Top Stories
Square Pegs, Round Holes, and Concrete Doughnuts
September 3, 2024 · by Frank Jackson · Leave a Comment
Eighteen-year veteran Richie Hebner once opined “I can stand at the plate at the Vet in Philadelphia, and I don’t honestly know whether I’m in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, St. Louis or Philly.” Having spent his 1969 rookie year at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field, he couldn’t help but notice the difference between that storied structure and its successor, Three Rivers Stadium, his home turf for the next seven seasons. Well, Richie, your slash line of .276/.352/.438 isn’t bad, but if you’d paid more attention to the pitcher and less attention to the surroundings, maybe you’d be in Cooperstown. ... [Read the full story]
General
The League of Mysterious Baseballists
September 3, 2024 · by Frank Jackson · Leave a Comment
Twenty-First and Lehigh is a painting by Thomas Kolendra When I was growing up, I lived in a National League metro area. The only games I saw in person were Philadelphia Phillies games, and all I heard on the radio or saw on television were Phillies games. There was a Game of the Week with Dizzy Dean on CBS but it was not available in Philadelphia or any other city that hosted major league baseball. Consequently, I became very familiar with the Phillies and somewhat familiar with the other National League teams, a mere 7 in those days. Given that manageable number and less roster turnover... [Read the full story]
Features
Gold Glove, Golden Memories: So long, Brooks
September 27, 2023 · by Austin Gisriel · Leave a Comment
I have dreaded this day since I was old enough to truly appreciate the perspective that mortality brings. I just heard that Brooks Robinson has died. It must be true because something is gone inside of me. Maybe the last vestiges of childhood innocence that have hung around for these 66 years. Maybe the ultimate rejection of that fantasy that somehow Life will go back to the way it was, and once again we’ll be in the early morning of our hopes and dreams. Yes, this baseball player meant that much to a generation of Baltimoreans; a ballplayer about whom as Gordon Beard, a former AP sports writer... [Read the full story]
Hall of Fame
WAR and Win Shares and Charlie Blackmon
March 23, 2019 · by Michael Hoban · 1 Comment
It appears that WAR, in attempting to assign a single number to represent a player’s season, has a problem with fielding. And the problem is not so much with the player’s defensive WAR score – but rather with trying to COMBINE this score with the offensive WAR. A very good or very poor fielding score appears to seriously distort the player’s total WAR score. As an example, Matt Chapman had a great fielding season at third base in 2018 and his situation illustrates quite well why WAR does a relatively good job of evaluating his offensive value (oWAR) and his defensive value (dWAR)... [Read the full story]
Minors
Principal Park: Despite City’s Size, Ballpark Has Big Impact
June 30, 2018 · by Kevin Johnson · Leave a Comment
Minor league baseball a Des Moines, Iowa, staple at same location since 1947 Submitted by Steve Dunn Located at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers in Des Moines, Iowa, Principal Park and its two predecessors have hosted professional baseball since Friday, June 20, 1947. One of the more unique games in minor league history was played nearly 61 years later at Principal Park on Saturday, June 14, 2008. With widespread flooding in central Iowa, the Iowa Cubs and Nashville Sounds played a Triple A Pacific Coast League game that drew an official attendance of zero. “The only other... [Read the full story]
General
The League of Mysterious Baseballists
September 3, 2024 by Frank JacksonTwenty-First and Lehigh is a painting by Thomas Kolendra When I was growing up, I lived in a National League metro area. The only games I saw in person were Philadelphia Phillies games, and all I heard on the radio or saw on television were Phillies games. There was a Game of the Week with Dizzy Dean on CBS but it was not available in Philadelphia... Read more of this article
Barry Shetrone: O’s Bright Prospect Whose Promise Was Unfulfilled
August 4, 2024 by Barry SparksSpeedy outfielder was once compared to Vada Pinson Barry Shetrone was one of the Baltimore Orioles’ brightest prospects when they signed him for $4,000 after he graduated from Southern High School in 1956. Although he became the first Baltimorean to play for the modern-day Orioles (1954 to present), he never fulfilled his promise. He played... Read more of this article
Baseball’s First Phenom
July 6, 2024 by Frank JacksonNary a season goes by without the chattering classes of our national pastime heralding the arrival of one or more phenoms. The phrase “can’t miss” is bandied about with the self-assurance of racetrack touts. If you’re keeping score at home, however, you have probably noted how many can’t-miss players fail to live up to their billing. Sooner... Read more of this article
The Vanishing Pinch-Hitter
March 30, 2024 by Frank JacksonRed Lucas Let’s start this essay with a FUN FACT: the Spanish term for pinch-hitter is bateador emergente, or emergency batter. Now there’s a phrase I’d like to see catch on in anglophone play-by-play accounts. It enhances the drama of the situation. I don’t think there are fewer emergencies in contemporary baseball than in ye olden times, but... Read more of this article
Often Overlooked Johnny Mize Put Up Impressive Numbers
March 30, 2024 by Barry SparksTed Williams said, “Johnny Mize was one of baseball’s most outstanding hitters.” Indeed, Mize, a first baseman, was a feared slugger who clouted 369 homers and a compiled a career batting average of .312. He was the first player to knock 50 homers (51 in 1947) and strike out less than 50 times. The big, quiet Georgian led the National... Read more of this article
Walter Johnson’s Beanball Stymied Nemesis Home Run Baker
March 9, 2024 by Barry SparksFrank “Home Run” Baker For nearly a decade, four-time home run champ Frank “Home Run” Baker and strikeout king Walter Johnson waged one of the most intense rivalries in the American League. From 1909 through 1913, the Philadelphia Athletics slugger dominated the Washington Senators fireballer. When Johnson was considered unhittable... Read more of this article
Uni-Cycling, Bi-Cycling, Tri-Cycling…And Beyond?
March 9, 2024 by Frank JacksonBobby Veach At some point during the 2024 season, you might hear your hometown play-by-play announcer say, “He’s only a (single/double/triple/homer) away from the cycle.” More than likely, it will be a triple, since that it is the least likely result of any plate appearance that results in a hit. If said hitter does complete the cycle, you can... Read more of this article
Magical History Tour: Of Beatles And Ballparks
February 3, 2024 by Frank JacksonA common Seamhead quest is to see a ballgame at every major league ballpark. Some attempt to do it in one season; others (myself included) take their time. And some aficionados sign up for those bus tours that promise eight ballparks in eight days; in other words, if it’s Tuesday, this must be Detroit. That’s a good way to check of a lot of boxes... Read more of this article
The 400 K Club
December 31, 2023 by Frank JacksonAt the end of the 1965 season, Sandy Koufax, though just one year away from retirement, was riding high. He led the National League in wins (26), ERA (2.04), and complete games (27) while setting a major league record with 382 strikeouts. Less than a decade later (1973), Nolan Ryan astounded the baseball world by striking out 383 batters on his... Read more of this article
Major Managers in Minor League History
December 16, 2023 by Frank JacksonEvery now and then we read about a scout, coach, or manager who is described as a baseball “lifer.” Well, that word also applies to someone serving a life sentence in prison. Read into that what you will. Being a lifer is better than being on death row, I guess. Of course, organized baseball does not have a literal death sentence. Nine men... Read more of this article
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Features
Gold Glove, Golden Memories: So long, Brooks
by Austin GisrielI have dreaded this day since I was old enough to truly appreciate the perspective...
Cheap and Ugly in the Capitol
by Ted LeavengoodCalvin Griffith (AP Photo/John Duricka ) Upon Googling: “Cheapest Baseball...
Making the Game Fun Again
by Ted LeavengoodAs the season loomed large in the late winter months, a friend who had prepared a...
Stories Over Stats
by Austin GisrielWhile on our way to breakfast Saturday morning, the subject of former Oriole, now...
Aaron Judge in a Nationals Uniform?
by Ted LeavengoodNo, I did not predict Josh Bell going to San Diego, but who did? In my defense, just...
More Posts From Features
Hall of Fame
WAR and Win Shares and Charlie Blackmon
by Michael HobanIt appears that WAR, in attempting to assign a single number to represent a player’s...
The BBWAA “Report Card” for the 21st Century
by Michael HobanThe CAWS Career Gauge (CCG) has ranked all of the outstanding players of the modern...
WAR and JAWS – Exaggerating Fielding Value
by Michael HobanIn an earlier post, I pointed out that Matt Chapman’s WAR value for 2018 (8.2)...
A Problem with WAR = Defensive Value
by Michael HobanMy primary research interest has always been determining which players had the best...
The Four CAWS HOF Benchmarks for Pitchers
by Michael HobanIn a previous post re Koufax and Kershaw, I mentioned one of the benchmarks created...
More Posts From Hall of Fame
Minors
Principal Park: Despite City’s Size, Ballpark Has Big Impact
by Kevin JohnsonMinor league baseball a Des Moines, Iowa, staple at same location since 1947 Submitted...
Max Watt: The Boston Red Sox’s Power Pitching Prospect
by Andrew MartinScouting is an integral part of professional baseball. Teams employ and send out...
Suns’ First Pitch Thrown By Suns’ First Pitcher
by Austin GisrielThe Hagerstown Suns of the South Atlantic League asked the retiring sheriff of nearby...
An Interview with Boston Red Sox Prospect Nick Longhi
by Andrew MartinGrowing up rooting for a baseball team, and striving to get into position to one...
Carroll enjoys staying on his grind
by Paul GothamROCHESTER, NY – More than a decade has passed since Brett Carroll roamed...
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