MLB History

Albert Belle was one of the most feared athletes in sports, both on and off the field. Albert produced some offensive seasons that challenged those of the greatest sluggers the game has ever known.

With a lifetime .295 batting average, 381 home runs, and a .564 slugging average, Belle had a great career statistically, but he does not belong in the Hall of Fame.

One need not worry. The only way he will get in is to pay the admission fee.

Those who know me, those who follow my "Sound Offs" on "Vegas Unwrapped", or on these and other hallowed Blog pages know if nothing else, I rarely hit the panic button. Nor do I demand change for the sake of change only or because of one incident alone.

I wanted to give my opinion on Joe Girardi wanting to pull CC Sabathia before the ninth inning of last Saturday's game at Tampa Bay.

Sabathia was cruising along with a no-hitter into the 8th inning, when with two outs Kelly Shoppach, a former teammate of CC's at Cleveland, singled to left.

Even before the ball landed, Girardi was out of the dugout to remove Sabathia.

Bernie Williams' baseball career ended under circumstances that seemed mysterious to some individuals, but not to those who know him.

Williams has basic values he will always honor. His parents taught him to treat others the way he wanted to be treated, and all he asks is that others provide him the same respect he gives them.

Bernie Does Not Reveal His Feelings

Williams has never felt completely at ease with other people and never reveals his feelings easily, if at all.

Arch Ward was the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune from 1930 until his death in 1955. He was a powerful, influential individual who could sell sand at Jones Beach.

In 1933, during the Great Depression, Ward argued that "baseball needed to show that it was not in a state of decadence."

Chicago was going to have the Century of Progress World's Fair that summer and Ward suggested that an all-star game between the two leagues would bring baseball to new heights.

On April 14, 1947, Major League Baseball was a whites-only sport. Not since the expulsion of black players in 1888 had a non-Caucasian man swung a bat or thrown a pitch in the Big Show.

That changed on April 15, 1947, when Jackie Robinson suited up for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field.

Today is the 63rd anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier. April 15, 1947 is arguably the most historic date in baseball history because of the monumental event that day. Robinson’s courage and accomplishments on and off the field not only changed the landscape of baseball, but society as well.

However, exactly five years earlier on April 15, 1942, Hiram “Hi” Bithorn became the first Puerto Rican to appear in a major league game. He pitched in relief for the Chicago Cubs in a 4-2 loss to St. Louis at Sportsman’s Park.

Trevor Hoffman's quest to reach 600 career saves has become somewhat of a hot topic in recent days in Milwaukee.

Hoffman, the all-time saves leader, has blown two save situations already for the Brewers (3-4) this season.

For Hoffman, the Brewers announced this spring that Miller Park would feature a saves countdown in left field on the scoreboard. Fans can see a large banner of Hoffman, followed by a tracking of Hoffman's historic milestone save by save.

Is that Mariano Rivera?

To pick four players from the history of baseball is what impossible looks like.

To even start, you would have to define the list. In baseball, the difference between position players and pitchers is enormous.

When Curt Schilling started Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS and beat the Yankees, was their a better baseball player than him on that day?

Probably not but that does not mean I am going to carve his face into a mountain.

Babe Ruth might be the greatest baseball player ever but he played in a different era.