Articles written by Harold Friend
All 188 articles written by Harold Friend
Mickey's Hardest HIt Ball: Mantle's Home Run Came Within Six Feet of Leaving Yankee Stadium
Category: Baseball (general)
On May 22, 1963 Mickey Mantle came within six feet of hitting a fair ball out of Yankee Stadium. Mickey hit a 2-2 Bill Fischer pitch off the upper facade in right field. more...
Sisler Is Underrated: George Was One of the Greatest Who Ever Played
Category: Baseball (general)
Sisler is one of many outstanding players whose career is slowly but surely fading away as the years pass. It is a shame. more...
A Stadium for the Yanks & Giants: The Yankees Were Satisfied With the Country's Best Stadium
Category: Baseball (general)
Stoneham suggested that city-owned park should be constructed in the East Bronx, near the Whitestone Bridge, to house his Giants as well as the New York Yankees. more...
Herzog Fights Cobb: Ty Weighed Almost 50 Pounds More, But Buck HAD to Fight
Category: Baseball (general)
Buck was foolish, but he was also courageous. His face was cut and he lost two teeth, but it was something that he had to do, regardless of the cost more...
Piazza and Posada's Defense: Neither Ranks Near the Top Defensively
Category: Baseball (general)
Neither Mike nor Jorge makes fans forget Sundberg, Ausmus, Johnny Estrada, or Brian Schneider, but Piazza was not as terrible a defensive catcher as some claim. more...
Category: Baseball (general)
We are starting a Fantasy Baseball Hall of Fame team. The only rule that is that any player selected to the team must be a member of the Hall of Fame. more...
The Great 1989 A's: Oakland Was Dominant During the Season and in October
Category: Baseball (general)
They were one of the greatest, most dominant World Champions since World War II, yet they are almost never mentioned when outstanding teams are discussed. more...
So Much Pressure on Yanks' Kids: Hughes, Kennedy & Joba Must Develop at Their Own Pace
Category: Baseball (general)
Putting Hughes and Kennedy into the Yankees' starting rotation is bad baseball. It is unfair to Hughes, Kennedy, the Yankees, and the fans. more...
The Yanks' 17 Runs Against the Sox: The Defending Champs Blasted An Also-Ran
Category: Baseball (general)
In 1954, the World Champions overwhelmed a team that would finish 42 games out of first. In 2008, the struggling Yanks annihilated the team that won the 2007 Series. more...
Players On Four Teams in a Season: At Least Nine Players Have Done It
Category: Baseball (general)
Dave Martinez, Dave Kingman, and Wes Covington are among the "select" group whose members have played on four teams during the same season. more...
Elston Howard's Great Catch: Ellie Turned the 1958 World Series Around
Category: Baseball (general)
Elston Howard, a great catcher, made an outstanding catch playing left field for the Yankees in the 1958 World Series. It led to the World Championship. more...
One Hundred RBIs With No Home Runs: Runs Can Be Produced Many Ways
Category: Baseball (general)
In 1996 Paul Molitor hit 9 home runs with 113 RBIs. In 1985, Tommy Herr had 8 home runs with 110 RBIs. And in 1950, George Kell hit 8 home runs with 108 RBIs. more...
Mattingly's & Koufax' Best Seasons: Don and Sandy Each Had Six Great Years
Category: Baseball (general)
Koufax's best years came at the END of his career. Mattingly's came at the beginning. What if that had been reversed? more...
The Cubs' Fred Merkle Curse: The Billy Buckner of His Time
Category: Baseball (general)
The Cubs needed a big break to get to the 1908 World Series, which might be the real reason that the Cubs have not won the World Series in 100 years. more...
When Ryan Criticized Hodges: Nolan Believed Gil Didn't Help Him Enough
Category: Major League Baseball
The young fireballer said that the Mets failed to help him develop, partially because manager Gil Hodges and pitching coach Rube Walker were uncommunicative. more...
Winning Starting Pitcher: Santana, Johnson, and Clemens Win Half Their Starts
Category: Major League Baseball
Mike Mussina has concluded that a starting pitcher who wins 50 percent of his starts is successful. He is right on target. more...
Poltics and Baseball Don't Mix: Leave the Game Alone
Category: Major League Baseball
Government interference in a private enterprise has occurred as long the game has been played. Baseball and its fans can manage without politicans. more...
Barry's Great World Series: Only Babe Ruth Exceeded Bonds' Performance
Category: Major League Baseball
Bonds batted 30 times as his Giants battled the Angels in a memorable seven game set. Barry had 8 hits, including 4 home runs and 13 walks. He hit .471 with a .700 OBA. more...
Viagra Enhances Performance: Viagra Significantly Improved Cardiovascular & Exercise Performance
Category: Major League Baseball
Is it possible that some baseball players use Viagra? Is it possible that some players, especially pitchers, had their performances enhanced by using Viagra? more...
Buchholz & Joba Can Work More: Some of the Greatest Pitchers Were Regular Starters at Age 22.
Category: Major League Baseball
Both Clay and Chamberlain are 22 years old. The number of innings each works in 2008 will be limited. Putting a cap on a young pitcher's workload is unnecessary. more...
The Not So Modest Yankees: Manager Joe McCarthy Declared His 1938 Team Was the Greatest Ever
Category: Major League Baseball
After the Yankees won Game 4 in 1938, Joe McCarthy said, "The best club won. We had everything. We are the greatest ball club ever assembled. more...
Roger and the Red Sox: Clemens' Primary Team is Boston.
Category: Major League Baseball
Roger Clemens pitched for Boston from 1984-1996. Most of his awards were achieved as a member of the Boston Red Sox and his best seasons were with the Sox. more...
DiMaggio Signs and is Hospitalized: Joe Was "Satisfied" With $25,000 and Then Was Hurt
Category: Major League Baseball
Joe wanted $40,000 but was satisfied with $25,000. In his first game back, he and Joe Gordon collided and were sent to Garfield Hospital in Washington. more...
DiMaggio Against Ruppert: Joe Asked for $40,000. The Colonel Offered $25,000.
Category: Major League Baseball
Yankees' owner Jacob Ruppert was adamant that Joe would receive no more than $25,000, despite batting .346 with 46 HRs and 167 RBIs. more...
Perry: Hall of Fame Cheater: An Illegal Pitch Paved Gaylord's Path to Cooperstown.
Category: Major League Baseball
Gaylord Perry admitted that he cheated. He is in the Hall of Fame, but the Hall of Fame does not acknowledge that he broke any rules. more...
The Padres' Pitching: San Diego Has a Great Starter and Many Questions
Category: Major League Baseball
A healthy Padres' pitching staff could be formidible, but it may be too much to expect. more...
Webb and Haren Could Be a Problem: They Could Match Santana and Maine in the Playoffs
Category: Major League Baseball
Brandon Webb and Dan Haren give Arizona two top pitchers who could steal a playoff round from a better team. more...
The Mets' and Dodgers' Infield: New York Has A Big Edge Over Los Angeles
Category: Major League Baseball
A rookie, two aging veterans, and a shortstop coming off an ankle injury don't compare favorably to the Mets' stars. more...
Clemens' Three Careers: Roger Was As Effective When He Was Young As When He Was Old
Category: Major League Baseball
Clemens' career from 1984-1992 was not too different from 1997-2007. From 1993-1996, Roger had some problems. more...
DiMaggio and Gehrig Hold Out: The Top Rookie and the MVP Deserved More
Category: Major League Baseball
Lou Gehrig was the MVP and Joe DiMaggio was the majors' top rookie, yet the possibility of a pay cut for Gehrig was not considered a ridiculous possibility. more...
Hubbell Beat Yankees in Game 1: Giants Beat Yanks in Rain Soaked Series Opener Behind King Carl
Category: Major League Baseball
Before a rain drenched crowd of 42,000 fans at the Polo Grounds, the New York Giants, behind the screwball of lefty ace Carl Hubbell, defeated the Yankees, 6-1. more...
Category: Major League Baseball
The Yankees' hitters, led by Gehrig, DiMaggio, Dickey and Lazzeri, were matched against Carl Hubbell and a great Giants' pitching staff. more...
DiMaggio Had Defensive Problems: Joe Was Not Always Perfect in the Field
Category: Major League Baseball
Joe DiMaggio was a great defensive outfielder, but even the best have bad moments. more...
Rookie DiMaggio Could Field & Hit: Joe Was A Multi-Dimensional Player Who Had A Great Rookie Year
Category: Major League Baseball
DiMaggio, whose work afield was sparkling all afternoon, made a spectacular ninth inning throw to home, cutting off the potential game tying run. more...
Tom Tresh: What Might Have Been: The Yankees' Switch Hitter Was Similar to His Idol, Mickey Mantle.
Category: Major League Baseball
After winning the 1962 Rookie of the Year Award, it was expected that Tresh would join the other Yankees greats. It was not to be. more...
Stengel and Torre: Make a Choice: Stengel Won Ten Pennants in Twelve Seasons Compared to Torre's Six
Category: Major League Baseball
Torre's teams finished first as many times as Stengel's, but Torre won 4 fewer pennants because he was defeated in the playoffs, which didn't exist when Stengel managed. more...
The Worst Loss in Baseball History: The 1986 Red Sox Came As Close As Possible to Winning But Lost
Category: Major League Baseball
The 1986 Boston Red Sox World Series defeat remains the worst in baseball history. There is virtually no chance that any team will ever suffer a more agonizing loss. more...
Ted Lost More Than a Batting Title: In 1949, Williams Almost Won the Triple Crown for the Third Time
Category: Major League Baseball
If Ted had one more hit or one less at bat, he would have become the first player to win the Triple Crown three times. Since 1901, only he and Hornsby have won it twice. more...
Jose Guillen Receives Suspension: Kansas City Signs Outfielder To $36 Million Contract
Category: Major League Baseball
The Kansas City Royals must answer a question, "What caused the increase in Jose Guillen's power?" more...
The 1985 Yankees Came Close: Toronto Led New York by 3 With 4 Games Left to Play
Category: Major League Baseball
The Yankees had to beat Toronto five consecutive times to win the Division title. They didn't. more...
Cocaine Will Not Hurt Tim Raines: Drug Addiction is Different From Steroid Use
Category: Major League Baseball
Raines is an admitted former cocaine addict. Bonds and McGwire have not been proved of using steroids. Guess who has the best chance of becoming a Hall of Famer. more...
Koufax and Drysdale in 1965: They Had One of the Greatest Seasons of Any Duo in History
Category: Major League Baseball
Many teams have had two pitchers who produced great seasons together, but few could compare to Koufax and Drysdale in 1965. more...
Mays' Forgotten Season: Willie's Great Year in 1957 Is Rarely Mentioned
Category: Major League Baseball
In 1957, Willie Mays became only the fourth player to hit at least 20 doubles, 20 triples, and 20 home runs in the same season. more...
The Giants' Plans Changed: In 1954, Owner Horace Stoneman Assured Fans the Team Would Not Move
Category: Major League Baseball
The Giants' owner asked fans why the Giants should be interested in moving to the west coast. He assured them that the team would remain the New York Giants. more...
The Revised Lineup Rule: Closers Such As Rivera, Wagner, and Hoffman Must Earn Their Money
Category: Major League Baseball
Closers don't always face the opposition's best hitters. The Revised Lineup Rule would change that. more...
Drug Tests Must Be Specific: Barry Bonds' Positive Steroid Test Results May Be Flawed
Category: Major League Baseball
The chemical test for a substance must be specific. If more than one material produces a positive, the results cannot be accepted. more...
The 1969 Yankees' Pennant Chances: New York Had Fine Pitching But Little Hitting
Category: Major League Baseball
On February 16, the New York Times presented its 1969 American League projections. The consensus was that the Yankees' chances of contending were not good. more...
The 1977 World Champion Yankees: Unlike the 2007 Version, That Yankees Team Was Balanced.
Category: Major League Baseball
The 1977 Yankees had solid offense, pitching and defense, which was not true for the 2007 team. more...
Brosius Solved Third Base: Scott Exceeded the Yankees' Expectations
Category: Major League Baseball
The 2008 Yankees need a third baseman, just as they did following the 1997 season. A star might not be necessary. more...
Is A-Rod Better Than Gehrig?: How Does the Former Yankee Compare to Lou?
Category: Major League Baseball
Alex Rodriguez has already hit more home runs than Lou Gehrig and may break Barry's career record for home runs, but it would be silly to think that Alex is greater. more...
Four Consecutive Yankees' Losses: New York Lost Its Last Four Games in 1944
Category: Major League Baseball
The four consecutive losses to Boston in 2004 are the most well-known, but the Yankees lost four straight to the Browns in 1944 that finished their season. more...
Rickey Henderson's Yankees' Career: Henderson Was an All-Time Great, But Not With The Yankees
Category: Major League Baseball
Henderson played for the Yankees from 1985-1989. He was a fine player, but the Yankees have had many outfielders who had better Yankee careers. more...
Eddie Lopat, the Steady Yankee: He Was As Important As Reynolds and Raschi, and He Threw Junk
Category: Major League Baseball
Ed Lopat teamed up with Allie Reynolds and Vic Raschi to give the Yankees three formidable starters who could match the Indians' BobFeller, Bob Lemon, and Early Wynn. more...
Category: Major League Baseball
Hornsby was so superior to Evers that one must question how both can be in the Hall of Fame. more...
Mathewson's Great World Series: In 1905, Matty Pitched Three Shutouts in Six Days
Category: Major League Baseball
Christy Mathewson started three games, pitched three shutouts, and didn't allow a runner to reach third base in any of the games. more...
Pitching Wins the World Series: Good Pitching Usually Prevails in October Baseball Games
Category: Major League Baseball
Pitching wins championships. From Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy, known as Connie Mack, to the modern era of Joe Torre, good pitching will usually stop good hitting. more...
Karl Spooner:Strikeouts and Injury: Brooklyn Dodgers' Rookie Struckout Twenty-Seven in Two Starts
Category: Major League Baseball
Spooner set the record for the most strikeouts by a pitcher in his first two games, but he pitched only one full season in the majors due to a sore arm. more...
Walks Have Decreased in 2007: AL and NL Bases on Balls Were Below Average This Past Season
Category: Major League Baseball
The Red Sox, Phillies, and Yankees draw a lot of walks, but teams from the past walked even more. Lead off batters will accept a free pass but don't TRY to walk. more...
1964 Philadelphia Collapse: The 2007 Mets' Swoon Was Not As Bad As the 1964 Phillies' Meltdown
Category: Major League Baseball
Over a seven-day period, the Phillies lost a 6 1/2 game lead and trailed the first-place Reds by one full game. That was more extreme than the 2007 Mets' collapse. more...
Mantle's Early Injuries: Mickey Suffered Two Serious Injuries Before He Was Twenty Years Old
Category: Major League Baseball
Mickey Mantle's left ankle was hurt while he was in high school. His right leg was damaged in the 1951 World Series. They made him more susceptible to further injuries. more...
Mantle Loses Holdout: Mickey Refused a $17,000 Salary Cut for the 1960 Season
Category: Major League Baseball
Mickey would accept a salary cut of $2,000, but not more. He made $72,000, not $75,,000 in 1959. The Yankees' offer of $55,000, made Mickey livid. more...
Bill Skowron and Team Loyalty: The Yankees' Original Moose: We'd Have Gone For The Money
Category: Major League Baseball
Was there more team loyalty before free agency? Not according to former Yankees' first base star Bill "Moose" Skowron, who played in the 1950s and 1960s. more...
Spud Chandler: The Commerce Yankee: Chandler Has the Best Winning Percentage in Baseball History
Category: Major League Baseball
Spud Chandler won 71.7% of his decisions, which is the highest winning percentage of any pitcher with at least 100 victories. He never had a losing season. more...
Ellie Howard: Most Valuable Player: In 1963, Howard Became the American League's First Black MVP
Category: Major League Baseball
The NL had Jackie Robinson, Campanella, Newcombe, Mays, Aaron, Banks, Frank Robinson, and Maury Wills. In 1963, the American League had Elston Howard. more...
A Colossal Red Sox Collapse: The Red Sox Best Relief Pitchers Were Blasted
Category: Major League Baseball
The Yankees scored six runs in the eighth inning against two of baseball's best relief pitchers, trimming Boston's lead over the Tigers to 8 games in the wild card chase. more...
Steal Signs But Not Electronically: There Is No Rule Against Stealing Signs -- NONE
Category: Major League Baseball
There has never been a specific rule that prevents players from stealing signs from opponents. Why is using technology worse than a coach using his eyes? more...
When Losing Pleased the Dodgers: When Los Angeles Played San Diego, the Loser Made the Playoffs
Category: Major League Baseball
Losing to the Padres pleased the Dodgers because "...they protected their precious pitching staff today." "The game appeared to be anticlimactic...." more...
Don't Underrate Ichiro: Suzuki Is One Of The Greatest Of All Lead-Off Hitters
Category: Major League Baseball
Many players are under appreciated but none is less appreciated by some than Ichiro Suzuki. The 2001 Rookie of the Year, MVP, and batting champ is an all-time great. more...
Mussina's Near Miss: Mike Was Within a Strike of the Yanks' Fourth Perfect Game Ever(ett)
Category: Major League Baseball
Mike Mussina was never more dominant than on the night of September 2, 2001, against the Boston Red Sox, when he was within a strike of pitching a perfect game. more...
Brooklyn Hit .213: The 1908 Brooklyn Superbas Were Offensively Challenged
Category: Major League Baseball
The Brooklyn Dodgers of the 1950s produce images of great power hitting teams. That was not the case in 1908, when they were called the Superbas. more...
Yankees' Division Title Chances: The Red Sox Lead is too Great
Category: Major League Baseball
If the Yankees win 18 and lose 6, the Red Sox must go 13-12 to win the Eastern Division title. more...
Williams Wins 1957 Batting Title: Ted Hit a Remarkable .388 to Mickey Mantle's .365.
Category: Major League Baseball
Ted Williams knew that time was running out. "I want this batting title so badly that I can taste it." more...
Ruth, Not Bonds or Sosa: Babe's Best Seasons Were Greater Than Barry's or Sammy's
Category: Major League Baseball
Bonds set the single season home run record. Sosa hit more than 60 home runs in three different seasons. But Ruth was clearly the best hitter of them all. more...
Torre Did Not Overuse Proctor: Marshall, Lyle, Tekulve and Many of Today's Pitchers Pitched More
Category: Major League Baseball
Joe has been criticized for the demise of Scott Proctor, who had been an effective Yankees' relief pitcher during the first half of 2006 but not the second half. more...
Pete Rose: An All-Time Great: More Than Anything Else, He Wanted to Win
Category: Major League Baseball
Pete Rose didn't have the natural ability possessed by other greats, but he had a fierce desire to win that few could ever match. more...
Sheffield Talks About Torre: Gary Won't Back Down and Joe Still Won't Say Much
Category: Major League Baseball
Gary Sheffield will never shut up. He should look at things from the perspective of those he criticizes. Of greater importance, he must realize that he might be wrong. more...
Great Home Run Seasons: Four National League Sluggers and Their Record Home Runs
Category: Major League Baseball
Statistical anomalies abound. Hack Wilson, Mark McGwire, Luis Gonzalez, and Barry Bonds had great home run seasons that seem like discrepant events. more...
DiMaggio is Now Number One: Joe's 56-Game Hitting Streak is the Greatest, Clearest of All
Category: Major League Baseball
DiMaggio's record is the greatest hitting record of all, but for a few minutes, on a July afternoon, it appeared that the genuineness of the streak might be questioned. more...
Josh Towers' Bad Season: He Fits in with the 1954 Athletics
Category: Major League Baseball
Josh Towers is having a season that is comparable to the 1954 Philadelphia Athletics' starters, but young fans don't know it because other starters are just as bad. more...
Willie Mays' First Home Run: New York Giant Up to Bat Against Boston Braves' Warren Spahn
Category: Major League Baseball
Willie Mays, the greatest of all Giants' players, broke an 0-12 streak in his first game at the Polo Grounds against future Hall of Famer Warren Spahn. more...
Williams, Not DiMaggio: Ted, Not Joe, Was the League's MVP
Category: Major League Baseball
A shortstop who hit .206 received one less first place vote than Triple Crown Winner Ted Williams in the 1947 MVP voting. more...
Roger Clemens Kept Us in the Game: It Wasn't His Fault We Lost -- Or Was It?
Category: Major League Baseball
Pitchers with 5.84 ERAs give their team very little chance of winning anything. The Yankees lost because Roger Clemens pitched a lousy game. more...
One Half Billion Major League Fans: Since 1995, That's How Many People Have Attended Ball Games
Category: Major League Baseball
Since 1995, baseball attendance has soared thanks to Arena Baseball, the game fans love to go to see because it's so offensive. more...
Black and Konstanty Started: The Yankees Faced Great Relievers in Game 1 of Two World Series
Category: Major League Baseball
In 1952, Joe Black made his third career start in Game 1 of the World Series. In 1950, Jim Konstanty had made his first start in over two years in Game 1 of the Series. more...
If You Pick Belle, You're Fired: The Yankees' and Braves' Opinions Differed
Category: Major League Baseball
Albert Belle was one of the most feared athletes, both on and off the field. He had some great seasons, most of which were certainly offensive. more...
Mets and Padres Starters: These Guys Have Met Before
Category: Major League Baseball
If the Mets and Padres play each other in October, the pitching matchups could be fascinating. They have met before. more...
When Mickey Rooted Against Billy: Mantle Could Never Pull Against the Yankees
Category: Major League Baseball
Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin were Yankees, but when Billy managed against them, Mickey wanted the Yankees to win. more...
All Star Manager La Russa: Yogi Berra Couldn't Think and Hit. Can Tony Think and Manage?
Category: Major League Baseball
Would you rather have Albert Pujols or Orlando Hudson batting with the game on the line? How about Pujols or Aaron Rowand? more...
What Did Derek Jeter Mean?: Do Major Leaguers Ever Have the Luxury of Taking a Game Off?
Category: Major League Baseball
What does "taking a game off" mean? Does it refer to not trying one hundred percent? Does it refer to not being up mentally for the game? Does it mean playing injured? more...
The Yankees Lose A Close One: A Pinch Hitter? American Leaguers Don't Need One?
Category: Major League Baseball
Joe Torre had three position players on his bench. None was a better option than Melky Cabrera, who did not accomplish the task. more...
Rooting Against the Yankees: The Wild Card Changed the Way of Rooting Against a Team
Category: Major League Baseball
The Red Sox should win the Eastern Division, but that doesn't mean Yankees' haters are safe. more...
Mickey Mantle's Bad Season: Predicting Isn't Easy
Category: Major League Baseball
Mickey Mantle had a pretty good 1959 season --pretty good for most players, but not for him. How ironic so many "experts" thought there would be another Triple Crown. more...
Whitey Ford, Hall of Fame: How Baseball's Left-Handed Pitcher Stacks Up Against Tom Glavine
Category: Major League Baseball
If Whitey Ford's career had begun in 1987, when Tom Glavine's did, would Ford have made the Hall of Fame as easily as he did? more...
New York Yankees' Greatest Era: Bronx Bombers Had a 15-1 World Series Record from 1927-1953
Category: Major League Baseball
The Yankees are the greatest dynasty in baseball, even in sports overall, but their greatest dominance occurred between 1927 and 1953. more...
The 1963 Yankees' Series Loss: Losing the 1960 Series Was Worse Than the 1963 Defeat
Category: Baseball (general)
In 1963, the Yankees lost four consecutive games to Los Angeles. It hurt less than losing the seventh game in 1960. more...
Reynolds' Second No-Hitter: Allie's Gem Clinched the Yankees' Third Consecutive Flag
Category: Baseball (general)
Allie Reynolds started the first game with the chance to clinch a tie for the pennant. The Yankees had an 8-0 lead in the ninth, but things were far from comfortable. more...
The Dodgers in New Jersey: In 1956 and 1957, Brooklyn Would Play Seven Games in Jersey City
Category: Baseball (general)
The New York Times reported that the decision did NOT foreshadow a shift to another city, but did acknowledge that the team could move at some future date. more...
Why McGraw Traded For Herzog: Winning Was More Important for Little Napoleon
Category: Baseball (general)
Winners may not like those who help them win, but they prefer teammates whom they hate if they help them win. more...
Offensive Production is Down: Has the Use of Performance Enhancing Substances Decreased?
Category: Baseball (general)
Acknowledging that April is a cruel month and that pitchers are usually ahead of hitters in cold weather, offensive production in April, 2008 has decreased substantially. more...
Dickey, Houk, Yogi, and Joe: Girardi is the Fourth Former Yanks' Catcher to Manage the Team
Category: Baseball (general)
Being an ex- teammate of Posada, Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera, and Farnsworth will have no effect., Joe's problem is starting pitching thinner than a young Twiggy. more...
Woodling: Never Say "Nice Hustle": The Yankees Never Complimented Players Who Always Hustled
Category: Baseball (general)
Gene Woodling has become almost unknown as the years have passed, but he is one of only twelve players who has played on five consecutive World Champions. more...
The Yankees' Number Twenty-Two: Hawkins, Clemens, and Reynolds Chose Double Two's
Category: Baseball (general)
Derek Jeter and Mariano spoke with Hawkins and LaTroy exchanged number 21 for number 22, but that number has a more illustrious history than number 21. more...
The Player to be Named Later: Such Transactions Compromise the Game's Integrity
Category: Baseball (general)
If a player thinks he will be sent to a contender at the trading deadline, will his play against that team be affected before the trade? more...
Evers: Hall of Fame Error: Frank Chance Belongs. Johnny and Tinker Do Not
Category: Baseball (general)
Evers was a good player but not even close to being a Hall of Famer. Neither he nor shortstop Joe Tinker should be Hall of Famers. more...
Keltner, Boudreau, & Gordon: Third, Short, and Second: 100 RBIs Each
Category: Baseball (general)
The 1948 Indians, with Ken Keltner, Lou Boudreau, and Joe Gordon, had an all-100 RBIs infield. more...
Baseball's Injustice to Paige: Satchel's Great Career Was Over Before It Began
Category: Baseball (general)
A portion of the American population couldn't to be employed by major league baseball teams because their skin contained too much of the pigment melanin. more...
Surly Roger Maris: No. 9 Was His Own Man With His Own Views
Category: Baseball (general)
He irritated many with his angry stubbornness and his fierce, combative integrity. more...
Limmer's Special Pinch Hit Homer: Limmer, Rogovin, & Ginsberg: Three Jewish Players Made History
Category: Baseball (general)
The pitcher, the catcher, and the hitter were all Jewish. It is the only known time in major league baseball that has occurred. more...
The Mets' Young Pitchers Won: Seaver, Koosman,Gentry and Tug Led the Mets to the 1969 Championship
Category: Major League Baseball
Hughes, Kennedy, and Chamberlain are expected to complete their first full major seasons, but for three consecutive years, the Mets added a great young pitcher. more...
A Foreign World Champion: In the Near Future, There Will Be a WORLD Series
Category: Major League Baseball
In the near future, there will be an international baseball tournament, and a short time after its inception, there may be a "foreign" World Champion. more...
Rose, Clinton, and John Wayne: All Were Elected to the Same Hall of Fame
Category: Major League Baseball
As a young man, Pete Rose was a member of the Order of DeMolay and is a member of the Order's Hall of Fame. So were Bill Clinton and John Wayne. more...
Players, Owners, and Money: Winning Was More Important to Players in the 1950s
Category: Major League Baseball
Today's older fans enjoy telling young fans how much the old players cared, but that is simplistic. Players cared about winning, but primarily because of money. more...
Willie Mays' Enthusiasm: The "Say-Hey Kid" Loved to Play
Category: Major League Baseball
Willie Mays played baseball because he loved the game. It didn't matter if he played at the Polo Grounds, on the streets of Harlem, or on the sandlots . more...
Yankees' Values: The "Universe's Team" Puts Revenues Ahead of Wins
Category: Major League Baseball
The Yankees are the most successful business venture among baseball teams, but generating revenues must be the means to an end. more...
Ten Yankees Twin Bills in 16 Days: New York Played 23 Games From August 12-27 in 1938
Category: Major League Baseball
From Friday, August 12 through and including Saturday, August 27, the Yankees played 10 doubleheaders and 23 games. When is the last time you saw free baseball? more...
When Gehrig Played Game 2,000: Fewer Than 7,000 Fans Attended That Day
Category: Major League Baseball
6,917 fans were in attendance when Gehrig's consecutive games played streak reached 2,000. Compare that to the game in which his record was eclipsed. more...
DiMaggio's Older Brother: Vince Could Field, But He Was an Inconsistent Hitter
Category: Major League Baseball
Vince DiMaggio struck out too much but he was a fine outfielder with power. more...
Great Offensive But No MVP: The 1937 Yankees Won the Series But Charlie Was the League's MVP
Category: Major League Baseball
Joe DiMaggio had a great sophomore season, the Yankees usually bludgeoned the opposition, but Gehringer was voted the Most Valuable Player. more...
The NL Champs Lack Pitching: The Rockies Will Not Make the Playoffs in 2008
Category: Major League Baseball
Baseballs used at Coors Field are stored in a humidor, which has resulted in a decrease in offense, but despite lower scoring games, the Rockies lack solid starters. more...
New York Would Beat Arizona: Five of the Mets' Regulars Are Better Than Arizona's
Category: Major League Baseball
Arizona won the National League Western Division in 2007 and is viewed as a team with great potential for 2008, but like most teams, the Diamondbacks have some problems. more...
The Mets Could Lose: Analysis Reveals Some Mets' Shortcomings
Category: Major League Baseball
The Mets' outfield may present problems and their bullpen may not be as strong as they would like. more...
Mets Would Beat Los Angeles: New York Has Clearly Superior Starting Pitching
Category: Major League Baseball
Joe Torre has taken his act to the West Coast, where Los Angeles is viewed as having a good chance of winning the division, which is irrelevant because of the Mets. more...
DiMaggio's Sore Arm & Great Throw: Joe's Tonsils Were Removed in Hopes of Curing His Arm Problem
Category: Major League Baseball
Yankees' owner Colonel Jacob Ruppert's personal physician recommended that Joe have his tonsils removed to cure his bad arm. more...
Fat Freddie's Bad Luck: The Yankee Stadium Crowd Rooted For the Visitors
Category: Major League Baseball
After the Yankees blasted the Giants in Game 2, Freddie Fitzsimmons Lost a Heartbreaker at Yankee Stadium in the third game. more...
Is Dunn Better Than Gwynn?: Adam's Slugging is More Valuable Than Tony's Singles
Category: Major League Baseball
Adam Dunn is one of baseball's most underrated players, especially by those who refuse to acknowledge modern statistical measurements. more...
DiMaggio An All-Star Flop: Joe Went Hitless in Five At Bats
Category: Major League Baseball
A line drive that might have won the game was caught as DiMaggio disappointed in his first all-star game appearance. more...
Modest DiMaggio Beats the Red Sox: Joe Let Actions On the Field Do His Speaking
Category: Major League Baseball
The sensational rookie asserted himself with positive results to give the league leading Yankees an overtime triumph over the Yawkey minions. more...
The Yankees Acquire DiMaggio: New York Purchased Joe for Five Players and Cash
Category: Major League Baseball
After his contract was sold to the Yankees in 1934, DiMaggio played in the Pacific Coast League in 1935, hitting .398 with 34 home runs. He joined the Yankees in 1936. more...
The Season After 1961: How Did the Team That Won 108 Fames in 1961 Fare in 1962?
Category: Major League Baseball
The 1961 Yankees were one of the best of all teams, but the 1962 Yankees are a forgotten World Championship team that didn't approach its previous season statististically more...
DiMaggio Was Better Than Mantle: Both Are Among the Greats, But Joe Was Clearly Superior to Mickey
Category: Major League Baseball
Both are among the greatest of all players, but Joe DiMaggio was a better hitter and a clearly superior fielder compared to Mickey. The facts support that contention. more...
How to Enhance Ability: Steroids, Exercise, and Nutrition Improve Performance
Category: Major League Baseball
The drugs they legitimately hunt down should not be those that enhance performance but those that endanger health. That should be the only criterion. more...
Joe Dimaggio's Privacy: Players and the Media Had a Different Relationship Sixty Years Ago
Category: Major League Baseball
Sports writing was different in the 1930s and 1940s from what it is today. The general attitude during most of Joe DiMaggio's career was heroic coverage of heroes. more...
A-Rod's' Incentives Are Wrong: Rodriguez’s Contract illustrates Disingenuousness
Category: Major League Baseball
Alex Rodriguez's contract is merely another example of the disingenuousness that exists in society. Baseball is a reflection of society. more...
Minoso is a Hall of Famer: Minnie Was a Great All-Around Player and an Outstanding Competitor
Category: Major League Baseball
Minnie Minoso was one of the best players of the 1950s. He was a pioneer who had a Hall of Fame career, but he will never be voted into the Hall of Fame. more...
McGinnity and Mathewson in 1904: The New York Giants Had Two Thirty Game Winners
Category: Major League Baseball
There is no arguing the point. Iron Man Joe McGinnity and Christy Mathewson had the greatest season of any pitcher teammates in baseball history. Each won over 30 games more...
Johnson, Blyleven and Jenkins: Randy Will Be, Ferguson Is, and Blyleven Might Be Hall of Famers
Category: Major League Baseball
Bert Blyleven and Ferguson Jenkins have similar lifetime statistics, but Jenkins had many more dominating seasons . Johnson was better than either of them. more...
Great But Never World Champions: Bonds, A-Rod, Williams and Cobb Never Played On A World Champion
Category: Major League Baseball
Cobb, Lajoie, Sisler, Williams, McCovey, Banks, Yastrzemski, Killebrew, Sosa, Bonds, Rodriguez were never on a World Champion. It takes nothing away from their greatness more...
Barry Bonds' Perjury Trial: If Found Guilty, It Will Not Be For Using Steroids
Category: Major League Baseball
To be found guilty of perjury, the government must prove that the individual who testified under oath made at least one false statement and knew the statement was false. more...
Barry Bonds and Creatine: Creatine is a Legal Supplement That May Enhance Performance
Category: Major League Baseball
Creatine phosphate is a legal supplement and is NOT an anabolic steroid. Creatine is used for quick energy and that is the key. more...
Yankees Will Make Some Changes: New York Manager Houk Will Switch Some Players' Positions
Category: Major League Baseball
The Yankees hope to make the team a little better than last year by switching Kenney and Murcer to new positions. more...
Performance Enhancers and Placebos: The Placebo Effect Can Improve Athletic Performance
Category: Basketball (general)
A recent study revealed that the placebo effect can be as effective as an illegal drug with respect to improving performance. more...
The A-Rod for Soriano Trade: It Might Have Been Better If Rodriguez Had Never Been With the Yanks
Category: Major League Baseball
Texas sent A-Rod to New York in exchange for Alfonso Soriano. The trade helped neither team win the World Series, but it did help the Yankees lose October games. more...
Lou Gehrig in the World Series: The Iron Horse Excelled When It Counted Most
Category: Major League Baseball
Lou Gehrig hit .361, slugged .731, and hit 10 home runs in 35 World Series games. The Yankees won 6 of those 7 World Series. more...
Lou Gehrig's Salary Cut: The Yankees' Iron Horse Was Cut $4,000 When He Had an Off Season.
Category: Major League Baseball
The Iron Horse had a poor 1938, batting .295 with 29 home runs, 114 RBIs, and a .523 slugging average. For most players, that would be a nice season, but not for Gehrig. more...
Even Hall of Fame Catchers Decline: From Dickey and Cochrane to Bench and Fisk, Age Takes Its Toll
Category: Major League Baseball
There has been a dramatic decline in the offensive production of backstops after the age of thirty six. more...
Players Signed Because of Torre: Joe's Steadying Influence Made Players Want to Come to New York
Category: Major League Baseball
From the early 1980s until the mid-1990s, players didn't want to play for George Steinbrenner. Joe Torre turned that completely around. more...
Steve Carlton and Today's Game: Lefty Completed Thirty Games. Roy Halladay Completed Seven in 2007
Category: Major League Baseball
The game has changed dramatically since Steve Carlton pitched 346 1/3 innings and completed 30 games in 1972. more...
Why Hasn't Torre Been Fired?: The Mets, Braves, and Cards Fired Him For Not Winning
Category: Major League Baseball
The Yankees have lost in the playoffs or World Series every season since 2001. Losing means not winning. more...
Giants and A's Postpone Game: Small Crowd Cancels World Series Game
Category: Major League Baseball
When Giants' manager John McGraw saw the lack of paying customers, he and Athletics' captain Lave Cross decided to call Game 3 of the 1905 World Series more...
The A's and Mets in 1973: The World Series Matched Two Teams With Great Pitching
Category: Major League Baseball
The 1973 World Series pitted two similar teams in a riveting showdown that went seven games. The Mets won only 82 games, but were built for a short series. more...
Earl Weaver is Overrated: He Has Been a Great Manager Until the World Series
Category: Major League Baseball
Earl Weaver was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1996. His teams have been excellent during the season but have won the World Series only once. more...
Category: Major League Baseball
It is unusual for the visiting team to win the seventh game of the World Series, but it happened every time from 1955-1958. more...
A-Rod, Ruth and Great Seasons: Alex Rodriguez' 2007 Season Ranks Among the Yankees' Best
Category: Major League Baseball
In 2007, Alex Rodriguez had an outstanding season that compares favorably with the best of Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, DiMaggio, Mattingly, and Dickey. more...
Casey Wanted Mickey to Bat Second: In 1960, Mantle Batted Second Until HoukTook Over Temporarily
Category: Major League Baseball
During his career, Mickey batted primarily third or fourth, but he also hit first, second, and fifth in the Yankees' batting order. more...
The 1949 Yankees Walked 812 Men: Raschi, Reynolds, and Byrne Each Issued More Than 100 Walks
Category: Major League Baseball
Three of the four starters on the 1949 Yankees' pitching staff, which finished second in league ERA with 3.69, gave up well over 100 walks. more...
Raffy: 380 Home Runs: Until 1994, Palmeiro Was On A Pace For A Career Total of 380
Category: Major League Baseball
On August 1, Raffy, as his friend likes to call him, was suspended for ten days after testing positive for steroids. BUT, all his previous tests were negative. more...
If the Red Sox Were Eliminated: If Today's Format Were Used in 1978, It Would Have Been So Different
Category: Major League Baseball
If today's playoff structure were used in 1978, the differences would have been beyond radical. more...
Bunning Does Not Belong: Jim Was A Fine, Not An All-Time Great Pitcher
Category: Major League Baseball
Jim Bunning was a good pitcher, but he does not rank among the greatest in the history of the game and was not a Hall of Fame player. more...
A Colossal Series in Boston: Yanks, Bosox Set to Brawl for it All
Category: Major League Baseball
The Yankees open up a three game series in Boston tonight that is important, but barring a miracle or two, both the Yankees and the Red Sox will be in the playoffs. more...
Bob Feller: Too Many Walks?: Feller Walked 153 Batters Yet Had One of the Best Seasons Ever
Category: Major League Baseball
Rapid Robert pitched three no hitters, struck out 348 batters in a season, and won at least 20 games six times, but what was unique was he gave up many walks and few runs more...
When the Yankees Scored 1,067 Runs: The Philadelphia Athletics Won the Pennant by 13 1/2 Games.
Category: Major League Baseball
Seven teams have scored over 1,000 runs in a season. Only the 1932 and 1936 teams won the World Series. more...
Pedro Over Roger: Martinez Was More Effective in Preventing Opponents From Scoring
Category: Major League Baseball
Pedro Martinez was a better pitcher than Roger Clemens. The pitcher's job is to prevent the opposition from scoring. Pedro did that better than Roger. more...
The Fear of Losing: Nothing is Worse Than Losing. That Fear Drives Winners
Category: Major League Baseball
A major component of winning is the fear of losing. There is nothing worse than losing. Nothing. more...
The 1917 White Sox: They Were One of the Best Teams of All Time
Category: Major League Baseball
The 1917 White Sox won 100 games, but they have become an afterthought since many of their stars played on the 1919 Black Sox. more...
Bobo Holloman's No-Hitter: The Second Most Unlikely in Baseball History
Category: Major League Baseball
Bobo Holloman is the only modern pitcher to pitch a no-hitter in his first start. According to Bill James, it was the second most unlikely no-hitter ever. more...
The Worst Yankees' Road Shut Out: It Was in Milwaukee on October 7, 1957, Not in August in Detroit
Category: Major League Baseball
The media reported, with great glee, that the worst Yankees' shut out defeat occurred in Detroit, 16-0. They are wrong. It was in Milwaukee on October 7, 1957. more...
Bonds' Marks Will Never Be Broken: Barry Has Set Records That Will Stand Forever
Category: Major League Baseball
Barry Bonds has set some remarkable records. What is notable is not the fact that he set them, but that he broke the old marks by such a wide margin. more...
Comparing Posada, Berra, & Dickey: How Does Jorge Compare to Yogi and Bill?
Category: Major League Baseball
Jorge Posada is having the best season of his career. Is he the best catcher that the Yankees have ever had? more...
Slaughter in the 1956 World Series: Enos Got the Key Hit That Led to the Yankees' Championship
Category: Major League Baseball
Without his Game 3 home run, the Yankees would have been down, three games to none. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in games to win the World Series. more...
World Champion Cardinals: In the Talent-Challenged National League Central, St. Louis is Back
Category: Major League Baseball
The defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals are within 3 1/2 games of first place. This has happened for many reasons, but the Cards still are not a good team. more...
Injuries Hampered Maris Too Often: With the Yankees, Roger Was Healthy Only in 1961 and 1962
Category: Major League Baseball
Mickey Mantle has become synonymous with injuries. Roger Maris and 61 home runs are also synonymous, but fans and the media rarely remember how often Roger was injured. more...
Murcer, Munson, and Michael Homer: The M & M & M Boys Hit Successive Yankees' Home Runs On August 10
Category: Major League Baseball
On August 10, 1969, Bobby Murcer, Thurman Munson, and Gene Michael Hit Consecutive Home Runs. It was the highlight of the Yankees' season and will never be forgotten. more...
Bobby Thomson Traded by the Giants: Home Run Hero Goes to Milwaukee Braves for Pitching Help
Category: Major League Baseball
In need of pitching for 1954, the Giants traded the player who hit the "shot heard 'round the world" for Johnny Antonelli, who helped lead New York to the World Series. more...
Twenty Hall of Famers in 1958: Williams, Musial, Mantle, Mays, Clemente, Berra and Snider Played
Category: Major League Baseball
Ted Williams and Stan Musial were finishing up, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays were reaching their peaks, while Frank and Brooks Robinson were just starting. more...
A-Rod Versus Barry: Alex Rodriguez' First Thirteen Seasons Have Been Better
Category: Major League Baseball
When we compare their first thirteen seasons, A-Rod beats Barry. more...
Mantle, Rose, Giambi and Hutch: They Deserved the Award
Category: Major League Baseball
Mickey Mantle had problems with alcohol, Pete Rose bet on baseball games, and Jason Giambi took performance enhancing substances. All received the Hutch Award. more...
Bud Selig Was Right: Fans Want Home Runs and Strike Outs and That's What They Are Getting
Category: Major League Baseball
Home runs and strikeouts are exciting. They keep casual fans interested because both are dramatic. They are fun. more...
Sheffield, Cox, Leyland, and Torre: What Gary's Former Managers Said
Category: Major League Baseball
Bobby Cox praised Gary Sheffield in 2003, and Jim Leyland called him one of the ultimate people in baseball this past offseason. more...
Bernie Williams and His Yankees: He Deserves the Same Respect He Gives
Category: Major League Baseball
It hurts me to get on people. I don't like to get on people, because I don't want them to get on me." Bernie Williams more...
Drebinger Was Wrong: Even the Greatest of Baseball Writers Can Make Poor Predictions
Category: Major League Baseball
John Drebinger was one of the best, most knowledgeable baseball writers of all time, but even he didn't always make accurate predictions. more...
Detroit and Cleveland Can't Win: Todd Jones and Joe Borowski are Disasters
Category: Major League Baseball
It is unconceivable that the Tigers will go with Todd Jones and that the Indians will go with Joe Borowski if they hope to be taken seriously. more...
Rivera and Posada Deserve the Same: A-Rod Isn't the Only Player the Yankees Should Try to Sign
Category: Major League Baseball
The Yankees are willing to bend their own rules in order to keep Alex Rodriguez in pinstripes. Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada must be treated the same way. more...
The First All Star Game: A Pitcher Batted in the Initial Run Scored in the Game's History
Category: Major League Baseball
The American League won the first All Star game and offensively challenged pitcher Lefty Gomez singled home the first run in All Star game history. more...
The Dodgers Against the Reds: Brooklyn's 1953 Team was Better Than Cincinnati's 1975 Team
Category: Major League Baseball
The 1953 Dodgers and the 1975 Reds were great teams, but Brooklyn was just a little better -- or were they? more...
Similiar Yankees' Problems: Casey Stengel and Joe Torre Worried About Pitching
Category: Major League Baseball
The 1959 Yankees and the 2007 team had pitching staffs that could have great -- or that could have cost them the pennant. more...
Joe Torre Defends the Yankees: Modern Managers Could Learn From Miller Huggins
Category: Major League Baseball
Joe Torre and today's managers can learn from the way Miller Huggins handled Babe Ruth. Mangers must be firm and not worry about how a player feels about himself. more...
Ford, Mantle, and the Rules: 1959 Contracts Contained Behavior Code
Category: Major League Baseball
Ford and Mantle had to promise the Yankees that they would be "good boys," obey the club's rules, not miss any trains or planes, and distinguish midnight from noon. more...
Category: Major League Baseball
The 1961 Yankees won the World Series in five games. Many fans believe that it had been an easy series. Beating the Cincinnati Reds was extremely difficult. more...
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