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SAY HEY, AND BRING ON THE DODGERS!
Showing posts with label Willie Mays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Willie Mays. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Monday, April 04, 2022
Bedford & Sullivan Podcast: Talkin' Black and Orange with Gary Mintz of the New York Giants Preservation Society
Friday, February 25, 2022
Talking NYC's National League Legacy on the Bedford & Sullivan Podcast
From the desk: BEDFORD & SULLIVAN
Talking New York City's National League Legacy with
ONCE UPON A TIME IN QUEENS PRODUCER
FAITH AND FEAR IN FLUSHING's
The CONVERTED METS FAN
and me.
Play Ball!
Friday, February 26, 2021
Bedford & Sullivan Podcast: On Jackie Robinson, Negro Leagues Baseball, and Black History Month
From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS
BEDFORD & SULLIVAN
PODCAST
a Sam Maxwell Production
On Jackie Robinson, Negro Leagues Baseball, & Black History Month
⚾
GUEST PANEL
Author and Journalist David Krell
Negro League Historian, Speaker, Author Phil S. Dixon
Forbes Contributor, Baseball Historian, Interviewer Nick Diunte
Video Director and Producer hailing from Crown Heights, Phil Maillard
TheBrooklynTrolleyBlogger and host Sam Maxwell
120 minutes
This was simply one of the best broadcast that I have participated on in sometime. Lots of wisdom was given. https://t.co/vnzkZbjTE9
— Phil S. Dixon (@NegroLeagueMan) February 26, 2021
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
AND THE GREAT AMERICAN NARRATIVE
Sunday, August 02, 2020
On Monte Irvin: A New Jersey Titan and New York Giant
From the desk of: 100th Anniversary of Negro Leagues Baseball
Monte Irvin is born on February 10, 1919, at Haleburg, Alabama. His family moves north to New Jersey, where Monte attends and plays ball for East Orange High School, where he concurrently plays semi-pro ball with a negro team named the Smart Set at Hinchliffe Stadium in Patterson, N.J. There, he is scouted by Abe Manley-1, who signs the young Monte Irvin to a contract with the Negro National League Newark Eagles.
At 19-years of age, Irvin's 1938 professional debut is fleeting. Still effectively a rookie in 1939, he bats .257, with three home runs and 19 runs batted in, through 31 games and 109 at-bats. By 1940 Monte begins revealing his true talents. The shortstop slashes .371/.430/.573, with four home runs and 39 runs batted in, through 38 games and 143 at-bats. What follows are perhaps the best two seasons of his ten year Negro League career. In 1941 Monte Irvin led the Eagles in all major offensive categories, slashing .395/.441/.643 in 42 games and 157 at-bats with sixty hits, twelve doubles, eight home runs, and 48 runs batted in. Monte Irvins then spends most of the 1942 season playing in Mexico (in what is speculated to be a pay dispute between him and the Eagles) and a small portion with Newark. Irvin nevertheless slashes a prolific .412/.508/.792, with 21 home runs and 90 runs batted in, through 67 total games and 255 at-bats.
Monte spends the next three years (1943-1945) serving with the United States Army overseas in Europe. Two years before Jackie Robinson integrates major league baseball, Branch Ricky, in 1945, attempts to sign Irvin.2 Monte declines, citing his recent discharge from military service and what he deems a lack of game preparedness. As one of the greatest "what ifs" in all of baseball and American history, Monte Irvin himself says, "I don't have any regrets."-2
Now 27-years old, Irvin returns to Newark in time for the Eagles historic 1946 season. Allied with second baseman (and fellow Hall of Fame member) Larry Doby, the two are considered among the most extraordinary double-play combinations throughout baseball. Irvin hits five home runs at the plate and leads the Eagles with a .363 batting average and 53 RBI. Larry Doby hits a team-leading seven home runs while batting .339, with 47 runs batted in. On the mound, the Eagles boast an exceptional pair of double-digit winners. On Opening Day, May 5, 1946, Leon Day throws a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Stars. He posts an 11-2 record (13-4 overall) with a 2.41 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 123 innings pitched. Day leads the Negro National League in wins, complete games, innings pitched, and strikeouts. Max Manning posts a 10-2 record and 2.80 ERA with 63 strikeouts over 109.1 innings pitched. Complimenting Newark's one-two punch is pitching mate Rufus Lewis, who goes 7-2 with a 2.73 ERA and 49 strikeouts in thirteen appearances and 82.1 innings pitched. Lewis goes on to play an essential role in the Eagles' post-season to come.
Newark dominates the Negro National League regular season, soaring to a 50-20 (.714) record en route to a perch atop the standings (and a 54-24 record against all comers). The Eagles dethrone Homestead as Negro National League champions, snapping the Gray's historic string of nine consecutive pennants. Newark next braces for the Kansas City Monarchs, as the Negro National League champion is pitted against the Negro American League champion in the fifth ever Negro League World Series. Newark wins four games against three. Meanwhile, the veteran Monte Irvin makes the 1946 series a personal showcase, leading all hitters with a .462 batting average, a .533 OBP, three home runs, and a .885 slugging average. Monte's eight RBI for the series ranks second, two behind Kansas City center fielder Willard Brown.
Two more seasons pass. After spending his twenties with Newark, Monte's playing days with the Eagles end after the 1948 season. Newark owners Abe and Effa Manley sell the fabled Eagles. New ownership relocates the team to Houston, where they become affiliated with the Negro American League. But far more importantly, Monte Irvin is purchased by the New York Giants National League baseball club.
Perhaps this is why he is nicknamed Dr. Murder.
Monte Irvin, now 30-years old, debuts for the Giants in 1949, two full seasons ahead of Willie Mays' arrival in Manhattan. Irvin spends that first season split between the Polo Grounds and the Giants International League affiliate at Jersey City. By 1950, Monte is giving the National League a good taste of what they've been missing all these years, batting .299 with fifteen home runs and 66 runs batted in through 110 games and 374 at-bats. In 1951, Monte Irvin, following previous all-time Giants slugging greats, lays siege to National League pitchers. The 32-year old leads the team with a .312 batting average and .514 slugging average with 24 home runs, 121 runs batted in, and a team-high twelve stolen bases - all of which help elevate the Giants to their first National League pennant in fourteen years. Monte goes on to bat .458 in the 1951 World Series against the Yankees and successfully steals home. A broken ankle in 1952 limits Monte to just 46 games, but he returns in 1953 to post a .329 average, 21 home runs, and 97 runs batted in. The following season, Monte, Willie Mays, and Leo Durocher's New York Giants reach baseball's mountain top when in the 1954 Fall Classic, they sweep four games from the favored Cleveland Indians. Sadly, the following season abruptly turns into Monte's last with the Giants. At 37-years of age, he is selected by the Chicago Cubs in the November Rule V draft, and just like that, upper Manhattan's beloved outfielder is gone. Monte Irvin retires after the 1956 season. Seventeen years pass until in 1973, he is finally inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame, voted in by the Negro Leagues Committee.
1 - The Most Famous Woman in Baseball, Effa Manley and the Negro Leagues by Bob Luke
2 - Monte Irvin Created a Legacy MLB
3 - Leon Day SABR
Monte Irvin SABR
Negro League Stats SEAMHEADS
MLB STATS Baseball-Reference Monte Irvin
Kansas City PBS
1919 MONTE IRVIN 2016
INSCRIPTION
"I always felt like I had a mission in life,
I thought I was born to play sports."
A New Jersey Titan and New York City Giant
NEWARK EAGLES
1938 ~ 1948
Monte Irvin is born on February 10, 1919, at Haleburg, Alabama. His family moves north to New Jersey, where Monte attends and plays ball for East Orange High School, where he concurrently plays semi-pro ball with a negro team named the Smart Set at Hinchliffe Stadium in Patterson, N.J. There, he is scouted by Abe Manley-1, who signs the young Monte Irvin to a contract with the Negro National League Newark Eagles.
At 19-years of age, Irvin's 1938 professional debut is fleeting. Still effectively a rookie in 1939, he bats .257, with three home runs and 19 runs batted in, through 31 games and 109 at-bats. By 1940 Monte begins revealing his true talents. The shortstop slashes .371/.430/.573, with four home runs and 39 runs batted in, through 38 games and 143 at-bats. What follows are perhaps the best two seasons of his ten year Negro League career. In 1941 Monte Irvin led the Eagles in all major offensive categories, slashing .395/.441/.643 in 42 games and 157 at-bats with sixty hits, twelve doubles, eight home runs, and 48 runs batted in. Monte Irvins then spends most of the 1942 season playing in Mexico (in what is speculated to be a pay dispute between him and the Eagles) and a small portion with Newark. Irvin nevertheless slashes a prolific .412/.508/.792, with 21 home runs and 90 runs batted in, through 67 total games and 255 at-bats.
Monte spends the next three years (1943-1945) serving with the United States Army overseas in Europe. Two years before Jackie Robinson integrates major league baseball, Branch Ricky, in 1945, attempts to sign Irvin.2 Monte declines, citing his recent discharge from military service and what he deems a lack of game preparedness. As one of the greatest "what ifs" in all of baseball and American history, Monte Irvin himself says, "I don't have any regrets."-2
"Monte was the choice of all Negro National and American League club owners to serve as the #1 player to join a white major league team." - Effa Manley 2
Now 27-years old, Irvin returns to Newark in time for the Eagles historic 1946 season. Allied with second baseman (and fellow Hall of Fame member) Larry Doby, the two are considered among the most extraordinary double-play combinations throughout baseball. Irvin hits five home runs at the plate and leads the Eagles with a .363 batting average and 53 RBI. Larry Doby hits a team-leading seven home runs while batting .339, with 47 runs batted in. On the mound, the Eagles boast an exceptional pair of double-digit winners. On Opening Day, May 5, 1946, Leon Day throws a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Stars. He posts an 11-2 record (13-4 overall) with a 2.41 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 123 innings pitched. Day leads the Negro National League in wins, complete games, innings pitched, and strikeouts. Max Manning posts a 10-2 record and 2.80 ERA with 63 strikeouts over 109.1 innings pitched. Complimenting Newark's one-two punch is pitching mate Rufus Lewis, who goes 7-2 with a 2.73 ERA and 49 strikeouts in thirteen appearances and 82.1 innings pitched. Lewis goes on to play an essential role in the Eagles' post-season to come.
"If we had one game to win, we
wanted Leon to pitch." - Monte Irvin 3
wanted Leon to pitch." - Monte Irvin 3
Newark dominates the Negro National League regular season, soaring to a 50-20 (.714) record en route to a perch atop the standings (and a 54-24 record against all comers). The Eagles dethrone Homestead as Negro National League champions, snapping the Gray's historic string of nine consecutive pennants. Newark next braces for the Kansas City Monarchs, as the Negro National League champion is pitted against the Negro American League champion in the fifth ever Negro League World Series. Newark wins four games against three. Meanwhile, the veteran Monte Irvin makes the 1946 series a personal showcase, leading all hitters with a .462 batting average, a .533 OBP, three home runs, and a .885 slugging average. Monte's eight RBI for the series ranks second, two behind Kansas City center fielder Willard Brown.
Two more seasons pass. After spending his twenties with Newark, Monte's playing days with the Eagles end after the 1948 season. Newark owners Abe and Effa Manley sell the fabled Eagles. New ownership relocates the team to Houston, where they become affiliated with the Negro American League. But far more importantly, Monte Irvin is purchased by the New York Giants National League baseball club.
Monte Irvin's Ten Seasons With Newark, according to Negro Leagues Data Base @ SEAMHEADS
NOTE: In any given year Negro League seasons could have consisted anywhere between 30 to 80 games sans barnstorming.
In 353 career games with Newark Monte posts a career slash .347/.425/.572, with 61 home runs, and 338 runs batted in. SEAMHEADS translates this into an average 162 game season and this is what they come up with:
- AB: 593
- Runs: 133
- Hits: 206
- Doubles: 32
- HR: 28
- RBI: 155
- Slash: .347/425/.572
Perhaps this is why he is nicknamed Dr. Murder.
Monte Irvin, now 30-years old, debuts for the Giants in 1949, two full seasons ahead of Willie Mays' arrival in Manhattan. Irvin spends that first season split between the Polo Grounds and the Giants International League affiliate at Jersey City. By 1950, Monte is giving the National League a good taste of what they've been missing all these years, batting .299 with fifteen home runs and 66 runs batted in through 110 games and 374 at-bats. In 1951, Monte Irvin, following previous all-time Giants slugging greats, lays siege to National League pitchers. The 32-year old leads the team with a .312 batting average and .514 slugging average with 24 home runs, 121 runs batted in, and a team-high twelve stolen bases - all of which help elevate the Giants to their first National League pennant in fourteen years. Monte goes on to bat .458 in the 1951 World Series against the Yankees and successfully steals home. A broken ankle in 1952 limits Monte to just 46 games, but he returns in 1953 to post a .329 average, 21 home runs, and 97 runs batted in. The following season, Monte, Willie Mays, and Leo Durocher's New York Giants reach baseball's mountain top when in the 1954 Fall Classic, they sweep four games from the favored Cleveland Indians. Sadly, the following season abruptly turns into Monte's last with the Giants. At 37-years of age, he is selected by the Chicago Cubs in the November Rule V draft, and just like that, upper Manhattan's beloved outfielder is gone. Monte Irvin retires after the 1956 season. Seventeen years pass until in 1973, he is finally inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame, voted in by the Negro Leagues Committee.
PLAQUE AT RENAMED MONTE IRVIN ORANGE PARK
"Monte Irvin was the best all-around
athlete I ever saw." - Roy Campanella
NEW YORK GIANTS
1949 ~ 1955
1 - The Most Famous Woman in Baseball, Effa Manley and the Negro Leagues by Bob Luke
2 - Monte Irvin Created a Legacy MLB
3 - Leon Day SABR
Monte Irvin SABR
Negro League Stats SEAMHEADS
MLB STATS Baseball-Reference Monte Irvin
Kansas City PBS
Friday, August 30, 2019
Amazin' Date 8/30/1969: Mets Defeat Gaylord Perry in Ten Innings
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
Game #128: Saturday, August 30, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ San Francisco Giants
Candlestick Park
The triumvirate of Don Cardwell, Ron Taylor, and Tug McGraw best Giants starter Gaylord Perry at Candlestick.
The Mets put up the first run of the day on Bud Harrelson's RBI hit in the second. In the third, however, Cardwell yields a lead off base hit to his counterpart then walks three straight forcing in a run. New York retakes the lead on Jerry Grote's hit to right scoring Ken Boswell from second in the sixth. But the Giants answer with haste in the seventh on Willie McCovey's double scoring former Mets all-star Ron Hunt. The game remains tied at two through nine, and into extra-innings they go. The Mets waste little time as Donn Clendenon with two outs in the tenth homers off Perry. Tug McGraw then retires the Giants in order.
Don Cardwell surrenders just two earned runs on five hits, but walks seven batters and fans two. He does not figure in the decision. Ron Taylor finishes up the eighth inning in relief of Cardwell. Tug McGraw earns his seventh victory of the season with two scoreless innings in relief of Taylor. Gaylord Perry pitches all ten innings, yielding three runs, two earned, on nine hits and no walks with nine strikeouts en route to his 11th loss of the season against 16 wins and a 2.63 ERA.
Clendenon hits his fifth home run since joining the Mets. Ken Boswell is 3 for 4 with a double and run scored. He is 9 for 20 (.450) since his return to action on Aug. 23 and in the midst of a six game hitting streak.
With their 75th victory of the season, the Mets even the series at one with a double-header on tap for Sunday. However they fail to gain ground on Chicago whom defeat the Braves at Atlanta. Willie Mays who has only played 12 games this month has yet to make an appearance this series.
AMAZIN'
THE MIRACLE METS
50th ANNIVERSARY
Game #128: Saturday, August 30, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ San Francisco Giants
Candlestick Park
The triumvirate of Don Cardwell, Ron Taylor, and Tug McGraw best Giants starter Gaylord Perry at Candlestick.
The Mets put up the first run of the day on Bud Harrelson's RBI hit in the second. In the third, however, Cardwell yields a lead off base hit to his counterpart then walks three straight forcing in a run. New York retakes the lead on Jerry Grote's hit to right scoring Ken Boswell from second in the sixth. But the Giants answer with haste in the seventh on Willie McCovey's double scoring former Mets all-star Ron Hunt. The game remains tied at two through nine, and into extra-innings they go. The Mets waste little time as Donn Clendenon with two outs in the tenth homers off Perry. Tug McGraw then retires the Giants in order.
Don Cardwell surrenders just two earned runs on five hits, but walks seven batters and fans two. He does not figure in the decision. Ron Taylor finishes up the eighth inning in relief of Cardwell. Tug McGraw earns his seventh victory of the season with two scoreless innings in relief of Taylor. Gaylord Perry pitches all ten innings, yielding three runs, two earned, on nine hits and no walks with nine strikeouts en route to his 11th loss of the season against 16 wins and a 2.63 ERA.
Clendenon hits his fifth home run since joining the Mets. Ken Boswell is 3 for 4 with a double and run scored. He is 9 for 20 (.450) since his return to action on Aug. 23 and in the midst of a six game hitting streak.
With their 75th victory of the season, the Mets even the series at one with a double-header on tap for Sunday. However they fail to gain ground on Chicago whom defeat the Braves at Atlanta. Willie Mays who has only played 12 games this month has yet to make an appearance this series.
- Mets Record: 75-53 (.586)
- N.L. East: 2nd; 4 GB
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Amazin' Date 6/11/1969: Giants Bring Soaring Mets to Screeching Halt
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
Game #53: Wednesday, June 11, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ San Francisco Giants
Candlestick Park
Mets Bow to Giants 7-2 at Candlestick Park; Win Streak Halted at Eleven.
The Mets enter game two at Candlestick Park undefeated (4-0) against the Giants this season, and in the midst of a season altering eleven game winning streak. By close of business Wednesday, starter Gaylord Perry and Willie Mays had put an end to all of it.
The Giants line-up waste little time getting after Mets rookie starter Gary Gentry. With one out in the bottom of the first, former Mets all-star second baseman Ron Hunt triples into the left/center gap. Willie Mays delivers Hunt with a single, and soon after would come around to score giving San Francisco an early 2-0 lead. Mays is at it again in the fourth, doubling home two more runs and knocking Gentry out of the box. With Tug McGraw pitching in relief of Ron Taylor in the sixth, Willie McCovey knocks in his 48th run of the season with a double as the Giants score three more times for a 7-0 lead.
Ed Kranepool finally put the Mets on the board with a lead-off home run in the seventh. Cleon Jones makes it a 2-7 deficit with an RBI in the eighth.
Gaylord Perry completes the game, allowing the two runs on just four hits and four walks, with four strikeouts. He improves to 9-5 on the season. Gentry lasts 3.1 innings while yielding four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts. His record evens out at 5-5 for the season with a 3.79 ERA.
Willie Mays goes 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI and a run scored. Ron Hunt is 3 for 5 with two runs scored against his former team. Ed Kranepool's home run was his sixth of the season.
AMAZIN'
THE MIRACLE METS
50th ANNIVERSARY
Game #53: Wednesday, June 11, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ San Francisco Giants
Candlestick Park
Mets Bow to Giants 7-2 at Candlestick Park; Win Streak Halted at Eleven.
The Mets enter game two at Candlestick Park undefeated (4-0) against the Giants this season, and in the midst of a season altering eleven game winning streak. By close of business Wednesday, starter Gaylord Perry and Willie Mays had put an end to all of it.
The Giants line-up waste little time getting after Mets rookie starter Gary Gentry. With one out in the bottom of the first, former Mets all-star second baseman Ron Hunt triples into the left/center gap. Willie Mays delivers Hunt with a single, and soon after would come around to score giving San Francisco an early 2-0 lead. Mays is at it again in the fourth, doubling home two more runs and knocking Gentry out of the box. With Tug McGraw pitching in relief of Ron Taylor in the sixth, Willie McCovey knocks in his 48th run of the season with a double as the Giants score three more times for a 7-0 lead.
Ed Kranepool finally put the Mets on the board with a lead-off home run in the seventh. Cleon Jones makes it a 2-7 deficit with an RBI in the eighth.
Gaylord Perry completes the game, allowing the two runs on just four hits and four walks, with four strikeouts. He improves to 9-5 on the season. Gentry lasts 3.1 innings while yielding four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts. His record evens out at 5-5 for the season with a 3.79 ERA.
Willie Mays goes 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI and a run scored. Ron Hunt is 3 for 5 with two runs scored against his former team. Ed Kranepool's home run was his sixth of the season.
- Mets Record: 29-24 (.547)
- N.L. East: 2nd; 7 GB
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Amazin' Date 5/30/1969: Mets Thrill Packed Shea with 4-3 Victory Over Giants
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
Game #43: Friday, May 30, 1969 - BR
San Francisco Giants @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium
Seaver and Swoboda Lead Mets Over Giants
As expected Shea Stadium was filled to capacity with both home town Metropolitan fans and the old forsaken and ever loyal Giants fans alike for the opening game of a weekend series against the reviled visitors from San Francisco.
The Mets undeniable ace Tom Seaver climbed the hill for New York City's National League squad and was opposed by San Francisco's southpaw Mike McCormick.
Leading off the top of the second, Willie "stretch" McCovey connected off Seaver for his 14th home run of the season. Former Mets standout and all-star second baseman Ron Hunt gave the Giants a 2-0 lead with an RBI base hit in the third. McCovey then drove in his second run of the game increasing the Giants lead to three on a sac fly to left off Seaver in the sixth.
Ron Swoboda finally got the Mets on the board when he connected off McCormick on a lead-off home run in the seventh. With two outs in the eighth, Ken Boswell knocked McCormick out of the box upon hitting his very first home run of the season. After which, Ron Swoboda and Duffy Dyer both drove in a run apiece with base hits off reliever Frank Linzy to give the Mets their final 4-3 margin of victory.
Tom Seaver pitched eight innings in a winning effort, allowing three earned runs on four hits and one walk, with eight strikeouts. He is now 7-3 for the season with a 2.53 ERA. Ron Taylor earned his second save, striking out both Willie Mays and Willie McCovey as part of a scoreless ninth.
AMAZIN'
THE MIRACLE METS
50th ANNIVERSARY
Game #43: Friday, May 30, 1969 - BR
San Francisco Giants @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium
Seaver and Swoboda Lead Mets Over Giants
As expected Shea Stadium was filled to capacity with both home town Metropolitan fans and the old forsaken and ever loyal Giants fans alike for the opening game of a weekend series against the reviled visitors from San Francisco.
The Mets undeniable ace Tom Seaver climbed the hill for New York City's National League squad and was opposed by San Francisco's southpaw Mike McCormick.
Leading off the top of the second, Willie "stretch" McCovey connected off Seaver for his 14th home run of the season. Former Mets standout and all-star second baseman Ron Hunt gave the Giants a 2-0 lead with an RBI base hit in the third. McCovey then drove in his second run of the game increasing the Giants lead to three on a sac fly to left off Seaver in the sixth.
FINAL
Giants 3
Mets 4
Ron Swoboda finally got the Mets on the board when he connected off McCormick on a lead-off home run in the seventh. With two outs in the eighth, Ken Boswell knocked McCormick out of the box upon hitting his very first home run of the season. After which, Ron Swoboda and Duffy Dyer both drove in a run apiece with base hits off reliever Frank Linzy to give the Mets their final 4-3 margin of victory.
Tom Seaver pitched eight innings in a winning effort, allowing three earned runs on four hits and one walk, with eight strikeouts. He is now 7-3 for the season with a 2.53 ERA. Ron Taylor earned his second save, striking out both Willie Mays and Willie McCovey as part of a scoreless ninth.
- Mets Record: 20-23 (.465)
- N.L. East: 3rd: 9 GB
Monday, December 03, 2018
Brodie's Inferno: Another Hot Stove Metsian Podcast
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
A METSIAN PODCAST
Hot Stove Report
48 Minutes
Mets fans wanted change; Brodie Van Wagenen brought us change!
Sam and I discuss and debate the acquisition of Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz from the Seattle Mariners, and the monetary and player costs involved; Noah Syndergaard trade rumors; the decision to non-tender Wilmer Flores and retain Travis d'Arnaud; Jim Riggleman hiring as bench coach; Allain Baird hiring as assistant GM and VP of player personnel and development; the politics of Robinson Cano wearing #24 traditionally kept in reserve out of respect for Willie Mays; and more.
#LGM
Wednesday, February 03, 2016
N.Y. Mets: The Revival Meeting Podcast
Here's our latest podcast at
Hosted by Sam the the Converted Met Fan,
and joined by Met Fan Rich, and myself.
Our featured guest was author Greg Prince
STUFF
Strangers in a strange land?
Mets have have nothing to worry about for a change?
The bullpen, spotlight on Lucas Duda,
even more Yoenis Cespedes, and Darrell Ceciliani.
Say Hey!
Players who've worn #24 in Mets history, the 1924 N.L. pennant race,
the New York Giants, and the continuing evolution of Citi Field.
Mike
Senior staff writer/Rising Apple
Monday, October 13, 2014
N.Y. Yankees: So Long Mr. November
From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY
New York Yankees: At night, mild mannered Derek Jeter turned into the notorious Gotham Hitman.
The 20-year playing career of Derek Jeter has ended.
It goes without saying, Derek was a professional on and off the field - always in total control of his affairs. He stayed humble, but more importantly remained his own man, which in NYC can be difficult to do. When GM Brian Cashman chose to callously negotiate Jeter's final extension through the media, the Captain chastised the organization for it. In a blue collar town, that was endearing.
Derek Jeter was my son's favorite. He's all my son has ever known. I was saddened for him upon Jeter's final game.
Me? I'm more practiced at seeing players come and go. Being older and a little more jaded, it's rare I get attached to singular players anymore. As a younger man, the advent of free agency helped ruin things somewhat. Some players have come close in my adult years, but I always knew Jeter was different from most players in my life as a New Yorker.
Suffice to say, my son had better luck with his childhood hero than I did with mine.
He was different - a throwback. His class stood out.
He transcends 3 different centuries of baseball. Jeter would have been as supremely respected in the Murray Hill clubhouse of the 1840s New York Knickerbockers as he was in modern day Yankee Stadium.
In New York City, obviously steeped in baseball history since its earliest day, rich with legendary teams and players of all eras, Derek Jeter will go down as one of its titans.
If you remember, there was a time Derek Jeter placed behind contemporary shortstops Nomar Garciapara, Alex Rodriguez, and Miguel Tejada, on statistical, as well as popularity lists. He may not have been the best to ever play shortstop, but Jeter was great throughout.
That said, let Derek Jeter be a lesson and reminder of what it really takes to be a Hall of Famer.
The entirety of his career was a relentless storm of hits, right through his 18th season when he led the American League with the second highest mark of his career. In the post-season, in short series competition, Mr. November's bat flashed with lightning and roared with thunder.
In the 139 years of professional baseball, only 5 players have more hits than Derek Jeter.
No other Yankee, no Met player, Giant or Dodger - no other New York City player even comes remotely close; not Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, Zack Wheat, Mel Ott, DiMaggio or Gehrig, the Duke of Flatbush, Pee Wee, the Scooter, et al... no one has more hits in this city than Jeter.
If you're old enough to have seen his whole career, like I did, then you had the opportunity to watch, listen or witness all 3,465 of them.
I only caught the 2nd half of Pete Rose's career, and the tail of Hank Aaron's career. So, in my life as a baseball fan, Derek Jeter is indeed the hit king.
At the time Derek Jeter signed his final contract extension, he owned a career .314 batting average. Going forward, my worry was that he would jeopardize his average, and fall below .300 like Mickey Mantle did.
Missing most of the 2013 regular season with an injury turned out to be a mixed bag of goods. In the end, Jeter started 2014 with a ,312 average, and finished the season with a career .310 batting average. I feel that adds much more polish to a career, than say a .307 average would have.
We'll never know what type of 2013 season he could have produced, but we do know it cost him an opportunity at finishing 5th on the all-time hit list. Only 2 American Leaguers have more. Tris Speaker ended his career with 3,515 hits. Jeter was just 50 hits away.
He'll go down as one of the city's elite: with Jim Creighton Jr., Christy Mathewson, Jackie Robinson, Tom Seaver, and numerous others including Lou Gehrig and the Highlander/Yankee legends of the last 100+ years.
Mike
Jeter's final series at Yankee Stadium against Baltimore
New York Yankees: At night, mild mannered Derek Jeter turned into the notorious Gotham Hitman.
The 20-year playing career of Derek Jeter has ended.
It goes without saying, Derek was a professional on and off the field - always in total control of his affairs. He stayed humble, but more importantly remained his own man, which in NYC can be difficult to do. When GM Brian Cashman chose to callously negotiate Jeter's final extension through the media, the Captain chastised the organization for it. In a blue collar town, that was endearing.
Derek Jeter was my son's favorite. He's all my son has ever known. I was saddened for him upon Jeter's final game.
Me? I'm more practiced at seeing players come and go. Being older and a little more jaded, it's rare I get attached to singular players anymore. As a younger man, the advent of free agency helped ruin things somewhat. Some players have come close in my adult years, but I always knew Jeter was different from most players in my life as a New Yorker.
Suffice to say, my son had better luck with his childhood hero than I did with mine.
He was different - a throwback. His class stood out.
He transcends 3 different centuries of baseball. Jeter would have been as supremely respected in the Murray Hill clubhouse of the 1840s New York Knickerbockers as he was in modern day Yankee Stadium.
In New York City, obviously steeped in baseball history since its earliest day, rich with legendary teams and players of all eras, Derek Jeter will go down as one of its titans.
If you remember, there was a time Derek Jeter placed behind contemporary shortstops Nomar Garciapara, Alex Rodriguez, and Miguel Tejada, on statistical, as well as popularity lists. He may not have been the best to ever play shortstop, but Jeter was great throughout.
That said, let Derek Jeter be a lesson and reminder of what it really takes to be a Hall of Famer.
The entirety of his career was a relentless storm of hits, right through his 18th season when he led the American League with the second highest mark of his career. In the post-season, in short series competition, Mr. November's bat flashed with lightning and roared with thunder.
In the 139 years of professional baseball, only 5 players have more hits than Derek Jeter.
No other Yankee, no Met player, Giant or Dodger - no other New York City player even comes remotely close; not Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, Zack Wheat, Mel Ott, DiMaggio or Gehrig, the Duke of Flatbush, Pee Wee, the Scooter, et al... no one has more hits in this city than Jeter.
If you're old enough to have seen his whole career, like I did, then you had the opportunity to watch, listen or witness all 3,465 of them.
I only caught the 2nd half of Pete Rose's career, and the tail of Hank Aaron's career. So, in my life as a baseball fan, Derek Jeter is indeed the hit king.
At the time Derek Jeter signed his final contract extension, he owned a career .314 batting average. Going forward, my worry was that he would jeopardize his average, and fall below .300 like Mickey Mantle did.
Missing most of the 2013 regular season with an injury turned out to be a mixed bag of goods. In the end, Jeter started 2014 with a ,312 average, and finished the season with a career .310 batting average. I feel that adds much more polish to a career, than say a .307 average would have.
We'll never know what type of 2013 season he could have produced, but we do know it cost him an opportunity at finishing 5th on the all-time hit list. Only 2 American Leaguers have more. Tris Speaker ended his career with 3,515 hits. Jeter was just 50 hits away.
He'll go down as one of the city's elite: with Jim Creighton Jr., Christy Mathewson, Jackie Robinson, Tom Seaver, and numerous others including Lou Gehrig and the Highlander/Yankee legends of the last 100+ years.
Mike
Saturday, September 21, 2013
N.Y. Yankees: Lou Gehrig Catches Another Bad Break
From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY
New York YANKEES: Resistive Faults In The Pinstripes.
The desecration of Baseball's all-time records continues as the career of Lou Gehrig catches another bad break. On Friday evening, Alex Rodriguez broke the Iron Horse's all-time record for most grand slam home runs in a career. The blast came in the bottom of the seventh inning during a 1-1 game against the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium. Reliever George Kontos gave up the record ridiculing blow. Alex Rodriguez now has twenty-four grand slam home runs during his infamous career.
On a related note, Alex Rodriguez needs just six more home runs to tie Willie Mays on the all-time list. With Friday night's knock, A-Rod now has 654 round trippers. Willie Mays is next with 660 homers. Eight games remain in the New York Yankees regular season. It is unlikely A-Rod reaches Willie this season, but certainly not out of the question. With any luck, A-Rod's full suspension sticks next season and beyond, and he never gets the chance. But hey, that's just me. My reasons are simple. Alex Rodriguez is a clear and obvious repeat PED offender. Nuf ced.
In fact, the Bronx was chock-full-o-news Friday evening. Andy Pettitte announced his retirement from the Yankees, again. But this time he says he means it, and I'm sure he does. Baseball after all, is a young man's game. Now what follows is the debate as to whether Andy is a Hall of Famer, and without hesitation, I say he is not. If Andy belongs anywhere, it would be in the Hall of Very Very Good. His career win percentage of .627% is nothing short of spectacular, and 255 career wins are awfully hard to achieve by any standard. His career ERA is an Amercan League'ish 3.89, to go along with a 1.354 WHiP, and he has over 2,400 strikeouts. In fourteen years of post-season play, he amassed a 19-11 record and 3.81 ERA. But alas, he was never one of the game's elite pitchers, just very, very clutch.
Both Andy and Alex make for an intriguing case study in likability. For most of his time spent playing in New York, Alex Rodriguez has served as the town pariah. Most everything he has said and done has been met with resistance and/or disdain from sizable pockets of the local and greater baseball population. Andy Pettitte however, has been a city darling since his rookie season in pinstripes. Everyone loves Andy. Right?
Both are baseball cheats, and neither one of them will escape that fact. Among all the known PED users to date, Andy Pettitte perhaps took the most humbling approach to his dilemma, and fessed up immediately, and openly. But that doesn't make anything right with regards to what he and ARod did. If you recall, Andy's memory had to be jarred a tad, in order to recall a second time he used. Which is fine, because he was always forthright with his involvement, and even testified against Roger Clemens.
With ARod, no such transparency exists. What started out as a loosey-goosey time for him just degenerated into a giant sham.
Mike.BTB
New York YANKEES: Resistive Faults In The Pinstripes.
The desecration of Baseball's all-time records continues as the career of Lou Gehrig catches another bad break. On Friday evening, Alex Rodriguez broke the Iron Horse's all-time record for most grand slam home runs in a career. The blast came in the bottom of the seventh inning during a 1-1 game against the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium. Reliever George Kontos gave up the record ridiculing blow. Alex Rodriguez now has twenty-four grand slam home runs during his infamous career.
On a related note, Alex Rodriguez needs just six more home runs to tie Willie Mays on the all-time list. With Friday night's knock, A-Rod now has 654 round trippers. Willie Mays is next with 660 homers. Eight games remain in the New York Yankees regular season. It is unlikely A-Rod reaches Willie this season, but certainly not out of the question. With any luck, A-Rod's full suspension sticks next season and beyond, and he never gets the chance. But hey, that's just me. My reasons are simple. Alex Rodriguez is a clear and obvious repeat PED offender. Nuf ced.
In fact, the Bronx was chock-full-o-news Friday evening. Andy Pettitte announced his retirement from the Yankees, again. But this time he says he means it, and I'm sure he does. Baseball after all, is a young man's game. Now what follows is the debate as to whether Andy is a Hall of Famer, and without hesitation, I say he is not. If Andy belongs anywhere, it would be in the Hall of Very Very Good. His career win percentage of .627% is nothing short of spectacular, and 255 career wins are awfully hard to achieve by any standard. His career ERA is an Amercan League'ish 3.89, to go along with a 1.354 WHiP, and he has over 2,400 strikeouts. In fourteen years of post-season play, he amassed a 19-11 record and 3.81 ERA. But alas, he was never one of the game's elite pitchers, just very, very clutch.
Both Andy and Alex make for an intriguing case study in likability. For most of his time spent playing in New York, Alex Rodriguez has served as the town pariah. Most everything he has said and done has been met with resistance and/or disdain from sizable pockets of the local and greater baseball population. Andy Pettitte however, has been a city darling since his rookie season in pinstripes. Everyone loves Andy. Right?
Both are baseball cheats, and neither one of them will escape that fact. Among all the known PED users to date, Andy Pettitte perhaps took the most humbling approach to his dilemma, and fessed up immediately, and openly. But that doesn't make anything right with regards to what he and ARod did. If you recall, Andy's memory had to be jarred a tad, in order to recall a second time he used. Which is fine, because he was always forthright with his involvement, and even testified against Roger Clemens.
With ARod, no such transparency exists. What started out as a loosey-goosey time for him just degenerated into a giant sham.
Mike.BTB
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