Kuzul

Sad news in the baseball world tonight as Don Mueller, who played for the New York Giants from 1948 to 1957, has died. He was 84.

Mueller is best remembered for his part in Bobby Thomson’s famous ‘Shot Heard ‘Round The World’ which catapulted the Giants past the Brooklyn Dodgers and into the 1951 World Series.

Ralph Branca, who gave up the legendary pennant-winning home run to Thomson, detailed Mueller’s part in the epic showdown in his book, “A Moment In Time”:

I threw a little harder. Another roar. I turned and saw that Don Mueller had singled to right, off Hodges’ glove, sending Dark to third. Erskine and Labine, who were in the bullpen with me and saw the play, said, “Why was Gil holding Dark at first? Dark wasn’t going anywhere. Not with them three runs down. The whole right side was open. Should have been a double play.” Lockman then doubled, scoring Dark and sending Mueller to third, where he fractured his ankle sliding into the bag. He had to be carried off the field and was replaced with pinch runner Clint Hartung. Suddenly, it was Dodgers 4, Giants 2. Two on, no out. Tying run at the plate.

Mueller died Wednesday at his home in Chesterfield, Mo., according to The New York Times.

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‘Tis the season for returning unwanted Christmas gifts to the store for something better.

After the recent signing—or should I say re-signing—of pitcher Boof Bonser by the San Francisco Giants, I got to thinking about the number of players the Giants have traded away or let walk, only to re-acquire them years later.

Kind of like a re-gift.

The list that follows is by no means exhaustive. It is not ranked in any kind of order, nor does it reflect the most significant players in this category. It is, moreover, a list of Giants players who, for all intents and purposes, went to hell and back. (Have you figured out who the player pictured above is yet? He’s No. 2 on my list.)

You may know of other players that I left off this list. If so, I would love to read about them in your comments.

As for my list, it includes guys you may have never heard of and Hall of Famers alike. Enjoy!

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Move aside, Roberto Alomar.

If you really want to see how a baseball player disrespects an umpire, check out the video on the next page of Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba getting all up in the grill of home plate umpire Dario Rivera during a winter league game down in Venezuela on Friday.

In the clip, Torrealba obviously takes exception with Rivera’s officiating in a game between Caribbean and Anzoategui Caracas Lions at the Estadio Universitario.

In the bottom of the 8th inning (and his team down 3-2), Torrealba strikes out on a wicked slider from Alex Serrano. He then turns around and yells something at Rivera, who immediately gives Torrealba the thumb.

That’s when the fun begins.

After jawing face-to-face with Rivera for a minute or so, Torrealba takes matters into his own hands. Or should I say, takes the ump’s dome into his own hands and violently shoves him backwards.

At least Torrealba didn’t spit in the ump’s face, a la Alomar a few years back.

Had this happened in a Major League Baseball game, Torrealba would have surely received a hefty suspension and fine.

It’s hard telling what the repercussions will be for the 33-year old, but fellow Latin player Jose Offerman pulled a similar stunt a few years back and was kicked out of the Venezuelan league for life.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Former San Francisco Giants slugger Bonds got another free pass last week when he was sentenced to what basically amounts to a slap on the wrist for his conviction in an obstruction of justice charge against him stemming from the 2003 grand jury investigation of BALCO.