Happy 95th Birthday Virgil "FIRE" Trucks

Today is the 95th birthday of former Detroit Tigers pitcher Virgil Tucks.

For us Tigers fans Trucks is a special, one of a kind ballplayer.

In 1952, while going through a record of 5-19, Virgil threw two no-hitters.

On May 16th  Virgil no-hit the Washington Senators, and on August 25th he blanked the New York Yankees, and both games were 1-0 Tigers wins.

Thanks to William over at the Foul Bunt blog for reminding us of Virgil Trucks milestone today.

Thanks Brandon Inge

There comes a time in every big league players career when it's just time to move on, time to leave the team that drafted you, brought you to the majors, and gave you your chance to play baseball on the biggest stage in sports.

Brandon Inge was released today by the Detroit Tigers.

For 15 years, starting with his being drafted by the Tigers in 1997, Brandon Inge has known only one organization, until today.

Inge was drafted by the Tigers in 1997, and in 2000 he played 78 games here in Jacksonville, for the then Tigers AA affiliate, the Jacksonville Suns.

Brandon Inge made his big league debut on April 3rd, 2001, the first of what would become 1408 big league games in 12 years. 

Thanks to Roar of the Tigers for the art work.

I have a soft spot for Inge, in part, because he played here in Jacksonville, and he got to play baseball for my team, the Tigers.

I will always be a pro Inge fan, but then, I'm a pro Detroit Tigers fan, a fan whom doesn't boo ballplayers on his favorite team.

I've still got no idea why fans boo players on their team. What good does it do?

Myself, I think players feed off the vibes of fans, and cheering for them, as you should, is so much better than booing the player.

Inge will always be known for his hustle, his love of the game.

Inge played every pitch, every inning, every game, all out, 100%, at bat, in the field, and in the community.

Before today's Miguel Cabrera HR, in a loss to the Mariners, Inge was the Tigers player with the most career HRS at Comerica Park.

Now Brandon and Miguel are even, 77 long balls each.

Inge detractors will no doubt bring up the fact that Inge took 11 years to hit those 77 HRS, while Cabrera has done it just since his arrival in 2008.

I know it was time for Inge to be let go by the Tigers, he just isn't the player he used to be, and the Tigers just don't have the roster space any more.

With the addition of 1B Prince Fielder this past off season, Miguel Cabrera moved to 3rd Base, the position were Inge was at his best.

That rocket arm from the hot corner, after a diving stop of a ball headed for the left field corner, those hustling plays catching foul balls, some headed into the Comerica Park stands, only to find Inge's glove for an out.

Brandon Inge had power at times as well, hitting 27 HRS in 2006, as the Tigers won the American League pennant, and again in 2009.

One of the best times for Inge, and us Inge fans, came in 2009, when Inge was named on the Final Ballot for the All-Star Game.

The fans came through, made all 25 on line votes allowed, and we Tigers fans got Brandon into the Mid Summer's Classic. 

140 times as a Detroit Tiger Brandon Inge swung, hit the baseball over the fence, circled the bases with a HR, cheered by Tigers fans, at home, and on the road.

Inge had 1.083 hits for the Tigers, drove in 589 runs, scored 527 runs, in 4,625 at bats.

Thanks Brandon.

Thanks for wearing the Olde English Detroit Tigers "D" with pride, with heart and soul, every at bat, every play in the field, every game, for 12 years.

This Tigers fan will miss you.

Yankees or Highlanders?

With the celebration of Fenway Park's 100th Anniversary, and the Red Sox playing the New York Yankees last weekend, Kieth Olbermann, who's quite the baseball fan, and writes a baseball blog on MLBlogs.com, The Baseball Nerd , has a great series of articles on the Yankees/Highlanders nickname.

The Red Sox opened Fenway Park on April 20, 1912, hosting the New York Highlanders.

Or, was it the New York Yankees?

Olbermann has dug up some interesting stuff on the Highlanders/Yankees name, check it out.

A special place for Pudge Rodriguez

Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez retired today, back in the heart of Texas, where he began his big league career 21 years ago.

I will always have a special place in my baseball fan life, and my personal life, for Pudge Rodriguez.



Not because he signed as a free agent with my team, the Detroit Tigers, a team Pudge made relevant once again just by signing his name.



That four year contract was the start of the Tigers as we know them today, even though Rodriguez has been gone several years now.

He was the start, bringing a business attitude and excitement the Tigers needed

. 

That in itself makes Pudge special for Tigers fans, but for me, and my future wife, he would become something very special between us.

In the spring of 2005 my now wife and I had been dating for a few months when she came over to my apartment on night with dinner.



I had the Tigers game on TV, and as Rodriguez was coming to bat, Mario Impemba says..."that brings Pudge Rodriquez to the plate."

All my future wife heard was "Pudge," and that got her upset.

"How rude," she says, that's not a nice thing to say about someone."

Now, we baseball fans know why he's called "Pudge," we know it's a badge of honor, as it was with Pudge Fisk of the Red Sox back in the 1970's, one Hall of Fame catcher to another who would one day be in the HOF.

Before that moment, my future wife, Tracy , had no idea who Pudge Rodriguez was, why he was called that, or any other things about baseball.

She knew I was a Tigers fan, and that was it.

However, from that point on, a few things happened.

First, I had the opportunity to teach someone about the great game of baseball, including why Rodriguez was given his nickname.

Second, it made me look smart to someone I was dating, and that is always good.

Third, and the most important, I guess, is that Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez made himself a fan for life with Tracy (well...she didn't like him as a Yankee at all.), a fan who knew nothing about him, or baseball, until that night back in 2005.

In 2006 we ventured down to Lakeland, Florida for a Spring Training game at the Tigers home, Joker Marchant Stadium, and Tracy was just as excited to see Pudge play as I must have been some 40+ years ago when I was watching Bill Freehan, my hero, for the first time.

The story I tell you is what makes baseball special, the story telling, the teaching, the love of the game passed on down.

Pudge Rodriguez was a Hall of Fame catcher long before that chance encounter through the TV seven years ago, but the bond he created between myself and Tracy, through baseball, is part of our history together, as it will be forever, and for that, I'm forever grateful to him.

Thanks Pudge... Play Ball!

Happy Hearts Day, Baseball Style

Valentine's Day, February 14th, the day we tell and show that one special person in our lives we love them and cannot do without them.

My love is my wife Tracy, who takes care of me and loves me unconditionally, as she has since the very first time we went out together.

Over 40 years ago I found my first love, the great game of baseball.

Baseball fans love their teams, and their favorite players unconditionally.

We baseball fans have known the love of our teams, winning the World Series, and we know the heart break of them losing.


Win, or lose, we love them all the same.

Baseball is always tied with Valentine's Day, as pitchers and catchers always report around this time of the year, warming the hearts of all baseball fans as they anticipate their teams Spring Training games in the sunshine of Florida and Arizona.

Baseball and February 14th have given us gives us Pete Rose of the Reds, Ellis Valentine of the Expos, Candy Maldanado of the Dodgers, John "The Candy Man" Candaleria of the Pirates, Bobby Valentine of the Angels, and these other ball players with that special last name.

So, Happy Valentine's Day baseball fans, continue to show your love to that someone special, the one that has always been there for you...every spring...baseball is back.

Bailey's Baseball Book Reviews: Now available: The Greatest Show on Dirt

Bailey's Baseball Book Reviews: Now available: The Greatest Show on Dirt: It’s been 20 years since I worked for the Durham Bulls. Somehow those three years I spent at old Durham Athletic Park feel closer to me than...

Family First Baseman in Motown.

My Detroit Tigers have made a huge splash in the baseball off season, signing free agent first baseman Prince Fielder to a nine year, $214 million dollar contract.

Of course, no Tigers fan can see this signing and not think about Prince's father, Cecil Fielder, who played 6+ years at first base and DH for the Tigers from 1990-96, before being traded to the Yankees.

This caught my eye today. 

This t-shirt is available for at The Detroit Sports Site.

Baseball Blogathon Weekend

As the winter cold sweeps across the country baseball season seems like a long off dream, but baseball never goes away, and this weekend is a great example.

From 8am Pacific time tomorrow, January 14th, until 8am PST on Sunday morning, the "Old Time Family Baseball" blog will be hosting a 24 HR baseball blog-a-thon.

The blog will be non stop baseball talk with contributions from a bevy of baseball bloggers, including  20 of the best baseball writers on the web.

The non stop baseball talk is all in the name of charity, as the event tries to raise $2,000 for "Doctors Without Borders.org,"

The group provides medical help to over 60 countries threatened by "violence, neglect, or catastrophe ."

Their will also be a simultaneous watching of some old baseball movies, and a giveaway raffle for anyone who donates to Doctors Without Borders.

So, go check out the baseball fun, participate in the bolgging of baseball, and please, donate if you can.

How about some baseball trivia?

I love trivia, especially baseball trivia.

The grand history of baseball makes trivia special when the National Pastime is involved.

 Quick, can you name the big league who won 59 games before 1900?

How about the first two teams to play in the very first World series?

John Thorn is Major League Baseball's Official historian, and his knowledge is equaled by no one.

Check out this great article John wrote about his early TV fame and baseball trivia.....it's right here.

The questions are very cool, some easy, some not so much.

Good luck, let me know how you did....P.S...Old Hoss Radbourn and the Pittsburgh Pirates/ Boston Pilgrims are helpful information.

Barry Larkin gaines election onto the Baseball Hall of Fame

Former Cincinnati Reds and Michigan Wolverine shortstop Barry Larkin has been voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Larkin spent his entire 19 year big league career with the Reds, batting .295, with 198 HRS and 960 RBI.

Larkin was the 1995 National League Most Valuable Player,  and played in 12 All-Star games.

The Reds won the 1990 World Series with Larkin at shortstop.

Larkin received 86.4 % of the vote from members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

 To gain entry into the HOF one must receive 75% of the total vote of all ballots cast by members of the BBWAA.

Earlier this year the Baseball Bloggers Alliance,  of whom I'm a member, recommended that Larkin, along with former Houston Astos 1st baseman Jeff Bagwell, be elected into the hall.

Larkin was on my ballot, as was Bagwell.

I also voted for Jack Morris, Allan Trammell, Dale Murphy, Larry Walker, Tim Raines, Edgar Martinez, and Don Mattingly.

Here is a link to the list of all BBWAA members and whom they voted for.

Induction for Larkin, along with Golden Era Committee selection, the late Ron Santo of the Chicago Cubs, broadcaster Tim McCarver, the Ford C. Frick winner, and baseball writer Bob Elliot, the J.G. Taylor Spinks winner,will be on July 22nd, 2012.