1.
Round Rock, Texas
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Round Rock is a city in the U. S. state of Texas, located in Williamson County, which is a part of the Greater Austin, Texas metropolitan area. The population was 99,887 at the 2010 census, located about 20 miles north of downtown Austin, Round Rock shares a common border with Austin at Texas State Highway 45. In August 2008, Money magazine named Round Rock as the seventh-best American small city in which to live, Round Rock was the only Texas city to make the Top 10. In a CNN article dated July 1,2009, Round Rock was listed as the second fastest-growing city in the country, Round Rock has a strong public education system. According to the 2008 ratings from the Texas Education Agency, the Round Rock Independent School District ranks among the best in the state, of 42 schools within it, twelve were rated exemplary and eleven are recognized. Round Rock is perhaps best known as the headquarters of Dell. Round Rock and Williamson County have been the site of habitation since at least 9,200 BC. One of the most important discoveries in recent times is that of the ancient skeletal remains dubbed The Leanderthal Lady because of its age and proximity to Leander, Texas. The site is 4 miles west of Round Rock and was discovered by accident by Texas Department of Transportation workers while drilling core samples for a new highway. The site has been studied for many years and samples carbon date to this particular Pleistocene period at approximately 10,500 years ago. These archeology dig sites show a greater volume United Sates of America evidence of Archaic Period inhabitants based on relics. During the 18th century they made the transition to a horse culture, there also appear to have been small numbers of Kiowa, Yojuane, Tawakoni, and Mayeye Native-Americans living in the county at the time of the earliest Anglo settlements. After they were crowded out by white settlement, the Comanches continued to raid settlements in the county until the 1860s, in the late 19th century, Native Americans were being pushed out of Central Texas. As the area developed into a rural Anglo community, some of the paved roads actually followed the original Native-American pathways. One famous immigration route passed through Round Rock and is called the Double File Trail because the path was wide enough for two horsemen to ride side-by-side. It is part of a trail from north Texas that crossed the San Gabriel River in Georgetown, Brushy Creek in Round Rock. An elementary school in the Round Rock school district is named for the trail, in 1851, a small community was formed on the banks of Brushy Creek, near a large round and anvil-shaped rock located in the middle of the creek. This round rock marked a convenient low-water crossing for wagons, horses, the first postmaster called the community Brushy, and the creek was called Brushy Creek
2.
Texas Rangers (baseball)
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The Texas Rangers are an American professional baseball team based in Arlington, Texas, located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Rangers franchise is currently a member of the West division of the American League in Major League Baseball, since 1994, the Rangers have played in Globe Life Park in Arlington in Arlington, Texas. The teams name is borrowed from the law enforcement agency of the same name. After the 1971 season, the new Senators moved to Arlington, Texas, in 2010, the Rangers advanced past the Division Series for the first time, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays. Texas then brought home their first American League pennant after beating the New York Yankees in six games, in the 2010 World Series, the franchises first, the Rangers fell to the San Francisco Giants in five games. They repeated as American League champions the year, then lost the 2011 World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. At the winter meetings that year, it awarded a new team to Los Angeles as well as a new team in the nations capital and this new team adopted the old Senators name, but was considered an expansion team since the Twins retained the old Senators records and history. The Senators and Angels began to fill their rosters with American League players in an expansion draft, the team played the 1961 season at old Griffith Stadium before moving to District of Columbia Stadium. For most of their existence, the new Senators were the definition of futility, the teams struggles led to a twist on a joke about the old Senators--Washington, first in war, first in peace and still last in the American League. Frank Howard, known for his home runs, was the teams most accomplished player. Ownership changed hands several times during the stay in Washington and was often plagued by poor decision-making and planning. Owner Elwood Richard Quesada once wondered why he should have to pay his players because he believed they didnt belong in the majors and he later agreed to a 10-year lease at D. C. Stadium — a move that would back to haunt the Senators. In 1963, Quesada sold his stake in the club and resigned, Washington stockbrokers James Johnston and James Lemon owned the team briefly, suffering massive financial losses. Johnson died in 1967 and Lemon sold the team a year later to hotel and trucking executive Bob Short, Short named himself general manager and hired Hall of Famer Ted Williams as manager. Although Williams had never coached or managed at any level of baseball, Williams kept them in contention for most of the season, their 86–76 record would be their only winning season in Washington. The success though was brief, as Short borrowed most of the $9.4 million he had used to pay for the team, as the Senators general manager, Short was forced to make many questionable trades to lower the debt and acquire amounts of the much-needed revenue. As a result, the team fell back into the American Leagues cellar position
3.
Houston Astros
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The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros are members of the American League West division in Major League Baseball, the Astros have played their home games at Minute Maid Park since 2000. The Astros were established as the Houston Colt. 45s and entered the National League in 1962 with the expansion New York Mets. The current name—reflecting Houstons role as the center of the U. S. space program—was adopted three years later, when they moved into the Astrodome, the worlds first domed sports stadium. The Astros played in the NL from 1962 to 2012 and they played in the West division from 1969 to 1993, and the Central division from 1994 to 2012. The Astros have played in one World Series in 2005 against the Chicago White Sox, from 1888 until 1961, Houstons professional baseball club was the minor league Houston Buffaloes. Although expansion from the National League eventually brought an MLB team to Texas in 1962, Houston officials had been making efforts to do so for years prior. There were four men responsible for bringing Major League Baseball to Houston, George Kirksey and Craig Cullinan. They formed the Houston Sports Association as their vehicle for attaining a big league franchise for the city of Houston and they called the new league the Continental League. Wanting to protect potential new markets, both existing leagues chose to expand from eight teams to ten, however, plans eventually fell through for the Houston franchise after the Houston Buffaloes owner, Marty Marion, could not come to an agreement with the HSA to sell the team. To make matters worse, the Continental League as a whole folded in August 1960, however, on October 17,1960, the National League granted an expansion franchise to the Houston Sports Association in which their team could begin play in the 1962 season. Eventually, the Houston Sports Association succeeded in purchasing the Houston Buffaloes, at this point majority-owned by William Hopkins, the Buffs played one last minor league season as the top farm team of the Chicago Cubs in 1961 before being succeeded by the citys NL club. The new Houston team was named the Colt. 45s after a Name The Team contest was won by William Irving Neder, the Colt.45 was well known as the gun that won the west. The colors selected were blue and orange. The first team was formed mostly through a draft after the 1961 season. The Colt. 45s and their cousins, the New York Mets. Many of those associated with the Houston Buffaloes organization were allowed by the ownership to continue in the major league, Manager Harry Craft, who had joined Houston in 1961, remained in the same position for the team until the end of the 1964 season. General manager Spec Richardson also continued with the organization as business manager, similarly, the radio broadcasting team remained with the new Houston major league franchise
4.
Montreal Expos
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The Montreal Expos were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball franchise located outside the United States and they played in the National League East Division from 1969 until 2004. Following the 2004 season, the relocated to Washington, D. C. Named after the Expo 67 Worlds Fair, the Expos originally played at Jarry Park Stadium before moving to Olympic Stadium in 1977, the Expos failed to post a winning record in any of their first ten seasons. The team won its division title in the strike-shortened 1981 season. The team was sold in 1991 by its majority, founding owner, Charles Bronfman, felipe Alou was promoted to the teams field manager in 1992, becoming MLBs first Dominican-born manager. He led the team to four winning seasons, including 1994, Alou became the Expos leader in games managed. The aftermath of the 1994 strike initiated a downward spiral as the Expos chose to sell off their best players, Major League Baseball purchased the team prior to the 2002 season after the club failed to secure funding for a new ballpark. In their final two seasons, the team played 22 home games each year at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On September 29,2004, MLB announced the franchise would relocate to Washington, D. C. for the 2005 season, the Expos posted an all-time record of 2,753 wins,2,943 losses and 4 ties during their 36 years in Montreal. Vladimir Guerrero led the franchise in both runs and batting average, and Steve Rogers in wins and strikeouts. Three pitchers threw four no-hitters, Bill Stoneman, Charlie Lea, and Dennis Martínez, professional baseball in Montreal dates back to 1890 when teams briefly played in the International Association. A second attempt at hosting a pro team failed in 1895, the Montreal Royals of the Eastern League were subsequently founded in 1897 and played 20 seasons. The Royals were revived in 1928 and were purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1939 to serve as one of their Triple-A affiliates, under Dodgers management, the Royals won seven International League championships and three Junior World Series titles between 1941 and 1958. In 1946, Jackie Robinson joined the Royals and led the team to a Junior World Series title in advance of his breaking baseballs colour barrier one year later. Almost immediately upon the Royals demise, Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau, on May 27,1968, National League president Warren Giles announced the league would add expansion teams in San Diego and Montreal at a cost of US$10 million each. With the franchise secured, Snyder built a group of six partners led by financier Jean-Louis Lévesque. Lévesque was originally tapped as chairman and the face of the ownership group since he was a francophone
5.
Minnesota Twins
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The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the American League Central division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area comprising Minneapolis and they played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome from 1982 to 2009. They played their game at the newly completed Target Field on April 12,2010. The team was founded in Washington, D. C. in 1901 as one of the eight teams of the American League. Manager Clark Griffith joined the team in 1912 and became the owner in 1920. The franchise remained under Griffith family ownership until 1984, in 1960, Major League Baseball granted the city of Minneapolis an expansion team. Washington owner Calvin Griffith, Clarks nephew and adopted son, requested that he be allowed to move his team to Minneapolis and instead give Washington the expansion team. Upon league approval, the moved to Minnesota after the 1960 season, setting up shop in Metropolitan Stadium. Success came quickly to the team in Minnesota, through the 2016 season, the franchise has won three World Series championships, and has fielded 18 American League batting champions. The Washington Senators spent the first decade of their existence finishing near the bottom of the American League standings and their fortunes began to improve with the arrival of 19-year-old pitcher, Walter Johnson, in 1907. Johnson blossomed in 1911 with 25 victories, although the Senators still finished the season in seventh place, in 1912, the Senators improved dramatically, as their pitching staff led the league in team earned run average and in strikeouts. Johnson won 33 games while teammate Bob Groom added another 24 wins to help the Senators finish the season in second place, the Senators continued to perform respectably in 1913 with Johnson posting a career-high 35 victories, as the team once again finished in second place. The Senators then fell into another period of decline for the next decade, the Senators faced John McGraws heavily favored New York Giants in the 1924 World Series. The two teams traded wins back and forth until the reached the seventh and deciding game. Two runners scored on the play, tying the score at three, an aging Walter Johnson then came in to pitch the ninth inning, and held the Giants scoreless into extra innings. In the bottom of the inning with Ruel at bat, he hit a high. The Giants catcher, Hank Gowdy, dropped his protective mask to field the ball but, failing to toss the mask aside, stumbled over it and dropped the ball, thus giving Ruel another chance to bat
6.
Chicago White Sox
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The Chicago White Sox is an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the American League Central division. The White Sox play their games at Guaranteed Rate Field. They are one of two league clubs in Chicago, the other is the Chicago Cubs, who are a member of the National League Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf. One of the American Leagues eight charter franchises, the Chicago team was established as a major baseball club in 1900. The club was called the Chicago White Stockings, but this was soon shortened to Chicago White Sox. The team played games at South Side Park before, in 1910. The White Sox won the 1906 World Series with a team dubbed the Hitless Wonders, and the 1917 World Series led by Eddie Cicotte, Eddie Collins. The 1919 World Series was marred by the Black Sox Scandal, in response, Major League Baseballs new Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned the players from Major League Baseball for life. In 1959, led by Early Wynn, Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio and manager Al Lopez and they won the AL pennant in 2005, and went on to win the World Series. The White Sox originated as the Sioux City Cornhuskers of the Western League, in 1894, Charles Comiskey bought the Cornhuskers and moved them to St. Paul, Minnesota, where they became the St. Paul Saints. In 1901, the Western League broke the National Agreement and became the new major league American League, the very first season in the American League ended with a White Stockings championship. However, that would be the end of the season as the World Series did not begin until 1903, the franchise, now known as the Chicago White Sox, made its first World Series appearance in 1906, beating the crosstown Cubs in six games. The White Sox would win a pennant and second World Series in 1917, beating the New York Giants in six games with help from stars Eddie Cicotte. The Sox were heavily favored in the 1919 World Series, huge bets on the Reds fueled speculation that the series had been fixed. This set the franchise back, as they did not win another pennant for 40 years. The White Sox did not finish in the half of the American League again until after club founder Charles Comiskey died and passed ownership of the club to his son
7.
Minor League Baseball
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All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses. Most are members of the organization known as Minor League Baseball. Several leagues, known as independent baseball leagues, do not have any links to Major League Baseball. Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball teams may enter into a PDC for a two- or four-year term. At the expiration of a PDC term, teams may renew their affiliation, or sign new PDCs with different clubs, though many relationships are renewed and endure for extended time periods. Minor League teams that are owned directly by the major league club do not have PDCs with each other and are not part of the reaffiliation shuffles that occur every other year, several more independent leagues operate in the United States and Canada. The earliest professional baseball association, the National Association of 1871 to 1875 and this system proved unworkable, however, as there was no way to ensure competitive balance, and financially unsound clubs often failed in midseason. This problem was solved in 1876 with the formation of the National League, with a membership which excluded less competitive. Professional clubs outside the National League responded by forming regional associations of their own, there was a series of ad hoc groupings, such as the New England Association of 1877 and the Eastern Championship Association of 1881. These were loose groups of independent clubs which agreed to play a series of games for a championship pennant, the first minor league is traditionally considered to be the Northwestern League of 1883 to 1884. Unlike the earlier minor associations, it was conceived as a permanent organization and it also, along with the National League and the American Association, was a party to the National Agreement of 1883. Included in this was the agreement to respect the reserve lists of clubs in each league, teams in the National League and the American Association could only reserve players who had been paid at least $1000. Northwest League teams could reserve players paid merely $750, implicitly establishing the division into major and minor leagues, over the next two decades, more minor leagues signed various versions of the National Agreement. Eventually, the minor leagues joined together to negotiate jointly, in the late 1890s, the Western League run by the fiery Ban Johnson decided to challenge the National Leagues position. Representatives of the different minor leagues met at the Leland Hotel in Chicago on September 5,1901, in response to the National–American battle, they agreed to form the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, called the NAPBL, or NA for short. The purpose of the NA at the time was to maintain the independence of the leagues involved, several did not sign the agreement and continued to work independently. Powers was made the first president of the NAPBL, whose offices were established in Auburn, in 1903, the conflict between the American and National Leagues ended in the National Agreement of 1903. The NAPBL became involved in the stages of the negotiations to develop rules for the acquisition of players from their leagues by the National
8.
Corpus Christi, Texas
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Corpus Christi, colloquially Corpus, is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U. S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it extends into Aransas, Kleberg. It is 130 miles southeast of San Antonio and its political boundaries encompass Nueces Bay and Corpus Christi Bay. Its zoned boundaries include small land parcels or water inlets of three neighboring counties, the citys population was estimated to be 320,434 in 2014, making it the eighth-most populous city in Texas. The Corpus Christi metropolitan area had an population of 442,600. It is also the hub of the six-county Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice Combined Statistical Area, the Port of Corpus Christi is the fifth-largest in the United States. The region is served by the Corpus Christi International Airport, the citys name means Body of Christ in Latin. The name was given to the settlement and surrounding bay by Spanish explorer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda in 1519, the citys nickname is Sparkling City by the Sea, particularly featured in tourist literature. Corpus Christi was founded in 1839 by Colonel Henry Lawrence Kinney and William P. Aubrey as Kinneys Trading Post and it was a small trading post that sold supplies to a Mexican revolutionary army camped about 25 mi west. In July 1845, U. S. troops commanded by General Zachary Taylor set up there in preparation for war with Mexico. About a year later, the settlement was named Corpus Christi and was incorporated on 9 September 1852, the Battle of Corpus Christi was fought between August 12 and August 18,1862, during the American Civil War. United States Navy forces blockading Texas fought a land and sea engagement with Confederate forces in and around Corpus Christi Bay. Union forces defeated Confederate States Navy ships operating in the area, the Port of Corpus Christi was opened in 1926, and the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station was commissioned in 1941. The 1919 Storm devastated the city, killing hundreds on September 14, only three structures survived the storm on North Beach. To protect the city, the seawall was built, the city also suffered damage from Hurricane Celia in 1970 and Hurricane Allen in 1980, but little damage from Hurricane Ike in 2008. In November 1873, seven Mexican shepherds were lynched by a mob near the city, in February 1929, the League of United Latin American Citizens was founded in Corpus Christi. This organization was created to battle racial discrimination against Hispanic people in the United States, since its founding, LULAC has grown and now has a national headquarters in Washington, D. C. In March 1949, the American GI Forum was founded in Corpus Christi, currently, AGIF focuses on veterans issues, education, and civil rights issues
9.
Calgary Cannons
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The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium, the Cannons displaced the Calgary Expos, who played in the rookie level Pioneer League from 1977 until 1984. The team was known as the Salt Lake City Gulls before being relocated to Calgary. Following the 2002 season, the moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and are now known as the Isotopes. The Cannons played 2,538 regular season games in Calgary, compiling a record of 1, 225–1,308. They qualified for the five times,1985,1987,1989, and 1991 as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. They reached the PCL Championship Series three times, in 1987,1991, and 1998, though never won a title. More than 400 Major League players wore a Cannons jersey, including Alex Rodriguez, Edgar Martínez, Danny Tartabull, of those,11 remain active in the majors as of 2011. Two players pitched no hitters with the Cannons, Frank Wills in 1985, in 1985, Tartabull led all professional baseball players with 43 home runs. Russ Parker had operated a rookie-level Pioneer League team, the Calgary Expos, in 1983, the opportunity to move up to AAA presented itself when the Salt Lake City Gulls were put up for sale. In December 1983, Parker purchased an option to buy the Gulls with the intention of moving the team to Calgary for the 1985 season, the Pacific Coast League approved the sale in May 1984, and reconstruction of Foothills Stadium began. More than 500 names were submitted in a name the team contest, five finalists were selected, Stallions, Outlaws, Stetsons, Chinooks and Cannons. The Cannons name was selected by a panel of media representatives. The name was unique, as at the time, no professional or collegiate team in North America used the name, the Cannons began play in 1985 as the AAA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Their first game was played April 11,1985 against the Phoenix Giants, the Cannons won 6–2, led by Danny Tartabulls home run, the first in Cannons history. Following a 6–2 opening road-trip, Calgarys home opener was scheduled for April 19 and it was snowed out, however, as were attempts to play the following two days. On their fourth attempt, the Cannons finally played their first home game on April 22 against the Tucson Toros, Parker threw the ceremonial first pitch out to Calgarys mayor, Ralph Klein. Led by Mickey Brantleys four-hit game, the Cannons won 7–6 to send the crowd of 4,313 who braved the near-freezing temperatures home happy, the Cannons were a success at the gate, drawing 272,322 fans in 63 openings
10.
Nashville Sounds
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The Nashville Sounds are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the association with the music industry. The team plays its games at First Tennessee Park which opened in 2015 and is partially located on the former site of the historic Sulphur Dell ballpark. The Sounds previously played at Herschel Greer Stadium from its opening in 1978 until the end of the 2014 season, established as an expansion team of the Double-A Southern League in 1978, the Sounds were replaced by a Triple-A American Association team in 1985. The Triple-A Sounds carried on the history of the Double-A team that preceded it, the Sounds later joined the PCL in 1998. The team has served as a club for seven major league franchises. A total of 26 managers have led the club and its more than 1,100 players, through the 2016 season, the team has played in 5,587 regular season games and compiled a win–loss record of 2, 877–2,710. The Sounds have reached the postseason on 14 occasions and they have won ten division titles, two conference titles, and three league championships. Most recently, they won the PCL Championship in 2005 as the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, the team has an overall postseason record of 42–41. The team fielded in 1980 was recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time, the 2006 team tied the record for the longest game in PCL history. Of the three nine-inning perfect games in the history of the PCL, two have been pitched by members of the Sounds, in 2016, Forbes listed the Sounds as the 19th-most valuable Minor League Baseball team with a value of $30.5 million. Nashvilles professional baseball history dates back to 1885, beginning with the Nashville Americans and they were followed by the Blues, Tigers, Seraphs, Centennials, and Vols. The city was without a baseball team for 14 years after the Double-A Vols ceased operations after their 1963 season. In 1978, the Nashville Sounds were added as a team in the Double-A Southern League. Fans responded well to the return of baseball to the city, President and part owner Larry Schmittou, head coach of the Vanderbilt University baseball team from 1968 to 1978, was instrumental in bringing professional baseball back to Nashville. Schmittous business philosophy revolved around earning profits not from ticket sales and this philosophy also involved promoting entertainment value, or fun, instead of promoting the baseball game. The franchise was recognized for its promotion efforts when it won the Larry MacPhail Award for outstanding minor league promotions in 1978,1980. The club played their games at a newly constructed facility, Herschel Greer Stadium
11.
2009 in baseball
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The following are the baseball events of the year 2009 throughout the world. Higher seed had home field advantage during Division Series and League Championship Series, the American League champion has home field advantage during the World Series as a result of the AL victory in the All-Star Game. G. Taylor Spink Award Tony Kubek will receive the Ford C, Commissioner Bud Selig greets viewers at the channels official inception. January 13 – Trevor Hoffman, the current all-time saves leader, january 21 – In his first year of arbitration eligibility, closer Jonathan Papelbon and the Boston Red Sox agree to a $6.25 million, one-year contract that avoids salary arbitration. Just one day after Bobby Jenks does the same, Papelbon easily surpasses Éric Gagnés previous major league mark of $5 million for a reliever with three years of service time, Francisco Rodríguez makes $3.775 million in his first year of arbitration. January 22 -Jeff Kent announces his retirement after 17 seasons and he hits more home runs than any other second baseman in major league history. January 25 – Three time All-Star Sean Casey announces his retirement after twelve seasons and he joins the MLB Network staff. February 3 Joe Torre & Tom Verduccis book, The Yankee Years hits book stores, the book chronicles Torres years as manager of the New York Yankees from 1996 to 2007. In the book, Joe Torre says he feels that general manager Brian Cashman betrays him in negotiations with the Yankees following the 2007 season, Óliver Pérez re-signs with the New York Mets with a three-year $36 million deal. February 4 The list of victims of Bernard Madoffs ponzi scheme is revealed, and includes Sandy Koufax and Sterling Equities Associates, the New York Mets ownership group. San Diego Padres slugger Adrian Gonzalez sets a Caribbean Series record with three runs in a game and Mexicos Venados de Mazatlán beats the Dominican Republics Tigres de Licey. Gonzalez has a two-run homer in the inning and a solo shot in the sixth & ninth innings. Forty-seven players hit two home runs in a Series game in its previous fifty editions, February 7 – Sports Illustrated reports that Alex Rodriguez tests positive for steroids in 2003. February 8 – Andruw Jones signs a minor league contract offer from the Texas Rangers. Jones deal pays him $500,000 if he makes the major league team and he also has the chance to make $1 million in incentives throughout the season. February 9 – Alex Rodriguez admits in an interview to ESPNs Peter Gammons that while with the Texas Rangers during the 2001–2003 seasons he uses performance-enhancing drugs. February 17 – Alex Rodriguez meets the press at George M. Steinbrenner Field to discuss his admission of having used performance-enhancing drugs to ESPNs Peter Gammons. Rodriguez claims that a cousin repeatedly injects him with drugs obtained over the counter in the Dominican Republic called Boli, a likely reference to Primobolan
12.
2010 in baseball
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The following are the baseball events of the year 2010 throughout the world. Higher seed had home field advantage during Division Series and League Championship Series, the National League champion has home field advantage during the World Series as a result of the NL victory in the All-Star Game. December 12, Last day for teams to offer 2011 contracts to unsigned players, Bill Madden received the J. G. Taylor Spink Award for excellence in writing. Jon Miller received the Ford C, frick Award for excellence in broadcasting. Encarnación is treated for facial injuries to the front and right side of his face after he is struck by a firecracker rocket near his jaw. He goes to a clinic in the Dominican Republic on the 1st, but is later transported to Miami. January 4 – The New York Mets announce the signing of Jason Bay to a four-year, $66 million contract. The two sides agree on the deal on December 29,2009, however, it is not official until after Bay passes his physical. January 5 Five time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson announces his retirement, Johnson is 303–166 over his 22-year career, with a 3.29 earned run average. His 4,875 career strikeouts are second only to Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, the St. Louis Cardinals re-sign outfielder Matt Holliday to a seven-year deal with an option for 2017, for a guaranteed $120 million. It is the richest contract in Cardinals history, january 7 – The Seattle Mariners acquire first baseman Casey Kotchman from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Bill Hall. January 11 21-year-old Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman signs with the Cincinnati Reds, in the evening, he addresses the situation further in an interview with Bob Costas on MLB Network. January 16 – The San Diego Padres acquire Scott Hairston and outfielder Aaron Cunningham from the Oakland Athletics for third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, two days later, the Padres reach an agreement with Jerry Hairston, Jr. on a one-year deal. The Hairstons become the set of brothers to play for the Padres. January 22 Oakland Athletics farmhand Grant Desme retires after a 30/302009 season in the minors, the New York Mets acquire former All-Star outfielder Gary Matthews, Jr. from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for reliever Brian Stokes and cash considerations. January 23 – Nolan Ryan and Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg complete the step of purchasing controlling interest in the Texas Rangers from Tom Hicks. The Dominicans become the first squad to qualify for the 2010 Caribbean Series, Leones del Caracas cruises past Navegantes del Magallanes, 7–2, in decisive Game 7 of the Venezuelan winter league championship to claim the title and earn a berth in the Caribbean Series. The Venezuelan team is led by Atlanta Braves outfielder Gregor Blanco, who hits.318 with a.538 OBP, Juan Delgadillo pitches 7 2⁄3 shutout innings to out duel San Diego Padres right-hander Walter Silva
