MLB History

The Cincinnati Reds have a longer, and arguably richer, history than any other Major League Baseball team.

In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings were one of the inaugural teams in the National League. The seven other teams? They've all been defunct for over 100 years.

Think about the year 1869 for a second.

That is only four years after the end of the Civil War ended. Amazing!

The Reds are currently sitting on top of the NL Central...

What's the problem with giving a huge extension to a player before their contract year?  The Philadelphia Phillies are finding out.

The Yankees have had some of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history. This list ranks the top 10 of those legends who wore the pinstripes very proudly during their stay in the Bronx.

To rank the players I used their individual stats while with the Yankees and their success in the postseason. I also took into consideration military service and career-threatening injuries.

Begin Slideshow

Derek Sanderson Jeter made his major league debut 15 years ago today, May 29, 1995.

For any fan of the Yankees, and the game of baseball, it has been a great 15 years. We have all gone along for the ride with this great shortstop.

Jeter made his major league debut with the Yankees 15 years ago, when injuries to Tony Fernandez, and Pat Kelly, required the team to call up their young future star.

Roger Clemens has started some of the most crucial games in baseball history. His team has lost most of them.

Clemens has been called the greatest pitcher of his time, but when scrutinizing his record, one must question that conclusion.

In 1986, his third major league season, Clemens was 24-4, winning his first 14 decisions. He won the American League Cy Young Award. He was voted the league's MVP.

Somewhere, sometime in the history of the baseball world, it was deemed that the Fourth of July holiday should be the benchmark to determine whether your team had a snowball’s chance in Hell of waving the pennant at the end of the season.

Not sure why July 4. Why not Flag Day, June 14? Seems appropriate; the pennant is sometimes called the “flag."

Labor Day is cheating; there’s less than a month left, so that’s hardly a step out onto the limb.

Yogi Berra played catcher for the New York Yankees for 17 years and one season with the New York Mets.

Yogi is one of four players to win AL MVP three times. He also won World Series’ as a manager in both leagues. Yogi Berra played for 10 World Series teams.

Yogi is known for his quotes like, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

Here is my interview with this baseball great:

BW: Did you not like hitting strikes since you are known for being a bad ball hitter?

In 2009, Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer each won his league's Most Valuable Player Award.

For Pujols, it was a unanimous victory and his third MVP Award, tying the non-Bonds record of three, held by many players.

For Mauer, it was almost unanimous - some Tiger-homer voted for Miguel Cabrera - and his first MVP, putting him on the long list of catchers to have won the AL MVP Award.

Other than their 2009 Most Valuable Player Awards, Pujols and Mauer have something else in common - they each lead this list of the top ten players who may one day be the best player to ever play their position.

Tonight, my wife and I took the trip up to Montclair State University to meet Yogi Berra at his book signing event. It was a fun event for both of us and something we enjoyed doing together.

The Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center is located on the campus of Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey.