Does baseball really need another round of playoffs? Check out the following statement from Commissioner Bud Selig regarding his feelings on expanding baseball's playoff format. How do you feel about baseball wanting to add another round? Where is the support coming from?
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Book Review: Stan the Man: The Life and Times of Stan Musial
Stan the Man: The Life and Times of Stan Musial
Wayne Stewart
Triumph Books, 2010
256 pp.
Somehow Stan Musial's name seems to be omitted when discussing the upper echelon of baseball's royalty. He ranks fourth all time in hits (3,630), sixth in RBI's (1,951), appeared in 24 All-Star games and won the National League MVP award three times. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969 with over 93% of the votes.
Donora, PA native Wayne Stewart does his best to elevate Musial's standing in the public eye with his biography, "Stan the Man: The Life and Times of Stan Musial."
Stewart treads down a similar path that others have traveled chronicling Musial's upbringing in the small town of Donora. We watch Musial develop into a multi-sport athlete at Donora High School where he would play with Buddy Griffey, the patriarch to the Griffey baseball legacy. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals at the age of 18 out of high school and the rest shall we say has been well documented.While Stewart attempts to follow Musial through his Hall of Fame career, he leaves bits and pieces of different stories hanging, leaving you wondering why certain anecdotes weren't further developed or why they were mentioned in the first place. He attempts to fill the gaps by quoting some of Musial's living teammates and opponents, most notably Carl Erskine, who is frequently quoted during the book. Conspicuously absent are testimonials from Musial's long time teammates Red Schoendienst, Marty Marion and Musial himself.
For the younger fans who aren't familiar with the achievements of Musial, "Stan The Man" will serve as a primer about the Cardinal great to whom Albert Pujols respectfully deferred the title of "El Hombre". For the baseball fan or historian that is searching for greater depth into the annals of Musial's career, they may not be satisfied by Stewart's work.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Rudy Rufer, former New York Giants infielder dies at 83
Rudy Rufer, who played 22 games for the New York Giants from 1949-1950 died October 25, 2010. He was just three days shy of his 84th birthday. Rufer grew up in Ridgewood, Queens and attended Aviation High School. He attended Dartmouth College, the University of Oklahoma and served in the Navy.
Rufer was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1948 and was quickly drafted by the Giants the next season. After hitting .266 at Jersey City in AAA, Rufer made his major league debut on September 22, 1949 in only his second year in professional ball. He would receive another cup of coffee in 1950, compiling two hits in 26 at-bats. He would play minor league ball until 1957, serving as a minor league manager from 1956-58 with the Class D Thomasville Dodgers.
Rufer transitioned into the role of a scout for the Dodgers organization, working in that capacity for 25 years. Unfortunately, in his waning years while recovering from cancer surgery, Rufer was robbed by one of his nurse's aides, stealing most of his baseball memorabilia including his World Series ring. Luckily the material was quickly recovered by police.
Rufer's passing leaves only 38 living players who played for the New York Giants before they moved to San Francisco in 1958.
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| Rudy Rufer |
Rufer was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1948 and was quickly drafted by the Giants the next season. After hitting .266 at Jersey City in AAA, Rufer made his major league debut on September 22, 1949 in only his second year in professional ball. He would receive another cup of coffee in 1950, compiling two hits in 26 at-bats. He would play minor league ball until 1957, serving as a minor league manager from 1956-58 with the Class D Thomasville Dodgers.
Rufer transitioned into the role of a scout for the Dodgers organization, working in that capacity for 25 years. Unfortunately, in his waning years while recovering from cancer surgery, Rufer was robbed by one of his nurse's aides, stealing most of his baseball memorabilia including his World Series ring. Luckily the material was quickly recovered by police.
Rufer's passing leaves only 38 living players who played for the New York Giants before they moved to San Francisco in 1958.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Valmy Thomas | First MLB player from the Virgin Islands dies at 84
Former New York Giants catcher and legend from the U.S. Virgin Islands Valmy Thomas passed away October 16 at his home in St. Croix at the age of 84.
Thomas made his debut for the New York Giants in 1957 and played five seasons for the Giants, Phillies, Orioles and Indians. As with many players of his era, Thomas shaved a few years off of his age to make him more palatable to scouts.
Born October 21, 1925, Thomas family quickly relocated to the Virgin Islands. Even though Thomas was born in Puerto Rico, he is widely considered to be the first player from the Virgin Island to play in the majors. He returned to St. Croix after his career ended to become a successful businessman as owner of United Sporting Goods in Watergut, St. Croix. He also served as an assistant commissioner of the former Department of Conservation and Cultural Affairs, where he oversaw recreation programs for hundreds of young sportsmen and women in the territory.
Thomas gained prominence in Puerto Rico where he earned the Rookie of the Year honors for the 1950-51 season for the Santurce Crabbers. He would later play on the Caribbean Series champion 1954-55 Santurce team, a team which many argue was the best winter league team ever assembled. The Crabbers of that season included budding major league and Negro League players Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, George Crowe, Buster Clarkson, Bob Thurman, Don Zimmer, Ronnie Sanford, Ruben Gomez, Sam Jones and Bill Greason.
Thomas made his debut for the New York Giants in 1957 and played five seasons for the Giants, Phillies, Orioles and Indians. As with many players of his era, Thomas shaved a few years off of his age to make him more palatable to scouts.
Born October 21, 1925, Thomas family quickly relocated to the Virgin Islands. Even though Thomas was born in Puerto Rico, he is widely considered to be the first player from the Virgin Island to play in the majors. He returned to St. Croix after his career ended to become a successful businessman as owner of United Sporting Goods in Watergut, St. Croix. He also served as an assistant commissioner of the former Department of Conservation and Cultural Affairs, where he oversaw recreation programs for hundreds of young sportsmen and women in the territory.
Thomas gained prominence in Puerto Rico where he earned the Rookie of the Year honors for the 1950-51 season for the Santurce Crabbers. He would later play on the Caribbean Series champion 1954-55 Santurce team, a team which many argue was the best winter league team ever assembled. The Crabbers of that season included budding major league and Negro League players Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, George Crowe, Buster Clarkson, Bob Thurman, Don Zimmer, Ronnie Sanford, Ruben Gomez, Sam Jones and Bill Greason.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A tour of the new Yankee Stadium
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| A view from center field |
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Baseball greats come out to support the Harrison Apar Field of Dreams Foundation
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Ike Davis aims at Mets rookie records
New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis is close to reaching the Mets rookie records for home runs and RBI's. Click here to see who he has surpassed and the player he is chasing.