Ever thought about how the baseball itself came to be?
Head over to historyofthebaseball.com to get this cool baseball book.
Thanks to Greg Kindler for the post this morning on Facebook... Painter of our National Pastime.
Monday, July 29, 2013
History of the Baseball
I have found another terrific baseball fan and wanted to share it here on the blog.
Ever thought about how the baseball itself came to be?
Head over to historyofthebaseball.com to get this cool baseball book.
Thanks to Greg Kindler for the post this morning on Facebook... Painter of our National Pastime.
Ever thought about how the baseball itself came to be?
Head over to historyofthebaseball.com to get this cool baseball book.
Thanks to Greg Kindler for the post this morning on Facebook... Painter of our National Pastime.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Church of Baseball: Here we go again
Church of Baseball: Here we go again: Arise, ye hypocrites. Roids are back in the news, thanks to the Biogenesis scandal and the subsequent suspensions, and with them c...
Saturday, July 20, 2013
1960 Topps Detroit Tigers Tops Card
Great Detroit Tigers baseball card from the year I was born, 1960.
Happy Baseball Birthday...Mickey Stanley
Today we celebrate the 71st Happy Baseball Birthday! of former Detroit Tigers Gold Glove outfielder Mickey Stanley.
Tigers manager Mayo Smith had a decision to make going into the 1968 World Series against the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals.
Tigers manager Mayo Smith had a decision to make going into the 1968 World Series against the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals.
Future Hall of Fame right fielder Al Kaline had waited 16 years to play in a World Series, and the Tigers had three other terrific out fielders, in Willie Horton, Jim Northrup, and Stanley.
Kaline had been hurt much if the 1968 season, but "Mr. Tiger" was going to play, he had to be there, so the question was how to get the other three in the everyday lineup.
The final answer was one that took guts from Mayo Smith.
If it worked, its a genius move, if not, criticism from Tigers fans and baseball people everywhere.
To this day Mayo Smith is considered a genius by all Tigers fans.
Mitchell Jack Stanley did what his manager asked, and moved from his Gold Glove center field spot to bevome a starting shortstop in the World Series.
Mitchell Jack Stanley did what his manager asked, and moved from his Gold Glove center field spot to bevome a starting shortstop in the World Series.
In seven games as the Tigers shortstop, Stanley made just two errors.
The Cardinals scored no runs off those two errors.
Al Kaline hit .379 in the series, and had the game winning hit in Game 5, with the Tigers down in the game, facing elimination from the World Series.
Al Kaline hit .379 in the series, and had the game winning hit in Game 5, with the Tigers down in the game, facing elimination from the World Series.
A four time Gold Glove winner, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Stanley made his debut for the Tigers on September 13th, 1964, at age 22.
Mickey played 15 years for the Tigers, and no ball player was better in center field than #24 for Detroit in the late 1960s and early '70s.
A lifetime .248 hitter, Stanley collected 1,243 base hits, 117 off them home runs, in 5,477 plate appearances in 1,516 games, all wearing the old English Detroit "D."
Happy Baseball Birthday! Mickey Stanley!
Play Ball!
Play Ball!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Happy All-Star Day!
Today baseball fans everywhere celebrate our favorite players, teams, and leagues, as the American and National League's playr and fans gather for the annual All-Star Game, at Citi Field, in New York.
This is the first time the big league players have gathered in Flushing, NY, the Home of the New York Mets, since the 1964 game at brand new Shea Stadium.
Ticket from Sports Collectors Daily
I've spoken many times about my All-Star remembrances, starting with the first game I ever saw on TV, the 1970 game from brand new Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.
I watched the game with my Dad, who wasn't a baseball fan at all, from our cabin in the Michigan woods during family vacation.
Pete Rose ran over Ray Fosse of the Indians, the American League lost, and I was sad.
I've been a A.L. fan since the start, you have to be when your team, the Tigers, are in that league.
I've been a Detroit Tigers fan since the late 1960's, however, I don't remember watching any of the All-Star games until the '70 game.
My favorite memory is of the 1971 game, played at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, better known as the Reggie game.
His prodigious blast off the Pirates Doc Ellis hit the light tower in RCF, and is still the hardest ball I've ever seen hit.
For the 44th consecutive year I'll plop myself down in from of the TV, cheer on Mike Trout of the Angels as he steps in against the home town guy, Matt Harvey, of the Mets.
I hope he gets on base, and scores ahead of a Miguel Cabrera home run.
I hope Cabrera, or Prince Fielder, or Torii Hunter hit a HR tonight.
No Detroit Tigers player has hit a home run since 1986, when Lou Whitaker hit a 2-run shot in the Houston Astrodome against...the Mets Dwight Gooden.
The Tiger Max Scherzer is the A.L. starter, the second Tigers pitcher in a row to start for the A.L.
I hope he does significantly better that Justin Verlander did last year, when the Tigers ace RH gave up five runs in the first inning.
I'm an old school baseball fan, and I believe that a young baseball fan should be able to watch his heroes play in the game, so I'm in favor of the rule that every team must be represented at the game.
As a boy I looked forward to the player introductions, to be able to see Bill Freehan, Al Kaline, Mickey Stanley, Willie Horton, Mickey Lolich, or Mark Fidrych.
I know the game has changed, players earn way to much money, every game is broadcast on TV, making the All-Star Game less relevant to the average sports fan.
For me, the game put on by Major League Baseball is the best there is, far surpassing the other major pro sports.
I hope you enjoy the game, your favorite players do well, we have a good contest, and that the American League beats the National League.
Tweet me up during the game here... @freehan11
Play Ball!
This is the first time the big league players have gathered in Flushing, NY, the Home of the New York Mets, since the 1964 game at brand new Shea Stadium.
Ticket from Sports Collectors Daily
I've spoken many times about my All-Star remembrances, starting with the first game I ever saw on TV, the 1970 game from brand new Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.
I watched the game with my Dad, who wasn't a baseball fan at all, from our cabin in the Michigan woods during family vacation.
Pete Rose ran over Ray Fosse of the Indians, the American League lost, and I was sad.
I've been a A.L. fan since the start, you have to be when your team, the Tigers, are in that league.
I've been a Detroit Tigers fan since the late 1960's, however, I don't remember watching any of the All-Star games until the '70 game.
My favorite memory is of the 1971 game, played at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, better known as the Reggie game.
His prodigious blast off the Pirates Doc Ellis hit the light tower in RCF, and is still the hardest ball I've ever seen hit.
For the 44th consecutive year I'll plop myself down in from of the TV, cheer on Mike Trout of the Angels as he steps in against the home town guy, Matt Harvey, of the Mets.
I hope he gets on base, and scores ahead of a Miguel Cabrera home run.
I hope Cabrera, or Prince Fielder, or Torii Hunter hit a HR tonight.
No Detroit Tigers player has hit a home run since 1986, when Lou Whitaker hit a 2-run shot in the Houston Astrodome against...the Mets Dwight Gooden.
The Tiger Max Scherzer is the A.L. starter, the second Tigers pitcher in a row to start for the A.L.
I hope he does significantly better that Justin Verlander did last year, when the Tigers ace RH gave up five runs in the first inning.
I'm an old school baseball fan, and I believe that a young baseball fan should be able to watch his heroes play in the game, so I'm in favor of the rule that every team must be represented at the game.
As a boy I looked forward to the player introductions, to be able to see Bill Freehan, Al Kaline, Mickey Stanley, Willie Horton, Mickey Lolich, or Mark Fidrych.
I know the game has changed, players earn way to much money, every game is broadcast on TV, making the All-Star Game less relevant to the average sports fan.
For me, the game put on by Major League Baseball is the best there is, far surpassing the other major pro sports.
I hope you enjoy the game, your favorite players do well, we have a good contest, and that the American League beats the National League.
Tweet me up during the game here... @freehan11
Play Ball!
Monday, July 15, 2013
All-Star week...from Queens to Jacksonville...be happy!
It's All-Star week around the game of baseball.
The big league boys are in the Big Apple to play in tomorrow's All-Star Game at Citi Field, home of the Metropolitan Baseball Club of New York.
Festivities started yesterday with the Futures Game, and continue with tonight's All-Star Home Run Derby.
I'm rooting for this guy, the defending champion.
While Prince Fielder and the big league players have their fun in New York, I'll be here in Jacksonville, Florida on Wednesday night at the 37th Southern League All-Star Game, played this year at Bragan Field at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, here on Florida's First Coast.
The Jacksonville Suns, the Double A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, are hosting the game for the second time since moving into the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville just over a decade ago.
I'll be tweeting tomorrow night at the All-Star Gala at the Jacksonville Landing, and then on Wednesday at the Fan Fest Fest, HR Derby, and then the game itself, at 7 pm.
Here's all the SL All-Star fan events, from the Suns web site.
If you're here in Jax, and are going to the game, Tweet me up for a meet at any of the events.
I'll be on all my social links a lot this week, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
Also, you can follow the Suns, and the game itself, all this week on Tales from Bragan Field.
Play Ball!
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Jax Suns Southern League All-Star Game
Just saw this over on Hodges Blvd.
Southern League All-Star Game just a week away.
1956 All-Star Game
Program from 1956 big league All-Star Game.
Thanks to When We Wore Fedoras for the picture.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
My favorite baseball blogs...When We Wore Fedoras
When We Wore Fedoras is a terrific baseball page focusing on the great history of old time baseball.
Their Facebook page is something I look forward to every day.
The old pictures they find of players, ballparks, events, and the players if the past is a great homage to our National Pastime.
If you're on Facebook give the page a "like."
You'll be very happy with the results.
Play Ball!
Monday, July 8, 2013
Jim Abbott USA Baseball Card
Found this today.
I have always loved Jim Abbott and his courageous spirit.
Jim played baseball w/o right hand, pitching at the University of Michigan, for team USA, and in the big leagues.
Computer troubles
Blogger and my computer still aren't getting along. This post is from my phone, which isn't easy for arthritic fingers.
I can post pictures on Blogger using my computer, but cannot write anything.
I'll do my best to post what I can, like the previous post on my Patriotic JAX Suns cap.
Feel free to use the links to my Twitter and Facebook pages, and my other baseball blog..Freehans Five Gold Gloves.
You'll find the links here on this blog.
Play Ball!
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
Justin Verlander USA Baseball Card
Justin Verlander defeated the Blue Jays, 11-1, on the 4th of July, striking out 5 and allowing no runs.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Happy July 4th!
Bill Freehan graces the cover of the 1969 Sports Illustrated baseball preview issue.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Milwaukee Braves Facebook page
I came across a Facebook page dedicated to the old Milwaukee Braves and thought I'd post and share the link with my fellow baseball fans.
If you know any Braves fans, let them know about the page.
Milwaukee Braves Facebook page link
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)