Harold Friend
I am a science teacher who loves baseball. More likely, I am a baseball fan who became a science teacher because I couldn't hit or throw a baseball.
I received my doctorate in science education from NYU in 1968.
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I received my doctorate in science education from NYU in 1968.
...
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New York Yankees: Clutch Mike Mussina Wasn't to Blame for the Yankees WS DefeatsThe 2001 World Series was tied at two games each. Mike Mussina was facing the Arizona Diamondbacks Miguel Batista in the pivotal fifth game at Yankee Stadium.
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New York Yankees 1997: Trade Mariano Rivera for Randy Johnson or Pedro MartinezThe Seattle Mariners were ready to send Johnson and another player to the Yankees in exchange for (it's difficult to write this it seems so incredible) Ramiro Mendoza, Ricky Ledee and Mariano Rivera.
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Why is a Burn Caused by Steam More Damaging Than One from Boiling Water?We accept too many things for granted. There are so many wondrous events that occur every day that we rarely think about.
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New York Yankees: If Sabathia Makes Cashman a Genius, What Does A.J. Make Him?Brian Cashman fans that claim he is one of baseball's top general managers point to Sabathia as proof of his baseball acumen. Brian Cashman fans that claim he doesn't know what he is doing point to Burnett as proof of his lack of baseball acumen.
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New York Yankees: How Paul O'Neill Shut Up the Yankees and the ExpertsPaul O'Neill had a poor September in 2000, suffering from a hip pointer most of the month. Those few individuals that wondered if O'Neill would miss the playoffs didn't know Paul O'Neill.
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Roger Clemens Acted on Principle at Yankee Stadium and Defended Yankees FansRoger Clemens doesn't back down. A man of principle, he fights for his rights.
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Kenny Rogers and Mariano Duncan for Greg Vaughn or 50 HRs the Yanks LostThe Yankees would send much maligned left-hander Kenny Rogers, along with second baseman Mariano Duncan to the Padres in exchange for outfielder Greg Vaughn and a minor league pitcher.
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Bernie Williams: Comparable to Bobby Murcer and Devon White, Not Mantle or Joe DWilliams, they concluded, was about as popular as Joey Cora with respect to attracting television audiences. His statistics placed him in Bobby Murcer's, not Mickey Mantle or Joe DiMaggio's category
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Paul O'Neill Over Barry Bonds for a World Series Winning Yankees TeamWhen he learned that he had been traded to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for right fielder Paul O'Neill, Roberto Kelly wasn't surprised. He had his theory about the trade.
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New York Yankees: What Cecil Fielder Earned Trumps Prince's New ContractAbout one hour before the approach of the 1996 trading deadline, the New York Yankees acquired Cecil Fielder from the Detroit Tigers. In return, Ruben Sierra and minor league pitcher Matt Drews joined the Tigers.
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George Steinbrenner Wanted to Trade Young Jorge PosadaGeorge Steinbrenner was willing to trade Jorge Posada in an attempt to acquire either San Diego's Rickey Henderson or Boston's Mike Stanley. General manager Bob Watson refused to knuckle under to the Yankees owner.
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New York Yankees Great Mariano Rivera: "You Have it in Your Heart"Manager Buck Showalter started 25-year-old Mariano Rivera against the Oakland A's. It was Rivera's second major league appearance.
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Mariano Rivera Could Have Been a Hall of Fame Starting Pitcher for the YankeesIn his last start at Columbus against the Rochester Red Wings. Mariano Rivera pitched a five inning no-hitter. On July 4, 1995, he was the New York Yankees starter against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park.
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Enos Slaughter: A Crucial Home Run by the Yankee that Never Stopped HustlingEnos Slaughter stepped up to the plate. It was the sixth inning of the third game of the 1956 World Series. The Yankees were in lot of trouble.
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George Steinbrenner was Right to Fear the Mets as Much as the Red SoxGeorge Steinbrenner considered the Mets as great a threat to the New York Yankees supremacy as the threat the Boston Red Sox presented.
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Yogi Berra: Two No-Hitters by the Same Pitcher in 1951 and a WS Perfect GameBerra is the only catcher that has caught two no-hittesr tossed by the same pitcher in a single season and remains the only backstop to call a perfect no-hit game in the World Series.
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Mattingly V. Henderson: Is the Table Setter or the RBI Man More Valuable?Which type of player has greater value to his team, the one that gets on base and sets the table to start a rally or the player who drives in the table setter?
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Robinson Cano: One of the Best Young Players Since the Rookies of 2005Robinson Cano is one player that has lived up to his potential. It is easy to forget the small number of highly heralded youngsters that become stars. Even fewer have enduring careers.
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Derek Jeter: Faster Out of the Batter's Box and to First Than RickeyGene Michael said that Rickey Henderson was the best he ever saw at getting a fast start which, the former Yankees shortstop and director of scouting explained, is the reason that Henderson could steal all those bases and beat out so many infield hits.
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Clemens, Bonds Rodriguez and the HOF: How to Test Your Real PositionFor some individuals, it’s even easier to decide that Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Mark McGwire should be kept out of the Hall of Fame because they cheated.
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Derek Jeter Won the Most Valuable MVP Award of AllDerek Jeter is the only player to be voted the Most Valuable Player in the All-Star and in the World Series the same season.
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Derek Jeter V. Cal Ripken: A Yankees Fan V. An Orioles FanIsa believed that Derek Jeter was better than Cal Ripken Jr. Darven disagreed.
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Jeter and Rivera Will Replace Mantle and Increase the "Magnificent Seven"What do Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Phil Rizzuto, Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, Lou Gehrig and Earle Combs have in common? They are the Yankees “magnificent seven."
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New York Yankees: 2012 Team Might Rival the 1961 and 1998 Yankees SeasonsThe 2012 New York Yankees have a chance to rank among the greatest of all Yankees teams. They could become the fourth greatest, behind the 1998, 1927 and 1961 clubs. They could fail to win the pennant.
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Michael Pineda is the Yankees Missing Piece Needed to Win the World SeriesObtaining Michael Pineda is significant because it means that the Yankees have a solid pitcher to follow C. C. Sabathia during the season and in the playoffs. Of greater importance is that A. J. Burnett will not have to pitch crucial games.
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Rob Neyer: Kick Mickey Mantle Out of the Hall of FameRob Neyer has written a smarmy article in a pathetic attempt to denigrate Hall of Fame voters that have indicated they will not vote for any player who used performance enhancing substances.
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Edwin Jackson, the "Next Doc Gooden," Isn't the Yankees Answer, Mr. SteinbrennerAfter his first start on Sept. 9, 2003, which was his 20th birthday, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Jim Tracy compared Edwin Jackson to Doc Gooden.
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New York Yankees 1962 World Championship Season Disappointed Some ExpertsThe New York Yankees entered 1962 with virtually the same team that had overwhelmed the American League in 1961, with one major difference. All-Star shortstop Tony Kubek was lost to the army for most of the year.
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Derek Jeter Will Break Another of Mickey Mantle's Records in 2012Sometime during the 2012 season, Derek Jeter will break one of Mickey Mantle's New York Yankees records. It will be interesting to see how Jeter's historic at-bat is presented by the Yankees broadcasters.
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Gil McDougald: WS Winner at Each Infield Position and Line Drive TragedyJames Gilbert McDougald was one of the most valuable and versatile players in Yankees history. For his career, he hit .276/.356/.410.
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Sterling and Kay Might Be the Best Broadcasting Duo Ever to Speak into a MikeJohn Sterling and Michael Kay might have been the best broadcasting duo to ever speak to baseball fans.
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Jorge Posada: Outstanding Offense and Intelligence but Not Enough DefensePosada reacted immediately. He pounced on the ball and stepped on home plate to force Jason McDonald for the first out.
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New York Giants No Longer Exist. No, Not the Baseball TeamIn 1929, an NFL team was incorporated as the "New York National League Football Company, Inc". to distinguish itself from the New York Giants major league baseball team.
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Justin Verlander's Strikeouts to Walks Ratio was Topped by Dick Hall (Who?)For the last few years, it has been common to present a pitcher's strikeouts to walks ratio when attempting to evaluate effectiveness or potential. It is simply another tool that is used, but it is one of the weakest of all statistics.
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Curtis Granderson: Not DiMaggio or Mantle, but One of the Best Players TodayIt is unlikely that Granderson will ever be voted into the Hall of Fame, but for his era, Granderson is one of the best players in the game.
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Mark Teixeira: The Yankee Who Never Assumes and Never Stops HustlingMark Teixeira epitomizes the approach to the game that is shared by fewer and fewer players today.
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Ty Cobb Had to Be First Because Nothing Else was Good EnoughIt didn't matter if it involved winning a batting title or beating a broad jump champion. For Cobb, it was first or nothing.
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Brett Gardner is the Right Left Fielder for the New York YankeesThe New York Yankees have a fine left fielder in Brett Gardner. One of the finest defensive outfielders in the game, the speedy Gardner led the league with 49 stolen bases.
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Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Lefty Grove: What Were Some BBWA Members Thinking?Most fans know that Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson were the first players voted into the Hall of Fame. After the first 100 ballots were counted, Cobb and Ruth were on every ballot. Then a strange thing happened.
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Babe Ruth: Seven MVP Seasons but the BBWAs Award Didn't Exist Until 1931Joe Posnanski, a Senior Editor at Sports Illustrated, recently confirmed a fact that at one time didn't need confirmation. No one is even close to Babe Ruth when one considers baseball's greatest player.
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Derek Jeter & Phil Rizzuto: Loyal to the Yankees but More Loyal to TeammatesScanning the field where the Yankees were taking fielding practice,Rizzuto would say to no one in particular, "Where's Jeter? Where's Jeter?"
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Mickey Mantle of the Yankees at His Best was the Best Player of His EraHank Aaron hit .305 to the great Willie Mays' .302. Aaron had an on base percentage of .474 compared to Mays' .484. Aaron's slugging average was .555. Mays' slugging average was .557. Think it's close?
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Reggie Jackson: Arrogance, Anger and ClassThe New York Yankees trailed the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-.3 at Dodgers Stadium in the top of the ninth inning. It was the second game of the 1978 World Series.
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Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb Compared by Traditional and Modern MeasurmentsRuth is clearly the better offensive player compared to Cobb, but let's examine how their eras affected some of the numbers.
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Derek Jeter and Phil Rizzuto: One of the Two Greatest Yankees SS was Never MVPThere is no doubt that Derek Jeter is the greatest New York Yankees' shortstop ever, but the player that was the best Yankees' shortstop prior to Jeter, Phil Rizzuto, won the MVP award in 1950.
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When is the MVP Winner the League's Best Player and Not the Most Valuable?At the completion of the 2011 regular season, there were arguments questioning whether Jose Bautista was the American League's MVP.
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A-Rod Will Have a Great 2012 with 50 Home Runs Thanks to Orthokine TreatmentAlex Rodriguez will return to form. Get ready for a 2012 season in which A-Rod hits close to 50 home runs and excels defensively at third base.
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Bill "Moose" Skowron: The Yankees' Mark Teixeira of the 1950sDuring the 1950s, Bill "Moose" Skowron was the New York Yankees’ first baseman. The “Moose” joined the Yankees in 1954.
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Barry Larkin is Either a Hall of Famer or He is Not a Hall of FamerDoes Barry Larkin belong in the Hall of Fame? The answer is whatever you want it to be.
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MLB Must Be Used to Prevent Crime and Decrease the Prison PopulationJohn A. Heydler, President of the National League revealed that, according to a Washington criminologist, there had been almost no crime in the country during the World Series.
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MLB Must Implement the Security Measures of the NFLAlthough opening day is still about three months away, it’s not too soon for Major League Baseball to implement security procedures for 2012 that are similar to those introduced by the NFL .
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MLB: Five Batters Reach Base, Two Are Retired and the Closer "Earns" a SaveThe save became an official statistic in 1969. Since then, the game has changed so radically, great closers such as Mariano Rivera can become Hall of Famers with less than 1,300 career innings.
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Texas Rangers Can Surpass Some of Baseball's Greatest Losers in 2012The Rangers won the 2010 and 2011 pennants. They were considered a success because they made it to the World Series. The only thing the Rangers won was the right to lose to the San Francisco Giants and then to the St. Louis Cardinals.
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Carlos Beltran in 2012 Should Equal Albert Pujols' 2011 Production for the CardsYes, 32-year-old Albert Pujols is a Hall of Famer while the 35-year-old Beltran is a very good player, but if each comes close to replicating his 2011 season, the Cardinals should lose little offensively and gain a little defensively.
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Gil Hodges' Determination in 1953 Made Him Brooklyn's All-Time HR ChampionThe Brooklyn Dodgers had played 17 games and Gil Hodges was still looking for his first extra base hit of the 1953 season. He had batted in one run.
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Gil Hodges' Rejection Proves that the Hall of Fame's Integrity Clause is a ShamSince integrity and character override the significance of achieving more hits than anybody that ever played the game as well as hitting 70 home runs in a single season, they are critical enough to get Gil Hodges into the Hall of Fame.
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Ralph Kiner Has Described, Revealed and Taught for 50 Wonderful YearsIn 1962, the Mets joined baseball and Kiner joined Lindsey Nelson and Bob Murphy in the broadcast booth.
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New York Knicks Management Rips Off Fans in Wheel ChairsGeorge Alanzo has recently discovered that this coming, strike-shortened season, the price of his ticket will increase slightly.
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Roger Clemens was as Great a Pitcher as Walter JohnsonRoger Clemens is considered one of the top pitchers of the modern era. From 1994 to the present is clearly the most offensive era ever (take that anyone you want). How does Roger Clemens compare to Walter Johnson?
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Jackie Robinson's Defense and HR Won the Dodgers' Last 1951 Regular Season GameThe New York Giants had already won their game, which meant that the Brooklyn Dodgers had to beat the Philadelphia Phillies to tie the Giants for the 1951 pennant.
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The Philadelphia Phillies Are an Aging Team with Major ProblemsThe Philadelphia Phillies are in a lot of trouble. They are an aging team that has seen better days. They'll make the playoffs again, but a lot of things have happened since 2008.
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MLB: It's Time There was an Award for Getting on Base (OBP)In 2011, baseball experts know the importance of on base percentage, which is of greater significance than batting average, yet there is no award for the on base percentage leader.
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Jim Leyland and Bob Boone Didn't Advocate Gil Hodges' Five-Man RotationGil Hodges is credited or blamed, depending on one's point of view, for initiating the five-man pitching rotation in 1969.
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Testosterone Testing for MLB Players, Including Ryan Braun, is MeaninglessTestosterone testing is flawed to such an extent that it is certain, not probable, some players with increased testosterone levels passed the test.
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Tug McGraw was Dumbfounded when He Led the "Miracle Mets" to the 1973 PennantManaged by 48-year-old Hall of Fame New York Yankees' catcher Yogi Berra, the 1973 New York Mets were 12 games out of first place on July 8.
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Ryan Braun's Situation Reflects the Dangers Americans Now FaceMany media-types and fans have extended Braun's allegedly banned substance use Albert Pujols. Prince Fielder, Matt Kemp and Justin Upton.
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Is Miami's Hanley Ramirez Emulating the Yankees' Derek Jeter?Alex Rodriguez would have been the greatest shortstop of all time. He would have left Hanley Ramirez in the dust.
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Jackie Robinson's Debut: He Didn't Have to Hit to Help the DodgersA highlight of the game will be the debut of 28-year-old rookie Jackie Robinson, who will play first base and bat second.
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Andre Dawson Tried to Replicate His 1990 Gift to a FanToday, Dec. 11, Andre Dawson once again demonstrated his class.
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Ryan Braun Joins the Group of "Railroaded" AthletesRyan Braun tested positive for high levels of testosterone. Braun claims that he is a victim of highly unusual .circumstances and is innocent.
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The Day Willie Mays Prayed that He Wouldn't Have to BatMays started to pray. ''Please don't let it be me. Don't make me come to bat now, God.''
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Tim Linceum and Matt Cain: Friendly Competitors Could Emulate 2010The first time Matt Cain saw Tim Lincecum was during spring training in 2007. The San Francisco Giants' right-hander, who was embarking on his sophomore season, had to be convinced that the hyperbole accompanying Lincecum was real.
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The Real Reasons Federal Prosecutors Want Barry Bonds in PrisonFederal prosecutors are continuing their railroading of Barry Bonds. The guardians of Americans' safety have filed documents in which they objected to a federal probation officer's recommendation that Bonds receive probation for "obstructing justice."
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Brian Cashman of the Yankees is Not Insane but Neither was Albert EinsteinA New York tabloid reported that Cashman hasn’t ruled out Bartolo Colon returning to the Yankees, possibly in the bullpen.
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The Season Former New York Mets Shortstop Jose Reyes Became a StarNear the end of the 2006 season, the "experts" were in agreement that New York Mets' shortstop Jose Reyes was on the verge of stardom.
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Hall of Fame: Honus Wagner and Rabbit Maranville Were Both ShortstopsFred was an avid baseball fan. He loved to play his computer baseball game, especially against his father. After the 2011 season ended, Fred wanted to create two Hall of Fame teams, one for his father and one for himself.
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Comparing Carl Yastrzemski's and Mickey Mantle's Triple Crown SeasonI really don't know how this is going to turn out, but it is fascinating. To me, Mickey Mantle was the greatest player I ever saw (yes, I saw Willie Mays), but Carl Yastrezemski had some seasons that rank with Mantle's best.
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How Did Barry Larkin and Hundreds of Players Get Better After They Retired?The Hall of Fame has become a joke. Both the Baseball Writer's Association of America 2012 players list and the Veterans Committee ballot don't contain a single player that was an all-time great.
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Whitey Ford Lost but Joe Girardi Wasn't UpsetJoe Girardi would have been satisfied. For Mr. Girardi as well as for most of today's managers, all that they ask their starting pitcher to do is to give their team a chance to win.
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Hank Bauer: The Marine Hero Who Won a 1958 World Series Game with a Cracked BatManager Casey Stengel praised Bauer, not because he broke a $3.65 bat but because the bat produced a bloop single that drove in two runs.
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Casey Stengel's Yanks Weren't Desperate After Losing the First Two 1958 WS GamesWarren Spahn beat the Yankees in the opening game of the 1958 World Series. Bob Turley started Game 2 against Yankees' nemesis Lew Burdette in an effort to even the Series.
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Yogi Berra Advised Bill Skowron Not to Stop, Look or Listen Before the 1958 WSThe New York Yankees lost the opening game of the 1958 World Series to the defending World Champion Milwaukee Braves in 10 innings at County Stadium.
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The Game Bernie Williams "Arrived" as the Next Great Yankees Center FielderMike Lupica, who has been accused at times of not being particularly fond of the Yankees, credited Bernie Williams as the reason why the Yankees had become a formidable contender.
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Robin Roberts of the Philadelphia Phillies: Three Starts in Five Days in 1950Let us go back to the thrilling baseball days when pitchers finished what they started, when pitchers weren'’t coddled and when the ace of the staff pitched when his team needed a win, regardless when he last pitched.
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Andre Ethier Finds Performing in the Clutch a Lot of FunIndividuals who don't follow the Los Angeles Dodgers might not realize that they finished the 2011 season at 82-79. Considering all the problems the franchise faced, it wasn't that bad.
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Steinbrenner and Cashman Care About Profits While Fans Want the WS CrownThe bottom line for New York Yankees' fans is a world championship. The bottom line for New York Yankees' management is the bottom line on the profits sheet.
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LA Dodgers: No Arbitration for Seven Free Agents is Addition by SubtractionThere is little chance that the Los Angeles Dodgers will be serious contenders in 2012. The fact that they have refused to offer arbitration to their seven free agents bodes well for the future. It’s addition by subtraction.
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Without Mike Scioscia's Blast, Kirk Gibson Couldn't Have Beaten the 1988 NY MetsThe Los Angeles Dodgers trailed the New York Mets 4-2 in the top of the ninth inning of the fourth game of the 1988 NLCS. Dwight Gooden had limited the Dodgers to three hits and the two runs up to that point.
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Sandy Koufax: The Doctors Were Worried They Might Have to Amputate the FingerAs he was eating a lunch that consisted of barley soup, a tongue sandwich and a regular Coke, Sandy Koufax spoke about his injured index finger.
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Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Billy Buckner and Bobby Valentine: What a DraftThe Los Angeles Dodgers 1968 amateur player draft was the best in baseball history. It enabled the Dodgers to be contenders for many years and produced pennants in 1974, 1977, 1978 and a World Championship in 1981.
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Clayton Kershaw Will Have a Better Career Than Sandy KoufaxKershaw, who is only 23-years-old, led National League pitchers with 248 strikeouts, a 2.28 ERA and a 0.977 WHIP. He tied Ian Kennedy with 21 wins.
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Tommy LaSorda: Darryl Strawberry's Addiction was a Weakness, Not a SicknessFormer Los Angeles Dodgers' manager Tommy LaSorda was one of the great manager's of all time. He considers himself a leader and a patriotic American.
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Matt Kemp of Los Angeles is Great but He's No Duke Snider of BrooklynIn 2011, the 26-year-old Kemp had an outstanding season. He batted .324/.399/.586. leading the league with 39 home runs, 126 RBIs and 115 runs scored. He stole 40 bases.
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Don Newcombe Blasted World Series Hero Sandy Amoros' Poor Play"Get him out of here. Put in someone who can catch a fly ball."
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St. Louis Cardinals Won the First Real Playoff Series Against Brooklyn in 1946The 34,124 fans were in high spirits as their St. Louis Cardinals were leading the third place Chicago Cubs 2-1, while in Brooklyn, Mort Cooper of the fourth place Boston Braves was shutting out the Dodgers, 4-0.
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The St. Louis Cardinals' Clutch Performance in the Sixth Game of the 1946 WSThe St. Louis Cardinals won the 1946 World Series by beating the Boston Red Sox. It is rarely mentioned that the Cardinals trailed, three games to two when the teams returned to St. Louis.
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Bob Gibson, Unlike Reggie Jackson, Appreciated and Respected His FansThen, instead of handing me the signed baseball, whose value had increased by more than $100, Mr. Jackson rolled it to the side of the table.
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Tony La Russa Had to Remind Albert Pujols that He Knew How to (Censored) ManageThe disagreement became more intense, with La Russa telling Pujols “I (expletive) know how to manage.”
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Bob Gibson: Proud, Opinionated, Tactless and the Most Feared Pitcher of His EraGibson had really been an "attitude" coach with the Mets and Braves. He certainly had what some referred to as an attitude. Bob Gibson was the meanest, toughest and most fearsome pitcher of his era.
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Stan Musial: The Greatest Baseball Player when it Meant the MostThere are endless discussions about who was the greatest player after Babe Ruth, but Stan Musial has made it unnecessary to debate who was the greatest human being that ever played the game.
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Two More Wild Cards Will Not Cheapen Winning the Pennant and World SeriesPurists believe that the last "real" baseball season was played in 1968. Ultra-purists (never heard that term before) are convinced that 1960 was the last "real" American League season and 1961 was the final "real" National League season.
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St. Louis Cardinals: The Day Enos Slaughter Started to RunRalph Kiner of the Pittsburgh Pirates started in left field and Hank Sauer of the Chicago Cubs started in right field. They were two powerful sluggers that found running a challenge.
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St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves: Some Second Place Teams Perform MiraclesOn Sept. 5, the Atlanta Braves led the Cardinals by eight and one-half games. The Cardinals finished the season one game ahead of Atlanta.
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Cano for Tori Hunter, Posada for Conor Jackson or Don't Trade GardnerKen Rosenthal is an excellent baseball writer who knows the game. It's not his fault that no one, not Ken, not me and not even you can predict a baseball team's future or even a player's future.
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Albert Pujols: Tony La Russa was Right and Barry Bonds was WrongChicago Cubs fire balling right-hander Kerry Wood peered in to get the signal from catcher Damian Miller, nodded assent, went into the wind up and delivered a 98 mph fastball aimed right at Albert Pujols’ chin.
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Chris Carpenter and the 2005 Cardinals Couldn't Beat the Cheaters or the SystemIn 2004, Carpenter was 15-5 with a 3.53 ERA when he felt a pull in his forearm on a pitch to Shea Hillebrand of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He made one pitch, left the game and didn’t pitch again that season.
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Ozzie Smith: Tony La Russa Lied and Acted like a CowardTony La Russa joined the St. Louis Cardinals as their manager in 1996. Ozzie Smith left the Cardinals at the conclusion of the 1996 season. Tony La Russa was not one of Ozzie Smith's favorite managers.
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Mike Matheny Respected Will Clark but Not Kenny LoftonMike Matheny always knew what to do when he was a player. He will know what to do as the St. Louis Cardinals manager.
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Mike Matheny is the Right Man at the Right Time for the St. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals have made an excellent decision in hiring former catcher Mike Matheny as their next manager. Matheny is a "take-charge guy" that is universally respected.
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New York Yankees Are Not to Blame for the Outrageous Food Prices at the GameFood prices at Yankee Stadium started to increase crazily in 1973 when George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees for $10 million dollars.
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St. Louis Cardinals: The National League's Winningest TeamIn 2012, the St. Louis Cardinals will celebrate their 120th birthday. They have won 11 World Championships, which is second only to the New York Yankees.
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Albert Pujols was Third in the Sporting News Poll, but He Really was FirstNear the end of July, 2003, Albert Pujols had played two and one-half seasons. He was rated by most "experts" as the third best player in baseball.
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The Yankees Could Never "Get Even" with the Cardinals' Alexander the GreatAlexander was 41-years-old. He was still good enough to win 16 games, but he was no longer "Alex the Great." Some New York baseball writers derisively referred to him as "Alex the Old."
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Tony La Russa Employed Strategy from Whitey Herzog, Billy Martin & the MilitaryLa Russa's confidence comes from his adaptation of the military system that he has internalized. His players viewed him as a winner who was the commander-in-chief of a War Room that involved planning, a clear battle plan and execution.
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St. Louis Cardinals Almost Beat the New York Yankees in the 2001 World SeriesThe New York Yankees fans still feel the sting of losing the 2001 World Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the St. Louis Cardinals suffered an agonizing first round playoff loss to Arizona that hurt almost as much.
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Albert Pujols Compared to Arod: The Results Are SurprisingThis isn't going to be fair to Albert Pujols because he is being compared to an admitted steroid user. I really don't know what the results will be.
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Albert Pujols, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams Beat the Sophomore JinxDuring spring training following his rookie season, the media continually asked Pujols how he felt the sophomore jinx would affect him. He wondered aloud why he was asked that question almost daily.
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Albert Pujols Fooled the Experts, Even Tony La RussaPujols. who was overanxious, swung. The best he could manage was a ground ball to the left side. Third baseman Jeff Cirillo gloved the ball on the second hop, stared at it for a split second and fired to first for the out.
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Matt Holliday for a Closer Would Be a Ridiculous St. Louis Cardinals TradeIt would be ridiculous to trade Matt Holldiay for a closer. It's an old baseball axiom that general managers never forget. Don't trade a regular for a pitcher. In the 21st century, a corollary is don't trade a regular for a pitcher, especially a closer.
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Albert Pujols Confirms Rogers Hornsby was Baseball's Greatest Right-Handed HitterFew players can successfully match Pujols' accomplishments during his first 11 seasons, but Pujols isn't the greatest right-handed hitter in baseball or even Cardinals' history.
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Mark McGwire Met the Integrity Clause: Now Vote Him into the Hall of FameMark McGwire refused to talk to Mark Twain's possible criminal class in 2005. He explained to Bob Costas, one of the few individuals in the media with integrity that he wanted to come clean but that he refused to lie.
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Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire Might Have Cheated the Wrong WayThe majority of "experts" with a Hall of Fame vote have decided that steroid use disqualifies a player from the hallowed baseball museum.Their conclusion is based on the Hall of Fame's integrity clause.
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St. Louis Cardinals Fans, Unlike Yankees Fans, Knew Roger Maris' Great ValueIt was opening day. Roger Maris, who had been booed unmercifully ever since he broke Babe Ruth's single season home run record, held his breath as the public address announcer said, "Batting third, Roger Maris."
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Roger Maris' Career was Ruined by Dick Young's Non-Existent AsteriskRoger Maris was cheered, not booed, in 1960, his first season with the New York Yankees. And then along came Maris’ successful pursuit of Babe Ruth’s single season home run record.
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First They Booed Mantle, Then They Booed Maris and Today They Love ThemNext New York Yankees fans were led to believe that Mickey Mantle would become almost as great or even greater, if that were possible, than Babe Ruth.
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Suspicions Existed About the St. Louis Cardinals' Miracle 1934 PennantThe St. Louis Cardinals had staged one of baseball's greatest miracles when they overtook the New York Giants to win the 1934 pennant. They went on to defeat the Detroit Tigers in the World Series, just as the 2006 Cardinals would do.
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New York Yankees Joe Torre and Gary Sheffield Versus Gil Hodges and Cleon JonesThe media, especially the New York media, often protect the New York Yankees. although at times, they can be brutal.
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MLB: Is Justin Verlander Greater Than Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson?There is absolutely no way to validly compare players who played in baseball’s early days with today’s players.
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MLB: Mickey Mantle and the Yankees Realized the End was NearThe Yankees discovered what it was to struggle in 1965. Aging stars, injuries and a lack of young players resulted in the end of the streak of five consecutive pennants that had started in 1960.
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Ralph Houk's Advice Helped Lead to Mickey Mantle's Greatest RegretThe month was January, the year was 1966, and the decision was that Mickey Mantle was going to retire.
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Bob Gibson, Allen Craig and the Cardinals Prove There Are Clutch PlayersBob Gibson beat the New York Yankees in the fifth game of the 1964 World Series when his good friend, Tim McCarver hit a three-run home run in the 10th inning. Gibson, of course, didn't need a closer and he completed what he had started.
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Albert Pujols is a Far Superior Player Offensively Than Willie MaysAlbert Pujols is a better offensive player than Willie Mays Traditional statistics prove it. Modern statistics prove it.
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Marty Marion Batted .267/.324/.362 And Won the MVP AwardMarty Marion was the best defensive shortstop in baseball history until Ozzie Smith came along. Marion was 6'2", which was extremely tall for a shortstop and his long arms led to baseball writers referring to him as the "The Octopus."
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St. Louis Cardinals First "Miracle Pennant" Wasn't in 2011The St. Louis Cardinals have earned the reputation of becoming World Champions when the "experts" have counted them out. One Cardinals comeback occurred in 1942.
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MLB: The New York Yankees Won the 1922 "Little World Series"In one of the closest pennant races ever, the 1922 St. Louis Browns, the team that would become the Baltimore Orioles in 1954, finished a mere game behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees.
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George Steinbrenner and the Yankees Harassed Ken Holtzman More Than Billy MartinIt was George Steinbrenner, not Billy Martin, who dictated how Ken Holtzman should be used. Reggie Jackson knows bubkis (Yiddish for "nothing).
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Billy Martin Forced Ron Guidry to Start the 1977 Pennant-Deciding Playoff GameThe New York Yankees and Kansas Royals split the first four games of the 1977 playoffs. The fifth and deciding game would be played in Kansas City on Sunday, Oct. 9.
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Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson and Billy Martin Were Bosom Buddies in 1977Winning trumps almost anything.Winning made arch-enemies Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson bosom buddies. It did the same for Reggie Jackson and Billy Martin.
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Tony La Russa and John Mozeliak Expose Jon Daniels and SabermetricsThe Texas Rangers led the major leagues with a .283 batting average. They averaged 5.28 runs a game, topped by only the Boston Red Sox (5.40) and New York Yankees (5.35). The Yankees led the majors with 222 home runs. The Rangers were second with 210.
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Whitey Ford : I Would Cheat to Stay Pitching in the Major Leagues for the MoneyDuring a July, 1987 interview, Whitey Ford told sportswriter Phil Pepe, who covered the New York Yankees from 1961-84 that he doesn't object to pitchers doctoring the baseball.
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WS: 2011 Texas Rangers Join the 1960 New York Yankees and 1986 Boston Red SoxThe sixth game of the World Series between the Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals uncannily mirrored the seventh game of the 1960 World Series between the Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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Tom Greenwade: The Great Yankee Who Helped Win Nine World ChampionshipsTom Greenwade was proud of being a New York Yankee. While he was with the Yankees from 1949-64, they won 14 pennants and nine World Championships.
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Paul O'Neill is Certain the 1998 Yanks Would Beat Darryl Strawberry's 1986 MetsPaul O'Neill has no doubt that the 1998 New York Yankees were a better team than the 1986 New York Mets. He is just as certain that if it were possible for the teams to play a best-of-seven series, the Yankees would win.
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Mickey Mantle's Courageous Ninth Inning of LifeDuring the mid-1980s, some New York Yankees games were televised locally on Sportschannel, which was available only on cable. In 1985, Mickey Mantle joined announcers Mel Allen, Phil Rizzuto and Bill White.
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Mickey Mantle's Perceptive Reaction to Offending Joe DiMaggioMickey Mantle was Tony Kubek's all-time favorite ball player. Kubek is one of the most underrated of all New York Yankees shortstops. He played for the Yankees for nine seasons and was a member of three World Championship teams (1958, 1961-62).
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Why Tony LaRussa's and Albert Pujols' Idiotic Hit-and-Run Calls Cost the CardsRalph Kiner was one of the first announcers to emphasize the baseball axiom that when a team is trailing by two runs the last inning and has a runner on base, that player's run is meaningless.
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C. J. Wilson Has Made Fans Appreciate Andy Pettitte Even MoreC.J. Wilson has been referred to as the best free agent starting pitcher available. There is speculation that the bidding for his services could reach $75 million for five years, which is ridiculous. Wilson is nothing more than a serviceable pitcher.
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Jane Leavy's Failed Analysis of One of Mickey Mantle's Longest Home RunsIn a recent article for the media bastion that decides which news is fit to print, Jane Leavy attempted to analyze a home run that helped to confirm Mickey Mantle as the game's greatest power hitter, second only to Babe Ruth.
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Ladislaw Waldemar Wittkowski was the First Yankee Batter at Baseball's CathedralLadislaw Waldemar Wittkowski was the first New York Yankees batter to see a pitch at Yankee Stadium. He was the last surviving member of the Yankees first World Championship.
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Pete Rose was One of Baseball's Most Beloved CompetitorsPete Rose won the 1973 National League batting title with a .338 average. He had 230 hits, among which were 181 singles, 36 doubles, eight triples and five home runs.
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Alex Rodriguez was Naive and Awed but He Never Lacked ConfidenceThe player who could have been ranked as the greatest shortstop in baseball history made his major league debut on July 8, 1994 at Fenway Park, batting ninth in the Seattle Mariners lineup.
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2011 World Series: Albert Pujols Owes the Media NothingThe St. Louis Cardinals are going for their 11th World Championship, which would strengthen their hold as the team second only to the New York Yankees with respect to World Series wins.
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Tim McCarver was Wrong. Albert Pujols Did Not Make an ErrorAlbert Pujols did not make an error on center fielder John Jay's throw toward home plate. Tim McCarver made an error because he doesn't know the meaning of Rule 10.12(a)(8).
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A-Rod, the Greatest Yankees' Third Baseman Ever, Deserves the MoneyThe New York Yankees, whose management is synonymous with arrogance, made a terrible error when they signed Alex Rodriguez to a contract that ends in 2017. The mistake was not signing A-Rod. It was giving him such a lengthy deal.
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Cincinnati Reds' Fred Toney Won the Only Double No-Hitter in Baseball HistoryThe greatest pitching duel, or at least one of the greatest pitching duels, would never have occurred and it never would have been remembered.
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Pete Rose was so Great that Even New York Mets' Fans Cheered Him in 1978Reds’ fans love Rose, but many opponents and most of their fans prefer to not send him Christmas cards. He has been booed ferociously for his style of play, which resembles that of Ty Cobb and Enos Slaughter.
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The 1970 Orioles Stopped the Big Red Machine, Proving They Were a Great TeamThe 1970 Baltimore Orioles were one of the greatest teams of all time. They won 108 games, finished 15 games ahead of the runner-up New York Yankees, swept the Minnesota Twins in the playoffs and beat the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.
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The 1996 Braves Were Declared World Champions After Two Wins at Yankee StadiumThe New York Yankees would soon be put out of their misery. Only the 1985 Kansas City Royals and the 1986 New York Mets had lost the first two games of the World Series at home and come back to win.
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Lack of Pitching, Not Lack of Timely Hitting, Cost the Yankees in the PlayoffsThe basic premise is that the New York Yankees, despite president Randy Levine's protestations, don't really care if they win the World Series as long as they make money.
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Modern Baseball's Jewish Owners, Executives and PlayersMost Jewish individuals are proud that many baseball owners, executives and players are Jewish, but those same individuals become uncomfortable when that fact is pointed out in the media.
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Hank Bauer and the New York Yankees Finally Saved Mickey MantleMickey Mantle became a legend many years before he became a legend. It created many problems for him, some of which he was unprepared to face.
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Teams Don't Win Pennants. They Get to Go to the World SeriesYou'd better get used to it because it's not going to change. When was the last time you heard anyone in the media tell you that the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals won their league's respective pennants?
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Mickey Mantle: The First of 536 Home Runs was a Typical Mantle BlastThe date was May 1, 1951. The site was Comiskey Park in Chicago. The pitcher was right-hander Randy Gumpert.
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Mickey Mantle and the Draft: Three Strikes and You're OutMickey Mantle had a spectacular spring training in 1951, but there was a cloud on the horizon that had little to do with his ability.
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Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Casey Stengel Discuss Mickey Mantle GreatnessMickey Mantle “arrived” in 1956 when he won the Triple Crown, but the truth is that he really “arrived” when his contemporaries praised his achievements rather than his potential.
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Mickey Mantle was Recognized as a Future Great when He was 19-Years-OldThe date was March 10, 1951. It was the day that 19-year-old Mickey Mantle played his first game in a New York Yankees uniform. The Yankees faced the Cleveland Indians in Tucson, Arizona.
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Tommy LaSorda Predicted How Great the 1990 Reds Would Be in the World SeriesThe A's repeated as pennant winners in 1990 and almost all the "experts" felt that the Cincinnati Reds' chances of beating the A's in the World Series were slim and none.
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Modern Statistics Reveal Mickey Mantle was a Better Hitter Than Willie MaysWhen the "experts" compared Mickey Mantle to Willie Mays, the first thing they mentioned was each player's batting average. Then they compared the number of home runs each player hit.
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Grover Cleveland Alexander Might Have Been a Greater Phillie Than Mike SchmidtMike Schmidt is the overwhelming choice as the greatest Philadelphia Phillies player of all time. Steve Carlton is considered the greatest Phillies' pitcher ever.
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What Happened After Tom Seaver Vetoed His Trade to the Cincinnati RedsIt's fascinating that when discussing the greatest Cincinnati Reds players in the team's history, Tom Seaver is rarely mentioned. In New York, it's as if the New York Mets were his only team.
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Drew Stubbs' Lack of Production Must Not Continue to Hurt the Cincinnati RedsDrew Stubbs is one of only two players in major league history to strike out at least 200 times in a season. He accomplished the dubious distinction this past season, when he led the majors with 205 strikeouts.
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Joe Girardi Denigrates the Yankees Great World Series PerformancesJoe Girardi is a smart man. So are Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher. They all know that based purely on mathematical probability, a team that plays in 40 World Series should win 20 and lose 20.
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Brandon Phillips' Reaction when a Young Fan Tweeted Him During DinnerBrandon Phillips was having dinner at a local restaurant on Thursday, May 12. Phillips, like many of today's players, has a large following on Twitter.
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The 1956 Reds Unorthodox Attempt to Set a New Home Run RecordThe 1956 Cincinnati Reds were one of the most powerful offensive teams in baseball history. They finished in third place, a mere two games behind the first place Brooklyn Dodgers and one game behind the runner-up Milwaukee Braves.
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Curtis Granderson's 2011 Season Mirrors Mickey Mantle's 1960 SeasonIn 1959, Mickey Mantle had one of his worst seasons. The New York Yankees finished in third place, a distant 15 games behind the pennant-winning Chicago White Sox.
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MLB: Hal Smith Started His "Revenge" Against the New York Yankees in 1955Catcher Hal Smith, who was among the 18 players that exchanged teams in the enormous winter trade between the Orioles and Yankees, drove in three runs to lead the Baltimore attack against a struggling Bob Grim.
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Hall of Famers Casey Stengel and Richie Asburn: Leave the Gloves on the FieldAt the end of each inning, fielders would have to take their gloves with them into the dugout. No longer could they leave them on the field.
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Stop Blaming A-Rod, Teixeira and Swisher for the Tigers VictoryIt's so difficult for New York Yankees fans to realize that the Steinbrenners' team lost to the Detroit Tigers because the Tigers outplayed them.
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MLB Playoffs: Nyjer Morgan is a Breath of Fresh Air in a Disingenuous SocietyThere has never been anyone in baseball like Nyjer Morgan. He is a breath of fresh air in a sport that is as conservative as the late George Steinbrenner.
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Doug DeCinces Needed Therapy to Help Him Replace Brooks RobinsonDoug DeCinces slowly took over as the Baltimore Orioles third baseman in 1976 as Brooks Robinson neared the end of the trail.
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MLB Playoffs: Hey Yankees Fans, Your Team Won the Statistical BattlesOn base percentage and slugging average are two of the most vital statistics. In the Yankees-Tigers playoff series, the Yankees did better in both categories. They also had much better pitching numbers
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MLB Playoffs: Fear of Losing and the "High" of Winning Must Drive the YankeesExcitement over tonight’s Game 5 of the ALDS is running rampant. For the New York Yankees and their fans, it is a rare experience to be involved in a game that must be won to prevent the end of the season, but that’s not good.
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World Series: Reggie Jackson's Amazing World Series PerformancesBased upon regular season play, Reggie Jackson is no more than a borderline Hall of Famer, but that is patently wrong.
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MLB Playoffs: Ken Singleton and Michael Kay Disgrace Gehrig, DiMaggio and MantleKen Singleton, who started his baseball career with the New York Mets and Michael Kay, the biggest New York Yankees shill this side of John Sterling, are an embarrassment to the memories of Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle.
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Yadier Molina's Passed Ball was the Key to the Phillies WinThe key play in yesterday’s Philadelphia Phillies-St. Louis Cardinals game occurred in the Phillies half of the seventh inning, but it was not Ben Francisco’s home run.
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Cincinnati Reds Joey Votto: The Rare Player Who Eschews MaterialismJoey Votto is one of the best players in the game. In 2011, he hit .309/.416/.531 with 29 home runs and 103 RBIs. Some “experts” now rank the 27-year-old Votto ahead of the 31-year-old Albert Pujols, the player Votto measures himself against
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How New Yorkers "Watched" the 1919 World Series at Times SquareThe technology produced a fascinating view of the opening game of the 1919 World Series being played at Redland Field in Cincinnati.
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Walter "Dutch" Reuther Started the 1919 WS Opener Because He Could HitThe Chicago White Sox were highly favored to defeat the Cincinnati Reds in the 1919 World Series. In the opening game played at Cincinnati, the home team gave the visitors the worst first game defeat in World Series history.
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Moneyball's Mickey Mantle Quote was Misleading and ExploitativeMoneyball starts with a quote from Mickey Mantle: "It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing all your life."
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The 1919 Cincinnati Reds Might Have Won the WS Without the White Sox Help"I'll bet my money on the Sox," said Whiteman. "They're what we ball players call a 'money team.'" No doubt about that.
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New York Yankees Show Insensitivity and Arrogance in Suspending EmployeeSteve Lazarus has been a New York Yankee for 35 years. Many fans know him because he is a vendor who usually sells beer.
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New York Yankees and Cincinnati Redlegs: Impeccable Patriotism or OverreactionApril 9, 1953 will live in infamy as long as baseball is played for some Americans. On that day, the Cincinnati Reds management declared that the Reds would no longer be the Reds.
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Twenty Players from 1958 Are Hall of Famers. How Many from 2011 Will Make It?Some of the greatest players in the history of the game played in 1958. Some were nearing the end, some were at their peak, and some were just getting started.
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Tampa Bay Rays Illustrated the Futility of Win Probabilty in Certain GamesWin Probability is a statistical method that "determines" the chances a team has of winning a game at any point in the game.
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John Sterling Will Tell Us "Ball Game Over, Series Over, Thuuh Yankees W-I-I-N"In a few days, John Sterling will tell New York Yankees fans that “Thuuh Yankees win. Ball game over, series over. THUUUH Yankees W-I-I-I-N.”
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Batting Champions Jose Reyes and Ted Williams Both Acted in Self-InterestThe criticism of Jose Reyes is unwarranted and just plain wrong. There are no heroes in the 21st century.
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The Atlanta Braves Lost the 2011 Wild Card in 1988The Atlanta Braves weren't eliminated from the 2011 playoffs on the last day of the season. They were eliminated in 1988 by Tony LaRussa, who ironically, manages the St. Louis Cardinals.
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The Great Pittsburgh Pirates Disaster of the 1973 SeasonAt the conclusion of play on Aug. 1, 1973 the Pittsburgh Pirates, despite their 51-53 record, were in third place, six games behind the first place St. Louis Cardinals and two and one-half games behind the second place Chicago Cubs.
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Winning the 2011 World Series Would Take a "Monkey" Off the Yankees BacksThe only teams that have an edge over the Yankees in World Series play are the St. Louis Cardinals (3-2), the Florida Marlins (1-0) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (1-0).
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Boston Fans Thought that Honus Wagner was "Yellow" in the ClutchHonus Wagner won his sixth batting title in 1908. It was also the third of what turned out to be four consecutive seasons in which he led the National League.
