Category Archives: A1 Baseball, General

Bloggers Alliance Votes for Larkin & Bagwell For Hall of Fame

Posted on January 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

BBA RECOMMENDS LARKIN, BAGWELL FOR HALL OF FAME

In the annual polling of members of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance, former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin and former Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell were recommended for induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  This is the third year the organization has conducted this survey of the membership.

Larkin, a 12-time All-Star who fashioned an .815 OPS over 19 seasons, received the largest percentage of votes, being named on 84.25% of the 148 ballots cast.  This is the highest percentage garnered by any player in the three years of BBA voting.

Bagwell, who hit 449 HR and had a .948 OPS in his 15 seasons in Houston, was selected on 115 ballots for a 78.77% rate.  As with the official voting done by the Baseball Writers of America, a player must be named on 75% of the ballots to be recommended by the alliance. Continue reading →

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Baseball’s Top Ten News Items in 2011

Posted on January 1, 2012 | Leave a comment

2011 World Champions St Louis Cardinals

The media’s full of articles and videos of the most newsworthy items about baseball this past year.   You might think this would be those articles you and I found the most interesting and representative of baseball throughout the country, but not necessarily so.

I compiled a list from a survey today of the “top 10” from USA Today, Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN.

Here’s the results and below that I’ve listed my own personal “Top Ten”.  How does your list compare?

TOP TEN FROM SURVEY

  1. St. Louis Cardinals, World Series Champions
  2. Justin Verlander,  AL Cy Young and MVP Winner
  3. Game 162 collapse of the Red Sox and Braves.
  4. Game 6 World Series between the Cardinals and Rangers
  5. Derek Jeter’s 3000th hit
  6. Ryan Braun’s Drug Test
  7. Jim Thome’s 600th Home Run
  8. Shannon Stone Fatal Fall at Rangers Stadium
  9. Mariano Rivera all time saves leader
  10. Bryan Stow beating at Dodger Stadium Continue reading →

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Posted in A1 Baseball, General, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals

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The Best All-time Baseball Movie? ….. You Decide!

Posted on December 20, 2011 | 3 comments

There’s nothing better than a bucket of buttered popcorn and a good baseball movie .  I’ve seen a lot of them and up until a month ago my very favorite was probably “For Love of the Game” with Kevin Costner.  Who wouldn’t love Costner in a baseball movie?  He’s such a “guy” as Kelly Preston tells him in the movie.  It’s about the perfect game and except for some flashbacks the entire story takes place in one day on a quest for the perfect game.  I’ve seen it at least seven times and will undoubtedly watch it seven more.

Jonah Hill in "Moneyball"

But on November 24 this year I could hardly contain myself waiting for “Moneyball” to open.   I waited for it with excitement and anticipation like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting for Christmas morning,   especially after reading the book.  And I wasn’t disappointed. Continue reading →

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Posted in A1 Baseball, General, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics

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Baseball Videos? These Come With a Warning!

Posted on December 11, 2011 | Leave a comment

Okay, maybe things were a little slow here today.  I mean there’s still a few more months until Spring Training and the football menu’s been a little lean since  Green Bay and the Niners  clinched their divisions, at least here at our house.   I spent way too much time looking at YouTube this afternoon, but did come up with a few little ditties to share with you.   Honestly, this stuff is addictive.  Take a look and you’ll see what I mean.

Geez!  They must have a really wide strike zone in Japan.  

Ouch!  Don’t try this at home kids.

I see a great career as a majorette if this doesn’t work out!

Seriously, this guy belongs on a football field.  Is there such a position as “baseball tackle”?

Note:  This is the end of my video selection.  If you are seeing an advertisement, my apologies.  It has been placed here without my permission. ~ Ronni, GFBB

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Posted in A1 Baseball, General, A5 Baseball Videos

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Ron Santo ….. Newest Selection to Baseball Hall of Fame!

Posted on December 6, 2011 | 2 comments

“Voice of Ron Santo Broadcasting”

I’ve spent most of the day researching Ron Santo and all I can say is I wish I could have known him.  What a character!  At least that seems to be the consensus of all who knew him.  A wonderful wacky yet sentimental man whose playing career ended in 1974, but is known more by the younger crowd of Chicago Cub fans for his career in the WGN broadcast booth as a color commentator.   Wikipedia has done an excellent job with a four page article that spans his birth in 1940 in Seattle,  Washington to his death on December 3, 2010 in Scottsdale, Arizona and includes his legacy and election into the Hall of Fame today.

Here’s a worthwhile commentary on Ron Santo’s Hall of Fame selection today by D. J. Short, Hardball Talk, 12/5/11

“The Veterans’ Committee just announced that the late Ron Santo has been elected to the Hall of Fame. Continue reading →

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Posted in A1 Baseball, General, A4 Uncategorized, A5 Baseball Videos, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox

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“TOP BASEBALL PLAYERS OF PAST 60 YEARS!” A Mathematical Study.

Posted on November 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

This is the third year we’ve published this study by Dr. Don Davis.  It’s one of our most popular blogs and we’re happy to be able to share it again with you.  Be sure to link to his website  for additional information, changes and criteria he used in compiling his study.

“2011 Baseball Players Mathematical Study, written by Don Davis, Department of Mathematics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA., and printed here with his permission.”

Pos’n First team Second team Third team Fourth team Fifth team
P,1 Roger Clemens, 266.0 Tom Seaver, 181.1 Bob Gibson, 140.4 Juan Marichal, 107.9 Curt Schilling, 85.1
P,2 Randy Johnson, 202.1 Warren Spahn, 167.5 Sandy Koufax, 137.8 Gaylord Perry, 102.8 Phil Niekro, 84.9
P,3 Greg Maddux, 197.5 Bob Feller, 157.6 Robin Roberts, 136.5 Roy Halladay, 102.1 Johan Santana, 84.6
P,4 Pedro Martinez, 187.5 Steve Carlton, 143.5 Jim Palmer, 133.2 Fergie Jenkins, 87.2 Nolan Ryan, 83.7
C Johnny Bench, 111.2 Yogi Berra, 92.9 Gary Carter, 75.6 Mike Piazza, 74.8 Ivan Rodriguez, 71.0 Continue reading →

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Posted in A1 Baseball, General, Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals

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A Thanksgiving Poem to Baseball

Posted on November 21, 2011 | 3 comments

"Here's to the little kid in all of us"

I’m  enjoying a visit with my family this week so I’m taking the Thanksgiving holiday a little early.  Here’s a poem that can easily be construed as one of  thanksgiving when looking back over the years and realizing how important baseball has been in my  life.

                                                   Dreams and Things        

  • If you had told me way back then
  • That baseball diamonds filled with men
  • Would somehow make my life a den
  • Of hopes and dreams and acumen
  • I doubt I would have listened.
  • That memories from way back then
  • of Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays,
  • Of Whitey Ford and double plays
  • Would somehow make my older days
  • Much better than my childhood Continue reading →

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Mike Matheny ~ Leading by Example

Posted on November 14, 2011 | 1 comment

“Example isn’t another way to teach, it is the  only way to teach. ~ Albert Einstein.”

Last week the sports world was shaken by an announcement about illegal, immoral, unethical, sickening and a zillion other adjectives you could use to describe activities  that have been allowed to exist while the powers-that-be looked the other way.  And then yesterday another college has come forth with a similar situation.  We’ll just have to wait and see how many more are involved.

Mike Matheny as the Giants Catcher

So last night as I was getting ready to shut down for the evening I caught a headline that had crept into my blogosphere:  “Mike Matheny to Become New Cardinals Manager.”  Did I read this right?  How can this be?  I was thinking about the popular catcher the Giants signed to a three-year contract back in 2004.  In his first season with the Giants, Matheny won not only a Gold Glove Award but also the coveted Willie Mac Award given for spirit and leadership.   But the next year was not so kind to Mike as a series of foul balls pummeled his catcher’s mask resulting in a serious concussion that eventually ended his playing career.   I’d heard he went back to St. Louis where he’d played previously and was hired as a consultant or adviser or something. Continue reading →

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Posted in A1 Baseball, General, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals

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Veterans Day and Every Day ….. Thank You!

Posted on November 10, 2011 | 7 comments

Note:  This is a repost of my 2010 Veteran’s Day Blog.

Arlington National Cemetery

“But the mainstay of the big leagues was the reservoir of 4-Fs – males of draft age who had been rejected on physical grounds by the Armed Forces. Not since harem attendants had gone out of style were men’s physical deficiencies so highly prized. Ulcers, hearing defects, and torn cartilages were coveted by team owners.” – Frank Graham, Jr. in Farewell to Heroes (1981)

This and the following list of Hall of Fame Members Courtesy of  Baseball Almanac.

Baseball Hall of Fame Members  who Served in the Armed Forces.
The Civil War  
Morgan Bulkeley United States Army
World War I
Grover Alexander  United States Army
Happy Chandler United States Army Continue reading →

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Posted in A1 Baseball, General, A5 Baseball Videos, Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals

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Randy Johnson Rookie Card for Sale! ** S O L D **

Posted on November 8, 2011 | 2 comments

Randy Johnson 1989 Topps Traded #57T, Beckett Graded 10

Something new for my readers!  I’m offering, during the holidays, an occasional pristine card from my personal  collection of over 100,000 cards!  The card I’m promoting this week is a Beckett Graded No. 10, 1989 Topps #57T Randy Johnson Rookie Card in plastic case and in mint condition.   Sales price is $75 which includes domestic shipping.  This single card is available only through this website. Visa, MasterCard or PayPal.

Contact:  Garlicfriesandbaseball@gmail.com

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Posted in A1 Baseball, General, Seattle Mariners

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Ballpark Food ~ Best at Busch Stadium!

Posted on November 5, 2011 | 1 comment

I’ve never been to Busch Stadium in St. Louis but since this blog’s supposed to be about ballparks AND ballpark food it just seemed  natural we’d want to highlight the fan favorite food of the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.

Tony LaRussa Vegetarian & Animal Lover

When I found out that Manager Tony LaRussa  is a vegetarian it brought back a memory from one of the baseball tours I took to Yankee Stadium.   After touring 42nd street, I ended up  with some marvelous leftover pastrami (that I hadn’t even began to touch) from an early dinner at  Roxy’s Deli.  There was probably a pound of pastrami left, wrapped neatly in aluminum foil, in a tidy little white bag that Jess our waiter so meticulously wrapped up for me.  I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but I just couldn’t leave it on the plate.  I mean it was a complete meal, untouched. Continue reading →

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Posted in A1 Baseball, General, A3 Ballpark Food, St. Louis Cardinals

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Game 7. Those Wild ‘WILD CARD” Cards!

Posted on October 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

Best Fans and Best Team in Baseball

It’s true!  What better gift to the fans of the St. Louis Cardinals than the title “World Champions”!    This picture is my favorite of all the thousands because if shows the team and the fans in unison like they’re in it together and they did it together, which of course they did.   Last year the St. Louis Cardinal fans were selected number one best fans in baseball based on knowledge of the game, loyalty and sportsmanship.  San Francisco Giants fans were voted second. Continue reading →

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Posted in A1 Baseball, General, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers

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