MLB History

If I win the lottery, I want to buy a sports team.

Be it the Orlando Titans, the Orlando Predators, an MLS franchise or, if I had the money, the Orlando Magic.

And I would invest all my money to make them the greatest team ever.

Just like George Steinbrenner.

In 1973, George Steinbrenner did what every die-hard sports fan wishes they could do. He used the fortune he made in his father's shipping business and bought his favorite team. That team happened to be the New York Yankees.

Not by himself initially, but eventually, he would own it all.

He spent big. He won big.

George Steinbrenner reshaped baseball and one of its most prized franchises when he took over the New York Yankees in 1973. The Yankees responded to his leadership by winning seven World Series titles during his reign.

Two days after the Yankees lost their long time friend and announcer Bob Sheppard, they have another loss to mourn. George Steinbrenner passed away this morning from a heart-attack, leaving years of success and an empire behind.

The New York Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner III, was rushed to the hospital in Florida. This is the latest from New York's ABC affiliate, Eyewitness News, whom was the first to report that the Yankees owner was rushed to St. Joseph's hospital. 

The Boss' condition is still unknown and the entire Yankees Universe is praying that he is recovering well. The man is 80 years old, but he remains young in the hearts and minds of all Yankee fans that had a chance to see him run the team to several championships. 

After watching Monday's Home Run Derby, I couldn't help but notice the names on the board just didn't carry the anticipation and ambiance of years gone by.

David Ortiz certainly has his place in history as a clutch power hitter in one of the most storied venues in all of baseball. However, he must have had the same feeling Yao Ming has standing amongst his fellow countrymen.

This is the second in a series of decade-by-decade looks at the greatest double-play combinations of all time. If you haven't read the first one, you should go here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/411082-up-the-middle-the-top-10-doubl...

The 1980's were a decade of double plays. It started in 1980, when "The Bad News Bears: Double Play" was released, to little fanfare (it was much worse than the original).

Welcome to the first edition of Stat School.

Every Wednesday, I’ll be taking you through one crucial stat that you should be using in your player evaluations and how it affects future performance.

It’s called Sabermetrics .

Ken Griffey, Jr. retired earlier this year. He was in the midst of the worst season of his career, failing to hit any of his career 630 home runs in 2010. Still he will go down in history as one of the greatest sluggers the game of baseball has ever seen.

But he left the game with one major accomplishment missing from his resume: a World Series ring.

And he’s not the only great player to retire without winning it all.

If the pattern holds, then every five years the Chicago White Sox General Manager/Manager combination of Kenny Williams and Ozzie Guillen will put together a great team and make a run at the World Series.

Because they did it in 2005, and they've done it again in 2010.

Philadelphia Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. can breathe a sigh of relief.

Now that former Phillies pitcher and fan favorite Cliff Lee has been traded to the Texas Rangers, Phillies fans will no longer be scoreboard, watching every five days wondering "what if?"  

Lee's starts will no longer be Chinese water torture for a Phillies team with three reliable starters and two train wrecks.  

Phillies fans will no longer calculate and recalculate the math it would have required to keep Lee.

The Chicago White Sox All-time Starting Rotation

Imagine you are the lucky individual chosen to select the Chicago White Sox all-time starting rotation for a special fantasy league. 

Your rotation would then have to face off against every other team’s rotation to determine a champion.  Whom would you select?  Who would back up your top five starters and close out games?