Adrian Beltré was an entertainer who happened to play baseball. He had a playful sense of humor, and in the three primary cities in which he played, Beltré became a fan favorite. One of the singular unique players of his generation, Beltré never forgot that he was playing a game.
For the first time since 1999, the Baseball Hall of Fame will induct a starting pitcher this summer, but it won’t be Jack Morris. Morris, who won more games (by far) than any other pitcher in the 1980s, and who pitched one of the greatest games in baseball history in Game Seven of the 1991 World Series, is still waiting for his Cooperstown call. With Blyleven now off the ballot, Morris’s candidacy will take center stage over the next three years – his final three chances via the Baseball Writers.
An entertaining movie could be made about a trade that took place between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland A’s on November 5, 1976. Yes, a baseball trade.
Opening Day is unique to baseball. Other sports have season openers, but baseball’s Opening Day marks the ceremonial beginning of spring. It may only be 1/162nd of the season, but fans and players alike admit there’s something special about the first game of the schedule.