Once upon a time, the Baltimore Orioles were baseball’s model franchise. From the mid-1960s to the early 1980s, the Orioles were the most successful team in the
What is the greatest catcher/pitcher combination in baseball history? The best duo to ever form a battery? How do we answer that question? Where do we start?
In this, the latest installment of my series on franchise leaders, I focus on the greatest Twins of all-time. At least according to Wins Above Replacement, otherwise
The dynamic between a manager and a pitcher is pivotal for team success. The manager needs a strong pitcher, the pitcher needs a manager who trusts him.
There are now seven relief pitchers in the Baseball Hall of Fame, with the addition of Lee Smith via a special veterans committee election earlier this month.
UPDATE: In 2021, the Golden Days Era committee elected four former players to the Baseball Hall of Fame. That election has prompted me to update this list,
Did the baseball writers think they were getting another chance to vote for RAINES? The election of Harold Baines has, in my opinion, lowered the bar of
For eight seasons, Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano surrounded Derek Jeter in the Yankees’ infield. A rose between two thorns, the cheaters and Mr. Perfect Pinstripe. Once
When he was 21 years old, after only two starts in the big leagues, Warren Spahn enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve his country in World
There’s not much difference between Tony Perez and Fred McGriff if you look at the issue closely. Both Tony Perez and Fred McGriff were extremely popular, batted
Earlier this month, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced the ten names on the Today’s Game Ballot. A group of 16 will vote on the ballot and
In 1930 the new York Yankees signed Babe Ruth to a contract that paid him the princely sum of $80,000. Ruth was overjoyed. A reporter pointed out
Ever the team player, Joe Mauer announced his retirement last week, just in time for the Minnesota Twins to make plans for the upcoming winter meetings. The
This video from MLB.COM shows Cesar Cedeno of the Houston Astros stealing home against the Cubs at Wrigley Field in July of 1977.
The last hit of Willie Mays’ career was a game-winning single in the 12th inning of a poorly played baseball game. A few minutes after his go-ahead
This interview aired on CNBC in 2002, with Tim Russert showing his love for baseball as he talks with one of the greatest batteries in history, Yogi
The 1994-95 strike was the longest labor stoppage in baseball history, the longest in sports history up to that time, and a black eye on the National
This remarkable photo shows Babe Ruth taking batting practice at the Polo Grounds in New York on April 23, 1935. The occasion was opening day against the
The career of Derek Jeter is a perfect illustration of the multitude of factors that go into a Hall of Fame discussion. And rightly so. The contemporary
This article has been updated. Now that Jack Morris and Alan Trammell have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the 1984 Tigers have two members
The headline is click bait. Of course defensive matters in baseball. Doesn’t it? I’m writing this article because I noticed strange things while browsing Baseball-Reference.com recently. From
The oldest Hall of Famer passed away today, leaving behind a legion of fans despite having played his last baseball game more than six decades ago. Bobby
The most important player on the field is the pitcher. The baseball is literally in his hand to start every play. Starting pitchers log the most innings.
Wally Pipp has been reduced to an answer to a trivia question. He’s a footnote on the career of a great player. But Pipp deserves better: he
Eddie Collins buried his bats during the off-season in shallow holes in his backyard that he called “graves” in order to keep them “lively.” That’s odd, for
There was always something unusual about Eddie Grant, but he was comfortable with that. He didn’t mind being different. In a brief life that stretched only 35
The greatest big-game pitcher of his era, Bob Gibson may have been the best big-game pitcher of all-time. His teammates, who benefited by winning two World Series
When his name first appeared on a Hall of Fame ballot in 2003, Ryne Sandberg received 244 votes, or just below 50%. In 2004, the former Cubs’
Ed Delahanty’s success on the diamond obscured a troubled personal life marred by gambling and booze. His debts frequently mounted to the point that “Big Ed” would
Long before Bartolo Colon was turning heads with his wide ass, soft belly, and large frame, there were other “big-boned” pitchers in baseball. One of the best