Rick Camp

Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Rick Camp has passed away, at age 60.

I saw this story earlier today via CBS Sportsline.com, and after seeing this Tweet, I decided i needed to write about Rick Camp.

Dale Murphy ‏@DaleMurphy31h

Will miss friend and teammate Rick Camp. Sad news. RIP Rick. Good memories. I join with all @Braves family/fans w prayers to the Camp family

Rick Camp was a decent pitcher for the Braves from 1976-85.

Drafted in the 7th round of the 1974 amateur draft, Camp made his big league debut on September 15th, 1976.

In nine years, all with the Braves, Camp had a record of 56-49, with a 3.37 ERA in 414 appearances.

Every time I hear a Braves fan talk about Camp it takes me back to July 4th, 1985.

I was in the US Navy in '85, in Meridian**, Mississippi, at the time.

**Meridian is the hometown of both actress Sela Ward and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd.**

On that July 4th a few of us gathered to watch the Braves game after the day was done, and I remember going to bed around midnight, or so.

I woke up a couple of hours later to some of my friends cheering loudly.

Remarkably, the Braves game was still on.

Several rain delays, and comebacks on both sides, caused the marathon game to continue.

As I was up and it was the July 4th weekend, I stayed up to watch the rest of the game.

The game ended after 19 innings, a Mets 16-13 win in Atlanta.

In the 18th inning the Braves trailed, 11-10, and with two outs Camp hit a solo HR to left field to tie the game.

Because MLB won't allow baseball highlights, you'll have to watch the home run...here...Watch the HR here. 

It was just one of those crazy games, and even though the Braves lost the game, and he struck out to end the game, Rick Camp was the star of the game.


The Braves Tweeted out this today.

Atlanta Braves ‏@Braves2h

The Braves are sad to announce the passing of former pitcher Rick Camp. Camp is best known for his game tying HR in the 18th inn on 7/4/85.

R I P Rick Camp.

Monday Mop Up...my Tigers can't hit...Today's Baseball Birthday.

Good Morning!

As I punch the keys on the computer the BEST baseball movie ever made, The Natural, is gracing my TV screen.

It's a cold, blustery day here in Jacksonville, not exactly the weather we expect on April 22nd.

The Detroit Tigers bats are also cold.

After beating the Mariners on Wednesday night the Tigers were 9-5, with their ace RHP Justin Verlander going for the series sweep on getaway day, Thursday afternoon.

Verlander allowed just 2 runs...while the Tigers scored zero runs.

The Tigers lost 2-0 to the Mariners, the first of what is now a 4 game losing streak.

The Tigers then traveled to Anaheim, getting swept by the Angels, who outscored them 22-4.

The Tigers finished their one and only West Coast road trip this year with a 4-5 record, and their 9-9 record is now third best in the A.L. Central, behind Kansas City and Minnesota.

Maybe the Tigers could use Roy Hobbs and "Wonderboy" to help ignite the offense.

The Tigers have the day off and start a three game series Tuesday with the first place Royals.


Today's Baseball Birthday celebration is former Washington Senators first baseman Mickey Vernon.

Vernon broke into the big leagues with the Senators on July 8th, 1939.

In 76 games with Washington, Vernon collected 71 hits in 310 plate appearances, driving in 30 runs with 15 doubles, 24 walks, and 23 runs scored.

Vernon played 14 years with the Senators, and won two batting titles, in 1946(.353), and 1953(.337).

Vernon was a 7 time All-Star, and led the American League in triples three times, including a whopping 51 three baggers in '46.

Despite the fact that Vernon served for two years in World War II, he collected 2,495 base hits, 490 of them doubles.

Vernon drove in 1,311 runs, smacked 172 homers, and played a solid first base.

He retired with a .990 fielding percentage, and holds the big league record of recording an amazing 2,044 double plays.

Vernon was the #1 fielding first baseman, by percentage, in 1950, '51, '52, and '54.

After playing 19 big league season, Mickey Vernon finally fulfilled every boys dream, winning a World Series, as a coach and part time player with the 1960 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates.

Vernon served as a big league coach for several teams, including becoming the first manager of the new expansion Washington Senators club in 1961.

Mickey Vernon passed away on September 24th, 2008, at age 90.

Happy Birthday Mickey!

Branch Rickey

The new movie 42, the story of Jackie Robinson, comes out tomorrow, and from all I've read and heard so far, it's a tremendous baseball movie.

Last night Harrison Ford, who plays Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey, was on the Late Show with David Letterman.




I could only find the entire Ford interview, which includes some Star Wars talk and a funny joke told by Ford.



Listen to what he says about his character, Branch Rickey, you can really tell how much he enjoyed playing the man who signed Jackie Robinson for the Dodgers.

I's say Ford is a pretty good likeness for his character of Branch Rickey.

I think sometimes baseball fans forget about Branch Rickey.

I know, it sounds silly.

After all, Jackie Robinson and Rickey are forever linked together, bound together by the stroke of a pen 66 years ago this week.

But for me, Branch Rickey is much more than the man who signed Robinson.

Born in Flat, Ohio, on December 20th, 1881, Branch Rickey was a devout Christian as well as one of baseball's greatest innovators.

On June 16th, 1905, at age 23, Rickey made his big league debut for the old St. Louis Browns.

In that one game, his only game in '05, he was 0-3, striking out twice.

Rickey was back in the big leagues with the Browns in 1906, collecting 57 hits in 65 games, batting .284 with 3 home runs and 24 RBI.

In 1907 Rickey played in 52 games for the New York Highlanders, batting just .182, zero HR, and 14 RBI.

Rickey would go back to college after his release by the Highlanders, attending the University of Michigan, where he received his Bachelor of Law Degree.

Rickey became Michigan's 9th manager in 1910, compiling a record of 68-32-4 from '10-1913.

Rickey was also the man who coached Hall of Fame second baseman George Sisler at Michigan.

Rickey returned to the big leagues in 1914, as manager of his old team, the Browns.

In 1915 Rickey brought his former player Sisler to the Browns, together again, just like at Michigan.

Rickey manged the Browns for three years, served in World War I, then returned to baseball, first with the Browns again, then to the other St. Louis team, the Cardinals.

Rickey managed the Cards for 7 seasons, and although the Cards weren't very good, it's what Rickey did off the field with the Redbirds that changed baseball.

Branch Rickey was a smart man, after all, he did graduated for Michigan.

While serving as the GM of the Cardinals, Rickey started the first ever baseball farm system, agreeing with hundreds of clubs across the USA to train Cardinal prospects.

The Cardinals farm system brought players like Pepper Martin, Ducky Medwick, and a pair of brothers, Dizzy and Daffy Dean.

The Cardinal won World Series in 1926, 31, and 34.

Under Rickey the Cardinals would prosper once again, and in 1942  Rickey's Cards won another World Series, led by a shortstop named Marty Marion and a legend named Stan "The Man" Musial.

In 1943 Rickey headed off to Brooklyn, established "Dodger Town" in Vero, Beach, Florida, and started filling up the Dodgers farm system with Negro Ballplayers, including one Jack Roosevelt Robinson.

Rickey went on to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1950, where he was the teams GM until 1955.

When I see "42" I want to make sure I pay attention to the role of Rickey, and not focus all my attention on Robinson.

Yes, the movie is a tribute to a man, Robinson, who withstood years of racial slurs on and off the ball field, but I also want to make sure baseball fans honor Rickey as well, who stood up to the baseball establishment, and brought a black man into the culture of all white baseball.

It's not the honor you take with you,
but the heritage you leave behind.—Branch Rickey

Play Ball!

Baseball, the Final Four, and more...

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I have been unable to get to the Internet in a while.

It's the first week of the baseball season and my Detroit Tigers have started out an even 2-2.

I have to admit its been hard to follow baseball without the Internet or cable/satellite TV.

I have been able to listen to Tigers games on my I phone, and it has reminded me of listening to Ernie Harwell, Ray Lane, and Paul Carey to Tigers games in the late 1960s and '70s.

Its also been an exciting week for all Michigan hoops fans, myself included, as the Wolverine basketball team defeated the #1 seeded Kansas Jayhawks and the #3 seeded Florida gators to advance to the Final Four.

My beloved Wolverines are making their first trip to the NCAA Final Four weekend since 1993, when the talented "Fab Five" strutted their stuff in 1992 and '93.

What a great weekend it would be if the Tigers swept the Yankees this weekend and Michigan won the NCAA Tournament.

Trey Burke has been named the John Wooden award winner for the 2012-13 hoops season, as well as the AP Player of the Year.

They are great awards, but Trey would be the first to say his teammates are the true measure of his success, and a national Championship is a team effort, and not the result of just one player.

Here's to Coach John Beilien and the entire Michigan program, Go Blue!

Last weekend I accomplished something that I never thought I'd be able to do.

My Wife and I participated in the annual Arthritis Walk of Jacksonville.

I walked completely around the outside of Everbank Field, home of the NFL Jacksonville Jaguears.

The walk totaled 1.1 miles around, and although it wasn't easy, God was with me every step of the way.

I had the terrific opportunity to me Kyle, a awesome young man, 13 years ole, who's also afflicted with Arthritis.

What made me notice Kyle, and his family, were the t-shirts they were wearing.

Great shirts, right!

Kyle and his family were very nice to allow me to talk to them about baseball, and for that I am thank them, and hope to meet them again sometime...next years walk for sure.

The baseball season has also started for our local Double A team, the Jacksonville Suns.

The Suns, affiliates of the Miami Marlins, have begun the year with a pair of 5-3 victories over the Jackson Generals.

To follow the Suns, check out Tales from Bragan Field, or follow the team on Twitter or Facebook.

Well, that's all for now.

Enjoy the baseball and hoops this weekend, and Go Blue!

Surprise Baseball Birthday

Today I had a surprise gift delivered for my 53rd birthday.

My birthday was last month, but a Pastor from my church surprised me today with a belated gift...we hadn't ran into each other until today.

Sometime last month I saw a cool 1908 Detroit Tigers ball cap, the kind Tyrus Raymond Cobb would've worn, and posted it on my Facebook page, jokingly suggesting that I would accept the cap from someone looking for a last second gift for me.

So, here it is, just in time for the start of the big league baseball season.

I never thought someone would actually by it for me.

Thanks to Pastor Eddie Hastings, from my church, Chets Creek Church, on making my day today.

The ball cap I'm now sporting, part of the Cooperstown Collection, was the cap worn by the Tigers during their first dominate American League run, from 1907-08-09.

The Tigers won three straight A. L. Pennants, the first A.L. team to do so.

The Tigers had great players like Cobb, Wahoo Sam Crawford, Boss Schmidt, George Mullins, and Wild Bill Donovan.

Thanks Eddie...Play Ball!

Justin Verlander on Sports Illustrated 2013 Baseball Preview

Tigers ACE right hander Justin Verlander graces this week's cover of the 2013 Baseball Preview Issue.

SMASH and GRAB...Justin Verlander...The Game's Scariest Pitcher Has His Eye On A Ring.

Isn't it great when your favorite player from your favorite team is on a national magazine like Sports Illustrated....YES it is!

2013 Detroit Tigers Scorecard

With less than one week to go until Opening Day the Detroit Tigers sent out this image on the teams Twitter and Facebook pages.

The 2012 Triple Crown Winner and American League Most Valuable Player, Miguel Cabrera, the 2011 Cy Young Award Winner and American League Most Valuable Player, Justin Verlander, and Tigers All-Star First Baseman Prince Fielder are featured.

 This would make for a terrific poster for any baseball fan, and every Tigers fans.

Go Tigers!

Remembering Virgil "Fire" Trucks.

Today I have learned of the passing of Virgil "Fire" Trucks.

Virgil Trucks spent 17 years in the big leagues, most of them with the Detroit Tigers.

Yesterday Trucks nephew sent this Tweet to Tigers P Justin Verlander...

jakob trucks ‏@jakobtrucks2215h

@JustinVerlander my great grandfather is Virgil Trucks.He passed away today. He gave you your no hitter award in 2007.

Virgil Trucks pitched in 517 games, starting 328, compiling a 177-135 record, with a 3.39 ERA.

After one appearance in 1941,Trucks went 14-8 in 1942 for the Tigers, with a 2.84 ERA.

Trucks won 16 games in 1943, then headed off to World War II.

In 1946 Trucks won 14 games for the Tigers, then won 10 games in '47, 14 in '48, and in 1949 Trucks won 19 games for the Tigers while leading the American League with 6 shutouts.

For Tigers fan Trucks is special because of two games in 1952.

Two legendary games.

In 1952 Trucks didn't exactly have what you would call a good season, winning just 5 games and losing 19.

However, of those 5 wins, Virgil trucks is special in Tigers history for pitching 2 no hitters.

On May 15th "Fire" Trucks no-hit the Washington Senators, 1-0, and then on August 25th he no-hit the New York Yankees, 1-0, as well.

Only four other big league pitchers have accomplished what Trucks did in twirling those two gems in one baseball season, Johnny Van Der Meer(back-to-back in 1938), Allie Reynolds, Nolan Ryan, and Roy Halladay.

Trucks got back from World War II just in time for the 1945 World Series, winning Game 2 vs. the Chicago Cubs as the Tigers won the teams second championship, beating the Cubs in seven games.

We say a prayer for Virgil Trucks, and his family today.

May God Bless them.

Thanks Virgil, for being a great Tiger, and a greater person.

Special thanks to Graham Womack @grahamdude , at Baseball Past and Present for Tweeting the news today.

Today's Baseball Birthday...Bill Wambsganss

When I do the Baseball Birthday's I always try and find that one special ballplayer to write about.

Today's birthday's consist of former  Philles Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn, current Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw, and former Tigers OF Gee Walker, just to name a few.

Any of those would be a terrific subject to write about today, however, as I scrolled down the birthday list at Baseball Reference.com I came across a name I hadn't heard of in a while.

Today we celebrate the birthday of the only big league ballplayer to record an unassisted triple play in World Series history.

Bill Wambsganns was born on March 19th, 1894, in Cleveland, Ohio.

The shorthstop/second baseman made his debut in the big leagues on August 4th, 1914, for the Cleveland Naps(later the Indians).

In 13 seasons Wambsganns batted .259,  7 home runs, and 520 RBI.

The best hitting stat for the former Tribe star may be that he had 323 career sacrifice hits, leading the American League in both 1921 and 1922.

In the 1920 World Series our birthday big leaguer turned that famous triple play in Game 5 vs. the Brooklyn Robins (later Dodgers).

As he caught a line drive (out #1), Wambsganns stepped on 2nd base, forcing the runner moving from 2nd base (out #2), then tagged the runner coming from 1st base (out #3).

Wambsganns is quoted as saying this about the famous play...

“Just before I tagged him, he said, ‘Where’d you get that ball?’ I said, ‘Well, I’ve got it and you’re out number three.’” (quote courtesy of BillyBall.com)

 Game 5 of the 1920 World Series is also remarkable in that the first ever WS Grand Slam was hit, by the Naps Elmer Smith in the first inning, and that Naps pitcher Jim Bagby, the winning pitcher, hit a 3-run HR, the first pitcher to ever hit a HR in a WS game.

That's gotta be one of the great World Series games ever, regardless of the lopsided 8-1 Naps win.

Wambsganns post big league days included managing the Muskegon Lassies of the AAGPBL.

Happy Birthday Bill...Play Ball!!

Hammerin' Hank on Twitter

One of the best things about Twitter is the amount of baseball coverage you get.

From MLB, every one of the 32 teams , the media, the fans, and the players, both current big leaguers and retired players make Twitter a great place to follow baseball.

Just a few minuets ago I saw this tweet from +MLB

MLB ‏@MLB

This is HUGE. Let's give a warm Twitter welcome to the one and only @HenryLouisAaron!

Yes, Hammerin' Hank Aaron has joined Twitter... @HenryLouisAaron 

Many baseball fans still consider Hank Aaron the All-Time Home Run Leader, and I can't blame anyone, myself included, who do.

This was Hank's first Tweet...

Hank Aaron ‏@HenryLouisAaron

I am officially on Twitter! I won’t be posting a lot, but look forward to sharing with you.”

I hope the Hammer Tweets on baseball quite a bit, that would be a great thing.