My latest post for the Detroit Tigers Scorecard

As some of you know I do on occasion write articles about my favorite team, the Detroit Tigers, over at the Detroit Tigers Scorecard.com.

At times I write about things on my mind regarding the Tigers, or write historical pieces about the team.

Here's a link to my latest article for the DTS, on big league baseball's first 20 game winner, Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers.

Verlander, 20 wins, and his place in Tigers history.

I'm 51 now, still relatively new at being a blogger, and sometimes I wonder what it would have been like in the 1970's writing my own articles on baseball and the Tigers.

I think Tigers fans these days expect way to much, expecting the team to compete for the World Series every year.

I just loved to watch the Tigers play, win, or lose.

That's just the way it was back then.

The DTS blog site was founded by Austin Drake, who does everything else for the site, including writing series previews, game re-caps, and giving Tigers fans up do date information about the Tigers, and the teams in the Tigers Minor League farm system. 

If your a Tigers fan, or just a baseball fan, check out the blog when you have a chance, hopefully you'll go to the story link above to read my article, and find a new home for your Tigers news.

Little League Honors fallen players

Today is the United States Championship of the Little League World Series, in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Today's championship game is between California, representing the West, and Montana, representing the North West.

The winner of the California-Montana game today will face the winner of Japan, the International Champion, on Sunday for the World Series Championship at 12 NOON.

I love Little League baseball.

My brother Robert and I played Little League baseball in Portage, Michigan in the early 1970's.

It was the greatest time of my life.

I couldn't play baseball enough, weather it was a game of catch with our friends, a pick-up game on the Portage sandlots, with my brothers and my Uncle Bob, or playing in the Little Leagues.

Today in South Williamsport,  Little League Baseball honored two of it's players, as the country prepares for the 10 year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001.

Little League honors fallen former players.

That day, September 11, 2001, Michael Cammarata, a former Little League baseball player from Staten Island New York, was a New York City firefighter, and like so many other NYC fireman did that day, Michael charged into the burning World Trade Center.

He was there do do his job, to help save lives.

And, as so many others did that day, Michael made the ultimate sacrifice, becoming one of the thousands of victims of a horrific act of cowardice terrorism. 

Michael Cammarata was the youngest victim of 9-11.

That same day, amongst all the honor and grief, many new lives were born, including Christina Taylor Green.

Christina was born into a baseball family that included her father, John Green, now a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and her grandfather, Dallas Green, a former big league pitcher and manager of the 1980 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

Christina fell in love with baseball, and played Little league baseball in her home town of Tuscon, Arizona.

She loved proving all the boys in town, and on her team, that she could play baseball as well, if not better, than they could.

On January 9th of this year she attended a gathering in Tuscon held by Representative Gabrielle Giffords.

Giffords was holding a meet and greet for her constituents that day when a gunman open fired, severely injuring Giffords, killing 6 people, including 9 year old Christina Taylor Green.

The Canyon Del Oro Little League field, Field #1, where she played in Tuscon, was re named in her honor during a ceremony earlier this year.

Both Michael and Christina were special people,  together forever on a single day a decade ago that no American will ever forget.

Today, and for the remainder of the weekend, all players uniforms will have a special patch on the left side of the uniform, honoring both Michale Cammarata and Christina Taylor Green.

As we pause to remember both these young people today, isn't it great that both of them enjoyed playing the great game of our youth, America's National Pastime, the grand game that is baseball.

Watching history in the making.

Baseball has been part of my life longer than I can remember, going back to the mid 1960's.

I remember some things, like playing catch and sandlot games, but as far as baseball on TV, I just don't remember watching games on TV until 1970, when I was in the hospital with a bad case of bronchitis.

I got to watch every single game...day games...of the series between the Baltimore Orioles and the Cincinnati Reds.

I never saw Sandy Koufax, or Bob Gibson, or Juan Marichal pitch.

I always felt like I missed out on something special.

Yes, I grew up watching some terrific pitchers like Mickey Lolich, Ferguson Jenkins, Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan, and Phi Niekro pitch in the 70's, but most of them were already well on their way by the time I started watching them pitch.

Every fifth day I make sure not to miss the best power pitcher in baseball, the best pitcher in the American League, Justin Verlander, take the mound for the Tigers, and watching history being made.

Justin Verlander first came to the Tigers as the club's #1 draft pick in 2005, the 2nd overall pick in the draft that year.

Justin pitched in college at Old Dominion University, and the Tigers made sure not to miss on the chance at the power arm that would one day bring their franchise back to respectability.

Verlander made two starts in 2005, and they were anything but memorable.

In those 2 starts, Verlander pitched 11.1 innings, giving up 15 hits, 9 runs, all earned, losing both games.

In 2006 Verlander started the season with the Tigers, pitching in 30 games as a rookie, tossing 186 innings, striking out 124 batters, ending the season with a record of 17-9, with a 3.36 ERA, winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

Those 17 wins were the start of something special in the Motor City.

Since 2006 Verlander has won at least 17 games in 5 of his 6 seasons, with a career high of 19 wins coming in 2009.

In 2007 Verlander tossed a no hitter at Comerica Park against the Milwaukee Brewers, and earlier this season he added to that no hitter with another one, this time in Toronto against the Blue Jays.

Following that no hitter against the Jays, five days later Verlander took a no-no into the 6th inning, and also took a no-no into the KC Royals in July.

Yesterday in Cleveland another milestone achievement.

The 4-3 win over the Tribe was anything but vintage Verlander, but the staff ace retired 13 of the final 15 Indians batters, struck out 10 batters, winning his 17th game of the season...there's that number again...and that win was also Verlander's 100th career win, in just his 190th career start.

Verlander is 17-5 this year, with a 2.35 ERA, 196 K's( leads MLB) in 195 innings, 4 complete games, 2 shutout's, he's walked just 41 batters, and his WHIP is a MLB best 0.87.

Verlander is the only active pitcher in baseball under the age of 30 with 100 wins.

I wrote earlier this summer about Verlander, and that we were watching something special, over at the Detroit Tigers Scorecard.

At age 51 I've seen many very good pitchers play for the Tigers, Denny McLain, Mark Fidrych, Joe Coleman, Dan Petry, Justin Thompson, to name a few.

I've also seen to pitcher wear the Olde English "D" that should be in the Hall of Fame, Mickey Lolich, and Jack Morris.

They are the standard bearers the past 40+ years for Tigers pitchers.

Justin Verlander is well on his way to moving past all of them.

Card collecting contest

As some of you may know, I have been collecting baseball cards since I was a little kid in Michigan, when I would collect every Detroit Tigers card I could, especially those of Tigers catcher Bill Freehan, my boyhood hero.

I do have a baseball card blog, My Detroit Tigers Baseball Cards, and I recently, through my Twitter page, found a cool card contest over at Cheap Card Collecting.

Head on over there and enter, you never know, you might win something cool.

p.s remember me and this post if you win a Brennan Boesch jersey or autographed card, OK?

Detroit Tigers Scorecard Monthly Podcast

As some of you may now I write an occasional post for the Detroit Tigers Scorecard, a fantastic blog founded by my friend Austin Drake that focuses on our favorite baseball team, the Detroit Tigers.

Austin has added a monthly podcast to the blog, a half hour of talk dedicated to the Detroit Tigers.

In the first podcast Austin and I discuss the Tigers moves around the trade deadline, the teams standing as they battle in the American League Central Division, and a look around the prominent big league baseball trades through the July 31st trade deadline.

The Tigers are currently in first place in the American League Central Division, with a record of 59-52, 3 games ahead of the second place Cleveland Indians.

Cool blogs to follow...Eephus League

I'm always looking for baseball sites that use baseball history as their backdrop.

Baseball history, as I've stated many times, is my favorite thing to read about, weather it's of the written book or magazine variety, or on the web.

Today while is was on my Twitter page, I came across a terrific baseball site that is full of all kinds of cool baseball stuff.

It's Eephus League  and believe me you're gonna love it.

As I said, I was led to the site today while on Twitter.

The post was on something on of their writers, Bethany Heck 

 

Blow is an example of the cool things you'll find on the site, a collection of the team mascots from 1956, from a book for Little League kids.

Look at these old logos.

The first one on row one looks like one of 'Dem Bums of the Brooklyn Dodgers doesn't it?

Check out the Tigers logo. 

It's a very friendly kitty, which the Tigers were way to many times in the 1950's.

I love the Giants art. The ball player is truly a giant.

The Reds logo caught my eye. Takes you back to the old Redlegs days of early baseball.

The Eephus League site is another example of the un matched love of baseball's past and it's fans.

I hope you check it out.

Home Run Derby

I'm watching the big league baseball HR Derby tonight on ESPN.

I really haven't been interested in the derby for quite some time now, actually, it was 2005.

The All-Star Game was played at Comerica Park, the Home of the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers participant that night was catcher Pudge Rodriguez, who was establishing his legend in Motown as one of the best players to ever wear the Olde English D.

The HR Derby used to be must see baseball.

Now, not so much.

As a baseball fan, the derby just isn't as compelling as it once was.

I know this year they've changed things up a little, with team captains, the BoSox David Ortiz, and the Brewers Prince Fielder choosing the participants from among the actual player rosters.

The A.L. and N.L. will be battling team vs. team, for charity.

I like that, it's different, but for some reason it's just not as exciting as it used to be.

One of the problems is ESPN.

OK, so the major problem is ESPN.

ESPN is way over the top with the announcer's silly expressions over the distance of a batters HR.

While I understand that's what the derby's all about, hitting HRS, it's still batting practice.

Chris Berman, the annual host, is mostly to blame.

I really used to like Berman, and still appreciate his baseball knowledge, but he's gotten highly annoying.

"Back Back Back...Gone," Berman's catch phrase, is, was old years ago, now it's just painful to listen to.

Here's a few things I'd suggest to make the HR Derby better.

First, get rid of Berman.

Why does ESPN continue to run him out there?

Myself, I'd like to see Steve Berthiaume and Karl Ravich, the primary host's pf Baseball Tonight on the network.

ESPN does a great job broadcasting baseball games, and they should use the people who do baseball on a daily basis.

Berthiaume is the best host ESPN has, baseball, or not, and should be used for the entire coverage of the All-Star Game and it's festivities.

Where's Bobby Valentine?

He's terrific on Sunday Night Baseball.

Second, where's Jayson Stark and Tim Kurkjian?

These are actual baseball writers whom know their stuff, use them.

I don't need Nomar Garciapara.

I like John Kruk, but where's Barry Larkin?

Third, stop the one hour pre game and the 20 minute introductions. 

Start the intro's as soon as the show begins, and then start the derby.

I know ESPN has ad space to sell, that's fine, but the length of the first round takes way to long.

Fourth, and this is for the Commissioner, and MLB...the HR Derby participants should be made up of the Top 5 A.L. and N.L. HR leaders at the AS break.

As the fans follow the leader's in each league the interest for the derby will become a topic of conversation from the very first week of the season.

The Blue Jays Jose Bautista, the big league leader with 31 home runs would be the #1 A.L. player, joined by Yankee teammates Mark Texiera(25) and Curtis Granderson(25), the ChiSox Paul Konerko(22), and the Rangers Nelson Cruz(20)

The #1 N.L. guy would be the Cardinals Lance Berkman, the league leader with 24 home runs, and he would be joined by the Brewers Prince Fielder(22), the Dodgers Matt Kemp(22), the Reds Jay Bruce(21) and Cubs Carlos Pena(19).

Fifth, and again for MLB, please get rid of the 10 outs in each round.

In baseball, three strikes, your out.

Make the derby a game. 

Top of the first, each player gets their 3 outs, bottom of the 2nd, same thing.

After 9 innings, whoever has the most HRS wins the derby.

So, those are my thoughts on the derby.

What are your ideas for making the HR Derby more entertaining?

Please leave your comments below.

My Phavorite Phillie

Since 1883, the Philadelphia Phillies have been playing baseball as a member of the National League.

They have had their share of great teams and players, including "Big Ed" Delahanty, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Chuck Klien, Robin Roberts, Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt, Ryan Howard, and Jimmy Rollins.

The Phillies have made four trips to the World Series, in 1950, 1980, 2008, 2009.

That 1950 squad is known in baseball lore as the "Whiz Kids," a team of young ball players who won the teams very first N.L. Pennant.

One of those famous kids is also my favorite Phillies player of All-Time, Richie Ashburn.

Now, I don't remember when I first heard about Ashburn, probably sometimes in the early 1970s.

I do remember seeing his #1 on the outfield walls of the old Veterans Stadium, home of the Phillies, during the 1980 and 1983 World Series.

Ashburn was long retired as a big league ball player, having played his last game in 1963, as a member of the New York Mets.

I always heard baseball announcers on radio and TV talking about Ashburn any time the Phillies, or the "Whiz Kids" came up in a conversation about baseball.

So, as a young baseball fan, I just had to find out more about Ashburn, and I would read articles in the Sporting News and research the former Phillie in The Baseball Almanac and in any other books I could find.

Ashburn came up to the big leagues in 1948, at the age of 21.

Ashburn collected 154 hits that rookie season, finished 3rd in the Rookie of the Year voting, and never looked back, retiring 15 years later with a very impressive 2, 574 big league hits, all in the National League,  with the Phillies, Cubs, and Mets.

by the time I knew about Richie Ashburn, the Phillies legend had become part of the teams radio and TV booth, where he did color commentary, and starting in 1971, he sat in the same booth as another Philadelphia Hall of Famer, announcer Harry Kalas.

Ashburn continued to announce Phillies games with Kalas until his passing, in 1997, due to a heart attack.

Ashburn is a legend in Philly, and he should be.

In addition to his 2,574 hits, Ashburn also scored 1,322 runs, leading the league in that category three times.

Ashburn was a 5 time All Star who collected 317 doubles, 109 triples, and had a lifetime batting average of .308.

In 1995 Ashburn was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, many years after he should have, along with another Philly great, Mike Schmidt.

My favorite players in baseball history

Since I began writing this blog around a year, or so, ago, one of the mainstay post's have been about my favorite big league ball players from every club.

I started writing about my favorite players with an article on the Baltimore Orioles Brooks Robinson, the best 3rd baseman I've seen since I began watching baseball.

I'm going to cover, I hope, every baseball team in the big leagues since the American League began play in 1901, and even going back to the 19th century.


That means not only the current 30 clubs, but also the clubs that no longer exist, including the Negro Leagues.


I'll also remind everyone who reads this blog that if a team has moved, like the Atlanta Braves, then I'll have a fave player from the Milwaukee Braves, and the Boston Braves, as well.


Dale Murphy was my fave Atlanta Brave, and I did a post on my fave Brooklyn Dodger, Jackie Robinson.


When it's time to write about the Los Angeles Dodgers player who I like the best, it will be separate from the Brooklyn club.

I started in the American League East, went to the Brooklyn Dodgers, and am now putting the finish on the National League East.

So, when I write about my favorite Washington Nationals player that means just the Nats players since they moved to D.C., and not the members of the Montreal Expos, who will come in a later post.

So, next up is my favorite Philadelphia Phillies player, and then we'll end the N.L. East with the Nats.

Baseball history today in the Bronx

In the 3rd inning of today's Tampa Bat Rays-New York Yankee game at Yankee Stadium, Yanks shortstop Derek Jeter doubled off the Rays David Price.

It was the 3,000th hit of Jeter's 16 year career. 

Here's the bat Derek Jeter used to hit #3,000. courtesy of Twitpic.

Jeter became the 28th player to collect 3,000 hits in the big leagues, tying the late Roberto Clemente.

In the 5th inning Jeter doubled off of Price, giving him 27th place on the All-Time hit list, with 3,001.

Next up on the list, in 26th place, is Al Kaline, the Hall of Fame Detroit Tigers right fielder, at 3,007.

Yesterday I wrote about Jeter, and what I thought of him, both as a player, and a person.

I love Jeter, the way he has handled himself, and played the game of baseball.

Over at The Hall of Very Good, there is a fantastic article on Jeter, and his 3,000 hits.

The next active players looking for 3,000 hits are the Washington Nationals Pudge Rodriguez(2,842) and Omar Vizuel of the ChiSox(2,831).

I'm not sure either one will come near 3,000 hits, but if I had to choose, I'd say Rodriguez has the better chance.

Derek Jeter has been elected by the fans to start in Tuesday's All-Star Game, but won't play, as he has asked to rest his recently healed ankle for the 2nd half of the season.

The Tigers Jhonny Peralta has been added to the A.L. squad, giving Detroit five representatives in the game, Peralta, Justin Verlander, Jose Valverde, Miguel Cabrera, and Alex Avila.

So, what a day for baseball.

Even though it was on TV, and I wasn't at Yankee Stadium today, I'm still thrilled to watch baseball history happen before my eyes.

The 1st player I remember getting his 3,000th hit was the Tigers Al Kaline, in September of 1974.

A native of Baltimore, Kaline doubled in a game in the last days of 1974, against the Orioles, in Baltimore's Memorial Stadium.

Of course, baseball was different back then, we knew Kaline was getting close, but had to see his historical hit on the local newscast that night in my hometown of Portage, Michigan.

Kaline was in his final year of baseball, 22 of them, all with the Tigers.

In 1980, five years after his retirement, Kaline was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame.

Jeter is far from done, and should collect a couple of hundred more hits before he calls it a career.

When he does, add five years to the calendar, and meet me in Cooperstown.