Archives for August 2012

Major League Encounters – 100 Very Personal Stories that Get to the “Heart” of our National Pastime

August 30, 2012 by

Major League Encounters gets to the heart of the national pastime, and those privileged to play it at its highest level.

Major League Encounters

By Larry LaRue

Reader Publishing Group 2012

 

$11.95 print – eBook $3.99

Amazon.com

Barnesandnoble.com

Baseball Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski earned his way into the HOF more with his glove than his bat – he was known as a second baseman who could capture a moving baseball and skillfully turn it into a double play.  In long-time sportswriter (more than three decades) Larry LaRue’s first book –  Major League Encounters – LaRue proves he can capture a moving baseball story and skillfully turn a phrase as he tells it.

In 100 real vignettes over 255 pages, LaRue gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at what drives the men – and boys – who earn the rare opportunity to play the game at its highest level.  Readers get the benefit not only of LaRue’s sportswriter’s access, but of his knowledge of the game, powers of observation, interview skills and way with words.

The stories range from heart-warming to heart-breaking and from comic, to tragic, to dramatic.   They are stories of weakness and stories of courage – of success, failure and perseverance – of veterans who enjoyed long careers and players with shorter, less-stellar stats sheets.   Most of all they are very personal stories, glimpses into the heart of the game and those who play it.  

You’ll read about:

–  The forces that drove Jim Abbot, who won 87 games and threw a no-hitter, despite being born with no right hand;

– The trials of Ken Caminiti, the 1996 NL MVP, who LaRue writes “kept his demons close and hid them well,” and who died at age 41 from “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and opiates;”

– The passion for the game that drove utility man Rich Amaral, who LaRue tells readers “kept chasing baseball long after it stopped chasing him;”

– Hall of Famer hurler Bert Blyleven’s legendary sense of humor and skill at applying a devastating hot foot (when he was with the Angels, the team had a fire extinguisher in the dugout labeled “In case of Blyleven – Pull;”

– Cal Ripken, Jr.’s love of the game “Every day, it’s like being a little kid again;”

– Pitcher Freddie Garcia, who had a “capacity for fun that might have killed a lesser man.”

In terms of reading enjoyment, not only are the stories compelling, LaRue has a way with words that gets right to the point and pulls you into (and through) each story.  Consider these opening lines:

The Barry Bonds’ story begins “Follow Barry Bonds for a few days and the three words most used to describe him – by friends, teammates and coaches – were ‘That’s just Barry.’  Occasionally, they were meant to be complementary.”

Then there are the opening lines for power hitting first baseman and 1995 AL MVP Mo Vaughn, “Mo Vaughn read newspapers, which never made him doubt his talent.  Occasionally, it made him wish he was illiterate.”

LaRue’s insight into two-time AL batting champion Edgar Martinez begins with “The first time the Seattle Mariners offered him a contract, Edgar Martinez turned them down because he had everything he wanted – a factory job and a new Toyota.”

Or Reggie Jackson:  “There were four or five Reggie Jacksons and I got to meet all of them in the year we were together with the California Angels.”

Depicting current Seattle Mariners pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen, who made it to the majors in 2011 at age 27, LaRue begins: “At 19, Tom Wilhelmsen faced a life-changing decision – continue his career as a highly rated minor league prospect or keep smoking dope.  For Wilhelmsen the choice was clear.  He walked away from baseball, became a bartender and traveled the world, smoking as he went.”

If you’re a baseball fan, this is a great book to keep on your bed stand, carry aboard an airplane, take to the beach, enjoy at a coffee shop or even read between innings at a ball game (when you put your scorecard down.)  The only problem is you’ll start out planning to pass the time by reading just a few stories and find yourself committing to “just one more” again and again.

Are all 100 stories absolute gems?  No, but LaRue’s batting average is well north of .900 – and that makes Major League Encounters highly entertaining, a hit with BBRT and recommended reading for the avid and casual fan.

 

Filed Under: Reviews

Tokyo Dawgs – Spicy Version of Their Chicago Cousin

August 25, 2012 by

Chicago Dogs are a Windy City tradition and favorite of sports fans – particularly baseball fans. With their sweet relish, pickle spears, peppers, tomato, onion, mustard and (the key ingredient) celery salt, they go great with a cold beer and home team rally.

Baseball, of course, is now a mainstay of Japanese life and culture and – in honor of Japan’s players, fans and teams – BBRT would like to share our recipe for “Tokyo Dawgs,” a unique spin-off of the Chicago favorite. Here’s what you’ll need for a respectable batch of these delightful game-time treats. (I’ll note where the Tokyo Dawg, departs from its Chicago cousin.)

Ingredients:

– 4 hot dog buns – Preferably, bakery poppy seed buns, but you can make it work with traditional hot dog buns

– 4 all-beef hot dogs – BBRT prefers quarter-pound, skin-on franks; they have that nice “pop” when you bite into them.

– 4 spicy dill pickles spears – A change from the Chicago Dog regular dill spears; BBRT leans toward Gedney® Zingers.

– 8 ripe tomato wedges

– 1 finely chopped small white onion

– 8 sport peppers

– Yellow mustard

– Wasabi sauce – This replaces the sweet green relish in the Chicago Dog, adding the green color and more “bite.” BBRT suggests Kikkoman® or Silver Spring®.

– Celery salt

– Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Optional add-on.

– Cracker Jack –  (A Tokyo Dawg add-on, not in the Chicago Dog recipe.

 So how to you prepare these puppies?

Directions

  1.  Heat hot dogs in boiling water for 5 minutes; then transfer to the poppy seed buns. (Note:  If you can’t find poppy seed buns, you can make them.  See the end of the recipe.)
  2.  Place a spicy dill pickle spear on one side of each hot dog, balanced by a pair of tomato wedges on the other side.
  3. Sprinkle chopped onion (to your taste) over the hot dog – between the pickle and tomato wedges.
  4. Squeeze/squirt/spread yellow mustard over each hot dog … then do the same with the Wasabi sauce.  (The amount and pattern should reflect your personal taste.)
  5. Top each hot dog with a pair of sport peppers.
  6. Sprinkle with celery salt.
  7. I like to add a bit of shredded cheddar, but that’s just a cheese-lovers option.
  8. Serve with Cracker Jack – The caramel corn sweetness is a nice compliment to the “heat” of the spicy pickles, peppers and Wasabi.

Note:  If you can’t find poppy seed buns, try this.

– Use good bakery hot dog buns.

– Brush the outsides of the buns with melted butter (1/2  teaspoon per bun) and sprinkle lightly (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per bun) with poppy seeds.

– Bake inside-down for 4-5 minutes at 350 degrees – be careful not to over bake.

The hot and spicy Tokyo Dawg – great with a cold beer and a ball game.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Two Homers in One Inning – Thoughts and Trivia

August 23, 2012 by

Adrian Beltre, long under-appreciated, has joined the “two-homers-in-one-inning” club.

On August 22, 2012, Adrian Beltre hit two home runs in the fourth inning of the Texas Rangers’ 12-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles – becoming the 57th major leaguer to hit two dingers in one frame.

For BBRT, the feat brings to light how underappreciated Beltre has been for much of his career.  In his 15 seasons, Beltre has topped 20 home runs in a season ten times (only eight other third basemen can make that claim) and now has 332 home runs, 1,064 runs and 1,186 RBI to go with a .278 career batting average.  He’s also reached double digits in stolen bases six times and been awarded three gold gloves (though he deserved more.)  In 2004, he recorded an NL-leading 48 home runs, along with 121 RBI, 104 runs and a .334 batting average.

Despite these achievements, Beltre – who made it to the majors with the Dodgers in 1998 at age 19 – was not selected to his first All-Star team until 2010 (at age 31).  He repeated as an All Star in 2011 and 2012. Still only age 33, Beltre has a chance to put up career numbers that will place him among the games elite thirdsackers – and he is finally receiving appropriate recognition for his solid career.

So, there is my rave on Adrian Beltre, now a bit of two-home-run inning trivia, and then a list of the players who have gone yard twice in an inning.

Most notable on the list is the Cardinals’ Fernando Tatis who, on April 23, 1999, not only hit two homers in an inning – but hit two grand slams in one inning.  It was the 11-run third inning of the Cardinals 12-5 win over the Dodgers in LA.  Equally surprising to BBRT is the fact that Dodgers starter Chan Ho Park was on the mound for both grand slams (the second finally drove Park from the game).  Park’s inning went like this:  single – hit batsman – single – home run – ground out, first base to pitcher – home run – walk – walk – fielder’s choice – error by first baseman – single – fly out to right field – home run – relieved by Carlos Perez, who got the final out of the inning on a foul pop up.

On May, 2002, Brett Boone and Mike Cameron became the only two team mates to hit two home runs in one inning – and they did it in the same inning (a ten-run first in a 15-4 win over the White Sox) and they did it back-to-back.

Only three players have achieved two home runs an inning twice in their careers:  the Pirates’ Jeff King (April 8, 1995 and April, 30, 1996); the Giants’ Willie McCovey (April 12, 1973 and June 27, 1977); and the Expos’ Andre Dawson (June 30, 1978 and Sept. 24, 1985).

Also of note are the Indians’ Carlos Baerga (August 8, 1993), theCubs’ Mark Bellhorn (August 29, 2002) and the Angles Kendrys Morales (July 30, 2012) the only three players to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning.  Finally, the Braves’ (Boston) Bobby Lowe (May 30, 1894) and Mariners’ Mike Cameron (May 2, 2002) each achieved a two-homer inning in the midst of a record  four-homer game.  Just 16 players, Lowe was the first, have hit four home runs in a single game.

Here is your two-homer inning list:

2012, August 22 … Adrian Beltre, Rangers

2012, July 30 … Kendry Morales, Angels

2011, Sept. 18 … Pablo Sandoval, Giants

2010, Sept. 23 … Juan Aribe, Giants

2009, August 23 … Michael Cuddyer, Twins

2008, August 12 … David Ortiz, Red Sox

2008, June 21 … Jim Edmonds, Cubs

2007, Sept. 5 … Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

2007, August 12 …  Magglio Ordonez

2007, May 7 … Benji Molina, Giants

2006, July 22 … Julio Lugo, Rays

2004, June 19 … Juan Rivera, Expos

2003, August 20 … Reggie Sanders, Pirates

2002, August 29 … Mark Bellhorn, Cubs

2002, August 9 … Aaron Boone, Reds

2002, July 26 … Carl Everett, Rangers

2002, July 23 … Nomar Garciaparra, Red Sox

2002, June 11 … Jared Sandberg, Rays

2002, May 2 … Mike Cameron, Mariners

2002, May 2 … Brett Boone, Mariners

2000, August 22 … Eric Karros, Dodgers

1999, April 23 … Fernando Tatis, Cardinals

1997, July 13 … Gary Sheffield, Marlins

1997, May 7 … Mike Lansing, Expos

1996, May 16 … Sammy Sosa, Cubs

1996, April 30 … Jeff King, Pirates

1996, Sept. 22 … Mark McGwire, As

1996, May 17 … Dave Nilsson, Brewers

1995, April 8 … Jeff King, Pirates

1994, June 24 … Jeff Bagwell, Astros

1993, Oct. 3 … Joe Carter, Blue Jays

1993, April 8 … Carlos Baerga, Indians

1990, August 27 … Ellis Burks, Red Sox

1989, July 27 … Dale Murphy, Braves

1985, Sept. 24 … Andre Dawson, Expos

1985, June 11 … Von Hayes, Phillies

1980, May 13 … Ray Knight, Reds

1978, July 30 …Andre Dawson, Expos

1977, June 30 … Cliff Johnson, Yankees

1977, June 27 … Willie McCovey, Giants

1974, April 29 … Lee May, Astros

1973, July 6 … John Boccabella, Expos

1973, April 12 … Willie McCovey, Giants

1966, April 30 … Rick Reichardt, Angels

1962, May 23 … Joe Pepitone, Yankees

1959, Sept. 4 … Jim Lemon, Senators

1955, April 17 … Al Kaline Tigers

1949, July 31 … Sid Gordon, Giants

1949, June 2 … Andy Seminick, Phillies

1936, June 24 … Joe DiMaggio, Yankees

1935, August 24 … Hank Leiber, Giants

1928, June 16 … Bill Regan, Red Sox

1925, July 1 … Hack Wilson, Giants

1922, August 7 … Kenny Williams, Browns

1894, June 6 … Jake Stenzel, Pirates

1894, June 30 … Bobby Lowe, Braves

1880, June 10 … Charly Jones, Braves

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News, Rants & Raves, Uncategorized

Triple Play Tidbits

August 22, 2012 by

The Minnesota Twins are the only team to turn two triple plays in one game – in the fourth and eighth innings of a July 17, 1990 loss (1-0) to the Boston Red Sox.

Yesterday (August 21, 2012), the Oakland As turned a triple play (third to second to first/Josh Donaldson to Adam Rosales to Chris Carter) in a 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Oakland.  It was the Athletics’ first triple play since May 29, 2000, and the third triple play in MLB this season.  The Dodgers turned one against the Padres on April 15 andTorontofollowed suit againstKansas Cityon April 20.  Here are a few triple play tidbits, you might find interesting.

– There have been a total of 690 triple plays in baseball history (1876-2012).

– Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson holds the record for hitting into the most triple plays (4) in his career.

–  NY Mets catcher Joe Pignatano holds the distinction of being the only player to end his career by hitting into a triple play in is last MLB at bat – September 30, 1962 against the Cubs.  (Note:  In his one-game/three-at-bat career, Ron Wright of the Seattle Mariners came close.  Wright stuck out looking in in his first at bat, hit into a triple play in his second, and hit into a double play in his third (and final major league) trip to the plate. You can see BBRT’s post of  April 28, 2012, for more details on Wright’s brief career.)

– The Minnesota Twins are the only team to turn 2 triple plays in one game – a 1-0 loss to the Red Sox on July 17, 1990.  Both triple plays were of the “natural” around-the-horn variety:  Gary Gaetti (3b) to Al Newman (2B) to Kent Hrbek (1b).

– The longest scorebook entry for a triple play goes to the Philadelphia Athletics.  In the seventh inning of a May 16, 1913, game against Cleveland they notched a triple play scored (putouts in red):  6-2-5-1-5–4-5-6-5-7 – one of only five MLB instances when the final put out of a triple play was recorded by an outfielder.

– There have been 15 unassisted triple plays in MLB history; 8 by shortstops; 5 by second basemen; 2 by first basemen

– The most likely position player to start a triple play is the shortstop (shortstops have started 149 of the 690 MLB triple plays), followed by:  third base (142); second base (135); first base (87); pitcher (74); catcher (33); center field (27); right field (22); left field (21).

 

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

Bill Veeck – A Champion of Life … and a Great Read

August 20, 2012 by

Bill Veeck:  Baseball’s Greatest Maverick

By Paul Dickson

Walker & Company, 2012

$28.00

 

Where to start?  Where to end? What to include?

There is so much to like about Bill Veeck:  Baseball’s Greatest Maverick – and to like about Bill Veeck himself – that it’s difficult to write a review.   The best place to start is to say that I‘ve probably never had as much fun reading a book.  Nor have I ever interrupted my reading so many times to regale my family with passages and anecdotes.  If you haven’t picked this book up yet, the time is now.  If you are a baseball fan, a humanitarian, a history buff, someone who enjoys a good story, you’ll have a hard time putting it down.

If I had to describe Bill Veeck in  a single sentence (a truly impossible task), I would say he was an individual who lived life – every minute – to the fullest, and brought those whose lives he touched along for the ride.  That spirit pervades this book.  Bill Veeck – in his lifetime, a four-time major league team owner – ignores adversity, tweaks the baseball establishment, champions social justice and brings his version of “play” and “fair play” to life and to the ball park.

While he is often remembered for celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the American League by bringing three-foot-seven-inch, 65-pound Eddie Gaedel to the plate for his St. Louis Browns or for the near-disastrous Disco Demolition night when he owned the White Sox, Bill Veeck’s legacy runs much deeper.  As you will learn on the pages of Dickson’s book, much of what you see as part of today’s game: promotional give-aways; scoreboards that celebrate home runs and victories by the home team; names on the backs of uniforms; expanded concessions; and even quality rest rooms can be traced by to the innovation and initiative of Bill Veeck.  Further, Veeck bullt teams that  captured two league championships and one World Series crown.  And along the way, he earned the love and respect of players and fans and, he would proudly point out, the animosity of fellow owners and baseball’s top administrators.

To Bill Veeck, life was meant to be both fun and fair – for everyone.  He was a man of privilege, who turned away from privilege – except when it meant he could avoid wearing a tie in places or circumstances that seemed to demand that formality.  In 1943, considering military service in World War II, Veeck (given his economic status and celebrity) was offered the opportunity of  an officer’s commission in the Army or Navy (and most likely a safe promotional assignment). Veeck’s sense of fair play instead led him to enlist as a private in the Marine Corps – a decision which would eventually cost him much of his right leg.

It was that same sense of fair play that made him a champion of civil rights and a force in the integration of baseball.  Dickson, in fact, devotes a chapter to Veeck’s plan to purchase the Philadelphia Phillies before the 1943 season, hold a mock all-white spring training and then show up on opening day with an all-Black or primarily Black team. (Veeck was convinced baseball could not turn away Black players while Black soldiers were fighting for the country in World War II.) Before Veeck could complete his purchase, however, word of the plan got out and the Phillies were taken over by the National League and an alternative buyer was sought. (In 1947, Veeck, then owner of the Cleveland Indians, signed Lary Doby as the American League’s first Black player.)

Ultimately, Bill Veeck was an innovator and promoter – a true impresario; a baseball man who knew how to build a winning team; a humanitarian; a social activist; and perhaps the most passionate fan and friend of baseball ever.

Now, I could relate story after story from the pages of Dickson’s book, but it would be more fun if you read it yourself.  So, here are just a few previews of what you’ll find on the book’s pages:

– Bill Veeck hiring a young concessionaire named Jack Ruby (yes, the same Jack Ruby who later gunned down Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas).

– Veeck talking baseball and art with Salvidor Dali.

– Veeck tricking Harry Carey into leading the fans in “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” and justifying it by telling Carey he was perfect for the role because his voice was so bad, the fans would be more than willing to sing along.  ”Hell, if you had a good voice, you’d intimidate them and nobody would join in.”

– Veeck’s testifying in support of Curt Flood (and against Major League Baseball) in Flood’s historic 1970 challenge to baseball’s reserve clause.

– The multiple times Veeck had vendors serve “drinks on the house” to fans in the stands.

– Veeck’s loyalty to Satchel Paige, a loyalty that translated into making Paige MLB’s oldest-ever rookie – and, later, multiple major league opportunities for the Negro League legend.

– Vick’s penchant for joining the fans for a beer in the bleachers, shirtless and in shorts with his wooden leg on display – consistent with his commitment to the everyday fan and his comment that:  “I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats.”

– Veeck’s voracious appetite for reading – 3-5 books each week.

– Veeck overcoming adversity on the field, in the boardrooms of baseball and in the operating room.  (Veeck once described himself as “whole” – defining whole as having “a lung and an eighth, a leg and a quarter, 40 percent of my hearing and one legal eye.”

After Veeck’s death, Dickson reports, Chicago Magazine writer William Brashler had this to say “Somehow, we will have to muddle through Opening Day without him.  And we will have to adjust to a few sad facts:  the gross national consumption of beer has diminished, some say measurably.  Every day now, one good book goes unread.  And marches against handguns and for peace and civil rights have one fewer peg-leg pounding the pavement.”

Bill Veeck was more than a baseball man.  He was, as the last line on his Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque reads “A CHAMPION OF THE LITTLE GUY.”  I’d take it a step further, Bill Veeck was a champion of life.  As a result, this is more than a baseball book.  It’s a book about life – and about living it to the fullest.

I began this review wondering how to start and how to end.  Well, I finally came up with an ending.   All of us have at some time played that parlor game in which you answer the question, “If you could invite five people – past or present – to dinner, whom would you choose?”  I can’t imagine anyone who reads this book leaving Bill Veeck off their guest list.  Take the time to read a truly interesting and entertaining book about a truly interesting, entertaining and impactful fellow.

Filed Under: Reviews

Chipper Jones Continues Flair For the Dramatic

August 17, 2012 by

Chipper Jones has a flair for the dramatic – commemorates his own bobble head night with two home runs.

Last night (August 16, 2012), Chipper Jones – in his farewell season – again showed the keen sense of timing that has part of his Hall of Fame career.   In front of 33,157 fans, gathered for Chipper Jones Bobble Head Night, he became the thirty-eighth major leaguer to have a multi-homer game after reaching age 40, going two-for-four with three RBIs and collecting his 2,700 career hit, 466th homer and 1,614 RBI.  It was, appropriately, also Jones’ 40th career multi-home game.

After the game, Braves manager Freddie Gonzalez indicated Jones’ historic performance should not come as a surprise because Jones has the ability to “raise his game” when the situation arises.  In post-game interviews, Jones said he was especially motivated by his personal bobble head night, wanting to “make a splash and bring people to their feet.”  That he did, indeed.

(For more on Jones’ farewell season, see the BBRT posts of March 25 and April 25.)

Other “forty-plus” players to recently join the multi-homer-game club are Jim Thome and Jason Giambi, who accomplished the feat in 2011.  Thome, in fact, had two two-homer games last season, while Giambi joined an even more exclusive club – on May 19, 2011, he became only the fourth player past the age of forty to hit three home runs in a single game.  Giambi joined Babe Ruth (May 25, 1935); Stan Musial (July 8, 1962); and Reggie Jackson (September 18, 1986) in this more exclusive fraternity.  Jones has a long way to match the king of the 40-year-old multi-homer club.  Hank Sauer – who hit a total of 288 home runs (1941-59) – had eight multi-homer games after passing the forty mark.

Meanwhile, Chipper Jones marches on to a stellar final season, hitting .315 with 12 homers and 53 RBI (in 76 games) for a Braves team that is twenty games over .500, trails NL East leader Washington by just four games and sits atop the NL wild card race.

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

Perfection – Competitive Pressure Never Hurts

August 16, 2012 by

“King” Felix Hernandez last night tossed MLB’s third 2012 perfect game.

Here we go again … for the record-setting third time this season, we’re talking about a perfect game.  Last night, King Felix (Hernandez) threw a “perfecto” (break out the cigars and champagne once more) against the Tampa Bay Rays in a 1-0 win in Seattle.  Hernandez threw 113 pitches in his 12-strikeout performance – becoming the third major leaguer to toss a perfect game in 2012.  Hernandez was preceded in perfection on April 21 by the White Sox Phil Humber, who achieved perfection versus Seattle (at Seattle) 4-0 and the Giants’ Matt Cain, who threw his perfect nine innings in a 10-0 win over Houston at San Francisco.  Notably, these events make Seattle the first team to be on both the winning and losing sides of a perfect game in the same season and Matt Cain the winner in the most lopsided perfect game ever.

So, what’s it take to reach perfection (again, accomplished only 23 times in MLB history)?  From BBRT’s perspective great stuff, a bit of luck and plenty of pressure (not just the pressure that comes near the end of the performance, but pressure from the opposing hurler along the way.)  The fact is, the most common score of a perfect game is 1-0 (seven perfect outings have ended in that score) – and 1-0 and 2-0 contests make up nearly half the perfect outings (11 of the 23).  Here is the tally:  1-0 (seven perfect games); 4-0 (five); 2-0 (four); 3, 5 and 6-0 (two each); 10-0 (once).  Clearly, a close game can help keep the pitcher hurling toward perfect sharp.

For more on perfect games and no-hitters, see the posts of April 21, May 3, June 9, June 14 and July 15.  Wow, with all these post on mound gems, it does seem like the year of the pitcher doesn’t it?

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

The Brotherhood of Excellence – MLB’s Best Siblings

August 8, 2012 by

There are few perfect shapes … and this is one of them.

On Friday August 3, Justin and B.J. Upton became only the sixth pair of brothers in major league history to each achieve 100 home runs.  Justin reached the century mark with a solo shot in the second inning of Arizona’s 4-2 win at Philadelphia (his ninth round-tripper of the season).  B.J.’s 100th was also a solo homer, in the fourth inning of Tampa Bay’s 2-0 home victory over Baltimore.  Notably, it was the only time in MB history when two brothers hit a “milestone” home run on the same day.  And, in fact, on July 20th the Upton brothers each hit their 99th home run – Justin’s a two-run shot in the third inning of an Arizona 13-8 home win over Houston and B.J. with a solo homer in the sixth inning of a 4-3 win over Seattle.  Overall, the Upton’s have homered on the same day 13 times in their major league careers.

Other pairs of siblings who have reached the 100 homer mark include:  Joe and Vince DiMaggio (361 and 125 homers, respectively); Roberto (210) and Sandy (112) Alomar, Jr.; Ken (282) and Clete (162) Boyer; Brett (252) and Aaron (126) Boone; and Bob (156) and Emil “Irish” (106) Meusel.

The Uptons – at 200 combined home runs – have a ways to go to catch the sibling leaders:  Hank (755) and Tommie (13) Aaron at 768.

BBRT would like to use the Upton’s feat to comment on my picks for MLB’s best brother combinations ever.

1.  Paul and Lloyd Waner

This pair of outfielders spent 14 years of their careers as teammates on the Pittsburgh Pirates.  In 1927, the 21-year-old Lloyd averaged .355, with 223 hits and a league-leading 133 runs scored – only to be outdistanced by his 24-year-old brother Paul, who lead the league in batting average (.380), hits (237) and RBI (131).

In a 20-year career, Paul made the all-star team 4 times (the first all-star game came seven years after Paul made the major leagues), won three batting titles, lead the league in runs twice, hits twice, and RBI once.  His career line:  .333 average, 3,157 hits, 113 homers, 1,309 RBI and 1,627 runs.

In his 18-year major league run, Lloyd was a one-time all-star, led the league in hits once and runs once.  His final line: .316 average, 2,459 hits, 27 homers, 598 RBI and 1,201 runs.

Both Paul and Lloyd are members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.  (Paul elected in 1952, Lloyd by the Veterans Committee in 1967.)

2.  Gaylord and Jim Perry

These two pitching brothers – who combined for 529 victories, three Cy Young Awards and eight all-star selections – finish a close second to the Waners on the BBRT brothers list.  Consider 1970, when Gaylord led the NL in wins for the Giants, going 23-13 with a 3.20 ERA, while Jim led the AL in wins for the Twins, with a 24-12 record and a 3.04 ERA.

Gaylord, elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991, finished his career at 314-265, 3.11 – with two Cy Young Awards, and five all-star selections.  He was a five-time 20-game winner and topped the NL in wins three times.

Jim notched a 215-174 record, a 3.45 ERA, three all-star selections and one Cy Young Award.  He led the AL in victories twice.

 3.  Joe, Dom and Vince DiMaggio

Very close race for the third spot, but the DiMaggio’s get the edge since Joe and Dom lost three prime seasons each to World War II (deflating their career numbers).  Let’s look at these brother outfielders in order of prominence.

Joe – 13 major league seasons and 13 all-star selections (kinda tells the story).  The Yankee Clipper also won three Most Valuable Player Awards, two batting titles, one home run title and led the AL in RBI twice.  Joe ended up with a career .325 average, 2,214 hits, 361 home runs, 1,537 RBI and 1,390 runs.

Dom – played in the outfield for the Yankees’ top rival Boston Red Sox (and in the shadow of Brother Joe).  Dom held up his end of the brother tandem, with seven all-star selections in 11 big league seasons.   He twice led the league in runs scored, once in stolen bases.  Finished with a .298 average, 1,680 hits, 87 homers, 618 RBI, 1,046 runs.

Vince – the least stellar of the DiMaggio brothers, like Dom, Vince played for the Red Sox.  Only a .249 career hitter, Vince was known for his defensive excellence in the outfield.  He was a two-time all-star and finished with a .249 average, 125 homers, 584 RBI and 491 runs.

4.  Joe and Phil Niekro

These pitching brothers won 539 games in a combined 46 major league seasons.   In 1970, Joe and Phil tied for the NL lead in wins – Joe going 21-11 with a 3.00 ERA for the Astros and Phil going 21-20 (he also led the league in losses) with a 3.39 ERA for the Braves.

In a 24-year ML career, Phil won 318 games, while losing 274, with a 3.78 ERA.  He was a five-time all-star, two-time 20-game winner, led his league in ERA once and won five Gold Glove Awards.  Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997, Phil also led the NL in games started, complete games, innings pitched and games lost four times each. In 1982, at age 43, he led the NL in winning percentage with a 17-4 (.810) record.

Joe finished his 22-year ML career with a 221-204 record and a 3.59 ERA.  He was a one-time all-star and two-time twenty-game winner.

5.  Sandy, Jr. and Roberto Alomar – Pedro and Ramon Martinez (tie)

The fifth and final spot on BBRT’s list of the major league’s best brother combinations proved the hardest to determine.  The candidates were:  Felipe, Matty and Jesus Alou; Dizzy and Daffy Dean; Pedro and Ramon Martinez; and Sandy, Jr. and Roberto Alomar.  A good case could be made for all four sets of brothers.  Here’s the evidence in support of Roberto and Sandy, Jr. Alomar and Pedro and Ramon Martinez – who tied for this final sport.

The Alomar Brothers

In Roberto’s 17-year career at second base, he earned 12 all-star selections, led the league in runs scored once, and captured ten gold Gloves.  Elected to the Hall of Fame in 2011, Roberto put up solid numbers to earn this spot:  a .300 average; 2,724 hits; 210 home runs; 1,134 RBI; 1,508 runs; and 474 stolen bases.

Sandy Jr.  enjoyed a 20-year ML career at the tough catcher position.  While his numbers were not as flashy as Roberto’s, Sandy was a Rookie of the Year, a six-time all-star and one-time Gold Glover.  His final numbers – .273 average; 1,236 hits; 112 home runs; 588 RBI; and 520 runs scored.

The Martinez Brothers

Pedro, the younger of the brothers, provides the sparkle in this pairing of hurlers, who won a combined 354 games and both had a career winning percentages north of .600.  Pedro notched 219 wins versus only 100 losses (.687 pct.) with a career 2.93 ERA.  The younger Martinez was an 8-time all-star, won three Cy Young Awards, was a two-time 20-game winner and lead his league in ERA five times, winning percentage three times, strikeouts three times and wins once.  In 1999, with Boston, he went 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts.

Ramon had a 14-year ML career in which he went 135-88 (.605 winning percentage) with a 3.67 ERA.  He was a one-time all-star and one-time 20-game winner.  His best year was 1990, when he went 20-6, 2.92 for the Dodgers, with a league-leading 12 complete games – finishing second in the Cy Young voting to the Pirates’ Doug Drabek (22-6, 2.76).

All BBRT can say about all these siblings is “Oh brother, could they play the game.”  Drop in a comment, if you have additional brother combinations that you’d put up for consideration in the top five.

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