Basball's Best

I enjoy watching old baseball stuff.

Stuff like old World Series clips, old TV programs, old Movie Tone reels, old, well, old anything that's about the great game of baseball.

I have begun to re watch Ken Burns "Baseball" again on the MLB Network.

I just never get tired of watching that stuff. 

So, I thought, why not start to write about the best of baseball? 

Players, Managers, teams, uniforms, ball caps, stadiums, logos, well, you get it.

Baseball has an un paralleled history in sports, and a lot of it, all the way back to the 1869 Cincinnati Red Legs, the first ever professional team.

So, lets get started with the Best Big League Ball Caps of All-Time.

#1...New York Yankees

#2...St.Louis Cardinals(Red Cap)

#3...Detroit Tigers(Home)

#4...Brooklyn/LA Dodgers

#5...Chicago Cubs(Blue)

#6...Milwaukee Braves

#7...Houston Colt 45's

#8...Baltimore Orioles(1970's)

#9...Washington Senators

#10...Montreal Expos  

We start by looking at the greatest ball cap ever, like 'em, or hate 'em, the Yankees. 

The winners of 28 World Series, the team once known as the Baltimore Orioles, and the new York Highlanders.

That NY stitched across the front of the blue cap, the most recognizable cap in big league history, worn by the Bambino, the Iron Horse, Joltin' Joe DiMaggio, Mantle, Berra, Reggie, Mattingly, and Derek Jeter.

The best cap in the National League belongs to the team with the most World Series Championships from the Senior Circuit, the St. Louis Cardinals. 

I love that STL entwined together on that red Cardinals cap, the cap of Musial, Gibson, Brock,and the Wizard of OZ. 

 

Ball Caps are a unique part of the National Pastime. 

Fans associate themselves with their teams head gear. That bright red of the Cards, or the baby blue of the Royals, to the fans, those caps are as important to their identity as anything in their lives.

For me, the Olde English "D" of the Detroit Tigers has been my identity since the late 1960's. When I put that Tigers cap on I'm putting on the cap of Kaline, Cobb, Gehringer, Kell, Greenberg, Trammell, and the same cap that was worn by my hero, Bill Freehan.

Now, I've listed the best ball caps, in my opinion, but what about you. What's your to caps in big league history?

No list is wrong, It's your list, your a fan, and fans make baseball what it is.

Hey, it sports radio time!

Starting on Monday, November 15th, @ 12 NOON, I will embark on a new challenge, sports talk radio.

You can now hear me talk about the great game of baseball, as well as football, hockey..yes, I love the pucks, some NASCAR, and even some hoops, although I'm not an NBA lover.

Just go to...John's Big League Radio Show

For all you terrific readers, we will talk some baseball, the AL and NL Gold Gloves are being awarded this week, and the Managers of the Year, Rookies of the Year, Cy Young, and MVP Awards will be handed out this month.

We'll also be talking about the off season, the "Hot Stove League" as it's known in baseball.

So, if you have a 1/2 hour on Monday night, give a listen.

Sparky Anderson passes away

"She don't play  on Wednesdays." -Detroit Tigers Manager Sparky Anderson

In the early 1990's the Detroit Tigers had a big slugging first baseman named Cecil Fielder. 

I was going to a spring game in Lakeland, Florida,  where the Tigers have been playing since the Great Depression, to watch a Grapefruit League game. 

I couldn't wait to get a first hand look at the big man who had hit 95 HRs in his first two years when then Tigers Manager Sparky Anderson came over to start signing autographs for fans.

As Sparky took my baseball and started to sign, I asked, "...where's Big Cecil at...?"


That's when Sparky looked at me and said the quote at the top of the page..."he don't play on Wednesday's."

Sparky Anderson died today, at the age of 76.

Sparky Anderson passes away 

Sparky was the best Manager the Tigers ever had. The best.

 


Now, I know Hughie Jennings won plenty of games, took the Tigers to three straight American League Pennants, and Mickey Cochrahne, the Tigers Manager-Catcher skippered the Tigers to their first World Series Championship, but, to me, their was  none better than Sparky.

When George "Sparky" Anderson took over as the Tigers Manager in the 1979 season, he proclaimed that "we'll win a World Series within 5 years."

Now, at the time, the Detroit Tigers were not in the best of shape, losing more games than they won over the previous 5 years, including a horrible 100 loss season in 1975.

The Tigers had no Ty Cobb, no Harry Heilmann, no Charlie Gehringer, no Hank Greenberg, no Al Kaline, on the team in the late 1970's.

There was no Mickey Lolich, or Schoolboy Rowe, or George Mullins, or Joe Coleman, or Jim Bunning on the mound.

What Sparky inherited was a still un proven batch of rookies, second, and third year players who had shown signs of being good, but not championship good.

Sparky knew what we, the fans didn't.

He made mistakes for sure, like calling a young outfielder named Kirk Gibson the "next Mickey Mantle," or talking about 3rd Baseman Chris Pitaro as the next Gold Glove man at the hot corner.

Five years after taking over as the skipper of the Tigers, Sparky Anderson guided the club to the 1984 World Series championship, right on schedule, just like Sparky said.

Sparky Anderson was a great baseball man, and an even better man.

And even though he was given #11, the number worn by by hero Bill Freehan, I loved Sparky, and the way he loved the game of baseball.

Baseball will never see a character like Sparky Anderson again.

Baseball will miss Sparky, but not as much as Sparky missed baseball.

Your World Champion San Francisco Giants

For the 1st time in San Francisco, and for the 1st time since 1954, the Giants are World Series Champions.

The Giants used great pitching by Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Madison Bumgarner, in defeating the Texas Rangers, 4 games to 1.

Brian Wilson struck out Nelson Cruz to end the 106th edition of the Fall Classic.

Edgar Renteria, who hit a 3 run HR in the 7th inning off the Rangers Cliff Lee, was named the Series MVP.

Renteria also got the game winning hit in Game 7 of the 1997 Series as a member of the Florida Marlins. 

Edgar Rings-eria

The Giants are a great baseball story, and proof that baseball can be played without the big payrolls of the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, and Cubs.

 It was enjoyable to watch a World Series that featured guys who are living the dream of playing big league baseball, guys who know how truly fortunate they are to be called World Series Champions.

Just for the record, remember I had the Phillies over the Rays this year.

Well, I guess it's good I don't rely on those picks as a way to pay the rent.

Tip of the Cap

Baseball caps are one of the great things about the long history of big league baseball.

When your a little kid you love getting that new ball cap, especially when it's of your favorite team.

For me it was the Detroit Tigers, and that Olde English "D" home cap.

The Tigers were also the first team to wear different caps for home and road games, wearing an Orange "D" on the Navy ball cap instead of the home white.

Caps are a big part of the baseball uniform, and there have been some great caps over the years.

In this series I'll look back at some of the great ball caps, and I'll have a list of my personal favorite caps from all the big league, and even some Minor League teams.

What about you?

What's your favorite ball caps, or ball caps, of the past, or the present?

Happy Baseball Birthday... My Uncle Bob

Happy Baseball Birthday! today to my Uncle Bob.

My Uncle Bob is the reason my love of baseball exists today, and I give him all the credit in the world for opening up the greatest game ever invented to me.


In the summer time, starting in the mid 1960s, my Uncle Bob would come to Muskegon, or Kalamazoo, from were ever he lived,  and take me, and my brothers Robert, and Paul, out to the local ball fields to play.

💙 L-R--- My Dad, Uncle Paul, Grandmother Sharp, Uncle Bob. 💛

I was Bill Freehan, the old Tiger catcher, and my boyhood hero, and Robert was Bobby Murcer, the Yankees Center Fielder who replaced Mickey Mantle.




It was the greatest time we ever had, playing baseball, me and Robert on one team, Paul and Uncle Bob on the other.




Uncle Bob had to hit the ball to the opposite field, or he was out...very rarely did that happen, as many a baseball landed in the cornfields behind the outfield fences.



On my Uncle would hit the ball for Paul, he was still to little, being just around 3 or 4. 



He would just run the bases....sometimes the wrong way...very funny, although I suppose we all did that when we were little guys.




When Paul got older, around the early 70s, he would start to play on his own , and then our baby brother, Joe, would run the bases, and Uncle Bob hit for him, and yes, watching little Joe run the wrong way, as the Sharp tradition of bad base running was continuing.

We had a great time.


Our baseball summer would always start by sitting in the middle of our living room, emptying  out an old coffee can full of change that my Uncle had collected since his visit the year before.




The coins were separated out by pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and we then would roll up  all those coins.

This was the money we would use for our baseball fun...gloves, bats, and balls...oh, and pop, lots of pop, Coke, Dr. Pepper, and  for me, Pepsi-Cola, in those great old 16oz. bottles.



My brother Robert and I very rarely won those games, mostly because we fought every game, blaming each other for mistakes, even though we made so many each that we shouldn't be blaming each other.



I miss those days playing baseball in the sandlots and green Little League fields of my youth, even at the age of 50.




Happy Birthday Uncle Bob, we love you very much!


Play Ball!  ⚾

World Series Preview

The 106th Fall Classic will start tomorrow in San Francisco, as the Giants host the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers will be making their first ever appearance in the World Series, and the Giants will be in their third Series since moving to San Francisco, and their first since losing in 7 games to the Angels in 2002.

Now, I'll be picking a winner of the Series, but, in all honesty, I'll probably be wrong.

I had the Rays and The Phillies playing each other in a re-match from 2008, and that obviously didn't happen.

This will be a tremendous World Series to watch, because, simply, I don't have a team to root for, like my Detroit Tigers, or the Dodgers, whom I used to root for, unsuccessfully, against the Yankees, in the 1970's, and I don't have the Yankees to root against.

The ratings will take a beating because there are no big name teams in the Series, and I say that's just fine.

These two clubs played great baseball, especially the Giants, who don't have a superstar offensive player, and rely on heads up baseball, clutch hitting, and great pitching to win games.

The Rangers have the better offensive team, with guys like ALCS MVP Josh Hamilton, and 11 year veteran of the Rangers, Michael Young.

Both squads have great bullpens, and closers, as the Rangers will send out rookie Neftali Feliz, and the Giants will counter with Brian Wilson.

So, who's going to win?

Hey, I have no idea, but, I predict the Giants will win, in 6 games.

Why?

Hey, I thought the Phillies would beat down the Giants offensively, and in pitching performance, and I was wrong. 

The Giants shut down the Philadelphia hitters, and simply out pitched the Phillies staff.

The Giants have made all the right moves, as have the Rangers, and I see Cliff Lee winning two starts,  but unless the Series goes to 7 games, and Lee gets the start, then I don't think the Rangers will win.

But hey, what the heck do I know?

Just enjoy the World Series, The Fall Classic, and savor every moment of our National Pastime.

Baseball on the Web

I've found some very cool baseball fans,and their blogs, and I'd like to share a site every now and again.

Today we start with a fan who loves to imitate big league ball players batting stances.

Remember when you were a kid, and stepping up to the plate at the sandlot, or in a Little League game?

Did you go into the batters box and set up to hit by imitating your favorite ball player?

I did.


Bill Freehan was my hero, and I did everything the way that Big Bill did.

When I got in that box I stood exactly the way he did, and my routine before the pitch was the same, and my stance, and my swing were the same.

Freehan would get into the right handed side of box, and then he would...

take his back foot and grind it into the very back of the box...and then he would...

adjust his batting helmet, and then he would...

place his front foot down just about even with home plate, and then...

Freehan would take his bat and tap it onto the outside part of the right side of home home plate, making sure he had proper bat coverage, and then...

well, you get. it, I tried to hit like my hero.

If you remember how your favorite player would swing the bat, or how one of the greats of All-Time hit, then check him out o n the web at  The Batting Stance Guy 
 

He is great at re-creating old and new player batting stances.

Gar is just a great baseball fan, and I just enjoy watching him do his thing.

My NL Championship Preview

We baseball fans are in for a treat, just in time for Halloween.

When the San Francisco Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies take the field tonight at Citizens Bank Park in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, the baseball history God's will be taking us back to the time of old school pitching duels.

And we the fans are going to love every moment.

Roy Halladay, who's last, and first ever post season start ended with Halladay pitching the second perfect game in baseball post season history, against the Cincinnati Reds,will be taking on "The Freak," Tim Lincecum of the Giants, who struck out 14 Atlanta Braves in his one post season start.

Runs will certainly be a premium tonight when these two men, owners of a combined 3 Cy young Awards, take the mound tonight, and it's not going to get any easier in the following two games.

The Phillies will send Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels out against the Giants, who will counter with Jonathon Sanchez and Matt Cain in games 2 and 3.

Now, let's try not to discount the offense on both teams, where there are some quality hitters.

The problem for the Giants is that most of them wear Phillies uniforms.

The Philly offense is loaded.

Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino, and Placido Polanco head a run producing offense that is looking for a third straight trip to the World Series.

There are very few weakness in the Phillies lineup, but they will be tested against the great pitching staff of the Giants.

For San Francisco, the offense is led by 1st Baseman Aubry Huff, who was terrific for the Giants after signing as a free agent in the off season.

Veteran players like Juan Uribe, Mike Fontenot, Edgar Renteria, Pablo Sandoval, and Pat Burrell, are very capable hitters who must make the Philly pitchers work hard while waiting for the right pitch to hit.

The Giants must find a way to scratch out runs and get the ball to their great closer, Brian Wilson, who saved 48 games in the regular season.

For the Phillies, it's set up man Ryan Madson and closer Brad Lidge, who had a great NLDS against the Reds.

Now, for my prediction, er, my guess on who's going to be playing in the World Series.

The Phillies are on a historic run, having won the past two N.L. pennants. They can become the 1st team since the 1942-43-44 St. Louis Cardinals to go to 3 straight World Series.

The Giants are trying to get back to the Series for the first time since 2002, and for only the second time in 48 years.

This is going to be a classic match up, a baseball purists delight.

The pitching is going to make all the headlines, and it should, but the offense of the Phillies is going to be the difference.

The Giants havea great pitching staff, but they will not be able to hold the Phillies down enough to win the National League Pennant.

And because of that, I like the Phillies in 6 games.

Enjoy the baseball, it's playoff time, the greatest time for our National Pastime.

My AL Championship Series prediction

I've never been good at picking series winners, mostly because I tend to pick against teams I don't like...yes, the Yankees, and partly because I like teams with experience...like the Rays, who are out golfing.

So, here I go again, as I try and predict(?) the American League Championship Series winners for 2010.

Yankees.com

Texas Rangers.com

As I stated earlier, I don't like the Yankees, and because I don't, I'm taking the Rangers. 

Oh, and the Rangers happen to have Cliff Lee pitching for them. Lee won two games against the Rays in the A.L. Division series, including game 3, on the road at the Trop.

I guess I should really pick the Yanks to win, so that they will lose, but I really like what I saw from the Rangers.

They ran the bases well, pitched well, hit well...on the road, and won their first ever playoff series in the history of the franchise.

Texas will have their hands full with the defending World Series Champion Yanks, as C.C. Sabathia and Andy Petite will lead a veteran pitching staff that also includes the greatest post season closer ever in Mariano Rivera.

Oh, and the New Yorkers can also hit, and hit some more.

Derek Jeter has more hits than any other Yankee in team history, they have Alex Rodriguez and his 600+ home runs, they have Mark Teixeira, and Nick Swisher, and Curtis Granderson, and Robinson Cano, and well, a lot of hitters.

The Texas offense is pretty darn good to.

Led by possible MVP Justin Hamilton, the Rangers can hit with the best in baseball, and they will be challenged by the Yankees pitching. 

That said, the Yankees staff isn't as good as the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Rangers won that series.

Michael Young, in his 11th season as a Ranger, is one of the bats that compliment Hamilton well.

Elvis Andrus, Nelson Cruz, Jeff Francouer, Ian Kinsler, and Vladimir Guerrero are all solid hitters who can drive in runs.

The Rangers pitchers have got to come through to help Cliff Lee out.

Lee is going to get his starts, but his teammates, the other guys on the staff, need to win some games as well.

C.J. Wilson gets the start in Game 1, going against Sabathia, and Colby Lewis will go in Game 2 against Phil Hughes, who likes the confines of Yankee Stadium more than the road, where the series starts, in Arlington, Texas on Friday night.

In the Rangers pen, rookie closer Neftali Feliz and his  40 saves will be there, should he be needed.

So, all that said, what is my prediction?

I'll take the Rangers in 7 games, with Cliff Lee pitching a masterpiece for the Series clincher.