Force Baseball

Friday, November 16, 2007

The Nation Grows On!

The season may ready itself to slumber under the dark of shortened fall days, but Force Baseball Nation continues to march on. We've experienced our heaviest traffic week ever here @ Force Baseball HQ & can expect nothing but bigger & better days ahead. We would like to thank the faithful who visit here regularly & refer us to fellow baseball believers. Our hopes are to parlay this ever increasing traffic load into corporate sponsorship dollars by the way of ads & direct links from this page, so continue to spread the gospel of Force Baseball.

The numbers don't lie!

Visits:

Total.................2,225
Average per day..........29
Average visit length...3:23
This week...............202

This Date in Baseball

"Baseball is the most intellectual game because most of the action takes place
in your head." -HENRY KISSINGER, American diplomat

1912 In failing health, Giant president John T. Brush dies aboard a train en route to California. Harry Hempstead, his son in-law, will take over the club.

1960 Dick Groat is selected as the National League's MVP. The World Champion Pirates shortstop led the league in hitting with a .325 average.
1951 Lou Boudreau, Boston's newly appointed manager, announces Ted Williams is available as part of trade. About a month later, the Red Sox skipper will change his mind about dealing the Red Sox most prolific hitter.
1961 The circular Mets logo, designed by sports cartoonist Ray Gatto is unveiled. The design, which represents all five boroughs with various symbols, is blue and orange, the team colors of the Dodgers and Giants, the franchises which left the 'Big Apple' and moved to the West Coast leaving New York without a National League representative.
1962 Braves' general manager John McHale and six others buy the team from Lou Perini. William Bartholomay, an insurance executive, will be chairman of the board.
1966 Edging out Dodger hurler Sandy Koufax (27-9, 1.73, 317Ks), Roberto Clemente is named the National League MVP. The Pirates right fielder hit .317 with 29 home runs and drove in 119 runs.

1976 The Angels acquire Don Baylor as a free agent. The Austin, Texas native, who played with the A's last season after being dealt by the Orioles in the Reggie Jackson trade, will become the first only Angel to win the MVP Award (1979) until Vladimir Guerrero cops the honor in 2004.
1977 Twins' first baseman Rod Carew wins the American League's MVP award. He led the league in hitting with a .338 batting average.
1979 Former Red and Expo Tony Perez signs as a re-entry free agent with the Red Sox.
1988 Jose Canseco becomes the American League's first unanimous MVP since Reggie Jackson won the award with Oakland in 1973.
1989 Astros' outfielder Kevin Bass, who batted .300 last season, signs with National League champs Giants as a free agent.
2000 Giant Jeff Kent (334, 33, 125) outpoints teammate Barry Bonds to become National League's MVP. The San Francisco infielder becomes the first second baseman to win the honor in since Ryne Sandberg of the Cubs won the award in 1984.
2001 In a four page decision, Hennepin County District Judge Harry Seymour Crump rules the Twins must play their home portion of the 2002 baseball season at the Metrodome and prohibits Twins owner Carl Pohlad from selling the team unless the new owner agrees to play next season's games in the Metrodome. The lower court decision, which is likely to be appealed, is the result of the major league's decision to contract two teams, one of which is likely to be Minnesota.
2002 After piloting the Giants for10 years and winning the 2002 National League pennant, Dusty Baker inks a four-year deal to manage the Cubs. Chicago, who hasn't been to the World Series since 1945, made it clear the 53-year old three-time National League Manager of the Year was the organization's first choice to the lead the team.

2002 The Braves, Marlins, Rockies complete a three-team trade which sends starting pitcher Mike Hampton and outfielder Juan Pierre to Florida with backstop Charles Johnson, outfielder Preston Wilson, southpaw reliever Vic Darensbourg and infield prospect Pablo Ozuna to the Colorado. The Marlins then sent Hampton to the Braves in exchange for righty reliever Tim Spooneybarger and pitching prospect Ryan Baker.
2002 The New York Yankees and the Yomiuri Giants sign an agreement to form a working relationship. Being the most successful teams in their respective leagues, the organizations hope to establish scouting and marketing ties which will benefit both teams.
2005 In a close vote, the Baseball Writers' Association of America select Albert Pujols (.330, 41,117) as the National League’s MVP. The Cardinal first baseman outpoints Braves’ centerfielder Andruw Jones, 378-351.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

This Date in Baseball

"He was great, and I really liked him." - MICKEY MANTLE, Hall of Fame outfielder
speaking of Yankee teammate Roger Maris

1886 In the first trade ever, the Red Stocking of the American Association deal rookie catcher Jack Boyle and $400 to the Browns for outfielder Hugh Nicol.
1933 The Phillies trade hard hitting Virgil Davis to the Cardinals for Jimmy Wilson. The Phillies make the trade because they want the St. Louis catcher to become the team's manager.

1961 For the second consecutive year, Roger Maris is named American League MVP. The new single-season home run record holder with 61 edges his Yankee teammate Mickey Mantle by four votes, 202-198.
1962 The White Sox release 299-game winner Early Wynn enabling him to deal with other clubs to reach the 300 career victory milestone.
1979 Twins' pitcher David Goltz (14-13, 4.16) becomes the first player to be selected by the maximum thirteen teams in the first round of the free agent draft. He will sign a six-year, three-million dollar contract with the Dodgers.
1983 Oriole shortstop Cal Ripken is named the American League's MVP becoming the first player to win the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Award in consecutive years.

1988 Dodger World Series hero Kirk Gibson edges out Met outfielders Darryl Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds for the National League MVP Award.
2000 A's Jason Giambi (.333, 43, 137) wins the American League MVP Award edging out two-time winner White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas.
2001 Yankee right right-hander Roger Clemens (20-3, 3.51 ERA) wins the Cy Young Award for an unprecedented sixth time (Red Sox -1986, '87, '91 and Blue Jays -1997, '98). The 'Rocket' becomes the first Pinstripper to win the award since 1978 when Ron Guidry copped the honor.
2002 Diamondbacks bench coach Bob Melvin is selected to be the Mariners' 12th manager in franchise history. The 41-year-old former major league catcher is replacing Lou Pinella, who asked to be release from his contract to take a job closer to his home and will pilot the Devil Rays next season.

2004 Barry Bonds (.362, 45, 101), who is the only player to be the league’s MVP more than three times, is named by BBWAA for a record seventh time, including an unprecedented fourth consecutive season. Winning the honor at the age of 40, the Giants’ left-fielder surpasses Willie Stargell (39 1⁄2) as the oldest player to win the award.
2005 The players’ association and owners agree to toughen the current penalties ( 10 days-first offense, 30 days-second offense and 60 days for the third time) for the use of steroids using a 50-game suspension for a first offense, 100 games for a second and then lifetime ban for a third. The agreement also adds the much needed testing for amphetamines which will result with mandatory additional testing if the test is positive the first time, with a second offense drawing a 25-game suspension, and a third offense meaning an 80 game suspension.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

This Date in Baseball

"Fans don't boo nobodies." -REGGIE JACKSON, Hall of Fame outfielder and DH.

1961 John Fetzer becomes the lone owner of the Tigers when he buys out the estate of Fred Knorr.

1973 A's Reggie Jackson (.293, 32,117) is selected unanimously as the American League's MVP.
1973 Jim Palmer (22-9, 2.40) is named as the American League's Cy Young Award winner.
1985 The all-time major league save leader with 341, Rollie Fingers, is released by the Brewers at the age of 39.
1986 Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon buy the World Champion Mets from the Doubleday Publishing Company for $80.75 million. In 1980, the company had bought the franchise for a then-record $21.1 million.
1988 The Angels name Doug Rader as manager of the team. Rader had compiled a record piloting the Rangers from 1982 to 1985.

1996 In the closest vote for the award since 1960, Ranger Juan Gonzalez (.314, 47, 144) wins the American League MVP edging out Mariner Alex Rodriguez by just three votes.
2000 Winning his second straight award and third of his career, the 'Big Unit' Randy Johnson ( 19-7, 2.64) of the Diamondbacks overwhelming wins the National League Cy Young Award.
2001 For the second time in his career, Seattle skipper Lou Piniella is named the American League Manager of the Year. 'Sweet Lou', the only person to appear on every ballot, guided to the Mariners to an historical 116 victories which tied 1906 Cubs as the winningest team in major league history.
2001 Larry Bowa (86-76, .531) becomes the first Phillies manager to be named by the BBWAA as the National League Manager of the Year. In his first year at the helm, Philadelphia improves by 21 games finishing the season two games behind the first-place Atlanta.

2006 Brandon Webb (16-8, 3.10) garners 15 of the possible 32 BBWAA's first-place votes to win the NL Cy Young Award beating out Padres closer Trevor Hoffman and Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter. The Diamondback right-hander's win total for a full season is the lowest amount for any starter who has ever won the prestigious pitching prize.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

This Date in Baseball

"Having Willie Stargell on your ball club is like having a diamond ring on your
finger." CHUCK TANNER Stargell's manager

1899 The National League announces starting next season there will be two umpires working each game.
1931 Yankee owner Jacob Ruppert buys the International League's Newark franchise. The Bears will be very successful and will send many players to the Bronx.

1934 Bucky Harris is hired again in Washington replacing manager Joe Cronin, who has been sold to Boston. The 'Boy Wonder' previously managed the Senators to American League championships in 1924 and 1925.
1951 The Japanese Pacific League All-Star team beats Lefty O'Doul's All-Stars, 3-1. It is the first time an American professional team has lost to professional players of another country.
1958 New York's mayor Robert Wagner announces the preliminary plans for the Continental League. Chairman William Shea implies that the new third major league might raid National and American League rosters.
1968 Edging out Pete Rose, Bob Gibson (22-9, 268 , 1.12 ) wins the National League MVP award.

1974 Steve Garvey wins the National League MVP Award. The Dodger first baseman had a .312 BA, with 21 home runs and 111 RBIs .
1978 The Yankees sign pitcher Luis Tiant as free agent to a two-year $875,000 contract.
1979 For the first time in major league history two players are named co-winners of National League MVP award as Cardinal first baseman Keith Hernandez shares the honor with outfielder Pirate Willie Stargell.
1984 Ryne Sandberg (314, 19, 84) becomes the first Cub to win the National MVP League Award since Ernie Banks did it in 1959.
1989 After 16 years with the same team, Jim Rice is released by the Red Sox. The Boston outfielder retires from the game with a career .298 average with 382 home runs.
1990 Bob Welch (27-6, 2.95,127) wins the American League Cy Young Award. The A's hurler wins are the most in the majors since 1972 when Steve Carlton won that many for the last place Phillies.

1996 Padres third baseman Ken Caminiti is the fourth unanimous winner of the National League MVP.
1997 Rockies outfielder Larry Walker (.366, 49, 130) is named the National League MVP becoming the first Canadian in either league to win the honor.
1998 The ball thrown by Red Sox hurler Howard Ehmke and hit by Babe Ruth for first home run hit in Yankee Stadium is sold at an auction for 126, 500 (110,000 bid + 15% commission). Mark Scala found the 1923 historic ball ago in the attic of his grandmother's home several years ago.
2000 Becoming the first pitcher to win the American League Cy Young award unanimously in consecutive years, Red Sox hurler Pedro Martinez (18-6,1.74) has copped the 'top pitcher' honor three of the last four seasons.
2001 Randy Johnson (21-6, 2.49, 372) wins his fourth Cy Young Award, his third straight as a member of the Diamondbacks. The 'Big Unit', who also won the honor in 1995 with the Mariners, is the second pitcher to win three consecutive Cy Young awards joining Greg Maddux who won four in a row from 1992-95.
2002 The Giants select former Expo veteran skipper Felipe Alou to replace Dusty Baker as their new manager. The 67-year-old Dominican Republic native compiled a 691-717 record during his ten years at the helm with Montreal and was selected as the National League Manager of the Year in the 1994 strike-shortened season.

2003 Eric Gagne, who saved 55 consecutive games for the Dodgers, becomes the ninth reliever to win a Cy Young Award. The runner up is Jason Schmidt of the Giants, the pitcher with the NL’s best won-lost percentage (17-4, 77%) and who also had an ERA of 2.34 to lead the circuit.
2006 Delmon Young is suspended for 50 games by the International League for throwing a bat which hit a replacement umpire in the chest. The Devil Rays' top prospect, the brother of Tiger star Dmitri Young, was selected as the minor league player of the year by Baseball America in 2005.
2006 The Mets stage a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the construction of the 45,000-seat ballpark which will replace Shea Stadium in 2009. The new $800 million ballpark, named CitiiField in association with Citigroup Inc., will be reminiscent of Ebbets Field and will feature a statue of Jackie Robinson in a rotunda which will be named after the immortal Brooklyn Dodger infielder.
2006 Tigers right-hander Jason Verlander (17-9, 3.63) cops the AL Rookie of the Year Award award receiving 26 of a possible 28 first place votes cast by the BBWAA. The 23-year old hard-throwing hurler becomes the first starting pitcher to win the freshman award since Yankee newcomer Dave Righetti accomplished the feat 1981.

Monday, November 12, 2007

This Date in Baseball

"With my team I am the absolute czar." - JOHN McGRAW, Giant Manager (1902-32)

1923 Giant manager John McGraw trades outfielders Casey Stengel and Bill Cunningham along with shortstop Dave Bracroft to the Braves for pitchers Joe Oeschger and Bill Southworth.
1940 Unwilling to yield to the players' demands during the season, Alva Bradley finally fires Indian manager Oscar Vitt and replaces him with Roger Peckinpaugh. It is Peckinpaugh's second time as Cleveland's field boss.

1952 Philadelphia A's hurler Bobby Shantz (24-7, 2.48) is named as American League MVP by the baseball writers.
1955 Fred Hutchinson replaces Harry Walker as Cardinal manager. With the departure of 'the Hat', next season will be the first time in National League history without a player-manager.
1986 Red Sox Roger Clemens becomes only the second American League pitcher to unanimously win the Cy Young Award. Denny McLain was the first to accomplish the feat in 1968.
2001 One year after playing Class-A ball, Albert Pujols (.329, 37, 130) is named the National League Rookie of the Year by BBWAA. The Cardinal freshman set NL rookie marks RBIs (130), total bases (360)and extra base hits (88) and fell one home run shy of tying the National League rookie record of 38 established by Frank Robinson in 1956 as a member of the Reds.

2001 Although disappointed not winning the award unanimously, Mariners outfielder Ichiro, who led the circuit in hitting, is named the American League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria (Ohio) Chronicle-Telegram voted for C.C. Sabathia (17-4) as his top choice citing the nine years of professional experience in Japan made Ichiro less of a rookie than Indian hurler Sabathia.
2002 Miguel Tejada, who receives 356 points from the Baseball Writers' Association, including 21 first-place votes of the 28 cast, is selected as the American League's Most Valuable Player. The A's shortstop joins countrymen Sammy Sosa and George Bell as Dominican Republic natives to win the award.