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Tag Archives: Pittsburgh Pirates
21st-c. Ball and the Fans
Is “the umpire blind”? Herewith the first important reviewable play in 21st-c. MLB, which means in the history of North American baseball and possibly anywhere. The video—available as part of the above link describing the game between two of the … Continue reading
Hello, Beatles; Good-bye, Ralph Kiner
I (Evander) am endlessly fascinated by temporal coincidence: I believe it’s called synchronicity. Permit me to play kowtow to my whimsy. As we celebrate the Beatles arriving in the U.S.A. fifty years ago, we say farewell to slugger Ralph Kiner, … Continue reading
Patel and Singh, and Pray for Rain
Among old-time Braves fans, the saying ran “Spahn and Sain, and pray for rain,” or its variant: “Spahn and Sain, and two days of rain.” The reference is to Warren Spahn—perhaps the most overlooked super pitcher (even if he is … Continue reading
DH; or, Designated Hebrew
It’s been forty years (and two weeks) in the wilderness. Ron Blomberg became the first DH on April 6, 1973. From Atlanta and still living there, Blomberg—whom I (Evander) had the pleasure to meet a year ago—went thro his own … Continue reading
Posted in Baseball, Right Off the Bat Book, Right Off the Bat Website, Yankees
Tagged American League, Boston Red Sox, Charley Finley, designated hitter, Hank Greenberg, Jackie Robinson, Kansas City Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mickey Mantle, Minnesota Twins, Moe Berg, Moses Solomon, National Baseball Hall of Fame, National League, New York Giants, Norm Sherry, Oakland Athletics, Orlando Cepeda, Pittsburgh Pirates, Ron Blomberg, Sandy Koufax, Ty Cobb, Walter Alston, World Series, Yankee Stadium
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Predicting the 2013 Baseball Season
The 2013 baseball season, which opens on April Fools’ Day, promises to make a fool of all prognosticators. Nothing new in this. How could one imagine the Fall Classic when spring has barely sprung? To make things even a little … Continue reading
Posted in Baseball, Right Off the Bat Book, Right Off the Bat Website, Yankees
Tagged Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, American League, Andre Ethier, Andrew McCutchen, Aramis Ramirez, Arizona Diamondbacks, Aroldis Chapman, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Bill James, Boston Red Sox, Brian Wilson, Bryce Harper, Buck Showalter, Buster Posey, Carl Pavano, Carlos Gomez, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Clayton Kershaw, Colorado Rockies, Curtis Granderson, Davey Johnson, David Wright, Derek Jeter, Detroit Tigers, Don Mattingly, Felix Hernandez, Fred Lynn, George Steinbrenner, Houston Astros, Ian Desmond, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jesus Montero, Jim Johnson, Jim Leyland, Joe Mauer, Johan Santana, Josh Hamilton, Justin Morneau, Justin Verlander, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, Manny Machado, Marco Scutaro, Mariano Rivera, Mark Teixeira, Marlins Park, Matt Kemp, Miami Marlins, Michael Pineda, Mickey Mantle, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, Minnesota Twins, National League, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Nick Markakis, Norichika Aoki, Oakland Athletics, Pablo Sandoval, Phil Hughes, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Prince Fielder, R. A. Dickey, Robinson Cano, Rogers Centre, Ron Gardenhire, Ryan Braun, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Stephen Strasburg, Theo Epstein, Tim Lincecum, Toronto Blue Jays, Triple Crown, Washington Nationals, World Series, Wrigley Field
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Earl Weaver, Dead at 82, R.I.P.
Though a great strategist in and of what today is called small ball, his favorite play bluntly remained “the three-run home run.” His all-time winning percentage is .583. He led the Baltimore Orioles to three American League championships in his … Continue reading
The Unhappy Recap, Part 2
The Players Tom Seaver’s June 15, 1977, exile to Cincinnati represented the apex (or nadir) of the dismantling of the great and beloved Mets teams of 1969 and 1973. Cleon Jones, Tommie Agee, Ron Swoboda, Nolan Ryan, Rusty Staub, and … Continue reading
Posted in Baseball, Right Off the Bat Website, Yankees
Tagged Bill Buckner, Bud Harrelson, Busch Stadium, Chicago Cubs, Cleon Jones, Craig Swan, Cy Young Award, Dave Kingman, Dock Ellis, Doug Sisk, Duke Snider, Ed Kranepool, Ed Ott, Elliott Maddox, Felix Millan, Frank Cashen, Frank Howard, George Bamberger, George Foster, George Steinbrenner, Japan Central League, Jerry Grote, Jerry Koosman, Jesse Orosco, Joe DiMaggio, Joe Torre, Joel Youngblood, John Milner, John Stearns, Jon Matlack, Lee Mazzilli, Lenny Randle, M. Donald Grant, Mickey Mantle, Mike Scott, Minnesota Twins, Mookie Wilson, National Baseball Hall of Fame, National League, Neil Allen, Nelson Doubleday Jr., New York Mets, Nolan Ryan, Pat Zachry, Pete Rose, Pittsburgh Pirates, Randy Jones, Richie Hebner, Roger Craig, Ron Darling, Ron Hodges, Ron Swoboda, Rusty Staub, Shea Stadium, Sparky Anderson, Steve Henderson, Thurman Munson, Tom Seaver, Tommie Agee, Tug McGraw, Walt Terrell, Willie Mays, Willie Montanez, Yokohama Taiyo Whales
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The Pittsburgh Pirate and James Dean
Sixty years ago as I (Evander) write, as it was 1952, the Pittsburgh Pirates completed one of the worst seasons in Major League Baseball history. The Buccaneers finished with 42 wins and 112 losses, to stagger in an astonishing 54.5 … Continue reading
The Home-run Hitter and the Most Beautiful Woman in the World
From the headline of this blog, it would be reasonable to think, Again on Joe and Marilyn, Marilyn and Joe? But there was another slugger, with the second-highest home-run percentage (next to Babe Ruth) in Major League Baseball history, who … Continue reading
Posted in Baseball
Tagged Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Major League Baseball, Pittsburgh Pirates, Ralph Kiner
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He Jests at Scars that Never Felt a Wound
New York Mets prospect Philip Gregory Humber (not Humbert Humbert or “from Humber,” either), who had a cup of coffee with his drafting-team in 2006 and 2007 before going to the Minnesota Twins in the Johan Santana deal, has pitched … Continue reading
Posted in Baseball, Cricket, Right Off the Bat Book, Right Off the Bat Website, Yankees
Tagged Babe Ruth, Boston Red Sox, David Cone, David Wells, Don Larsen, Ernie Shore, Federal League, Fenway Park, Harvey Haddix, Jim Bunning, Johan Santana, Literature, Major League Baseball, Mike Mussina, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Philip Gregory Humber, Pittsburgh Pirates, World Series, Wrigley Field
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