Some might ask what I mean by that. Simply said, either financially or emotionally, the fans always pay the price for their love of sports. Be it baseball, basketball, football, hockey, or any of the major sports, fans pay for it no matter how high or ridiculous the cost. A team builds a new stadium, fans pay for it whether they know it or not. Bonds, increased taxes, the city…
No, that is not the year I graduated from high school. I was already in the Army in June of 1968. Just turning 20 years old and recently returned from a trip to Virginia and North Carolina testing new Hawk Missile systems equipment by doing load tests on trains, planes, and ships. No, this is about the Dodgers draft class in June of 1968. Some say it is the best…
When the old-timer’s committee announced the results of their meeting and Gil Hodges became the latest Dodger to be enshrined at Cooperstown, I was elated. I had always felt Gil belonged. He was the best first baseman of his era. Although he did not garner enough writer support I felt they had made a mistake. The Veteran’s committee finally got it right. He is not entering alone, but he is…
Well for the first time in six weeks, the MLBPA and MLB met in a zoom type meeting where MLB brought its latest proposals to the table. The MLBPA was not impressed according to Jeff Passan and the chances spring training is delayed just escalated. Of course, we do not know at this point what proposal’s the players will submit. These were just base financial issues brought up today. The…
MLB hands out more awards than one might think. We all know about player of the week, month, and so on. They also award one for the rookie of the month. So I am checking out the Dodger media guide to see how the Dodgers have fared. The Dodgers have had 7 NL Rookies of the Month. Bellinger won the award twice, in May and June of 2017. Seager earned…
With little real news, I return to writing about what I love most about the Dodgers. Their history. Everyone knows the story, 1955 was a magical year for Brooklyn. And the Boys of Summer finally full filled all of the promise they had shown for years. For the record, the Dodgers went 98-55-1 finishing first in the 8 team National League. Managed by second-year manager, Walter Alston. Alston had replaced…
Back in Colorado after my holiday trip. Colder than a you know what. But baseball has not been off of my mind. My brother gifted me with 12 new bobbleheads…well not new, but new to me. Four Dodgers and a bunch of other guys! But I still followed all of the stories I could on my computer while there. I did get to watch a few of the season’s highlights…
The other day I did not have a whole lot to do after I finished packing my bags for my trip to California, so I watched Eight Men Out again. The movie is about the Black Sox scandal. And I knew well before I had ever seen this film about the 8 players banned for life by Judge Landis for conspiring to throw the series. What I learned is that…
Pitchers who wore them include, Ron Belisario, Corbin Burnes before he had lasik surgery, Tyler Clippard, Ryne Duren, who I remember well when he was an Angel. He once hit a batter in the on deck circle. Eric Gagne, Mel Harder, Joe Kelly, Jim Konstanty, Denny McLain, Kent Tekulve, Julio Urias, Bob Veale, and Fernando. And an umpire, Frank Umont. First ump to wear glasses.
No one chooses their time to die unless they take their own lives. And it can strike at any time from any direction. There have over the history of the game been many instances when players have passed away during the season, or in the off-season. 4 of those players were Hall of Fame members. The most prominent is Roberto Clemente, killed when his mercy flight to Haiti crashed into…