On August 12, 1964, Yankees outfielder Mickey Mantle set a major league record hitting home runs from both sides of the plate for the tenth time in his career. The feat assisted rookie pitcher Mel Stottlemyre in winning his major league debut.
Baseball is for every boy a good, wholesome sport. It brings him out of the close confinement of the schoolroom. It takes the stoop from his shoulders and puts hard, honest muscle all over his frame. It rests his eyes, strengthens his lungs, and teaches him self-reliance and courage. Every mother ought to rejoice when her boy says he is on the school or college nine.
~Walter Camp, 1889
I remember watching Carlos Beltrán during his early Major League years with the Royals, and he was exciting to watch from day one. He had quite the career, and I am glad to see him inducted into the Hall of Fame.
August 2nd is National Coloring Book Day — one of those random, unofficial fun holidays that someone somewhere decided might be fun to celebrate. What’s fun about coloring is that it is not just an activity for kids anymore. Many adults now get involved with coloring, not only for the fun of it, but also because of how relaxing the activity can be.
If you are interested in participating in this admittedly random, albeit enjoyable, celebration, here are a handful of fun, baseball-themed coloring pages I found:
About one hundred miles west of Philadelphia, a train carrying fans to the Phillies-Pirates game derailed on July 28, 1962. Three of the train’s cars rolled down a twenty-five-foot embankment into the Susquehanna River. According to some reports, 19 were killed in the wreck, whereas others report 22 killed, and more than one hundred fans were injured.
Fourteen adjoining rows of empty seats along first-base line in Connie Mack Stadium were especially conspicuous that day, as 12,450 spectators watch the home team beat the Pirates, 9-2.
If you are interested in reading more about this gruesome train wreck, you can find the New York Times‘ coverage of the event here.
Or you can view video footage from the wreck in the report below:
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.
