They were born 48 years apart, one on December 18, 1886, in The Narrows, Georgia, and the other on December 19, 1934, in Baltimore, Maryland.
Two men, Ty Cobb, and Al Kaline, the two greatest players in Detroit Tigers history, are forever joined in a great debate this time of year, on their Birthday's... "who's the greatest Tigers player of All-Time, Cobb or Kaline?"
Two great baseball players, outfielders who could run, hit, field...there was nothing either one of those men couldn't do.
The annual debate as to what player is #1 in Tigers history had always baffled me.
Why?
Because Ty Cobb, the owner of 4,192 base hits, a .367 lifetime batting average, 12 American League Batting Championships, and the first player ever inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame, is the best player to ever wear the Olde English D.
Look, I get it, it's Al Kaline, Mr. Tiger... 399 home runs, the most ever by a Tigers player, 3,007 base hits, 10 Gold Glove Awards, the youngest batting champion ever, at age 20 in 1955...beating out Ty Cobb by one day, and also, like Cobb, is in the HOF.
I grew up in the late 1960s and early 1970s, saw Kaline at the end of his career....never saw Cobb play, we just see old black and white photos and news reel clips of The Georgia Peach dominating the game.
Now, with every game on TV, highlights of the newest greatest Tigers player, Miguel Cabrera is causing debate that he, not Kaline, or Cobb, is the best Motown ballplayer ever.
Cabrera, the best hitter in baseball today, has won two American League MVP Awards , in 2012 and 2013, and in 2012 won the Triple Crown, just like Cobb did in 1909, although Cobb's 9 homers pale in comparison to the 44 home runs Cabrera hit in 2012.
Cabrera's 2012 Triple Crown was the first by any big leaguer since 1967.
I love Miggy, he's been a great Tigers player since he arrived in Motown in 2008, but the simple answer to the annual debate starts and ends with Cobb.
There's simply nothing any player, Cabrera included, can do to unseat Ty Cobb.
On Twitter I often see baseball fans...Tigers fans, try to use Cabrera's stats as being far superior to any player to ever play in Detroit.
The retoric is unfounded.
Why?
Because Cabrera played 5 years in Miami, and those stats are Marlins stats, and not Tigers stats.
Ty Cobb collected 3,900 base hits as a member of the Tigers... that total will never be approached by any player in Detroit.
Cabrera may reach 3,000 hits in his career, but his total isn't likely to include 3,000 hits as a Tigers player...he has 1,489 base hits as a Tigers player... Al Kaline sits at 3,007 base hits as a Tigers player...
COBB... 3,900 Detroit Tigers base hits
KALINE... 3,007 Detroit Tigers base hits
CABRERA... 1,489 Detroit Tigers base hits
Cabrera needs 1,518 more hits to tie Kaline...and 2,411 more hits to get to Cobb.
Cabrera has a magnificent. 326 batting average as a Detroit Tigers player... he beats Kaline at .297, but can't reach Cobb at .367...the highest lifetime batting average in baseball history.
Kaline hit 399 HRs as a Tigers player, Cabrera has hit 270 HRs as a Tigers player...Cabrera is likely to become the teams All-Time HR leader.
Ty Cobb had 1,800 RBI in Motown, Kaline had 1,582 RBIs in a Detroit uniform, and Cabrera has 922 RBI and counting.
It's possible...not likely though, that Cabrera could get to Cobb in RBI... Cobb had 164 RBI his final 2 years as a Tigers player.
Now, none of what I'm saying is meant to diminish either Cabrera or Kaline, I wouldn't ever do that.
What I'm showing is that no matter how fans try and insert their favorite Tigers player as the best ever... hey, Sam Crawford, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Alan Trammell, they all have their place in the 114 years of Detroit Tigers baseball.
The Detroit Tigers will begin their 115th season in the American League next year looking to get back to the top of the A.L. Central Division again.
Miguel Cabrera has 408 HRs and counting, and it's going to be great in a few years when Miggy hits HR #500.
Let's just remember that Marlins fans get to rejoice along with us Tigers fans, after all, he hit 138 HRs as a member of the Fish.
One last thing...we, as Tigers fans, are blessed to have the players who call Detroit home...Cabrera, Verlander, J.D. and Victor Martinez, Castellanos, and new players like Jordan Zimmermann, Mike Aviles, Francisco Rodriguez, and a young man named Cameron Maybin, who returnd to the Motor City 9 years after he was traded to the then Florida Marlins for a slugging 3rd Baseman named Miguel Cabrera.
From the 19th Century Detroit Wolverines, to Charlie Bennett, to the Georgia Peach and Bobby Veach, to Must See JV and Miggy, we should celebrate every single day as fans of our great baseball team.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
PLAY BALL!
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Thursday, December 10, 2015
The 25 Best Big League Baseball Players NOT in the Hall of Fame
Historical baseball writer /blogger Graham Womack has an article on Sporting News that asks you, the baseball fan, who are the 25 best big league ballplayers NOT in the Hall of Fame.
You can read the article and find the link to vote right here.
As for my ballot, well, here are the 25 ballplayers that I think deserve to be in the HOF.
First off, let me say this... I only voted for the 25 players I believe belong in the HOF...you can also vote NO for a player /players you think don't belong.
I didn't vote NO for any players because I believe that would not allow for me to give players I believe desreve to be in Cooperstown a voice.
That means that I didn't vote for Barry Bonds, or any other ballplayer that I believe took steroids and performance enhancing drugs.
I didn't vote for Pete Rose, but I did vote YES on Shoeless Joe Jackson of the 1919 ChiSox.
These 25 ballplayers are the men who I think gave all they had on the diamonds since the 1869 Cincinnati Reds started to play baseball.
Alan Trammell
Bill Freehan
Dale Murphy
Don Mattingly
Don Newcombe
Edgar Martinez
Gil Hodges
Jack Morris
Jeff Bagwell
Jim Kaat
Ken Griffey Jr.
Lou Whitaker
Mickey Lolich
Mike Piazza
Roger Maris
Sadahara Oh
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Tim Raines
Trevor Hoffman
Steve Garvey
Lefty O'Doul
Larry Walker
Harold Baines
Curt Flood
Charlie Bennett
The 25 big league ballplayers above are my best choices for the HOF, but they're not the only list, because every baseball fan has their own thoughts on who should be elected.
For all of those who think I'm a Detroit Tigers homer fan because I selected Trammell, Freehan, Morris, Whitaker, and Lolich, well, hey, guilty as charged, including 19th Century player Charlie Bennett.
Just so you know, I didn't vote for Norm Cash and RockyColivito either, both former Tigers teammates in the early 1960s.
There is a question after the vote that asks " True or False, There are too many people in the Hall of Fame."
As the article by Graham Womack notes, over 18,000 ballplayers have played in the big leagues, and as of today, there are only 310 ballplayers in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Needless to say, I voted NO, because there are easily 25 more players that should be in the HOF, including Fernando Valenzuela, Bob Boone, Ted Simmons, and Dom DiMaggio.
I hope all of you who read this post today will go to the article written by Graham and vote for your group of 25.
Thanks for reading this, and thanks for loving the greatest game ever invented, the great game of baseball.
Play Ball!
You can read the article and find the link to vote right here.
As for my ballot, well, here are the 25 ballplayers that I think deserve to be in the HOF.
First off, let me say this... I only voted for the 25 players I believe belong in the HOF...you can also vote NO for a player /players you think don't belong.
I didn't vote NO for any players because I believe that would not allow for me to give players I believe desreve to be in Cooperstown a voice.
That means that I didn't vote for Barry Bonds, or any other ballplayer that I believe took steroids and performance enhancing drugs.
I didn't vote for Pete Rose, but I did vote YES on Shoeless Joe Jackson of the 1919 ChiSox.
These 25 ballplayers are the men who I think gave all they had on the diamonds since the 1869 Cincinnati Reds started to play baseball.
Alan Trammell
Bill Freehan
Dale Murphy
Don Mattingly
Don Newcombe
Edgar Martinez
Gil Hodges
Jack Morris
Jeff Bagwell
Jim Kaat
Ken Griffey Jr.
Lou Whitaker
Mickey Lolich
Mike Piazza
Roger Maris
Sadahara Oh
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Tim Raines
Trevor Hoffman
Steve Garvey
Lefty O'Doul
Larry Walker
Harold Baines
Curt Flood
Charlie Bennett
The 25 big league ballplayers above are my best choices for the HOF, but they're not the only list, because every baseball fan has their own thoughts on who should be elected.
For all of those who think I'm a Detroit Tigers homer fan because I selected Trammell, Freehan, Morris, Whitaker, and Lolich, well, hey, guilty as charged, including 19th Century player Charlie Bennett.
Just so you know, I didn't vote for Norm Cash and RockyColivito either, both former Tigers teammates in the early 1960s.
There is a question after the vote that asks " True or False, There are too many people in the Hall of Fame."
As the article by Graham Womack notes, over 18,000 ballplayers have played in the big leagues, and as of today, there are only 310 ballplayers in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Needless to say, I voted NO, because there are easily 25 more players that should be in the HOF, including Fernando Valenzuela, Bob Boone, Ted Simmons, and Dom DiMaggio.
I hope all of you who read this post today will go to the article written by Graham and vote for your group of 25.
Thanks for reading this, and thanks for loving the greatest game ever invented, the great game of baseball.
Play Ball!
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Bryce Harper is the 2015 National League MVP
Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is the 2015 National League Most Valuable Player.
Harper, just 23 years old, who just finished his 4th year in the big leagues, was the unanimous choice as the MVP, receiving all 30 first place votes by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
I've been a fan of Harper since his rookie year in 2012, and I wrote about Bryce in this blog post a few years ago.
Whenever I open a pack of baseball cards and see a Bryce Harper card, I consider the pack to be a winner, no matter the other cards.
Congratulations to my favorite Washington Nationals player, National League MVP Bryce Harper!
Play Ball!
Harper, just 23 years old, who just finished his 4th year in the big leagues, was the unanimous choice as the MVP, receiving all 30 first place votes by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
I've been a fan of Harper since his rookie year in 2012, and I wrote about Bryce in this blog post a few years ago.
Whenever I open a pack of baseball cards and see a Bryce Harper card, I consider the pack to be a winner, no matter the other cards.
Congratulations to my favorite Washington Nationals player, National League MVP Bryce Harper!
Play Ball!
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
This Week's Sports Illustrated cover... World Series Champion Kansas City Royals
Sunday the Kansas City Royals won their second World Series Championship, the teams first title in 30 years.
The fine folks over at Sports Illustrated have chosen the champion Royals to grace their cover this week.
Congratulations to all the front office staff, the players, coaches, and fans on their winning the ultimate prize, baseball's World Series Championship.
Play Ball!
The fine folks over at Sports Illustrated have chosen the champion Royals to grace their cover this week.
Congratulations to all the front office staff, the players, coaches, and fans on their winning the ultimate prize, baseball's World Series Championship.
Play Ball!
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Happy Baseball Birthday... Gateway Arch
Today we celebrate the 50th Happy Baseball Birthday! of the St. Louis Arch.
The Arch, "The Gateway to the West," was completed 50 years ago today, October 28, 1965.
As baseball fans watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball games on TV, the famous Arch has always been a part of the games televised from Busch Stadium.
The Arch has watched over 9 Cardinals World Series appearances, including Championships in 1967, 1982, 2006, and 2011.
The City of St. Louis was once the western most outpost for big league baseball, with the National League Cardinals and from 1902 through 1953, the A. L. St. Louis Browns.
The Browns, sharing old Sportsman's Park with the Cardinals, won their only American League Pennant in 1944, only to lose the World Series to the Cardinals.
We salute the St. Louis Arch, and wish them a very Happy Baseball Birthday!
Play Ball!
The Arch, "The Gateway to the West," was completed 50 years ago today, October 28, 1965.
As baseball fans watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball games on TV, the famous Arch has always been a part of the games televised from Busch Stadium.
The Arch has watched over 9 Cardinals World Series appearances, including Championships in 1967, 1982, 2006, and 2011.
The City of St. Louis was once the western most outpost for big league baseball, with the National League Cardinals and from 1902 through 1953, the A. L. St. Louis Browns.
The Browns, sharing old Sportsman's Park with the Cardinals, won their only American League Pennant in 1944, only to lose the World Series to the Cardinals.
We salute the St. Louis Arch, and wish them a very Happy Baseball Birthday!
Play Ball!
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
This Week's Sports Illustrated cover... The World Series
Tonight the World Series begins in Kansas City, as the hometown Royals take on the New York Mets in Game 1 of the Fall Classic.
This week baseball takes center stage with two regional covers.
The defending American League Champion Royals have Lorenzo Cain on the cover.
"Yes We Cain," by Senior SI writer Tom Verducci.
The National League Champion Mets are represented on their regional cover by NLCS MVP Daniel Murphy.
"The Amazin' MURPH," by SI writer Ben Reiter.
I love the fact that SI is featuring baseball on its regional covers as the World Series starts.
The playoffs, er, postseason, has produced terrific baseball games, starting with the Wild Card victories by the Cubs and Astros.
My pick for the final best of 7 games of the World Series is the Mets in 5...yes, mostly a pick for former Detroit Tigers Curtis Granderson and Yoenis Cespedes.
Enjoy the World Series baseball fans...no matter who you root, have a great time... PLAY BALL!
This week baseball takes center stage with two regional covers.
The defending American League Champion Royals have Lorenzo Cain on the cover.
"Yes We Cain," by Senior SI writer Tom Verducci.
The National League Champion Mets are represented on their regional cover by NLCS MVP Daniel Murphy.
"The Amazin' MURPH," by SI writer Ben Reiter.
I love the fact that SI is featuring baseball on its regional covers as the World Series starts.
The playoffs, er, postseason, has produced terrific baseball games, starting with the Wild Card victories by the Cubs and Astros.
My pick for the final best of 7 games of the World Series is the Mets in 5...yes, mostly a pick for former Detroit Tigers Curtis Granderson and Yoenis Cespedes.
Enjoy the World Series baseball fans...no matter who you root, have a great time... PLAY BALL!
New Southern League Logo
On Monday the Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs revealed a brand new logo for the ten member league.
I've lived in Jacksonville, Florida for 35 years, and have been a Jacksonville Suns fan since day one.
The Suns have been members of the Southern League since the early 1960s, and have won six league championships, in 1996, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014.
The new logo is the first change in 21 years for the league, and I have to say, it's one of the best baseball logo's I've ever seen.
The league, established in 1885, also created a brand new secondary logo, for use on things like stationary.
Since 1994 the Southern League had been using this logo.
The league, established in 1885, also created a brand new secondary logo, for use on things like stationary.
Since 1994 the Southern League had been using this logo.
You can see how the "S L" is slightly different, but the letters are arranged the same in the new logo.
Here's the official statement on the redesign of the logo.
Here's the official statement on the redesign of the logo.
The new logo was created by graphic designer Todd Radom in collaboration with the Southern League, it's teams, and Minor League Baseball.
Todd Radom Twitter page...
The ten member Southern League clubs are...
I've lived in Jacksonville, Florida for 35 years, and have been a Jacksonville Suns fan since day one.
The Suns have been members of the Southern League since the early 1960s, and have won six league championships, in 1996, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
National League Wild Card Game...Cubs at Pirates
It's day two of the big league playoffs, National League Wild Card Game in Pittsburgh between the Chicago Cubs and the Pirates.
Yesterday I picked the Astros to win, although my 7-3 score wasn't even close to the final score of 3-0 in favor of Houston.
In the case of the Cubs, I've been a long time observer of the Cubbies since growing up in the Kalamazoo/Portage area of Southwest Michigan in the 1960s.
My favorite shortstop was Don Kessinger of the Cubs, and I can here Jack Brickhouse "Hey Hey!" as Ernie Banks 500th home run cleared the famous Ivy covered left field wall at Wrigley Field.
That Cubs '70s infield of Ron Santo, Kessinger, Glen Beckert, and Jim Hickman was as good as any infield in the National League.
As for the Pirates, the 1971 World Series was as great an individual performance as you'll ever see, by a great ballplayer named Roberto Clemente.
I was rooting for the American League Baltimore Orioles in the Series, but fell in love with the man wearing #21 on his Pirates uniform, wheeling around and firing a laser beam from right field to 3rd Base on the fly to throw out an unsuspecting Orioles base runner.
In 1979, in a Birds-Buccos rematch, I once again rooted for Baltimore, but was mesmerized by Willie "Pops" Stargell , the heir to the Clemente legend in Pittsburgh.
Not a lot has gone right for either team in my lifetime.
Playoff misery for the Cubs in 1984, 1989, and the unforgettable meltdown against the Marlins in 2003.
The Pirates lost N.L. Championship Series against the Reds in 1990, and to the Braves in 1991 and 1992, and have lost the Wild Card Game each of the last 2 years.
Who to pick?
Clemente and Stargell's Pirates, now led by another young outfielder in MVP Andrew McCutchen and hard throwing pitcher Gerrit Cole... or Mr. Cubs kids, led by first year manager Joe Maddon's group of rookie superstars Kris Bryant and Addison Russell, and Cy YoungAward front runner Jake Arrieta...?
Everyone seems to be picking the Pirates, even though Arrieta has been unhittable for months...the team over the best pitcher theory.
Give me the young Cubs, 6-1.
Simply, in my best guess, the Pirates are under tremendous pressure not to lose their 2nd straight WC game, and the players from Chicago are in a no lose situation...who thought these kids would be here?
Just like the Astros last night at Yankee Stadium, I see the Cubs under little, or no, pressure to win.
So... "... Go Cubs Go, Go Cubs Go, what do you say Chicago, the Cubs are gonna WIN today..."
Play Ball!
Yesterday I picked the Astros to win, although my 7-3 score wasn't even close to the final score of 3-0 in favor of Houston.
In the case of the Cubs, I've been a long time observer of the Cubbies since growing up in the Kalamazoo/Portage area of Southwest Michigan in the 1960s.
My favorite shortstop was Don Kessinger of the Cubs, and I can here Jack Brickhouse "Hey Hey!" as Ernie Banks 500th home run cleared the famous Ivy covered left field wall at Wrigley Field.
That Cubs '70s infield of Ron Santo, Kessinger, Glen Beckert, and Jim Hickman was as good as any infield in the National League.
As for the Pirates, the 1971 World Series was as great an individual performance as you'll ever see, by a great ballplayer named Roberto Clemente.
I was rooting for the American League Baltimore Orioles in the Series, but fell in love with the man wearing #21 on his Pirates uniform, wheeling around and firing a laser beam from right field to 3rd Base on the fly to throw out an unsuspecting Orioles base runner.
In 1979, in a Birds-Buccos rematch, I once again rooted for Baltimore, but was mesmerized by Willie "Pops" Stargell , the heir to the Clemente legend in Pittsburgh.
Not a lot has gone right for either team in my lifetime.
Playoff misery for the Cubs in 1984, 1989, and the unforgettable meltdown against the Marlins in 2003.
The Pirates lost N.L. Championship Series against the Reds in 1990, and to the Braves in 1991 and 1992, and have lost the Wild Card Game each of the last 2 years.
Who to pick?
Clemente and Stargell's Pirates, now led by another young outfielder in MVP Andrew McCutchen and hard throwing pitcher Gerrit Cole... or Mr. Cubs kids, led by first year manager Joe Maddon's group of rookie superstars Kris Bryant and Addison Russell, and Cy YoungAward front runner Jake Arrieta...?
Everyone seems to be picking the Pirates, even though Arrieta has been unhittable for months...the team over the best pitcher theory.
Give me the young Cubs, 6-1.
Simply, in my best guess, the Pirates are under tremendous pressure not to lose their 2nd straight WC game, and the players from Chicago are in a no lose situation...who thought these kids would be here?
Just like the Astros last night at Yankee Stadium, I see the Cubs under little, or no, pressure to win.
So... "... Go Cubs Go, Go Cubs Go, what do you say Chicago, the Cubs are gonna WIN today..."
Play Ball!
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Baseball playoffs...American League Wild Card Game
The New York Yankees host the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card Game tonight at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
Im not particularly good at picking games, but here goes...
I hate the Yankees... Steroid abuser Alex Rodriguez plays for the Yankees...
How can any non-Yankees fans root for the guys in Pinstripes?
I'll root for the Astros, with a young, exciting group of players like Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and Dallas Kuechel.
It's terrific baseball when the Yankees lose in New York.
Houston 7 Yankees 3.
PLAY BALL!
Im not particularly good at picking games, but here goes...
I hate the Yankees... Steroid abuser Alex Rodriguez plays for the Yankees...
How can any non-Yankees fans root for the guys in Pinstripes?
I'll root for the Astros, with a young, exciting group of players like Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and Dallas Kuechel.
It's terrific baseball when the Yankees lose in New York.
Houston 7 Yankees 3.
PLAY BALL!
This Week's Sports Illustrated Cover...The Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays have slugged their way onto this week's cover of Sport's Illustrated.
The Blue Jays won their first American League Eastern Division championship since their World Series title in 1993, led by a powerful lineup of home run bashers in Josh Donaldson (my A.L. MVP), Jose Bautista, and Edwin Encarnacion.
In addition to the offensive barrage, the Blue Jays made the trade with the Detroit Tigers for LHP David Price, who, in my opinion, should win the American League Cy Young Award this year.
Price was 18-5 this year, with a A. L. leading 2.45 ERA...the ace of both staffs in Detroit and Toronto.
The Blue Jays will host the A.L. West Champion Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series later this week.
Another baseball season has come down to October playoffs... where have the last 6 months gone?
Good Luck to your teams in this years playoffs.... PLAY BALL!
The Blue Jays won their first American League Eastern Division championship since their World Series title in 1993, led by a powerful lineup of home run bashers in Josh Donaldson (my A.L. MVP), Jose Bautista, and Edwin Encarnacion.
In addition to the offensive barrage, the Blue Jays made the trade with the Detroit Tigers for LHP David Price, who, in my opinion, should win the American League Cy Young Award this year.
Price was 18-5 this year, with a A. L. leading 2.45 ERA...the ace of both staffs in Detroit and Toronto.
The Blue Jays will host the A.L. West Champion Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series later this week.
Another baseball season has come down to October playoffs... where have the last 6 months gone?
Good Luck to your teams in this years playoffs.... PLAY BALL!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)