built around him to reflect his no-holds-barred approach. The Cardinals had won only one pennant before Frisch joined the team, Frisch played eleven seasons with the Cardinals. In 1931, he was voted the Most Valuable Player in the National League after batting.311 with 4 home runs,82 RBI, the 1931 Cardinals also triumphed in the World Series, defeating Connie Macks defending two-time champion Philadelphia Athletics in seven games. Frisch became player-manager of the Cardinals in 1933, and was named to the NLs first three All-Star teams from 1933-35, in 1934, he managed the Cardinals to another seven-game World Series victory – this time over the Detroit Tigers. Frisch finished his career in 1937. His career statistics totaled a.316 batting average, still the highest ever for a switch hitter and he also stole 419 bases in his nineteen playing seasons. His hit total stood as the record for switch-hitters until Pete Rose surpassed it in 1977, Frisch also hit.300 for his career from each side of the plate, the only other switch-hitter with more than 5,000 at-bats with this distinction is Chipper Jones
31.
Hughie Critz
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Hugh Melville Critz was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1920s and the New York Giants in the 1930s. Critz was born in Starkville, Mississippi, and attended college in his town at Mississippi State University. In his first major game, he had two hits off Hall-of-Fame pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander, and went on to hit.322 in 102 games, with 19 stolen bases. In the Reds best year with Critz on the team,1926, alongside the Reds success that year, he also had what could easily be considered his best season, batting.270, with 3 homers and 79 RBIs. He tied his career high for triples with 14 and had his next-best career high in RBIs with 79 and he finished second in MVP voting, behind only Bob OFarrell. Although his speed numbers only decreased from his season, when he stole 19 bases. In 1930, his career took a turn when he was traded to the Giants for pitcher Larry Benton. With them, he won a World Series in 1933, had more quality years, in a 12-season career, he batted.268 with 38 home runs and 531 RBIs in 1478 games. He had 97 career stolen bases,832 runs scored,195 doubles and 95 triples and he made the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1962, and died in Greenwood, Mississippi at age 79. Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
32.
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
33.
Rogers Hornsby
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Rogers Hornsby, Sr. nicknamed The Rajah, was an American baseball infielder, manager, and coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, Boston Braves, Chicago Cubs, Hornsby had 2,930 hits and 301 home runs in his career, his career.358 batting average is second only to Ty Cobbs average. He was named the National League s Most Valuable Player twice, born and raised in Texas, Hornsby played for several semi-professional and minor league teams. After that season, he spent one season with the New York Giants and he played with the Cubs for four years and won his second MVP Award before the team released him in 1932. Hornsby re-signed with the Cardinals in 1933, but was released partway through the season and was picked up by the St. Louis Browns and he remained there until his final season in 1937. From 1925 to 1937, Hornsby was intermittently his own manager, after retiring as a player, he managed the Browns in 1952 and the Cincinnati Reds from 1952 to 1953. Hornsby is one of the best hitters of all time and his career batting average of.358 is second only to Ty Cobb, at.367, in MLB history. He also won two Triple Crowns and batted.400 or more three times during his career and he is the only player to hit 40 home runs and bat.400 in the same year. His batting average for the 1924 season was.424, a mark that no player has matched since and he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1942 and the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014. Hornsby married three times, in 1918,1924, and 1957, and had two children, one each of his first two marriages. Known as someone who was difficult to get along with, he was not at all well-liked by his fellow players and he never smoked, drank, or went to the movies, but frequently gambled on horse races during his career. Hornsby was born in Winters, Texas, the last of Ed, when Hornsby was two years old, his father died of unknown causes. Four years later, the surviving Hornsbys moved to Fort Worth, Texas, Hornsby started playing baseball at a very young age, he once said, I cant remember anything that happened before I had a baseball in my hand. He took a job with the Swift and Company meat industry plant as a boy when he was 10 years old. By the age of 15, Hornsby was already playing for several semi-professional teams and he also played baseball for North Side High School until 10th grade, when he dropped out to take a full-time job at Swift and Company. While he was in school, Hornsby also played on the football team. In 1914, Hornsbys older brother Everett, a minor league player for many years. He made the team, but did not play in any games for the Steers, following his dismissal, he signed with the Hugo Scouts of the Class D Texas–Oklahoma League as their shortstop for $75 per month
34.
History of the New York Giants (baseball)
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The San Francisco Giants existed in the New York metropolitan area from 1883–1957. Prior to the start of the 1958 season, the moved to San Francisco, California. During the clubs tenure in New York, it won five of the franchises eight World Series wins and 17 of its 24 National League pennants, for most of that time, the Giants played home games in the Polo Grounds in the Upper Manhattan region of New York City. The Giants had intense rivalries with their rivals, the New York Yankees. The New York-Brooklyn rivalry soon evolved into the Los Angeles-San Francisco rivalry, numerous inductees of the Baseball Hall of Fame played for the New York Giants, including John McGraw, Mel Ott, Bill Terry, Willie Mays, Monte Irvin, and Travis Jackson. The Giants began as the baseball club founded by millionaire tobacconist John B. Day and veteran amateur baseball player Jim Mutrie, the Gothams, as the Giants were originally known, entered the National League in 1883, while their other club, the Metropolitans played in the American Association. Nearly half of the original Gotham players were members of the disbanded Troy Trojans, louis Browns in an early incarnation of the World Series. They repeated as champions the year with a pennant and World Series victory over the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. It is said that one particularly satisfying victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, Mutrie stormed into the dressing room and exclaimed. From then on, the club was known as the Giants, the Giants original home stadium, the Polo Grounds, also dates from this early era. It was originally located north of Central Park adjacent to Fifth and Sixth Avenues and 110th and 112th Streets, the Giants were a powerhouse in the late 1880s, winning their first two National League Pennants and World Championships in 1888 &1889. But nearly all of the Giants stars jumped to the upstart Players League, whose New York franchise was named the Giants. The new team built a stadium next door to the Polo Grounds. With a decimated roster, the NL Giants finished a distant sixth, attendance took a nosedive, and the financial strain affected Days tobacco business as well. The Players League dissolved after the season, and Day sold a minority interest in his NL Giants to the defunct PL Giants principal backer, as a condition of the sale, Day had to fire Mutrie as manager. Although the Giants rebounded to third in 1891, Day was forced to sell a controlling interest to Talcott at the end of the season. Four years later, Talcott sold the Giants to Andrew Freedman, when Freedman offered Rusie only $2,500 for 1896, the disgruntled hurler sat out the entire season
35.
Ski Melillo
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Oscar Donald Ski Melillo was an American second baseman and coach in Major League Baseball. He briefly served as manager of the St. Louis Browns in 1938 and was also a member of the staff for the Cleveland Indians 1948 World Series championship team. A native of Chicago Illinois, Melillo reached the majors in 1926 with the Browns, spending nine, basically a line-drive hitter, he enjoyed a good year in 1929 ending with a.296 batting average in 141 games, hitting for the cycle on May 23. Listed at 5 feet 8 inches tall and 150 pounds, he batted, a fine defensive second baseman, in 1930 Melillo handled 971 chances without committing an error. In 1933, he hit.292 with a career-high 79 RBI, in a 12-season career, Melillo was a.260 hitter with 22 home runs and 548 RBI in 1,377 games, including 590 runs,210 doubles,64 triples, and 69 stolen bases. Following his playing retirement, Melillo became a coach for the Browns in 1938 and that season, he received his only chance to manage at the Major League level when he became a late-season replacement for Gabby Street. Melillo finished with a 2–7 mark as the Browns lost 97 games and he later served as a coach for the Indians under Oscar Vitt and Lou Boudreau. After the 1947 season, he was dropped from Boudreaus coaching staff at the insistence of owner Bill Veeck. Melillo spent part of 1948 managing in the Indians farm system, after spending the 1949 season as a minor league manager, he coached under Boudreau in 1950, his final year with the Indians, then again with the Red Sox and Kansas City Athletics. Melillo died of an attack in his home city of Chicago at the age of 64. He also suffered from zoophobia, a generic term form the class of specific phobias to particular animals, including rabbits, birds and his animal phobia led to many pranks from both opposing players and teammates. It is chronicled in Elden Aukers book Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms, hitting for the cycle Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference The Deadball Era Roseland, Chicago Sports Hall of Fame Ski Melillo at Find a Grave
36.
History of the St. Louis Browns
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This article covers the franchises history in St. Louis, which began when the team moved from Milwaukee after the 1901 season and ended with the teams move to Baltimore after the 1953 season. As of April 6,2017, there are only 14 living former St. Louis Browns players, in the late 19th century, the team existed as the Milwaukee Brewers in the Western League. For the 1900 season, the Western League was renamed to American League, Johnson had originally intended to move the Milwaukee Brewers to St. Louis. When he couldnt find an owner, he was forced to operate the team in Milwaukee for a lame-duck season in 1901. Hedges built a new park on the site of the old Browns former home, in their first St. Louis season, the Browns finished second. Although the Browns had only four winning seasons from 1902 to 1922, in 1909, the Browns rebuilt Sportsmans Park as the third concrete-and-steel park in the majors. During this time, the Browns were best known for their role in the race for the 1910 American League batting title. Ty Cobb took the last game of the season off, believing that his lead over Nap Lajoie, of the Cleveland Naps. Browns manager Jack OConnor had ordered rookie third baseman Red Corriden to play on the outfield grass and this all but conceded a hit for any ball Lajoie bunted. Lajoie bunted five straight times down the base line and made it to first easily. On his last at-bat, Lajoie reached base on an error – officially giving him a hitless at-bat, OConnor and coach Harry Howell tried to bribe the official scorer, a woman, to change the call to a hit – even offering to buy her a new wardrobe. Cobb won the title by just a few thousandths of a point over Lajoie. After news broke of the scandal, a writer for the St. Louis Post claimed, All St. Louis is up in arms over the spectacle, conceived in stupidity. The resulting outcry triggered an investigation by American League president Ban Johnson, at his insistence, Hedges fired OConnor and Howell, both men were informally banned from baseball for life. In 1916, Hedges sold the Browns to Philip DeCatesby Ball, Balls early tenure saw the clubs first real sustained period of success on the field, they were a contender for most of the early 1920s. This was fueled by Balls free spending to put a winner of the field, however, Ball made a series of blunders that would ultimately doom the franchise. Shortly after buying the team, he fired general manager Branch Rickey, four years later, Ball allowed the Cardinals to move out of dilapidated Robison Field and share Sportsmans Park with the Browns. Rickey and Cardinals owner Sam Breadon used the proceeds from the Robison Field sale to build baseballs first modern farm system and this effort eventually produced several star players that brought the Cardinals more drawing power than the Browns
37.
Ryne Sandberg
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Ryne Dee Sandberg, nicknamed Ryno, is an American former professional baseball player, coach, and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, Sandberg established himself as a perennial All-Star and Gold Glove candidate, making 10 consecutive All-Star appearances and winning nine consecutive Gold Gloves from 1983 to 1991. His career.989 fielding percentage was a record at second base when he retired in 1997. Sandberg was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2005 and he resigned from his managerial duties for the Phillies on June 26,2015, and was succeeded by Pete Mackanin. Born in Spokane, Washington, Sandbergs parents were Elizabeth, a nurse and he was named for relief pitcher Ryne Duren. Sandberg was a star in high school at North Central. The previous fall he was named to Parade Magazines High School All-America football team, one of the eight quarterbacks, the schools baseball field was named in his honor in 1985 as Ryne Sandberg Field, and his varsity number was retired in both football and baseball. Sandberg was recruited to play quarterback at NCAA Division I colleges and he opted not to attend after being selected in the 20th round of the 1978 baseball amateur draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. Sandberg made his debut as a shortstop for the Phillies in 1981. Playing for a total of 13 games, Sandberg had one hit in six at-bats for a.167 batting average during his playing stint for the Phillies. That one hit occurred at Wrigley Field using a bat borrowed from fellow-Phillies-manager Larry Bowa, however, the Phillies didnt have much room in the lineup for him at the time. The Phillies didnt think he could play shortstop, though he would have probably had trouble dislodging Larry Bowa from that spot in any event. While hed seen time in the minors at both second and third base, he was blocked from those positions by Manny Trillo and Mike Schmidt, accordingly, he was traded along with Bowa to the Cubs for shortstop Iván DeJesús prior to the 1982 season. The trade, now reckoned as one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history, however, Cubs general manager Dallas Green, a former Phillies manager, wanted a young prospect to go along with the aging Bowa. Green had largely been responsible for the Phillies drafting Sandberg in 1978, the two have remained very close over the years. Years later, Phillies general manager Paul Owens said that he didnt want to trade Sandberg, but Green, Owens then went back to his scouts, who told him Sandberg wouldnt be any more than a utility infielder. However, Sandberg had hit over.290 in the two years in a row. The trade is now considered one of the best in recent Cubs history, Sandberg is one of two Hall of Famers who came up through the Phillies farm system and earned their Hall of Fame credentials primarily as Cubs, the other being Ferguson Jenkins
38.
Rabbit Maranville
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Walter James Vincent Maranville, better known as Rabbit Maranville due to his speed and small stature —5 feet 5 inches tall and 155 pounds — was a Major League Baseball shortstop. At the time of his retirement in 1935, he had played in a record 23 seasons in the National League, a mark which wasnt broken until 1986 by Pete Rose. Maranville finished third in the MVP voting in his first full season and that year, Maranville was the Braves cleanup hitter, despite batting just.246 and hitting four home runs. Even at age 41, when Maranville batted.218 in 143 games and hit no homers, he finished in a tie for 12th in the MVP voting. Over a lengthy career spanned both the dead ball and live-ball era, Maranville played for the Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Brooklyn Robins. He retired having compiled a.258 batting average,2,605 hits,1,255 runs,28 home runs,884 RBI and 291 stolen bases, as a shortstop, he finished his career with a positional record 5,139 putouts. He won his only World Series championship in 1914 as a member of the Braves, Maranville was known as one of baseballs most famous clowns due to his practical jokes and lack of inhibitions. When he was appointed manager of the Chicago Cubs in 1925—one of their worst seasons ever—he did not change his behavior, one night he went through a Pullman car dumping water on sleeping players heads, saying, No sleeping under Maranville management, especially at night. Not long after that, he was out on the street outside Ebbets Field in Brooklyn mimicking a newsboy hawking papers and he cried out, Read all about it. And so he was—the next day, following the end of his playing career, Maranville turned to managing, including stints as a minor league manager for Montreal Royals, at Albany, Elmira, and Springfield, Massachusetts. In later years he worked as the director of a school sponsored by the New York Journal-American newspaper. Rabbit Maranville was felled by a heart attack shortly after midnight on January 6,1954 at his home in Woodside and he was 62 years old at the time of his death. Maranville was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954, just months after his death, along with Bill Terry and Bill Dickey, in his 14th year of eligibility
39.
Frank Parkinson (baseball)
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Frank Joseph Parky Parkinson was an American professional baseball player. One of seven sons and two born to German immigrants, Frank Parky Parkinson was born in Dickson City, Pennsylvania. When he was a year old the family moved to Trenton, in 1917 when the United States entered World War I, Parkinson enlisted in the Army. He served 2 years with the 35th Engineers, Company I before he was honorably discharged, Parkinson played for the Philadelphia Phillies between 1921 and 1924. His first game was April 13,1921 at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia against the New York Giants, in 378 lifetime games, he had 335 hits and batted.256, his 93 strikeouts in 1922 led the National League. His total of 562 assists in 1922 at second base is among the highest all-time for a single season, after his stint with the Phillies, Parkinson played several years in minor leagues, signing with the Nashville Vols in 1925 and the Pittsfield Hillies in 1927-28. Parkinsons obituary from The Trenton Evening Times stated that Parkinsons best day with the Phillies was Labor Day 1922 when he hit two home runs and two doubles to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 7 to 6. He set was then a record with 12 putouts and assists without an error A knee injury effectively ended Parkinsons career 1929. Parkinson married Margaret Ferry on October 18,1924 in Trenton and they had no children and remained married until his death in 1960. Prior to his death he worked for the Trenton Board of Education, career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference http, //www. baseball-almanac. com/players/player. php. p=parkifr01 The Trenton Evening Times Trenton, New Jersey, July 5,1960 p.4
40.
Philadelphia Phillies
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The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball franchise based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, the Phillies compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League East division. Since 2004, the home has been Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies have won two World Series championships and seven National League pennants, the first of which came in 1915, the franchise has also experienced long periods of struggle. The 77 season drought is the fourth longest World Series drought in Major League Baseball history, the longevity of the franchise and its history of adversity have earned it the dubious distinction of having lost the most games of any team in the history of American professional sports. Despite the teams lack of success historically, they are one of the more successful franchises since the start of the Divisional Era in Major League Baseball. The Phillies have won their division 11 times, which ranks 6th among all teams and 4th in the National League, the franchise was founded in Philadelphia in 1883, replacing the team from Worcester, Massachusetts in the National League. The teams spring training facilities are located in Clearwater, Florida and its Double-A affiliate is the Reading Fightin Phils, which plays in Reading, Pennsylvania, and its Triple-A affiliate is the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, which plays in Allentown, Pennsylvania. After being founded in 1883 as the Quakers, the changed its name to the Philadelphias. This was soon shortened to Phillies, Quakers continued to be used interchangeably with Phillies from 1883 until 1890, when the team officially became known as the Phillies. Player defections to the newly formed American League, especially to the cross-town Philadelphia Athletics, poor fiscal management after their appearance in the 1915 World Series, however, doomed the Phillies to sink back into relative obscurity, from 1918 to 1948 they only had one winning season. Though Chuck Klein won the Most Valuable Player Award in 1932 and the National League Triple Crown in 1933, after lumber baron William B. Cox purchased the team in 1943, the Phillies rose out of the standings cellar for the first time in five years. As a result, the fan base and attendance at home games increased, but it soon became clear that not all was right in Coxs front office. Eventually Cox revealed that he had been betting on the Phillies, the new owner, Bob Carpenter, Jr. scion of the Delaware-based DuPont family, tried to polish the teams image by unofficially changing its name to the Bluejays. However, the new moniker did not take, and it was dropped by 1949. This led to the advent of the Whiz Kids, led by a lineup of players developed by the Phillies farm system that included future Hall of Famers Richie Ashburn. In contrast, the Philadelphia Athletics finished last in 1950 and long-time manager Connie Mack retired, the team struggled on for four more years with only one winning season before abandoning Philadelphia under the Johnson brothers, who bought out Mack. They began play in Kansas City in 1955, as part of the deal selling that team to the Johnson brothers, the Phillies bought Shibe Park, where both teams had played since 1938
41.
Tony Cuccinello
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He was the older brother and uncle of former major league players Al Cuccinello and Sam Mele. A native of Long Island City, New York, Cuccinello led the National League second basemen in assists and he was selected for MLBs first All-Star Game, played on July 6,1933 at Comiskey Park, batting as a pinch-hitter for Carl Hubbell in the 9th inning. He also was selected for the 1938 All-Star Game, during the 1945 season, Cuccinello hit.308 for the Chicago White Sox, and just missed winning the American League batting title, one point behind Snuffy Stirnweiss.309. Nevertheless, he was released in the offseason, in a 15-season career, Cuccinello was a.280 hitter with 94 home runs and 884 RBI in 1704 games. Following his playing retirement, in 1947 Cuccinello managed in the Florida International League for the Tampa team, and he returned to the major league to coach with the Reds, Cleveland Indians, White Sox and Detroit Tigers. He coached under former teammate Al López in Cleveland and Chicago and was a member of Lopezs 1954 and 1959 American League championship teams, Cuccinello died in Tampa, Florida at the age of 87
42.
History of the Boston Braves
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The Atlanta Braves, a current Major League Baseball franchise, originated in Boston, Massachusetts. This article details the history of the Boston Braves, from 1871 to 1952, the Boston Franchise played at South End Grounds from 1871 to 1914 and at Braves Field from 1915 to 1952. Braves Field is now Nickerson Field of Boston University, the franchise, from Boston to Milwaukee to Atlanta, is the oldest continuous professional baseball franchise. The Cincinnati Red Stockings, established in 1869 as the first openly all-professional baseball team, the original Boston Red Stockings team and its successors can lay claim to being the oldest continuously playing team in American professional sports. Two young players hired away from the Forest City club of Rockford, Illinois, turned out to be the biggest stars during the NAPBBP years, pitcher Al Spalding and second baseman Ross Barnes. Led by the Wright brothers, Barnes, and Spalding, the Red Stockings dominated the National Association, the team became one of the National Leagues charter franchises in 1876, sometimes called the Red Caps. Boston came to be called the Beaneaters by sportswriters in 1883, although somewhat stripped of talent in the National Leagues inaugural year, Boston bounced back to win the 1877 and 1878 pennants. The Red Caps/Beaneaters were one of the dominant teams during the 19th century. For most of time, their manager was Frank Selee. The 1898 team finished 102-47, a record for wins that would stand for almost a century. The team was decimated when the American Leagues new Boston entry set up shop in 1901, many of the Beaneaters stars jumped to the new team, which offered contracts that the Beaneaters owners didnt even bother to match. They only managed one winning season from 1900 to 1913, in 1907, the Beaneaters eliminated the last bit of red from their stockings because their manager thought the red dye could cause wounds to become infected. The American League clubs owner, Charles Taylor, wasted time in changing his teams name to the Red Sox in place of the generic Americans. The all-white outfits gave rise to the sobriquet Doves in 1907, however, clever monikers did nothing to change the National League clubs luck. The team adopted a name, the Braves, for the first time in 1912. Their owner, James Gaffney, was a member of New York Citys political machine, Tammany Hall, two years later, the Braves put together one of the most memorable seasons in baseball history. After a dismal 4-18 start, the Braves seemed to be on pace for a last place finish, on July 4,1914, the Braves lost both games of a doubleheader to the Brooklyn Dodgers. The consecutive losses put their record at 26-40 and the Braves were in last place,15 games behind the league-leading New York Giants, who had won the previous three league pennants
