BASEBALL
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Besides the Yankees, the other teams that I can never root for in any sport are teams I think of as mere “Expansion Teams.” I put Expansion Teams in quotes because I am well aware that my definition of what makes a team an “Expansion Team” is peculiarly personal and completely and wholly subjective. Let… Read more
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Even though I have been a member of SABR (Society of American Baseball Research) and a regular visitor to sites like Fangraphs, Baseball Savant, and Baseball Reference, I really have come to consider myself to be a Stat Agnostic, if not an outright Stat Atheist. I enjoy reading articles and hearing people on podcasts discuss… Read more
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On May 27th, St. Louis Cardinals Rookie Leon Durham went 1 for 5 with 1 RBI in first Major League game, as the Cards lost to the New York Mets 5-9. When I first moved to Chicago and started to regularly attend Cubs games, Leon “Bull” Durham was a fixture. In his 10-year career with… Read more
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On May 24th, 1962, former Washington Senator and Cleveland infielder George “Rabbit” Nill died in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I have mentioned here often before that as I “research” baseball history I am naturally drawn to players with the kind of nicknames that you do not see anymore in baseball, or society at large. “Rabbit” is… Read more
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On May 21st, 1987, 24-year-old Gene Larkin played in his first Major League game. I have mentioned here before that I was lucky enough to be at Game 7 of the 1991 World Series where Jack Morris pitched 10 scoreless innings for the Minnesota Twins vs. the Atlanta Braves. The game and the series was… Read more
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On May 20th, 1984, 26,731 baseball fans under the teflon sky of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome got to witness history: the first of 354 career victories by the greatest pitcher of all time.5-4. Over his Hall-of-Fame worthy career, Clemens had a ..649 Winning Percentage (24-13) against the Minnesota Twins, my local nine. The only… Read more
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Yesterday I mentioned an upcoming July trip to Chicago to see the Cubs and the White Sox play. In a couple of weeks, Sue and I will be heading to Wichita to catch the Twins AA Farm Team, the Wichita Wind Surge (and maybe the Kansas City Royals on the way back). I have been… Read more
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On May 17th, 1979, with the wind really blowing out at Wrigley, the Phillies defeat the Cubs in a wild ten-inning slugfest 23-22. Dave Kingman had three home runs and six RBI for the Cubs while teammate Bill Buckner had a grand slam and seven RBI. Mike Schmidt’s two home runs included the game-winner in the tenth inning. The eleven home… Read more
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On May 14th, 1961, Chuck Hinton played his first Major League game. I share a last name with 4 players who played in the Major Leagues: Chuck Hinton (1961-1971) Rich Hinton (1971-1979) Archie Hinton (1945-46) John Hinton (1901) Charles “Chuck” Hinton was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on May 3, 1934. He played outfield… Read more
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On May 13th, 1965, future Hall of Fame pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter pitched in his first Major League game for the then, Kansas City Athletics. I have read in a few places over the years that by some sabrmetrics Catfish Hunter does not really belong in the Hall of Fame. That is, of course, cow… Read more
