Ralph Branca, 1926-2016

Today baseball fans all across the world are remembering the life of former big league pitcher Ralph Branca, who passed away this morning at the age of 90.

Ralph Theodore Joseph Branca was born in Mount Vernon, New York on January 6, 1926, graduated from Davis High School.


Branca was signed as an amateur free agent by the old Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943, and made his big league debut with the Dodgers, at the age of just 18, on June 12, 1944.


Branca was a solid, dependable big league hurler for 11 years with Brooklyn, the Detroit Tigers, and New York Yankees. 

A three time National League All-Star, Branca was 88-68, 3.79 era in 322 career games.



Branca was on the Dodgers on April 15, 1947, when Jackie Robinson made his big league debut, breaking the color barrier in baseball.



Branca was a staunch defender of Robinson and his right to play big league baseball.

Branca is mostly remembered in baseball history for giving up The Shot Heard 'Round the World, the home run he gave up to New York Giants 3rd Baseman  Bobby Thompson in Game 3 of the N. L. playoff in 1951.


The home run in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Giants the Pennant, and made Thompson a national hero.



Branca and Thompson became lifetime friends, and would often join each other at card shows to sigh that iconic picture of the 1951 game.

We send out prayers and thoughts to the Branca family and the Dodgers organization on their loss today.



May God Bless Ralph Branca.

#Freehan75

Starting today I'm celebrating my baseball hero, Bill Freehan, who's 75th Happy Baseball Birthday! will occur next Tuesday, November 29, 2016.

Since its rivalry week in college football, and the Michigan Wolverines will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to play the hated Ohio State Buckeyes, I'll start off the week with end Bill Freehan on the 1960 Michigan team.

                                     Bill Freehan is #88, 2nd from the right.




In 1960 Bill was the winner of the Meyer Morton Award, and annual award given out to the most promising player of of spring football camp.



The award, first given out in 1925, was named after Mr. Morton after his passing in 1948.


Among the many Morton Award winners on this list are former President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford, former Green Bay Packer Ron Kramer, and current head coach Jim Harbaugh, who won the award as a young Michigan QB in 1984.



Bill played in all 9 games for the Wolverines football team in 1960, catching one pass, for 11 yards.

1960 was Bill's only season  in Ann Arbor, as he signed a contract to play big league baseball for his hometown Detroit Tigers in 1961.



I think it's kinda cool that 1960, his only season as a Wolverine, is also the year that I was born.


It's like my hero and I were on ment to be.


⚾ On social media for the next 8 days I'm asking all Tigers fans, and baseball fans in general, to share their memories and thoughts of Bill by using the hash tag #Freehan75 in all posts.

Thanks to all who have  and will, participate in  celebration of my baseball hero on his 75th #HappyBaseballBirthday ! ⚾


Play Ball!

Baseball Bulletin, November 15, 2016

Here's some interesting stuff I've come across lately, things in the news, on the MLB Network , SportsCenter, and through my Twitter, Facebook pages.




⚾ The Miami Marlins have always been a colorful baseball team...their logo has been front and center colorful for a few years now...

...and now the Marlins offbeat color has extended into their Minor League system as well, as their Triple-All-Time affiliate in New Orleans changed its name from the Zephyr's to the New Orleans Baby Cakes.

The tradition of the Mardi Gras KING Cake has a small plastic baby...some call it the Baby Jesus.. baked into the festive cake, and the lucky person who first day the baby in their piece of cake must by the next King Cake.


The Baby Cakes are the second Marlins organizational  team to re-brand itself.


Just two weeks ago the Jacksonville Suns, the Marlins Double-A Affiliate on the Southern League, became, officially, the Jacksonville JUMBO Shrimp.




⚾ Coming of the Veteran's Day Weekend, we've learned that the Charleston River Dawgs have  even awarded the the Inaugural Charles K. Murphy Patriot Award.

The River Dawgs employ over 30 military veterans on the day of games, and has extended taken the lead in employing homeless veterans in the Charleston area.


⚾ The 2017 Ford C. Frick Award nominees have been announced.

There are many fine baseball people up for the annual award given out to the best of the best who cover big league baseball across print, radio, and television...here's hoping that one of my all time favorite baseball announcers, Hawk Harrelson, wins this year.


Nobody embodies the love and passion broadcasting baseball like Hawk Harrelson, the current play by play man for the Chicago White Sox.


⚾  Toops announced Tuesday that future Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter will be included in several sets of 2017 baseball cards.


This beautiful autographed Jeter card is absolutely beautiful...

Only 5 of those card..the search for all insert cards of the former New York Yankees Captain will no doubt that boost sales of all the Topps sets he's included in...take a look at this beauty of a card...


Over at Topps Bunt we were given a digital 1992 Derek Jeter Rookie Card....a card that I also have in my collection.

⚾ The 2016 Awards season as started.

The Baseball Writers Association of America hands out awards annually for Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, the Cy Young, and Most Valuable Players for the 2016 big league baseball year.


The 2016 American League Rookie of the Year was awarded to Detroit Tigers RHP Michael Fulmer, and in the National League, the ROY Award went to Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager.


⚾  The 2016 National League Manager of the Year went to Dodgers skipper, and former Jacksonville Suns player Dave Roberts.

In the American League the award went to Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona, who led the Tribe to the 2016 American League Championship


⚾ One Wednesday the BBWAA will announce the 2016 Cy Young Award winners, and on Thursday the Most Valuable Player Award will be revealed .

All of these awards will be revealed live nightly at 6 p.m. on the MLB Network .


⚾ I will update the Cy Young and MVP Awards in a post later this week...look me up on Twitter ... @freehan11 ...or on my Facebook page... anytime to talk about out great game of baseball.


Play Ball!

Your 2016 BBWAA Rookies of the Year

On Monday the  Baseball Writers Association of America revealed the winners of the American and National League Rookie of the Year Award, chosen annually by ballot of the members of the BBWAA.

⚾ The American League Rookie of the Year is Detroit Tigers RHP Michael Fulmer, who received 24 of the 30 first place votes by the baseball writers of the BBWAA.

Michael Joseph Fulmer, Detroit Tigers


Fulmer was inserted into to the Tigers starting rotation on April 29th, setting the club record for scoreless innings pitched on June 6th, having tossed



⚾ The National League Rookie of the Year is Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, who was unanimously selected by the BBWAA writers, receiving all 30 first place votes.

Seager was outstanding this year for the Dodgers  batting .308, with 26 home runs and 76 rbi, collecting 193 hits in 627 official at bats.



Seager joins an elite club of Dodgers rookies, becoming just the 3rd unanimously selected ROY, joining Raul Mondesi in 1994, and Hall of Famer Mike Piazza in 1993.


Play Ball! 

Happy Baseball Birthday! "Moonlight" Graham

Today  we celebrate the 139th Happy Baseball Birthday! of former big league outfielder Moonlight Graham.

Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina on November 12, 1877, Archibald Wright Graham dreamed of playing in the big leagues, and on June 29, 1905, Moonlight played right field for one half inning for the old New York Giants, but never got to step into the batters box.



That would be the only game for Graham, with no official at bat in what would be his only game.



Moonight and his one inning in the outfield was a crucial part of the 1988 movie Field of Dreams.

Moonlight Graham, Field of Dreams.


Moonlight Graham SABR page.




Archibald Graham passed away on August 25, 1965, in Chisholm, Minnesota .

Happy Veterans Day, November 11, 2016

On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, November 11, 1918, World War 1 was ended by the signing of the armistice.



Every year we remember all those who have served in America's Armed Services beginning with the Revolutionary War in 1775.



From this United States Navy Ships Serviceman, March 25, 1985, to September 25, 1989, I say Thank You! 



Happy Veterans Day America !

Your 2016 Big League Gold Glove Award winners

The 59TH annual Rawlings Gold Glove Awards were handed out to the top 9 big league defensive ballplayers.

The photo above is the 1965 National League Gold Glove of Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Johnny Roseboro.




The Gold Glove had been handed out each year since 1957.




Here's the 18 Gold Glove Award winning players for 2016....



A few thoughts on this year's winners...


⚾ I'm especially happy for Detroit Tigers 2nd Baseman Ian Kinsler, who won his first career Gold Glove .

The 34 year old native of Tucson, Arizona has been the Tigers starting shortstop for three years now after coming over from the Texas Rangers in a trade.


This year Kinsler made just 9 errors as the Tigers second sacker in 151 games, with 744 chances, 303 put outs, 432 assists, and 109 total double plays in 1299 innings.


If the baseball is hit in the general direction of Ian it's a pretty good assumption that the batter that hit the ball will be out.



⚾⚾  San Francisco Giants catcher and 3-time World Series MVP Buster Posey 
 won his first career Gold Glove Award, breaking the 8 year stranglehold that St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina had on the award.


The 29 year old Posey, the former Florida State Seminole, was terrific behind the plate again for the Giants this year, commiting just 3 errors in 123 games, with a .997 fielding percentage.

If you read this blog enough, you know that I have an affinity for big league baseball catchers.


My favorite ballplayer, Tigers 11-Time All-Star Bill Freehan won 5 consecutive Gold Glove Awards , the FIRST catcher to ever achieve that distinction.

Congratulations to all the Gold Glove winners this year... Play Ball!

My Official 2016 BBBA Awards Ballot

Last month I posted my choices for the annual Baseball Bloggers Alliance post season awards.


Here's my American League post...


Here's my National League post...



Today, as a member of the BBBA , I officially entered my choices onto the computer ballot.



In both the American League and National League posts, I forgot to list my choices for the Goose Gossage Award for the best relief pitchers in baseball .


So, here are the pitchers I voted for today...


⚾ American League Relief Pitcher of the Year

#1... Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles 

#2... Francisco Rodriguez, Detroit Tigers 

#3... Andrew Miller, New York Yankees / Cleveland Indians 


⚾ National  League Relief Pitcher from the Year


#1... Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers 

#2... Jeurys Familia, New York Mets

#3... A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins 



Thanks again to all of you who take time to read my blog... PLAY BALL!

Your 2016 World Series Champions!

Last night in Cleveland, Ohio, the Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians, 8-7, in Game 7, to with the teams first World Series Championship incentives 1908.

With that victory very the Tribe last night you knew the fine folks over at Sports Illustrated would waste no time in putting the champions on the next cover...

...Congratulations to the Cubs, the City of Chicago, and all their great fans.

Play Ball !

The NEW Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp!

Today the Southern League Jacksonville Suns changed their look and their name today, as the team formally announced that they have changed the teams name to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.

I absolutely love the new road ballcap... a size 7 3/8 will be com8ng my way for sure.

I lived in Jacksonville for 36 years, and while I'm surprised with the change, its not a unprecedented over by the franchise.




The Suns changed their name to the Jacksonville Expos...the JAXPOS... in 1985, upon the arrival of new owner Peter Bragan, Sr.

JUMBO Shrimp owner Ken Babby isn't new to name changes and Minor League Baseball either, having bought the Akron Aeros and changing the team name to the Akron Rubber Ducks.

The Jacksonville franchise has been a member of the Southern League since 1962, when the Suns started playing on the First Coast.



The Jumbo Shrimp are currently  the Double-A Affiliate for the Miami Marlins.


There are plenty of people out there on social media who are upset that the team has made the change...change is never easy, but this isn't like the Jaxpos...who went back to the Suns after five years.

This owner is young, energetic, and it's my opinion he's not changing the name back...this is a bold move in the Bold New City of the South.



Welcome to the new era of baseball in the sunshine...welcome to the bold, new, energetic JAX JUMBO SHRIMP!


PLAY BALL!

Baseball and 2016 Spirit Day

Today is a special day across our country.


Today is Spirit Day in America.

We stand up to all bullying in our country, respecting the rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation.



We stand up for inclusion in our lives, and that includes Major League Baseball.

I've never understood bullies, never understood why some people have to validate their lives by bullying other people, especially children, because they have a different belief in life.


They tried to bully me in my Freshman year of high school,  the bullies...but they failed...I refused to fight kids who were calling me names, trying to get me to break...they wanted a reason to beat me up...I refused to let them.



After I refused to give them credence to being jerks, they never bothered me again.



It's not that easy for young people anymore...the hatred and bullying of kids has gotten horrible becase the bullies can now use the Internet and Social Media to bully their targets.


My heart goes out to all those who have been, are being, will be bulied.


May God reach out and grab the hearts of those in despair...those being bullied...and to those who are the bullies...may He reach deep into their hearts to help them understand that what they are doing is wrong...that all people have the right to be happy, to be free, and to live the lifestyle that they live in peace.



I have two beautiful young women in my family who are Gay, and they are magnificent, talented, and loving people.


They have every right to their lives, to choose how to live them, to love that one special person in their lives, and to pursue the happiness that they seek


No bully...and certainly not any politician...has the right to tell either of them how to live their lives.




Play Ball!

The Indians are the 2016 American League Champions

Yesterday in Toronto the first piece to the 2016 World Series was set as the Cleveland Indians beat the Blue Jays, 3-0, winning the series 4 games to 1.

It's the first A.L. flag for Cleveland since 1997.


The Indians are a terrific baseball team.


I know this because in 18 games played between the Tribe and my Detroit Tigers, the Tribe won 14 of 18 games played...


...the 19th was rained out the final week of the season.


14 out of 18...that's how the Indians won the A.L. Central Division, hammering the Tigers this year from the very start, going 10-0 vs Detroit until the Tigers finally won a game against their division rivals.



An interesting thing about the Indians pennant run...this is the 4th A.L. Central Division team to play in the World Series in the past 5 years...the Tigers in 2012, the Kansas City Royals in 2014 and 2015, and now Cleveland.


As a Tigers fan this fact is something that is both a good thing, and yet worrisome, at the same time.


The A.L. Central isn't that good at division...the Twins were horrible, the White Sox weren't good, and the defending champion Royals faltered in September.


Because it's not that good of a division, it gives me hope for 2017 that my Tigers can bounce back, compete...and win the division.


It's also a sign that any team...even the Twins, are capable of turning it around next year...anything can happen in baseball.


The Indians are looking to win the World Series for the first time since 1948, beating the then Boston Braves in 6 games.

68 years is long time...the City of Cleveland is trying to double up after the Cavaliers won the NBA Title this summer.


I can't, as a Tigers fan, root for that to happen...I didn't want the Royals to win the past two years, and Im not rooting for the Tribe this year either.


I'm hoping the Dodgers win in the National League, but a Cubs-Indians World Series would be fun to watch...68 years without a championship vs 108 years for the Cubs with out a title.


If it's the Cubs vs the Indians I'll give a prediction of the Tribe winning Game 7 at home.

Cubs fans...I'll want you to win...but the Tribe is too good at home.


PLAY BALL!

My 2016 Baseball Bloggers Alliance Awards Ballot... National League

Every year I'm honored to submit a ballot to the Baseball Bloggers Alliance ...these are the National League players and managers that I'll be voting for for Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, Cy Young Award, and Most Valuable Player Award.

⚾ My previous post was my American League Award Ballots.


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Here are my picks...


National League Rookie of the Year

1. Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers 
2. Trevor Strory, Colorado Rockies
3. Aledmys Diaz, St. Louis Cardinals

National League Manager of the Year

1. Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers 
2. Dusty Baker, Washington Nationals
3. Terry Collins, New York Mets


National League Cy Young Award

1. Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins 
2. Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs
3. Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals


National League Most Valuable Player Award

1. Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers 
2. Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
3. Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals


⚾⚾⚾ There it is...my ballot.

My 2016 Baseball Bloggers Alliance Awards Ballot... National League

Every year I'm honored to submit a ballot to the Baseball Bloggers Alliance ...these are the National League players and managers that I'll be voting for for Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, Cy Young Award, and Most Valuable Player Award.

⚾ My previous post was my American League Award Ballots.


⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾



Here are my picks...


National League Rookie of the Year

1. Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers 
2. Trevor Strory, Colorado Rockies
3. Aledmys Diaz, St. Louis Cardinals

National League Manager of the Year

1. Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers 
2. Dusty Baker, Washington Nationals
3. Terry Collins, New York Mets


National League Cy Young Award

1. Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins 
2. Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs
3. Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals


National League Most Valuable Player Award

1. Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers 
2. Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
3. Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals


⚾⚾⚾ There it is...my ballot.

My 2016 Baseball Bloggers Alliance Awards Ballot... American League

Where does the baseball season go...wasn't it just yesterday that we were all excited about pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training?


Yes, it seems like it, but in reality we've gone through another terrific season of big league baseball for 7 months now....and we're a few games from the championship series to determine the participants in the World Series.


2016 was my 50th year as a baseball fan...1967 was a very, very long time ago...a time of turmoil in our country, and in Detroit, home of my beloved Tigers.


My Uncle Bob took us to Tiger Stadium that tumultuous year...heck, I was just 7, my brother Robert was 6...we didn't know anything about the racial and political protests going on in America...we just loved baseball.


The Tigers lost a close Pennant race in 1967...much like the team did this year in missing out of a Wild Card berth on the final day of the season.


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I started writing this blog in April of 2010, and for the past several years I've been honored to vote for my choices of Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, the Walter Johnson Award Winner for best pitcher, and the Stan Musial Award for the MVP of each league for the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.


Just so you know...

My pre-season choices for CY Young Awards...the Tigers Justin Verlander and the Cardinals Adam Wainwright.

My MVP picks... Jose Altuve of the Astros and Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks.




⚾ Here are my choices for the best of the American League in 2016...


⚾⚾ American League Rookie of the Year

1. Michael Fulmer, Detroit Tigers

2. Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees

3. Tyler Naquin, Cleveland Indians.



⚾⚾ American League Manager of the Year

1. Terry Franconia, Cleveland Indians 

2. Brad Ausmus, Detroit Tigers

3. John Gibbons, Toronto Blue Jays




⚾⚾ American League Cy Young Award

1. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers 

2. Rick Parcello, Boston Red Sox

3. Jay Happy, Toronto Blue Jays



⚾⚾ American League Most Valuable Player

1. Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

2. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

3. Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers


⚾⚾⚾ There it is...my ballot.

My Baseball Mailbox, September 18, 2016.

Happy Sunday! everyone,  I hope you're all enjoying this beautiful day of baseball.


Today's Baseball Mailbox is a beautiful illustration of former big leaguer Buck Weaver, courtesy of Tim Fox-Godden.


Over on his Twitter page Tim was giving away an illustration of the former White Sox 3rd Baseman, and because I like Buck Weaver, I put my entry in, and, well...I won.

My Saturday mailbox had the print with a very nice message from Tim...

Tim is a marvelous Illustrator who blends baseball with a dedication to the Doughboys of World War I...

If you're a baseball fan, or a fan of art, or history, check out Tim's website, and if you're on Twitter, he's  at @TJFoxGodden .


Thanks Tim, for making my day... PLAY BALL!

Baseball Bulletin... September 15, 2016

This is a big weekend in the baseball.


Last night the Chicago Cubs clinched their first National League Eastern Division championship since 2008, when the St. Louis Cardinals lost to the San Francisco Giants.


That leaves the other five division and wild card races still looking for teams to take their place in the chase for the playoffs, including my Detroit Tigers, who are not playing well, and will have to probably sweep the Indians in Cleveland this weekend...a mighty task, too stay in the wild card race.


The Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, and possibly the Indians, will be the next teams to clinch their divisions...but the A.L. East and the N.L. West are still up for grabs.



The Tribe and Tigers still have 7 games remaining with each other, starting tonight in Cleveland, with the Indians going to Motown September 26-29.



The Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays are all battling each other for the A.L. East flag, with the Yankees also on the hunt for a post season berth.

All four teams, the BoSox, Orioles, Jays, and Yankees, are separated by only 5 games in the A.L. East.


The Seattle Mariners, playing their best baseball of the year, are also right in the A.L. wild Card chase...it's going to be an amazing finish in the Junior Circuit.



The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the Giants by 4 games in the N.L. West, and both teams, along with the New York Mets and Cardinals, possible N.L. wild card contenders.


That final weekend, the Dodgers at the Giants, could be for not only the division title, but the loser could be out of the playoffs altogether.



⚾⚾⚾ There is a lot going on in, and around baseball, and these are a few things I've noticed...


Major League Baseball released the 2017 schedule for all 30 big league teams this week.

Why they choose to do this in the middle of the Pennant race, and 7 months before the season even starts, is beyond me.


The 2017 MLB season starts on Sunday, April 2nd.



⚾ After 21 years the Atlanta Braves are moving out of Turner Field and to a new ballpark in Cobb County in 2017, some 20 miles away from Atlanta.


The Braves are having a fan vote on their All-Time Turner Field team...VOTE right here...



⚾ The Chicago White Sox set a new Guinness World Record when 1,122 dogs made their way to U.S. Cellular Field on the South Side.



⚾ Dodgers announcer Vin Scully will retire after 67 years broadcasting the teams ballgames, and has announced that he will not be doing any of the Dodgers playoff games.

His final game will be in San Francisco on October 2 against the Giants...Vin started calling games between the two old rivals in 1950, when it was Brooklyn vs New York.

There will be many tributes to Vin in the next two weeks... here's one from 9 Inning Know it All  and one from Vin'started Alma-Mater, The Fordham Ram.




⚾ For those who know me and follow me on social media, you know that I consider The Natural the Greatest Baseball movie ever made... Rob Neyer of FOX Sports revisits the movie...I don't have to, nor will I, ever change my mind...but give Rob a read.



⚾ If you love baseball, and are an old school guy like myself, this article from Redleg Nation will tug at your heart.




⚾ This baseball fan got a brand new baseball glove...57 years and lots of bubble gum later.




⚾ If you've ever wondered how a radio play by play guy prepares for a game, George Simple of the Detroit Free Press gives us insight on Tigers announcer Dan Dickerson's game notes.



Well, that about does it for this post.


I hope you all enjoy what's sure to be a terrific weekend of big league baseball.


Play Ball! ⚾⚾⚾

Baseball Bulletin... September 15, 2016

This is a big weekend in the baseball.


Last night the Chicago Cubs clinched their first National League Eastern Division championship since 2008, when the St. Louis Cardinals lost to the San Francisco Giants.


That leaves the other five division and wild card races still looking for teams to take their place in the chase for the playoffs, including my Detroit Tigers, who are not playing well, and will have to probably sweep the Indians in Cleveland this weekend...a mighty task, too stay in the wild card race.


The Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, and possibly the Indians, will be the next teams to clinch their divisions...but the A.L. East and the N.L. West are still up for grabs.



The Tribe and Tigers still have 7 games remaining with each other, starting tonight in Cleveland, with the Indians going to Motown September 26-29.



The Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays are all battling each other for the A.L. East flag, with the Yankees also on the hunt for a post season berth.

All four teams, the BoSox, Orioles, Jays, and Yankees, are separated by only 5 games in the A.L. East.


The Seattle Mariners, playing their best baseball of the year, are also right in the A.L. wild Card chase...it's going to be an amazing finish in the Junior Circuit.



The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the Giants by 4 games in the N.L. West, and both teams, along with the New York Mets and Cardinals, possible N.L. wild card contenders.


That final weekend, the Dodgers at the Giants, could be for not only the division title, but the loser could be out of the playoffs altogether.



⚾⚾⚾ There is a lot going on in, and around baseball, and these are a few things I've noticed...


Major League Baseball released the 2017 schedule for all 30 big league teams this week.

Why they choose to do this in the middle of the Pennant race, and 7 months before the season even starts, is beyond me.


The 2017 MLB season starts on Sunday, April 2nd.



⚾ After 21 years the Atlanta Braves are moving out of Turner Field and to a new ballpark in Cobb County in 2017, some 20 miles away from Atlanta.


The Braves are having a fan vote on their All-Time Turner Field team...VOTE right here...



⚾ The Chicago White Sox set a new Guinness World Record when 1,122 dogs made their way to U.S. Cellular Field on the South Side.



⚾ Dodgers announcer Vin Scully will retire after 67 years broadcasting the teams ballgames, and has announced that he will not be doing any of the Dodgers playoff games.

His final game will be in San Francisco on October 2 against the Giants...Vin started calling games between the two old rivals in 1950, when it was Brooklyn vs New York.

There will be many tributes to Vin in the next two weeks... here's one from 9 Inning Know it All  and one from Vin'started Alma-Mater, The Fordham Ram.




⚾ For those who know me and follow me on social media, you know that I consider The Natural the Greatest Baseball movie ever made... Rob Neyer of FOX Sports revisits the movie...I don't have to, nor will I, ever change my mind...but give Rob a read.



⚾ If you love baseball, and are an old school guy like myself, this article from Redleg Nation will tug at your heart.




⚾ This baseball fan got a brand new baseball glove...57 years and lots of bubble gum later.




⚾ If you've ever wondered how a radio play by play guy prepares for a game, George Simple of the Detroit Free Press gives us insight on Tigers announcer Dan Dickerson's game notes.



Well, that about does it for this post.


I hope you all enjoy what's sure to be a terrific weekend of big league baseball.


Play Ball! ⚾⚾⚾

Never Forget

The 2016 Roberto Clemente Award Nominees

Major League Baseball announced the 30 finalists for the 46th annual Roberto Clemente Award, given to the big league ballplayer who achieves greatness off the field in their local communities.

Established as The Commissioner's Trophy in 1971, the award was first presented to the great Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants. 



After the death of Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente  on December 31, 1972, MLB changed the name in honor of the great humanitarian who died in a plane crash trying to get supplies to the country of Nicaragua after a horrific earthquake earlier that year.



Detroit Tigers right fielder Al Kaline, fittingly, was the very first recipient of the newly named award.



For 20 years Kaline and Clemente were the Gold  standard for right fielders in baseball, winning a combined 22 Gold Glove Awards between 1957-72, including 12 straight by Clemente his final 12 years.



Two members of the Pirates have won the Clemente Award...Hall of Fame outfielder/first baseman Willie Stargell, in 1974, and current Pittsburgh centerfielder Andrew McCutcheon in 2015.

Baseball fans can vote on social media for their choice for this year's winner starting on Wednesday,  September 7th... Roberto Clemente Day across the big leagues... I'll be posting #VoteMiggy of course, as a true Tigers fan, of course.

Nominees for the Clemente Award include Adam Wainwright, Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rizzo, Giancarlo Stanton, and Pirates nominee Jared Hughes.

Congratulations! to all the nominees for their marvelous work.



To learn about all 30 nominees, and how to vote for your player, just go here for all the details.


Play Ball! ⚾

Miguel Cabrera joins elite Motor City group.

On Sunday afternoon in Chicago Miguel Cabrera became just the 4th Detroit Tigers player to hit 300 home runs when he hit his 30th homer of the season off ChiSox starter Chris Sale in the 1st inning of the Tigers 5-3 win.

Cabrera joins Tigers HOF hitters Al Kaline, 399 HRs, Norm Cash, 373 HRs, and Hank Greenberg, 306 HRs, as the only Detroit players to hit 300+ HRs wearing the famed Olde English D.


Cabrera also homered off Sale in the 3rd inning, another solo shot, bringing his career home run record to 439.


With a month left in the 2016 season, it's possible Cabrera will be around 445 career dingers, and with another year like this is 2017, we're looking at early 2018 for Miggy belting career home run 500.




Cabrera will be 35 in 2018, and is also just 509 hits away from 3,000 career base hits, sitting at 2,491 after collecting 4 hits yesterday.


Only 5 players... Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Raphael Palmiero, and Alex Rodriguez have accumulated both 3,00 hits and 500 homers, with the Angels Albert Pujols soon to join the club, just 195 base knocks away from 3,000...to go along with his 589 home runs.


Also, no Detroit Tigers player has ever hit 500 HRs as a Tiger hitter...Cabrera can become the first if he gets to 638 career dingers.


Miggy hit 138 homers as a member of the Florida Marlins from 2003-08.



Congratulation! to Miguel on joining the Tigers HR list...I'm sure when all is said and done the club record book will be top heavy with Miggy's name at the top.

Happy Baseball Birthday! Robert Redford

Today we send out Happy Baseball Birthday! greetings to actor Robert Redford, who played famed big league slugger Roy Hobbs in the baseball movie The Natural.

80 years ago today Charles Robert Redford, Jr., was born in Santa Monica, California, right around the time Roy Hobbs was signed by New York Knights scout Scotty Carson to play baseball for Pop Fisher.



The Natural is the greatest baseball movie ever made, and obviously leads my top 5 Redford movies list...


⚾ #1...The Natural

📰  #2... All the President's Men

 🐝 #3... The Sting

  🎬 #4... A Bridge too Far

💰  #5... Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid



Robert Redford was an actor in 76 TV and movie productions in his career, produced 43 others and directed 10 more, and is the creator of the famed Sundance Film Festival.


  Happy Baseball Birthday! ⚾🎁 Mr. Redford... Play Ball!⚾

Happy Baseball Birthday! Duffy Dyer

It's no secret that I have a baseball love affair with 1960s and 1970s big league catchers...men like Ed Ott, Randy Hundley, Jerry Grote, John Boccabella, and, of course, my hero, Detroit Tigers Gold Glove winning catcher, Bill Freehan.




I'm giving these old catchers a shout out because I saw on baseballreference.com that it's a Happy Baseball Birthday! of one of those great old backstops, former New York Mets catcher Duffy Dyer.

What a fantastic name... Duffy Dyer... how can a old guy like me not remember him...of course I do!



I mostly remember Duffy as a catcher for the Mets, but he also caught for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos, and for the last two years, 1980 and 1981, for my Tigers.



⚾ Don Robert Dyer was born 71 years ago today in Dayton, Ohio.

Duffy played college baseball at Arizona State, and in 1966 was the Mets 1st round draft pick, 9th overall.

Duffy made his big league debut on September 21, 1968, at the age of 23, and was part of the Miracle Mets of 1969, getting a base hit in his only Wold Series at bat.


Duffy played his final game in the big leagues on April 15, 1981, at the age of 35.

Duffy Dyer SABR Page...



Happy Baseball Birthday! Duffy Dyer!


Play Ball! ⚾

Back in Kalamazoo

Been awhile since I posted about baseball, and I apologize to you all for that...


I have moved from Jacksonville, Florida, where I lived for 36 years, to come back home to Kalamazoo, Michigan, we're I was born.

I've always knew that someday I'd come back here to live, and I've finally made it back.



I hope to be posting much more about our great game of baseball, my Detroit Tigers, and some posts about the Kalamazoo Growlers, a local Northoods League team.

Right now I'm listening to the Tigers and the Mets, Justin Verlander and Noah Syndergaard battling at Comerica Park... I absolutely love listening to Dan Dickerson call the games on my tablet and on WKZO Radio 590...the station I listened to as a boy to Ernie Harwell call the games of the 1968 World Series Champions.




I come up to the office of the place we're living now, as well as any McDonald's we can find to get wifi until my cable gets installed in a couple of weeks.




When I feel OK, and can get to the Internet, I hope to be able to write more.




Well, gotta head back home...we're outside...sitting in the dark.. as Miguel Cabrera singles to lead off the bottom of the 8th inning vs Mets.




Have a marvelous weekend of watching baseball, and we'll talk again tomorrow... PLAY BALL!

⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾🐹⚾

My 2016 Big League All-Stars

As I have every year since becoming a member of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance, this is my ballot for this year's big league All-Star Game, which he will be played in San Diego on Tuesday,  July 12th.


The BBBA voting is different from the big league voting, in that we vote for 3 Infielders, 3 Catchers, 7 Outfielders in each league, and 5 starting and 5 relief pitchers.

The National League also has 2 Designated Hitters, to even out the teams evenly. 

☆☆☆☆ My American League All-Star Game Starters ☆☆☆☆

1st Base... Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers... Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles... Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals.

2nd Base...Ian Kinsler, Detroit Tigers... Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners... Jose Altuve,  Houston Astros. 

3rd Base...Nick Castellanos, Detroit Tigers... Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays... Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays.

Shortstop...Xander Bogarts, Boston Red Sox... Carlos Correa, Houston Astros... Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians.

Outfielders (7)... Mike Trout, LA Angels of Anaheim 

                              Mark Trumbo, Baltimore Orioles

                              Jackie Bradley, Jr., Boston Red Sox 

                              Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox 

                              Carlos Beltran, New York Yankees 

                              George Springer, Houston Astros 

                              Jose Bautista, TorontoBlue Jays 



Catcher... Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals... Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles... Evan Gattis, Houston Astros.

Designated Hitter (2) ...Victor Martinez, Detroit Tigers 

                                          Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians 

Starting Pitchers (5)... Michael Fulmer, Detroit Tigers... Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox... Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers...Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians... Rich Hill, Oakland Athletics.


Relievers (5)... Steve Cishek, Seattle Mariners... Francisco Rodriguez, Detroit Tigers... Zack Britton, Baltimore Orioles... Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals... Arnoldis Chapman, New York Yankees.

                                         

☆☆☆☆ My National League All-Star Game Starters 


1st Base... Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks... Will Myers, San Diego Padres...Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants. 

2nd Base... Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals... Derek Dietrich, Miami Marlins... Niel Walker, New York Mets.  

3rd Base... Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies... Kristen Bryant, Chicago Cubs... Jake Lamb, Arizona Diamondbacks.

Shortstop... Trevor Strory, Colorado Rockies... Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants... Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers.

Outfielders (7)... Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets

                              Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins 

                              Adam Duvall, Cincinnati Reds

                              Christian Yelich, Miami Marlins 

                              Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds

                              Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates 

                              Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies 

Designated Hitter... Adam Duvall, Cincinnati Reds... Matt Kemp, San Diego Padres 


Catcher... Wilson Ramos, Washington Nationals... Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants... Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers.
       

Starting Pitchers (5)... Steven Strasburg, Washington Nationals... Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers... Jose  Fernandez, Miami Marlins... Jake Arietta, Chicago Cubs... Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants.


Relivers (5)... A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins... Jeurys Familia, New York Mets... Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers... Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates, Brad Zeigler, Arizona Diamondbacks.




As always, no ballot is completely right, but I believe it's a good, solid ballot of players who should be playing in the annual big league extravaganza next week.


Play Ball!

All out #VoteKinsler

You all know I love my Detroit Tigers, and it's that time again for me to help a Tigers player get to next week's All-Star Game in San Diego.

⚾ Ian Kinsler is in this year's Final Vote  and as I've done for every Tigers player in the vote, I'm going all out as possible between now and Friday at 4pm, when the Final Vote totals will be revealed.



Of course Ian is getting help from teammate and 11-Time All-Star Miguel Cabrera.


Cabrera, who was selected to the team, finish 2nd in the fans voting to the Royals Eric Hosmer.

Kinsler is having a terrific year for the Tigers,  and he deserves to be a big league All-Star this season.



Today in Cleveland the Tigers finally beat the Indians, 12-2, and Ian collected 3 base hits, giving him 100 hits on the year.



The Tigers are teaming up with the Pittsburgh Pirates and their #VoteMarte campain for outfielder Starling Marte.

☆☆☆☆ When you go to vote, you just select BOTH Kinsler in the American League and Marte in the National League, and then vote. ☆☆☆☆




Starling Marte  is a terrific baseball player, and is most deserving of a All-Star selection in the Senior Circuit.



☆☆☆☆ The Tigers haven't gone to the All-Star Game with just one player since 2009, when shortstop Carlos Guillen was the only Motown player to participate in the game. ☆☆☆☆



The Tigers are one of the founding members of the American League, have 116 years of history, and the fan base, to get behind the #VoteKinsler #FinalVote to get Ian Kinsler to what would be his 5th All-Star selection.



I believe in supporting Mt team, and it's players, to the best of my ability every year, and I'll give it as much as I can before the weekend is done.


I hope you do as much for #VoteKinsler as you can...I really appreciate it, and I know that the Tigers and Ian Kinsler will as well.


Play Ball... and #VoteKinsler ⚾✔🐹

This Week's Sports Illustrated Regional Cover...Ken Griffey, Jr.

It's that time of the summer when Sports Illustrated does their annual two week Where are they now? cover.

⚾⚾⚾ One of the regional SI covers this week is of former big league outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr., who's getting ready for his induction in July into the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

                                     Sports Illustrated Cover, July 4-11, 2016 



Junior, in my opinion, watching baseball for 50 years, still has the most beautiful swing I've ever seen of any big league ballplayer...so smooth! 


In January Junior was elected into the HOF with a BBWAA record 99.3% of the vote.


In what would be many stories, Junior first appeared on the cover of SI on May 7,1990.

I'm not sure how many covers Junior was on, but it was quite a few...

...we love when baseball gets the cover of SI, or any other magazine...until the next SI baseball cover... Play Ball!