Touring the Bases With…Gene Conley
The winning pitcher of the ’55 All-Star Game and the only person to win championships in two major sports, the man basically went an entire DECADE without a day off; Red Sox Hall of Famer Frank...
View ArticleSo Long, Mr. Harwell
The Detroit Tigers happened to be out of town this past May 4th–playing at the new Target Field in Minnesota. Soon came the seventh-inning stretch and a picture of a smiling Ernie Harwell graced the...
View ArticleInstants Of Clueless Clarity
I had dinner last night with a couple of friends visiting from out of town, and told two of my favorite Hall of Fame library stories. They’re dandies, so I may as well tell the rest of the world. The...
View ArticleHow To Be An Idol
I met a great man last month. Doug Harvey visited the Hall of Fame for the day-long orientation given new electees, including a tour of the museum and collections and a staff reception. At these...
View ArticleUnfortunately, I Was Right
In 2004, long-time Bay Area sports announcer Lon Simmons won the Ford Frick Award presented annually at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown. From that moment, Jon Miller, who idolized...
View ArticleLet’s Re-Elect Dizzy!
Here we go, folks–sing along with me. . . . As anyone knows who pays close attention To America’s favorite game, The announcers and writers do not have a “wing” In the Cooperstown Hall of Fame. Despite...
View Article“Helping Those Who Have A Greater Need Than Our Own”
What’s the measure of a person? How do you gauge his or her character? It’s the sort of question that people have been debating for years. Indeed, no less than the founder of the American Newspaper...
View ArticleIs Mark Belanger a Hall of Famer?
If we grant admission to players such as DHs and relievers who were one-dimensional, then we should think seriously about admitting players who played Hall of Fame caliber defense, but were weak with...
View ArticleIs Andy Pettitte a Hall of Famer?
As things currently stand, the New York Yankees will go into the 2011 season without Andy Pettitte as part of their starting rotation. We’ve known for some time now that this could be a real...
View Article2011 AL East Positional Analysis And Ranking: Closer
I am in the midst of a series examining the relative strengths and weaknesses of the teams in the AL East, on a position-by-position basis. The players at each position are being ranked in relation to...
View ArticleHall of Famer Phil Niekro to Appear on This Thursday’s “Braves Banter”
Phil Niekro, who was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 1997 after a 24-year career in which he won 318 games, will be Dan Schlossberg’s guest on this Thursday’s edition...
View ArticleAll Phillies…All the Time — What’s on Second?
Having previously answered the burning question, “who’s on first?” the time has come to address, “what’s on second?” The answer, unlike that given by Bud Abbott, is simple… an all-time Hall of Famer...
View Article“All In”– Starting Pitchers and the Hall of Fame
With the induction of Bert Blyleven into the Hall of Fame in 2011, every starting pitcher in the second half of the 20th century who has HOF numbers is now in Cooperstown. Let me be a bit more precise....
View ArticleThe Hall of Famers: The 5 Levels of Greatness – Part 4
In this article (the last in this series), I will present the Level 5 players who posted Hall of Fame numbers during the 20th century. In Levels 1 through 4, there were eighty-eight (88) position...
View ArticleThe Art of Fielding, by Chad Harbach
After finishing Chad Harbach’s fine baseball novel, The Art of Fielding, on Friday night, I could not help seeing Joe Maddon astride the bow of his whaler, with Evan Longoria and the lads manning the...
View ArticleRating the 2012 Hall of Fame Candidates Based on Win Shares
One of the first items of business in baseball each year is the announcement of players elected to the Hall of Fame. This leads to lots of speculation and a little analysis prior to the announcement...
View Article2012 Milestones (And Beyond): Runs Scored
Ten days ago I wrote that we won’t be witnessing any real milestones in wins for a long time unless Jaimie Moyer makes a successful comeback, and even that’s no guarantee. Using Bill James’ “Favorite...
View ArticleDerek Jeter Moves Up All-Time Hits List
Derek Jeter moves up all-time hits list (via AFP) New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter tied George Brett for 14th on Major League Baseball’s all-time hits list with two singles in New York’s 9-2...
View ArticleLasorda Hospitalized After Heart Attack
Lasorda hospitalized after heart attack (via AFP) Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda has been hospitalized in New York after suffering a heart attack on Monday, the Major League Baseball...
View ArticleA Grooved Pitch—Hall of Famer vs. Three Game Cup of Coffee Youngster
On Sunday, May 26, 1912, the sixth place American Association Milwaukee Brewers opened a series against the second place Minneapolis Millers, facing future Hall of Fame member Rube Waddell. The...
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