MLB History

One of life’s simple pleasures during the summer, especially for a sports fan, is the joy of listening to a baseball game on the radio.

Whether it’s at the lake, in the yard, on the deck, or in the car, a baseball broadcast is like sharing a sports bar conversation with a good friend, reminiscing about past times, current events, and debating which team or player is better.

Baseball is the perfect summer companion…the game has a rhythm that mirrors summer—the pace is gradual, sometimes slow, and often laidback.

The baseball world has lost a legend.

George Steinbrenner, though he never played a game in a Yankees' uniform, was by far, one of the sport world's most influential persons. 

Arguably, outside of Manchester United, the New York Yankees are the most recognizable franchise on the planet.

He did it by re-establishing the Yankees glory by winning championships.

When he purchased the team in 1973, it had been 15 years since their last world championship.

One of the legendary baseball executives passed away today. At the age of 80, George Steinbrenner suffered a heart attack and died in a hospital in Tampa. It was a somber mood around baseball on the day of the All-Star Game, as everyone got the news of his death.

Bud Selig must wonder what the future has in store for him and MLB, after all there are many things that come up and will continue to come up in discussions such as Instant Replay, Inter-league Play, Performance Enhanching drugs issues, Realignment was something in pondered back in March, All-Star Game, and so on. I certainly don't expect any major changes to happen for the rest of Bud Selig's tenure unless he wants to go out with a bang and make some last minute changes sort of like how a lame-duck President does pardons right as he hands to keys off to the next guy.

It’s the perfect time for mid-season Major League Baseball awards.

So, who are my 2010 All-Star Break’s Most Valuable Players, Cy Young award winners, rookies of the year, comeback players of the year, managers of the year, biggest player surprises and disappointments, and biggest team surprises and disappointments?

Let’s begin with the National League MVP. We’ll end with the American League’s biggest team disappointment…

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In the same week, the New York Yankees have suffered two heart breaking losses. The first to pass away was long time public address announcer Bob Sheppard, at 99 years old.

Sheppard passed away on July 11th, and two days later long time Yankees owner George Steinbrenner followed him. Heading into the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star break, Yankee fans and the organization will have heavy hearts.

Remembering the life of George Steinbrenner is a monumental challenge. Steinbrenner lived a full life that was not just confined to being the owner of the Yankees.

The New York Yankees sent seven players to Angel Stadium for the All-Star game. This past week they've sent two legends to Angel heaven. Baseball lost a legend today and he's looking down on us now.

The problem is, most people looked down on him during his ownership career that began in 1973. What a career it was. As a young Yankees fan I sit here and try to write this but something doesn't feel right. As I watch current players Andy Pettite and Alex Rodriguez along with current coach Joe Girardi speak about Mr. Steinbrenner's passing one thing stands out to me.

The cries are audible. "In my day, the All-Star game meant something." Baseball purists hearken back to the days of yore when the All-Star game stood on its own merit. The players hustled, the nation stopped to watch.

For various reasons, that just wasn't the case anymore until the past few years. An embarrassing tie game in 2002 led to Bud Selig's decision to attach meaning to the "Midsummer Classic."

It was at a baseball card show in Dec. 2000, a few months after New York's first subway series since 1956.

I had the opportunity to speak with Tug McGraw.

The father of one of my students, Becky Hisler, ran the show. The theme was, of course, the subway series.

Almost all the players signing autographs had been or were still on the New York Yankees or the New York Mets.

My son, Scott, wanted Doc Gooden's autograph. We went into a large room where Gary Carter, Doc Gooden, and Tug McGraw were signing.

New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner has died in Tampa, Florida at the age of 80.

Though one of the most despised, controversial, and notorious owners in the long history of Major League Baseball, Steinbrenner must also be remembered as one of the greats, a giant amongst men.

During Steinbrenner's tenure, the Yankees captured 11 pennants and seven World Series championships.