“Vida Blue,” Albert Jones
Posted: September 2, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, Pop culture | Tags: Albert Jones, All-Star Game, American League, Baseball, Cy Young Award, Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award, MLB, music, National League, Oakland Athletics, sports, Vida Blue 1 CommentVida Blue was a left-handed pitcher who is primarily known as a vital member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty that won three consecutive World Series championships from 1972 to 1974. Blue won the American League Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971, and he was the first pitcher ever to start the All-Star Game for both the American League (1971) and the National League (1978).
This tribute by Albert Jones was released in 1971.
This day in baseball: Ken Hubbs passes
Posted: February 13, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Chicago Cubs, history, Ken Hubbs, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League, Rookie of the Year, sports 2 CommentsOn February 13, 1964, Cubs second baseman Ken Hubbs died at the age of 22 when the red and white Cessna 172 plane he was piloting crashed a quarter-mile south of Bird Island in Utah Lake in the midst of a winter storm. Hubbs had taken flying lessons for the previous two off-seasons to overcome his fear of flying, obtaining his license just the previous month. Ken Hubbs had been the1962 NL Rookie of the Year.
Ken Hubbs in 1964 (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: Frick is NL’s public relations director
Posted: February 6, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Ford Frick, history, John Heydler, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League Leave a commentOn Feburary 6, 1934, New York news reporter and broadcaster Ford Frick was named the National League’s public relations director. In November of that same year, Frick would be elected as the president of the Senior Circuit, replacing John A. Heydler, who resigned due to poor health.
Ford Frick at the 1937 All-Star Game (Library of Congress)
RIP Tommy Lasorda
Posted: January 9, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, 21st Century | Tags: Baseball, Baseball Hall of Fame, Brooklyn Dodgers, Kansas City Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, National Baseball Hall of Fame, National League, sports, Tommy Lasorda, World Series Leave a commentTommy Lasorda was born September 22, 1927. He was a hardcore baseball lifer, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954 and 1955 and for the Kansas City Athletics in 1956. After retiring from playing, Lasorda worked as a scout for the Dodgers and eventually worked his way into coaching. He coached for the Dodgers from 1973 through 1976 before taking over as manager of the club. Lasorda led the Dodgers to four NL pennants and two World Series championships during his tenure. Upon retiring from the managerial position in 1996, he continued to work for the Dodgers in a variety of roles for the rest of his life.
Lasorda was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 as a manager in his first year of eligibility. He died January 7, 2021 from a cardiopulmonary arrest in Fullerton, California at the age of 93.
Rest in peace.
LA Dodgers
This day in baseball: Umpire vision requirements are instituted
Posted: December 15, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, 21st Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League, sports, Tom Lynch Leave a commentDuring a session held on December 15, 1910 at the Hotel Breslin in New York, National League president Tom Lynch announced to owners that umpires would be required to take what he called a “severe” eye test before the start of the season. As a result of the decree, any arbitrator found to have defective eyesight would not be permitted to work.
To this day, MLB umpires are required to demonstrate 20/20 vision, either with or without corrective lenses.
RIP Dick Allen
Posted: December 12, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, 21st Century | Tags: All-Star Game, American League, Baseball, Chicago White Sox, Dick Allen, Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award, MLB, National League, Philadelphia Phillies, Rookie of the Year, sports 5 CommentsI am well behind on this one. Dick Allen passed away this past Monday, December 7, 2020 at the age of 78.
Richard Anthony Allen was born March 8, 1942 in Wampum, Pennsylvania. During his fifteen-season Major League Baseball career, he appeared primarily as a first baseman, third baseman, and outfielder, most notably for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox. Allen was named to the All-Star team seven times. He won the 1964 NL Rookie of the Year Award and the 1972 AL Most Valuable Player Award. He also led the AL in home runs for two seasons, led the NL in slugging percentage one season and the AL in two seasons, and led each major league in on-base percentage, one season each. He finished his career with a .292 batting average and a .534 slugging percentage.
The Philadelphia Phillies retired Dick Allen’s number 15 on September 3, 2020. He was also inducted into the Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals in 2004.
Rest in peace.
Dick Allen, c. 1965 (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: World Series rotation set
Posted: December 10, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: American League, Baseball, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League, sports, World Series Leave a commentOn December 10, 1924, the American League and National League agreed to a rotation system for the World Series. According to the agreement, Games 1 and 2 would take place at one league’s park, the next three at the other team’s home field, with the final two games (if needed) back at the first venue. The NL was granted the inaugural advantage in following season’s Fall Classic.
1925 World Series booklet (milehighcardco.com)
This day in baseball: Carlton’s third Cy Young
Posted: November 4, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Cy Young Award, Jim Palmer, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League, Philadelphia Phillies, Sandy Koufax, sports, Steve Carlton, Tom Seaver 2 CommentsOn November 4, 1980, Steve Carlton was awarded the Cy Young Award, joining Sandy Koufax, Tom Seaver, and Jim Palmer as pitchers who have won three Cy Young Awards. Carlton collected all but one of the 24 first-place votes to take National League honors. Carlton finished the 1980 season with a 24-9 record and a 2.34 ERA, and he also led the National League with 286 strikeouts.
Steve Carlton in 1983 (Wikipedia)
2020 Postseason schedule
Posted: September 16, 2020 Filed under: 21st Century | Tags: American League, Baseball, coronavirus, COVID-19, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League, sports, World Series Leave a commentIn case you missed it, Major League Baseball announced the tentative 2020 postseason schedule yesterday. I confess, I never expected that baseball would make it this far in the midst of the pandemic, and yet, here we are. This unusual year just keeps getting more interesting.
Buckle up. This postseason is going to be wild. pic.twitter.com/IOTjCJ4InI
— MLB (@MLB) September 15, 2020
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RIP Lou Brock
Posted: September 7, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, 21st Century | Tags: All-Star Game, Baseball, Lou Brock, Major League Baseball, MLB, National Baseball Hall of Fame, National League, St. Louis Cardinals, Ty Cobb 2 CommentsLou Brock spent the majority of his nineteen-year Major League career as a left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb’s all-time stolen base record in 1977. He was a six-time All-Star, and he led the National League in stolen bases for eight seasons. Brock led the NL in doubles and triples in 1968, and in singles in 1972. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.
Lou Brock passed away yesterday, September 6, 2020 at the age of 81.
RIP.
Lou Brock as a coach in 2005 (wikipedia)
