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Sunday, May 10, 2015
Friday, May 8, 2015
Happy Baseball Birthday... Big Dan Brouthers
The first great slugger in big league baseball history, Big Dan Brouthers, is today's Happy Baseball Birthday!
Dennis Joseph Brouthers was born on May 8, 1858, in Sylvan Lake, New Jersey.
Brouthers signed with the Troy Trojans as a free agent in 1879, and made his big league debut on June 23rd, at the age of 21.
Brouthers played big league baseball for 19 years, making 7,676 plate appearances, 6,711 at bats, collecting 2,296 base hits in 1,673 games.
Brouthers accomplishments are among the greatest of 19th century baseball, playing for Troy, the Buffalo Bisons, Detroit Wolverines, Boston Beaneaters, Boston Reds, Brooklyn Grooms, Baltimore Orioles, Louisville Colonels, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Giants.
I know Big Dan Brouthers as a member of the 1887 World Series Championship Detroit Wolverines.
The Wolverines, playing in the National League, won the City of Detroit's first baseball title 14 years before the Detroit Tigers started as an original member of the American League.
Dan Brouthers was a big, strong first baseman... 6' 2", 207 lbs. was a giant back then, and Dan slugged his way to home run titles in 1881, 1886, RBI titles in 1883, 1892, doubles titles, 1886-87-88, slugging percentage titles in 1881-86, 91, and five batting championships , the most ever in the 1800s, in 1882-83-89-91-92.
Brothers .342 career batting average is, 111 years after his final game, on October 4, 1904, is still the 9th highest batting average in big league baseball history.
Dan Brouthers passed away from a hear attack on August 8, 1932, at the age of 74.
Brouthers was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1945.
In 1985 the slugging first sacker was inducted as an original member of the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame.
Happy Baseball Birthday! BIG Dan Brouthers!
PLAY BALL!
Dennis Joseph Brouthers was born on May 8, 1858, in Sylvan Lake, New Jersey.
Brouthers signed with the Troy Trojans as a free agent in 1879, and made his big league debut on June 23rd, at the age of 21.
Brouthers played big league baseball for 19 years, making 7,676 plate appearances, 6,711 at bats, collecting 2,296 base hits in 1,673 games.
Brouthers accomplishments are among the greatest of 19th century baseball, playing for Troy, the Buffalo Bisons, Detroit Wolverines, Boston Beaneaters, Boston Reds, Brooklyn Grooms, Baltimore Orioles, Louisville Colonels, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Giants.
I know Big Dan Brouthers as a member of the 1887 World Series Championship Detroit Wolverines.
The Wolverines, playing in the National League, won the City of Detroit's first baseball title 14 years before the Detroit Tigers started as an original member of the American League.
Dan Brouthers was a big, strong first baseman... 6' 2", 207 lbs. was a giant back then, and Dan slugged his way to home run titles in 1881, 1886, RBI titles in 1883, 1892, doubles titles, 1886-87-88, slugging percentage titles in 1881-86, 91, and five batting championships , the most ever in the 1800s, in 1882-83-89-91-92.
Brothers .342 career batting average is, 111 years after his final game, on October 4, 1904, is still the 9th highest batting average in big league baseball history.
Dan Brouthers passed away from a hear attack on August 8, 1932, at the age of 74.
Brouthers was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1945.
In 1985 the slugging first sacker was inducted as an original member of the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame.
Happy Baseball Birthday! BIG Dan Brouthers!
PLAY BALL!
Thursday, May 7, 2015
75 Years Ago Today... Fly, Dodgers Fly!
Today in baseball history, May 7, 1940, the Brooklyn Dodgers became the first National League big league club to fly on a airplane.
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After playing the St. Louis Cardinals the Dodgers boarded two planes that flew the club to Chicago to play the Cubs.
After the Cubs series the Dodgers flew again, this time back to Brooklyn, landing at Floyd Bennett Field, with 10,000 Dodgers fans waiting for them.
Brooklyn was the third team to travel by air, following the 1934 Cincinnati Reds and 1936 Boston Red Sox.
In 1957 the Dodgers became the first big league club to own their own airplane, at the cost of $800,000.
Happy Flying eyeryone... Play Ball!
After playing the St. Louis Cardinals the Dodgers boarded two planes that flew the club to Chicago to play the Cubs.
After the Cubs series the Dodgers flew again, this time back to Brooklyn, landing at Floyd Bennett Field, with 10,000 Dodgers fans waiting for them.
Brooklyn was the third team to travel by air, following the 1934 Cincinnati Reds and 1936 Boston Red Sox.
In 1957 the Dodgers became the first big league club to own their own airplane, at the cost of $800,000.
Happy Flying eyeryone... Play Ball!
Happy Baseball Birthday... Keri Lynn Roche
Today we send out Happy Baseball Birthday! wishes to singer/songwriter and former American Idol contestant Keri Lynn Roche.
I started following Keri Lynn on Facebook and Twitter when she made it to Hollywood on Idol a few years ago, and although I don't live in Ann Arbor, I support her and hope she continues to reach for all her goals as a musician.
Oh, and Keri Lynn is a Detroit Tigers fan, and that gets her a Happy Baseball Birthday! shoutout here on the blog.
Keri shared the above photo from a Tigers game earlier this year on her Facebook page, and the below photo of her sporting the Olde English D... from her Twitter page.... @kerilynnroche
We love to see celebrities wearing baseball caps, jerseys, t-shirts, etc., of their favorite baseball teams.
We love it even more when it's a celebrity Tigers fan.
Have a great Happy Baseball Birthday Keri Lynn Roche!
Play Ball!
I started following Keri Lynn on Facebook and Twitter when she made it to Hollywood on Idol a few years ago, and although I don't live in Ann Arbor, I support her and hope she continues to reach for all her goals as a musician.
Oh, and Keri Lynn is a Detroit Tigers fan, and that gets her a Happy Baseball Birthday! shoutout here on the blog.
We love to see celebrities wearing baseball caps, jerseys, t-shirts, etc., of their favorite baseball teams.
We love it even more when it's a celebrity Tigers fan.
Have a great Happy Baseball Birthday Keri Lynn Roche!
Play Ball!
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
100 Years Ago Today....Home Run #1 for The Babe!
100 years ago today, May 6, 1915, a young Boston Red Sox pitcher named Babe Ruth tossed 12 1/3 innings against the New York Yankees, collected three base hits and his first career home run.
The Yankees beat the BoSox 4-3, but the young kid they called Baby Ruth had hit home run number one of what would be a magnificent Hall of Fame baseball career that culminated in a whopping 714 home runs, a record that would stand for 39 years.
When the discussion starts among baseball fans as to baseball's greatest all around player, Willie Mays generally gets the nod, but for me, it's Ruth, and it's because of his pitching.
Ruth wasn't just another good pitcher in the American League, he was very good.
As a young pitcher Ruth won 18 games with a 2.44 era in 1915, and in 1916 Babe won 23 games and led the Junior Circuit with a 1.75 era and a big league record 9 shutouts.
Ruth won 24 games in 1917, and in 1918 Babe compiled a 13-7 record, but started playing more in the field, batting .300 and leading the A. L. in homers, with 11 round trippers.
In 1919 Ruth played more as a regular position player, and less as a pitcher, as Ruth set the standard for home runs with an amazing 29 dingers.
Ruth was infamously sold to the Yankees in the off season, and his pitching days were behind him, pitching in just 1 game in 1920 and 2 in 1921, as The Sultan of Swat took flight, booming 54 home runs.
The World Series is where Ruth shined greatest as a pitcher, posting a 3-0 record with a 0.87 era in 31 innings and World Series Titles in 1916 and 1918.
Ruth's 29 1/3 scoreless innings pitched in the World Series was a big league record that stood until 1961.
Ruth's 94-46 record, 2.34 era, along with 714 home runs, 2,214 RBI, and 2,874 base hits, make Ruth the best player, in any era, in big league baseball history.
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My personal Top 5 Big League Baseball Players are Ruth, Mays, Ty Cobb (best hitter ever), Hank Aaron, and Ted Williams.
Let the debate begin... PLAY BALL!!
The Yankees beat the BoSox 4-3, but the young kid they called Baby Ruth had hit home run number one of what would be a magnificent Hall of Fame baseball career that culminated in a whopping 714 home runs, a record that would stand for 39 years.
When the discussion starts among baseball fans as to baseball's greatest all around player, Willie Mays generally gets the nod, but for me, it's Ruth, and it's because of his pitching.
Ruth wasn't just another good pitcher in the American League, he was very good.
As a young pitcher Ruth won 18 games with a 2.44 era in 1915, and in 1916 Babe won 23 games and led the Junior Circuit with a 1.75 era and a big league record 9 shutouts.
Ruth won 24 games in 1917, and in 1918 Babe compiled a 13-7 record, but started playing more in the field, batting .300 and leading the A. L. in homers, with 11 round trippers.
In 1919 Ruth played more as a regular position player, and less as a pitcher, as Ruth set the standard for home runs with an amazing 29 dingers.
Ruth was infamously sold to the Yankees in the off season, and his pitching days were behind him, pitching in just 1 game in 1920 and 2 in 1921, as The Sultan of Swat took flight, booming 54 home runs.
The World Series is where Ruth shined greatest as a pitcher, posting a 3-0 record with a 0.87 era in 31 innings and World Series Titles in 1916 and 1918.
Ruth's 29 1/3 scoreless innings pitched in the World Series was a big league record that stood until 1961.
Ruth's 94-46 record, 2.34 era, along with 714 home runs, 2,214 RBI, and 2,874 base hits, make Ruth the best player, in any era, in big league baseball history.
My personal Top 5 Big League Baseball Players are Ruth, Mays, Ty Cobb (best hitter ever), Hank Aaron, and Ted Williams.
Let the debate begin... PLAY BALL!!
Happy Baseball Birthday... Jose Altuve
Today we say Happy Baseball Birthday! to Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve.
Jose is one of my favorite players in baseball, and I voted him the American League MVP last year.
Jose Carlos Altuve was born on May 6, 1990, in Maracay, Venezuela.
Jose signed with the Astros as a amateur free agent in 2007, and made his big league debut for Houston on July 20, 2011, at the age of 21.
Jose may be only 5' 6", 165 lbs., but he plays second base better than any player in the big leagues.
He can also handle the bat, smacking an American League leading 225 base hits in 2014, winning his first A. L. Batting Championship with a .341 average.
This cool poster tells you just how awesome Jose Altuve was last season.
Jose Altuve led the league with 56 stolen bases along the way to playing in his second All-Star Game in 2014.
The Astros are a terrific young baseball club to watch, and they just recently had a 10 game winning streak, vaulting them into 1st place in the A.L. Western Division.
If you haven't seen Jose play, you need to get to your TV, Minute Maid Park, or a ballpark near you to see Jose and his teammates do their thing.
Happy Baseball Birthday! Jose Altuve!
PLAY BALL!
Jose is one of my favorite players in baseball, and I voted him the American League MVP last year.
Jose Carlos Altuve was born on May 6, 1990, in Maracay, Venezuela.
Jose signed with the Astros as a amateur free agent in 2007, and made his big league debut for Houston on July 20, 2011, at the age of 21.
Jose may be only 5' 6", 165 lbs., but he plays second base better than any player in the big leagues.
He can also handle the bat, smacking an American League leading 225 base hits in 2014, winning his first A. L. Batting Championship with a .341 average.
This cool poster tells you just how awesome Jose Altuve was last season.
Jose Altuve led the league with 56 stolen bases along the way to playing in his second All-Star Game in 2014.
The Astros are a terrific young baseball club to watch, and they just recently had a 10 game winning streak, vaulting them into 1st place in the A.L. Western Division.
If you haven't seen Jose play, you need to get to your TV, Minute Maid Park, or a ballpark near you to see Jose and his teammates do their thing.
Happy Baseball Birthday! Jose Altuve!
PLAY BALL!
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Happy Baseball Birthday...Bing Russell
Today's Happy Baseball Birthday! celebrates the life of baseball fan, Yankees minor leaguer, and longtime movie actor Bing Russell.
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Neil Oliver Russell was born on May 5, 1926, in Battleboro, Vermont.
It's amazing how many old TV Western's and Cowboy movies I watched with Bing Russell in them, never remembering his name, or knowing that he once owned a minor league baseball team, or that he was the father of actor Kurt Russell.
Bing Russell grew up in Florida, and he loved Lou Gehrig and the Yankees of the late 1930s, becoming the team's favorite fan and batboy, getting to hang around the likes of Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, and Lefty Gomez during Spring Training.
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Bing was a good enough ballplayer...with the Yankees as teachers you bet he had some great teachers....that he played minor leagur baseball in the New York farm stsystem.
Here's the Bing Russell baseball reference page.
Bing loved baseball, but he also loved acting, and when his playing career was over, Bing became one of Hollywood's best character actors, appearing in 162 movies and TV roles.
The Magnificent Seven, Elvis, The Horse Soldiers, The Rifelman, and Bonanza, were Bing played Deputy Clem Foster, are just a few of his many acting roles.
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Getting to act with the likes of Lorne Greene, William Holden, and the Duke himself, John Wayne is a pretty darn coll thing.
Another cool thing is owning a baseball team, and in 1973 Bing did just that, becoming owner of the Independent Portland Mavericks.
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The Mavericks, and their maverick owner Bing Russell, are chronicled in the documentary Battered Bastards of Baseball.
In addition to being a baseball fan, playing minor league baseball, and owning a baseball team, Bing Russell was a terrific baseball instructor, making several instructional films, using young son Kurt in the films.
Man, what a great man Bing was, and I'm kinda sad that I'll never have the chance to meet and talk baseball with him.
Maybe I'll meet Kurt, a minor league ballplayer as well, one day, and talk baseball, and his Dad, with him.
That would be awesome.
Bing Russell passed away from Cancer, at the age of 76, on April 8, 2003.
Happy Baseball Birthday Bing Russell!
PLAY BALL!
Neil Oliver Russell was born on May 5, 1926, in Battleboro, Vermont.
It's amazing how many old TV Western's and Cowboy movies I watched with Bing Russell in them, never remembering his name, or knowing that he once owned a minor league baseball team, or that he was the father of actor Kurt Russell.
Bing Russell grew up in Florida, and he loved Lou Gehrig and the Yankees of the late 1930s, becoming the team's favorite fan and batboy, getting to hang around the likes of Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, and Lefty Gomez during Spring Training.
.jpg)
Bing was a good enough ballplayer...with the Yankees as teachers you bet he had some great teachers....that he played minor leagur baseball in the New York farm stsystem.
Here's the Bing Russell baseball reference page.
Bing loved baseball, but he also loved acting, and when his playing career was over, Bing became one of Hollywood's best character actors, appearing in 162 movies and TV roles.
The Magnificent Seven, Elvis, The Horse Soldiers, The Rifelman, and Bonanza, were Bing played Deputy Clem Foster, are just a few of his many acting roles.
.jpg)
Getting to act with the likes of Lorne Greene, William Holden, and the Duke himself, John Wayne is a pretty darn coll thing.
Another cool thing is owning a baseball team, and in 1973 Bing did just that, becoming owner of the Independent Portland Mavericks.
The Mavericks, and their maverick owner Bing Russell, are chronicled in the documentary Battered Bastards of Baseball.
In addition to being a baseball fan, playing minor league baseball, and owning a baseball team, Bing Russell was a terrific baseball instructor, making several instructional films, using young son Kurt in the films.
Man, what a great man Bing was, and I'm kinda sad that I'll never have the chance to meet and talk baseball with him.
Maybe I'll meet Kurt, a minor league ballplayer as well, one day, and talk baseball, and his Dad, with him.
That would be awesome.
Bing Russell passed away from Cancer, at the age of 76, on April 8, 2003.
Happy Baseball Birthday Bing Russell!
PLAY BALL!
Monday, May 4, 2015
Happy Baseball Birthday...Media Edition...Erin Andrews
Today's Happy Baseball Birthday! goes out to FOX Baseball reporter Erin Andrews.
Erin Jill Andrews was born 37 years ago, May 4, 1978, in Lewiston, Maine.
Erin and her family moved to Tampa, Florida when she was young, and Erin attended Bloomingdale High School in Valrico, Florida.
Erin graduated from The University of Florida, and I remember Erin from her days reporting from the seats at Tampa Bay Lightning games in the early part of her career.
Erin became famous, of course, on ESPN, mostly as the sidelines reporter for college football.
Erin also worked Atlanta Braves baseball games before moving to ESPN.
Erin is a reporter for Baseball on FOX, and is also a host on ABC's Dancing with the Stars.
Happy Baseball Birthday Erin Andrews!
PLAY BALL!
Erin Jill Andrews was born 37 years ago, May 4, 1978, in Lewiston, Maine.
Erin and her family moved to Tampa, Florida when she was young, and Erin attended Bloomingdale High School in Valrico, Florida.
Erin graduated from The University of Florida, and I remember Erin from her days reporting from the seats at Tampa Bay Lightning games in the early part of her career.
Erin became famous, of course, on ESPN, mostly as the sidelines reporter for college football.
Erin also worked Atlanta Braves baseball games before moving to ESPN.
Erin is a reporter for Baseball on FOX, and is also a host on ABC's Dancing with the Stars.
Happy Baseball Birthday Erin Andrews!
PLAY BALL!
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Happy Baseball Birthday... Joe Falls
Today's a very special Happy Baseball Birthday!
Joseph Francis Falls was an award winning sportswriter for over 50 years, and, in my opinion, the best baseball writer who ever covered my beloved Detroit Tigers.
Joe Falls was born in New York City, New York on May 2, 1928.
Joe first came to the Motor City working for the Associated Press, then started covering the Tigers in 1958, for the Detroit Times.
The Detroit Free Press acquired Joe's writing talent in 1960, and he would cover Detroit baseball for the Free Press until 1978.
From the Free Press Joe moved on to be a writer and sports columnist for the rival Detroit News.
The Sporting News also showcased Joe's baseball writing skills with a weekly colum in baseball's premire newspaper.
Getting a copy of The Sporting News during the baseball season was the greatest thing a young baseball fan could get in the 1960s and 1970s.
With today's computers, tablets, and smartphone
technology we can access any information we want on the Internet.
When we were growing up loving baseball as kids 45 + years ago, we had Ernie Harwell on the radio, George Kell on TV, and Joe Falls and sports sections of newspapers like the Free Press, News, and Kalamazoo Gazette, along with The Sporting News to get all our baseball info.
Joe Falls covered baseball, as well as all other Detroit Sports.
In 1999 I had the honor of meeting Joe Falls.
It was at the next to last game ever at old Tiger Stadium in Detroit, a beautiful Sunday afternoon for baseball at The Corner.
The News and Free Press had a combined Sunday paper in 1999, and they conducted a reader poll for the greatest players in Tigers history.
The handed out posters of the All-Time Tigers team that Sunday at the ballpark.
As I was walking near my seat I ran into Joe Falls.
I was thrilled go have finally met the man who's awesome baseball writing I had read for so many years.
As we were talking about the All-Time team he wasn't reall happy becaus the fans votes, well... I told him, "... I know, no Harry Heilmann."
"..you got it," Joe said to me.
He didn't like the fans including Tigers World Series hero Kirk Gibson, a terrific player, being voted in over a Hall of Fame 4 time batting champion.
I told him I agreed.
And with that, Joe Falls went about his business, I watched the Tigers beat the Royals, and went back home to Florida.
Here's a terrific YouTube video I found honoring Joe Falls.
Joe published books about baseball, the Tigers and other sports, in Detroit, and around the sporting world, as well.
Joe Falls was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004 as the recipient of the J G Taylor Spink Award.
Joe Falls passed away on August 11, 2004, at the age of 76.
Happy Baseball Birthday! Joe Falls!
PLAY BALL!
Joseph Francis Falls was an award winning sportswriter for over 50 years, and, in my opinion, the best baseball writer who ever covered my beloved Detroit Tigers.
Joe Falls was born in New York City, New York on May 2, 1928.
Joe first came to the Motor City working for the Associated Press, then started covering the Tigers in 1958, for the Detroit Times.
The Detroit Free Press acquired Joe's writing talent in 1960, and he would cover Detroit baseball for the Free Press until 1978.
From the Free Press Joe moved on to be a writer and sports columnist for the rival Detroit News.
The Sporting News also showcased Joe's baseball writing skills with a weekly colum in baseball's premire newspaper.
Getting a copy of The Sporting News during the baseball season was the greatest thing a young baseball fan could get in the 1960s and 1970s.
With today's computers, tablets, and smartphone
technology we can access any information we want on the Internet.
When we were growing up loving baseball as kids 45 + years ago, we had Ernie Harwell on the radio, George Kell on TV, and Joe Falls and sports sections of newspapers like the Free Press, News, and Kalamazoo Gazette, along with The Sporting News to get all our baseball info.
Joe Falls covered baseball, as well as all other Detroit Sports.
In 1999 I had the honor of meeting Joe Falls.
It was at the next to last game ever at old Tiger Stadium in Detroit, a beautiful Sunday afternoon for baseball at The Corner.
The News and Free Press had a combined Sunday paper in 1999, and they conducted a reader poll for the greatest players in Tigers history.
The handed out posters of the All-Time Tigers team that Sunday at the ballpark.
As I was walking near my seat I ran into Joe Falls.
I was thrilled go have finally met the man who's awesome baseball writing I had read for so many years.
As we were talking about the All-Time team he wasn't reall happy becaus the fans votes, well... I told him, "... I know, no Harry Heilmann."
"..you got it," Joe said to me.
He didn't like the fans including Tigers World Series hero Kirk Gibson, a terrific player, being voted in over a Hall of Fame 4 time batting champion.
I told him I agreed.
And with that, Joe Falls went about his business, I watched the Tigers beat the Royals, and went back home to Florida.
Here's a terrific YouTube video I found honoring Joe Falls.
Joe published books about baseball, the Tigers and other sports, in Detroit, and around the sporting world, as well.
Joe Falls was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004 as the recipient of the J G Taylor Spink Award.
Joe Falls passed away on August 11, 2004, at the age of 76.
Happy Baseball Birthday! Joe Falls!
PLAY BALL!
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Happy Baseball Birthday... John Vander Wal
Today we say Happy Baseball Birthday to former big leaguer John Vander Wal.
John Henry Vander Wal was born on April 29, 1966, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
John attended Hudsonville High School in Hudsonville, MI., then went on to play college baseball at Western Michigan University.
John chose to play college baseball for the Broncos even though he had been selected by the Houston Astros in the 8th round of the 1984 amateur draft.
At Western Vander Wal was a two time All-Mid American Conference selection, in 1986-87, and in his three years in Kalamazoo Vander Wal hit 23 home runs with 125 RBI.
In 1987 John was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 3rd round of the amatuer draft.
John played here in Jacksonville, then known as the Jacksonville Expos, as the clubs Double-A franchise in the Southern League.
John's best year in Jacksonville was 1990, when he collected 84 base hits, batting .303, with 8 HR, 25 doubles, 3 triples, and 45 runs scored in 277 at bats.
I love these old Jaxpos ball caps.
John made his big league debut with the parent club Montreal Expos on September 6, 1991, at the age of 25.
John played in 14 big league baseball seasons, for the Expos, Rockies, Padres, Pirates, Giants, Yankees, Brewers, and Reds.
In 1,372 games John collected 717 base hits, 170 doubles, 18 triples, 97 home runs, with 430 RBI, scoring 374 runs in 3,166 plate appearances.
A superb pinch hitter, John is 7th on the All-Time career pinch hit list, with 129 base hits off the bench, and in 1995 John set the modern big league record with 28 pinch hits in a season, with the Colorado Rockies.
John's last big league game came with the Reds on September 27, 2004, at the age of 38.
In 2003 John was inducted into the Western Michigan Hall of Fame.
John has spent part of his post playing career as a big league scout.
Happy Baseball Birthday! John Vander Wal!
Play Ball!
John Henry Vander Wal was born on April 29, 1966, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
John attended Hudsonville High School in Hudsonville, MI., then went on to play college baseball at Western Michigan University.
John chose to play college baseball for the Broncos even though he had been selected by the Houston Astros in the 8th round of the 1984 amateur draft.
At Western Vander Wal was a two time All-Mid American Conference selection, in 1986-87, and in his three years in Kalamazoo Vander Wal hit 23 home runs with 125 RBI.
In 1987 John was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 3rd round of the amatuer draft.
John played here in Jacksonville, then known as the Jacksonville Expos, as the clubs Double-A franchise in the Southern League.
John's best year in Jacksonville was 1990, when he collected 84 base hits, batting .303, with 8 HR, 25 doubles, 3 triples, and 45 runs scored in 277 at bats.
I love these old Jaxpos ball caps.
John made his big league debut with the parent club Montreal Expos on September 6, 1991, at the age of 25.
John played in 14 big league baseball seasons, for the Expos, Rockies, Padres, Pirates, Giants, Yankees, Brewers, and Reds.
In 1,372 games John collected 717 base hits, 170 doubles, 18 triples, 97 home runs, with 430 RBI, scoring 374 runs in 3,166 plate appearances.
A superb pinch hitter, John is 7th on the All-Time career pinch hit list, with 129 base hits off the bench, and in 1995 John set the modern big league record with 28 pinch hits in a season, with the Colorado Rockies.
John's last big league game came with the Reds on September 27, 2004, at the age of 38.
In 2003 John was inducted into the Western Michigan Hall of Fame.
John has spent part of his post playing career as a big league scout.
Happy Baseball Birthday! John Vander Wal!
Play Ball!
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