tagged w/ MLB
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Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, known to most as A-Rod, holds a press conference to discuss his past use of performance enhancing drugs.
Saying he was "curious" and calling it a "stupid mistake," Rodriguez gave details about how he and a nameless cousin experimented with steroids from 2001 through 2003 while he was a member of the Texas Rangers.Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, known to most as A-Rod, holds a press conference to... more
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WCBS Newsradio 880's Emilio Sarullo was given a tour of Citi Field in Queens on Thursday, February 12, 2009. Check out his photos of the new home of the New York Mets baseball team, as well as photos of what remains of their old home - Shea Stadium.WCBS Newsradio 880's Emilio Sarullo was given a tour of Citi Field in Queens on... more
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Photographs of the Shea Stadium and Citi Field in Queens taken by Tom Kaminski in Chopper 880 on Friday, February 6, 2009. The Mets will play baseball at Citi Field in the 2009 season.Photographs of the Shea Stadium and Citi Field in Queens taken by Tom Kaminski in... more
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Photographs of the continuing dismantlement of Shea Stadium in Queens. The New York Mets will play baseball at Citi Field in the 2009 season. These photos were taken by Tom Kaminski in Chopper 880 on Thursday, January 29, 2009.Photographs of the continuing dismantlement of Shea Stadium in Queens. The New York... more
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He had just turned 100 years years old, and was recently moved to an assisted living center.
Bill Werber had died of natural causes.
He was one of the great all round players of his, during a time when Babe Ruth was the only player to hit a massive amount of home runs, Werber held his own becoming an consistent hitter and steady glove at third base for the Red Sox, A's (then in Philadelphia) and Cincinnati Reds who he played in two World Series for in 1939 and 1940.
He really is the last player of one of the greatest generations in baseball history...
Her played alongside not only Babe Ruth, but also Lou Gehrig, Earl Combs, Tony Lazzeri, Lefty Gomez, Lloyd Waner, Red Ruffing, Lefty Grove, Harry Craft, Bucky Walters, and Jimmie Foxx.
He played for even more legendary managers like Casey Stengel, Joe McCarthy, Joe Cronin, and even the great immortal Connie Mack.
He led the American League in stolen bases three times in 1934, 1935, and 1937 and led the National League in runs in 1939!
It was actually because of a hard fought contract dispute with the fiery owner/manager Mack, that Werber found himself being sold to the Cincinnati Reds where he did get a chance to finally win a World Series championship in 1940.
Bill Werber was the leadoff hitter of the first televised baseball game in 1939 as a Cincinnati Red in a game at Ebbets Field where Red Barber called the play by play.
After baseball, Werber struck it rich selling life insurance for his father's company.
During his 11 year career in baseball, Werber made nothing more than $13,000 in any season yet in his first year selling life insurance made $100,000.
Times sure have were different back then when they were now... (I mean how can Carlos Silva get $10 million a season to go 4-15 with an ERA of 6.46???)
Not too long ago, the New York Times did a feature piece on the 100 year old legend with a million stories...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/sports/baseball/15oldest.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
“Babe Ruth hit a home run and I wanted to show them how fast I could run,” Werber said of being driven in by Ruth after drawing a walk in his first major league plate appearance in 1930 with the Yankees. “So I get into the dugout, and — finally — Babe got into the dugout. He patted me on the head and said, ‘Son, you don’t have to run like that when the Babe hits one.’ ”
Werber occasionally writes to Commissioner Bud Selig. Werber has told Selig he does not think women should sing the national anthem, that games today take too long and that he is disgusted with the long hair on modern players.
Baseball truly lost a real gem and the last remaining link to one of the greatest generations of ballplayers in history...He had just turned 100 years years old, and was recently moved to an assisted living... more
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Photographs of the continuing dismantlement of Shea Stadium in Queens. The New York Mets will play baseball at Citi Field in the 2009 season. These photos were taken by Tom Kaminski in Chopper 880 on Thursday, January 22, 2009.Photographs of the continuing dismantlement of Shea Stadium in Queens. The New York... more
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Gomez, a former Major League player, coach, manager, scout and executive, had been working for the Angels for the past 28 years, most recently as a special assistant to the general manager.
Gomez made baseball history in 1969 when he accepted the job as the first manager in San Diego Padres history, but he had a long relationship with the game before that.
A native of Havana, Cuba, Gomez began his playing career in 1944 as a 21-year-old shortstop for the Washington Senators, getting a callup when Major League rosters were depleted because of World War II.
Gomez batted .286 in eight games before spending the rest of his playing career in the Minors. His best season in the Minors came in 1951, when he hit .268 with nine home runs and 58 RBIs for Three Rivers (Penn.).
"He came from Cuba and got the opportunity to work for the Dodgers. Al Campanis gave him an opportunity to be in professional baseball. He managed at least three Major League teams and was a credit to the game. We are very sorry to see him pass away. He wore the Dodger uniform with pride and dignity. He has helped a lot of people in our game and he will be missed."
Gomez left the Dodgers in 1969 to take the helm of the expansion Padres, joining former Dodgers vice president Buzzie Bavasi, and managed the Friars for four seasons. He later managed the Houston Astros (1974-75) and Chicago Cubs (1980), compiling a 346-529 (.395) managerial record in seven seasons.
He joined the Angels' organization in 1981 as third-base coach, a position he held for four seasons (1981-84) before becoming a special assistant to the general manager, the position he held until his death.Gomez, a former Major League player, coach, manager, scout and executive, had been... more
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kozeki
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She tried to sell it on eBay for $10, until inquiries flooded in bulk...
Turns out, it could be worth hundreds of thousands...
Not quite Honus Wagner T206 money but still, an even more ancient and possibly more rare relic that might be worth having in an Olbermann-esque collection...She tried to sell it on eBay for $10, until inquiries flooded in bulk...
Turns out,... more
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Photographs of Citi Field and Shea Stadium in Queens - taken by Tom Kaminski in Chopper 880 on Monday, January 5, 2009. Citi Field will be the home of the New York Mets in the 2009 baseball season.Photographs of Citi Field and Shea Stadium in Queens - taken by Tom Kaminski in... more
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Carl Pohlad, 93, was a man who grew up from poverty, fought in World War II, and slowly built a banking empire in the American upper midwest.
By 1982, he was able to purchase the Minnesota Twins franchise, and kept a solid team together that won two World Series championships in 1987 and 1991...
But the Twins stuck playing in what was considered an eyesore of a ballpark, the Metrodome, Pohlad constantly fought an uphill battle to not only keep the team in Minnesota but also keep the team competetive despite escalating salary competition for free agents.
For most of the '90s after 1991's World Series, the Twins saw little success on the field, but eventually, they captured attention around the baseball world, when by 2002, they were a legitimate playoff contender that went on the ALCS and kept returning to the postseason for the next few seasons after that.
When Bud Selig threatened to contract the Minnesota from MLB because the Twins weren't getting a new stadium that Selig demanded every team needed to get, Pohlad was the figurehead that Twins fans rallied around to save their team from Selig's greed filled ultimatum.
Pohlad was a generous philanthropist donating millions to charities, and at a baseball banquet in January 2006, a wheelchair-bound Pohlad unexpectedly announced a $500,000 donation to the Bob Allison Ataxia Research Center at the University of Minnesota in honor of Allison, a star outfielder for Minnesota from 1961-70 who died of the brain disease in 1995.
Much like the Oakland A's who build a model of success despite having budget limitations that kept team salaries low compared to other contenders, the Twins under Pohlad were an inspiration for underdogs in baseball.
Even as far as age 90, Pohlad made it a point to personally meet with manager Ron Gardenhire before games.
"Whenever you needed something from the boss ... he'd get it done for you," the other former Twins manager Tom Kelly said at a 2005 ceremony honoring Pohlad's induction into the team's Hall of Fame. "As a manager having the responsibility of entertaining the fans and putting on a good show, you couldn't ask for a better man to go to."
It is truly sad to see a great baseball executive like Pohlad go.Carl Pohlad, 93, was a man who grew up from poverty, fought in World War II, and... more
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Photographs of Citi Field and Shea Stadium in Queens - taken by Tom Kaminski in Chopper 880 on Tuesday, December 23, 2008.Photographs of Citi Field and Shea Stadium in Queens - taken by Tom Kaminski in... more
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I was not born yet when Doc Ellis pitched his final game in 1979, but his place in baseball history will always be known as of spectacularness, flare, and tragedy.
He was known for his flare and enthusiasm in the dugout and on the field.
He pitched the Pirates to a World Series championship in 1970, and was a big piece to the Yankees 1976 World Series trip...
But what he will always be known for was his 1970 LSD induced no hitter against the lowly San Diego Padres of 1972.
Right before the game, at the airport, Dock loaded up and wowed crowd who had no idea the circumstances of his performance.
It wasn't until years later did he reveal the dark truth behind his feat... (like in modern days when David Wells claims he was wild drunk when he threw his perfecto)
His interview describing his feat in detail is up on YouTube.
He spoke openly about racial issues especially in baseball and once told reporters that he wound's start the All Star Game against Vida Blue (in the AL) because MLB would never allow "two soul brothers) to go against each other.
The other great story, fans would murmur remember-whens about was that time in 1974, when Dock Ellis starting a game against the legendary Big Red Machine (a lineup of Cincinnati Reds greats: Pete Rose et al.) and he beaned the first three hitters loading the bases.
He tried to bean cleanup hitter Hall of Famer Tony Perez who ducked every pitch and drew a walk...
He then threw two fastballs at Pete Rose...
Oh those were the times...
We all hear those stories so much, especially the Joe Nuxhall recollection so many times, it's almost like we were actually there for all the excitement.
Dock suffered from heavy alcohol and drug abuse, and it eventually took its toll on him, destroying his liver.
He would later serve as a community, corrections and motivational speaker.
The Los Angeles Times wrote that Ellis had no health insurance, but received help paying his medical bills from friends in baseball.
2 years, Bryant Gumbel on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO did an extensive profile on the life and times of Dock Ellis, what his legacy meant to baseball and how he's using lessons from his past demons to give back to the community.
It was truly one of the most touching pieces we had
He held on for as long as he could before passing away last Friday.
His LSD no hitter recollection is even up on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNzMBwq1uqU
Baseball truly lost a great, a maverick, an irreplaceable character.I was not born yet when Doc Ellis pitched his final game in 1979, but his place in... more
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kozeki
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The MLB Network will premiere on New Year's Day with the original telecast -- commercials and all -- of New York Yanees pitcher Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 baseball World Series.
The game, which was televised on NBC, was thought to have been lost to history. But several years ago, a collector discovered a kinescope version that begins in the second inning and continues throughout the end. Before the videotape era, kinescopes were a popular way of recording TV shows. They were usually created by placing a movie camera in front of a television monitor and recording the image off the monitor's screen while the program was being aired.The MLB Network will premiere on New Year's Day with the original telecast --... more
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Of of the great class act personalities in baseball during his career in the '80s and early '90s, Dave Smith was incredibly popular on and off the field.
An avid surf fan and one of the more charitable players of his time, Dave Smith was liked by many fans across baseball.
Up until a few years ago, Dave Smith's 199 career saves with the Astros was the franchise record before it was broken by Billy Wagner.
He was a very key member of those 1980 and 1986 Astros teams that made the postseason...
And an All-Star in 1986 and 1990.
He later on went on be a very effective pitching coach for the San Diego Padres in the late '90s.
“He was probably one of the most giving people I ever met,” former Astros reliever Charlie Kerfeld said of Smith via phone Wednesday. “He was probably known around the league as the best tipper around the league. (The news of his death) is a tough one. You ain’t supposed to go this early.”
"He was the most giving, unconditionally compassionate man anyone ever came across," (a coach with Smith when they were coaching the Padres) Tim Flannery said. "Everybody's got Dave Smith stories. Usually it's him reaching into his pocket and pulling out $100 to give to someone selling newspapers for a quarter.
"Going back to his playing days, he was one of the great closers and a fierce competitor," Flannery said. "He also had a zest for life; reckless abandon at times. He's gone at 53. He earned every moment of his life. He packed a lot into it."
"It is with great sadness that the San Diego community learned that it has not only lost a great baseball man, but a great friend to so many of us here," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said in a statement. "He was an integral part of the Padres for many years, as a minor league instructor and coach and later as our major league pitching coach."
Dave Smith was only 53 years old.
An avid surf fan, Flannery said services were pending, but added that he and other surfers plan to paddle out onto the Pacific Ocean to spread Smith's ashes across the water.Of of the great class act personalities in baseball during his career in the '80s... more
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kozeki
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The New York Mets overhauled their much-maligned bullpen with two big moves Wednesday, obtaining J.J. Putz from Seattle as part of a three-team, 12-player trade that gives them a setup man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez.The New York Mets overhauled their much-maligned bullpen with two big moves Wednesday,... more
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New York made a six-year offer to Sabathia on Nov. 14 and met with him on Sunday and Monday. Cashman's daily briefing with reporters was canceled by the team Tuesday, with spokesman Jason Zillo saying, ``Brian is off hotel property and unavailable for the rest of the evening.''New York made a six-year offer to Sabathia on Nov. 14 and met with him on Sunday and... more
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WCBS' Tom Kaminski and Peter Haskell toured the inside of Citi Field on Tuesday, December 2, 2008. The New York Mets will start playing baseball in Citi Field in the 2009 season. Check out the progress!WCBS' Tom Kaminski and Peter Haskell toured the inside of Citi Field on Tuesday,... more
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Desperate for starting pitchers, the New York Yankees expect to enter next season without 20-game winner Mike Mussina.Desperate for starting pitchers, the New York Yankees expect to enter next season... more
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Finishing his career at the top of his game with his first 20 win season, 4 time all star and 8 time gold glove winner, Mike Mussina is retiring.
He has a career winning record against every team except his own, the Yankees. (losing record against them from his days with the Orioles)
He finishes with a career record of 270-153.
A true competitor, a great Yankee, a great Oriole...Finishing his career at the top of his game with his first 20 win season, 4 time all... more
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kozeki
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Photographs taken by Tom Kaminski in Chopper 880 high over Queens on Monday, November 17, 2008.Photographs taken by Tom Kaminski in Chopper 880 high over Queens on Monday, November... more
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