AUGUST 22 1886: As Reds outfielder Abner Powell is chasing a ball hit into the gap, he is attacked by a stray dog that has run onto the field. With the dog tearing at his pant leg, Jimmy Wolfe of Louisville rounds the bases with an inside-the-park HR. 1934: The Red Sox defeat the White Sox, 3-2, in 12 innings. Pitcher Wes Ferrell hits 2 HR’s for Boston–one in the 8th to tie it and [...]

Baseball Tonight is currently running a special feature. For the month of August the cast of the show is selecting the three best players for each of the 30 Franchises. Fans can also cast their vote at ESPN.com. On Wednesday, August 20th, it will be the Mets turn and so I decided to write this week about my choices. I don’t expect everyone to my agree with me. These are just one fans’ choices. I [...]

  Baseball Tonight is currently running a special feature. For the month of August the cast of the show is selecting the three best players for each of the 30 Franchises. Fans can also cast their vote at ESPN.com. On Wednesday, August 20th, it will be the Mets turn and so I decided to write this week about my choices. I don’t expect everyone to my agree with me. These are just one fans’ choices. [...]

AUGUST 18 1886: Owner of the STL. Maroons, Henry Lucas, quits baseball due to its skyrocketing costs to operate a team. In three years, Lucas has spent $27,000 on his club. 1943: With a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh, Carl Hubbell wins his 253rd & final game. 1960: Lew Burdette faces the minimum 27 batters as he no-hits the Phillies, 1-0. The only run of the game was scored by Burdette himself. 1967: Red Sox Nation [...]

AUGUST 15 1915: Babe Ruth of Boston outpitches Walter Johnson of Washington, 1-0 in 13 innings. 1926: Babe Herman of Brooklyn doubles with the bases loaded. However, due to some major base running blunders, Herman and 2 of his teammates all wind up on 2nd. Thus, Babe Herman becomes the only player in history to double into a double play. 1941: The Senators forfeit a game to Boston. Although Washington is leading 6-3, they have [...]

This week I begin the first part of a new feature. I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed researching it. JULY 14: 1916: Ernie Koob of the Cleveland Indians pitches a complete game, going all 17 innings, in a 0-0 tie with Boston 1934: Lou Gehrig plays shortstop and bats lead-off. After singling in his first AB, Gehrig is removed. He is ill but the Yankees do this so The Iron [...]

The date was October 19, 2002. 44,603 screaming fans packed Edison Field in Anaheim to witness Game One of the World Series. Giants Center Fielder Kenny Lofton walked to the batters box and dug in against Angels starter Jarrod Washburn. On October 1, 1903, almost a full century earlier, a less impressive crowd of 16,242 filled the Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds in Boston to watch the Boston Americans take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the [...]

In one of my recent blogs, I defended Carlos Delgado. Many fans have blamed the first baseman as the primary reason for our struggles and inconsistent play this entire season. Baseball is a team sport. The 2008 Mets will either succeed or fail as a team. However, that being said, there is one player who bears much of the burden for these next 74 games. Perhaps more than anyone else, I feel that Pedro Martinez [...]

Once upon a time…there was a first baseman who played in New York. He was adored by fans, admired by teammates and respected by those who competed against him. Known for his large hands and quiet disposition, Gil Hodges led the Brooklyn Dodgers to the NL Pennant in 1952. Hodges hit 32 Home Runs that year, knocked in 102, walked 107 times, compiled a .386 OBP and slugged at .500. And then, in the Fall [...]

It’s safe to say that the 2008 season has not exactly progressed the way we envisioned. After 72 games, this year has more closely resembled a poorly written soap opera than a drive to the National League pennant. Two of our five starters were hit with injuries. Rumors of clubhouse dissension and blatant prejudice have been running rampant. Our set-up man, Aaron Heilman, appears to have been bit by the same bug that turned pitcher [...]

It was one late evening in June when the New York Mets sent shock waves through the baseball world. There had been some rumors about the eventuality but when these rumors became fact, the news was still hard to accept. It was not just what transpired but the way in which it all went down. The General Manager had come to a decision. The deal was sealed and Mets fans from New York to California, from [...]