Spring training is just around the corner, with pitchers and
catchers reporting in a matter of weeks. The lull in major league action did
not stop it from being busy in the world of baseball history. Keep reading for
this week’s notes.
-January 19th marked the fifth year anniversary
of the death of legendary St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Stan Musial.
One of the best hitters of all time (career .331 batting average), he left many
people with a lot of great memories. Some of them are shared in this
piece recently published by the St.
Louis Post-Dispatch.
-Bill James has tackled the problem of comparing
players from different eras. It’s extremely tempting to put two players
side by side and analyze how similar or dissimilar they are, no matter if they
were playing at the same time. There are so many variables that must be
considered when making such comparisons that it literally boggles the mind.
With the Baseball Hall of Fame creating annual debate about the worthiness (or
not) of a multitude of candidates, this conversation of James is a prudent one
to consider.
-Right-handed pitcher Brad Radke
forged an impressive 12-year career with the Minnesota Twins, going 148-139
with a 4.22 ERA between 1995 and 2006. Now retired, one of his primary jobs is
that of a father. While his son Ryan may be a chip off the old block in many
ways, his enthusiasm for baseball is not one of them—as outlined by this Tampa
Bay Times article that details the
high schooler’s contrary love for basketball.
-Joe
Amalfitano has seen many things during a lengthy career in baseball that
included 13 years as a player. While he put up modest stats is not well known
outside of insider baseball circles, he has been around some of the most
remarkable happenings the sport has experienced. This 2015
article by Chris Haft details some of his most memorable recollections.
-The past couple of years the World Series have concluded in
dramatic fashion in the seventh and final game of the season-ending playoff. Fewer
things dredge up excitement in a baseball fan than the mere mention of a “Game
7.” MLB.com has compiled a comprehensive
list of all the Game 7s that the World Series has seen since the Fall
Classic began in 1903.
-Infielder Buck Weaver
was into nearly a decade-long Major League career before being banished for
life for his role as one of the eight Chicago Black Sox, accused of throwing
the 1919 World Series. Although he was not convicted in a court of law and
maintained his innocence until the day her died, he has never been granted a reprieve.
This
site spotlights his life with some amazing photos and informational tidbits
that will be sure to fascinate.
-Is former Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke
Matsuzaka going to make a comeback? It sure seems like he is going to do
his best to try. Last appearing in the major leagues in 2014 for the New York
Mets, the right-hander, now 37, is hoping to revive his career with the
Chunichi Dragons of the Japanese Pacific League after batting shoulder injuries
for the past several years. He has a tryout
scheduled with them for later this month, and it will be interesting to see if
he has anything left in the tank.
-January 18th marked the 45th
anniversary of the Red Sox signing Orlando
Cepeda as a free agent—the first player to be signed
as exclusively to play designated hitter. The pact, which called for a
salary of $85,000, proved to be a good one for Boston, as the 35-year-old
appeared in 142 games, hitting .289 with 20 home runs and 86 RBIs, and helped
the team to a second-place finish in the American League East.
-There aren’t a lot of people who don’t enjoy a good helping
of nachos. This article
details the history of the delicious dish, including how it first made an
appearance in baseball stadiums with the 1976 Texas Rangers.
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