January 25, 2019

On Tuesday, January 22, Major League Baseball (MLB) greats Roy Halladay, Edgar Martínez, Mike Mussina, and Mariano Rivera were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Rivera, the MLB career leader in saves, is the first player unanimously voted into the Hall of Fame, having received 100 percent of the possible votes in his first year of eligibility. Halladay, an outstanding starting pitcher who died in an airplane crash in 2017, was also elected on the first try. Voters named him on 85 percent of the ballots, well above the 75 percent required for election. Martínez, a slugging infielder and designated hitter, made the Hall with 85 percent of the vote on his tenth and final time on the ballot. Mussina, another starting pitcher, earned 77 percent of the vote on his sixth try. Former pitcher Lee Smith and outfielder-designated hitter Harold Baines, elected in December 2018 by the Modern Baseball Era Committee, will also be enshrined in the Hall of Fame on July 21, 2019. Joining the players will be broadcaster Al Helfer and sportswriter Jayson Stark.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum honors players and other individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport. It is located in Cooperstown, New York. Credit: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Panama-born Mariano Rivera, the greatest closing pitcher in MLB history, played 19 seasons for the New York Yankees from 1995 to 2013. Rivera started 10 games his rookie season, but quickly shifted to the bullpen, where he became the team’s regular closer in 1997. Rivera saved 43 games that season, and went on to record at least 28 saves in 15 consecutive seasons (averaging 40 over that period). He retired as the all-time career leader in saves (652). Rivera made 13 All-Star teams, was a key part of five Yankees World Series titles, and retired with a career 2.21 earned run average (ERA). 

In 2019, Mariano Rivera became the first player unanimously voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Credit: © Scott Anderson, Dreamstime

Colorado’s Roy Halladay pitched 16 seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies from 1998 to 2013. Halladay stumbled through his first few MLB seasons, but he harnessed his talent in 2002 with a 19-7 record and a 2.81 ERA. In 2003, he won 22 games and the Cy Young Award as his league’s best pitcher. Halladay went on to make eight All-Star teams and win a second Cy Young Award in 2010. Injuries hampered his last seasons and he retired with 203 wins, 67 complete games, 20 shutouts, and a career 3.38 ERA.

National Baseball Hall of Fame logo.
Credit: © National Baseball Hall Of Fame

Edgar Martínez, who was born in New York City but grew up in Puerto Rico, played 18 seasons with the Seattle Mariners from 1987 to 2004. Martínez did not earn regular playing time until 1990, when he started at third base and hit .302. Two years later he hit .343 to win the American League (AL) batting title. In 1995, now primarily a designated hitter, Martínez led the league in hitting again with a stout .356 average. He went on to hit .312 for his career, during which he was named to seven All-Star teams. He retired with 2,247 hits, 309 home runs, and an outstanding career on-base percentage of .418.

A son of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Mike Mussina pitched 18 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees from 1991 to 2008. A durable and consistent winner, Mussina started at least 24 games, pitched at least 150 innings, and had at least 11 wins from 1992 to the end of his career. He led the AL in wins in 1995 (19), made five All-Star teams, won seven Gold Gloves as his league’s best fielding pitcher, and reached the 20-win mark for the first time in 2008, his last season in the majors. Mussina retired with 270 wins and a career 3.68 ERA.

Maryland’s Harold Baines played 22 MLB seasons from 1980 to 2001. He spent the majority of his career with the Chicago White Sox, but he logged significant time with four other teams during his long career. Baines played outfield before transitioning into a full-time designated hitter. A remarkably consistent and productive hitter, Baines hit 20 or more home runs 12 times and drove in 80 or more runs 11 times. He made six All-Star teams and retired with 2,866 hits, 384 home runs, 1,628 RBI’s, and a career .289 batting average.

Lee Smith, a dominant closing pitcher, came out of Louisiana to play 18 seasons from 1980 to 1997. Known best for his early years with the Chicago Cubs, Smith pitched for seven other teams during his career. Smith led the National League (NL) in saves in 1983 (29) and averaged 33 saves his next four seasons with the Cubs. Pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals, Smith led the NL in saves in 1991 (47) and 1992 (43). In 1994, at age 36, he led the AL in saves (33) with the Baltimore Orioles. Smith retired with a career 3.03 ERA and a then-MLB record 478 saves, a mark that was later passed by fellow Hall of Famers Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera.

Al Helfer, who called games for eight MLB teams from 1933 through 1969, joined the Hall of Fame as the 2019 winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters. Jayson Stark, a beat writer for the Phillies for 20 seasons before covering baseball for ESPN and then The Athletic online magazine, earned entry as the 2019 winner of the J. G. Taylor Spink Award “for meritorious contributions to baseball writing.”

Hall of Fame voting is based upon a player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played. Votes are cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, which consists of writers with 10 consecutive years of service in the association. To be eligible, ballplayers must have spent at least 10 seasons in the majors and been retired for 5 years (exceptions are made in the case of severe injury or sudden death, such as with Roberto Clemente). Eligible players remain on the Hall of Fame ballot for 10 years, after which they can gain entry only though the select eras committees. The eras committees, made up of former executives, managers, players, and umpires, also chooses nonplayers such as Helfer and Stark for entry into the Hall of Fame.

November 14, 2018

On Monday, November 12, the SK Wyverns defeated the Doosan Bears 5-4 in 13 innings to win the Korean Series, the championship of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), four games to two. KBO is South Korea’s top professional baseball league and features some of the world’s best players. SK’s last KBO title came in 2010. For Doosan, it was their fourth-straight appearance in the Korean Series, and their second-straight defeat (the Bears were KBO champs in 2015 and 2016).

KBO is the top professional baseball league in South Korea. Credit: © Korea Baseball Organization

Baseball has been played in Korea since the early 1900′s, when it was introduced by Christian missionaries from the United States. The sport flourished in Korea during the time of Japanese occupation from 1910 through 1945. (Baseball is also extremely popular in Japan.) After Korea was divided into North and South, baseball continued only in South Korea. KBO began as a six-team league in 1982, and now has 10 teams—5 based in and around Seoul, the South Korean capital, and the others in the cities of Busan, Changwon, Daegu, Daejeon, and Gwangju.

The KBO regular season covers 144 games from March to October. The best team during the season automatically qualifies for the Korean Series championship. The next-best four teams then compete in rounds of playoffs to determine the Korean Series challenger. In 2018, Doosan ran away with the league with a dominating 93-51 record. SK finished second (78-65) and survived a tough playoff series against the fourth-place Nexen Heroes to face Doosan. Nexen had earlier eliminated the third-best regular season team, the Hanwha Eagles.

KBO is similar to Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the talent level is equivalent to the high minor leagues. KBO has a few differences, however. In South Korea, extra innings are limited to 12 during the regular season, and 15 during the postseason (MLB has no innings limit). If the game is still tied at the innings limit, it must then be replayed from the beginning. Several ballplayers from the United States and other countries play in KBO, but no team may have more than three foreign players. KBO is a high-scoring league, and all teams use the designated hitter (meaning pitchers never bat). In MLB, the American League has designated hitters, but pitchers bat in the National League.

KBO teams are named for corporate sponsors rather than their home cities. The Doosan Bears, for example, play at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, but take their name from the Doosan Group, a conglomerate known for its heavy construction equipment. The SK Wyverns, who play near Seoul at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, are sponsored by the SK Group, a conglomerate that owns the nation’s largest wireless company, SK Telecom. A wyvern, by the way, is a mythical two-legged dragon commonly seen in British heraldry.

Several KBO players have enjoyed success in MLB. The first notable star was pitcher Chan Ho Park, who debuted for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1994. Other South Korean stars in MLB have included pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim (Arizona Diamondbacks), outfielder Shin-Soo Choo (Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers), and pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu (Dodgers). South Korean baseball teams have enjoyed success in the Olympics and the Little League World Series, as well as in the World Baseball Classic, which serves as professional baseball’s World Cup. A team comprised of South Korean players, Geelong-Korea, is a 2018 addition to the professional Australian Baseball League.

SK’s American manager Trey Hillman, a former minor league infielder who previously managed MLB’s Kansas City Royals, is the first skipper to win titles in both South Korea and in Japan’s top league, Nippon Professional Baseball. Hillman guided the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters to the Japan Series title in 2006 before taking the reins at SK in late 2016.

November 2, 2018

On Sunday, October 28, the Boston Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 to win the Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series four games to one. For the Red Sox, it was their fourth MLB title in the last 15 years. For the Dodgers, it was the latest in a long succession of postseason disappointments. It was the second-straight World Series defeat for Los Angeles, and it was the team’s 12th fruitless trip to the postseason since last winning a title in 1988.

Red Sox players jubilantly rush the mound as catcher Christian Vázquez leaps into the arms of pitcher Chris Sale, who recorded the final out of Boston’s World Series-clinching 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 28, 2018, at Dodger Stadium. Credit: © Harry How, Getty Images

Carrying by far MLB’s highest team payroll (around $230 million), the Red Sox set a franchise record with 108 wins during the 2018 regular season. The team won the American League East division and then knocked off the 100-win New York Yankees and the 103-win Houston Astros in the playoffs—no easy accomplishment. The Dodgers, also big spenders with a $200 million payroll (the league average is $139 million), eked out the National League West by defeating the Colorado Rockies in a one-game playoff after the teams finished the season tied with 91 wins. The Dodgers then beat the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers in the playoffs to reach the World Series.

In Boston, the Red Sox capitalized on clutch hitting and just enough pitching to win World Series games one and two. In Los Angeles, game three was a marathon 3-2 extra-inning win for the Dodgers that broke World Series records for most innings (18), longest duration (7 hours, 20 minutes), and most combined pitchers (18) and players (46) used. In an interesting note of contrast, the entire 1939 World Series finished in less time, when it took the Yankees 7 hours, 5 minutes, to sweep the Cincinnati Reds.

In game four of the 2018 World Series, the Dodgers blew a 4-0 lead en route to a crushing 9-6 loss. Game five was merely a formality as the Red Sox jumped ahead early and cruised to a 5-1 series-clinching win. Boston first baseman Steve Pearce, a journeyman player acquired at mid-season, was named World Series Most Valuable Player. Pearce had just four hits, but three of them were timely home runs.

The 2018 World Series was a rematch of the 1916 fall classic, in which the Red Sox beat the Brooklyn Robins four games to one. The Robins officially became the Dodgers in 1932 and moved to Los Angeles in 1958.

August 30, 2018

Major League Baseball (MLB) legend Ted Williams was born 100 years ago today, on Aug. 30, 1918. One of the best players in baseball history, Williams played 19 seasons with the Boston Red Sox from 1939 through 1960. (Williams, a left-handed-hitting outfielder, missed most of five seasons while serving in the United States Navy and Marine Corps.) A consistent and powerful hitter, Williams hit 521 career home runs, drove in 1,839 runs, and retired with a career .344 batting average. He also drew 2,021 career walks, and his .482 career on-base percentage is the best of all time. Nicknamed the “Splendid Splinter” or “Teddy Ballgame,” Williams won six American League (AL) batting titles, led the league in home runs four times, in runs batted in four times, and in runs scored six times. Williams won the triple crown of batting (leading the league in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in) in 1942 and 1947. Williams was named to 18 AL All-Star teams, was the AL Most Valuable Player in 1946 and 1949, and he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. In 1941, Williams batted .406, making him the last player to reach .400 in the major leagues.

Baseball legend Ted Williams was born 100 years ago today on Aug. 30, 1918. Credit: AP/Wide World

Theodore Samuel Williams was born and grew up in San Diego, California. He excelled at baseball in high school, and he signed a professional contract to play for the minor league San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League in 1936. In late 1937, Williams signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox. He was promoted to Boston for the 1939 season and quickly became a star.

The United States entered World War II (1939-1945) in December 1941, and many MLB players soon entered military service. After the 1942 season, Williams entered the Navy, where he trained as a fighter pilot and flight instructor. He served until the end of 1945, returning to the Red Sox lineup for the 1946 season. That year, Williams played in his only World Series (a loss to the Saint Louis Cardinals). A few years later, Williams’s baseball career was again paused while he served as a Marine combat pilot in the Korean War (1950-1953). He missed most of the 1952 and 1953 MLB seasons, but he returned in 1954 to bat .345. Williams retired as a player after the 1960 season. From 1969 through 1972, he served as manager of the Washington Senators and the Texas Rangers. The Red Sox retired Williams’s uniform number  9 in 1984. In 1991, Williams was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor awarded by the president of the United States. Williams died on July 5, 2002.

August 29, 2018

On Sunday, August 26, an all-star baseball team from Honolulu, Hawaii, won the Little League World Series by defeating a team from Seoul, South Korea, 3-0. The Little League World Series is a competition played each year in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, among kids aged 11 to 13. The tournament, first played in 1947, includes 16 Little League teams from the United States and the rest of the world. Little League Baseball is the world’s largest organized youth-sports program, with nearly 180,000 teams.

The Honolulu Little League all-stars flash the traditional Hawaiian shaka “hang loose” hand greeting after winning the 2018 Little League World Series on Aug. 26, 2018. Credit: Courtesy of Little League Baseball and Softball

The ballplayers from Honolulu Little League dominated the final at South Williamsport’s Howard J. Lamade Stadium. Starting pitcher Ka’olu Holt went the distance, limiting the South Koreans to just two hits and no runs over the game’s six innings. Holt fanned eight batters and surrendered just one walk. On the offensive side, Honolulu first baseman Mana Lau Kong homered on the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning, igniting a boisterous Hawaii dugout. Seoul starter Yeong Hyeon Kim settled in after that, but he was the victim of his own lack of control in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded on a hit and two walks, a wild pitch allowed Honolulu’s Zachary Won to score from third base, and an errant throw on the play brought Taylin Oana home from second to make the score 3-0. Hawaii played flawless defense, and Holt recorded the final out in the sixth on a swinging strikeout.

2018 Little League Baseball World Series.
Credit: © Little League Baseball

After a joyful celebration in front of the pitcher’s mound, members of the Honolulu team thanked their South Korean opponents. They then raced to the center field wall to rub the bronze bust of the stadium’s namesake, Howard J. Lamade—a longstanding tradition for the winning team. (Lamade was a Pennsylvania newspaper publisher and a key figure in the early years of Little League Baseball.)

The Honolulu all-stars rolled through the United States bracket of the tournament, winning all five of their games by a combined score of 26-3, including a 3-0 win over Peachtree City (Georgia) American Little League to reach the World Series final. The championship was the third for the state of Hawaii: the Ewa Beach team took the title in 2005, and the little leaguers from Waipio won it all in 2008. The Seoul, South Korea, squad fought through the tough international tournament, edging the all-stars from Kawaguchi, Japan, 2-1 to reach the final. South Korean teams previously won the Little League World Series in 1984, 1985, and 2014. The 2018 tournament’s 32 games drew a total of nearly 500,000 fans.

August 1, 2018

On Sunday, July 29, Major League Baseball (MLB) greats Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones, and Jim Thome were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Jones, a slugging third baseman, was elected in his first year of eligibility during voting in January. Voters named him on 97 percent of the ballots, putting him well above the 75 percent required for election. Guerrero, a dynamic, free-swinging power hitter, earned 93 percent of the vote on his second try. Thome’s long home run-hitting career earned him a first-year entry into the Hall of Fame with 90 percent of the vote. Hoffman, one of the game’s greatest relief pitchers, got 80 percent of the vote on his third go around. Former pitcher Jack Morris and shortstop Alan Trammell, elected in December 2017 by the Modern Baseball Era Committee, were also included in this year’s Hall of Fame class. Joining the players were broadcaster Bob Costas and sportswriter Sheldon Ocker.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame is in Cooperstown, New York. Credit: © National Baseball Hall Of Fame

Some 53,000 people packed the grass field outside the Hall of Fame’s Clark Sports Center, where a ceremony initiates the exclusive club’s newest members each year. On stage with the newcomers were 57 members elected in previous years and decades. Florida-born Chipper Jones was the first to take the stage. A switch-hitting third baseman, Jones played 19 seasons for the Atlanta Braves from 1993 to 2012 (he missed the 1994 season because of injury). He became a full-time player in 1995, helping the Braves win a World Series title. Jones was the 1999 National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP), hitting .319 with 45 home runs and 110 runs batted in (RBI’s) for the NL champion Braves. He made eight NL All-Star teams, including his last two seasons at age 39 and 40. Jones had a career batting average of .303. He collected 2,726 hits, 468 of which were homers, and drove in 1,623 runs.

Californian Alan Trammell followed Jones. Trammell and fellow inductee Jack Morris both starred for the Detroit Tigers, a team they led to a 1984 World Series title. Trammell spent all 20 of his MLB seasons in Detroit, where he racked up 2,365 hits, 185 homers, and 1,231 runs scored between 1977 and 1996. A great all-around player, the six-time All-Star won four gold gloves as the AL’s best fielding shortstop, and three silver sluggers as the league’s best hitting shortstop.

The famous Major League Baseball (MLB) logo was designed by graphic designer Jerry Dior in 1968. Credit: © Major League Baseball

Vladimir Guerrero, a native of the Dominican Republic, hit third in the Hall of Fame lineup on Sunday. Guerrero was known for his unorthodox hitting style and a batter’s eye that saw nearly every pitch as a good one. Guerrero came up with the Montreal Expos at the end of the 1996 season, and he soon blossomed into a star. In seven full seasons with the Expos, he showed off a powerful arm in right field while averaging 33 home runs and 100 RBI’s at the plate. In 2004, his first year with the Anaheim Angels, Guerrero hit .337 with 39 homers and 126 RBI’s to earn American League (AL) MVP honors. He later played briefly for the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles. Guerrero made nine All-Star teams during his career, which ended after the 2011 season. For his career, Guerrero hit .318 with 449 home runs, 1,496 RBI’s, and 2,590 hits.

Californian change-up specialist Trevor Hoffman came next. Hoffman frustrated enough batters during his career to be the first MLB reliever to save 500, and then 600 games. Hoffman came up with the Florida Marlins in 1993 and was dealt that year to the San Diego Padres. Hoffman became a star closer in San Diego, where he averaged 41 saves per season from 1995 through 2008 (excluding 2003, a season almost entirely lost to injury). He made seven All-Star teams over his career, his last coming at age 41 with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009. Hoffman retired after the 2010 season with 601 career saves and a lifetime earned run average of 2.87. His mastery at changing speeds earned him a career strikeout percentage of 9.4 per 9 innings.

Minnesota’s Jack Morris, a starting pitcher, followed the closer Hoffman. Morris made five All-Star teams and won 254 games between 1977 and 1994. Known as a consistent winner and perhaps the toughest postseason pitcher of his era, Morris played most of his career in Detroit before wrapping up his career with stints in Minnesota, Toronto, and Cleveland.

Jim Thome ranks among the leading home run hitters in Major League Baseball history. He was enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 29, 2018. Credit: © AP Photo

A son of Peoria, Illinois, Jim Thome delivered a grateful and heartfelt speech after Morris. Thome had a “cup of coffee” (a brief stint) with the Cleveland Indians at the end of the 1991 season. After a couple seasons trying to establish himself, Thome became the Indians’ full-time third baseman in 1995 as the team reached the World Series. Thome, a burly, powerful slugger, became known for his colossal home runs—as well as his gentle and kind demeanor. A former teammate said Thome was nice “to everything except the baseball.” Switching to first base in 1997, Thome hit 40 dingers as the Indians made their second World Series appearance in three years. Thome later had productive seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox before rounding out his career as a “hired bat” with several teams. A five-time All-Star, Thome retired after the 2012 season with 612 career homers and 1,699 RBI’s, as well as 1,747 walks—a tribute to his power, as pitchers avoided his spot in the lineup.

Bob Costas, who has covered baseball nationally since 1982 (as well as numerous other sports and the Olympic Games), joined the Hall of Fame as the 2018 winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters. Sheldon Ocker, a beat writer for the Indians for 33 seasons, earned entry as the 2018 winner of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award “for meritorious contributions to baseball writing.”

Hall of Fame voting is based upon a player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played. Votes are cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, which consists of writers with 10 consecutive years of service in the association. To be eligible, ballplayers must have spent at least 10 seasons in the majors and been retired for 5 years (exceptions are made in the case of severe injury or sudden death, such as with Roberto Clemente). Eligible players remain on the Hall of Fame ballot for 10 years, after which they can gain entry only though one of the select Eras Committees (formerly the Veterans Committee)—a rare occurrence. The Eras Committees, made up of former executives, managers, players, and umpires, also choose nonplayers such as Costas and Ocker for entry into the Hall of Fame.

July 19, 2018

On Tuesday night, July 17, the American League (AL) topped the National League (NL) 8-6 in a homer-happy Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. It was the sixth consecutive win for the AL, which took the game with 10th-inning home runs by Houston Astros teammates Alex Bregman and George Springer. The All-Star Game features the best MLB players as a midseason interleague exhibition. Bregman, a first-time All-Star in just his second full MLB season, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

The 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Credit: © Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer made his second-straight All-Star start for the NL—the first pitcher to do so since Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2000 and 2001. Lefty fireballer Chris Sale made his third-straight start for the AL. A Boston Red Sox All-Star in 2017 and 2018, Sale started the 2016 game as a member of the Chicago White Sox. The last pitcher to repeat three years in a row as an All-Star starter—in either league—was Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Famer Robin Roberts from 1953 through 1955. Fellow Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez, who started five of the first six All-Star games (1933-1935, 1937, and 1938), is the only other pitcher to have accomplished the feat.

Anaheim Angels outfielder Mike Trout, seen here hitting at San Francisco’s AT&T Park, hit his second career All-Star Game home run on July 17, 2018. Credit: Keith Allison (licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

Scherzer allowed a home run to New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in the second, the first of a record 10 long balls during the game. Anaheim Angels superstar Mike Trout homered in the third for a 2-0 AL advantage, but solo dingers by Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras and Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story evened the score. The AL surged ahead 5-2 in the top of the 8th as Milwaukee Brewers bullpen phenom Josh Hader surrendered a 3-run bomb to Seattle Mariners shortstop Jean Segura. The NL refused to give in, however. Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich notched a solo shot in the bottom of the inning, and with Mariners closer Edwin Díaz on the mound in the bottom of the ninth, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett stunned the crowd with a 2-run homer to tie the game at 5-5.

The All-Star Game then went into extra innings for the second straight year, but the contest was only briefly prolonged. Back-to-back AL long balls in the 10th preceded the game’s only non-homer tally (on a sacrifice fly) to make it an 8-5 game. Reds first baseman Joey Votto signaled an NL pulse with the game’s 10th and final home run in the bottom of the inning, but it was the last gasp for the National Leaguers.

Major League Baseball (MLB) Logo.
Credit: © Major League Baseball

The AL squad was led by A.J. Hinch, manager of the 2017 World Series champion Astros. Dave Roberts, manager of last year’s NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers, led the NL side. Pregame ceremonies, always elaborate at All-Star Games, were heavily military themed in the nation’s capital. After the baseball lineups were introduced, actor Bradley Cooper narrated an homage to 29 Medal of Honor recipients before a community of choirs from the District of Columbia sang the nation anthem. The Medal of Honor is the highest award for courage given by the United States military.

This year’s AL victory gave it a one-game edge in the all-time series between the leagues. Since the first All-Star Game in 1933, the AL has now won 44 times and NL squads have won 43 (along with 2 ties). The AL has outscored the NL by a scant 2 runs (363-361) in All-Star play. There was no All-Star Game in 1945 because of World War II travel restrictions, and from 1959 through 1962, there were two All-Star games each year.

In other All-Star festivities, hometown Nationals’ favorite Bryce Harper out-slugged Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night. On Sunday afternoon, the best of Minor League Baseball squared off in the All-Star Futures Game. The United States future stars downed the World Team, 10-6.

June 29, 2018

Last night, on June 28, the Oregon State University (OSU) Beavers defeated the University of Arkansas Razorbacks 5-0 to win a thrilling College World Series. OSU won the best-of-three series two games to one for its third baseball national title. After a hard-fought series filled with future Major League Baseball stars, the final out in the ninth inning seemed as much a relief as a celebration as the Beavers collapsed in a joyous “dogpile” behind the pitcher’s mound at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.

Oregon State ballplayers pose with the NCAA national championship trophy and their mascot, Benny Beaver, after defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks in the College World Series on June 28, 2018. Credit: © Peter Aiken, Getty Images

The College World Series (CWS) is the culmination of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Baseball Championship tournament. The tournament begins with 64 teams, but only the final 8 advance to the CWS. (World Series is a trademark of Major League Baseball licensed to the NCAA). Arkansas won the west division of the Southeastern Conference and rolled through the early parts of the tournament to reach the tense CWS bracket. The Razorbacks then knocked off Texas, Texas Tech, and defending champion Florida to reach the finals. Oregon State finished second in the Pacific-12 Conference before battling their way to the CWS. OSU lost its first game to North Carolina, but the team rebounded from the loser’s bracket to beat Washington, take revenge on North Carolina, and down Mississippi State in the semifinals.

NCAA 2018 Men’s College World Series logo. Credit: © NCAA

In game one of the CWS Finals, Arkansas starter Blaine Knight gave up a single run through seven tough innings before a decidedly pro-Razorback crowd in Omaha. OSU pushed its run across in the second and was poised to do more damage in the bottom of the fourth, but a controversial interference call negated a second run, killed a rally, and proved the turning point in the game. Immediately after, in the top of the fifth, Arkansas erupted for four runs against OSU starter Luke Heimlich. With baseball karma fully behind Arkansas, the innings ticked away as OSU line drives found Razorback gloves and close calls went against the Beavers. The 4-1 Arkansas win thrilled the boisterous Omahog fans (Razorback—Hog—fans in Omaha) chanting the wooo pig sooie hog call.

In an epic game two, Arkansas struck first with a tally in the second, but OSU responded with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. A two-run bottom of the fifth gave the Razorbacks a precarious 3-2 lead, but Arkansas relievers kept the stout Beaver lineup in check through to the ninth inning. With the Omahogs roaring in the stands, lefty closer Matt Cronin brought Arkansas to within one out of the championship. OSU and its outnumbered Beaver fans refused to give in, however, and shortstop Cadyn Grenier stepped to the plate with the tying run at third and the season resting on his shoulders. It all appeared over as Grenier popped a lazy foul down the right field line. In a moment of karma reversal, however, the ball fell to the ground between three incredulous Arkansas fielders. Reprieved, Grenier stung a base hit to tie the game. Power-hitting outfielder Trevor Larnach then drilled a laser-beam homer to right for a stadium-silencing 5-3 OSU lead and the win.

Oregon State’s momentum continued in the deciding game three as the Beavers scored two runs in the bottom of the first. Lone runs in the third and fifth gave OSU freshman starter Kevin Abel a 4-0 advantage, which was more than he needed. In the bottom of the eighth, a fifth Beaver run only confirmed what had already been decided. Abel retired the 27th and final out on a grounder to short, completing the game for a mitt-tossing party. Abel struck out 10 batters in his 9 innings and surrendered just 2 Razorback hits.

The CWS win was Oregon State’s third. The team’s previous titles came in 2006 and 2007. Arkansas has yet to win the baseball title, but it was the team’s second trip to the CWS Finals. The Razorbacks lost the 1979 championship to Cal State Fullerton. The CWS has been held in Omaha, Nebraska—a central and generally neutral location—since 1950. The series was played at historic Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium—once the largest minor league stadium in the United States—through 2010. TD Ameritrade Park has hosted the CWS since it opened in 2011.

May 1, 2018

Each year, spring brings baseball (if not necessarily warm weather) to the United States and Canada. As the big-city teams of Major League Baseball (MLB) steal the headlines, hundreds of other teams of Minor League Baseball (MiLB) also get going, bringing home runs and double plays to smaller cities and communities from coast to coast. Minor league clubs—where players are developed to play in the majors (MLB)—are often referred to as farm teams, and each minor league organization is often called a farm system. Former MLB executive Branch Rickey is credited with formalizing the farm system, where minor league teams were “growing players down on the farm like corn.”

Credit: © Minor League Baseball

MiLB includes hundreds of teams in numerous baseball leagues in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. The term Minor League Baseball also refers generally to all professional baseball beneath the MLB level, and includes leagues in Australia, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Created in 1901, MiLB is commonly referred to as the minors.

Most MiLB teams are affiliated with parent clubs in Major League Baseball. MLB parent clubs are the top teams within an organization. Minor league teams act as feeder clubs where players improve their skills and move up through the different tiers of the minor league system, with the ultimate goal of playing for the parent club. There are also numerous independent minor leagues unaffiliated with Major League Baseball. Minor league levels have varied over the years. Today, the levels from bottom to top are Rookie, Short-Season A, A, Advanced A, Double-A, and Triple-A. The number of minor league teams within an MLB organization often changes, as do the team locations. Players rarely play at every level of an organization. Players good enough to reach the parent club will skip levels along the way. Most players never get above the lower minor league classes.

Monongalia County Ballpark is home to the West Virginia Black Bears, a team that competes in the Short-Season A NY-Penn League. This photo shows a game between the Black Bears and the Mahoning Valley (Ohio) Scrappers on June 21, 2015. Credit: © Aspen Photo/Shutterstock

MiLB seasons vary according to league level and team location. The highest MiLB classes have seasons similar to MLB, operating from April to September. This schedule allows players to be in compatible shape to shift between the upper minors and the majors. Lower minor leagues operate on shorter schedules, often according to the climate of the league’s location. For example, leagues in the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, and Venezuela often have multiple short seasons and operate the year around. Some leagues are limited to specific seasons, such as the Arizona Fall League and the Venezuelan Winter League. The Australian Baseball League operates during Australia’s summer, which runs from December through February. Each minor league has its own playoffs and championship at the end the regular season. As of 2018, there were more than 250 teams competing in 18 MiLB leagues.

Minor league team names are often rather creative. Toledo (Ohio) first acquired a team called the Mud Hens in 1896. The Mud Hens’ Triple-A International League rivals include Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley IronPigs and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Other inventive names include the Akron (Ohio) RubberDucks, Batavia (New York) Muckdogs, El Paso (Texas) Chihuahuas, Hartford (Connecticut) Yard Goats, Lansing (Michigan) Lugnuts, Modesto (California) Nuts, Montgomery (Alabama) Biscuits, and Vermont Lake Monsters.

April 6, 2018

Tomorrow, April 7, is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bobby Doerr (pronounced DOUGH-er), one of the best second basemen in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. A rare power-hitting middle infielder for his era, Doerr hit 223 home runs and drove in 1,247 runs over 14 seasons with the Boston Red Sox from 1937 through 1951. An excellent fielder as well, Doerr made nine American League (AL) All-Star teams during his career. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986. For several months until his death at age 99 on Nov. 13, 2017, Doerr was the oldest living former MLB player.

Boston Red Sox second baseman Bobby Doerr pauses before a 1951 game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Credit: © Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images

Robert Pershing Doerr was born in Los Angeles, California, on April 7, 1918. He received his middle name in honor of General John J. Pershing, leader of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.) in Europe during World War I (1914-1918). While still in high school, Doerr began playing professional baseball with the Hollywood Stars (later the minor league San Diego Padres) of the Pacific Coast League. Doerr signed an MLB contract with Boston in 1936  and debuted with the Red Sox in 1937. He became the team’s starting second baseman the following season.

With Boston, Doerr led the AL in fielding percentage four times. For many years, he held records for most consecutive errorless games at second base (73) and consecutive chances at second base without an error (414). During World War II (1939-1945), Doerr served in the United States Army, missing part of the 1944 MLB season and the entire 1945 season. Doerr returned to the Red Sox in 1946, helping lead the team to the World Series. After several highly productive years, back problems forced Doerr to retire after the 1951 season at age 33.

During his 14 MLB seasons, Doerr’s 2,042 hits included 381 doubles and 89 triples. He also scored 1,094 runs. After his playing career, Doerr served as a scout and coach for the Red Sox and he later coached for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Red Sox retired Doerr’s uniform number 1 in 1988. Outside Boston’s Fenway Park, a statue called The Teammates depicts Red Sox legends Doerr, Dom DiMaggio (brother of Joe), Johnny Pesky, and Ted Williams.