I used to get made fun of in the minor leagues. I’d be 0 for 2, and then in my last at-bat I’d hit a chopper that wouldn’t even reach the shortstop, and I’d get a hit out of it. The guys would be all over me, but a hit’s a hit. I’ll take 3,000 of ’em.
~Mike Trout
A friend shared this video with me, and I had to share for anyone else who has not seen this before. In a game between the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons on July 3, 2001, Pawtucket outfielder Izzy Alcántara was brushed back a couple of times by pitcher pitcher Blas Cedeño. Deciding he’d had enough, Alcántara abruptly karate-kicked catcher Jeremy Salazar before proceeding to the mound to throw an unsuccessful punch at Cedeño. The incident ignited a brawl between the two teams. Alcántara was suspended for six games and lost his spot on the International League’s All Star squad as a result of the incident.
Facing one another in a National League contest on July 5, 1935, Tony Cuccinello of the Dodgers and Al Cuccinello of the Giants both hit home runs. It was the first time in the National League that brothers on opposing teams homered in the same game.
You may not think you’re going to make it. You may want to quit. But if you keep your eye on the ball, you can accomplish anything.
~Hank Aaron
Happy Father’s Day to all the baseball dads: the players, the coaches, the fans, and those who support all the above.
On June 5, 1930, the Cleveland Indians defeated the Boston Red Sox in a rout, with a final score of 17-7. Cleveland scored nine runs in the first inning alone, and the team as a whole collected 25 hits. Every starter contributed at least two hits, except for shortstop Carl Lind, who managed a single in the contest at League Park in Cleveland. The box score for the game can be found here.
I hope everyone has a restful Memorial Day and experiences a moment to remember those who gave their lives for freedom.
On May 15, 1918, the Washington Senators defeated the Chicago White Sox, 1–0, at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. in an undeniably impressive pitching duel. Despite recording eighteen innings, the contest only lasted 2 hours and 47 minutes as Walter Johnson and Lefty Williams both went the distance in this game. Washington won the game in the bottom of the 18th, when Eddie Ainsworth scored the winning run on a wild pitch.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful moms of the world! Thank you for your support of the world’s baseball players and, of course, its baseball fans!
I know what my job is. I know what I’ve got to do. I’ve got to keep getting better.
~Andruw Jones
