San Francisco Giants hit a Home Run today

The San Francisco Giants hit a home run today when they changed their social media logo in support of Marriage Equality.

Play Ball!

Madison Bumgarner is your 2014 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year

Sports Illustrated has named San Fransisco Giants left hander Madison Bumgarner the 2014 Sportsman of the Year.

Bumgarner was simply spectacular in the 2014 baseball playoffs, leading the Giants to their 3rd World Series Championship since 2010.

The World Series Most Valuable Player, Bumgarner came on to pitch five scoreless innings of relief in Game 7 just two days after his Game 5 victory over the Kansas City Royals at A T & T Park in San Francisco.

In the 2014 playoffs Bumgarner pitched 52 2/3 innings, allowing just 6 earned runs, striking out 45 batters with a ERA of 1.03.

Madison Bumgarner was born on August 1, 1989, in Hudson, North Carolina.

Madison attended South Caldwell High School in Hudson and was drafted by the Giants with the 10th pick in the 1st round of the 2007 Amateur Player Draft.

Madison made his big league debut on September 8, 2008 at the age of 20.

In six years with the Giants the left handed pitcher is 67-48, with a 3.06 era in 14 starts.

In 2014 Bumgarner was the Giants starter on Opening Day and went on to compile a 18-10 record with a 2.98 era, 219 strikeouts and a career best 1.090 WHIP.

Madison is the first ever San Francisco Giants player to be honored as the SI Sportsman of the Year, and the 14th baseball player (2004 Boston Red Sox make 15 baseball winners) to be honored as the SI Sportsman of the Year, and the first since Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter in 2009.

The very first SI baseball Sportsman of the Year was Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Johnny Podres in 1955.

                SI cover from @SInow on Twitter.

This Week's Sports Illustrated Cover... World Series

The San Francisco Giants have a 3 games to 2 lead in the World Series over the Kansas City Royals, with Game 6 tonight at Kauffman Stadium in KC.

We always love when baseball makes the cover of a magazine, and this week Sports Illustrated has the Giants Hunter Pence swinging a hot bat against KC this past weekend at AT&T Park.

The Giants give the ball to RHP Jake Peavy tonight on what could be the clinching game for the Giants 3rd World Series Championship in 5 years, cementing the Giants baseball dynasty run since 2010.

The Royals counter with RHP Yordano Ventura in the must win game for KC.

In 1985 the Royals returned home trailing the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 in games, won the controversial Game 6 and then blew out St. Louis 11-0 in Game 7 to win the only World Series in franchise history.

I'd like to see a KC win tonight, just because I want a Game 7 tomorrow night.

This has been a fun series to watch, as a pure baseball fan with no rooting interest one way or the other.

I hope you all enjoy the game tonight.

PLAY BALL!!

This weeks Sports Illustrated cover

The American League champion Kansas City Royals are on the regional cover of this weeks Sports Illustrated World Series preview issue.

The World Series begins tonight in Kansas City as the Royals send James Shields against Madison Bumgarner and the National League Champion San Francisco Giants.

Royals closer Greg Holland, my choice for this years Baseball Bloggers Alliance Goose Gossage Award, is the KC cover boy.

Happy Baseball Birthday... Vida Blue

Today we say Happy Baseball Birthday #65 to former big league hurler Vida Blue.

Vida Rochelle Blue was born on July 28, 1949, in Mansfield, Louisiana.

Blue attended De Soto High School in Mansfield and went to college to play baseball for the Jaguars of Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge.

The Kansas City Athletics drafted Blue in the 2nd round of the 1967 amatuer draft.

Vida made his big league debut for the Athletics, now the Oakland A's, on July 20, 1969, at the age of 19.

On September 21, 1970 Blue tossed a no hitter against the Minnesota Twins.

Blue's only mistake that day was a 4th inning walk to future HOFer Harmon Killebrew.

1971 was Vida Blue's best year in the big leagues, and one of the best pitching performances in big league history.

Blue compiled a amazing 24-8 record, and a ERA of just 1.82.

Blue logged an impressive 312 innings pitched, striking out 301 American League batters.

Blue led the A. L. In hits allowed per nine innings, 6.029, shutouts, 8, and the 1.82 ERA.

Blue was the American League starting pitcher for the '71 All-Star Game at Tiger Stadium in Detroit.

Vida Blue's fantastic '71 season was completed with the A.L. Cy Young Award and A.L. Most Valuable Player Award.

From his 1969 debut, through the 1977 season, Vida Blue won 124 games for the A's, had a ERA of 2.95, struck out 1,315 hitters, pitched 28 shutouts, and completed 105 of his 262 starts.

With Vida Blue in the starting rotation the Oaklan A's won five consecutive A.L. West Division Titles, 1971-72-73-74-75, and three straight World Series Championships in '72-'73-'74.

Vida Blue was sold by the A's to the New York Yankees in June of 1976, and three days later the sale was voided by Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

Commissioner Kuhn also voided the A's trade of Blue to the Cincinnati Reds on 1977.

Both transactions involving Vida Blue were denied by Bowie Kuhn in "the BEST interests of baseball."

Two years later, on March 15, 1978, Blue was traded by Oakland across the bay to the San Francisco Giants.

Vida won 18 games for the Giants in '78, his fourth 20 win season.

In 1978 Vida Blue became the first pitcher in baseball to start for both the A.L. and the N.L. in an All-Star Game.

The Giants traded Blue to the Kansas City Royals on March 30, 1982, and after two seasons with the Royals Blue became a free agent, and returned to San Francisco in 1985.

Vida Blue finished his big league career with the Giants on October 2, 1986.

In his 17 year big league career Vida Blue compiled a 209-161 record, a 3.27 ERA, 2,175 strikeouts, pitching 37 shutouts, 143 complete games, a no hitter, Cy Young Award, and MVP Award. in 3,343 1/3 innings pitched.

Vida Blue has given back to baseball, giving his time and effort to improve inner city baseball in the San Francisco Bay area.

Happy Baseball Birthday Vida!

Happy Baseball Birthday...John "The Count" Montefusco

Happy 64th Birthday to former big league pitcher John "The Count" Montefusco.

John Joseph Montefusco was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, on May 25, 1950.

John went to Brookdale Community College, and made his big league debut on September 9, 1974 for the San Francisco Giants.

Not only did he make his big league debut as a pitcher, "The Count" also hit his first big league home run in his first big league at bat.

In 13 seasons, with the Giants, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and New York Yankees, Montefusco compiled a 90-83 record, with a 3.54 ERA.

John Montefusco was the 1975 National League Rookie of the Year, and a All-Star for the Giants in 1976.

The  '76 American Bicentennial was extra special for Montefusco, who put his mark on baseball with a no hitter vs. the Braves on.September 29th.

"The Count" pitched his final game in the big leagues on May 5, 1986, for the Yankees.

Happy Baseball Birthday to "The Count."

Happy Baseball Birthday...Tom Bradley

Today's Happy Baseball Birthday! wishes have a local Jacksonville flavor.

Tom Bradley turns 66 years young today.

Bradley played college baseball at Maryland and pitched in the big leagues from 1969-1975, for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, and San Francisco Giants.

In 183 appearances Tom finished with a 55-61 record, with a 3.72 ERA.

"The controlled breaking pitch that (Johnny) Sain teaches already has saved me in a couple of games and it's certainly easier on my arm, and easier to control than the full curve or regular slider." - Tom Bradley in Baseball Digest (August 1971)...from Baseball Almanac

I first became familiar with Tom Bradley when I moved to Jacksonville 32 years ago.

Bradley was the Manager of the Jacksonville University Men's Baseball team, and for 12 years he guided the Dolphins to a 432-291-5 record.

JU has always put a competitive team on the field, and Bradley was the man who started the building of the foundation that is Dolphins baseball.

Over the years the Dolphins have played in 14 NCAA Baseball Regionals...that's a pretty big deal when you have to go against Florida, Florida State, and Miami every year for ballplayers.

JU has had 34 All-American's, and have sent 9 players to the big leagues.

You can follow Dolphins Baseball on Twitter here... @JUBaseball

Happy Birthday Tom...Go Dolphins!