Vin Scully – A Man for All 67 Seasons
On October 2nd, 1936, an 8-year boy walked by a storefront near his home in the Bronx, NY. Seeing the box score of that day’s World Series game posted in the window of a laundry, he felt a sort of compassion for the team that was being pummeled by the powerful Yankees. From that moment […]
MLB Trade Deadline — Memories and Moves
With the MLB trade deadline at the start of August, this is the time of year when fervent baseball fans eye certain mid-game substitutions with a wary eye. Is “Player A” injured, or has he just been traded? Players departing mid-game If a player goes through the dugout hugging teammates during the game (as Giants’ […]
Grow to Love Baseball by Starting Young
I always loved baseball and I want to tell you how that happened. There are five unique things that appealed to me from my childhood. The average fan can keep score (The game fits in a small space) The game comes to the fans (in the form of souvenir baseballs) It is easy to find […]
Will There Be a 2022 Baseball Season?
What does it mean to the average fan that the MLB collective bargaining agreement has expired? What effect is created with the team owners having “locked out” the players? For a third consecutive year, there will be worries about the new season taking place. Essentially all the normal off-season activities involving players are halted. Because […]
Full Capacity Baseball Stadiums? 2021 Attendance Surprises!
After MLB completed a most unusual 2020 season, played in empty stadiums, it was a relief when the 2020 World Series welcomed fans at 25% capacity. Many wondered if we would see stadiums at full capacity anytime soon. Throughout 2021 the pandemic marched on. Yet in early November, we finished a post-season with many games […]
Baseball Will Never be Automated
Baseball, unlike many profitable industries, will never be automated to limit costs. It is true that technology, including an automated ball-strike (ABS) system is appearing in baseball. But this technology assists and enhances the human factor, rather than reducing the need for players. Like other professional sports, baseball lives in a niche where people PAY […]
Lasting Connections – MLB Players who Grew up Together
This is the third installment in my recurring series on pairs of players whose careers produced similar numbers. looks at two who were very popular with teammates and fans alike. These two also have a lasting connection from childhood. They grew up playing baseball together in the Norfolk, VA area. Twenty years later they played […]
Baseball Season Adventure — Part Two
On Saturday of Labor Day weekend I attended my first American Association game. I wrote about this geographically diverse league prior to the 2021 season. The Sioux Falls (SD) Canaries held a single-admission doubleheader (due to a prior postponement) during their final homestand of the season with ideal weather. This meant vivid sunshine with low […]
Learn from Baseball Statistics — Shortened Playing Careers
I love learning from the statistics of comparable players from the same era. The numbers can yield perspective on a player’s longevity and productivity. The numbers can also inspire fans as we learn from the unique experiences of players who persevere. This article is the first in my recurring series on pairs of players whose […]
Overcome Adversity Like an All-Star
Almost everyone faces adversity in some form. Baseball fans can be inspired by players who overcome injuries. Many of the best players have had the greatest physical challenges. A longtime Minnesota Twins player who fits this profile is Joe Mauer, an All-Star catcher. His career spanned the 2004-2018 seasons. He was voted MVP of the […]