An MLB Record Twenty-Two Years Between MLB Mound Appearances

September 4, 2013 by
Paul Schreiber - back in the day. Twenty-two years between MLB mound appearances - "For the Love of yhe Game."

Paul Schreiber – back in the day. Twenty-two years between MLB mound appearances – “For the Love of yhe Game.”

On this date (September 4) in 1945, right-hander Paul Schreiber took the mound for the New York Yankees (at Yankee Stadium) with the Bombers trailing the Detroit Tigers 10-0 in the top of the sixth inning.  Schreiber acquitted himself well, throwing 3 1/3  scoreless, hitless innings (two walks, one strikeout).  The 42-year-old Schreiber made his way into the MLB record books that day – notching the longest period of time between major league mound appearances – 22 years and 2 days. 

Schreiber’s most recent previous appearance in an MLB game had come on September 2, 1923, for the NL’s Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers).  In that game, the 20-year-old, 6’ 2”, 180-pound hurler, came in in the eighth inning of a game in which the Robins trailed the Phillies 11-3.  Schreiber gave up three walks and one earned run in two innings.  It was Schreiber’s 10th MLB appearance (nine in 1923 and one in 1922) – and he had a career 0-0 record with a 4.15 ERA in 16 innings pitched.  Little did he know that he wouldn’t take the mound in another MLB game for more than 20 years.

Here’s how it happened.  In 1924, Schreiber suffered an arm injury that pretty much ended his major league pitching career – but not his hopes nor his love of the game.  In the decade that followed he played minor league and semi-pro ball and, eventually, came back to the major leagues as a batting practice pitcher, coach and scout (until he retired in 1964).

Schreiber served as a batting practice pitcher and coach for the Yankees in the 1930s and 1940s (and later joined the Red Sox staff).  In 1945, with the season winding down, the Yankees well out of the race (67-59 record), and rosters depleted by World War II, the Bronx Bombers called coach Schreiber out of the bullpen.  In addition to that September 4 game (described earlier), Schreiber was given another “mop up” appearance on September 8, coming to the mound in the ninth inning of a game in which the Yankees trailed the Tigers 9-4.  In that outing, he gave up two runs on four hits.

Schreiber never did get that elusive major league win, but – thanks to circumstances and his love of the game – he did make the record books.  Just how did Paul Schreiber feel about the game? He is quoted in the March 1953 issue of Baseball Digest as saying, “The pitching mound during batting practice isn’t the safest place to be, but I wouldn’t trade places with the President of the United States.”   Amen to that!

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“Tacks” Neuer – Five Not To Be Forgotten Weeks

August 28, 2013 by
"Tack" Neuer's MLHB career - short, but sweet.

“Tack” Neuer’s MLHB career – short, but sweet.

On this date (August 28) in 1907, a left-hander pitcher named John Stein Neuer made his debut for the American League New York Highlanders (Yankees) tossing a three-hit, complete game shutout (besting the Red Sox 1-0).  Over the next five weeks, Neuer pitched in six more games – starting five.  In those five starts – including his final starting assignment on October 3 – he tossed two more complete game shutouts.  His line for the season, 4-2, 2.17 ERA (the league ERA was 2.54), six starts, six complete games and three shutouts.  Surprisingly, this budding star never appeared in another MLB game – making him, analysts maintain, the only player to begin and end his career with a complete game shutout.

How forgettable was the meteoric career of John Neuer?  Even his nickname has been lost to the ages.  A search of available records will find Neuer listed as “Tex” Neuer, an unusual moniker for the Ohio-born, Pennsylvania-raised hurler. In other accounts, he is referred to as “Tacks” Neuer – more likely, since in the vernacular of the day, “Tacks” was used to refer to athletes noted for erratic behavior, a description that fit Neuer’s life and pitching styles.  At other times, Neuer is also referred to as “Izzy,” “Bugs” and “Nervy Neuer.”   BBRT believe “Tacks” to be most accurate, and it also appears the most commonly used to describe Neuer.

So, what happened to the career of John “Tacks” Neuer?

Neuer got his initial taste of professional baseball with Wilkes-Barre of the New York State League in 1905 at the (old for a pro-rookie) age of 28 – tossing a complete game shutout (against Syracuse) in his first start. In the minor leagues, Neuer often showed brilliance n the mound, but was also subject to bouts of wildness – a combination that kept teams interested, but also frustrated management enough to keep Neuer on the move.

In 1907, the Philadelphia Phillies signed the erratic southpaw, hoping to harness his potential.  Failing to develop his control during Spring Training, Neuer was sent back to the minors, where low control and high potential saw him travel from Trenton and Providence of the Eastern League to Savannah of the South Atlantic League (after receiving his unconditional release from the Phillies).

In Savannah, something seemed to click and on August 23 (after several stellar minor league starts), his contract was purchased by New York’s AL club.  This started John Neuer’s five-week MLB career – that opened and closed with a pair of three-hit shutouts.

In Spring Training 1908, Neuer decided that instead of working to refine the “stuff” that got him to the big leagues, he would work on some new (trick) pitches, including the knuckleball and the spitball.  The result was that Neuer’s control, never a given, completely deserted him and he started the season back in the minors (Newark) – where, in his first game, he walked nine and hit two.

Neuer bounced around minor league and semi-pro ball for a few years, continuing to show flashes of dominance, accompanied by a frustrating lack of consistency.  But after tossing three complete shutouts in six 1907 MLB starts, his career at the top of baseball’s ladder was over.  Still, BBRT envies the time “Tacks, Tex, Izzy, Bugs, Nervy” Neuer spent in the big leagues.  And, for today at least, John Neuer is unforgettable.

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Baseball Haiku

August 7, 2013 by
PEDs have muddied up the record books.

PEDs have muddied up the record books.

P-E-D scandal

Puts asterisk in my heart

Marks tainted records

 

More Baseball Haiku from BBRT on Twitter  @DavidBBRT     #BBHaiku

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Tom Cheney’s Remarkable 21-Strikeout Performance

August 2, 2013 by
Cheney, sent 21 Orioles down swinging and looking, in a record-setting performance.

Cheney, sent 21 Orioles down swinging and looking, in a record-setting performance.

As Yu Darvish notched 14 strikeouts in seven innings yesterday, BBRT observed a lot of online chatter about his chance to reach the twenty-strikeouts in a game record of Kerry Wood and Roger Clemens. Woods and Clemens did indeed strikeout 20 batters in a nine-inning game (as did Randy Johnson in the first nine-innings – before being relieved – of an 11-inning contest).  What I didn’t read was much recognition for a slight (5’11”, 170-pound) righthander named Tom Cheney, who struck out a record 21 hitters in a single (extra inning) major league game – a 16-inning contest between the Washington Senators and Baltimore Orioles (in Baltimore) on September 12, 1962.  So, BBRT will use this post to give Cheney his “props.”

The 27-year-old Cheney began the night with a 5-8 record on the season (and a 9-18 career record).  He didn’t strike out anyone in the first inning, and had only one strikeout after two, but players later said his curveball was electric and he had total control of his fastball.  The result?  After sixteen innings,  Cheney had a complete game, 2-1 win, and a new strikeout record.

His line looked like this.

IP        H    R    ER     BB    SO

16      10    1       1        4      21

The scoreboard looked like this:

Wash.  100 000 000 000 000 1      2  10  0

Balt.    000 000 100 000 000 0      1   10 2

Cheney threw 228 pitches.

Four players fanned three times each:  Second baseman Marv Breeding; Pitcher Dick Hall; Center fielder Dave Nicholson; Right Fielder Russ Snyder.

The losing pitcher was Dick Hall, who tossed 8 1/3 innings in relief.

The game was won on a home run in the top of the 16th by Senators’ first sacker Bud Zipfel, who also drove in the Senators first-inning run (on a groundout) and went three-for-seven in the game.  The 16th inning homer was the tenth and final home run of Zipfel’s two-year, 118-game major league career (.220-10-39).

The final out was a called strike out of pinch hitter Dick Williams (yes, the Dick Williams who went on to a long career as a major league manager.).  Williams, by the way, had a 13-year (1,023-game) MLB career as a player – in which he hit .260, with 70 homers and 331 RBI.

Cheney finished the year at 7-9, 3.17, and went 19-29, 3.77 for his eight year MLB career (1957-66).

Inning by inning strikeouts for Cheney looked like this:

1st  –  0

2nd  – 1

3rd  –  3

4th  –  1

5th  –  3

6th  –  1

7th –   0

8th –   2

9th  –  2

10th – 2

11th – 2

12th – 0

13th – 0

14th – 2

15th – 1

16th – 1

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Twitter – Something New for BBRT

July 29, 2013 by

twitterBBRT is giving Twitter a try.  Follow @DavidBBRT.   I’ll be tweeting baseball haiku, trivia questions and answers, comments on plays/players of the day and random thoughts.  Here’s an example – my first two haiku tweets.

 

 

 

Six to four to three

Graceful end to the inning

American ballet

                         and

Braun admits “mistake”

More names, shame, soon to follow

Game will survive

 

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Trout Cycle – More To Come?

May 22, 2013 by

Mike Trout – Big Day at the Plate.

Yesterday, May 21, 2013, Mike Trout of the Angels became the youngest American Leaguer (21-years-old) to hit for the cycle (Could this final wake up the lagging Angels).  He now has plenty of time ahead to reach the MLB records of two cycles in a season and three in a career.  In honor of Trout’s achievement, BBRT looks at some “cycling records.”

  •  Youngest major leaguer ever to hit for the cycle – The New York Giants’ Mel Ott – age 20 – on May 16, 1929.
  • Oldest major league to achieve the cycle – the Angels’ Dave Winfield – age 39 –  on June 24, 1991.
  • The record for cycles in a career is three, shared – appropriately – by three players:  Bob Meusel, Babe Herman and John Reilly,
  • Only four players have hit for the cycle twice in a season, including the Diamondbacks Aaron Hill just last year.  The others: Tip O’Neill, Babe Herman and John Reilly.
  • A “natural cycle” – single, double, triple, homer in order – has been achieved 14 times.

 

Finally, BBRT would like to revisit a one-time-only cycle event that we touched on in a posting last season. On July 27, 1998, Tyrone Horne of the Double-A Arkansas Travelers hit professional baseball’s only “home run cycle” – banging a solo home run, two-run homer, three-run homer and a grand slam in a single game (a 13-4 road victory over the San Antonio Mission.) 

Horne, at the time, was in the midst of a stellar minor league season in which he would go .313 with 37 home runs, 140 RBI, 95 runs scored and even throw in 18 stolen bases.  Immediately after the historic game, Horne headed off to the Texas League All-Star Game where he won the Home Run Derby.  Horne, by the way, never made it to the major leagues – completing a 13-year (1,286 game) minor league career with a .288 average and 143 home runs.  The bat he used that historic day, however, has made it to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

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Chilly Beginning to Twins Season

April 2, 2013 by

Baseball is back in Minnesota – “cooler” than ever.

BBRT was in the stands – on the very chilly third deck – for the Twins home opening 4-2 loss to the highly-compensated Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers.  BBRT survived a brisk wind and temps that my IPhone indicated dropped into the twenties during the game (other sources quoted the low at 34 degrees), but came close to not surviving the $8 price tag on a cup of vendor-delivered hot chocolate.  Among the keys to my enjoyment were long underwear, two pair of gloves, boots and earmuffs – all Opening Day firsts for BBRT. All around me I saw stadium (ballpark) blankets, hoodies, hats with earflaps – and, of course, truly “ice cold” beer.  And I could have sworn I saw a couple of hitters sporting mittens instead of batting gloves.

Still it was baseball and the well-bundled crowd enjoyed the atmosphere of Opening Day.  As for BBRT, I dutifully kept my scorecard up to date until my pen stopped  delivering ink in the eighth inning, when I retreated to the already crowded (Kent) Hrbek’s Pub to catch the final nine outs on the big screen (in a crowd that drew warmth from each other).

Overall, the 3 ½-hour game was less than cleanly played, as the players, at times, seemed to have trouble getting the feel of the ball (2 errors, three wild pitches). Twins fans did get to see a lot of new faces, including the starting pitcher (Vance Worley), who proved his Minnesota-worthiness by taking the mound in bare-armed short sleeves and new leadoff man Aaron Hicks (who helped justify Verlander’s new contract with three early strikeouts).  And, there were MVPs in abundance – Verlander, Miguel Cabrera (also last year’s Triple Crown winner), Joe Mauer (also a three-time batting champ) and Justin Morneau. And, there was the tension of a close game – the Twins left twelve men on base in a 2-run game and just couldn’t seem to get the big hit (or sacrifice fly).  Having twelve batters go down on strikes will do that to you.  For BBRT, the season was officially welcomed in the second inning, with the first (witnessed by me) 6-4-3 (Florimon to Dozier to Morneau) double play.  For BBRT, double plays are a thing of beauty.

In addition, the beer was cold, the hot dogs steaming (as was my breath), the ball stark white against green grass and blue sky, the crack of the bat as sharp as ever, the scorecard cheap and informative, the home team garb plentiful throughout the sellout crowd – and there was a full slate of games being reported on the scoreboard.

So, all in all, despite the cold, there was plenty to enjoy at Target Field.  Most important, however, baseball is back!  BBRT note: Also enjoyed a truly cold pre-game brew with Ballpark Tours operator Julian Loscalzo on Cuzzy’s Bar & Grill’s outdoor patio – a markedly Minnesotan way to precede the opener.  (See www.ballparktours.net for info on this year’s trips.)  Julian’s beloved Phillies opened in Atlanta, where it was reportedly in the 70s. 

Clayton Kershaw – a shutout and a homer on Opening Day. LET THE PITCHERS HIT!

While Julian may have envied the fans in Atlanta, I was envious of those in Los Angeles, who not only enjoyed the California warmth, but saw HOFer Sandy Koufax toss out the first pitch – and then enjoyed their Dodgers beating the long-time rival Giants 4-0, behind Clayton Kershaw’s complete-game shutout.  They also witnessed Kershaw becoming the first pitcher since Bob Lemon (in 1953) to hurl a shutout and hit a homer on Opening Day.  The result reminded me – one more time – of why I still oppose the DH.  A couple of other reasons:  On June 23, 1971, Phillies’ right-hander Rick Wise no-hit the Reds at Cincinnati 4-0 (one walk, three strikeouts) and also drove in three runs with a pair of homers (he would hit six dingers that year) – making him the only pitcher to hit two homers in a no-hit performance.  Another reason?  The first National Leaguer to hit two grand slams in a single game?  Atlanta Braves pitcher Tony Cloninger, in a July 3,  1966, 17-3 road win over the Giants.  Cloninger also added a single and had nine RBI in the contest.  So, I say, let the hurlers hit.

In a final Opening Day thought – since April 1 was this year’s official Opening DAY (versus March 31, Opening NIGHT) – BBRT offers a tribute to late MLB umpire John McSherry, who suffered a fatal heart attack while working the plate at the Cincinnati Reds’ home opener (against the Expos) on April 1, 1996.  Seven pitches into the contest, McSherry called a timeout and began to walk toward the Reds’ dugout before stumbling and falling.  McSherry, a 25-year MLB umpiring veteran, had been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and was scheduled to see a doctor the next day. It was reported that McSherry had cancelled an earlier appointment because he didn’t want to miss Opening Day.   McSherry was rushed to a hospital, where the 51-year-old was pronounced dead about an hour later.   (The game was postponed and played, from its beginning, the following day.)

Well-respected and well-liked, McSherry worked a dozen post-season series, including the 1977 and 1987 World Series, as well as the 1975, 1982 and 1991 All Star games. He was behind the plate for Larry Dierker’s July 9, 1976 no-hitter, as well as for the 1977 World Series contest in which Reggie Jackson belted three home runs. He was also behind the plate, doing what he loved on April 1, 1996.

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

AL Division Winners – 2013 Predictions

February 28, 2013 by

 

The next couple of posts will take a look at BBRT’s annual “predictions,” starting with the American League – where I expect quite a shakeup at the top, including a playoff scenario that does not include the Red Sox (new attitude, not as much talent) nor the Yankees (age and injuries catching up).  First the individual awards, then the Division Winners and Wild Cards

MVP – Evan Longoria

Longoria puts in a full season and leads the Rays to a Wild Card spot.  He edges out Mike Trout and Albert Pujols of the Angels (who suffer the fate of playing on a team with three potential MVP’s – Trout, Pujols, Hamilton) and Miguel Cabrera, who splits support with Justin Verlander and Prince  Fielder.  Supporting evidence?  In 2012, the Rays were 47-27 with Longoria in the lineup, 43-45 without him. 

Cy Young – Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander brings home the trophy, finishing in the top three in pretty much every pitching category.  His main competition comes from the Rangers’ Yu Darvish and the Angels’ Jered Weaver

Rookie of the Year – Jurickson Profar

In a close race, Rangers’ switch-hitting infielder Jurickson Profar’s combination of power, speed and defensive ability enables him to not only earn an early season spot in the everyday lineup, but also to squeak by Rays outfielder Wil Myers in the ROY race.

Now for the Division Winners:

WEST – Angels

Albert Pujols will have even more help in the Angels lineup this season.

Once again, the Angels went big on the free agent market – adding Josh Hamilton to a line-up that already featured Albert Pujols, Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo.  Last season, that quartet put up 135 home runs and drove in 411 runners.  The Angels also have some speed, with Trout’s 49 steals, second baseman Kendricks’ 14 and shortstop Erick Aybar’s 20.  The starting pitching is solid at the top with Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson, but it gets a bit thin at 3-5 (Jason Vargas, Tommy Hanson and Joe Blanton).  Of greater concerns is whether the relief corps goes deep enough with off-season acquisition Ryan Madson (tabbed as closer) recently suffering a setback in his Tommy John rehab.  Ernesto Frieri seems ready to fill that gap, having saved 23 games a year ago (80 strikeouts in 54 innings).  Still, BBRT thinks the offense will be enough to bring the Angels home in first place this  time.  The rest, in order of finish:

Rangers … Still plenty of offense (Adrian Beltre, Nelson Cruz, David Murphy, Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler) and pitching (Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland and Joe Nathan.  But losing Josh Hamilton and missing out on Zach Grienke  will see them falling short.

A’s … Young pitching may keep them in the race, but not much offense after Yoenis Cespedes, Josh Reddick and Brandon Moss.

Mariners … Everything pretty thin after King Felix.

Astros … New league, same result.

 

EAST-Blue Jays

R.A. Dickey takes his knuckler … and Cy Young credentials … to the Blue Jays.

Used to be the off-season for the AL East was all about the Yankees and Red Sox making move and counter move in an effort to finish at the top.  Move over tradition – the Blue Jays are here.  There was the 12-player trade with the Marlins that brought Toronto the likes of shortstop Jose Reyes (considered to have had a bit of an off season in 2012, despite going .287, with 11 home runs and 40 steals); second baseman Emilio Bonifacio (30 steals in 2012); and a pair of solid starting pitchers in innings-eating lefty Mark Buehrle (13-13, 3.74) and Josh Johnson (8-14, but with a 3.81 ERA last season).  Then they added the NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey from the Mets.  Also new to the team is Melky Cabrera, out to prove his solid pre-suspension numbers for the Giants weren’t all PED-related.

These new cast members joined holdovers like righty Brandon Morrow (10-7, 2.96 in 21 starts); power-hitting Edwin Encarcion and Jose Bautista; and third-baseman Brett Lawrie (just 23), who went .273-11-48 in his first full season in the bigs.  The supporting cast looks just fine as well.  Catcher J.P. Arencibia contributed 18 roundtrippers and 56 RBI; and outfielder Colby Rasmus added 23 homers and 75 RBI.

The bullpen, led by Casey Janssen (1-1, 22 saves, 2.64 and 67 strikeouts in 64 innings), Sergio Santos and Darren Oliver may not have “star power,” but should be strong enough to help move the revamped Jays from last year’s 73 wins to 91 and first place in a very tight AL East.  The rest of the Division: 

Rays … Quality pitching and a full season of big banger Evan Longoria keeps them in the race, but they’re one bat short.

Yankees … Still a lot of talent on this squad, but age and injury  take their toll.

Red Sox … Clubhouse attitude should be vastly improved, product on the field just enough to climb out of the cellar.

Orioles … 2012 Cinderella team here’s the clock strike midnight.  No true ace on the pitching staff (Wei-Yin Chen led starters with 12 wins last year) and – despite balanced lineup, the Orioles comes back to reality.  Two things not likely to repeat:  a 29-9 record in one-run games and 51 saves from Jim Johnson (although 40 is a real possibility).  

 

AL CENTRAL – Tigers

Miguel Cabrera will help power the Tigers back to the World Series.

Not much contention here.  Whether it’s power bats or power arms, the Tigers have what they need to take it all in the AL Central.  The offense is led (at the corners) by Triple Crown and MVP winner Miguel Cabrera (.327-44-139) and Price Fielder (.313-30-108), while the pitching staff boasts consistent Cy Young candidates Justin Verlander (17-8, 2.64) and Max Scherzer (16-7, 3.74) – who finished 1 & 2 in the AL strikeout race.

Offensively, the Tigers also expect solid contributions from centerfielder Austin Jackson in the leadoff spot (.300, with 103 runs, 16 home runs and 16 stolen bases a year ago.) They let post-season hero Delmon Young slip away in the off season, but added veteran outfielder Torii Hunter, who comes into the season at 37-years-old – but also off a .313-16-92 season with the Angels.  He should more than make up for Young’s loss at the plate, in the field and in the club house.  The Tiger are also excited about Andy Dirks and Avisail Garcia (27- and 22-years-old, respectively) – who both performed well in limited time last year. 

The coming season will also see the return of Victor Martinez (at DH), who missed all of last season (knee surgery).  In 2011, Martinez, with a lifetime .303 average over ten seasons, hit .330, with 12 home runs and 103 RBI.  A return to even near-form would be like adding a premier free agent.  At the bottom of the lineup, you’ll likely find steady shortstop Jhonny Peralta, catcher Alex Avila and second baseman Omar Infante, who will hold their own. 

Getting back to the starting rotation, 3-4-5 look to be Doug Fister, Anibel Sanchez and either Rick Porcello or Drew Smyly.  With the offense the Tigers bring to the plate, that rotation should be more than enough.

The only question mark is the relief staff.  The Tigers let closer Jose Valverde leave via free agency and the leading candidate to replace him appears to be 22-year-old flame-throwing rookie Bruce Rondon – who moved from A to AA to AAA a year ago, going a combined 2-1, 1.53 with 29 saves and 66 punch outs in 53 innings.  There’s plenty of experience in the rest of the pen, with Octovio Dotel, Joaquin Benoit and Phil Coke.  But, if Rondon falters, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Tigers go out and get a bonafide ninth-inning hurler.

All in all, Detroit is a well-balanced squad that should easily win the Central – followed by:

White Sox … Solid starting pitching (Chris Sale, Jake Peavy, John Danks, Gavin Floyd) and some Punch in the lineup (Paul Konerko, Adam Dunn, Alex Rios and youngster Dayan Viciedo), plus off-season pickup (3B) Jeff Keppinger (.325 with the Rays last year) help keep the White Sox in the race.  Still the Sox have more questions (Danks’ recovery from surgery, Konerko’s age, can Flowers replace Pierzynski) and less talent up and down the roster than the Tigers.  

Royals … Took steps forward in the off-season, but after newcomers true “ace” James Shields and Wade Davis, the starting rotation lacks a record of consistency.  Still, a strong  bullpen and the bats of Alex Gordon, Billy Butler and Alcides Escobar should keep them at or near .500.  To go further, they need more from high-potentil corner  infielders Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas and a return to form at the back end of the rotation (Ervin Santana, Bruce Chen, Jeremy Guthrie).

Indians … The tribe made strides on offense with the addition of Nick Swisher and Micheal Bourn and they are strong up the middle with (c) Carlos Santana, (2B) Jason Kipnis, (SS) Asdrubal Cabrera and newly acquired speedy center fielder Drew Stubbs.  Questions remain at the corners and in the rotation – number-two looks like Ubaldo Jimenez (9-17, 5.4o last season).

Twins … The Twins’ off-season moves appear good for the future, but the outlook for 2013 is not as bright.  A revamped pitching staff  looks to include acquisitions Vance Worley, and Mike Pelfrey – both coming off surgery – as is holdover Scott Diamond, the Twins’ best 2012 starter.  Could be a lot of work for a solid bullpen, led by closer Glen Perkins. There is some potential in the lineup with former MVPs Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, slugging outfielder Josh Willingham and steady Ryan Doumit.  Still, there are questions in the infield and center field (where the Twins traded away Denard Span and Ben Revere). But there is hope on the horizon, with prospects like pitchers Trevor May, Alex Meyer and Kyle Gibson (who could make the 2013 rotation) and infielder Miguel Sano in the wings.  

Wild Cards:  Rangers and Rays.

 AL Champion:  Tigers … Verlander and Scherzer provide the edge, as two offensive juggernauts (Angels/Tigers) face off. 

Coming soon … a look at the NL. 

Filed Under: News, Rants & Raves, Uncategorized

SPBA – Winter Fun While It Lasted

January 19, 2013 by

The fall of winter on Minnesota – finally getting those anticipated sub-zero days – brings back fond memories of a season (season-and-a-half, really) of very unique Winter Ball.  It was a season in a league that:

The League has its own logo and …

– featured the teams like the St. Petersburg Pelicans and West Palm Beach Tropics – the Divisional winners;

– played in Florida (and briefly Arizona and California) from early November to the opening of MLB Spring Training;

– allowed no players under the age of 35 (32 for catchers);

– attracted former players like future Hall of Famers (Rollie Fingers and Fergie Jenkins), MVP winners (Vida Blue, Fingers, George Foster), Cy Young Award recipients (Blue, Fingers, Mike Cueller) and Rookies of the Year (Jon Matlock, Bake McBride, Al Bumbry) to name just a few of the marquee names found on the league’s rosters.

… an official ball signed by Commissioner Curt Flood and …

The SPBA’s bevy of managers/player-managers included such baseball men as Earl Weaver, Dick Williams, Clete Boyer, Bobby Tolan, Pat Dobson, Bill Lee, Graig Nettles and Gate Brown.

I’m talking about the 1989-90 (and abbreviated 1990-91) seasons of the Senior Professional Baseball Association (SPBA).  The league, which opened play in November of 1989, had eight teams in two divisions – playing a 72-game schedule.

The teams, and their 1989-90 finishes, were:

Northern Division

St. Petersburg Pelicans            42-30

Brandenton Explorers             38-34

Orlando Juice                          37-35

Winter Haven Super Sox        29-43

 

Southern Division

West Palm Beach Tropics       52-20

Fort Meyers Sun Sox              37-35

Gold Coast Suns                     32-39

St. Lucie Legends                   20-51

… even a set of baseball cards.

Among the league leaders were:  Tim Ireland (.374 batting average); Jim Morrison (17 home runs); Ron Washington (73 RBI); Kim Allen (33 steals); Milt Wilcox (12 wins); Bill Campbell (2.12 ERA); and Rick Lysander (11 saves).

In the first weekend of February 1990, the league’s top four teams participated in league championship (single elimination) playoffs, with the St. Petersburg Pelicans (managed by Bobby Tolan) ultimately defeating the West Palm Beach Tropics (managed by Dick Williams) 12-4 to take the SPBA’s first and only championship.

For its second (1990-91) season, four of the league’s eight teams (Orlando, Winter Haven, St. Lucie and Gold Coast) folded, the Brandenton team moved to Daytona Beach and the SPBA added one team each in Arizona (Sun City Rays) and California (San Bernardino Pride).  Low attendance continued and, on December 28, less than halfway the season, the league was disbanded.

BBRT still thinks it was a fun – if impractical – idea.  And, it did attract some big “name” (former) players – even if it didn’t attract enough fans.  (The sports page coverage was minimal, which also didn’t help.)  To provide an indication of the quality or  former players in the SPBA, BBRT has put together a career-based starting lineup drawn from the SPBA rosters:

Catcher

Jerry Grote … MLB career 1968-81, two-time All Star, age at start of 1989 SPBA season – 37

First Base

Cecil Cooper … MLB career 1971-87, five-time All Star, two-time home run champion, two-time RBI champion, age at start of 1989 SPBA season – 39

Second Base

Bill Madlock … MLB career 1973-87, three-time All Star, four-time batting champion,  age at start of 1989 SPBA season – 38

Third Base

Graig Nettles … MLB career 1967-88, six-time All Star, one-time home run champion, two Gold Gloves, age at start of 1989 SPBA season – 45

Shortstop

Bert Campaneris … MLB career 1961-81, five-time All Star, six times led the league in stolen bases, once led the league in hits, age at start of 1989 SPBA season – 47

Left Field

Bobby Bonds … MLB career 1968-81, three-time All Star, three gold gloves, twice led the league in runs, age at start of 1989 SPBA season – 43

Center Field

Amos Otis… MLB career 1967-84, five-time All Star, three gold gloves, one time led league in stolen bases, twice led league in doubles, age at start of 1989 SPBA season – 42

Right Field

George Foster … MLB career 1969-86, five-time All Star, 1977 NL MVP, two-time home run champion, three-time RBI leader, one-time runs scored leader, age at start of 1989 SPBA season – 40

RH Starting Pitcher

Fergie Jenkins … MLB career 1965-83, BB Hall of Fame 1991, 1977 Cy Young Award, three-time All Star, seven-time 20-game winner, twice led league in wins, four times led league in complete games, age at the start of 1989 SPBA season – 46

LH starting pitcher

Mike Cueller … MLB career 1965-83, 1969 Cy Young Award, four-time All Star, four-time 20-game winner, led league in wins and complete games once each, twice led league in winning percentage, four times lead league in complete games, age at the start of 1989 SPBA season – 52

RH Reliever

Rollie Fingers … MLB career 1968-85, 1981 Cy Young Award, 1981 AL MVP, seven-time All Star, three times led the league in saves

LH Reliever

Al Hrabosky … MLB career 1970-82, led the league in saves and winning percentage once each, age at start of 1989 SPBA season – 40

Just a few other SPBA player names that might ring a bell: Bill “Spaceman” Lee; Al Bumbry; Jim Rice; Toby Harrah; Dave Kingman; Blue Moon Odom; Vida Blue; Hal McCrae; Steve Busby; Mickey Rivers; Wayne Garland; Louis Tiant; Cesar Cedeno – and the list could go on and on.

Notably, several of the SPBA players eventually signed “second chance” major league contracts, including Ron Washington, Joaquin Andujar, Paul Mirabella, Dave Collins, Dan Boone, Ozzie Virgil, Jr., and Tim Stoddard.

All in all, I wish the idea had worked – it gave fans some “old, but new” baseball to  help warm our hearts in the dreary winter months between the World Series and Spring Training.  BBRT retains fond memories of baseball’s brief senior league.

To learn more about this unique experiment,  I’d suggest Peter Golenbock’s book “The Forever Boys” and David Whitford’s “Extra Innings.”

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Favorite Baseball Songs

December 13, 2012 by

Here’s a little BBRT holiday present – a link to my favorite baseball song “America’s National Pastime” – immortalizing Dock Ellis’ 1970 LSD-fueled no-hitter.

America’s Favorite Pastime

Here are my top five favorite baseball tunes:

1. ” America’s Favorite Pastime” – Todd Snider (1999).  Tops my list because I love the Dock “Ellis-Dee” story and Todd Snider is also a favorite of BBRT.

2. “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”  – by Jack Norworth/Albert Von Tilzer (1908).  Got to be near the top of any list just for the memories we all have singing this during the seventh-inning stretch at the ballpark.

3. “Talkin’ Baseball” – by Terry Cashman (1981).  A “catchy” look at the gloried history of the game.  What other song “drops names” like: Willie Mays;  Mickey Mantle; Duke Snider; Ted Kluszewski; Roy Campanella; Stan “The Man” Musial; Yogi Berra; Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto; Hank Aaron; Ralph Kiner; Bob Feller; Sal “The Barber” Maglie; Don Newcombe; Casey Stengel; Bobby Thomson; Jackie Robinson; Reggie Jackson; Rod Carew; Vida Blue – and many more, even little Eddie Gaedel – and adds historic context?  A must-hear for any baseball fan.  In a just world, this song would probably top this list.

4. “Centerfield” – by John Fogerty (1985).  We’ve all felt the “Put me in coach, I’m ready to play” emotion of the chorus of this rockin’ baseball anthem.  It just makes me want to grab a glove and hit the field.

5. ” The Greatest” – by Kenny Rogers (1999) –  If you’ve even fanatisized about being a baseball  hero, you’ve got to love this song and the youthful optimism of its hero.

And an honorable mention goes to:

Go Cubs Go – by Steve Goodman (1984).  Love the post-win enthusiasm of Wrigley field fans as they belt this tune out after every  Cubs’ win.

 

 

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