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While most teams enter a new season with a sense of optimism, few have faced the level of expectations placed on the 1995 Atlanta Braves. After acquiring center fielder and leadoff man Marquis Grissom from the Expos before the season, general manager John Schuerholz went so far as to say, “We’re the first team to […]

The Houston Astros’ deadline deal for Seattle Mariners ace Randy Johnson stunned baseball in 1998. Johnson’s 12-strikeout debut on August 2, two days after the trade, gave the Astros an immediate return on their investment, but they also needed Carl Everett’s and Ricky Gutierrez’s eighth-inning clutch hits to secure a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh […]

On June 15, 2016, the Cleveland Indians were tied for first place in the American League’s Central Division with the Kansas City Royals. By July 2, Cleveland had a franchise-record 14-game winning streak and a seven-game lead over the Royals.1 The streak had begun at home, with sweeps of the Chicago White Sox and Tampa […]

The Chicago Cubs led the National League in home runs in 1986, and their game against the San Francisco Giants on July 19 was one of six times during the season in which they hit four round-trippers. Their home-run outburst was the difference in a comeback win against the first-place Giants. All-Star second baseman Ryne […]

Hall of Famer Zack Wheat played for Brooklyn for 18 years (1909-1926) and more than a century later still held Dodgers career records for most hits (2,804), total bases (4,003), doubles (464), and triples (171). (Photo: Library of Congress)   After one-run wins against the Brooklyn Robins in Games One and Two of the 1916 […]

The last game of the 1950 season found the Philadelphia Phillies clinging to a one-game lead over the Brooklyn Dodgers, who were closing fast. If the Phillies lost, a three-game playoff for the pennant would be needed and that did not bode well for the Whiz Kids, whose starting pitching was razor-thin due to injuries […]

“Even their nickname has backfired. The Dodger jockeys have taken to calling ’em Fizz Kids.” — Harold C. Burr, Brooklyn Eagle1 The coin toss came up tails. The Phillies lost again — a familiar sight over the past week. In the umpires’ locker room before the game on September 30 in Brooklyn, Baseball Commissioner Ford […]

Believe it or not, Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. had been in somewhat of a slump in the early part of the 1984 season. Although he started the season well, hitting safely in all but four of the Orioles’ first 23 games, in early May his batting average dropped from .352 on April 30 […]

In September 1883 a key late-season series in Boston pitted perennial powerhouse Chicago against a fine nine from Beantown. The Windy City team blew into the Hub holding first place, riding an 11-game win streak and appearing destined for a fourth consecutive National League title. Boston, however, was knocking on the door, a game and […]

On Friday, September 23, 1921, the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals were supposed to begin a three-game series in St. Louis. Friday’s game, however, was rained out and rescheduled for Monday, September 26, an open date for both teams. The Giants had to cancel an exhibition game that was to be played at […]

In 1921, for the first time in the brief history of the modern World Series, all the games were played at one venue, in this case the Polo Grounds in New York.1 The same two teams played in the World Series in 1922, again with all the games at the Polo Grounds. The same two […]

Mickey Mantle had done it 535 times before, so his solo clout against Red Sox hurler Jim Lonborg on September 20, 1968, did not appear to be highly significant. But when Mantle retired before the 1969 season, its importance resonated — number 536 was the last occasion for the Commerce Comet to circle the bases. […]

Phillippe Aumont pitched in 46 big-league games over the course of four seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies (2012-2015). A tall (6-feet-7), powerfully-built (265 pounds), and hard-throwing (fastball in the high 90s) right-hander, Aumont is as of 2022 the player from Quebec selected highest in the amateur free-agent draft. The Seattle Mariners made the 18-year-old hurler […]

Three-time All-Star and 1959 Rookie of the Year Bob Allison was a feared slugger, an aggressive, daring baserunner, a versatile outfielder and first baseman with a powerful arm, and, above all, a competitive team player. He played his entire 13-year career (1958-1970) with the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins, helping transform a moribund franchise into a consistent […]

He had underdog appeal and looked like a big Pacific teddy bear. But that alone didn’t make Benny Agbayani such a fan favorite in New York City – the Hawaiian backed it up with some strong major-league performance. “You have to understand,” said his biggest backer, Mets manager Bobby Valentine, in 1999. “I’ve never seen […]

If reviewing the list of examples of baseball stars who fell victim to the fabled sophomore jinx, you are sure to find the name of Joe Charboneau near the top. Charboneau captured the imagination of Indians fans during the summer of 1980 like no other player since Rocky Colavito. However, the man called “Super Joe” […]

Rather uncouth? Bill Mundy had a relatively short baseball career. He was a left-handed first baseman who played 16 games in the major leagues, all in 1913 for the Boston Red Sox. Though first base is a position that requires a lot of active fielding, it still was no doubt dismaying to manager Bill Carrigan […]

Almost. That’s Larry Jackson’s career in a word. He almost led his junior college football team to an undefeated season. In baseball’s major leagues, he won almost 200 games, almost pitched a perfect game, and almost won a Cy Young Award. Jackson was one of the National League’s top pitchers for almost a decade. His […]

Dutch Leonard rode his knuckleball to a 20-year big league career, baffling batters, catchers, and umpires until he was 44 years old. As Jackie Robinson described Leonard’s knuckler, “It comes up, makes a face at you, then runs away.”1 Emil John Leonard was born on March 25, 1909, in Auburn, Illinois, the first of five children […]

Floyd Rayford’s soft hands and even softer belly, combined with his underrated athleticism and good nature, made him an Orioles’ fan favorite in the 1980s. With the skills to play six positions — primarily third base and catcher — during his professional career, and what one manager called the “perfect temperament for baseball,” Rayford spent […]

John Gibbons has seen a lot of ups and down in his career. A highly touted prospect for the Mets who was expected to be their future catcher, but a lack of production and the acquisition of Gary Carter stood in the way. Gibbons became a major-league manager for the Toronto Blue Jays, but mediocre […]

“Mothell was the greatest utility man in the game of baseball. He could step in at any position, except pitcher, and you’d never notice that the regular player was missing.” – Cool Papa Bell1   Playing a variety of positions over the years, the versatile Dink Mothell was a member of three Kansas City Monarchs […]

Sam Williams was born in a small, poor town in segregated Alabama, served his country in World War II, played in the last Negro League World Series, and then pitched for minor-league teams from California to Canada and from Mexico to the Dominican Republic. “It didn’t matter who I pitched against, I was going to […]

New York Giants manager John McGraw, left, and team owner Charles Stoneham in the early 1920s. (NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME LIBRARY)   INTRODUCTION The New York-San Francisco Giants baseball club is among the most storied franchises in the annals of professional sport. To fans, mention of the club’s name promptly evokes images of Willie […]