1.
Oklahoma City Dodgers
–
The Oklahoma City Dodgers are a Minor League Baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and they play at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, located in the Bricktown Entertainment District in downtown Oklahoma City. The team was known as the Oklahoma City 89ers from 1962 to 1997 when the team played at All Sports Stadium at the state fairgrounds. It first competed in the American Association in 1962, moved to the PCL from 1963 to 1968, in 1998, the team rejoined the PCL and became known as the Oklahoma RedHawks. In 1999, a name change resulted in the Oklahoma City RedHawks. Since the Los Angeles Dodgers purchased a share of the prior to 2015. Oklahoma City won the PCL championship in 1963 and 1965 as the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Colt. 45s/Astros, Oklahoma City has been home to professional baseball for all but a few years since 1904, when the Metropolitans were established as the citys first team. Oklahoma Citys teams and names have changed numerous times since, the team became known as the Indians in 1909 before returning to the original Mets name in 1910 and reverting again to the Indians name in 1911. Oklahoma City was home to the Senators in 1912, after one year without a baseball team, Oklahoma Citys squad became the Boosters in 1914. The Senators name returned from 1915 to 1916, but the Boosters name came back in 1917, the Oklahoma City Indians name returned in 1918 and the team name stuck until 1957. Oklahoma Citys current baseball franchise began competing in 1962 as the Oklahoma City 89ers following a period without professional baseball in the area. The franchises original name made reference to the Land Run of 1889, in July 1961, Spec Richardson, who was then general manager of the Houston Buffs, met with Oklahoma City officials and boosters, and agreed to move the team. After a unanimous approval from the American Associations board of directors, eventually, the Astros sold the team to Tulsa businessman, P. C. In 1973, a connection with the Cleveland Indians was established. A later affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies lasted from 1976 until 1982, in 1983, the Texas Rangers became the parent club, a relationship that would continue as the 89ers adopted new colors and uniforms along with the nickname RedHawks in 1998. The team was renamed the RedHawks after the hawk, a bird of prey commonly seen throughout Oklahoma. When announcing the new name, team officials noted the raptors four-foot wingspan and migration patterns, a hawk is also part of the states official song. Prior to the 2009 season, the once again named itself after its home city
2.
First baseman
–
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that players team. A first baseman is the player on the team playing defense who fields the area nearest first base, in the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the first baseman is assigned the number 3. Also called first sacker or cornerman, the first baseman is ideally a tall player who throws left-handed and possesses good flexibility, flexibility is needed because the first baseman receives throws from the other infielders, the catcher and the pitcher after they have fielded ground balls. In order for the runner to be called out, the first baseman must be able to stretch towards the throw and they often are power hitters who have a substantial number of home runs and extra base hits while maintaining a.270 plus batting average. Good defensive first basemen, according to Bill James, are capable of playing off first base so that they can field ground balls hit to the side of first base. The first baseman then relies upon the pitcher to cover first base to receive the ball to complete the out, indications of a good defensive first baseman include a large number of assists and a low number of throwing errors by other infielders. The nature of play at first base often requires first basemen to stay close to the bag to hold runners or to reach the bag before the batter. First basemen are not typically expected to have the range required of a baseman, shortstop. As a result, first base is not usually perceived to be as physically demanding as other positions, however, it can also be a very hard position to play, a large amount of concentration and timing is required. Though many play at first base their entire career, it is common for players to be moved to first base in order to extend their careers or to accommodate other recently acquired players. Facing a possible trade or a reduction in playing time. Catchers and corner outfielders are often moved to first base due to deteriorating health or if their fielding abilities at their position are detrimental to the team. When first base is not occupied by a baserunner, the first baseman usually stands behind first base, the distance he plays from the base and foul line is dependent on the current hitter and any runners on base. The exact position may depend on the first basemans experience, preference. For a known right-handed pull hitter, the first baseman might position himself further towards the second basemans normal fielding position, for a known left-handed pull hitter, the first baseman will position himself closer to the foul line in order to stop a ball hit down the line. To protect against a bunt on the first base side of the infield, as soon as the pitcher commits to throwing towards home plate, the first basemen will charge towards the hitter to field the bunt. During these plays, it is the responsibility of the second basemen to cover first base, with a base runner present at first base, the first baseman stands with his right foot touching the base to prepare for a pickoff attempt. Once the pitcher commits to throwing towards home plate, the first baseman comes off the bag in front of the runner and gets in a fielding position
3.
Baseball
–
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
4.
Strike zone
–
In baseball, the strike zone is the volume of space through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike. The strike zone is defined as the volume of space above home plate, whether a pitch passed through the zone or not is decided by an umpire, who is generally positioned behind the catcher. Strikes are desirable for the pitcher and the team, as three strikes result in a strikeout of that batter. A pitch that misses the strike zone is called a ball, balls are desirable for the batter and the batting team, as four balls allow the batter to take a base on balls. There is more than one set of rules that govern baseball and softball and it depends on the level and league as to which set of rules are being used. The governing bodies for the different sets of rules may have different definitions. The top of the zone is defined in the Major League Official Rules as a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the batters shoulders and the top of the uniform pants. The bottom of the zone is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap. The right and left boundaries of the strike zone correspond to the edges of home plate, a pitch that touches the outer boundary of the zone is as much a strike as a pitch that is thrown right down the center. A pitch at which the batter does not swing and which does not pass through the zone is called a ball. The active tally of strikes and balls during a turn batting is called the count. This volume thus takes the form of a right pentagonal prism located above home plate. A pitch passing outside the front of the volume of the strike zone. Major League Baseball has occasionally increased or reduced the size of the zone in an attempt to control the balance of power between pitchers and hitters. After the record home run year by Roger Maris in 1961, in 1968, pitchers such as Denny McLain and Bob Gibson among others dominated hitters, producing 339 shutouts. Carl Yastrzemski would be the only American League hitter to finish the season with an average higher than.300. Although the de facto enforced strike zone can vary, the rules define a pitch as a strike if any part of the ball passes through any part of the strike zone. While baseball rules provide a definition for the strike zone, in practice
5.
Out (baseball)
–
In baseball, an out occurs when the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When three outs are recorded in an inning, a half of the inning, or their turn at batting. To signal an out, an umpire makes a fist with one hand. Home plate umpires often use a motion to signal a called third strike. The most common ways batters or runners are put out are by strikeouts, fly outs, tag outs, the ball is dead and no runner may score, nor runners advance, except runners forced to advance. In baseball statistics, each out must be credited to exactly one defensive player, when referring to outs credited to a defensive player, the term putout is used. Example, a batter hits a ball which is fielded by the shortstop. The shortstop then throws the ball to the first baseman, the first baseman then steps on first base before the batter reaches it. For this play, only the first baseman is credited with a putout, for a strikeout, the catcher is credited with a putout, because the batter is not out until the pitched ball is caught by the catcher. When an out is recorded without a direct involvement, such as where a runner is hit by a batted ball. Although pitchers seldom get credited with putouts, they are credited with their role in getting outs through various pitching statistics such as innings pitched and strikeouts. Safe Tie goes to the runner Official rules for batters, including when the batter is out Official rules for runners, including when the runner is out
6.
Hit by pitch
–
In baseball, hit by pitch is a situation in which a batter or his clothing or equipment is struck directly by a pitch from the pitcher, the batter is called a hit batsman. A hit batsman is awarded first base, provided that he made an honest effort to avoid the pitch, being hit by a pitch is often caused by a batter standing too close to, or crowding, home plate. If all these conditions are met, the ball is dead, rule 5.09 further clarifies that a hit by pitch is also called when a pitch touches a batters clothing. In the case where a batter swings and the pitch hits him anyway, the ball is dead and a strike is called. If the batter does not attempt to avoid the pitch, he is not awarded first base, and the pitch is ruled either a strike if in the strike zone or a ball if out of the strike zone. A famous instance of a non-hit by pitch was on May 31,1968, umpire Harry Wendelstedt ruled that Dietz made no effort to avoid the pitch, Dietz proceeded to fly out, and Drysdales scoreless streak continued to a then-record 58 2⁄3 innings. A hit-by-pitch can also be called on a pitch that has first touched the ground before hitting the batter. Such a bouncing pitch is like any other, and if a batter is hit by such a pitch, a batter hit by a pitch with the bases loaded is also credited with an RBI per MLB rule 10.04. A pitch ruled a hit by pitch is recorded as a ball in the pitch count, since by definition the ball must be outside the strike zone. The rule awarding first base to a hit by a pitch was instituted in 1887. Headhunter is a term for pitchers who have a reputation for throwing these kinds of pitches. However, throwing at a batter intentionally is illegal, and can be very dangerous, when an umpire suspects that a pitcher has thrown at a batter intentionally, but is not certain, a warning is issued to the pitcher and the managers of both teams. From that point on, any pitch thrown at a batter can cause the pitcher, serious offenses such as a ball thrown at the head can result in the immediate ejection of the pitcher, and the manager if he ordered the beanball, even without a warning. If the umpire is certain that the pitcher intentionally hit the batter with the pitch, managers may also order a pitcher to throw such a pitch. These pitches are often aimed at the back and slower than normal. The opposing team hits a batter in retaliation for this act. Such plunking duels are more common in the American League than in the National League, because in the NL the pitchers must bat for themselves and open themselves up to direct retaliation. The all-time record for a player being hit by a pitch is held by Hughie Jennings, the modern-day record is held by Craig Biggio of the Houston Astros, who had 285 as of the end of the 2007 season when he retired
7.
Interference (baseball)
–
In baseball, interference occurs in situations in which a person illegally changes the course of play from what is expected. Interference might be committed by players on the offense, players not currently in the game, catchers, umpires, each type of interference is covered differently by the rules. Whenever this offensive interference occurs, the ball becomes dead, if the interference was committed by a batter or a baserunner, that player is called out and all other runners must return to the bases they occupied at the time of the interference. If interference is committed by a runner with the intent of preventing a double play. If interference is committed by a runner or by some other member of the offensive team. Also under NFHS rules only, all runners are required to attempt to avoid collisions, if a runner fails to do so, he is guilty of malicious contact, which is one kind of offensive interference. Malicious contact carries the penalty of ejection from the game. Any collision that occurs in this situation is not interference, because the action is in regard to a thrown ball. As long as such a runners actions are related to his attempt to reach the base, the most common case of this is when a runner is attempting to score and the catcher has control of the ball. This is usually attempted only when the play is close, when the catcher is set up and ready, the runner has little chance of knocking the ball away. Any such attempt presents a significant chance of injury to the baserunner, the batter physically hinders the catchers opportunity to throw out a baserunner while standing outside of the batters box. There are some exceptions to the penalty for offensive interference, if there are two outs in this situation, the normal interference penalty applies, the batter is out and the run does not score. At some levels of play, verbal as well as physical hindrance can be called for interference and this is not called as interference in professional or higher amateur baseball. The ball came loose, initially enabling Rodríguez to advance and the previous runner Derek Jeter to score, the play originally stood but on appeal, Rodríguez was ruled out on the interference and Jeter returned to first, under the general definition of the rule above. A famous alleged offensive interference occurred in the game of the 1975 World Series. With a runner on first, Cincinnati Reds player Ed Armbrister laid down a sacrifice bunt, Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk attempted to field the ball and throw to second base and get the lead runner out. However, Armbrister did not immediately run to first base but instead stood essentially still in the vicinity of home plate, as a result, Fisks throw went into center field, and the Reds ended up with runners on first and third with no outs. The Red Sox protested, saying that Armbrister interfered, but home plate umpire Larry Barnett refused to change the call
8.
Run batted in
–
A run batted in, plural runs batted in, is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored. For example, if the batter bats a base hit, then another player on a base can go home. Prior to the 1920 Major League Baseball season, runs batted in were not a baseball statistic. Nevertheless, the RBI statistic was tabulated—unofficially—from 1907 through 1919 by baseball writer Ernie Lanigan, common nicknames for an RBI include ribby, rib, and ribeye. The plural of RBI is generally RBIs, although some commentators use RBI as both singular and plural, as it can stand for runs batted in. The official scorers judgment must determine whether a run batted in shall be credited for a run that scores when a fielder holds the ball or throws to a wrong base. The perceived significance of the RBI is displayed by the fact that it is one of the three categories that comprise the triple crown, in addition, career RBIs are often cited in debates over who should be elected to the Hall of Fame. This implies that better offensive teams—and therefore, the teams in which the most players get on base—tend to produce hitters with higher RBI totals than equivalent hitters on lesser-hitting teams, totals are current through October 8,2015
9.
Hit (baseball)
–
If a batter reaches first base because of offensive interference by a preceding runner, he is also credited with a hit. A hit for one base is called a single, for two bases a double, and for three bases a triple, a home run is also scored as a hit. Doubles, triples, and home runs are also called extra base hits, an infield hit is a hit where the ball does not leave the infield. Infield hits are uncommon by nature, and most often earned by speedy runners, a no-hitter is a game in which one of the teams prevented the other from getting a hit. Throwing a no-hitter is rare and considered an accomplishment for a pitcher or pitching staff. In most cases in the game, no-hitters are accomplished by a single pitcher who throws a complete game. A pitcher who throws a no-hitter could still allow runners to reach safely, by way of walks, errors, hit batsmen. If the pitcher allows no runners to reach base, the no-hitter is a perfect game, in 1887, Major League Baseball counted bases on balls as hits. The result was skyrocketing batting averages, including some near.500, Tip ONeill of the St. Louis Browns batted.485 that season, the experiment was abandoned the following season. There is controversy regarding how the records of 1887 should be interpreted, the number of legitimate walks and at-bats are known for all players that year, so computing averages using the same method as in other years is straightforward. In 1968, Major League Baseball formed a Special Baseball Records Committee to resolve this issues, the Committee ruled that walks in 1887 should not be counted as hits. Most current sources list ONeills 1887 average as.435, as calculated by omitting his walks and he would retain his American Association batting championship. However, the variance between methods results in differing recognition for the 1887 National League batting champion, cap Anson would be recognized, with his.421 average, if walks are included, but Sam Thompson would be the champion at.372 if they are not. The official rulebook of Major League Baseball states in Rule 10, Rule 10.05 Comment, In applying Rule 10.05, the official scorer shall always give the batter the benefit of the doubt. Runner is called out for interference with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, unless in the scorers judgment the batter-runner would have been safe had the interference not occurred
10.
At bat
–
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is a batters turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance, a batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens during his turn at bat. A batter is credited with an at bat only if that plate appearance does not have one of the results enumerated below, a batter will not receive credit for an at bat if their plate appearance ends under the following circumstances, He receives a base on balls. He hits a fly or a sacrifice bunt. He is awarded first base due to interference or obstruction, usually by the catcher and he is replaced by another hitter before his at bat is completed, in which case the plate appearance and any related statistics go to the pinch hitter. In addition, if the inning ends while he is still at bat, in this case, the batter will come to bat again in the next inning, though the count will be reset to no balls and no strikes. Note that just because a player is described as being at bat in this sense, he will not necessarily be given an at bat in his statistics and this ambiguous terminology is usually clarified by context. To refer explicitly to the meaning of at bat described above. Batting order At bats with runners in scoring position
11.
Plate appearance
–
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance each time he completes a turn batting. In other words, a plate appearance ends when the batter is put out or becomes a runner, a very similar statistic, at bats, counts a subset of plate appearances that end under certain circumstances. While at bats are used to such important player hitting statistics as batting averages, slugging percentages and on-base percentages. A player must have accumulated 502 plate appearances during a season to be ranked in any of these categories, for example, suppose Player A, with 510 plate appearances and 400 at bats, gets 100 hits during the season and finishes with a.250 batting average. And suppose Player B, with 490 plate appearances and 400 at bats, gets 110 hits during the season and finishes the season with a.275 batting average. Per the rule, an extra at bat should have added to his total because, after it is added and his batting average recalculated. Melkys case, however, turned out differently, the reason Melky finished the season with only 501 at bats was because he was suspended in mid-August when he tested positive for illegal performance-enhancing drugs. As a result, Melkys name is nowhere to be found on the list of 2012 National League batting leaders. A batter is not charged with a plate appearance if, while batting, in this case, the same batter continues his turn batting in the next inning with no balls or strikes against him. A batter is not charged with a plate appearance if, while batting, a batter may or may not be charged with a plate appearance in the rare instance when he is replaced by a pinch hitter after having already started his turn at bat. In this case, the pinch hitter would receive the plate appearance unless the batter is replaced when having 2 strikes against him. In this case the appearance and at-bat are charged to the first batter. PA = AB + BB + HBP + SH + SF + Times Reached on Defensive Interference In common terminology, the term at bat is sometimes used to mean plate appearance. The intent is usually clear from the context, although the official at bat is sometimes used to explicitly refer to an at bat as distinguished from a plate appearance. However, terms such as turn at bat or time at bat are synonymous with plate appearance.1 PAs per game scheduled to qualify for the batting title, plate appearances are also used by scorers for proving a box score. If the game has been scored correctly, the number of plate appearances for a team should equal the total of that teams runs, men left on base. For career leaders in plate appearances see List of Major League Baseball career plate appearance leaders
12.
Batting average
–
Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batsmen in cricket and batters in baseball. The development of the statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic. In cricket, a batting average is the total number of runs they have scored divided by the number of times they have been out. The number is also simple to interpret intuitively, if all the batsmans innings were completed, this is the average number of runs they score per innings. If they did not complete all their innings, this number is an estimate of the average number of runs they score per innings. Batting average has been used to gauge cricket players relative skills since the 18th century, most players have career batting averages in the range of 20 to 40. This is also the range for wicket-keepers, though some fall short. All-rounders who are more prominent bowlers than batsmen typically average something between 20 and 30,15 and under is typical for specialist bowlers. Under this qualification, the highest Test batting average belongs to Australias Sir Donald Bradman, given that a career batting average over 50 is exceptional, and that only four other players have averages over 60, this is an outstanding statistic. The fact that Bradmans average is so far above that of any other cricketer has led several statisticians to argue that, statistically at least, he was the greatest sportsman in any sport. As at 21 October 2016, Adam Voges of Australia has recorded an average of 72.75 from 27 innings played and it should also be remembered, especially in relation to the ODI histogram above, that there were no ODI competitions when Bradman played. If their scores have a geometric distribution then total number of runs scored divided by the number of times out is the maximum likelihood estimate of their true unknown average, Batting averages can be strongly affected by the number of not outs. A different, and more developed, statistic which is also used to gauge the effectiveness of batsmen is the strike rate. It measures a different concept however – how quickly the batsman scores – so it does not supplant the role of batting average and it is used particularly in limited overs matches, where the speed at which a batsman scores is more important than it is in first-class cricket. Table shows players with at least 20 innings completed, in baseball, the batting average is defined by the number of hits divided by at bats. It is usually reported to three places and read without the decimal, A player with a batting average of.300 is batting three-hundred. A point is understood, in only, to be.001. If necessary to break ties, batting averages could be taken beyond the.001 measurement, henry Chadwick, an English statistician raised on cricket, was an influential figure in the early history of baseball
13.
Stolen base
–
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a runner advances to a base to which he is not entitled and the official scorer rules that the advance should be credited to the action of the runner. The umpires determine whether the runner is safe or out at the next base, a stolen base most often occurs when a baserunner advances to the next base while the pitcher is pitching the ball to home plate. Successful base stealers are not only fast but have good baserunning instincts, ned Cuthbert, playing for the Philadelphia Keystones in either 1863 or 1865, was the first player to steal a base in a baseball game, although the term stolen base was not used until 1870. For a time in the 19th century, stolen bases were credited when a baserunner reached an extra base on a hit from another player. For example, if a runner on first base reached third base on a single, in 1887, Hugh Nicol set a still-standing Major League record with 138 stolen bases, many of which would not have counted under modern rules. Modern steal rules were implemented in 1898. Base stealing was popular in the early decades, with speedsters such as Ty Cobb. Wills record was broken in turn by Lou Brock in 1974, base stealing is an important characteristic of the small ball managing style. Such managers emphasize doing the things to advance runners and score runs, often relying on pitching. The Los Angeles Dodgers of the 1960s, led by pitcher Sandy Koufax, the antithesis of this is reliance on power hitting, exemplified by the Baltimore Orioles of the 1970s, which aspired to score most of its runs via home runs. Often the small ball model is associated with the National League, however, some successful recent American League teams, including the 2002 Anaheim Angels, the 2001 Seattle Mariners and the 2005 Chicago White Sox have excelled at small ball. The Kansas City Royals have embodied this style recently, leading the league in stolen bases but finishing last in home runs in 2013 and 2014. Successful teams often combine both styles, with a runner or two complementing hitters with power, such as the 2005 White Sox, who despite playing small ball, still hit 200 home runs. Baseballs Rule 8 specifies the pitching procedure in detail, a runner intending to steal on the pitcher breaks for the next base the moment the pitcher commits to pitch to home plate. The pitcher cannot abort the pitch and try to put the runner out, if the runner breaks too soon, the pitcher may throw to a base rather than pitch, and the runner is usually picked off by being tagged out between the bases. Past this moment, any delay in the runners break makes it likely that the catcher, after receiving the pitch. Before the pitch, the runner takes a lead-off, walking several steps away from the base as a start toward the next base. Even a runner who does not intend to steal takes a lead of a few more steps
14.
Wild pitch
–
A wild pitch usually passes the catcher behind home plate, often allowing runners on base an easy chance to advance while the catcher chases the ball down. Sometimes the catcher may block a pitch, and the ball may be nearby, a closely related statistic is the passed ball. As with many statistics, whether a pitch that gets away from a catcher is counted as a wild pitch or a passed ball is at the discretion of the official scorer. The benefit of the doubt is given to the catcher if there is uncertainty, therefore. Because the pitcher and catcher handle the much more than other fielders, certain misplays on pitched balls are defined in Rule 10.13 as wild pitches. No error shall be charged when a pitch or passed ball is scored. A wild pitch may only be scored if one or more runners advance, if the bases are empty, or the catcher retrieves the ball quickly and the runner are unable to advance, a wild pitch is not charged. A scored run due to a pitch is recorded as an earned run. A runner who advances on a pitch is not credited with a stolen base unless he breaks before the pitcher begins his delivery. Nolan Ryan is the leader in the category, throwing 277 wild pitches over his 27 years in Major League Baseball. He also led his league in the category in six different seasons, however, the all-time record belongs to Tony Mullane, who threw 343 in the early years of the game from 1881 to 1894. After Ryans 277, the pitcher on the list is Mickey Welch 274. Bill Stemmyer still holds the record, throwing 63 wild pitches in 1886. Since 1900, however, the highest total in a season has been 30, the modern record in a single game is 6, held by three different pitchers. Dickey, Phil Niekro, Walter Johnson, and Kevin Gregg all hold the modern-era single inning wild pitch record with four, rick Ankiel, however, has produced five wild pitches in the 3rd inning of the 2000 NLDS. Bert Cunningham of the Players League in 1890 also threw five in an inning, the current active leader is Félix Hernández, with 132 wild pitches. The only other pitchers with 100+ wild pitches are John Lackey with 114. Baseball Reference – MLB Career Leaders and Records for Wild Pitches Baseball Rules See section 10.13
15.
Intentional base on balls
–
A pitch that is intentionally thrown far outside the strike zone for this purpose is referred to as an intentional ball. Informally, it is referred to as a four-finger salute. This reference stems from the holding up four fingers to signal an intentional walk to his pitcher or catcher. As of 2017, the intentional walk has been eliminated in Major League Baseball. When a batter receives a base on balls, he is entitled to take first base without being put out. Receiving an intentional base on balls does not count as an official at bat for a batter, but does count as a plate appearance, a ball that is thrown intentionally for the purpose of giving up an intentional base on balls is called an intentional ball. A base on balls counts as a base on balls if and only if the final pitch thrown in the plate appearance is an intentional ball. Before the 1920 season, catchers typically stood far to the side of the plate to receive intentional balls, beginning with the 2017 season, the four-pitch intentional walk was eliminated as part of Major League Baseballs efforts to improve pace of play. Instead, when the opposing team signals their intent to walk a batter under the new rule he is awarded first base. When pitching a ball, the pitcher will generally throw to an area several feet outside the plate. The pitcher still has to be careful that he doesnt allow runners to advance via a balk or a wild pitch, in addition, the batter can choose to swing at an intentional ball, although this almost never occurs since it is rarely to the batters advantage. In 9 of those 12 times the batter reached first base safely, the batters team won in all nine of those instances. The most recent such occurrence happened during a June 22,2006 game between the Florida Marlins and the Baltimore Orioles. The Marlins Miguel Cabrera hit a ball thrown by Todd Williams during the 10th inning resulting in a run scored for the Marlins that proved to be the game winning run. In situations other than these, issuing intentional walks is typically seen as bad strategy, practically any runner has a better chance of scoring a run from first base through the actions of later batters than the batter has of hitting a home run. Barry Bonds holds most of the records for walks, including four in a nine-inning game,120 in a season. Bonds, a home run hitter, was a common target for the intentional walk. Nevertheless, many times the decision to walk Bonds was a strategy, as the San Francisco Giants still had the National Leagues second-best offense in 2004
16.
Home run
–
In modern baseball, the feat is typically achieved by hitting the ball over the outfield fence between the foul poles without first touching the ground, resulting in an automatic home run. There is also the home run, increasingly rare in modern baseball. When a home run is scored, the batter is credited with a hit and a run scored. Likewise, the pitcher is recorded as having given up a hit, a batted ball is also a home run if it touches either foul pole or its attached screen before touching the ground, as the foul poles are by definition in fair territory. A batted ball that goes over the wall after touching the ground is not a home run. A fielder is allowed to reach over the wall to attempt to catch the ball as long as his feet are on or over the field during the attempt. If the fielder successfully catches the ball while it is in flight the batter is out, however, since the fielder is not part of the field, a ball that bounces off a fielder and over the wall without touching the ground is still a home run. A home run accomplished in any of the above manners is a home run. This stipulation is in Approved Ruling of Rule 7.10, an inside-the-park home run occurs when a batter hits the ball into play and is able to circle the bases before the fielders can put him out. Unlike with a home run, the batter-runner and all preceding runners are liable to be put out by the defensive team at any time while running the bases. This can only happen if the ball does not leave the ballfield, with outfields much less spacious and more uniformly designed than in the games early days, inside-the-park home runs are now a rarity. They are usually the result of a ball being hit by a very fast runner, either way, this sends the ball into open space in the outfield and thereby allows the batter-runner to circle the bases before the defensive team can put him out. The speed of the runner is crucial as even triples are relatively rare in most modern ballparks, all runs scored on such a play, however, still count. An example of an unexpected bounce occurred during the 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at AT&T Park in San Francisco on July 10,2007, by the time the ball was relayed, Ichiro had already crossed the plate standing up. This was the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star Game history, Home runs are often characterized by the number of runners on base at the time. A home run hit with the bases empty is seldom called a one-run homer, with one runner on base, two runs are scored and thus the home run is often called a two-run homer or two-run shot. Similarly, a home runs with two runners on base is a three-run homer or three-run shot, the term four-run homer is seldom used, instead, it is nearly always called a grand slam. Hitting a grand slam is the best possible result for the turn at bat
17.
Double play
–
In baseball, a double play is the act of making two outs during the same continuous play. Double plays are common, as they can occur any time there is at least one baserunner. During the 2016 Major League Baseball regular season, the average for double plays completed by each team during the course of a 162-game season was 145 – nearly one per game by each team. The simplest scenario for a play is a runner on first base with less than two outs. As both outs are made by force plays, this is referred to as a double play. As the force out at first base removed the force condition at second base, the batter hits the ball in the air a line drive to the first baseman, who catches it, and then steps on first base before the baserunner can return to first to tag up. This is also an example of a double play. Highly desirable to the team and highly undesirable to the batting team. The fielding team is likely to change pitch selection and defensive alignment to try and get a batter to ground into a force double play. Pitchers may throw pitches more likely to be hit as a ground ball – such as a sinker – while fielders can be positioned to make a ground ball more likely to be turned into a double play. Likewise, the team may take action – such as a hit. In baseball slang, making a play is referred to as turning two or a twin killing. Double plays are known as the pitchers best friend because they disrupt offense more than any other play. A force double play made on a ball hit to the third baseman, who throws to the second baseman. A strike em out, throw em out double play occurs when a runner is caught stealing immediately after the batter strikes out. The ability to make the pivot on a double play – receiving a throw from the third base side. All three players were part of the Cubs team that won the National League pennant in 1906,1907,1908, and 1910, and they were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946. The New York Yankees recorded a rare 4-1-5 double play against the San Francisco Giants on July 24,2016, castro threw to pitcher Chad Green at first base to retire Peña
18.
Mark Hendrickson
–
Mark Allan Hendrickson is an American former baseball and basketball player. Hendrickson was a pitcher in Major League Baseball and played forward in the National Basketball Association. He is one of just 12 athletes to play in both MLB and the NBA, Hendrickson is notable for his size, at 69. The only players in Major League Baseball as of 2010 who are taller than Hendrickson are Jon Rauch, at 611, Hendrickson is a groundball pitcher, with a fastball in the high 80s and a decent 12–6 curveball. Hendrickson also has a 10–4 slider, but his slider only reaches the high 70s to low 80s, thus, when Hendrickson has success, it is due to control, movement, and location and not power. Hendrickson was a standout in tennis, basketball, and baseball at Mount Vernon High School in the state of Washington. During his sophomore year, he was a member of the state championship baseball team and he was a member of the state championship basketball team during his junior year, where he earned recognition as the co-MVP of the tournament for his play. He was also named captain, team MVP, and named to the All-Area. A tennis state qualifier, Hendrickson was also named to the baseball All-Area team, as a senior, Hendrickson led the Bulldogs to a second basketball championship. He was team captain, team MVP, All-Area, All-State, for his performance on the basketball court, he was named the Gatorade State Player of the Year. In addition to his basketball play, he was able to help his team win the state championship in baseball. He was named the Skagit Valley Herald Athlete of the Year both his junior and senior years, Hendrickson starred in both basketball and baseball at Washington State University. In basketball he was a selection to the All-Pac-10 first team. He averaged 13.9 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game during his four years at Washington State and he was also selected to All-Conference teams in baseball. Upon his college graduation he was selected by the NBAs Philadelphia 76ers of the 1996 draft and MLBs Toronto Blue Jays of the 1997 Draft. Hendrickson elected to play basketball and joined the Philadelphia 76ers, playing part-time in 29 games in the 1996–97 NBA season, averaging 2.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game. He signed as an agent with the Sacramento Kings on December 23,1997, appearing in 48 games. Unsigned by the NBA prior to the 1998 season, he signed with the La Crosse Bobcats of the Continental Basketball Association where he played most of the season
19.
Miami Marlins
–
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the National League East division. Their home park is Marlins Park, though one of only two MLB franchises to have never won a division title, the Marlins have won two World Series championships as a wild card team. The stadium was later called Pro Player Park, Pro Player Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, Dolphins Stadium, Land Shark Stadium, since the 2012 season, they have played at Marlins Park in downtown Miami, on the site of the former Orange Bowl in Little Havana, Florida. The new park, unlike Sun Life Stadium, was designed foremost as a baseball park, the new parks name is a temporary one until naming rights are purchased. Per agreement with the city and Miami-Dade County, the Marlins officially changed their name to the Miami Marlins on November 11,2011 and they also adopted a new logo, color scheme, and uniforms. The 2003 season was notable for the firing of manager Jeff Torborg after 38 games, the Marlins were in last place in the NL East with a 16–22 record at the time. Torborgs successor, 72-year-old Jack McKeon, led them to the NL wild card berth in the postseason, the Marlins moved into their new ballpark, Marlins Park in 2012, which coincided with a change in the team colors/uniforms and name to the Miami Marlins. No-Hitters, Marlins pitchers have pitched five no-hitters in team history, four coming against teams in the NL West. Hitting for the cycle, No Marlins player has hit for the cycle in franchise history. See also, List of Major League Baseball retired numbers § Alternative methods of recognition, from 1993 until 2011, the Marlins had retired the number 5 in honor of Carl Barger, the first president of the Florida Marlins who died prior to the teams inaugural season. Bargers favorite player was Joe DiMaggio, thus the selection of number 5, with the move to the new ballpark, the team opted to honor Barger with a plaque. Logan Morrison, a Kansas City native and fan of Royals Hall-of-Famer George Brett, after José Fernández death as a result of a boating accident on September 25,2016, the Miami Marlins announced plans to build a memorial at Marlins Park in his honor. However, Fernández number 16 has yet to be officially retired, the Marlins began construction of a new, state-of-the-art stadium at the Miami Orange Bowl site on July 18,2009. The now approved stadium was the subject of a legal battle. A lawsuit by local automobile franchise mogul and former Philadelphia Eagles owner Norman Braman contested the legality of the deal with Miami-Dade County, however, Miami-Dade County Judge Beth Cohen dismissed all the charges in Bramans lawsuit. The seating capacity for Marlins Park is 36,742, making it the third smallest stadium in the MLB and its first regular season game was April 4,2012, against the St. Until a naming-rights deal is reached, the park will be known as Marlins Park, the Marlins flagship radio station from their inception in 1993 through 2007 was WQAM560 AM
20.
Atlanta Braves
–
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball franchise based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The franchise competes in Major League Baseball as a member of the National League East division, the Braves played home games at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium from 1966 to 1996, and Turner Field from 1997 to 2016. Since 2017, their stadium has been SunTrust Park, a new stadium 10 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta in Cumberland/Galleria, Georgia. The Braves play spring training games in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, in January 2017, the Braves announced a formal agreement to move their spring training home to North Port, Florida. The Braves name, which was first used in 1912, originates from a term for a Native American warrior, from 1991 to 2005, the Braves were one of the most successful franchises in baseball, winning division titles an unprecedented 14 consecutive times in that period. The Braves won the NL West 1991–93 and the NL East 1995–2005, the Braves advanced to the World Series five times in the 1990s, winning the title in 1995. The Braves are the only Major League Baseball franchise to have won the World Series in three different home cities, the Braves and the Chicago Cubs are the National Leagues two remaining charter franchises. The Braves were founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1871, the team states it is the oldest continuously operating professional sports franchise in America. After various name changes, the team began operating as the Boston Braves. Then, in 1953, the moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The teams tenure in Atlanta is noted for Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruths career home run record in 1974, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, established in 1869 as the first openly all-professional baseball team, voted to dissolve after the 1870 season. 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. The Boston Red Caps played in the first game in the history of the National League, on Saturday, April 22,1876, defeating the Athletics, 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. Boston came to be called the Beaneaters in 1883, while retaining red as the team color, the 1898 team finished 102–47, a club record for wins that would stand for almost a century
21.
Yunel Escobar
–
Yunel Escobar Almenares is a Cuban professional baseball third baseman for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Major League Baseball. He made his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2007, while primarily a shortstop throughout his career, Escobar has since transitioned to third base. Escobar was born in Havana, Cuba, Brayan Peña, a former teammate of Escobar with the Atlanta Braves, was Escobars best friend growing up in Cuba, with the two boys often playing on the same team and sharing bats, gloves, and cleats. In 2004, Escobar defected from Cuba by sea, and landed in the Florida Keys, the Braves drafted Escobar in the second round of the 2005 draft, 75th overall. We saw him as a talent, said Roy Clark. A lot of clubs didnt feel that they had enough background, former Braves general manager John Schuerholz said he does not hesitate when he finds a Cuban who fits his teams needs. Im not a politician, Schuerholz said and we look for baseball talent wherever we can find it. And wherever it is, we go after it, Escobars tense relationship with Cuban authorities in the aftermath of Peñas defection had limited his exposure to major league scouts. With little more than a few off-season workouts to draw upon, the Braves, however, spoke with Pena, who had been called up to the majors to play for the Braves only days before Escobar was drafted in the 2005 draft. Braves officials asked Pena countless questions about everything from Escobars skill set to his command of English to his family background, the best recommendation we got was from Brayan, Clark says. Escobar received a $475,000 signing bonus, after being drafted and signed by the Braves in 2005, Yunel began in the Appalachian League with Danville, hitting.400 with two homers. Escobar played the entire 2006 season in Double-A Mississippi and was selected to All-Star Futures Game and his performance in Mississippi was somewhat disappointing with a few bright spots. Escobar showed good plate discipline with 59 walks against just 77 strikeouts and this led to a strong.361 on-base percentage. However, Escobar saw his power numbers drop and his slugging percentage fell to.346 and his OPS went from.828 to.707. Throughout these struggles, Escobar developed a relationship with manager. His talent reasserted itself with a performance in the Arizona Fall League. Escobar had a strong spring training for the Braves in 2007 before being sent down to Triple-A Richmond to start the season. Escobar set the Triple-A International League on fire during his stint there during the first two months of the 2007 season
22.
Catcher
–
Catcher is also a general term for a fielder who catches the ball in cricket. Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player, when a batter takes his/her turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to primary duty, the catcher is also called upon to master many other skills in order to field the position well. The role of the catcher is similar to that of the wicket-keeper in cricket, positioned behind home plate, the catcher can see the whole field, and is therefore in the best position to direct and lead the other players in a defensive play. The catcher typically calls for using hand signals. The calls are based on the mechanics and strengths, as well as the batters tendencies and weaknesses. Foul tips, bouncing balls in the dirt, and contact with runners during plays at the plate are all events to be handled by the catcher and this includes a mask, chest and throat protectors, shin guards, and a heavily padded catchers mitt. The physical and mental demands of being involved on every defensive play can wear catchers down over a long season, because of the strategic defensive importance of catching, if a catcher has exceptional defensive skills, teams are often willing to overlook their relative offensive weaknesses. A knowledgeable catchers ability to work with the pitcher, via selection and location. Many great defensive catchers toiled in relative anonymity, because they did not produce large offensive numbers, notable examples of light-hitting, defensive specialists were, Ray Schalk, Jim Hegan, Jim Sundberg and Brad Ausmus. Schalks career batting average of.253 is the lowest of any player in the Baseball Hall of Fame. That he was selected for enshrinement in 1955 was largely a tribute to his defensive skills. Catchers are often able to play first base and less commonly third base, in the numbering system used to record baseball plays, the catcher is assigned the number 2. In the middle of the century, the game of baseball began to evolve from a sport played by amateurs for recreation into a more serious game played by professionals. One of the most dramatic changes was the transition of the delivery from an underhand motion to an overhanded throw. As the game progressed towards professionals and became serious, pitchers began to attempt to prevent the batter from hitting the ball by throwing faster pitches. With the introduction of the strike in 1858, catchers began inching closer to home plate due to the rules requirement that a strikeout could only be completed by a catch. These developments meant that catchers began to take on a defensive role
23.
Mike Rabelo
–
Michael Gregory Rabelo is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He is currently the manager for the Class A West Michigan Whitecaps in the Detroit Tigers organization, Rabelo grew up in the city of New Port Richey, Florida, and attended Ridgewood High School. Following his senior year of school in 1998, Rabelo was drafted in the 13th round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Boston Red Sox. He did not sign, however, instead choosing to play baseball for the University of Tampa Spartans. Following his junior season of college, the Detroit Tigers signed Rabelo after selecting him in the 4th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball amateur draft. Rabelo began his career with the Single-A Oneonta Tigers of the New York–Penn League, during his time in the minors, Rabelo developed a reputation as a personal catcher for pitcher Joel Zumaya. Rabelo was added to the Tigers 40-man roster in September 2006, Rabelo began the 2007 season third on the Tigers catching depth chart behind established veterans Iván Rodríguez and backup Vance Wilson. During spring training, Wilson experienced elbow pain, and later learned he would have to undergo Tommy John surgery. As a result, Rabelo began the season on the 25-man active roster and he hit his first major league home run on September 30,2007, the last game of the season off Mike MacDougal of the Chicago White Sox. On December 5,2007, the Tigers traded Rabelo, Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin, Dallas Trahern, Eulogio De La Cruz and Burke Badenhop to the Florida Marlins for Dontrelle Willis, in November 2009, Rabelo was granted free agency by the Florida Marlins. On January 14,2010, Rabelo signed a league contract with the Detroit Tigers with an invite to spring training. He was optioned to the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League, on July 19,2010, he was released, after batting.143 with one home run and eight RBIs. Rabelo was the coach for the Gulf Coast League Tigers. He was hired as manager of the Connecticut Tigers for the 2014 season, on October 20,2016, Rabelo was promoted to the West Michigan Whitecaps managerial position. Mike currently resides in Florida with his wife Erin and two daughters, career statistics and player information from ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube
24.
Baseball field
–
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
25.
Baltimore Orioles
–
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball as a member of the American League East division, Louis, Missouri to become the St. Louis Browns. After 52 often-beleaguered years in St. Louis, the franchise was purchased in November 1953 by Baltimore business interests led by Clarence Miles, the franchise officially moved to Baltimore for the 1954 season and adopted the historic Orioles name in honor of the official state bird of Maryland. The Orioles name had also used by several previous major and minor league baseball clubs in Baltimore. Nicknames for the team include the Os and the Birds, the Orioles experienced their greatest success from 1966 to 1983, when they made six World Series appearances, winning three of them. The franchise has won a total of nine division championships, six pennants. The Orioles are also known for their successful stadium, the trend-setting Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The modern Orioles franchise can trace its roots back to the original Milwaukee Brewers of the minor Western League, the Brewers were there when the WL renamed itself the American League in 1900. At the end of the 1900 season, the American League removed itself from baseballs National Agreement, two months later, the AL declared itself a competing major league. As a result of several shifts, the Brewers were one of only two Western League teams that didnt fold, move or get kicked out of the league. In its first game in the American League, the team lost to the Detroit Tigers 14–13 after blowing a lead in the 9th inning. To this day, it is a league record for the biggest deficit overcome that late in the game. During the first American League season in 1901, they finished last with a record of 48–89 and its lone Major League season, the team played at Lloyd Street Grounds, between 16th and 18th Streets in Milwaukee. The Miles-Krieger -Hoffberger group renamed their new team the Baltimore Orioles soon after taking control of the franchise, the name has a rich history in Baltimore, having been used by a National League team in the 1890s. In 1901, Baltimore and McGraw were awarded a franchise in the growing American League. After a battle with Ban Johnson, the Head of the American League in 1902, McGraw took many of the top players including Dan McGann, Roger Bresnahan and Joe McGinnity to the New York Giants. As an affront to Johnson, McGraw kept the black and orange colors of the New York Giants, which San Francisco wears to this day. In 1903, the rest of the team was transferred to New York where they were nicknamed the Highlanders until circa 1912, as a member of the high-minor league level International League, the Orioles competed at what is now known as the AAA level from 1903 to 1953
26.
Todd Williams
–
Todd Michael Williams is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He attended East Syracuse-Minoa High School graduating in 1989 and he then attended Onondaga Community College before signing a professional baseball contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1991. Williams is a retired 18-year professional baseball player, with eight years of Major League Baseball experience, Williams was also a member of the USA Baseball team three separate years, with the highlight of winning a Gold Medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney, Australia. Williams, who retired from baseball after the 2008 season, holds the all-time Minor League Baseball record for saves with 223, a four-time Triple-A All-Star Game participant, Williams also holds the record for most career appearances by a professional member of Team USA. Williams served as closer for the 2000 United States Olympic Baseball Team during the Sydney. That squad was the lone USA baseball team to win an Olympic gold medal during the span when baseball was an Olympic medal sport, Williams was a member of the 2001 American League Championship New York Yankees. Over the course of his professional career Williams played for 10 different organizations, Williams graduated East Syracuse-Minoa High School in 1989. He was a two sport athlete lettering in basketball and baseball and he received all league honors in ’88 for baseball and in ’89 was a sectional all-star for the O. H. S. L Champion Spartan baseball team. A three-year member of the Varsity Baseball team, recording an E. R. A. of a 2.19 in “87,2.10 in ’88 and 2.13 in ’89 while holding a.354 batting average his senior year of ’89. In his 1990 season Williams received the Student–Athlete of the award and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 54th round of the 1990 Amateur Draft. Williams finished 8th in the Nation in E. R. A, in 1990 Onondaga ranked 20th in the nation as a team. Williams then signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 1991 draft and he was named to the Onondaga Community College Hall of Fame in 2005. He would spend the four years with the Orioles, including all of 2005. After posting a 2.87 ERA in 29 games with the Orioles in 2004, in 72 games, he posted a 3.30 ERA, including his first Major League save, which came on August 19 in a 5-3 win against the Oakland Athletics. Williams notched one more save in the majors with the Orioles in 2006 after posting a 4.74 ERA in 62 games, Williams struggled after sustaining an injury in 2007. He went on to post a 7.53 ERA in 14 games, Williams was subsequently released by the Orioles on June 17 of that year. He finished out the ’07 season with the Colorado Rockies organization, pitching at Double-A Tulsa, albuquerque 1994, Edmonton 1996, Durham 2003 Inaugural Arizona Fall League Championship Team 1992 Dominican League Championship 1994. Y. L. Champion New York Yankees 2001, Baltimore Orioles 2004–2007 1st Major League Save 2005
27.
Miguel Cabrera
–
José Miguel Cabrera Torres, commonly known as Miguel Cabrera and nicknamed Miggy, is a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He is currently the first baseman for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball, since his debut in 2003 he is a two-time American League Most Valuable Player award winner, a four-time AL batting champion, and an eleven-time MLB All-Star. He has played at first and third base for most of his league career. He claimed the 17th Major League Baseball Triple Crown in 2012, Cabrera was signed in 1999 as an amateur free agent by the Florida Marlins, and progressed through their minor league system. He made his Major League debut in mid-2003 at the age of 20, over the next four seasons, Cabrera was a regular player for the Marlins before being traded to the Detroit Tigers in late 2007. In 2012, Cabrera became the first player since 1967 to win the batting Triple Crown, leading the AL with a.330 batting average,44 home runs, and 139 RBI, earning him the AL MVP award that year. In 2013, Cabrera improved on his previous years batting performance, including a career-high.348 batting average, Cabrera was born on April 18,1983, in Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela, to parents Miguel and Gregoria Cabrera. Miguel was signed by the Marlins in 1999 as a free agent and came up through their farm system, teaming with future major leaguers Adrian Gonzalez. He began his career in 2000 as a shortstop in the Gulf Coast League. Heading into 2001, the Marlins bumped Cabrera up to the Low Class-A Kane County Cougars where he teamed up with current Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and he earned his way into the Futures Game during All-Star Weekend in Seattle, along with Gonzalez. He ended the year batting.268 with 30 extra-base hits,66 RBIs, entering the following season, Cabrera was once again promoted, this time to the Jupiter Hammerheads of the High Class-A Florida State League. At the request of then Marlins coach, Ozzie Guillén, Cabrera made the transition from shortstop to third base. By July, his average was locked in at.277, and he led his team with 45 RBI earning himself a trip to the Futures game. He finished the season batting.278 with 43 doubles and 75 RBIs, up to this point, he hit just nine homers in his 489 at-bats. To begin the 2003 season, Cabrera earned another promotion to the Double-A Carolina Mudcats, there he teamed up with Dontrelle Willis, the left-handed fireballer with whom he would later join in the majors. In his fourth season, Miguel was shredding the competition. In April, he hit.402, and by June his average stood at.365 with 10 homers and 59 RBIs before being called up to the majors. Cabrera made his league debut on June 20,2003, at 20 years old, Édgar Rentería
28.
Official scorer
–
In the game of baseball, the official scorer is a person appointed by the league to record the events on the field, and to send the official scoring record of the game back to the league offices. Judgment calls are made about errors, unearned runs, fielders choice, the value of hits in certain situations. This record is used to compile statistics for each player and team, a box score is a summary of the official scorers game record. Newspaper writers initially performed this function in the days of Major League Baseball. Controversies related to perceived bias or errors in scoring have led to questions about important baseball records, including several no-hitters and Joe DiMaggios 56-game hitting streak of 1941. By 1979, many major newspapers decided to ban their writers from scoring baseball games due to conflict-of-interest concerns, since 1980, some reforms have been suggested to improve the performance of official scorers. In 2001, MLB formed a committee to review their performance. This authority was used by the scoring three times during the 2009 season. In 2006, an academic study seemed to confirm the existence of a home-team bias in scoring decisions. Henry Chadwick is generally credited with the invention of scorekeeping in baseball, Chadwick was also the inventor of the modern box score and the writer of the first rule book for the game of baseball. A judgment call that is required by the official scorer does not alter the outcome of a game, qualified candidates for scoring were submitted to the leagues for approval. Baseball writer-scorers usually worked at the games played at the stadium of the team which they covered for their newspaper. The writer-scorers were tasked with making decisions that could impact the statistics of the team they were writing about. Because of this affiliation, the scorer was often presumed by the baseball players and managers to favor the home team when making the required judgment calls during the course of a game. Criticism of scoring decisions date to the earliest days of the game, some historians claim that Joe DiMaggios record 56-game hitting streak in 1941 was made possible by several generous rulings at Yankee Stadium. Although scoring decisions were widely believed to favor the hitter over the defense, infielder Dave Johnson said, Ive been involved in five or six no-hit games, and all of them were suspected of being helped by hometown scoring. One of the last controversies of the era was seen in a 1978 game at St. Louis. The official scorer Neal Russo judged the play to be a rather than a hit
29.
Manager (baseball)
–
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized. A manager is essentially equivalent to the coach in other North American professional sports leagues. How much control a manager takes in a games strategy varies from manager to manager and from game to game. Some managers control pitch selection, defensive positioning, decisions to bunt, steal, pitch out, managers are typically assisted by two or more coaches. Typically, the title of manager is used in professional baseball. In many cases, a manager is a professional, semi-professional or college player. Many current and former managers are former catchers which include Mike Matheny, John Gibbons, Brad Ausmus, Joe Torre, Mike Scioscia, Bruce Bochy, the managers responsibilities normally are limited to in-game decisions, with off-the-field and roster management decisions falling to the teams general manager. The term manager used without qualification almost always refers to the field manager, some owners carried out both GM and field managerial duties themselves. Major League Baseball managers differ from the coaches of most other professional sports in that they dress in the same uniform as the players and are assigned a jersey number. The wearing of a uniform is frequently practiced at other levels of play. The manager may be called skipper or skip informally by his players
30.
Barry Bonds
–
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. Bonds received seven NL MVP awards and 14 All-Star selections, and is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Bonds was regarded as an exceptional hitter, and finished his regular season career with a very high on-base percentage and isolated power. He holds many MLB hitting records, including most career runs, most home runs in a single season. He also received eight Gold Gloves for his defense in the outfield and he is ranked second in career Wins Above Replacement among all major league position players by both Fangraphs and Baseball-Reference. com, behind only Babe Ruth. Bonds led a career, notably as a central figure in baseballs steroids scandal. In 2007, he was indicted on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice for lying to the grand jury during the federal governments investigation of BALCO. The perjury charges against Bonds were dropped, and he was initially convicted of obstruction of justice. Bonds has not been elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first four years of eligibility, in the 2016 season, Bonds served as the hitting coach for the Miami Marlins. He played on the varsity team during his freshman year. He batted for a.467 batting average his senior year, Bonds attended Arizona State University, hitting.347 with 45 home runs and 175 runs batted in. In 1984 he batted.360 and had 30 stolen bases, in 1985, he hit 23 home runs with 66 RBIs and a.368 batting average. He was a Sporting News All-American selection that year and he tied the NCAA record with seven consecutive hits in the College World Series as sophomore and was named to All-Time College World Series Team in 1996. He graduated from Arizona State in 1986 with a degree in criminology and he was named ASU On Deck Circle Most Valuable Player, other winners include Dustin Pedroia, Willie Bloomquist, Paul Lo Duca, and Ike Davis. During college, he played part of one summer in the amateur Alaska Baseball League with the Alaska Goldpanners, the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Bonds as the sixth overall pick of the 1985 Major League Baseball draft. He joined the Prince William Pirates of the Carolina League and was named July 1985 Player of the Month for the league, in 1986, he hit.311 in 44 games for the Hawaii Islanders of the Pacific Coast League. Before Bonds made it to the leagues in Pittsburgh, Pirate fan attendance was low. Bonds made his league debut on May 30,1986. In 1986, Bonds led National League rookies with 16 home runs,48 RBI,36 stolen bases and 65 walks and he played center field in 1986, but switched to left field with the arrival of centerfielder Andy Van Slyke in 1987
31.
Hank Aaron
–
Henry Louis Hank Aaron, nicknamed Hammer, or Hammerin Hank, is a retired American Major League Baseball right fielder who is currently the senior vice president of the Atlanta Braves. He played 21 seasons for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves in the National League and 2 seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League, Aaron held the MLB record for career home runs for 33 years, and he still holds several MLB offensive records. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973, in 1999, The Sporting News ranked Aaron fifth on its 100 Greatest Baseball Players list. Aaron was born and raised in and around Mobile, Alabama, Aaron had seven siblings, including Tommie Aaron, who later played in MLB with him. Aaron appeared briefly in the Negro American League and in minor league baseball before starting his major league career and he played late in Negro league history, by his final MLB season, Aaron was the last Negro league baseball player on a major league roster. Aaron played the vast majority of his MLB games in right field, in his last two seasons, he was primarily a designated hitter. Aaron was an NL All-Star for 20 seasons and an AL All-Star for 1 season, Aaron holds the record for the most seasons as an All-Star, the most All-Star Game selections, and is tied with Willie Mays and Stan Musial for the most All-Star Games played. He was a Gold Glove winner for three seasons, in 1957, he was the NL Most Valuable Player when the Milwaukee Braves won the World Series. He won the NL Player of the Month award in May 1958, Aaron holds the MLB records for the most career runs batted in, extra base hits, and total bases. Aaron is also in the top five for career hits and runs and he is one of only four players to have at least seventeen seasons with 150 or more hits. Aaron is in place in home runs and at-bats. At the time of his retirement, Aaron held most of the games key career power hitting records, since his retirement, Aaron has held front office roles with the Atlanta Braves. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, in 1999, MLB introduced the Hank Aaron Award to recognize the top offensive players in each league. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002 and he was named a 2010 Georgia Trustee by the Georgia Historical Society in recognition of accomplishments that reflect the ideals of Georgias founders. Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama, to Herbert Aaron, Sr. Tommie Aaron, one of his brothers, also went on to play Major League Baseball. By the time Aaron retired, he and his brother held the record for most career home runs by a pair of siblings and they were also the first siblings to appear in a League Championship Series as teammates. While he was born in a section of Mobile referred to as Down the Bay, Aaron grew up in a poor family. His family could not afford baseball equipment, so he practiced by hitting bottle caps with sticks and he would create his own bats and balls out of materials he found on the streets
32.
Top 100 MLB leaders in bases on balls
–
The following table lists the top 100 career base on balls leaders in Major League Baseball history. Barry Bonds holds the record for most career walks drawn with 2,558, ricky Henderson, Babe Ruth, and Ted Williams are the only other players to draw more than 2,000 walks in their careers. The active leader in walks is Albert Pujols with 1,214, stats updated as of April 3,2017. Baseball statistics Baseball Reference - Career Leaders & Records for Bases on Balls
33.
Babe Ruth
–
George Herman Babe Ruth Jr. was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Ruth established many MLB batting records, including home runs, runs batted in, bases on balls, slugging percentage, and on-base plus slugging. Ruth is regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture and is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time, in 1936, Ruth was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of its first five inaugural members. At age seven, Ruth was sent to St, in 1914, Ruth was signed to play minor-league baseball for the Baltimore Orioles but was soon sold to the Red Sox. By 1916, he had built a reputation as a pitcher who sometimes hit long home runs. With regular playing time, he broke the MLB single-season home run record in 1919, after that season, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth to the Yankees amid controversy. The trade fueled Bostons subsequent 86 year championship drought and popularized the Curse of the Bambino superstition, in his 15 years with New York, Ruth helped the Yankees win seven American League championships and four World Series championships. As part of the Yankees vaunted Murderers Row lineup of 1927, Ruth hit 60 home runs and he retired in 1935 after a short stint with the Boston Braves. During his career, Ruth led the AL in home runs during a season twelve times, Ruths legendary power and charismatic personality made him a larger-than-life figure in the Roaring Twenties. During his career, he was the target of press and public attention for his baseball exploits. His often reckless lifestyle was tempered by his willingness to do good by visiting children at hospitals, after his retirement as a player, he was denied a managerial job in baseball, most likely due to poor behavior during parts of his playing career. In his final years, Ruth made many appearances, especially in support of American efforts in World War II. In 1946, he became ill with cancer, and died two years later, George Herman Ruth Jr. was born in 1895 at 216 Emory Street in Pigtown, a working-class section of Baltimore, Maryland, named for its meat-packing plants. Its population included recent immigrants from Ireland, Germany and Italy, Ruths parents, George Herman Ruth, Sr. and Katherine Schamberger, were both of German American ancestry. According to the 1880 census, his parents were born in Maryland, the paternal grandparents of Ruth, Sr. were from Prussia and Hanover. Ruth, Sr. had a series of jobs, including lightning rod salesman and streetcar operator, before becoming a counterman in a combination grocery. George Ruth Jr. was born in the house of his grandfather, Pius Schamberger. Only one of young Georges seven siblings, his younger sister Mamie, many details of Ruths childhood are unknown, including the date of his parents marriage
34.
Mark McGwire
–
Mark David McGwire, nicknamed Big Mac, is an American former professional baseball player and currently a bench coach in Major League Baseball. As a first baseman, his MLB career spanned from 1986 to 2001 while playing for the Oakland Athletics and he appeared in six straight All-Star Games from 1987 to 1992 despite a brief career decline related to injuries. Another string of six consecutive All-Star appearances followed from 1995 to 2001, each season from 1996 to 1999, he again led the major leagues in home runs. McGwire also led the league in runs batted in, twice in bases on balls and on-base percentage, injuries significantly cut into his playing time in 2000 and 2001 before factoring into his retirement. He finished with 583 home runs, which was fifth all-time when he retired, for his career, McGwire averaged a home run once every 10.61 at bats, the best at bats per home run ratio in baseball history. McGwire also holds the distinction of being the fastest player to hit 500 home runs, in 2010, McGwire publicly admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during a large portion of his career. McGwire was born in Pomona, California and he attended Damien High School in La Verne, California, where he played baseball, golf, and basketball. He played college baseball at the University of Southern California under coach Rod Dedeaux, after three years at Southern California and a stint on the 1984 U. S. Olympic team, the Oakland Athletics drafted McGwire tenth overall in the 1984 Major League Baseball draft. In a short cameo, McGwire debuted in the leagues in August 1986. Retaining his rookie status in 1987, McGwire took center stage in baseball with his home runs and he hit just four in the month of April, but followed in May with 15, and another nine in June. Before the All-Star break arrived, he totaled 33 HR and earned a spot on the American League All-Star team, on August 11, he broke Al Rosens AL rookie record of 37 home runs. Three days later, McGwire broke the league record of 38. In September, McGwire hit nine home runs while posting monthly personal bests of a.351 batting average.419 on-base percentage and 11 doubles. With 49 HR and two remaining in the regular season, he chose to sit them out with an opportunity for 50 home runs to be present for the birth of his first child. McGwire also totaled 118 runs batted in.289 batting average,97 runs scored,28 doubles, a.618 slugging percentage and a.370 on-base percentage. Not only did he lead the AL in home runs in 1987, McGwire also led the major leagues in SLG, finished second in the AL in adjusted on-base plus slugging percentage total bases, third in RBI and on-base plus slugging. He was thus a unanimous choice for the AL Rookie of the Year Award and finished sixth overall in the AL Most Valuable Player Award voting. From 1988 to 1990, McGwire followed with 32,33, on July 3 and 4,1988, he hit game-winning home runs in the 16th inning of both games
35.
Ted Williams
–
Theodore Samuel Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 19-year Major League Baseball career as a fielder for the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1942 and 1946 to 1960, excepting service time during World War II. Nicknamed The Kid, The Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame, The Thumper and The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived, Williams was also an outstanding fielder, especially in the difficult left field of Fenway Park in Boston, where he played his entire Major League career at that position. Williams was a seventeen-time All-Star, a recipient of the American League Most Valuable Player Award, a six-time AL batting champion. He finished his career with a.344 batting average,521 home runs, and a 0.482 on-base percentage. His batting average is the highest of any MLB player with 302 or more home runs, born and raised in San Diego, Williams played baseball throughout his youth. Joining the Red Sox in 1939, he emerged as one of the sports best hitters. In 1941, Williams posted a.406 batting average, making him the last MLB player to bat over.400 in a season and he followed this up by winning his first Triple Crown in 1942. Williams interrupted his career in 1943 to serve three years in the US Navy and US Marine Corps during World War II. Upon returning to MLB in 1946, Williams won his first AL MVP Award, in 1947, he won his second Triple Crown. Williams was returned to military duty for portions of the 1952 and 1953 seasons to serve as a Marine combat aviator in the Korean War. In 1957 and 1958 at the ages of 39 and 40, respectively, Williams retired from playing in 1960. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966, Williams managed the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers franchise from 1969 to 1972. An avid sport fisherman, he hosted a program about fishing. Williams involvement in the Jimmy Fund helped raise millions in dollars for cancer care, in 1991 President George H. W. Bush presented Williams with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award bestowed by the United States government. He was selected for the Major League Baseball All-Time Team in 1997, Ted Williams was born Theodore Samuel Williams in San Diego, California. At some later date he amended his birth certificate, removing his name, which he claimed originated from a maternal uncle. His father was a soldier, sheriff, and photographer from New York, while his mother, May Venzor, Williams resented his mothers long hours working in the Salvation Army, and Williams and his brother cringed when she took them to the Armys street-corner revivals
36.
Eddie Yost
–
Edward Frederick Joseph Yost was an American professional baseball player and coach. Yost was considered one of the best lead off men and third basemen of his era, Yost was born in Brooklyn, New York where he played baseball and basketball at New York University before being signed by the Washington Senators as an amateur free agent in 1944. He made his Major League debut with the Senators at the age of 17 on August 16,1944, Yost spent the 1945 season in the United States Navy before returning to the Senators in 1946. In 1950, Yost posted career-highs with a.295 batting average, in 1951 he led the American League with 36 doubles and produced a career-high 65 runs batted in. He earned a place as a player for the American League team in the 1952 All-Star Game. Between August 30,1949 and May 11,1955, Yost played in 829 consecutive games for the Senators, yosts home run totals were diminished by having to play his home games in Washingtons cavernous Griffith Stadium. Between 1944 and 1953, he hit only 3 home runs at home while hitting 52 home runs on the road. On December 6,1958, after 14 seasons with the Senators, Yost was traded to the Detroit Tigers, in 1960, he again led the league in base on balls and on-base percentage. Yost spent two seasons with the Tigers before being selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 1961 American League expansion draft, in his last plate appearance as a major league player, he received a base on balls. He ended his career with a.957 fielding percentage, Yost led the American League in bases on balls on six different occasions and logged 1,614 over his 18-year career, ranking him 11th on the all-time walks list. In 1956, he had a.412 on-base percentage while posting a.231 batting average, Yost hit 28 home runs to lead off a game, a record which stood until Bobby Bonds broke it in the 1970s. Yost led American League third basemen eight times in putouts, seven times in double plays and he set American League career records with 2,356 putouts,3,659 assists, and 6,285 total chances. His 2,356 putouts ranks him third all-time among third basemen behind Brooks Robinson, in 1960, he surpassed Pie Traynors major league record for most games played as a third baseman with 1,865 games. Yost was the first third baseman in history to appear in more than 2,000 games, Baseball historian Bill James ranked Yost 24th all-time among third baseman in his Historical Baseball Abstract. Yost attended New York University during the off-season where he earned a Masters degree in education in 1953. Yost followed his playing career with a 23-season career as a coach. After a brief stint as a coach with the 1962 Angels, Yost returned to Washington as the third-base coach of the second Senators franchise, under his old teammate. When Vernon was replaced by Gil Hodges, Yost briefly served as interim manager, Yost then continued on Hodges Washington staff through 1967
37.
3,000 strikeout club
–
In Major League Baseball, the 3,000 strikeout club is the group of pitchers who have struck out 3,000 or more batters in their careers. Walter Johnson was the first to reach 3,000, doing so in 1923, in total,16 pitchers have reached 3,000 strikeouts with John Smoltz, the most recent club member, joining in 2008. Steve Carlton and Randy Johnson are the only left-handed pitchers in this group, Randy Johnson was the quickest pitcher to 3,000 strikeouts, taking fewer games pitched or innings pitched than any other pitcher. César Gerónimo is the player struck out by two different pitchers for their 3, 000th strikeout, first by Gibson in 1974 and then Nolan Ryan in 1980. The Chicago Cubs are one of two franchises to see multiple pitchers record their 3, 000th strikeout on their roster, first Ferguson Jenkins in 1982, ten 3,000 strikeout pitchers are also members of the 300 win club. Membership in the 3,000 strikeout club is often described as a guarantee of entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez, and John Smoltz are the most recently elected individuals, of the sixteen eligible members of the 3,000 strikeout club, fourteen have been elected to the Hall. The two who have appeared on a Hall of Fame ballot but have not yet been elected, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling, each received only about half of the total votes needed for induction, with Schilling earning slightly more votes than Clemens. Clemens future election is seen as uncertain because of his links to use of performance-enhancing drugs. Eligibility requires that a player has been retired five seasons or deceased for at least 6 months, list of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders 300 win club General Specific
38.
ESPN
–
ESPN is a U. S. -based global cable and satellite sports television channel owned by ESPN Inc. a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the Hearst Corporation. ESPN broadcasts primarily from studio facilities located in Bristol, Connecticut, the network also operates offices in Miami, New York City, Seattle, Charlotte, and Los Angeles. John Skipper currently serves as president of ESPN, a position he has held since January 1,2012, as of February 2015, ESPN is available to approximately 94,396,000 paid television households in the United States. In 2011, ESPNs history and rise was chronicled by These Guys Have All the Fun, Bill Rasmussen conceived the concept of ESPN in late May 1978, after he was fired from his job with the World Hockey Associations New England Whalers. One of the first steps in Bill and his son Scotts process was finding land to build the channels broadcasting facilities, the Rasmussens first rented office space in Plainville, Connecticut. However, the plan to base ESPN there was put on hold because a local ordinance prohibiting buildings from bearing rooftop satellite dishes and this helped the credibility of the fledgling company, however there were still many doubters to the viability of their sports channel concept. ESPN launched on September 7,1979, beginning with the first telecast of what would become the flagship program. Taped in front of a live audience inside the Bristol studios. ESPNs next big break came when the acquired the rights to broadcast coverage of the early rounds of the NCAA Mens Division I Basketball Tournament. It first aired the NCAA tournament in March 1980, creating the modern day television event known as March Madness. The channels tournament coverage also launched the career of Dick Vitale. In April of that year, ESPN created another made-for-TV spectacle, the next major stepping stone for ESPN came over the course of a couple of months in 1984. During this time period, the American Broadcasting Company purchased 100% of ESPN from the Rasmussens, for years, the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball refused to consider cable as a means of broadcasting some of their games. However, with the backing of ABC, ESPNs ability to compete for major sports contracts greatly increased, later in 1984, the U. S. ESPNs Sunday Night Football games would become the highest-rated NFL telecasts for the next 17 years. In 1992, ESPN launched ESPN Radio, a sports talk radio network providing analysis. It became the fastest growing cable channel in the U. S. during the 1990s, ownership of ABC, and in effect control of ESPN, was acquired first by Capital Cities Communications in 1985, and then by The Walt Disney Company in 1996. In 2012, ESPN generated more revenue for Disney than any of its other properties combined, alongside its live sports broadcasts, ESPN also airs a variety of sports highlight, talk, and documentary-styled shows. 30 for 30 started airing in 2009 and continues airing to this day, each episode is through the eyes of a well known filmmaker and has featured some of the biggest directors in Hollywood
39.
International Standard Book Number
–
The International Standard Book Number is a unique numeric commercial book identifier. An ISBN is assigned to each edition and variation of a book, for example, an e-book, a paperback and a hardcover edition of the same book would each have a different ISBN. The ISBN is 13 digits long if assigned on or after 1 January 2007, the method of assigning an ISBN is nation-based and varies from country to country, often depending on how large the publishing industry is within a country. The initial ISBN configuration of recognition was generated in 1967 based upon the 9-digit Standard Book Numbering created in 1966, the 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the International Organization for Standardization and was published in 1970 as international standard ISO2108. Occasionally, a book may appear without a printed ISBN if it is printed privately or the author does not follow the usual ISBN procedure, however, this can be rectified later. Another identifier, the International Standard Serial Number, identifies periodical publications such as magazines, the ISBN configuration of recognition was generated in 1967 in the United Kingdom by David Whitaker and in 1968 in the US by Emery Koltay. The 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the International Organization for Standardization and was published in 1970 as international standard ISO2108, the United Kingdom continued to use the 9-digit SBN code until 1974. The ISO on-line facility only refers back to 1978, an SBN may be converted to an ISBN by prefixing the digit 0. For example, the edition of Mr. J. G. Reeder Returns, published by Hodder in 1965, has SBN340013818 -340 indicating the publisher,01381 their serial number. This can be converted to ISBN 0-340-01381-8, the check digit does not need to be re-calculated, since 1 January 2007, ISBNs have contained 13 digits, a format that is compatible with Bookland European Article Number EAN-13s. An ISBN is assigned to each edition and variation of a book, for example, an ebook, a paperback, and a hardcover edition of the same book would each have a different ISBN. The ISBN is 13 digits long if assigned on or after 1 January 2007, a 13-digit ISBN can be separated into its parts, and when this is done it is customary to separate the parts with hyphens or spaces. Separating the parts of a 10-digit ISBN is also done with either hyphens or spaces, figuring out how to correctly separate a given ISBN number is complicated, because most of the parts do not use a fixed number of digits. ISBN issuance is country-specific, in that ISBNs are issued by the ISBN registration agency that is responsible for country or territory regardless of the publication language. Some ISBN registration agencies are based in national libraries or within ministries of culture, in other cases, the ISBN registration service is provided by organisations such as bibliographic data providers that are not government funded. In Canada, ISBNs are issued at no cost with the purpose of encouraging Canadian culture. In the United Kingdom, United States, and some countries, where the service is provided by non-government-funded organisations. Australia, ISBNs are issued by the library services agency Thorpe-Bowker
