MLB History

The '90s were an interesting time for baseball. We saw the first Canadian world champion and a strike that devastated the game.

We saw the re-emergence of the Evil Empire and one of the classiest men in baseball break the consecutive games played streak, and we saw a home run chase that made baseball America's pastime once again.

This was all fueled by the players themselves.

St. Louis has been home to many of MLB's greatest players, including Bob Gibson, Lou Brock and Ozzie Smith. 

But no player is more revered in St. Louis history than "Stan-the-Man" Musial. 

Stan-the-Man finished his career with a .331 batting average, 475 home runs, 1951 RBIs and 3630 hits.  He went to 24 All-Star games, won three World Series, and earned the NL MVP three times. 

As ESPN MLB writer Tim Kurkjian put it, "Managing in the Major Leagues is a really hard job."

And to tell you the truth, he is absolutely correct.

Case in point: A.J. Hinch, who along with GM Josh Byrnes were relieved of their duties as Manager and GM of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The D-Backs, once the darlings of 2001, have the second-worst winning percentage in the National League, trailing the Pittsburgh Pirates (whose skipper John Russell is in the managerial hot seat as well). 

Many hitters in the league have powerful uppercut swings designed to hit 40-plus home runs per season, but what 10 hitters have the kind of smooth, level cut that would make them untapped tennis talents?

We’ll begin with a couple honorable mentions, albeit players that are no longer active, and then we'll begin the countdown from No. 10 to No.

In 2009, Trevor Hoffman fooled the Milwaukee Brewers front office, coaches, players, and fans by being nothing short of awesome. In 55 games, he put together a 0.907 WHIP, a 3.43 K:BB ratio, a 3-2 record, 37 saves, and a 1.83 ERA. It was the best season he'd had in a decade.

Hell, I'll bet he even fooled himself.

Truth is, Hoffman hadn't been a truly effective Hoffman-esque reliever in a couple of seasons, and his 2009 performance was likely a mirage. Nevertheless, there were reasons for optimism in Milwaukee going into this season.

Well, it has been a disaster.

RULE 1.09:

The ball shall be a sphere formed by yarn wound around a small core of cork, rubber, or similar material, covered with two strips of white horsehide or cowhide, tightly stitched together. It shall weigh not less than five nor more than 5¼ ounces avoirdupois and measure not less than nine nor more than 9¼ inches in circumference.

The cover of the May 1955 issue of Baseball Digest had a headline that seems more appropriated for a modern supermarket tabloid than for a baseball magazine.

That's right, the last Stephen Strasburg is making a comeback in baseball.

Before Strasburg came around, Prior was the most hyped pitching prospect to come into Major League Baseball. Everything you have heard in the past year since Strasburg was drafted No. 1 overall in the MLB draft was said about Prior nine years ago when he was drafted second overall by the Cubs.

He was built to pitch. His mechanics are perfect. He throws so effortlessly that he won't break down, etc...

How tall do you have to be to ride the rides at the ballpark? Being tall doesn't hurt, but it is certainly no requirement.

In 1999 and 2000, Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson had the honor of standing next to each other as they accepted their Cy Young Award trophies. The vision of the two of them standing together conjured notions of some big time Texas rancher, and the little latino boy he hired to help clear the brush.

But more to the point, Pedro and Randy stood in direct contrast to one another: Randy was there to remind everyone that taller is better with major league pitchers.

By now, it is pretty much agreed upon that Randy Johnson is one of the top five pitchers in the last 20 years and one of the greatest lefties of all time. He is an individual that I loved watching take the mound and intimidate hitters like hardly any other pitcher during what has become known as the Steroid Era. 

(New York, NY) -- In a new book on the world of Wall Street corruption, author Randall Lane manages to shed some light on the long time speculations of one of Philadelphia former darlings, Lenny Dykstra.

Dyrstra, a member for the 1993 NL Champion Phillies, became a wall street and market speculation guru after his playing days and has been involved in current controversy over money he was given to influence his stock tips.