MLB History

Major League Baseball , like many other sports leagues, has historically been reactive, instead of proactive when it comes to player and fan safety on and off the field. Unfortunately, it often takes a tragic event to improve the safety of a sport.

On Jan. 1, 1927, former Chicago White Sox shortstop Charles "Swede" Risberg told baseball Commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, in a semi-open hearing, that in 1917, his Chicago White Sox "bought' four games from the Detroit Tigers.

With such a rich and lengthy history, the Cubs have seen roughly 2,000 don the Cubbie blue over the years. Because of that, I thought it would be fun to name who I feel are the top five players for all 26 letters of the alphabet, going by last name.

To qualify, the player needs only to have played at least one game for the Cubs.

Some say baseball can be defined by just statistics, but only a true fan can see past the statistics and see the beauty of the game.  Some people say that a cycle is just four hits, that a perfect game is just another win, a walk off home run is just a hit, that a no hitter is just another win! In the next few weeks I will dive into baseball lore, legend, databases, Wikipedia articles, and my baseball filled brain to try and let you see the beauty of baseball I see every time I see that gorgeous green diamond.

Milwaukee 20, Pittsburgh 0. I nearly dropped my laptop when I saw that score-line the other night. Almost right away, I wondered if it was time for Major League Baseball to implement the mercy rule.

The Milwaukee win isn't actually the best case of a reason to bring in this ruling, also known as the "Slaughter Rule." It was "only" 10-0 after six innings, before the Brewers piled on ten more. (A better example would be the Texas Rangers 30-3 win against the Baltimore Orioles during the 2007 season.)

August 10 was the highlight of the 1969 season for New York Yankees fans.

New York's other team, the beloved New York Mets, would not have its greatest moments until October.

Right from the start let me say that I love Ken Griffey Jr. Without a doubt, he is one of the all-time greats to play the game (so far).

I had to throw the qualifier in because he seemingly has become one of those greats that tarnish their own legacy by playing years past their expiration date. If he was a carton of milk and you drank him, you'd get food poisoning and maybe die.

He currently ranks fifth on the career home run list, with 630. He is 15th all-time in RBI with 1,833, and his roots are firmly planted in the soil of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Despite their early-season struggles, the Chicago Cubs have plenty of reasons not to be afraid just yet. From the revamped minor league system, to a smarter Jim Hendry, to the twenty-fifth man on the roster (and the fortieth in September), the Cubs organization and their ever-loyal fans have no reason to worry about the 2010 season.

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When watching the Los Angeles Dodgers' Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, shades of past glory in California come shining through.

Remember the days of Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco in Oakland? I don't...I was born in the 80's, but I've seen the footage.

Just watching two players electrify a crowd like McGwire and Canseco did draws parallels to today in Chavez Ravine. Add to the beat Silver Slugger Awards for two-thirds of the Dodgers outfield, and the stage is set for a new slugger-duo dynasty.

Extra baseball every once in a while is okay, but right about now the Round Rock Express are likely pretty sick of having to stick it out for extra innings.

Since Monday’s first pitch, Round Rock (the Houston Astros’ Triple-A affiliate) has battled through three straight extended games...as they aim for an extra innings-free contest (and a victory) this evening when the Express host the Omaha Royals.

By the time I decided to post this piece, Round Rock had thankfully held on to beat Omaha 5-2 in a normal nine inning matchup, with Wesley Wright picking up the win and Yorman Bazard