MLB History

Do you ever have the feeling life is passing you by at a speed that prohibits real examination? I’m afraid I’m guilty of this lifestyle misdemeanor at times.

But every once in a while, I apply some brake pressure as a sporting crosswalk approaches. I have to remind myself that it’s worthwhile to stop and smell the pine tar.

One such crosswalk involves the hushed voices and polite applause of golf. Whenever I have the opportunity to watch Tiger Woods play, I thank my lucky stars.

Time has a way of stripping us of everything we love. It lures away our youth, diminishes our health, and steals our innocence. Sometimes, the latter of these is the hardest to take.

As Kevin Costner’s character Billy Chapel, of the Detroit Tigers, walked to the mound at Yankee Stadium during the ninth inning of the 1999 classic “For Love of the Gamem,” he stared at his baseball as if to ask for help.

Being 40 years of age and having played over 19 seasons, his youth was far from gone, his health was in question, and his innocence compromised.

Does anyone remember Mark "Hard Hittin'" Whiten?

I do and very well, also. You probably thought that in my "Does Anyone Remember..." series that I only use football players. Well I use other players, too. I also will do MLB, NBA, PGA, and probably boxing in my series.

So now I'm with Mark Whiten. Now I have a reason to use every player for my series. I usually get it from my player cards. And that is how I found Mark Whiten with that.

The rivalry between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox is often said to be the best in baseball, if not in all of American sports. It is not as ancient as some passionate fans may think, however.

It certainly is not as venerable as the competition between the Cubs and Cardinals, which dates back to a championship series played in 1885. Nor does it have the longevity of the feud between the Dodgers and Giants, which began when the two teams encountered one another in postseason play in 1889.

I’m not sure if anyone else feels this way, but as I have gotten older, my love of sports has diminished.

Not enough to make me not obsessed or anything, but it’s easy for some interest to wane due to those things called “responsibilities." I am also now older than many of the players and it’s kind of strange to worship those so much younger than you.

Baseball is a different story, though.

Welcome back to the Shakedown!

Last week we introduced our latest “Monthly Mustache Shakedown” with a look at the “Best Hair & Mustache Combo.”

For week one we chose “The Big Mullet” Randy Johnson, just five wins away from 300, and a man who has consistently sported a fine Mississippi Waterfall-style mullet to compliment his fine looking labia sebucula (Latin for “lip sweater”).

Face of the Franchise:  Bob Feller

Manager: Lou Boudreau

C - Sandy Alomar
1B - Hal Trosky
2B - Nap Lajoie
3B - Ken Keltner
SS - Joe Sewell
OF - Tris Speaker
OF - Earl Averill
OF - Joe Jackson
DH - Manny Ramirez
Bench: 1B/DH Jim Thome, SS Lou Boudreau, OF Charlie Jamieson, Kenny Lofton

In an era where the long ball is valued much more than a batting average, on-base percentage, or clutch performance, hitters that fail to come up with a sizable amount of home runs after they play into their mid-30's are frequently shoved out of the world.

A hitter whose so sole contribution is power (i.e. Ryan Howard, Mike Jacobs, Reggie Jackson) typically has a much shorter career than those hitters whom depend on speed, and batting average. The age of 40 is a death sentence for a hitter. Point in case; Barry Bonds.

(Sorry, Notre Dame fans, Baseball only)

With the Yankees opening a new stadium in a week, it only seems fitting that we count down the top photos taken at or about the House that Ruth built.

Yet, the question remains: How will my generation carry the great Yankees Stadium memories to our children?

Through pictures.

I have compiled a few pictures that really seem meaningful to Yankees Stadium.

Click next to see the first of ten.

They are instructed that "voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played."

This has been the charge of the baseball writers who determine which players are worthy for inclusion in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

There are several players now in the Hall of Fame who make for an uneasy fit if we take the Hall of Fame prescription seriously.

Ty Cobb