Kuzul

The answer is absolutely not.

The Bleacher Report editorial staff asked me my opinion of the designated hitter. Do guys like Vladimir Guerrero of the Texas Rangers and David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox help the game, or is their specialization bad for baseball? I consider myself a baseball purist (I dislike artificial turf, 12-man pitching staffs, innings limits, pitch counts, and the Wild Card) but I do like the DH.

Certain hitters in 2010, such as Ortiz and Guerrero, were thought to have been done as major league hitters. The Angels made the hasty decision to believe Hideki Matusi’s heroics in the 2009 World Series would translate over to 2010. The Halos signed him instead of re-signing Vlad.

However, Guerrero and Ortiz have had a resurgence in 2010 and are big reasons why their teams are in playoff contention. If there were no DH, then these players would likely have not had the same type seasons, if they were playing at all.

Since the April 6 game in 1973 when Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees was the first ever DH to have a plate appearance, this position has allowed many players to further their careers in the comfy confines of the “half player.” 

Those early days included DHs like Orlando Cepeda (who could have been the first DH), Frank Robinson of the California Angels, Tony Oliva of the Minnesota Twins, Billy Williams of the Oakland A’s, Harmon Killebrew of the Kansas City Royals, and Hank Aaron of the Milwaukee Brewers.

These players were all former 1960s hitting stars (most are Hall of Famers) who were near the end of their careers, but while slower in the field, could still be productive with the bat.

For instance, Robinson hit 30 home runs in 1973 as DH, and Oliva, who was often injured and had terrible knees, extended his career by a few years.

The game at that time was not in a boom period. Pitching dominated. Runs were at a premium, and the AL owners (who voted 8 to 4 in favor of the DH), wanted to boost run production and attendance. It was the second time within the last five years that baseball made rules changes for improved run production.

After the 1968 season, affectionately called the Year of the Pitcher, the height of the mound was lowered from 15 inches to 10 inches.

And young fans (such as myself at the time) were able to see big time former stars (such as all-time home run king Aaron), able to still play baseball. We wanted to see Aaron hit. Most of these DHs still played the field a little bit, too, but probably would not have a roster spot and forced into retirement if the DH were not in effect.

In 1973, several young players also got the opportunity for more early career at bats. Oscar Gamble (23) of the Cleveland Indians likely had his career kick-started a little earlier with the help of the DH. Even though Gamble already had major league time accumulated, the increased frequency of his plate appearances were the result of the DH. Others, like Carlos May and Hal McRae, played more often because of the DH position.

The DH has now evolved into not just a full-time position, but also a rotating spot in the lineup. For example, the New York Yankees regularly give one of their position players a “half day off” by letting them DH in a game to give them a break.

This is another example of what baseball has always loved, seeing the big stars play more often. Who wants to go to their first baseball game (a day game following a night contest) and not see Alex Rodriguez or Vlad Guerrero in the game? The DH spot allows for this star player to still play.

The great Joe DiMaggio retired early because he wasn’t at his best in 1951, his last season. DiMaggio primarily meant his play in the field. If the DH weres present and in full swing in 1952, DiMaggio could have still had a few more productive seasons with the bat while a young Mickey Mantle assumed full-time duties in center field.

And maybe a few more young fans today would have been able to say they once saw Joe DiMaggio play for the Yankees. 

This is similar to the All-Star Game played every year. It does not matter how good Alex Gonzalez played for Toronto in the first half, the fans want to see Derek Jeter start at shortstop. If some National League first baseman were having a “career year” in the first half, sorry Charlie, but Phat Albert is playing at the first sack.

Since the game (and people’s jobs) are so determined by wins and losses, if an aging DH is not producing, he likely will not keep his jobs. That is why managers with not a whole lot of tenure will only play guys who are productive, not being able to afford to sit on a certain player.

Guys like Harold Baines, Hal McRae, Edgar Martinez, and Paul Molitor all succeeded at the DH position because they were still productive. Frank Thomas was the same way, and when he stopped hitting, he was “retired.”

Of that group, only Molitor is currently in the Hall of Fame, although Thomas will probably get in quickly. Pushes for Baines and Martinez (although eligible only one season thus far), have fallen on voters’ deaf ears. While Martinez still may have that Bert Blyleven push if he continues to struggle, it shows that only the “best of the best” at any postion will make the hallowed Hall.

It is not like a bunch of aging veterans are hanging on to accumulate Hall-ready numbers. Even if Ortiz produces a year of two more, he is not Hall-worthy, while Guerrero probably would be as he was a better all-around player for his entire career.

The game is about winning and only the good players will play.

Ask former Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu how quickly things can change when your team does not play well. Where Wakamatsu had not built up any “winning tenure,” a manager like Boston’s Terry Francona can weather the David Ortiz storm a little longer, hoping he breaks out of his early season malaise. But most managers need to win now.

And it was good for the game overall to see Big Papi become a threat once again, as it was for Vlad Geurrero. Two stars who the fans want to see, not because they are “padding their stats” but because they are productive players who are helping their teams win games now.

Don’t the Angels wished they had Vlad back this season?

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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.

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Which young players are stepping up into stardom? Who’s having a down year or playing too long after their prime?

Over the next few weeks, as we approach the middle of the season, follow along as I give an in-depth analysis of the top 12 players at each position in the game.

When I broke down each position, I took several things into consideration: how many seasons each player has been hitting at a high level, how well each player is hitting this season, how much potential each player has left, and how solid each player is defensively.

So without further ado, here are the top 12 catchers in baseball…

Begin Slideshow

Kincaid’s is supposed to have one of the best hamburgers in America. 

Each morning they grind a fresh batch of prime beef, g rilled to perfection, served on a bulky roll, and garnished with your choice of any or all kinds cheese, crisp lettuce, sliced tomatoes, grilled onions, and jalapenos.  Yummy. 

There’s nothing like a big old grease bomb washed down with some cold barley soup to make a man feel good about life.  The place started as a grocery store in West Fort Worth and annually got on several of the best in the U.S. lists. A few years ago they decided to expand a bit. 

This is why I can munch them here, at LaGrave Field, watching the minor league Fort Worth Cats. It’s the same fresh beef and same tasty burgers.  Burp. They makes those Shake Shack things they serve up in the Big Apple look like Monica Lewinsky compared to Marilyn Monroe, or Dominos compared to Ray’s pizza. A pale imitation of the real deal.

Now, it has been a good baseball here in the Metroplex. The Rangers are bankrupt, have a candy snortin’ manager, a recovered addict outfielder, and are playing their tails off in first place. TCU is in the College World Series and just won again. 

But watching the Cats in LeGrave can be kind of special.

The first LeGrave existed from 1926 to 1967 when it was torn down. Thirty five years later, the only thing left was an empty field. In 2002, it was decided to build another ballpark where the old one had stood, excavation began, and the old dugouts were found. 

So now the park is the only one in America with four dugouts. The old ones are rented out for group events.

The Fort Worth Cats, an Independent Association team, play here.  They’re the lowest rung of the baseball hierarchy. At best a player or two each year goes on to “the show”. 

As such, the Cats exhibit the quirkiness that baseball in the lower rungs displays with such aplomb.  Guy hits a homer and people pass the hat for him.  The same thing happens for a pitcher who strikes out the side. These kids are making less than two grand a month after all. 

Regular fans know the players by first name and vice versa.  Kate Hudson has been conspicuously absent from the proceedings.

Cornball promotions…we got em. 

There are fireworks at nights, Thirsty Thursdays with cheap beers, salsa nights, and other hi-jinks. The Girl’s Scout and Boy’s Scout sleep over and kids get to run the base paths at the endy of every game. Sometimes, grown ups do it as well. 

The national anthem is sung by a local, often off key, and parking is two bucks. It’s pure baseball and there is not a bad seat in the house. 

And of course, there’s first base coach Wayne Terwilliger. 

Twig, as he is know, has been in baseball a long time. His professional baseball career began, after all, in 1948.  He managed the Cats for three years and in 2005 became only the second 80 year old to manage a professional baseball team.  The first was Connie Mack. 

Older than dirt and wiser than a shaman, he’s on a first name basis with noted baseball gnome, Dom Zimmer, amongst others. 

Which leads me to why LaGrave is hallowed ground and of particular interest to fans from the New York area.  From 1926 to 1965, LaGrave, in its first incarnation, was the home to the Fort Worth Panthers and then Cats minor league ball teams. And from post World War II through 1960, the Cats served as the Texas League franchise for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

This means greats such as Duke Snyder, Don Drydale and Maury Wills called it home.  It hosted luminaries such as Hank Aaron, Yogi Berra, Willie Mays and Brooks Robinson.  Lou Gehrig played here early in his career, as did Babe Ruth.  In all, 47 Hall of Famers played at LaGrave, taking their first steps to baseball immortality.

So if you squint just right, as the June Bugs swirl around the lights in the warm Texas sky and the Fort Worth skyline rises over the right field bleacher seats, you might be able to see a young Joe DiMaggio striding toward a fly ball, or a green Bob Lemon working on a change up to add to his heater. 

And who knows, maybe the kid currently playing shortstop and turning that double play will be getting his own Topps card in the near future.

Ah, baseball.  It’s America’s game.

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The term underrated is thrown around quite frequently. It can be used to describe pretty much any situation, but is most often used for sports figures and their on-field exploits.

Yesterday, June 21st, was the 71st anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s retirement. While Gehrig removed himself from the Yankee lineup prior to the game on May 2, 1939, he remained with the team as captain for another six weeks.

Gehrig was one of the greatest all-around baseball players of all time, but much of his greatness was often overshadowed by the great Yankee teams and players. He was part of the first Yankee dynasty’s back in the mid-to-late 1920’s through the mid-1930’s.

He is widely considered the greatest first baseman of all time.

His records are numerous. He has the most grand slams with 23, has the most seasons with 400+ total bases with five (only four other players have two or more—Rogers Hornsby, Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx all had two, Philadelphia Phillies slugger Chuck Klein has three), and Gehrig AVERAGED 147 RBI per season.

Since Gehrig retired in 1939, only 16 times has 147 RBI in a single season even been eclipsed! It has only happened 52 total times, with Gehrig attaining this level seven times himself.

He hit 493 career home runs, accumulated a staggering 1,995 RBI, scored 1,888 runs, and had a career batting average of .340. At the time of his retirement, Gehrig was second all time in home runs, third in RBI, and third in runs scored.

But how can the greatest first baseman of all time, and the best run producer baseball has ever had, be underrated?

Easy. The biggest reason was the player he is most associated with, Babe Ruth.

Gehrig was overshadowed his entire career by the hitters who hit in front of him.

Gehrig wore uniform No. 4 because he hit fourth (cleanup) in the Yankee lineup. The player before him, Babe Ruth, wore uniform No. 3 because Ruth hit third, just in front of Gehrig.

Gehrig put up all those great production seasons even hitting immediately behind the other big run producer of that era. In 1927 when Ruth hit 60 HR’s and drove in 164 runs, Gehrig came to the plate at least 60 times with the bases empty.

But Gehrig made the most of his men on base opportunities, driving in an amazing 175 runs that 1927 season hitting behind Ruth. On a continuous basis, Gehrig was denied many opportunities to increase his statistics, and yet, still was the eras top RBI producer.

And it was not only Ruth, because two seasons after Ruth left the Yankees, they acquired Joe DiMaggio from the Pacific Coast League’s San Francisco Seals. The young Yankee Clipper phenom hit third in front of Gehrig for the remainder of Lou’s career.

Play on the field was not the only way both Ruth and DiMaggio overshadowed Gehrig.

Both Ruth and DiMaggio were huge personalities; Ruth very gregarious while Joe D. was a more quiet celebrity who was a private person, but certainly relished the New York nightlife.

Gehrig was more reserved, a quiet family man. He did not fraternize with others during the train rides or when they were on the 1934 Tour of Japan. He had Jan Brady syndrome, the middle child between big brother Babe and the young, talented brother DiMaggio.

While Gehrig was renowned as a slugger, his fielding and speed on the bases were vastly underrated.

Gehrig was swift around the first base bag, with quick feet and an innate ability to position himself correctly. His good footwork could have been a product of his time as a fullback for the Columbia University football team.

Gehrig had a career .990 fielding percentage at first base. Two of the best recent defensive first baseman in New York were Don Mattingly (.992) and Keith Hernandez (.994).

With terrible field conditions compared to the modern era and comparably deficient equipment, Gehrig still held his own percentage-wise compared to the first basemen of today.

Still, for a big guy, Gehrig had great speed. He did not steal bases, but in reading reports of that time showed Gehrig was one of the most fearless baserunners.

He scored from first base most of the time on doubles, accumulated 163 career triples, and hit six inside the park home runs. In 1926, he led the league with 20 three-baggers.

He also stole home an amazing 15 times in his career. Lou Brock never stole home.

Yet, even though Gehrig was an all-around ballplayer, not just a slugger, he is often overlooked when “the best players in history are discussed.”

Lou Gehrig played in seven World Series with the Yankees, with his team winning six titles. Gehrig dominated these contests, hitting .361 BA/.477 OBP/.731 SLG/1.208 OPS with 10 home runs and 35 RBI. All numbers which are considerable better than his career stats of .340/3447/.632/1.075 OPS.

His only “bad” series could be 1938, with the ALS disease already ravaging his body, when he only hit .286 with no extra base hits. Gehrig scored eight game winning runs in World Series competition. Yet it is Ruth’s gigantic 1928 Series against the Cardinals, and Ruth’s 1932 Game Three “Called Shot” which always got the headlines.

With his unknown deadly disease crippling him, Gehrig continued to play. His consecutive game streak is now toppled, but the stories are still there. Future X-rays of his hands revealed many broken bones which he played through, and he came back from a beaning in 1933, staying in that game.

It has been documented that once a person is diagnosed with ALS, the disease which now carries Gehrig’s name, the person usually lives about five years.

Gehrig lived only two years after diagnosis, indicating he played major league baseball at a high level with the disease for three seasons.

Yet he only thought about others. When he went to manager Joe McCarthy before taking himself out of the lineup, Lou said, “I’m benching myself for the good of the team.”

The consummate team player.

He was a great slugger, but also a great runner, fielder and person. Overshadowed throughout his career by Ruth and DiMaggio, many people only remember “The Iron Horse” from his consecutive game streak and the disease which took his life.

On June 3, 1932, Gehrig was the first 20th Century player to hit four home runs in one game, and would have had five if Philadelphia A’s center fielder Al Simmons did not rob Gehrig of another with a great over the shoulder catch.

With Shibe Park’s 470 foot distance to that area of the field, it probably would have been an inside the park homer.

After that game, McCarthy said to Lou, “Well, Lou, nobody can take today away from you.” On the same day, however, cross-town manager John McGraw announced his retirement after thirty years of managing the New York Giants.

McGraw, and not Gehrig, got the main headlines in the sports sections the next day. 

A typical occurrence for one of the most underrated players in baseball history.

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In honor of the year Robinson Cano is having (.368 Batting Average, 13 Home Runs, 47 RBI), it got me thinking that if Cano keeps this pace up, where will it rank amongst the greatest Yankee seasons of all-time?

We still got a long ways to go, and there’s still a lot of baseball to be played, so I will re-address that question towards the end of the season.

But for now, the important question that I was pondering about was related to Mount Rushmore.

Don’t worry – I am not giving a history lesson about the four presidents who’s faces are on the mount, but rather, I found myself asking the question, if were carving a Yankees Mount Rushmore which four Yankee legends would get the nod?

Would it be the Babe or the Mick? Lou Gehrig or Joe DiMaggio? Mariano Rivera or Don Larsen? Jorge Posada or Yogi Berra? How about the Boss?

The list can go on and on, and narrowing it down to a final four was not an easy task.

However, after deciphering long and hard about whom to chose, my mission was accomplished.

You might agree with me, but in all likelihood, there will be a player you felt I left out, that deserved to be here.

Feel free to give your opinion.

Let the adventure of climbing “Yankees Mount Rushmore” begin.

Begin Slideshow

The Yankees have had some of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history. This list ranks the top 10 of those legends who wore the pinstripes very proudly during their stay in the Bronx.

To rank the players I used their individual stats while with the Yankees and their success in the postseason. I also took into consideration military service and career-threatening injuries.

Begin Slideshow

Now that the single season home run record, the lifetime home run record, and the record for most career hits are held by individuals who will get into the Hall of Fame only by paying the admission fee, Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak really is the greatest and most glamorous record in baseball, but for a few minutes, on a muggy July afternoon, it appeared that the genuineness of the streak might be questioned.

Was It a Hit or an Error?

It was the first game of a twin bill against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.

The streak was at 42 games, which meant that DiMaggio could tie Wee Willie Keeler’s major league record of hitting in 44 consecutive games if he got a hit in each game.

Boston lefty Mickey Harris retired Joe his first two at-bats.

Next time up, DiMaggio hit a tricky ground ball behind the third base bag that Jim Tabor, known for his powerful throwing arm, fielded cleanly, but hurrying his throw, Tabor made a wild peg to first base.

DiMaggio wound up at second as everyone wondered how the play would be scored.

There Was a Way to Remove All Doubt

Dan Daniel, the “dean of baseball writers,” who would receive the J.G. Taylor Spink Award in 1972, and who was official scorer for more than 20 of the games during the streak, felt the pressure.

Calling it a hit would create doubt, while ruling it a two-base error would create resentment.

Daniel realized that he had decide quickly in order to demonstrate that he was certain of his ruling.

It was immediately called a hit, and Daniel charged Tabor with an error for allowing DiMaggio to reach second base.

The crowd roared its approval, but it was a questionable call. Of course, there was one way to get rid of any doubts. Next time up, Joe hit a hard single to left field for a clean hit.

The Last Chance

The streak ended in Cleveland on July 17.

Batting for the first time in the game, Joe was robbed of a hit when third baseman Kenny Keltner made a play similar to the one that Tabor did not make.

In the fourth inning, Joe walked, and in the seventh inning, Keltner made another fine play to retire Joe, but there would be one more chance.

Those who saw the game said when DiMaggio came to the plate in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and one out, he showed no emotion.

Except when Brooklyn outfielder Al Gionfriddo robbed him of a potential game-tying hit in the 1947 World Series, Joe never did show emotion, at least not publicly.

What Joe Said

The Yankees had already scored twice in the inning for a 4-1 lead. The count on DiMaggio went to a ball and a strike.

Joe hit the next pitch sharply to shortstop.

Lou Boudreau fielded the ground ball, flipped it to second baseman Ray Mack for the force at second, and Mack fired to first baseman Oscar Grimes to retire DiMaggio.

Everyone figured that the streak was over, and they were right.

After the game, after the streak was over, all Joe DiMaggio would say was, “I can’t say I’m glad it’s over. Of course, I wanted it to go on as long as I could.”

References:

Daley, Arthur. “Yankee Star Hits 44th Game in Row; DiMaggio Bats Safely in Two Contests to Equal Keeler’s All-Time Major Mark.” The New York Times. 2 July 1941, p.25.
DeGregoria, George. “Joe D.’s Streak Hits the Heights; DiMaggio Takes Streak to Record Height of 56.” The New York Times. 1 August 1978, p.C9.
Drebinger, John. “Smith and Bagby Stop Yankee Star; DiMaggio, Up for Last Time in Eighth, Hits into a Double Play With Bases Full.” The New York Times. 18 July 1941, p. 12.

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