Kuzul

It was a game that was meaningless in the standings, but it was a game that established a record that will never, ever be broken.

Russ Springer was on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Barry Bonds was the batter.

It was the first inning of the San Francisco Giants’ final game of the 2001 season.

The bases were empty with two outs. Springer got the signal from his catcher, Chad Kreuter, nodded assent, went into the windup, and delivered.

Barry Bonds hit his 73rd home run into the arcade above the right field fence. Barry circled the bases, crossed home plate, raised his arms above his head, and pointed his forefingers to the heavens.

The Giants won the game, 2-1, and to Barry Bonds, it mattered.

“This was a great, great way to end it, with a victory and a home run. You can’t ask for anything better. I never thought I could do it.”

Barry Bonds oozed greatness and modesty. He actually said that he didn’t think he could do it. Isn’t that unbelievable? It is, isn’t it?

Two nights before, Barry broke Mark McGwire’s single season record when he blasted a pair of home runs. At the time, the new home run champion issued a word of caution.

“I don’t know if it’s going to exist next year.”

In 2001, Sammy Sosa (64), Luis Gonzalez (57), and Alex Rodriguez (52) hit over 50 home runs. The home run sluggers were becoming more formidable and numerous.

An amazing statistic is that Barry hit a home run every 6.52 at bats, topping McGwire’s rate of 7.27.

When Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs in 1927, all the Babe could manage was a home run every 9.0 at bats.

Roger Maris, who set his record in the first season the American League went from a 154-game schedule to a 162-game schedule, hit a home run every 9.7 at bats.

Mark McGwire attempted to provide some perspective.

“It’s a crazy number and we all thought it was crazy at the end of ’98. But now we’re looking at it like it’s not crazy. That’s just the way the game’s gone; there’s so much offense.”

Tony Gwynn, who never hit many home runs but who knew a little about getting base hits, made an interesting statement.

“I don’t know where it’s going to end.”

Barry told the media that the game had changed and “…whatever happens in the future, we should allow it to happen on its own and not question it.”

Sadly, some individuals have not heeded Barry’s advice,

Barry made 2001 a bad season for Babe Ruth. The Giants’ slugger broke the Babe’s single season record for walks (177 to 170), and broke Ruth’s single season slugging average (.863 to .847).

Baseball Digest selected Barry as its Player of the Year for 2001. The respected periodical noted that Barry’s accomplishments embellished the final seasons of future Hall of Famers Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr.

“And five years after he leaves the game, so will Bonds (be elected to the Hall of Fame). That’s a given.”

Reference:

Kuenster, John. “Player of the Year Barry Bonds Had a Season For the Ages.” Baseball Digest . Jan. 2002.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

There was a time when baseball players didn’t have to be extrinsically motivated to try to win the all-star game. The incentive was to win for the pride of the league without hurting your team.

Tom Seaver started the 1970 All-Star game. Two events occurred then that could never occur today.

New York’s most beloved team, at least after the Brooklyn Dodgers ceased to exist, was playing the Montreal Expos, a team that no longer exists, at Shea Stadium, a ballpark that no longer exists.

It was Sunday, July 12. The All-Star game would be played on Tuesday.

The score was 3-3 in the ninth inning when Montreal rallied for two runs off Mets starter Ray Sadecki after Sadecki had retired the first two batters.

With Rusty Staub on first, manager Gil Hodges had enough. He brought in Tom Seaver to end the inning, which he did.

The Mets were down by two runs, but Hodges had enough confidence in his challenged offense or sufficient disrespect for the Expos’ pitching that he was willing to use his ace to maintain a two-run deficit.

Two days later, on Tuesday, July 14 at River Front Stadium in Cincinnati, Gil Hodges, the National League all-star manager, gave the baseball to Tom Seaver.

The greatest pitcher in the history of New York baseball pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, no walks, and striking out four batters. Guess the relief appearance on Sunday didn’t affect Seaver.

The game was still scoreless when Gaylord Perry took the mound for the National League in the sixth inning.

Perry had started for the San Francisco Giants the Sunday before the all-star game. The Houston Astros had blasted Perry for five runs and 11 hits in his five innings of work.

Perry worked two innings and was touched up for two runs and four hits.

With the game tied 4-4 after nine innings, Hodges brought in Dodgers’ lefty Claude Osteen, who had pitched eight innings on the Saturday before the All-Star game, which meant that Osteen came in on two days’ rest.

Osteen was 5’11” and weighed a “hefty” 160 pounds.

Neither team scored until the bottom of the 12th inning, when Jim Hickman singled to left, driving in Pete Rose from second base and ruining Ray Fosse’s promising career.

Osteen worked three innings to get the win. Not exactly the “Joba rules.”

American League manager Earl Weaver’s use of pitchers was no different from that of Hodges.

In the fourth inning, “Sudden” Sam McDowell, who had pitched a complete game on Saturday, came in for Jim Palmer. Sam worked three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and three walks.

It gets better.

Jim “Catfish” Hunter, who pitched eight innings on Sunday, started the ninth inning for the Junior Circuit. Clarence “Cito” Gaston was the only batter Hunter retired as the National League rallied for three runs to tie the game.

The losing pitcher was Jaret Wright’s daddy, Clyde, who had started on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins.

Yes, there was a time when the rule that limited pitchers to a maximum of three innings was necessary.

Yes, there was a time when managers didn’t have to worry if using a pitcher who was an All-Star would negatively affect his league’s chances of winning.

Yes, there was a time when real baseball games were played and pitchers did what they do best.

They pitched.

Reference:

1970 All Star Game at Retrosheet

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

After the 1950 season, Joe DiMaggio was asked to select his greatest game. DiMaggio explained that he had to choose two games because each involved the fans.

“I will compromise and pair two thrills as my greatest. They have one thing in common: both were given to me by the fans.”

DiMaggio selected the penultimate game of the 1949 season played on Oct. 1 against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, and the final game of the 1948 season on Oct. 3 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

October 1, 1949 was Joe DiMaggio Day at Yankee Stadium. Fans used to give players a “day” as a token of appreciation. Of course, many gifts, often including a new car, were part of the deal.

The fans gave Joe more than 100 presents in ceremonies before the game the New York Yankees had to win. They trailed the Sox by a single game with two games remaining.

Joe was impressed by the presents, but the always classy Yankee was more impressed by the love the fans expressed. He was quite concerned that the long delay might affect his teammates negatively.

“I could not help thinking, too, of my teammates. I knew every man was waiting impatiently for the game to begin. There must have been times when they thought ‘Come on, give the guy his presents and get on with the game. There is a pennant to be won.'”

The Yankees did win, thanks to a stellar relief effort by Joe Page, who by today’s standards would be the Yankees closer, but there were no closers in 1949.

Page worked six and one-third innings, the Yankees won the next day, and then beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series.

DiMaggio expressed his gratitude to the more than 70,000 fans who honored him, and then referred to a statement Ted Williams had once made.

Williams would rather win the batting title than the MVP award because the batting title was something that a player earned himself, while the MVP award was something given to a player.

DiMag said that he would rather win the MVP.

“I’d have to consult the record book to tell you when I won the batting title. But I’ll never have to check the book to tell you about those 70,000 fans who came to Yankee Stadium that October afternoon for the express purpose of honoring me.”

Joe’s other choice involved a game in which the Yankees had been eliminated from the pennant race in 1948.

The Red Sox, who trailed the Cleveland Indians by one game with one game left, hosted the Yankees. The Indians were playing the Detroit Tigers.

The Yankees wanted to win the game for obvious reasons. They believed, down to a man, that they were better than either the Sox or the Indians, but they would not be going to the World Series.

The DiMaggio family was in the stands, rooting for the Red Sox because Dom DiMaggio, Joe’s brother, was the Boston center fielder.

The Tigers beat the Indians and the Red Sox beat the Yankees, forcing a one-game playoff that the Indians won. Joe got four hits despite having charley horses (pulled muscles) in both legs.

When Joe singled in the ninth inning, Steve Souchock was sent in to run him. As Joe limped to the dugout, he experienced one the great moments of his career.

“I’ll never forget that crowd. It was standing and roaring—like one man. I tipped my cap but it didn’t stop. I looked up at the stands and I never saw a more wonderful sight. There were 31,000 people giving an ovation to a guy who tried to beat them.”

Yes, there used to be a time when fans and players had real class.

As an old Russian song popularized by Mary Hopkin and produced by Paul McCartney lamented, “Those Were the Days.”

Reference:

DiMaggio, Joe. “My Greatest Game,” Baseball Digest . Jan. 1951, p.73.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

RULE 1.09:

The ball shall be a sphere formed by yarn wound around a small core of cork, rubber, or similar material, covered with two strips of white horsehide or cowhide, tightly stitched together. It shall weigh not less than five nor more than 5¼ ounces avoirdupois and measure not less than nine nor more than 9¼ inches in circumference.

The cover of the May 1955 issue of Baseball Digest had a headline that seems more appropriated for a modern supermarket tabloid than for a baseball magazine.

“Contents of the Suppressed Report! Flaws in Ball Exposed!”

University of Wisconsin professors Arthur Mansfield and Robert Francis conducted a two-year study of major league baseballs. Their findings were disturbing, which resulted in heavy pressure being brought on the researchers by the baseball manufacturers.

Unlike today, when one company, Rawlings , produces all the baseballs used in major league games, five firms produced major league baseballs during the 1950s.

The research revealed that:

1. Forty-five percent of the baseballs measured either less than nine inches or more than 9¼ inches in circumference.

2. Some baseball covers were half again as thick as others.

3. The rebound height of baseballs varied by as much as 16 percent.

4. The number of twists or yarn per inch varied by more than 25 percent.

Jim Gallagher, chairman of the Official Rules Committee, reacted:

“We fret over the accuracy of our records and then pay no attention to the accuracy of the main thing that goes into those records—the ball.”

Gallagher was right on target.

One Big Ten baseball coach said, “The difference is so great that against a certain (manufacturers) ball, I play my outfielders in 25 more feet than usual.”

Of the 56 baseballs tested from the five different manufacturers, 26 were too large and one was too small, but of greatest significance was the ball’s rebounding strength.

The rebound height of new baseballs varied from 18.82 inches to 22.14 inches when the ball was dropped 48 inches onto a marble slab.

The researchers concluded that there were variations in the thickness of the cover of baseballs, in the height of the seams, in the rebounding ability, and in the size and weight of different baseballs.

Even baseballs from the same manufacturer were different.

In 2010, offensive production had decreased greatly. The following table compares 2010 with 2009 and 2006.

SELECTED AMERICAN LEAGUE OFFENSIVE AVERAGES

YEAR R/G HR/G OPA SA BA
2010 4.56 0.949 0.332 0.409 0.262
2009 4.82 1.128 0.336 0.428 0.267
2006 4.97 1.123 0.339 0.437 0.275

SELECTED NATIONAL LEAGUE OFFENSIVE AVERAGES

YEAR R/G HR/G OPA SA BA
2010 4.38 0.905 0.327 0.401 0.257
2009 4.43 0.958 0.331 0.409 0.259
2006 4.76 1.097 0.334 0.427 0.265

What has caused the decrease? Are the pitchers getting better? Are the hitters getting worse? Has the strike zone changed? Is the defense better? Has the use of performance enhancing substances decreased?

All of the above questions are difficult, if not impossible to answer conclusively, but one variable that can be tested is the one that two researchers investigated almost 60 years ago. Compare the rebounding ability of today’s baseball with that of baseball’s from the not-too-distant past.

References:

Allen, Phil. “Here’s What’s in the Report and Why It Was Suppressed.” Baseball Digest . May, 1955.

Baseball Reference

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

A Difference Between Mickey and Joe DiMaggio

In one way, Mickey Mantle was the antithesis of Joe DiMaggio. The Jolter was such an aloof individual that rookies dared not to approach him, much less attempt to speak to him. Mickey Mantle used to rush over to greet new players with an outstretched hand.

“I’m Mickey Mantle,” he would say, as if the young player didn’t know. It was one of Mickey’s nicest gestures.

When questioned about his rookie season, Mickey related that his first thrill as a Yankee was shaking hands with Joe DiMaggio.

Mickey and the Baseball “Expert”

One day during spring training at St. Petersburg, a baseball writer walked over to Mickey, who was near the batting cage. Mickey was watching New York Yankees’ crafty left-hander Steady Eddie Lopat working on his “junk.”

The writer tapped Mickey on the shoulder.

“Mick, there’s the first pitcher I’ve seen all spring who gives me itchy fingers. I’d love to pick up a bat at hit against him.”

Mickey explained why the writer never became a baseball player in such a way that points out the sad fact that “experts” who never played the game receive much too much credit.

“It won’t do you no good. As soon as you step up to the plate Lopat makes you start to think and he’s got you because he can think better than you can.”

Bat Only Right-Handed?

Another time, at another spring training, the same writer, knowing that the switch-hitting Mickey was more effective from the right side of the plate, questioned him about it. For about a second, Mickey had the writer going.

“Wanna know something? I’m gonna bat only right-handed this year.”

Mickey couldn’t help but start laughing.

“I really would, if those right-handed pitchers would promise me that they wouldn’t throw me any curves.”

Everyday, before a game, Mickey would wrap his legs in yards of bandages. Whenever manager Casey Stengel felt he should ask him if he could play, Mickey almost always said he could.

Mickey, Joe, and Willie

There have been many discussions, probably millions over the years, comparing Mickey to DiMaggio and Willie Mays.

Statistically, the three are extremely close, but one incident during the 1961 World Series, most of which Mickey sat out due to an infected hip, provides great insight into the weakness of statistics.

Mickey was stretched out on the trainer’s table face down. His hip had a hole in it the size of a golf ball due to an open abscess. Catcher Elston Howard, walking by, was taken aghast.

Ellie turned to Mickey as he shuddered. “Mick, you are a great man.”

Anyone who had ever been Mickey’s teammate agreed with Ellie.

Reference:

By ARTHUR DALEY. (1969, March 7). Sports of The Times :Musings About Mantle. New York Times (1923-Current file),40. Retrieved June 26, 2010, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 – 2006). (Document ID: 79948757).

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

I don’t know how this is going to turn out, but it is going to be interesting to find out.

When Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays were active, the majority of fans rated Mays ahead of Mantle, often with the disclaimer that if Mickey had Mays’ health, it might have been different.

Now that we have “experts” such as Bill James and his ilk, a bevy of measurements exist that have led to the conclusion that Mickey was better than we thought.  The primary reason is that his peak years were better than Willie’s.

Mickey Mantle’s best season was 1956, when he won the Triple Crown, leading the majors with a .353 batting average, 52 home runs, and 130 RBIs.

His next best season was 1957, when he batted .365, hit 34 home runs, and had 94 RBIs. 

Following the 1957 season, New York Yankees’ general manager “Lonesome” George Weiss wanted to cut Mickey’s salary, claiming that with the exception of batting average, Mickey had fallen well short of his 1956 numbers.

Bill James and his sabermetricians have changed all that.

It is difficult to conclude that any one of a number of seasons was Willie’s best.  His highest batting average of .347 was achieved in 1958, but he hit “only” 29 home runs in Candlestick Park.

In 1955 Willie hit 51 home runs, and in 1965 he hit 52.  His best RBI season was 1962, when he drove home 141 San Francisco Giants.

Let’s select 1954, when he won the batting title, as one of Willie’s best two seasons, and 1955 as the other.

Mickey Mantle                            
Year   2B    3B    HR    RBI    BA    OBA    SA
1956    22    5    52    130    .353    .464    .705
1957    28    6    34    94     .365     .512    .665
                           
Willie Mays                            
Year    2B    3B    HR    RBI    BA    OBA    SA
1954    33    13    41    110    .345    .411    .667
1955    18    13    51    127    .319    .400    .659

It is closer than one might think, but Mantle gets a slight edge.  While Mickey’s walks bolstered his on base average, Willie hit many more triples.

Another factor is that Willie’s role with the 1955 New York Giants was to drive in runs, because he was the primary, and with the possible exception of Henry Thompson, the only real RBI threat on the team.

Mickey had Yogi Berra, Moose Skowron, Hank Bauer, and a young Ellie Howard, which meant there was more of a chance that a Mickey Mantle walk would lead to a Yankees’ rally, than a Willie Mays walk would lead to a Giants’ rally.

Now let’s examine their third and fourth best two seasons.  

For Mickey, let’s take 1961, which some claim was his second best season, and 1958.

For Willie, let’s use 1965, when he hit 52 home runs, and 1957, when he had at least 20 doubles, 20 triples, and 20 home runs playing on a terrible New York Giants’ team.

Mickey Mantle                            
Year    2B    3B    HR    RBI    BA    OBA    SA
1961    16    6    54    128    .317    .448    .687
1958    21    1    42    97     .304    .443     .592
                           
Willie Mays                           
Year   2B    3B    HR    RBI    BA    OBA    SA
1965    31    3    52    112    .317    .398    .645
1957    26    50    35    97    .333    .407    .626

It is impossible to decide which player had the best four top offensive seasons, especially since Willie played on Giants’ teams that often were out of contention and Mickey didn’t, at least until 1965.

All that the above does is confirm the greatness of both players, but let’s conclude by examining the top four offensive seasons of the best player in the game today.

Albert Pujols                           
Year   2B    3B    HR    RBI    BA    OBA    SA
2006    33    1    49    137    .331    .431    .671
2004    51    2    46    123    .331    .415    .657
2009    45    1    47    135    .327    .443    .658
2003    51    1    43    124    .359    .439    .667

Any comments?

References:

Mickey Mantle at Baseball Reference

Willie Mays at Baseball Reference

Albert Pujols at Baseball Reference

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Some things are more unfair than others. Mike Mussina, who has a good chance of becoming a Hall of Famer, signed with the New York Yankees in 2001 after they defeated New York’s most beloved team in the 2000 World Series.

The Yankees won the 2001 pennant as Mussina had 17 victories, with an excellent 3.15 ERA and a 143 ERA+. He also had over 200 strikeouts.

Favored in the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Yankees had Mariano Rivera on the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning of the seventh game, leading by a run; but baseball is like life, with no guarantees.

Nothing should ever be taken for granted. Which the Yankees discovered to their horrror, as Arizona scored twice to snap the Yankees’ streak of three consecutive World Championships.

The years passed quickly, and in 2008 Mussina won 20 games for the first time in his career, but the Yankees still had not won another World Championship. For most teams, eight years is not much of a drought, but the Yankees are not most teams.

Mussina was joined by some big-name super stars.

Jason Giambi, Hideki Matsui, Gary Sheffield, Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson, Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, Roger Clemens again, and even catching great Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez were part of the Yankees during Mussina’s tenure, but there was no World Championship.

Some referred to Mussina as the “leader of the ant-World Series champions,” because the team of stars made the playoffs every season until 2008, when Mussina won 20 games.

Mike Mussina was a winner who came close. He lacked the supporting cast necessary to achieve the final step.

It was Mussina who allowed the Yankees to win the 2003 pennant. He put on one of the greatest performances of all time in the seventh game of the playoffs against the Boston Red Sox.

The Sox were leading 4-0 with Pedro Martinez on the mound. The Yankees could not afford to get further behind.

With Boston runners on first and third and no outs, Mussina came in for Roger Clemens, who has been known to leave some important games.

He struck out Jason Varitek for the first out, and then induced Johnny Damon to hit a shot to shortstop that was turned into an inning-ending double play.

In the 11th inning, Aaron Boone hit a home run off Tim Wakefield to win the pennant for the Yankees.

In 2007, Mussina became the ninth pitcher to win at least 100 game with two teams.

Following his 20-win season in 2008, Mussina, now 39 years old, retired.

After not making the playoffs for the first time since 1997, the Yankees did what they do when they become desperate. They spent a lot of money.

C.C. Sabathia and Allan Burnett were signed to create a pitching staff. Mark Teixiera was signed to give the Yankees the best first basemen they had since Tino Martinez.

Of course, now that Mussina was no longer with the Yankees, they won their first World Championship since 2000. What a difference a year makes.

References:

BASEBALL PLAYOFFS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES :Yanks’ Rotation, Old and Ineffective, Is in Need of an Overhaul. (2006, October 10). New York Times (1923-Current file),D2. Retrieved June 21, 2010, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 – 2006). (Document ID: 1630606872).

New York Yankees at Baseball Reference

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Alfonso Soriano plays left field for the moribund Chicago Cubs. He is batting .267, with 10 home runs, 34 RBIs, and has stolen foures bases. In 2009, he hit .241.

At the age of 34, it is safe to say that Mr. Soriano will not have the career Derek Jeter predicted for him.

In 2001, Soriano hit the home run off Curt Schilling that was supposed to bring the New York Yankees’ fans their fourth consecutive World Championship. It would have been the third time sports greatest dynasty accomplished the feat, but it never happened.

Mariano Rivera didn’t protect a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Arizona Diamondbacks gave the Yankees the worst defeat in the team’s history.

Yes, it was worse than the Boston Red Sox four game sweep in the 2004 playoffs, because the World Series is not the playoffs.

Derek Jeter was concerned about Soriano. During spring training, 2002, Jeter pulled his teammate aside for a conference. When it was over, Jeter spoke.

“I could tell he was really paying attention and listening. He knew what I was trying to tell him.”

Jeter knew that in his second season, Soriano would face many challenges.

Jeter warned Soriano about the adjustments pitchers would make, and what expectations the media, fans, and the Yankees would have for him.

Jeter had been through it all. His approach was simple.

“The whole point was just to continue to have fun. That’s the only way to be successful. Continue to have fun and relax.”

Soriano had a great April, hitting .364 and leading the league in hits, total bases, extra base hits and doubles.

“I know the pitchers know me, and I go out with more concentration in the game,” Soriano said. “I remember what Jeter told me. Now a lot of people know me, the managers and the players. I think about that all the time and work hard everyday. I wait for my pitch in my zone, and that’s it”

It seems that in the 2003 World Series, the Florida Marlins’ pitchers made Sori appear to have a short memory.

The Yankees’ sagacious general manager Brian Cashman, a wise judge of talent who has brought the team players such as Javier Vazquez twice, Felix Rodriguez and Raul Mondesi, compared Soriano to Jeter at similar points in their careers.

“Jeter’s game was more refined and consistent, but he had two times as much experience. Jeter has power potential,” Cashman said. “Jeter has the ability to control the running game. Jeter has the ability to play excellent defense.

“But Alfonso has the explosive power, explosive speed. Derek is the typical five-tool player. I just think Sori’s tools are better. His ceiling might be a little higher than Derek’s in terms of raw ability.”

Soriano played second base for the 2002 Yankees. Cashman thought that he would become a great outfielder when he saw Soriano play left field during spring training.

“Within a week it was clear to us that he was out best defensive outfielder. No disrespect to Bernie.”

Okay folks, Soriano is a better outfielder than Bernie Williams, and Jason Giambi helped the Yankees more than Tino Martinez.

In 2004, Cashman traded Soriano to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Alex Rodriguez, and less than a year later, the Rangers sent Sori to the Washington Nationals.

Frank Robinson managed Washington. During spring training, 2006, Robinson made out a lineup card with Soriano, who had been exclusively a second baseman, as the left fielder. Soriano refused to take the field.

Alfonso Soriano is a good player who has never reached his full potential, despite having some outstanding seasons. He might have better tools than Derek Jeter, but old baseball scouts used to say that evaluating a player’s tools is the easy part.

The difficult part is determining what’s in a player’s heart.

References:

TYLER KEPNER. (2002, April 30). A Budding Star in the Bronx :A Budding Infield Star in the Bronx ‘I’m working hard because I want to be perfect.’. New York Times (1923-Current file),p. D1. Retrieved June 20, 2010, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 – 2006). (Document ID: 731561482).

Alfonso Soriano at Baseball Reference

Alfonso Soriano at Wikipedia

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Baseball history was changed forever on Nov. 28, 2003.

Curt Schilling was traded to the Boston Red Sox by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Without Schilling, the Red Sox would not have been World Champions in 2004 or in 2007.

Schilling didn’t mince words. At the press conference announcing the trade, he succinctly summed up the situation. He told the world that he wanted to be part of bringing the Red Sox their first championship since 1918.

“And hopefully more than one over the next four years.”

The Red Sox beat out the hated New York Yankees for Schilling’s services. New York’s second team wanted Schilling to replace Roger Clemens, who announced his retirement, but the Yankees refused to meet the Diamondbacks’ demand for Alfonso Soriano and Nick Johnson.

Looking back, it was one of the most incompetent evaluations the Yankees ever made.

The Red Sox sent household names Casey Fossum, Brandon Lyon, Jorge de la Rosa, and Michael Goss to the Diamondbacks for Schilling.

A few days later, the Yankees announced that they had traded Nick Johnson, outfielder Juan Rivera, and left-handed relief pitcher Randy Choate to the Montreal Expos for Javier Vazquez.

Brian Cashman, the Yankees general manager, had discussed acquiring Vazquez with his Montreal counterpart, Omar Minaya. At the press conference announcing the trade, Minaya, who in June, 2010, has once again become a baseball genius, told the media,

“I told Brian at dinner, ‘If you’re interested in this guy, be aggressive. Come at me aggressively. To his credit, they were aggressive.”

We are living in an age when most individuals want to be told what to think by those who are labeled “experts.”

When Vazquez became a Yankee, Jeff Torborg, who caught Sandy Koufax’s perfect game, was behind the plate for Nolan Ryan’s first of seven career no-hitters, and managed Vazquez in 2001, praised the new Yankee.

“He’s a winner, He’s got real competitive fire and he’s a classy kid. With the Yankees, he’s liable to just pop big time. He’s always been very good but his record’s not been much over .500. This is the kind of guy who could pop it and go 20-8.”

So much for the expert.

In 2004, Curt Schilling led the Boston Red Sox to their first World Championship since 1918, forcing Yankees’ fans to either stop the infamous “1918, 1918, 1918” chant or further hurt any credibility they might have possessed.

Schilling was 21-6, with a 3.26 ERA and a 150 ERA+.

He won his one start against the National League Champion St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, pitching six shutout innings.

In 2004, the Yankees became the first team to lose a playoff series after winning the first three games.

Vazquez won 14 games for the Yankees. He had a 4.91 ERA and a 92 ERA+. He won his only playoff decision because the Yankees scored 19 runs

Vazquez relieved Kevin Brown in the third inning of the third game of the playoff series against the Sox. He was the winning pitcher, working four and one-third innings, while allowing four hits, two walks, and four runs.

It was the last game the Yankees would win in 2004.

Schilling helped the Red Sox win another World Championship in 2007. He didn’t pitch in 2008, and announced his retirement in 2009.

The Yankees traded Vazquez to Diamondbacks after the 2004 season for his former Diamondbacks teammate, Randy Johnson. We all know how that turned out, but the Yankees are a forgiving organization.

On Dec. 22, 2009, the Yankees re-acquired Vazquez, this time from the Braves.

How different it might have been if Mr. Steinbrenner and Mr. Cashman has not valued Alfonso Soriano and Nick Johnson so highly.

References:

RAFAEL HERMOSO. (2003, November 29). Red Sox Ace Out the Yankees And Get Schilling for 3 Years. New York Times (1923-Current file),p. D1. Retrieved June 19, 2010, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 – 2006). (Document ID: 865873002).

TYLER KEPNER. (2003, December 5). Yankees Add Vazquez and Get Younger on Mound. New York Times (1923-Current file),p. D1. Retrieved June 19, 2010, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 – 2006). (Document ID: 867466952).

Baseball Reference

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Once upon a time, about 100 years ago, the Chicago White Sox had an infielder named David Altizer. The White Sox had acquired Altizer’s services from the Cleveland Indians, and, playing in his first game against his former team, Altizer was anxious to do well.

The Tribe were leading 2-1 in the seventh inning. Altizer came to the plate with the bases empty and one out. He promptly singled, putting the potential tying run on base.

First baseman George Stovall held Altizer close to the bag as White Sox playing manager Billy Sullivan gave the hit and run sign.

Altizer took off for second base as the batter hit a vicious, low line drive right to first baseman Stovall, who caught the ball and stepped on the bag for an easy double play, ending the inning.

But this was 1909, when players still had fun playing the game.

Altizer was the only individual in the ball park who had no idea where the ball had been hit. It was a great situation that both teams took advantage of.

Chicago White Sox third base coach Nick Altrock, who had been around for a while, knew what to do.

Altrock yelled to Altizer to slide into second, which he did, since he was completely unaware that he had already been doubled off first.

Stovall heard Altrock shout, and immediately realized what was happening. He fired the ball to second, deliberately making a high throw that sailed over shortstop Terry Turner’s head.

Altrock was besides himself, but he controlled his laughter as he screamed to Altizer to go to third. Altizer got up and headed toward third carrying what he thought was the tying run.

Center fielder Joe Birmingham picked up Stovall’s “errant” throw and fired to third as Altizer slid into the bag. Third baseman Bill Bradley let the ball get by him.

“Home,” yelled Altrock, as Altizer once again took off.

Bradley retrieved the ball and fired home to catcher Nig Clarke, who had the ball in more than enough time to tag out the sliding Altizer, but Clarke deliberately missed the tag.

Umpire Billy Evans, who was the game’s only umpire, had followed Altizer around the bases, and was in perfect position to make the call at home plate. The crowd was in a frenzy.

Altizer picked himself up after touching home plate with a big grin, since he knew that he was safe, at least until Evans called him out.

Altizer screamed at Evans, imploring the veteran arbiter to change his decision, but it was no avail. Evan later said, amidst a sea of laughter, that under other conditions, he would have throw Altizer out on his ear.

There is no record of Altizer’s reaction when he discovered what had happened.

Reference:

Evan, Billy. Baseball Digest . July, 1945, p. 12.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com