Baseball History
This Day in Baseball History
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On this day in 1965, the outer Astrodome ceiling was painted because the sun’s glare made fielding fly balls hazardous. The cost of painting it was $20,000. Painting the roof caused the real grass turf to die and spurred the introduction of artificial turf. So far this season, most of the Minnesota Twins home games… Read more
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On April 12th, 1980, Cecil Cooper and Don Money each hit grand slams in the second inning of Milwaukee’s 18-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. We have all had bad days at the office. Let’s just hope we never have one as bad as Red Sox pitchers Mike Torrez and Chuck Rainey had 46 years ago today.… Read more
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It is Sunday morning, and after a 70-degree day yesterday, today we are looking at highs in the high 30s. It is spring in the North Country. Spring, of course, means baseball. On Thursday, my local nine, the Minnesota Twins, will be opening the 2026 season at Camden Yards when they play the Baltimore Orioles.… Read more
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Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again. ~ Ernie Banks Read more
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Here in the North Country, we finally have temperatures above 40 degrees after a brutal, arctic January. Meanwhile, in Fort Myers, Florida—where the Minnesota Twins hold camp—the temps are in the high 70s and low 80s. It is perfect weather for America’s pastime. Knowing that baseball is being played somewhere where the sun is shining… Read more
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Yesterday was TwinsFest here in the Twin Cities. It’s an annual event hosted by my local nine, the Minnesota Twins, to help fans kick off the coming baseball season. Though pitchers and catchers do not officially report for Spring Training until February 11th, Twins alumni, current players, and coaches are at Target Field this weekend for meet-and-greets, interviews, photo opportunities,… Read more
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Last September here, I wrote a post about my attempt to understand and appreciate the “new” baseball stat of WAR, or Wins Above Replacement. Here is a link to that article. Now, after a year more of struggling to understand it and why it has become so widely accepted, here is how I am thinking… Read more
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For the most part, inter-league play is one of the best ideas that Major League Baseball ever came up with. But having said that, for some reason the American League Central Division Minnesota Twins are ending their season this year with a 3-game series at the National League Eastern Division Philadelphia Phillies. That makes no… Read more
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Yesterday I posted about research I had done on Lead-Off Homers hit by opposition teams/players at the two most recent Minnesota Twins stadiums: Hubert H. Humphrey Dome (1982-2009) vs. at Target Field (2010-present. Today, I want to look at the lead-ff homers hit by the Minnesota Twins in the bottom of the first inning when… Read more
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When I tune into an away game and see that Byron Buxton is batting leadoff for my local nine, the Minnesota Twins, I always feel like the Twinkies have a chance. Nothing sets the tone of a game like a 1-0 start. As readers of ClimbingSky may know, my favorite leadoff hitter of all time,… Read more
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