Baseball
Baseball is a game of legends, larger-than-life stars ever ingrained in our public psyche. However, all too often, the off-the-field personalities get lost in the shuffle, dwarfed in the eyes of history by the Babe Ruths and Jackie Robinsons of the world. Here then is the Mount Rushmore of those other legends, the pioneers and innovators that built baseball into the game it is today.
1) Alexander Cartwright, Jr.-- In truth, there is no big bang of baseball, no moment when the inspiration for what would become the American Pastime was beamed down from the heavens. For centuries, men had played cricket, rounders, and other various contests featuring bat and ball. However, if you're going to point to one man who truly set the wheels of baseball in motion, that man is Alexander Cartwright. Cartwright was a bank teller and volunteer firefighter who for many years had played various ball games ar
ound the parks of New York City. Though many of these games roughly resembled what we now know as modern baseball, Cartwright showed up one day with some newfound inspiration. As his friend Duncan Curry recalls of that Spring afternoon in 1845, "Cartwright came to the field...with his plans drawn up on a paper.... He had laid out a diamond shaped field with canvas bags filled with sand or sawdust for bases at three of the points and an iron plate for home base. He had arranged for a catcher, a pitcher, three basemen, a short fielder and three outfielders. His plan met with much good-natured derision, but he was so persistent in having us try his new game that we finally consented more to humor him than with any thought of it becoming a reality." Cartwright would proceed to codify a set of accepted rules and engineer what is widely accepted today as the first organized baseball game between his Knickerbockers and the New York Club at the Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey, June 19th, 1846. Three years later, lured by the California gold craze, Cartwright began trekking westward, along which he would spread the gospel of baseball. Barely twenty years following that day in Hoboken, there were thought to be over a thousand organized baseball clubs scattered across the country.
Note: Though many think of Abner Doubleday as the creator of baseball, history has all but proven this to be myth. In 1907, The Mills Commission, appointed to determine the origin of baseball, concluded that "the first scheme for playing baseball, according to the best evidence obtainable to date, was devised by Abner Doubleday at Cooperstown, New York, in 1839." However, Doubleday never claimed this distinction in any of his writings, and it was even determined that at the date of the alleged invention, Doubleday was a cadet at West Point, his family having moved away from Cooperstown a year prior. Adding further doubt is the fact that the primary testimony on behalf of Doubleday lay with a man named Abner Graves, who after shooting his wife two years later wound up spending the rest of his life in an insane asylum. So yea, not the most credible of witnesses. On June 3, 1953, Alexander Cartwright was officially declared by Congress to be the inventor of modern baseball.
2) Henry Chadwick-- Often the best way of conferring legitimacy upon something is simply by committing it to paper. A British-born journalist in the mid-nineteenth century, Chadwick was one of the first to cover the infant game in print, writing up game summaries for the New York Clipper. In it, Chadwick originated the box score, giving birth to a national obsession with baseball statistics and records that persists to this day. He also penned the "Base Ball Manual" and "Beadle's Dime Base Ball Player," guide books in which he described rules, techniques, and star players of the game. The American Pastime was on its way.
3) Harry Frazee-- History has not been kind to Mr. Frazee. The infamous former owner of the fledgling Boston Red Sox will forever be linked to the disastrous transaction that sent Babe Ruth to the Yankees, damning the Sox to nearly a century of futility. However, that may not be the only raw deal Frazee got. In truth, and this is coming from a die-hard Red Sox fan, Frazee had his hands tied, making a move that almost any other owner in his position would have made. For starters, Ruth was the ultimate diva of his day, a drunk, a womanizer, a hothead (at one point throwing a punch at an umpire), an egomaniac, and the farthest thing from a team player. During the 1919 season, Ruth refused to continue pitching, continually undermined his manager, and even went 'Manny being Manny' on his teammates by pulling himself out of the last few games of the season. That year, the Sox would finish sixth (in the two years following his departure, they would actually climb a spot to fifth). After that season, Ruth demanded that his salary be doubled, an unheard-of figure that Frazee simply could not pay. Ruth then proclaimed that he wouldn't play until his demands were met, all but forcing Frazee to negotiate a trade. Due to an ongoing dispute with American League president Ban Johnson, Frazee was effectively banned from dealing with any team but the White Sox and Yankees, two teams that also defied Johnson's corrupt reign. (Johnson's hatred of Frazee in part stemmed from his belief that Frazee was Jewish, violating an unwritten rule within the game to keep Jews out of the ranks of ownership. Frazee was i
n fact Presbyterian.) It's hard to fathom that the only other offer on the table would actually have been more catastrophic than the one that ultimately transpired, but that's exactly the case. The White Sox offered up superstar "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and cash, an intriguing offer were it not for the fact that just months later, Jackson would be suspended for life for his role in the Black Sox scandal. At the time, the Ruth transaction was actually seen by many as being favorable for the Red Sox. In subsequent years, numerous inaccuracies were perpetuated about the Sox owner, many of which were motivated by the ongoing belief in his Jewishness and the notion that a cash-strapped Frazee selfishly sold Ruth to finance his landmark play No, No, Nanette. (which actually didn't come out until six years later) As we all know, Ruth would go on to transform the Yankees into a dynasty while the Red Sox would go titleless for 86 years. Whatever blame Frazee deserves, the impact of his decision upon the future course of the game is impossible to deny. For more on Frazee's misplaced maligning, check out the illuminating Glenn Stout piece 'A Curse Born of Hate.'
4) Kennesaw Mountain Landis-- When in 1921, baseball decided that it was finally necessary to bring in a commissioner, the game was reeling from the revelations of a fixed World Series. That commissioner was Kennesaw Mountain Landis. Upon the appointment, The Sporting News summarized Kennesaw's stated mission: "to clean out the crookedness and the gambling responsible for it and keep the sport above reproach...he would have no mercy on any man in baseball, be he magnate or player, whose conduct was not strictly honest...The Judge will be the absolute ruler of the game." During his time in office, Landis did indeed rule with an iron fist, at once banishing the eight guilty players who had conspired to throw the World Series in the infamous Black Sox scandal. The ruling that was ultimately established-- 'Any player, umpire, club or league official or employee who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor had a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible'-- would go on to be the damning assertion used against Pete Rose several decades later.
Under his reign, Landis also helped usher in the live ball era. From 1903-1921, small ball had been the order of the day, as a series of factors contributed to an unprecedented decline in offense. Among them was the common practice of leaving baseballs in play for much of the game until they were brown with dirt, making it harder for batters to pick up while in flight. Balls also became softer with repeated usage, resulting in a greater difficulty to drive with power over the course of the game. Upon assuming power, Landis immediately legislated that balls be removed from play at the first sign of wear, causing an immediate uptick in offense as batters could not only see pitches better, but when they did, it would travel further on contact. Landis also outlawed the spitball, further shifting advantage away from the pitcher. From 1903-1919, the league-wide ERA had been 2.80. In the decade that followed, it had jumped to 4.00. Upon his death in 1944, Landis had transformed the game, restoring both its excitement and integrity.
5) Mel Allen and Red Barber- Baseball on the radio would make its debut in the summer of 1921, as a man named Harold Arlin called the Pirates-Phillies match to an almost non-existent audience. However, it would be over a decade more before baseball received its true airwave ambassadors in Allen and Barber. Known and beloved primarily as the voices of the Yankees and Dodgers respectively, Melvin Israel and William Barber were the first truly iconic broadcasters in American sports history. Initially concerned that radio would discourage people from actually showing up to the park, owners soon found the medium to be an unparralleled promotional tool for their sport (not to mention a great way to generate additional income). By the 1940's, Barber's presence was so ubiquitous in Brooklyn, The Daily News mused "A person could cover the length of the beach of Coney Island and never lose his voice." Perfectly suited to the pace and nature of the game, radio was instrumental in broadening the game's reach and appeal, expanding fan bases and turning local stars into national heroes.
6) Branch Rickey-- There is perhaps no man more responsible for changing the complexion, both literally and figuratively, of the modern game more than that of Branch Rickey. When Rickey was named the general manager of the St Louis Cardinals in 1925, minor league teams operated independently of big league clubs, auctioning off their top prospects to the highest bidder. Rickey decided to buck the system, buying his own minor league clubs through which he could develop talent and directly funnel players to his major league franchise. It took only a single year as GM before the Cards captured their first World Series, and in time the homegrown talent of Pepper Martin, Stan Musial, and Dizzy Dean would take three more pennants for the Gashouse Gang between 1928-1932.
By 1940, Rickey's farm had steadily expanded into an empire, claiming ownership of an astounding 32 teams while maintaining working agreements with 8 others. Rickey moved on to the Dodgers in 1942, where he would continue his prowess in developing young talent, producing such stars as Duke Snider and Gil Hodges from within the organization. However, his most important achievment was the signing of Jackie Robinson from the Negro League's Kansas City Monarchs in 1945. Upon his major league debut two years later, Robinson would bring a pennant to Brooklyn, opening up the doors to full-fledged racial integration in the years to come. Dickey soon left for Pittsburgh, where he would once again shake the baseball establishment with the drafting and promotion of baseball's first Hispanic player in Roberto Clemente. When he ultimately retired in 1955, Rickey had introduced the modern farm system, racially integrated the game, popularized the use of the batting helmet and batting cage, and created the first spring training facility. Moreover, he was perhaps the earliest proponent of what we now call sabermetrics, valuing such indicators as on-base percentage over average to further his advantage over the competition. A maverick in the truest sense, Branch Rickey remains the most influential figure in the history of baseball, if not the entire sports world.
7) Walter O'Malley--You're in a room with Hitler, Stalin, and Walter O'Malley and have a gun with only two bullets. What do you do? Shoot O'Malley twice. To many 1950's Booklynites, the Dodgers were everything. In one fell swoop, O'Malley ripped it all away, unapologetically moving the team to Los Angeles following the 1957 season. The vitriol knew no bounds as the Dodgers' owner become public enemy #1 to a city reeling in grief. Harsh as it was, O'Malley's infamous decision would mark a pivotal moment in the course of baseball history, as professional baseball was finally introduced to the West Coast. America's pastime had for half a century been concentrated predominantly in the Northeast, with the westernmost team being St. Louis at the time of O'Malley's ascendancy. The first domino to fall had been the Boston Braves, who in 1953 relocated to Milwaukee. However, it was not until the Dodgers split town that the game truly underwent a tidal shift. O'Malley knew that to make baseball a reality in the West he would have to recruit a partner, and so inserted himself as key player in facilitating the Giants move to San Francisco as well. The entire complexion of American baseball had changed, as O'Malley's Dodgers helped make baseball a truly national game.
8) Marvin Miller--Today, the Major League Baseball Players Association is the most powerful union in all of sports, and no man deserves more thanks for that fact than Marvin Miller. Elected head of the MLBPA in 1966, Miller soon made his impact felt, negotiating the first collective bargaining agreement with owners, increasing minimum salaries, introducing the all-important independent arbitration practice, and eventually ushering in the age of free agency with the invalidation of the reserve clause. Under the reserve clause, players had been effectively married to their initial club, with that club retaining their rights from year to year not so unlike a piece of property. To make matters worse, those players unhappy with their compensation were forced to settle their disputes with the commissioner, who, as having been hired by the owners, was naturally biased in his rulings. In 1974, after Cardinals' outfielder Curt Flood brought the issue of the reserve clause's inherent unfairness to the forefront, Miller encouraged pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally to refrain from signing a contract for the following year and instead enter arbitration. Peter Seitz, the arbiter, ruled that the players had no legal ties to remain with their clubs and were free to pursue other offers. The reserve clause had effectively been abolished and the era of free agency had begun. During Marvin's tenure, which stretched from 1966-1982, the average player's salary rose from $19,000 to $241,000. His work signified a colossal shift in the balance of power between athlete and owner, an impact enjoyed every time a player signs on the dotted line to this day.
9) George Steinbrenner-- Before there was Jerry 
Jones, before there was Mark Cuban, there was George Steinbrenner. Loud, irreverent, controversial, and hyper-controlling (changing managers 20 times in his first 23 years as Yankees owner), George Steinbrenner was the archetype for the larger-than-life sports owner. Buying the Yankees for a measly $8.7 million in 1973, he turned them into a $1.6 billion franchise, the gold standard for sporting excellence the world over. Today, ballplayers earn more than the GDP of small countries, and perhaps no man is more responsible than the Boss. With it came unprecedented market inequality, as the Yankees payroll grew to such exorbitant levels that it literally sextupled that of the smallest market teams. Contracts are now bloated to the point of absurdity (see: Werth, Jason and Rodriguez, Alex) as owners from around the league struggle to keep up with the Evil Empire.
10) Bud Selig-- Sadly, when all is said and done, Bud Selig will go down first and foremost as the man that presided over the Steroid Era, baseball's black eye. However, to pin him solely as "The Steroid Commissioner" is to overlook the vast amount of good Selig was actually able to accomplish for the sport. Assuming the role of acting commissioner in 1992, the former Milwaukee Brewers owner's first act was to realign the divisions and institute a wild card, expanding the postseason roster to eight teams. Achieving permanent status in 1998, Selig would go on to make a series of other important changes, including the introduction of revenue sharing and interleague play, the expansion of instant replay, and the creation of the World Baseball Classic. He also presided over a 400% explosion in league revenue and brought baseball to both Arizona and Tampa Bay. Time will tell just how favorably future generations look upon his legacy, but one thing is for certain: Uncle Bud left baseball in a vastly different place from how he found it.
Yankees--Established in 1901, based in NY since 1903. 27 World Championships, 40 Pennants, and $437 trillion spent.
Defining Voice: Mel Allen
Defining Managers: Casey Stengel, Joe McCarthy, Joe Torre
The Legends: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Whitey Ford, Phil Rizzuto, Thurman Munson.
Cardinals--Established in 1881. 10 World Series tites and 18 Pennants.Defining Voice: Jack Buck
Defining Manager: Whitey Herzog
The Legends: Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Albert Pujols, Ozzie Smith, Dizzy Dean, Lou Brock, Red Schoendienst, Enos Slaughter, Bruce Sutter.
3)
Giants--Established in 1883, based in San Francisco since 1958. 6 World Series titles and 21 PennantsDefining Voice: Russ Hodges
Defining Manager: John McGraw
The Legends: Willie Mays, Mel Ott, Christy Mathewson, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey, Bill Terry, Carl Hubbell, Gaylord Perry, Barry Bonds.
4)
Dodgers--Established in 1883, based in LA since 1958. 6 World Series titles and 21 PennantsDefining Managers: Walter Alston, Tommy Lasorda
The Legends: Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Don Sutton, Don Drysdale, Pee Wee Reese, Jim Gilliam, Dazzy Vance, Zack Wheat.
5)
Athletics--Established in 1901, based in Oakland since 1968. 9 World Series titles and 15 Pennants.Defining Voice: Bill King
Defining Manager: Connie Mack
The Legends: Reggie Jackson, Ricky Henderson, Catfish Hunter, Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Lefty Grove, Bert Campaneris, Eddie Plank, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons.
6)
Red Sox--Established in 1901. 7 World Series titles and 12 PennantsDefining Voices: Curt Gowdy, Jerry Remy
Defining Managers: Joe Cronin, Terry Francona
The Legends: Ted Williams, Carl Yazstrzemski, Jimmie Foxx, Tris Speaker, Pedro Martinez, Joe Cronin, Jim Rice, Harry Hooper, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz.
7)
Braves--Established in 1871, based in Atlanta since 1966. 3 World Series titles and 17 PennantsDefining Voice: Ernie Johnson Sr
The Legends: Warren Spahn, Hank Aaron, Greg Maddux, Eddie Mathews, Phil Niekro, Dale Murphy, Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Andrew Jones.
8)
Reds--Established in 1869. 5 World Series titles and 9 PennantsDefining Voice: Marty Brennaman
Defining Managers: Sparky Anderson, Fred Hutchinson
The Legends: Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Dave Concepción, Frank Robinson, Barry Larkin, Ernie Lombardi, Eppa Rixey, Edd Rousch.
9)
Pirates--Established in 1882. 5 World Series titles and 9 PennantsDefining Voice: Bob Prince
Defining Manager: Danny Murtaugh
The Legends: Roberto Clemente, Ralph Kiner, Honus Wagner, Willie Stargell, Bill Mazeroski, Paul Waner, Lloyd Waner, Pie Traynor, Max Carey, Arky Vaughan.
10)
Tigers--Established in 1894. 4 World Series titles and 10 PennantsDefining Voice: Ernie Harwell
Defining Manager: Sparky Anderson
The Legends: Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Al Kaline, Charlie Gehringer, Hal Newhouser, Sam Crawford, George Kell, Harry Heilmann, Mickey Cochrane, Willie Horton.
Joe Torre- Aside of his hall-of-fame managerial career, Torre has the distinct honor of being the only player to start 500 games at catcher, first base, and third base. Torre started his career alongside his brother Frank, Hank Aaron, and Eddie Matthews on the Milwaukee Braves, where he would go on to win a catching gold glove and prompt Jack Kerouac to call him "the best c
atcher since Roy Campanella." After being traded to St. Louis for Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, Torre would move to third base where in 1971 he would he hit .363 and drive in 137 runs en route to a NL MVP award. Torre wrapped up his career as a player-manager for the Mets. In his seventeen-year playing career, he would play in nine All-Star games. AVG: .297, HR: 252, RBI: 1,185.
Joe Girardi- Girardi caught 15 seasons in the majors, winning three World Series with the Yankees and appearing in an All-Star game in 2000. AVG: .267, Hits: 1,100, RBI: 422.
Mike Scioscia- The now skipper of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim spent his playing career under Tommy Lasorda's Los Angeles Dodgers, where he thrived as a catcher. Scioscia was lauded for his defense, in particular, his unrivaled talent for plate-blocking. Scioscia made two All-Star appearances and took home two World Series rings with the boys in blue. AVG: .259, HR: 68, RBI: 446.
Ozzie Guillen- Emerging from Venezuela, Guillen took the Major Leagues by storm, winning the 1985 AL Rookie of the Year Award as a shortstop. He was an All-Star in 1988, 1990, 1991, and won the Gold Glove Award in 1990. Guillén ranks among the White Sox all-time leaders in games played, hits, and at-bats. AVG: .264, Hits: 1764, RBI: 619.
Dusty Baker- Then, like today, Dusty Baker was never kind to pitchers. (See Mark Prior, Kerry Wood) Dusty compiled quite a resume in his sixteen-year playing career, including 2 All-Star selections, one World Series ring ('81 with the Dodgers), one Gold Glove, 2 Silver Slugger Awards, and the 1977 NLCS MVP honors. AVG: .278, HR: 242, RBI: 1,013.
Bud Black- In fifteen major league seasons, Black put together a very repectable pitching resume, winning over 120 games and caturing a World Series title in 1985. W:121, ERA: 3.84, SO: 1,039.
Terry Francona- After being named Most Outstanding Player in Arizona's 1980 College World Series Championship, Tito went on to have a largely unremarkable 10-year pro career, playing first base and outfield for five different ballclubs. AVG: .274, Hits: 474, RBI: 143.
Charlie Manuel- Though he appeared in five major league seasons in the early seventies, Charlie did not acheive a starting role until he began playing for the Yakult Swallows in Japan. Dubbed "Aka-Oni" (The Red Devil) by fans and teammates, Manuel became a star, enjoying seasons hitting 48, 42, 37, and 39 home runs. At a game against the Lotte Orions, he was hit in the face by a pitch, crushing his jaw. Told he needed at least two months to recover, Manuel returned after being sidelined for only 14 games, wearing a football helmet. The team went on to win the pennant. NPB statistics: AVG: .303, HR: 189, RBI: 491.
Ron Washington- Washington bounced around the majors for over a decade as a middle infielder. AVG: .261, Hits: 414, RBI 146.
Brad Mills- Before he was the newest skipper of the 'stros, Mills was just about the most unremarkable infielder for the now defunct Expos. In his 106 career games, just about the only thing Mills did of note was become Nolan Ryan's 3,509th career strikeout victim, moving the Express past Walter Johnson for first all-time. AVG: .256, HR:1, RBI: 12.
Bruce Bochy- In his decade of MLB service, Bochy caught for the Astros, Mets and Padres. AVG: .239, HR: 26, RBI: 93.
Tony La Russa- After suffering a shoulder injury while playing softball with friends, La Russa spent most of his career as a backup infielder for the A's, Braves, and Cubs. AVG: .199, Hits: 35, RBI: 7.
Bob Geren- After spending a decade in the minors, Geren finally made the big dance as a catcher for the New York Yankees. He sucked for a five years of his major league career. AVG: .233, Hits: 178, HR: 22.
Jim Tracy- Tracy played outfield for a couple of seasons with the Cubs before signing with Japan's Taiyo Whales. AVG: .249, HR: 3, Hits: 46.
Ron Gardenhire- The Twins' skipper battled through an injury-plagued five seasons as an infielder for the Mets before finally hanging up the cleats in 1985. AVG: .232, HR: 4, Hits: 165.
Jerry Manuel- From 1975-1982, Manuel bounced around the majors in a back-up infielder role, accumulating only 127 career at-bats over the seven year span. AVG: .150, HR: 3, RBI: 13
Lou Pinella- (18 seasons at left field) AB: 5867, AVG: .291, HR: 102, RBI: 766, 1972 All-Star and 1969 Rookie of the Year
Don Mattingly- (14 seasons at first and outfield)- Avg: .307, HR: 222, RBI: 1099, 6-time All-Star, 9-time Gold Glove winner, and the 1985 MVP.
Kirk Gibson- (17 seasons at outfield) AB: 5798, AVG: .268, HR: 255, RBI: 870, SB: 284, 1988 MVP
Don Zimmer- (12 seasons at third, short and second) AVG: .235, HR: 91, RBI: 352
Tommy Lasorda- (3 seasons pitching) IP: 58.1, ERA: 6.48, Record: 0-4
Sparky Anderson- (1 season at second) AB: 477, AVG: .218, R: 42
Bobby Valentine- (10 seasons at shortstop, outfield, and second) AB: 1698, BA: .260, HR: 12
Whitey Herzog- (8 seasons at outfield and first) AB: 1614, AVG: .257, HR: 20, RBI: 172
Larry Bowa- (16 seasons at shortstop) (AB: 8418, AVG: 260, SB: 318, 5-time All-Star and 2-time Gold Glove winner
Clint Hurdle- (10 seaons at right field, first, and catcher) AB: 1391, AVG: .259, HR: 32
Cito Gaston- (11 seasons at outfield) AB: 3120, AVG: .256, HR: 91, 1970 All-Star
Ned Yost- (6 seasons at catcher) AVG: .212, HR: 16, RBI: 64
Bob Melvin- (10 seasons at catcher) AB: 1955, AVG: .233, RBI: 212
Eric Wedge- (4 seasons at DH) AB: 86, H: 20, HR: 5
Mike Hargrove- (12 seasons at left field and first) AB: 5564, AVG: .290, RBI: 686, 1974 Rookie of the Year
Phil Garner- (16 seasons at second and third) AB: 6136, AVG: .260, SB: 225, 3-time All-Star
Ken Macha- (6 seasons at third) AB: 380, AVG: .258, HR: 1
Davey Johnson- (13 seasons at second and first) AB: 4797, AVG: .261, HR: 136, RBI: 609, 4-time All-Star
20 living members meeting in some secret fortress once a year like the Stonecutters, tugging on the game's unseen strings for their personal amusement (As if Jim Joyce was acting alone...) Not hard to see why this is the one fraternity every little leaguer shoots for from the day they can pick up a bat. Sadly, as the next two prospective entrees can evince, some just don't know when to stop shooting....The Current Pledge Class
Chicks just don’t seem to dig the long ball like they used to. How else to explain the seeming disregard for Jim Thome's entrance into the all-exclusive 600 home run club. And can we really be blamed? The fact is, we did care, we really really cared, and we were all dooped. Taken for a ride by the elusive hand of performance enhancers. If these milestones are to be at all restored, America needs a masher to believe in again. Though Thome has never actually be caught, having come up through the steroid era is hard to get past. We need a hitter for the new generation, someone to take some of the tarnish off of the four-bagger and resurrect what was once our most beloved sports achievement. Truth is, we may never have another truly suspicion-free ballplayer to hit 600, or even 500 for that matter. But if you’re, like me, grasping at someone to believe in, these ten
might not be such terrible options to get behind.
- Albert Pujols (Age 31) 445 home runs to date
- Miguel Cabrera (Age 28) 277 home runs to date
- Prince Fielder (Age 27) 230 home runs to date
- Ryan Howard (Age 31) 286 home runs to date
- Adam Dunn (Age 31) 365 home runs to date
- Mark Teixeira (Age 31) 314 home runs to date
- Paul Konerko (Age 35) 396 home runs to date
- Vladimir Guerrero (36) 449 home runs to date
- Adrian Gonzalez (Age 29) 195 home runs to date
- Ryan Braun (Age 27) 161 home runs to date
Strange Days, The American League Central: If you look at the standings for the AL Central, it looks as if someone literally turned the division upside down. The White Sox and Twins are in the cellar, and have gotten off to dreadful starts, while The Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians, who are only brought up when we talk about contraction, are off to fast starts. While most experts do not expect the success of the Royals and Indians to last, this could be the type of year where one of these teams hangs around and makes it interesting throughout the summer months. With the Twins depleted lineup and uncertain health of Joe Mauer, and Ozzie Guillen literally calling out his own team after every loss, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for one of these usual cellar-dwellers to make some noise into later July or early August with good pitching and solid defense.
Surprise Stinkers: April is usually an extension of Spring Training, a month where teams can work out the kinks and gear up for the May-June stretch when the season kicks into that second gear. But that doesn’t mean we cannot speculate on the contender/pretender nature of the poor starts for some of these teams. The Boston Red Sox loaded up this offseason, spending both arms and one of their legs acquiring Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford in free agency. So far, the Sox have disappointed. They have righted the ship since their god-awful 2-10 start, but are still below .500 as we exit April. And Carl Crawford? Hitting .171 after signing his mega-deal in the offseason. The World Champion San Francisco Giants have struggled out of the gate too, sitting a game under .500 in the NL West. Also, sexy picks such as the aforementioned Twins and Tampa Bay Rays are hovering around the .500 mark, after many experts picked them to do some damage in their respective divisions.
Dodger Blues: Remember when the Dodgers were a once-proud franchise and one of the flagship teams of Major League Baseball? Me neither, a little before my time. But from what my Dad tells me, the Dodgers were the real deal back in the day. Well, it has been quite a tumultuous start for the Trolley Dodgers here in 2011. First, there was the Opening Day Massacre that occurred in the Dodger Stadium parking lot, in which two unidentified Dodger fans beat a Giants fan into a coma for simply being a Giants fan. This beating brought up discussions of how Dodger Stadium, a once great venue, is now a scary and unsafe place to see a baseball game. And I thought Philadelphia was bad. As if this wasn’t a large enough black-eye for Los Angeles, bumbling Dodgers owner Frank McCourt was forced by Major League Baseball to forfeit the team in light of his ugly divorce, after borrowing $30 million from FOX. McCourt had done his best to run the Dodgers into the ground, taking team money and spending it on mansions and haircuts, but it appears that Bud Selig will take the reigns from here on in. It’s gotta be a tough time to be a Dodger fan, especially when your bitter rivals, the boys from the Bay Area, are winning championships. On a lighter note, Matt Kemp is hitting .396.
While the game doesn’t lend itself to individual stardom that say the NBA does, there are certain players from every generation that just exude all-star through and through. The list of players who have been named to fifteen or more All-Star games is one of the most exclusive in all of sports, more so than the 3000 hit club, the 500 home run club, or the perfect game club. While the election process is by no means an exact science, to be an All-Star year in and year out for that long takes more than just raw talent, more than just being the best player at your position in your league. It’s a blend of consistency and durability combined with popularity and iconicism. Playing in a big market like New York or Boston doesn’t hurt your chances either. These players are institutions of the game. The question is, is it getting harder to be that larger than life superstar in the currently constituted major leagues? For one, the league has gotten progressively larger, making one’s ability to stick out and lock down all-star spots far more difficult. It's been nine years since a player with fifteen or more All-Star games to his credit played in the big leagues (Ripken and Gwynn). However, closing in are three long serving Yankees. Will they be next to join this exclusive club? A look at the 15+ club, and at which current players have hopes of one day joining those ranks.
MLB Players with 15+ All-Star Games To Their Credit
Hank Aaron 1954-1976 (25)
Willie Mays 1951-1973 (24)
Stan Musial 1941-1963 (24)
Mickey Mantle 1951-1968 (20)
Cal Ripken 1981-2001 (19)
Ted Williams 1939-1960 (19)
Rod Carew 1967-1985 (18)
Carl Yastrzemski 1961-1983 (18)
Yogi Berra 1946-1965 (18)
Al Kaline 1953-1974 (18)
Brooks Robinson 1955-1977 (18)
Pete Rose 1963-1986 (17)
Warren Spahn 1942-1965 (17)
Tony Gwynn 1982-2001 (15)
Ozzie Smith 1978-1996 (15)
Roberto Clemente 1955-1972 (15)
Nellie Fox 1947-1965 (15)
Next in Line?:
Alex Rodriguez 1994-2010 (14)
Derek Jeter 1995-2010 (12)
Mariano Rivera 1995-2010 (12)
Ichiro Suzuki 2001-2010 (10)
Albert Pujols 2001-2010 (9)
Note: The first All-Star game was not played until 1933, which is why you won't see the likes of Babe Ruth or Cy Young in this club.
National League East Champions: Philadelphia Phillies-On paper, it is nearly impossible to pick against the Phillies in 2011. Not since the Atlanta Braves of the 1990’s have we seen such a lockdown starting rotation, with four potential Cy Young candidates all on the same roster. After stealing Cliff Lee from the clutches of the Yankees and Rangers during free agency, the Phillies have the ability to shut down even the most potent of lineups on any given night. As good as Philadelphia seems at the moment, there are a couple of questions surrounding this ball club. Despite a solid 2010 season, Brad Lidge has been known to implode on occasion, and I believe the Phillies will have to make a move at some point to bolster their bullpen. Also, the departure of Jayson Werth leaves somewhat of a hole in the middle of the lineup. The Phillies will need a big contribution from 23-year-old OF Domonic Brown who is essentially replacing the clutch Werth. Another vital aspect of this Phillies team is the health of both Rollins and Utley, two key components of the lineup who must remain intact in order for Philadelphia to go deep into the postseason. With all of that said, the “four horsemen” should provide enough pitching to wrap up the East with relative ease.
-The NL Central is always a crapshoot, as the Cincinnati Reds proved in 2010. But this season, I believe The Beer Makers will be toasting Miller High Life when it is all said and done. Milwaukee started off their quiet but outstanding offseason by nabbing two terrific starting pitchers in Zach Greinke via Kansas City and Shawn Marcum via Toronto. Add veteran pitcher Randy Wolf to the mix and the Brewers have a solid front three in a division that is basically up for grabs. When you break down the Central, there are only really three teams that can threaten for a division crown. Houston, Pittsburgh and Chicago all stink on dry ice, and the Cardinals took a major blow as they mourn the loss of Ace Adam Wainwright to Tommy John surgery. While the Reds will be the favorite to repeat as division champs, I have to give the edge the Brewers based on their starting rotation. The Brew Crew will have to play the closer-by-committee card until a 9th inning man emerges, but I get the feeling that fellow Hebrew Ryan Braun and this retooled pitching staff will surprise everyone and win the Central in a close and exciting race.
-The G-Men won the World Series in 2010 the way it is supposed to be done: phenomenal pitching and timely hitting. And also, they hold a special place in my heart for beating the Phillies when no one thought they had a chance. If you can’t tell by now, I thoroughly enjoy watching Philly teams and their fans suffer. It really revs my engine. The Giants are poised for another run at a National League crown, and should win the West the way they did in 2010. The Giants have Freak Timmy Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jon Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner, who each now have a World Series ring and a year more of experience under their young belts. San Francisco’s lineup does worry me a little because of its lack of power, but that did not slow them down last year en route to glory. And they have the real life “Wild Thing” Rick Vaughn in the bullpen in closer Brian Wilson, who is as hilarious as he is solid in the 9th inning. The Giants should runaway and hide with the West by summers’ end.
-I know what you’re thinking Dosers; your boy has completely lost his mind. That very well may be true, but something amazin’ just may happen in northern Queens in 2011. The Mets have had a tumultuous stretch for the last few seasons, complete with collapses, bad contracts and of course this Bernard Madoff mess that has the Met owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon as broke as a graduate student. I feel like I am describing the New York Giants or the New York Knicks, but this time it is a team I have no rooting interest in: The New York Mets. The Mets refusal to purchase free agents without anything besides Groupon this offseason has left them in a compromising spot, but on paper, the Mets lineup when healthy is pretty damn good featuring now healthy Jose Reyes & Carlos Beltran (both playing for new contracts), Jason Bay, David Wright, Angel Pagan and second year players Iike Davis & Josh Thole who are already fan favorites at Citi Field. New York also has a new breed of extraordinary gentleman running the show, with new GM Sandy Alderson, Manager Terry (not Kerry) Collins and his crew of cronies making educated decisions rather than throwing $30 million contracts at the likes of Super-Bums Ollie Perez and Luis Castillo like former GM Omar Minaya did. I understand that the Mets have a suspect starting rotation that will be without ace Johan Santana until who knows when, but they will have K-Rod back in the bullpen, and have added the likes of Chris Young and Chris Capuano to a staff that features Mike Pelfrey and knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who had an outstanding 2010. I may be going out on a limb this season, but I believe the Mets will win the National League Wild Card in 2011, and restore some dignity to a franchise that frankly could use some. Remember where you heard it first.
Grab your sunscreen and dust off the old score card, the 2011 baseball season is just around the corner! It seems that professional baseball has developed into a year-long event, with a 162 game season, spanning from late March to early November; the hot stove, which carries us from December until early February; just in time for pitchers and catchers to report to sunny Florida or arid Arizona for spring training. Love it or hate it, baseball is back. It was a busy offseason, and clubs have taken on new shape since the San Francisco Giants were crowned World Series Champions last fall, knocking off the Texas Rangers in a series nobody watched. Do not fear though fellow Dosers, your boy is here to break down what should be a very exciting 2011 season for Major League Baseball.
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-The Red Sawx had the best offseason by far, and have to be hungry for a post season return after a disappointing and injury-plagued 2010. Boston has upgraded their already pesky and powerful lineup by adding free agent speedster Carl Crawford and slugger Adrian Gonzalez. Their lineup has gone from solid to downright scary in a matter of months. With a healthy Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and a rejuvenated David Ortiz, the Sox have one of the best offenses in baseball. Mix in a stellar rotation that features young arms Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, along with proven veterans Josh Beckett and John Lackey, and you have a terrifying pitching staff for opposing lineups. The American League East has also weakened a bit, which bodes well for Boston. Tampa Bay has lost some key components, and the Yankees 4th and 5th starters are as questionable as Charlie Sheen’s morals. Look for Boston to win the American League East, barring any major injuries.
-Call it the year of the Sox. Chicago has always been a scary team to me, mostly because I am never quite sure of what Manager Ozzie Guillen will do next. I feel as if he will pop out of the dugout at any time with a machete if you look at him the wrong way, but that is not why I am picking the south-siders to win the Central. The White Sox bolstered their already potent lineup this offseason with the acquisition of slugger Adam Dunn, who should provide more pop to an already potent offense. I believe that the real wild card for this team is the health of Jake Peavy. Peavy has been solid throughout his career and if he can remain healthy would be a dynamite #2 behind ace Mark Buehrle. This division is extremely tough to forecast, because the top three teams all have something going for them. The Twins are solid every year, the Tigers have an outstanding bullpen, but I just feel that the White Sox will finally get enough production out of their young guns (Gordon Beckham & Gavin Floyd especially) to steal the division crown this season. It should come right down to the wire.
-Last year I picked the Seattle Mariners to win the West, which I am still trying to forget about. But this year, I have confidence in the Angels and their ability to rebound after a disappointing 2010 season. Manager Mike Scioscia is a master of his craft and will no doubt have his club ready to go in 2011. The Angels had a quiet but solid offseason, attaining OF Vernon Wells and RP Scott Downs from Toronto. The Angels will always be able to slug with guys such as Hunter, Abreu and even Matsui, but also have a quality front three in their starting rotation. Dan Haren, Scott Kazmir and Joel Pinero are all good enough to win at least 15 games, along with wild card Jered Weaver. But the way the Angels have played their division foes over the last decade, they should have no trouble wrapping up the left-coast crown by the end of the summer. Plus, the West is not exactly the toughest division in baseball. The Rangers are not as good without ace Cliff Lee, Seattle always disappoints, and Oakland is well, Oakland.
@DoseKatzby
Andy Eugene Pettitte will no doubt have his #46 retired in Monument Park at the resort known as Yankee Stadium some day soon. “Big Game Andy” or “Old Reliable” as he is known as, was a fan favorite for thirteen magical seasons in pinstripes, winning over the hearts of the Bronx faithful with his ability to give the Yankees exactly what the needed when they needed it: a clutch performance when the chips where down. But now that Andy has decided to call it quits, the question remains, is Andy Pettitte a Hall-of-Famer? Let the debate begin.
The case for Andy Pettitte in the Hall of Fame is rather simple. He has 19 postseason victories, which is the most all time of any starting pitcher. He has a career record of 240-138, and has never had a losing season in 16 major league seasons. His career ERA is 3.88, and has 2,251 career strikeouts. Pettitte also has 5 World Series rings to bolster his resume, and seven pennants won (6 with the Yankees, 1 with Astros). He also is a 3 time all-star, and won the 2001 ALCS MVP award. These numbers no doubt put Andy Pettitte on the cusp of the Hall-of-Fame, but do they get him in?
The case against Andy Pettitte is also rather simple as well. Pettitte never won a CY Young Award, and by most “experts”, was never considered to be a dominant pitcher in his prime. Pettite also has given up more hits than he has innings pitched. It is also important to mention that Pettitte has the performance-enhancing drugs label draped over him, having admitted use of HGH in 2002 to “recover from an injury”, or so he says. He will forever be tied with known cheater Roger Clemens and known cheating-aid Brian McNamee. One could argue that Pettitte was a victim of the steroid era, but that excuse will not fly with those who strongly oppose letting performance-enhancing drug users into the Hall under any circumstances.
The general consensus from most writers seems to be that they will not vote Andy Pettitte into the Hall-of-Fame whether because of his numbers, HGH use, or just the general feeling that he does not belong. As a die-hard Yankee fan, it is tough for me to argue with the idea that Pettitte does not belong in the Hall, but as a baseball fan I agree that his borderline numbers just don’t cut it. I do believe he falls just short of being inducted, although 19 postseason victories is difficult to argue with. But as a Yankee fan, I will always remember Pettitte for being the most reliable, likeable Yankee to ever wear the pinstripes. I’ll remember the intimidating stare he gave to opposing hitters and the fist pump after an inning-ending double play to get out of a jam. I’ll remember the disappointment I felt when he left for his brief stint in Houston, and the disgust and shame I felt when I found out he used HGH. But I have nothing but love for #46. Andy Pettitte will always hold a special place in my heart, and in Yankee history. And if he doesn’t end up getting inducted into the Hall-of-Fame, I don’t think he would be too upset about it. It’s just not in his God-loving nature. So thanks for the memories Andy; you had a long, prosperous and wonderful career. And if for some reason you get the Brett Favre itch to pitch again, there’s always a place in pinstripes for you. Happy trails, #46.
The Major Splashes:
Washington Nationals:
-Jayson Werth GOT PAID. 7 years, eleventy billion dollars. While most people find this deal to absurd, outrageous and unnecessary, I applaud the Nats for finally making some noise in the NL East. Werth was a staple in the middle of a Phillies lineup that has owned the National League, including 2 World Series trips (1 win, 1 loss) and three straight division crowns. I bumped into Werth in the elevator after he signed his deal. He let off the type of vibe that Dave Chappelle had when he found out he got Oprah pregnant. He is currently taking karate lessons from Bruce Lee’s brother for $7,000 an hour.
Boston Red Sox:
-Carl Crawford, 7 years, $142 million. Not bad for a guy who has never won a title, never hit more than 20 home runs in a season, and has spent his entire career in the homeless shelter they call Tropicana Field. Never mind all that, Boston got themselves a left-fielder who can swipe bags and rip triples like it’s nobody’s business for the remainder of his career. This whole Crawford saga was like a Flavor Flav reality show. He flirted with the Angels and had a date with the Yankees, but ultimately fell in love with a seventh year and Theo Epstein’s wallet. Crawford left Orlando with a huge golden clock dangling from his neck.
-Adrian Gonzalez, acquired in a trade for some no-names and a sack of baseballs. Yo, Adrian! The Red Sox lineup is officially stacked from top to bottom, which makes them the immediate favorite in the AL East. After missing out on Mark Teixeira two years ago and suffering through a disappointing 2009 season riddled with injuries, the Sox landed their franchise first-baseman without giving up very much. Gonzalez will make a large impact with his glove and bat. Now, all they need to do is sign the man.
Skipping Rocks:
-Carlos Pena, 1 year, $10 million. Pena is coming off a bad season in Tampa Bay, but could rediscover himself in Chicago. Also, there is no pressure to win whatsoever on the North Side, these losers expect the worse and usually get it.
-J.J Hardy to the Orioles gives the Birds a solid player. He doesn’t cost a lot, and is a perfect compliment to a team that has been re-building since the 1996 playoffs.
-Miguel Olivo, 2 years, $7 million. Seattle also signed Jack Cust for a year at $2.5 million. I picked Seattle to do some nice things last year, but they fell apart like the Jets in New England. This is a decent start, I guess.
-Melky Cabrera got a 1-year deal from the Royals. It is my belief that Melky is slowly making his way north again to reunite with the Yankees. Until then, he will enjoy hitting .211 in the armpit of the American League.
-Russell Martin also got a 12-month deal from the Yankees, who are still licking their wounds from the Lee debacle.
The Big Fish:
-I caught Cliff Lee soaking in the Hotel Jacuzzi drinking a Busch Light in a camouflage couzy, and got a few words with him about his free agency. His Arkansas accent was tough to decipher, but from what I gathered, he wants money, and a lot of it. The Yankees are the favorite to land the lefty ace as we have known for a while, but something about Nolan Ryan and Texas and being clo
se to home and blah blah blah I still haven’t won a World Series may end up drawing him back to Arlington. He pretty much told me he doesn’t want to play for the Angels because of all the liberals in LA. Lee is also in the Super-Best-Friends club with C.C. Sabathia, which enhances his chances of pitching in the Bronx. **UPDATE**
-As I watched the New York Football Giants smash the Vikings in Detroit last night, my blackberry began to shake like the MetroDome roof. My credible sources, other known as ESPN.com, reported that Cliff Lee would sign 5 year deal worth about $120 million, with a vested player option for a sixth year with Philadelphia Phillies. I texted Yankees GM Brian Cashman to get a response, and he told me he has locked himself in the bathroom and won’t come out until Felix Hernandez is the final year of his contract. Nolan Ryan doesn’t believe in cellular technology, but I am sure he is equally as stunned and dismayed.
-Zach Greinke is available because he plays for the Royals. Greinke is a phenomenal young talent, but is rumored to be a bit of a head case. This has larger market teams afraid to deal value prospects in order to get him because he could implode like Rick Ankiel. However, if the Yankees whiff on Lee, do not be surprised if they deal for Greinke even if it is out of desperation.
Odds & Ends
-The Mets couldn’t afford a hotel room, so they slept in the cars as they worked hard to woo minor leaguers. Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez shared the Presidential suite.
-Yankees GM Brian Cashman slept for six combined hours. He does however carry three separate wallets around with him, just in case.
-Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel does not speak English. It’s more of a gobbley-gook infused with some southern baseball knowledge.
-As I boarded the plane back to New York, I realized that baseball is a joke. I mean these players are so overpaid it’s a disgrace to anyone who has ever worked for anything, and this coming from a Yankee fan. Oh, and I better not hear another word about the Yankees payroll, considering the Red Sox are about to spend $300 million on two players. Let’s just come to the understanding that if you want to compete, you need to spend. Even the World Champion San Francisco Giants have a payroll of $90 million.
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