Well, I certainly hope that all are as excited about tomorrow as we are here @ Force HQ. We're anticipating a great environment & even better display of Force Baseball. The day starts @ 11am here @ Force Field House w/the boys each getting their turn in our new cage w/a little soft toss & live bp. We'll also be getting a few ground balls to limber up & long toss to loosen those Force cannons.
Feel free to bring your own drinks, lunch, snacks or whatever & join in the ambience. Lite snacks & drinks will be provided for players as we look to spend about an hour or more getting everybody through the cage & ready to roll. We should be finished by 12:15 @ the latest & roll together to the park for our 1st game @ 1pm.
Let's play ball!
Friday, August 31, 2007
This Date in Baseball
"I never heard of Gehrig before I came here. And I always thought Babe Ruth was a cartoon character. I really did. I mean, I wasn't born until 1961 and I grew up in Indiana." -DON MATTINGLY, Yankee first baseman (1982-95)
1915 At the Polo Grounds, Cubs' hurler Jim Lavender no-hits the Giants, 2-0.
1931 In his attempt to break Walter Johnson's consecutive game winning streak of 17 games, Lefty Grove loses as Browns' hurler Dick Coffman throws a three-hit shutout against the A's. Reserve Jimmy Moore, playing in place of the absent Al Simmons, misjudges a fly ball which leads to the decisive run and subsequently to Lefty's meltdown in the locker room.
1935 In the first no hitter thrown in Comiskey Park history, Vern Kennedy holds the Indians hitless and triples home three runs in a 5-0 White Sox win.
1937 At Navin Field, Rudy York belts his 17th and 18th homers of the month to set a major league record. The round-trippers help the Tigers maul the Senators,12-3.
1950 In front of 14,226 fans at Ebbets Field, Gil Hodges becomes the fourth major leaguer in the century to hit four home runs in one game as Brooklyn routs the Braves, 19-3. The Dodger first baseman also ties the major league record for total bases with 17.
1957 Minor league fireballer Steve Dalkowski strikes out 24 Bluefield Dodgers, but wildness (18 walks, four hit batters and six wild pitches) costs the New Britain, Connecticut native the game as Kingsport loses in Appalachian League action, 9-8.
1959 Sandy Koufax fans 18 Giants to set a National League mark in a 5-2 Dodger win.
1969 Morganna, a well endowed fan dressed in a mini dress, jumps onto the Atlanta Stadium field and kisses the batter Clete Boyer on the cheek. The Braves' third baseman then promptly ends a 1-for-17 slump with a RBI single and goes on 8-for-15 tear.
1990 Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr. become the first father and son to play in the same major league lineup.
1990 Refusing to part with Triple-A third baseman Scott Cooper to get Larry Andersen from the Astros for the stretch run, Red Sox general manager Lou Gorman trades the Eastern League's MVP Jeff Bagwell for the right-handed relief pitcher. The University of Hartford standout will go on to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award (1991) and will becomes the league's MVP the same year Andersen retires from the Phillies (1994) .
1992 The A's trade Jose Canseco to the Rangers for Ruben Sierra, Bobby Witt and Jeff Russell and an undisclosed amount of money.
1997 Andruw Jones's grand slam is the Braves' tenth of the season breaking the National League mark for bases-full home runs for a team in single season. Ironically the record is broken in an American League park as Atlanta defeats the Red Sox at Fenway.
1997 In front of a crowd of 55,707, Don Mattingly's uniform number 23 is added to the list of retired numbers on the wall at Yankee Stadium's Monument Park.
1999 Paul Byrd of the Phillies plunks Braves catcher Eddie Perez on the back precipitating a bench clearing brawl between the two already unfriendly ballclubs. As the battle rages on, the two instigators can be found together praying as the pitcher's prayer for forgiveness is overheard by the angry batter.
2000 The Red Sox trade two minor league pitchers to the Reds for Dante Bichette. The 36-year-old veteran outfielder will be the designated hitter for his new team.
2001 Due to the fact Little League World Series star pitcher Danny Almonte is 14 years old, not 12 as required by the organization's rules, the Raulindo Paulino All-Stars are stripped of all its wins. The team, which had captured the heart of the community, finished third in Williamsport and were given a parade in New York and honored before a game at Yankee Stadium.
2001 Former minor league catcher Lawrence 'Crash' Davis dies after a year long bout with cancer. The 82-year old was made famous by the 1982 movie Bull Durham.
2002 Losing their 13th consecutive game at Shea Stadium to Randy Wolf and the Phillies, 1-0, the Mets complete the worst month at home in National League history. The Amazins' join the Seattle Pilots (August-1969 ) and the Tigers (September-1996) as teams that have not won a home game in a calendar month with at least ten games.
2005 On the third pitch he sees in the bigs, Jeremy Hermida becomes only the second player to hit a grand slam in his first major-league at-bat. The Marlin rookie pinch hitter joins Phillies hurler Bill Duggleby who accomplished the same feat in 1898.
2006 With his major league leading 49th home run, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard establishes a new club record for home runs in a single season. Last year's Rookie of the Year fourth inning long ball at RFK Stadium put him ahead of Hall Famer Michael Schmidt who hit 48 dingers in 1980.
1915 At the Polo Grounds, Cubs' hurler Jim Lavender no-hits the Giants, 2-0.
1931 In his attempt to break Walter Johnson's consecutive game winning streak of 17 games, Lefty Grove loses as Browns' hurler Dick Coffman throws a three-hit shutout against the A's. Reserve Jimmy Moore, playing in place of the absent Al Simmons, misjudges a fly ball which leads to the decisive run and subsequently to Lefty's meltdown in the locker room.
1935 In the first no hitter thrown in Comiskey Park history, Vern Kennedy holds the Indians hitless and triples home three runs in a 5-0 White Sox win.
1937 At Navin Field, Rudy York belts his 17th and 18th homers of the month to set a major league record. The round-trippers help the Tigers maul the Senators,12-3.
1950 In front of 14,226 fans at Ebbets Field, Gil Hodges becomes the fourth major leaguer in the century to hit four home runs in one game as Brooklyn routs the Braves, 19-3. The Dodger first baseman also ties the major league record for total bases with 17.
1957 Minor league fireballer Steve Dalkowski strikes out 24 Bluefield Dodgers, but wildness (18 walks, four hit batters and six wild pitches) costs the New Britain, Connecticut native the game as Kingsport loses in Appalachian League action, 9-8.
1959 Sandy Koufax fans 18 Giants to set a National League mark in a 5-2 Dodger win.
1969 Morganna, a well endowed fan dressed in a mini dress, jumps onto the Atlanta Stadium field and kisses the batter Clete Boyer on the cheek. The Braves' third baseman then promptly ends a 1-for-17 slump with a RBI single and goes on 8-for-15 tear.
1990 Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr. become the first father and son to play in the same major league lineup.
1990 Refusing to part with Triple-A third baseman Scott Cooper to get Larry Andersen from the Astros for the stretch run, Red Sox general manager Lou Gorman trades the Eastern League's MVP Jeff Bagwell for the right-handed relief pitcher. The University of Hartford standout will go on to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award (1991) and will becomes the league's MVP the same year Andersen retires from the Phillies (1994) .
1992 The A's trade Jose Canseco to the Rangers for Ruben Sierra, Bobby Witt and Jeff Russell and an undisclosed amount of money.
1997 Andruw Jones's grand slam is the Braves' tenth of the season breaking the National League mark for bases-full home runs for a team in single season. Ironically the record is broken in an American League park as Atlanta defeats the Red Sox at Fenway.
1997 In front of a crowd of 55,707, Don Mattingly's uniform number 23 is added to the list of retired numbers on the wall at Yankee Stadium's Monument Park.
1999 Paul Byrd of the Phillies plunks Braves catcher Eddie Perez on the back precipitating a bench clearing brawl between the two already unfriendly ballclubs. As the battle rages on, the two instigators can be found together praying as the pitcher's prayer for forgiveness is overheard by the angry batter.
2000 The Red Sox trade two minor league pitchers to the Reds for Dante Bichette. The 36-year-old veteran outfielder will be the designated hitter for his new team.
2001 Due to the fact Little League World Series star pitcher Danny Almonte is 14 years old, not 12 as required by the organization's rules, the Raulindo Paulino All-Stars are stripped of all its wins. The team, which had captured the heart of the community, finished third in Williamsport and were given a parade in New York and honored before a game at Yankee Stadium.
2001 Former minor league catcher Lawrence 'Crash' Davis dies after a year long bout with cancer. The 82-year old was made famous by the 1982 movie Bull Durham.
2002 Losing their 13th consecutive game at Shea Stadium to Randy Wolf and the Phillies, 1-0, the Mets complete the worst month at home in National League history. The Amazins' join the Seattle Pilots (August-1969 ) and the Tigers (September-1996) as teams that have not won a home game in a calendar month with at least ten games.
2005 On the third pitch he sees in the bigs, Jeremy Hermida becomes only the second player to hit a grand slam in his first major-league at-bat. The Marlin rookie pinch hitter joins Phillies hurler Bill Duggleby who accomplished the same feat in 1898.
2006 With his major league leading 49th home run, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard establishes a new club record for home runs in a single season. Last year's Rookie of the Year fourth inning long ball at RFK Stadium put him ahead of Hall Famer Michael Schmidt who hit 48 dingers in 1980.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Practice Today!
PARA 5pm
Be there!
Last chance tune up before we head into battle this weekend!
We will be ready!
Be there!
Last chance tune up before we head into battle this weekend!
We will be ready!
This Date in Baseball
"Any time you can be mentioned with Joe DiMaggio in any sentence, especially in this rich tradition of the Yankees, it makes you feel very humble." - ALEX RODRIGUEZ, on becoming only the second right-handed batter in Yankees history to hit 40 homers.
1905 Making his major league debut, Ty Cobb doubles off Highlander's Jack Chesbro in a 5-3 Tiger victory at Detroit's Bennett Park.
1912 At Detroit's Navin Field, Browns' hurler Earl Hamilton no-hits the Tigers, 5-1.
1916 Dutch Leonard of the Red Sox no-hits the Browns at Fenway Park., 4-0.
1918 Yankee Tom Hughes pitches 9 1/3 of no-hit ball before giving up a single to Harry Niles. The Indians eventually win the game in the 11th, 5-0.
1918 With a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Giants beat the Dodgers, 1-0. The Polo Grounds contest takes just fifty-seven minutes to complete.
1939 Yankee freshman Atley Donald pitches a baseball at 94.7 miles per hours to establish a new record for a fast ball. ‘Swampy’ will win 12 straight games to set an AL record for most consecutive victories thrown by a rookie.
1984 Jim Rice grounds into his 33rd double play of the season establishing a new major league mark. The Red Sox outfielder breaks 1954 record set by another Boston flycatcher, Jackie Jensen.
1986 Yankee hurlers Tommy John (43) and Joe Niekro (41) becomes the first 40+ pitchers since 1933 to start both ends of a doubleheader. John loses 1-0 and Niekro pitches five innings for a 3-0 victory over the Mariners.
1998 Defeating the Marlins 7-5, the Reds hand Florida its 89th loss, the most ever for a reigning World Series champ. The Reds lost 88 games in 1991 after its Fall Classic sweep of the A's.
1998 Toms River becomes the first American team since 1993 to win the Little League World Series. Chris Cardone hits home runs in consecutive at-bats, including a game-deciding two-run shot beating Kashima, Japan,12-9.
1998 The Cardinals honor Jack Buck with a new statue in Buck's likeness. The Hall of Fame broadcaster began announcing Cardinal's games in 1954.
1999 At the Astrodome, Edgardo Alfonzo becomes the first player in the Mets 38-year history to go 6-for-6 scoring six times and drives in five runs. The second baseman hits three homers, two singles and a double for team-record 16 total bases as New York routs Houston, 17-1.
2000 On a night when every player in the Astros' starting lineup gets a hit, reserve catcher Tony Eusebio's hitting streak ends at 24 games establishing a new Houston team record.
2000 With the exception of hitting his first batter and giving up an opposite field leadoff single in the ninth, Pedro Martinez is nearly perfect in Boston's win over the Devil Rays, 8-0. The brawl-filled contest features five fights with eight Devil Rays (five players, the manager and two coaches) being ejected and Carl Everett needing a single to hit for the cycle but homers for the second time.
2000 In a 9-4 comeback victory over the Blue Jays, Angel outfielder Darin Erstad goes 3-for-5 reaching the 200-hit plateau quicker than any other player in 65 years.
2000 As Braves come to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning trailing the Reds, 4-2, a power spike causes most of the lights to go out at Turner Field causing a 12-minute delay. As the Atlanta crowd waits for play to resume it is treated to a rendition of the song, "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia".
2000 Earning his 1,600th victory, Braves' manager Bobby Cox passes former Dodger skipper, Tommy Lasorda, on the career list for most managerial victories. His 5-2 victory over the Reds puts him 14th on the all-time list.
2002 After marathon negotiation sessions to avoid a players' strike just hours away, Bud Selig announces the players union and owners have reached a settlement on a new four-year CBA without the need of a work stoppage. The new agreement, called 'historic' by the commissioner, gives the owners the economic restraints they wanted as the players are assured no teams will be contracted until 2007 season with a revenue sharing plan will gradually be implemented during the span of the contract.
2005 In the long tradition of Bronx Bombers, Alex Rodriguez becomes only the second right-handed batter in Yankees history to hit 40 homers in a season. The Yankee’s third baseman joins Joe DiMaggio, who hit 46 homers in 1937, making it the only time ‘Joltin’ Joe’ reached the 40 mark.
2006 In an effort to bolster their starting rotation as they pursue the NL wild card, the Padres obtain home town favorite, southpaw David Wells from the Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The 43-ear old 'Boomer', who had played for San Diego in 2004, posted a 2-3 with a 4.98 ERA during an injury-plagued (knee) campaign in Beantown.
1905 Making his major league debut, Ty Cobb doubles off Highlander's Jack Chesbro in a 5-3 Tiger victory at Detroit's Bennett Park.
1912 At Detroit's Navin Field, Browns' hurler Earl Hamilton no-hits the Tigers, 5-1.
1916 Dutch Leonard of the Red Sox no-hits the Browns at Fenway Park., 4-0.
1918 Yankee Tom Hughes pitches 9 1/3 of no-hit ball before giving up a single to Harry Niles. The Indians eventually win the game in the 11th, 5-0.
1918 With a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Giants beat the Dodgers, 1-0. The Polo Grounds contest takes just fifty-seven minutes to complete.
1939 Yankee freshman Atley Donald pitches a baseball at 94.7 miles per hours to establish a new record for a fast ball. ‘Swampy’ will win 12 straight games to set an AL record for most consecutive victories thrown by a rookie.
1984 Jim Rice grounds into his 33rd double play of the season establishing a new major league mark. The Red Sox outfielder breaks 1954 record set by another Boston flycatcher, Jackie Jensen.
1986 Yankee hurlers Tommy John (43) and Joe Niekro (41) becomes the first 40+ pitchers since 1933 to start both ends of a doubleheader. John loses 1-0 and Niekro pitches five innings for a 3-0 victory over the Mariners.
1998 Defeating the Marlins 7-5, the Reds hand Florida its 89th loss, the most ever for a reigning World Series champ. The Reds lost 88 games in 1991 after its Fall Classic sweep of the A's.
1998 Toms River becomes the first American team since 1993 to win the Little League World Series. Chris Cardone hits home runs in consecutive at-bats, including a game-deciding two-run shot beating Kashima, Japan,12-9.
1998 The Cardinals honor Jack Buck with a new statue in Buck's likeness. The Hall of Fame broadcaster began announcing Cardinal's games in 1954.
1999 At the Astrodome, Edgardo Alfonzo becomes the first player in the Mets 38-year history to go 6-for-6 scoring six times and drives in five runs. The second baseman hits three homers, two singles and a double for team-record 16 total bases as New York routs Houston, 17-1.
2000 On a night when every player in the Astros' starting lineup gets a hit, reserve catcher Tony Eusebio's hitting streak ends at 24 games establishing a new Houston team record.
2000 With the exception of hitting his first batter and giving up an opposite field leadoff single in the ninth, Pedro Martinez is nearly perfect in Boston's win over the Devil Rays, 8-0. The brawl-filled contest features five fights with eight Devil Rays (five players, the manager and two coaches) being ejected and Carl Everett needing a single to hit for the cycle but homers for the second time.
2000 In a 9-4 comeback victory over the Blue Jays, Angel outfielder Darin Erstad goes 3-for-5 reaching the 200-hit plateau quicker than any other player in 65 years.
2000 As Braves come to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning trailing the Reds, 4-2, a power spike causes most of the lights to go out at Turner Field causing a 12-minute delay. As the Atlanta crowd waits for play to resume it is treated to a rendition of the song, "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia".
2000 Earning his 1,600th victory, Braves' manager Bobby Cox passes former Dodger skipper, Tommy Lasorda, on the career list for most managerial victories. His 5-2 victory over the Reds puts him 14th on the all-time list.
2002 After marathon negotiation sessions to avoid a players' strike just hours away, Bud Selig announces the players union and owners have reached a settlement on a new four-year CBA without the need of a work stoppage. The new agreement, called 'historic' by the commissioner, gives the owners the economic restraints they wanted as the players are assured no teams will be contracted until 2007 season with a revenue sharing plan will gradually be implemented during the span of the contract.
2005 In the long tradition of Bronx Bombers, Alex Rodriguez becomes only the second right-handed batter in Yankees history to hit 40 homers in a season. The Yankee’s third baseman joins Joe DiMaggio, who hit 46 homers in 1937, making it the only time ‘Joltin’ Joe’ reached the 40 mark.
2006 In an effort to bolster their starting rotation as they pursue the NL wild card, the Padres obtain home town favorite, southpaw David Wells from the Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The 43-ear old 'Boomer', who had played for San Diego in 2004, posted a 2-3 with a 4.98 ERA during an injury-plagued (knee) campaign in Beantown.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
This Week in Force Fitness
With a weekend full of ball ahead it is important to get your child ready.
Start out with making sure that your child gets plenty of rest.
Even though it is the weekend keep his nightly schedule on target just like you do with school. Instead of allowing him to stay up two hours later make it just 30 minutes later.
Rest is key in a weekend full of physical activity.
Make sure your child gets well balanced meals and snacks.
Remember that foods high in fat cause us to feel a bit sluggish and tired so steer away from fast food if at all possible. If you find yourself in a bind and need to get something on the run choose a place like subway that offers good sandwiches, fruit, and salads. Places like subway offer good nutrtional options for both you and your child.
Keep in mind that with the heat it is important to be hydrated. Drink plenty of clear fluids like water. Stay away from soda which promotes dehydration. Make sure your child drinks before the games, during the games and after the games. Make sure you drink those fluids too. No parents passing out in the stands please!
Making sure your child is balanced in all these areas provides your child an opportunity to do his best both on and off the field.
Start out with making sure that your child gets plenty of rest.
Even though it is the weekend keep his nightly schedule on target just like you do with school. Instead of allowing him to stay up two hours later make it just 30 minutes later.
Rest is key in a weekend full of physical activity.
Make sure your child gets well balanced meals and snacks.
Remember that foods high in fat cause us to feel a bit sluggish and tired so steer away from fast food if at all possible. If you find yourself in a bind and need to get something on the run choose a place like subway that offers good sandwiches, fruit, and salads. Places like subway offer good nutrtional options for both you and your child.
Keep in mind that with the heat it is important to be hydrated. Drink plenty of clear fluids like water. Stay away from soda which promotes dehydration. Make sure your child drinks before the games, during the games and after the games. Make sure you drink those fluids too. No parents passing out in the stands please!
Making sure your child is balanced in all these areas provides your child an opportunity to do his best both on and off the field.
Faces of the Force
Coach Lee
Favorite food: rib-eye steak
Favorite Tv Show: Scrubs
Favorite Song: Boys of Summer by Don Henley
Favorite thing to do, not including baseball: Hang w/the fam, riding bikes, reading books & just enjoying each other's company
What did you want to be before you grew up? Ballplayer
Favorite MLB team: St. Louis Cardinals
Favorite MLB player: Albert Pujols
Best part about being apart of Force Baseball? Sharing ideals & principles w/like-minded men whose sole purpose is to teach the game the right way while remaining focused on raising up responsible young men
What inspires you to coach? I'm continually inspired by a shared desire & passion for a game that so closely resembles life & all the lessons it provides, not only to our little 1's, but to us as coaches & as parents. Principles that we learn here apply to the entirety of our existence if we would just slow ourselves long enough to learn. I cherish the opportunity to mold men from these impressionable boys & would hope that they take more w/them away from this season than how to hit or throw a baseball.
What's the most important thing for padre players to learn from you? It's my prayer that these boys learn how to carry & handle themselves in the face of adversity that not only the game presents, but life does & will in all of our futures. We all long for success, but I would hope that proper perspective would give the true definition of what that is. We all need constant reminder's of what's true, important & ever-lasting in life, just as we pass thru it much akin to the passing innings of a ballgame.
This Date in Baseball
"If you aim to steal thirty to forty bases a year, you do it by surprising the other side. But if your goal is fifty to one hundred bases, the element of surprise doesn't matter. You go even though they know you're going to go. Then each steal becomes a contest, matching your skills against theirs." -LOU BROCK, Cardinal outfielder (1964-79)
1934 Tiger hurler Schoolboy Rowe, after sixteen consecutive victories, finally loses. The A's chase him after seven innings in a 13-5 final.
1948 In St. Louis, Jackie Robinson hits for the cycle, drives in two runs, scores three times and steals a base helping the Dodgers to beat the Cardinals at Sportsman's Park, 12-7.
1965 Giants centerfielder Willie Mays breaks Ralph Kiner record for home runs in the month of August when the 'Say Hey Kid' connects for his 17th round tripper in an 8-3 victory over the New York. The former Pirate outfielder, now a broadcaster for the Mets on WHN radio and WOR-TV, calls the round tripper which breaks his record.
1966 At Candlestick Park, the Giants' home in San Francisco, the Beatles play their last concert. The 'Fab Four' will never perform in public again.
1966 Getting the Cubs’ 4-2 win in relief, Robin Roberts becomes the first and only pitcher to beat the Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves. The future Hall of Famer gains his third career big league victory against the Boston Braves on Independence Day in 1948.
1972 In a 3-0 victory, Giants right-hander Jim Barr retires the first 20 Cardinals he faces and in his last game he retired the last 21 players giving him a major league record of 41 consecutive outs.
1977 After four seasons and 1,382 major league at-bats, Duane Kuiper hits his first and only homer. The Indian's second baseman will come to bat 3,379 times in his 12 year career.
1977 At Jack Murphy Stadium, 39-year old Cardinals outfielder Lou Brock steals two bases breaking the 49-year-old career stolen bases record with his 893rd swipe. The Georgia Peach had established the mark in 1928 as member of the Philadelphia A's at the age of 41.
1985 Don Baylor of the Yankees is hit by a pitch for the 190th time breaking the American League record established by Minnie Minoso.
1998 Derek Jeter hits his 17th home run of the season to establish a new mark for Yankee shortstops. The infielder also scores four times in a 11-6 victory over the Mariners.
2001 The Cardinals score two runs on a strikeout when runners, who are breaking from first and second, score after pinch-hitter Bobby Bonilla strikes out throwing his bat down the third-base line causing Cardinal third baseman Phil Nevin to duck to avoid being hit by the flying lumber. At the same time, catcher Ben Davis' throw, attempting to cut down the runner at an unmanned third base, goes into left field which allows Edgar Renteria to score from second and Eli Marrero also tallies from first as left fielder Rickey Henderson misplays the ball.
2002 At Milwaukee's Miller Park, Mark Bellhorn becomes the first National Leaguer and joins Carlos Baerga as the only other switch-hitter to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning. The Cub infielder connects off southpaw Andrew Lorraine to start Chicago's 10-run fourth-inning and then goes deep again with a three run homer with two outs off Jose Cabrera.
2002 To show their displeasure about tomorrow's impending strike, fans at Devil Ray-Angel game begin throwing foul balls back onto the field at Edison Field and over a100 people are ejected for throwing trash. New words are added to the traditional seventh-inning rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as many of the fans in attendance begin to chant, "Don't strike! Don't strike! Don't strike!".
asp
2004 At Toronto's SkyDome, Blue Jays broadcaster Tom Cheek joins former players George Bell, Joe Carter and Tony Fernandez, Dave Stieb, former manager Cito Gaston and former general manager Pat Gillick as the seventh member of the club's Level of Excellence. The recipient of the team’s highest award for individual achievement, which comes as an emotional surprise for play-by-play announcer, called 4,306 consecutive regular season games, and another 41 during the postseason during the first 27 1/2 seasons of the franchise’s existence.
1934 Tiger hurler Schoolboy Rowe, after sixteen consecutive victories, finally loses. The A's chase him after seven innings in a 13-5 final.
1948 In St. Louis, Jackie Robinson hits for the cycle, drives in two runs, scores three times and steals a base helping the Dodgers to beat the Cardinals at Sportsman's Park, 12-7.
1965 Giants centerfielder Willie Mays breaks Ralph Kiner record for home runs in the month of August when the 'Say Hey Kid' connects for his 17th round tripper in an 8-3 victory over the New York. The former Pirate outfielder, now a broadcaster for the Mets on WHN radio and WOR-TV, calls the round tripper which breaks his record.
1966 At Candlestick Park, the Giants' home in San Francisco, the Beatles play their last concert. The 'Fab Four' will never perform in public again.
1966 Getting the Cubs’ 4-2 win in relief, Robin Roberts becomes the first and only pitcher to beat the Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves. The future Hall of Famer gains his third career big league victory against the Boston Braves on Independence Day in 1948.
1972 In a 3-0 victory, Giants right-hander Jim Barr retires the first 20 Cardinals he faces and in his last game he retired the last 21 players giving him a major league record of 41 consecutive outs.
1977 After four seasons and 1,382 major league at-bats, Duane Kuiper hits his first and only homer. The Indian's second baseman will come to bat 3,379 times in his 12 year career.
1977 At Jack Murphy Stadium, 39-year old Cardinals outfielder Lou Brock steals two bases breaking the 49-year-old career stolen bases record with his 893rd swipe. The Georgia Peach had established the mark in 1928 as member of the Philadelphia A's at the age of 41.
1985 Don Baylor of the Yankees is hit by a pitch for the 190th time breaking the American League record established by Minnie Minoso.
1998 Derek Jeter hits his 17th home run of the season to establish a new mark for Yankee shortstops. The infielder also scores four times in a 11-6 victory over the Mariners.
2001 The Cardinals score two runs on a strikeout when runners, who are breaking from first and second, score after pinch-hitter Bobby Bonilla strikes out throwing his bat down the third-base line causing Cardinal third baseman Phil Nevin to duck to avoid being hit by the flying lumber. At the same time, catcher Ben Davis' throw, attempting to cut down the runner at an unmanned third base, goes into left field which allows Edgar Renteria to score from second and Eli Marrero also tallies from first as left fielder Rickey Henderson misplays the ball.
2002 At Milwaukee's Miller Park, Mark Bellhorn becomes the first National Leaguer and joins Carlos Baerga as the only other switch-hitter to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning. The Cub infielder connects off southpaw Andrew Lorraine to start Chicago's 10-run fourth-inning and then goes deep again with a three run homer with two outs off Jose Cabrera.
2002 To show their displeasure about tomorrow's impending strike, fans at Devil Ray-Angel game begin throwing foul balls back onto the field at Edison Field and over a100 people are ejected for throwing trash. New words are added to the traditional seventh-inning rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as many of the fans in attendance begin to chant, "Don't strike! Don't strike! Don't strike!".
asp
2004 At Toronto's SkyDome, Blue Jays broadcaster Tom Cheek joins former players George Bell, Joe Carter and Tony Fernandez, Dave Stieb, former manager Cito Gaston and former general manager Pat Gillick as the seventh member of the club's Level of Excellence. The recipient of the team’s highest award for individual achievement, which comes as an emotional surprise for play-by-play announcer, called 4,306 consecutive regular season games, and another 41 during the postseason during the first 27 1/2 seasons of the franchise’s existence.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Faces of the Force
Coach Steve
Favorite food: Lasagna
Favorite Tv Show: Lost / Brothers and Sisters
Favorite Song: Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins
Favorite thing to do, not including baseball: Spending quality time with family
What did you want to be before you grew up? Fighter Pilot
Favorite MLB team: Cincinnati Reds
Favorite MLB player: Johnny Bench / Barry Larkin
Best part about being apart of Force Baseball? Being "Dedicated" to do our best
What inspires you to coach? Being involved with my son, being around my friends during baseball season
What's the most important thing for padre players to learn from you: Nothing fancy, stick to the basics, at home, at school, at play and on the field.
Little League
For those of you who did not get a chance to read the morning newspaper, the following letter was written into Annie's mailbox. It is worth reading.
Dear Annie:
We just finished up another Little League baseball season, and I feel the usual mixture of relief and regret. Our boys have participated in ball for the past 10 years, and we have witnessed increasingly aggressive and inappropriate behavior. I wonder if we are serving our children well by having them participate in this activity.
Many of the parents and coaches harass and intimidate the volunteer umpires and base coaches, many of whom are young kids themselves. I have seen countless kids reduced to tears by enraged parents.
People need to consider what they are teaching kids. They know if our actions match what we claim our values are. Let's start cheering all the players, not just the ones on our team. Help kids learn that mistakes are part of the game. Model how to be gracious in victory and in defeat. Remember that kids learn as much , if not more from losing. Let's give youth sports back to the kids. - sports mom
Dear Sports Mom:
Your letter reminded us of one of our favorite poems, which every coach and sports parent should keep on the refrigerator: He is Just a Little Boy By Chaplain Bob Fox,
"The old Bluebird"
He stands at the plate with his heart pounding fast.
The bases are loaded, the die has been cast.
Mom and Dad cannot help him, he stands all alone.
A hit at this moment would send his team home.
The ball meets the plate, he swings and he misses.
There's a groan from the crowd, with some boos and some hisses.
A thoughtless voice cries, "Strike out the bum."
Tears fill his eyes, the game's no longer fun.
So open your heart and give him a break,
For it's moments like this, a man you can make.
Please keep him in mind, when you hear someone forget,
He is just a little boy, and not a man yet.
Dear Annie:
We just finished up another Little League baseball season, and I feel the usual mixture of relief and regret. Our boys have participated in ball for the past 10 years, and we have witnessed increasingly aggressive and inappropriate behavior. I wonder if we are serving our children well by having them participate in this activity.
Many of the parents and coaches harass and intimidate the volunteer umpires and base coaches, many of whom are young kids themselves. I have seen countless kids reduced to tears by enraged parents.
People need to consider what they are teaching kids. They know if our actions match what we claim our values are. Let's start cheering all the players, not just the ones on our team. Help kids learn that mistakes are part of the game. Model how to be gracious in victory and in defeat. Remember that kids learn as much , if not more from losing. Let's give youth sports back to the kids. - sports mom
Dear Sports Mom:
Your letter reminded us of one of our favorite poems, which every coach and sports parent should keep on the refrigerator: He is Just a Little Boy By Chaplain Bob Fox,
"The old Bluebird"
He stands at the plate with his heart pounding fast.
The bases are loaded, the die has been cast.
Mom and Dad cannot help him, he stands all alone.
A hit at this moment would send his team home.
The ball meets the plate, he swings and he misses.
There's a groan from the crowd, with some boos and some hisses.
A thoughtless voice cries, "Strike out the bum."
Tears fill his eyes, the game's no longer fun.
So open your heart and give him a break,
For it's moments like this, a man you can make.
Please keep him in mind, when you hear someone forget,
He is just a little boy, and not a man yet.
This Date in Baseball
"The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws." -RICK WISE, Major league pitcher (1964-82)
1884 New York Gotham pitcher Mickey Welch strikes out the first nine Cleveland Blues hitters to face him establishing a major league record.
1926 Emil Lessen pitches and wins two complete games against the Red Sox, 6-1 and 5-1. The Indians' pitcher does not strike out any batters during his doubleheader sweep.
1932 Due to the anticipation of an eclipse, the Red Sox complete a game several days earlier than scheduled with the Indians and beat the Tribe in 11 innings, 4-3. Three days later, Fenway goes dark for twenty minutes during the solar event.
1951 The Pirates end the Giants' 16-game winning streak defeating New York, 2-0. Due to the consecutive victories, Leo Durocher and his club were able to narrow the Dodgers lead from 13.5 to six games.
1971 Phillies' pitcher Rick Wise hits two home runs, including a grand slam, en route to his 7-3 defeat of the Giants. Five weeks earlier, Wise also hit two round-trippers against Reds and no-hit the team on the same day, 4-0.
1977 Steve Garvey hits three doubles and two home runs (including a grand slam) in five at-bats as the Los Angeles routs the Cardinals, 11-0. In hi five at bats, the Dodger first baseman compiles 14 total bases.
1977 In a game the Orioles win, 6-1, Angel hurler Nolan Ryan strikes 11 batters to reach the 300 strikeout season mark for the fifth time in his career.
1990 Ryne Sandberg homers to become the first second baseman to hit 30 home runs in consecutive seasons as the Cubs beat the Astros, 5-2.
1992 In a 22-2 rout, the Blue Jays pitching staff yields 31 hits, which 22 are singles, to help the Brewers set an American League record.
2000 The players' association has exercised its option to extend the collective bargaining agreement ensuring labor peace through October 31, 2001. The expected move comes as no surprise as the players appear to be happy with the November 1996 deal, but the owners have expressed concerns the present CBA has widened the talent gap between the high and low-revenue markets due to escalating salaries.
2001 Alex Rodriguez becomes the ninth player, and the second shortstop, in major league history to hit 40 home runs in four consecutive seasons. The first shortstop to reach the plateau was Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, who accomplished the feat from 1957-60 for the Cubs.
2003 Jose Reyes becomes the youngest player in major league history to hit a home run from each side of the plate. The 20-year old shortstop accounts for all the Mets runs, hitting a solo shot left off Mike Hampton in fifth inning and a two-run dinger lefty off Trey Hodges in the ninth, as New York beats the Braves, 3-1.
2005 Down three runs in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Hawaii stages an improbable comeback tying the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning to force only the third extra-inning championship game, and the first since 1971. The Ewa Beach bunch beats the Caribbean champs, 7-6, as catcher Michael Memea hits a walk off homer in the bottom of the 7th inning.
1884 New York Gotham pitcher Mickey Welch strikes out the first nine Cleveland Blues hitters to face him establishing a major league record.
1926 Emil Lessen pitches and wins two complete games against the Red Sox, 6-1 and 5-1. The Indians' pitcher does not strike out any batters during his doubleheader sweep.
1932 Due to the anticipation of an eclipse, the Red Sox complete a game several days earlier than scheduled with the Indians and beat the Tribe in 11 innings, 4-3. Three days later, Fenway goes dark for twenty minutes during the solar event.
1951 The Pirates end the Giants' 16-game winning streak defeating New York, 2-0. Due to the consecutive victories, Leo Durocher and his club were able to narrow the Dodgers lead from 13.5 to six games.
1971 Phillies' pitcher Rick Wise hits two home runs, including a grand slam, en route to his 7-3 defeat of the Giants. Five weeks earlier, Wise also hit two round-trippers against Reds and no-hit the team on the same day, 4-0.
1977 Steve Garvey hits three doubles and two home runs (including a grand slam) in five at-bats as the Los Angeles routs the Cardinals, 11-0. In hi five at bats, the Dodger first baseman compiles 14 total bases.
1977 In a game the Orioles win, 6-1, Angel hurler Nolan Ryan strikes 11 batters to reach the 300 strikeout season mark for the fifth time in his career.
1990 Ryne Sandberg homers to become the first second baseman to hit 30 home runs in consecutive seasons as the Cubs beat the Astros, 5-2.
1992 In a 22-2 rout, the Blue Jays pitching staff yields 31 hits, which 22 are singles, to help the Brewers set an American League record.
2000 The players' association has exercised its option to extend the collective bargaining agreement ensuring labor peace through October 31, 2001. The expected move comes as no surprise as the players appear to be happy with the November 1996 deal, but the owners have expressed concerns the present CBA has widened the talent gap between the high and low-revenue markets due to escalating salaries.
2001 Alex Rodriguez becomes the ninth player, and the second shortstop, in major league history to hit 40 home runs in four consecutive seasons. The first shortstop to reach the plateau was Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, who accomplished the feat from 1957-60 for the Cubs.
2003 Jose Reyes becomes the youngest player in major league history to hit a home run from each side of the plate. The 20-year old shortstop accounts for all the Mets runs, hitting a solo shot left off Mike Hampton in fifth inning and a two-run dinger lefty off Trey Hodges in the ninth, as New York beats the Braves, 3-1.
2005 Down three runs in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Hawaii stages an improbable comeback tying the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning to force only the third extra-inning championship game, and the first since 1971. The Ewa Beach bunch beats the Caribbean champs, 7-6, as catcher Michael Memea hits a walk off homer in the bottom of the 7th inning.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Faces of the Force
Coach Israel
Favorite food: Steak w/portabello mushrooms
Favorite TV show: The Soprano's
Favorite song: Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynryd
Favorite thing to do, not including baseball: Hang out at the beach
What did you want to be before you grew up? I simply wanted to be a ballplayer. (Basketball or Baseball)
Favorite MLB team: San Diego Padres
Favorite MLB player: Khalil Green
Best part about being apart of Force Baseball? Seeing kids, parents and coaches come together and share something special that we can always look back on and be proud that we were part of it.
What inspires you to coach? There are many things that inspire me to coach. One thing that inspires me is the opportunity I have to share my passion and love for the game of baseball with these boys, one of them being my son. And having this inspires me everyday to give not only my son, but all of these boys the best opportunity possible to succeed in the game of baseball.
What's the most important thing for Force players to learn from you? The most important thing these players can learn from me is the drive and the confidence to be the best you can be in everything you do, no matter what may stand in your way.
This Date in Baseball
"I don't want to be one of those great players who never made the Series" -RICKEY HENDERSON, All-time career stolen base leader
1897 Future Hall of Fame catcher Senator Roger Bresnahan makes his major league debut as a pitcher shutting out the Browns, 3-0.
1911 At Comiskey Park, Chicago hurler Ed Walsh, Sr. no-hits the Red Sox, 5-0. The future Hall of Famer's son, Edward Arthur, will also pitch for the White Sox from 1928-1932.
1937 Dodger right-hander Fred Frankhouse tosses a rained shorten (8 2/3 innings) no-hitter beating the Reds, 5-0.
1938 In the first game of a twin bill at Yankee Stadium, Joe DiMaggio hits three consecutive triples. His offensive outburst helps the Bronx Bombers edge the Indians, 8-7.
1938 Monte Pearson becomes the first pitcher to throw a no hitter in Yankee Stadium. Facing only 27 batters, thanks to two double plays, he beats his former team, the Indians, 13-0 for his 10th consecutive victory.
1941 Beating the Braves 6-4, Charlie Root, best known for giving up Babe Ruth's 'called' home run, becomes the first pitcher to win 200 games in a Cub uniform.
1946 At Owners' Meeting, a committee formed to study integration, which includes Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey, delivers its secretive report defending the covert color barrier which exists in professional baseball. The absurd reasons given why blacks shouldn't be allow to play in the big leagues include an absence of skills due to inferior training and lack of fundamentals as well as the need to respect existing Negro League contracts, but another lesser known motivation may have been profit as revealed later in the report, “The Negro leagues rent their parks in many cities from clubs in Organized Baseball (and) Club owners in the major leagues are reluctant to give up revenues amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars every year" and the fear white fans would be driven away if black players attracted more minorities to the ballpark.
1951 Scoring all the Phillies' runs in the victory over the Reds, Del Wilber hits three solo homers making it the first time in major league history a player has accounted for all the runs in 3-0 game with home runs. The 32-year old catcher will only hit a total of 19 homers during his major league career.
1955 In his second big league start, bonus baby Sandy Koufax two-hits the Reds at Ebbets Field, 7-0. Showing his future dominance of the 1960’s, the southpaw strikes out 14 Cincinnati batters.
1974 At Shea Stadium, Benny Ayala becomes the first National Leaguer in 13 years to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat. The Met rookie goes deep off Astros' hurler Tom Griffin in New York's 4-2 win.
1977 At Yankee Stadium, Rangers Bump Wills and Toby Harrah hit back-to-back inside-the-park on consecutive pitches. Texas wins the game, 8-2.
1978 By hitting his 200th home run, Reds' second baseman Joe Morgan becomes the first major leaguer to hit 200 homers as well as steal 500 bases.
1982 In the 5-4 loss to the Brewers, A's Rickey Henderson breaks Lou Brock's 1974 single season record of 118 stolen bases. By stealing a total of four bases Rickey ends the day with 122 and will finish the season with 130.
1986 With a most unusual game-ending double play, the Mets beat Padres in the 11th, 6-5. Knocked on his back tagging out Gary Templeton trying to score on Tim Flannery's single to center, John Gibbons, from a prone position, throws a strike to Howard Johnson who tags out Flannery trying to get to third completing the twin killing (8-2-5).
1997 In honor of first baseman Jim Thome's birthday, the Indians begin pulling up their socks to just below the knees. The Tribe will win 17 of 27 games en route to clinching American League East flag while sporting this new look.
2001 In the Nippon Ham Fighters-Fukuoka Daiei Hawks contest, Michihiro Ogasawara doubles and tallies on Yukio Tanaka's single breaking a 51-year Japanese record by scoring a run in 17 consecutive games. Indian Kenny Lofton (2000) and Yankee Red Rolfe (1939) share the major league record of 18 straight games.
2001 With his 17th dinger this month, Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa ties the National League record for August homers established by Willie Mays in 1965. Tiger Rudy York set the major league mark going yard 18 times in the eighth month of 1937.
2005 Jeff Kent becomes the first player to hit 300 homers as a second baseman. The Dodger infielder, who has surpassed Ryne Sandberg’s total of 277 last September, is the major league leader at this position with Joe Gordon holding the American League record with 246 round-trippers.
2005 After losing no-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning against the Yomiuri Giants earlier in the season, Fumiya Nishiguchi (16-4) sees his perfect game against the expansion Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles go into extra innings. The Seibu Lions right-hander gives up a hit and has to settle for a 10-inning complete game shutout.
1897 Future Hall of Fame catcher Senator Roger Bresnahan makes his major league debut as a pitcher shutting out the Browns, 3-0.
1911 At Comiskey Park, Chicago hurler Ed Walsh, Sr. no-hits the Red Sox, 5-0. The future Hall of Famer's son, Edward Arthur, will also pitch for the White Sox from 1928-1932.
1937 Dodger right-hander Fred Frankhouse tosses a rained shorten (8 2/3 innings) no-hitter beating the Reds, 5-0.
1938 In the first game of a twin bill at Yankee Stadium, Joe DiMaggio hits three consecutive triples. His offensive outburst helps the Bronx Bombers edge the Indians, 8-7.
1938 Monte Pearson becomes the first pitcher to throw a no hitter in Yankee Stadium. Facing only 27 batters, thanks to two double plays, he beats his former team, the Indians, 13-0 for his 10th consecutive victory.
1941 Beating the Braves 6-4, Charlie Root, best known for giving up Babe Ruth's 'called' home run, becomes the first pitcher to win 200 games in a Cub uniform.
1946 At Owners' Meeting, a committee formed to study integration, which includes Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey, delivers its secretive report defending the covert color barrier which exists in professional baseball. The absurd reasons given why blacks shouldn't be allow to play in the big leagues include an absence of skills due to inferior training and lack of fundamentals as well as the need to respect existing Negro League contracts, but another lesser known motivation may have been profit as revealed later in the report, “The Negro leagues rent their parks in many cities from clubs in Organized Baseball (and) Club owners in the major leagues are reluctant to give up revenues amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars every year" and the fear white fans would be driven away if black players attracted more minorities to the ballpark.
1951 Scoring all the Phillies' runs in the victory over the Reds, Del Wilber hits three solo homers making it the first time in major league history a player has accounted for all the runs in 3-0 game with home runs. The 32-year old catcher will only hit a total of 19 homers during his major league career.
1955 In his second big league start, bonus baby Sandy Koufax two-hits the Reds at Ebbets Field, 7-0. Showing his future dominance of the 1960’s, the southpaw strikes out 14 Cincinnati batters.
1974 At Shea Stadium, Benny Ayala becomes the first National Leaguer in 13 years to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat. The Met rookie goes deep off Astros' hurler Tom Griffin in New York's 4-2 win.
1977 At Yankee Stadium, Rangers Bump Wills and Toby Harrah hit back-to-back inside-the-park on consecutive pitches. Texas wins the game, 8-2.
1978 By hitting his 200th home run, Reds' second baseman Joe Morgan becomes the first major leaguer to hit 200 homers as well as steal 500 bases.
1982 In the 5-4 loss to the Brewers, A's Rickey Henderson breaks Lou Brock's 1974 single season record of 118 stolen bases. By stealing a total of four bases Rickey ends the day with 122 and will finish the season with 130.
1986 With a most unusual game-ending double play, the Mets beat Padres in the 11th, 6-5. Knocked on his back tagging out Gary Templeton trying to score on Tim Flannery's single to center, John Gibbons, from a prone position, throws a strike to Howard Johnson who tags out Flannery trying to get to third completing the twin killing (8-2-5).
1997 In honor of first baseman Jim Thome's birthday, the Indians begin pulling up their socks to just below the knees. The Tribe will win 17 of 27 games en route to clinching American League East flag while sporting this new look.
2001 In the Nippon Ham Fighters-Fukuoka Daiei Hawks contest, Michihiro Ogasawara doubles and tallies on Yukio Tanaka's single breaking a 51-year Japanese record by scoring a run in 17 consecutive games. Indian Kenny Lofton (2000) and Yankee Red Rolfe (1939) share the major league record of 18 straight games.
2001 With his 17th dinger this month, Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa ties the National League record for August homers established by Willie Mays in 1965. Tiger Rudy York set the major league mark going yard 18 times in the eighth month of 1937.
2005 Jeff Kent becomes the first player to hit 300 homers as a second baseman. The Dodger infielder, who has surpassed Ryne Sandberg’s total of 277 last September, is the major league leader at this position with Joe Gordon holding the American League record with 246 round-trippers.
2005 After losing no-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning against the Yomiuri Giants earlier in the season, Fumiya Nishiguchi (16-4) sees his perfect game against the expansion Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles go into extra innings. The Seibu Lions right-hander gives up a hit and has to settle for a 10-inning complete game shutout.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
This Date in Baseball
"Next to religion, baseball has furnished a greater impact on America more than any other institution." -HERBERT HOOVER, U.S. President
1916 At Philadelphia's Shibe Park, A's hurler Joe Bush no-hits the Indians, 5-0. 'Bullet Joe' will win 15 of the last place Athletics 36 victories this season.
1934 Tiger Schoolboy Rowe wins his 16th consecutive game. The Waco, Texas native singles home the winning run in the ninth in a 4-2 victory over the Senators.
1939 At Brooklyn's Ebbets Field, NBC televises the first major league game in history on experimental station W2XBS. The Dodgers and Reds split a doubleheader.
1947 Dan Bankhead becomes the major league's first black pitcher. He doesn't do well in a relief stint giving up ten hits and six runs in three and third innings in a 16-3 loss to the Pirates, but the Dodger rookie hits a home run in his first major league at-bat.
1961 Hitting his 51st home run against the Kansas City A's, Roger Maris has the most homers in major league history at this point in the season.
1965 At Shea Stadium, the Mets beat the Dodgers, 5-2, making Tug McGraw (2-2) the first Mets pitcher to defeat Sandy Koufax (21-7). Previously, New York had lost 13 consecutive times to the future Hall of Fame southpaw.
1966 Coming off the Orioles bench, Vic Roznovsky and Boog Powell hit consecutive pinch-hit homers tying the game in the ninth in an eventual 12-inning, 3-2 victory over the Red Sox. It's only the third time in major league history there have been back-to-back pinch-hit home runs.
1966 After seeing caricature of himself on the scoreboard an angry Leo Durocher calls the Astrodome's press box to have it remove. When nothing is done, the enraged Cubs manager rips the phone out of the dugout wall and tosses it onto the infield.
1980 At Milwaukee's County Stadium, George Brett strokes four singles and a double in 5 at-bats as the Royals edge the Brewers, 7-6. The Kansas City third baseman's 5-for-5 performance raises his league-leading batting average to .407.
1987 Paul Molitor's 39-game hit streak comes to an end as he waits in the on-deck circle watching pinch hitter Rick Manning single home the winning run in a 1-0, 10-inning victory over the Indians.
1989 The Trumbull (Connecticut) All-stars become the first American team to win the Little League World Series since 1983.
1991 At Royals Stadium, Bret Saberhagen fires a no-hitter beating the White Sox, 7-0.
1998 At Coors Field, manager Phil Garner earns his 500th victory at the Brewers helm making him the only skipper in team history to reach that milestone.
1999 Achieving the mark in his 29th start, Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson reaches the 300-strikeout milestone in record time. The 'Big Unit' whiffs nine in seven innings in a 12-2 victory over the Marlins.
2001 Joining Babe Ruth (1920 -21 and 1927-28) and Mark McGwire (1996-99), Sammy Sosa (1997-2001) becomes the third player in baseball history to hit 50 homers in a season four times.
2001 In the 18th inning, second string catcher Bill Haselman beats out a bases-loaded potential inning-ending double play grounder allowing Chad Curtis to score the winning run in the Rangers 8-7 victory over the Red Sox. The 6-hour and 35-minute contest is the longest game ever played in Ranger history.
2002 With a solo shot in fourth inning in 10-3 victory over the Rangers, Yankee infielder Alfonso Soriano sets a team record for home runs by a second baseman. The previous mark of 30 was established in 1940 by Joe Gordon.
2002 The first video streaming coverage of a major league baseball game takes place on the internet. Approximately 30,000 fans visit MLB.com to see the Yankees defeat the Rangers, 10-3.
1916 At Philadelphia's Shibe Park, A's hurler Joe Bush no-hits the Indians, 5-0. 'Bullet Joe' will win 15 of the last place Athletics 36 victories this season.
1934 Tiger Schoolboy Rowe wins his 16th consecutive game. The Waco, Texas native singles home the winning run in the ninth in a 4-2 victory over the Senators.
1939 At Brooklyn's Ebbets Field, NBC televises the first major league game in history on experimental station W2XBS. The Dodgers and Reds split a doubleheader.
1947 Dan Bankhead becomes the major league's first black pitcher. He doesn't do well in a relief stint giving up ten hits and six runs in three and third innings in a 16-3 loss to the Pirates, but the Dodger rookie hits a home run in his first major league at-bat.
1961 Hitting his 51st home run against the Kansas City A's, Roger Maris has the most homers in major league history at this point in the season.
1965 At Shea Stadium, the Mets beat the Dodgers, 5-2, making Tug McGraw (2-2) the first Mets pitcher to defeat Sandy Koufax (21-7). Previously, New York had lost 13 consecutive times to the future Hall of Fame southpaw.
1966 Coming off the Orioles bench, Vic Roznovsky and Boog Powell hit consecutive pinch-hit homers tying the game in the ninth in an eventual 12-inning, 3-2 victory over the Red Sox. It's only the third time in major league history there have been back-to-back pinch-hit home runs.
1966 After seeing caricature of himself on the scoreboard an angry Leo Durocher calls the Astrodome's press box to have it remove. When nothing is done, the enraged Cubs manager rips the phone out of the dugout wall and tosses it onto the infield.
1980 At Milwaukee's County Stadium, George Brett strokes four singles and a double in 5 at-bats as the Royals edge the Brewers, 7-6. The Kansas City third baseman's 5-for-5 performance raises his league-leading batting average to .407.
1987 Paul Molitor's 39-game hit streak comes to an end as he waits in the on-deck circle watching pinch hitter Rick Manning single home the winning run in a 1-0, 10-inning victory over the Indians.
1989 The Trumbull (Connecticut) All-stars become the first American team to win the Little League World Series since 1983.
1991 At Royals Stadium, Bret Saberhagen fires a no-hitter beating the White Sox, 7-0.
1998 At Coors Field, manager Phil Garner earns his 500th victory at the Brewers helm making him the only skipper in team history to reach that milestone.
1999 Achieving the mark in his 29th start, Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson reaches the 300-strikeout milestone in record time. The 'Big Unit' whiffs nine in seven innings in a 12-2 victory over the Marlins.
2001 Joining Babe Ruth (1920 -21 and 1927-28) and Mark McGwire (1996-99), Sammy Sosa (1997-2001) becomes the third player in baseball history to hit 50 homers in a season four times.
2001 In the 18th inning, second string catcher Bill Haselman beats out a bases-loaded potential inning-ending double play grounder allowing Chad Curtis to score the winning run in the Rangers 8-7 victory over the Red Sox. The 6-hour and 35-minute contest is the longest game ever played in Ranger history.
2002 With a solo shot in fourth inning in 10-3 victory over the Rangers, Yankee infielder Alfonso Soriano sets a team record for home runs by a second baseman. The previous mark of 30 was established in 1940 by Joe Gordon.
2002 The first video streaming coverage of a major league baseball game takes place on the internet. Approximately 30,000 fans visit MLB.com to see the Yankees defeat the Rangers, 10-3.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
This Date in Baseball
"They shouldn't try to compare Dwight to Sandy Koufax or Nolan Ryan or anyone else because there is no comparison. They should be comparing the others to Dwight." -DAVEY JOHNSON, as Met manager (1984)
1922 In spite of a fourth inning lead of 25-6, the Cubs need to hold on to defeat Philadelphia 26-23 as the Phillies leave the bases loaded in the ninth. The total amount of runs, 49, is the major league mark for most tallies scored in one game.
1934 Tigers' righty Schoolboy Rowe wins his 16th consecutive game defeating the Senators, 4-2, to tie the American League record.
1952 Tiger Virgil Trucks (5-14) throws the second of his two hitters this season blanking the Yankees, 1-0. Phil Rizzuto's third inning at-bat is quickly scored as an error but is changed to a hit only to be reverse again in the sixth inning making the no hitter a bit controversial.
1956 Prior to the Old Timer's Game at Yankee Stadium, shortstop Phil Rizzuto is asked to consult with general manager George Weiss and manager Casey Stengel concerning a player move necessitated by reacquiring Enos Slaughter from the A's. After making several suggestions about who should be cut from the squad, the veteran infielder is told by Weiss he is the player about to be let go.
1967 Twins' Dean Chance throws his second no-hitter of the month defeating the Indians 2-1. On August 5th he threw five perfect innings in an abbreviated game against the Red Sox.
1979 In a Hollywood Stars vs. the Media game played at Dodger Stadium, Robin Williams, the star of the hit television show, Mork and Mindy, in which he plays an alien, runs the bases backwards. The comedian explains circling the bags clockwise is very common on the Planet Ork, his character’s home in the universe.
1983 The Louisville Redbirds become the first minor league team to draw more than a million fans. A total of 1,052,438 people will watch the St. Louis AAA farm team play their American Association rivals at Cardinal Stadium, formerly know as Fairgrounds Stadium.
1985 Mets phenom Dwight Gooden becomes the youngest (20 years, 9 months. & 9 days) pitcher to win 20 games in a season. Bob Feller was a month older when he accomplished the feat in 1939.
1986 At Tiger Stadium, A's rookie Mark McGwire hits his first major league home run off of Walt Terrell.
1992 The Astros return from the longest scheduled road trip in big league history. During the 26 game road trip, which was made necessary due to the Republican National Convention being held at the Astrodome, the team posts a record of 12-14.
1995 At Veterans Stadium, Gregg Jefferies hits for the cycle as Philadelphia crushes the Dodgers, 17-4. The Phillies' first baseman, who scores has four RBIs and scores four runs, collects all of his extra-base hits of Los Angles starting pitcher, Hideo Nomo.
2001 Bengie Molina sets a team record by stroking nine consecutive hits. The Angel catcher is the first Anaheim player to have consecutive four-hit games since Tim Salmon accomplished the feat in 1994.
2002 Participating in a minor-league baseball promotion, a 28-year old woman collapsed and dies after running from the outfield fence to the infield in quest of a hidden diamond. She was one of approximately 250 women hoping to find a small box containing the treasure after the game between the Orlando Rays and Jacksonville Suns.
2005 With the 6-3 Cardinal win over the Pirates at PNC Park, skipper Tony LaRussa with his 2,195th career triumph moves by Sparky Anderson for third place for most victories by a big league manager. Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,763) are first and second on the all-time managerial list for the number of major league wins.
2006 With a stolen base in the third inning at Turner Field, Alfonso Soriano becomes the fastest player in baseball history to reach 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases. The historic swipe helps the Nationals beat the Braves, 7-6.
1922 In spite of a fourth inning lead of 25-6, the Cubs need to hold on to defeat Philadelphia 26-23 as the Phillies leave the bases loaded in the ninth. The total amount of runs, 49, is the major league mark for most tallies scored in one game.
1934 Tigers' righty Schoolboy Rowe wins his 16th consecutive game defeating the Senators, 4-2, to tie the American League record.
1952 Tiger Virgil Trucks (5-14) throws the second of his two hitters this season blanking the Yankees, 1-0. Phil Rizzuto's third inning at-bat is quickly scored as an error but is changed to a hit only to be reverse again in the sixth inning making the no hitter a bit controversial.
1956 Prior to the Old Timer's Game at Yankee Stadium, shortstop Phil Rizzuto is asked to consult with general manager George Weiss and manager Casey Stengel concerning a player move necessitated by reacquiring Enos Slaughter from the A's. After making several suggestions about who should be cut from the squad, the veteran infielder is told by Weiss he is the player about to be let go.
1967 Twins' Dean Chance throws his second no-hitter of the month defeating the Indians 2-1. On August 5th he threw five perfect innings in an abbreviated game against the Red Sox.
1979 In a Hollywood Stars vs. the Media game played at Dodger Stadium, Robin Williams, the star of the hit television show, Mork and Mindy, in which he plays an alien, runs the bases backwards. The comedian explains circling the bags clockwise is very common on the Planet Ork, his character’s home in the universe.
1983 The Louisville Redbirds become the first minor league team to draw more than a million fans. A total of 1,052,438 people will watch the St. Louis AAA farm team play their American Association rivals at Cardinal Stadium, formerly know as Fairgrounds Stadium.
1985 Mets phenom Dwight Gooden becomes the youngest (20 years, 9 months. & 9 days) pitcher to win 20 games in a season. Bob Feller was a month older when he accomplished the feat in 1939.
1986 At Tiger Stadium, A's rookie Mark McGwire hits his first major league home run off of Walt Terrell.
1992 The Astros return from the longest scheduled road trip in big league history. During the 26 game road trip, which was made necessary due to the Republican National Convention being held at the Astrodome, the team posts a record of 12-14.
1995 At Veterans Stadium, Gregg Jefferies hits for the cycle as Philadelphia crushes the Dodgers, 17-4. The Phillies' first baseman, who scores has four RBIs and scores four runs, collects all of his extra-base hits of Los Angles starting pitcher, Hideo Nomo.
2001 Bengie Molina sets a team record by stroking nine consecutive hits. The Angel catcher is the first Anaheim player to have consecutive four-hit games since Tim Salmon accomplished the feat in 1994.
2002 Participating in a minor-league baseball promotion, a 28-year old woman collapsed and dies after running from the outfield fence to the infield in quest of a hidden diamond. She was one of approximately 250 women hoping to find a small box containing the treasure after the game between the Orlando Rays and Jacksonville Suns.
2005 With the 6-3 Cardinal win over the Pirates at PNC Park, skipper Tony LaRussa with his 2,195th career triumph moves by Sparky Anderson for third place for most victories by a big league manager. Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,763) are first and second on the all-time managerial list for the number of major league wins.
2006 With a stolen base in the third inning at Turner Field, Alfonso Soriano becomes the fastest player in baseball history to reach 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases. The historic swipe helps the Nationals beat the Braves, 7-6.
Friday, August 24, 2007
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