Greatest Centerfielders in American League history by team

Baltimore Orioles: Adam Jones (2008-present)
Boston Red Sox: Tris Speaker (1907-15)
New York Yankees: Joe DiMaggio (1936-51) and Mickey Mantle (1951-68)
Tampa Bay Rays: Melvin Upton (2002-12)
Toronto Blue Jays: Lloyd Moseby (1980-9)
Chicago White Sox: Lance Johnson (1988-95, 1997-9)
Cleveland Indians: Tris Speaker (1916-26)
Detroit Tigers: Ty Cobb (1905-26)
Kansas City Royals: Willie Wilson (1976-1990)
Minnesota Twins: Kirby Puckett (1984-95)
Houston Astros: Cesar Cedeno (1970-81)
LA Angels: Mike Trout (2011-present)
Oakland A's: Dwayne Murphy (1978-87)
Seattle Mariners: Ken Griffey Jr (1989-
Texas Rangers: Josh Hamilton (2008-12, 2015-present)

Mickey Mantle: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1974

Born: October 20, 1931

1931: Named after Mickey Cochrane

1930s-40s: Taught to switch-hit by father

1947: Osteomyelitis infection nearly ended his athletic career

1948-9: Semi-pro ball

1949: Signed with New York Yankees

1949-50: Minor Leagues

1950-3: Korean War deferral due to Osteomyelitis in 1947

Debut: April 17, 1951 (Yankees)

1951: Slumped early on, returned to minors, and father shamed him into staying in baseball

1951: Father, Mutt Mantle, dies

1951: Injured his right knee in outfield drain during World Series; Joe DiMaggio is often blamed for the injury because DiMaggio called Mantle off at the last minute.

1951-3: Yankees win World Series

1952: Took over CF for retired Joe DiMaggio

1953: Hit 565 foot HR in Washington

1955: Yankees win Pennant

1956: Mantle wins Triple Crown (.353, 52, 130)

1956: AL MVP

1956: Yankees win World Series

1957: .365, 34 HR, 94RBI, 1.177 OPS, 146 walks

1957: AL MVP

1957: Yankees win Pennant

1958: Yankees win World Series

1960: Hit 643 foot HR in Detroit

1960: Yankees win Pennant

1961: Mantle challenges Babe Ruth’s 60 HR. Roger Maris breaks the record with 61.

1961: Mantle suffers an injury that limits his playing time at the end of the year

1961: .317, 54 HR, 128 RBI, 1.135 OPS

1961-2: Yankees win World Series

1963-4: Yankees win Pennant

1964: Mantle hits GW walk off HR in Game 3 breaking Babe Ruth’s World Series HR record

1965-8: Injuries limited Mantle’s effectiveness

1969: Retired

1969: Yankees retired his #7 and given a plaque in Yankee Stadium

Post career: Did some announcing

1980s: Became regular on card circuit

1983: Banned for life for working at an Atlantic City Casino

1985: Reinstated

1985: Wrote The Mick

1992: Wrote My Favorite Summer 1956

1995: Died

1997: Topps retired #7 card

1999: All Century Team

2006: Received USPS stamp

Accomplishments:

7x World Champion

3x MVP

20x All Star

1956 Triple Crown

1956 Batting Champ (.353)

1962 Gold Glove

1965 Hutch Award

3.1 seconds from home to first is a record never broken

Longest official home run: 565 feet

Most WS HR (18)

Most WS RBI (40)

.298 average

1676 runs

2415 hits

536 HR

1509 RBI

.421 OBP

.557 Slugging

.977 OPS

4511 TB

Led league in HR: 4x

Led league in runs: 5x

Led league in triples (11): 1955

Led league in RBI (130): 1956

Led league in walks: 5x

Led league in OBP: 3x

Led league in slugging: 4x

Led league in OPS: 6x

Led league in TB: 3x

Led league in IBB: 2x

100+ Runs: 9x

37 doubles (1952)

10+ triples: 2x

100+ RBI: 4x

21 SB (1959)

100+ Walks: 10x

1733 walks-1710 strikeouts

Hit .300+: 9x

Hit .350+: 2x

.400 OBP: 9x

.512 OBP (1957)

.500 slugging: 12x

.600 slugging: 6x

.705 slugging (1956)

1.000+ OPS: 8x

300+ TB: 5x

Postseason: .257, 18 HR, 40 RBI, .908 OPS (12 World Series)

Joe DiMaggio: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1955

Born: November 25, 1914

1932: Made professional debut

1933: 61-game hit streak in PCL

1934: Tore knee ligaments stepping out of a taxi

1934: Traded by San Francisco Seals to Yankees

1935: DiMaggio remained with Seals for one season as part of the trade. Seals win PCL & DiMaggio is MVP.

Debut: May 3, 1936 (Yankees)

1936-39: Yankees win World Series

1937: Married actress Dorothy Arnold (later divorced)

1939: Dubbed “The Yankee Clipper” for the first time

1939: Lou Gehrig retires

1939: Won Batting Title (.381)

1939: AL MVP

1940: Won Batting Title (.352)

1941: 56-game hitting streak

1941: Yankees win World Series

1941: AL MVP

1942: Yankees lose World Series to Cardinals

1943-45: Military service in World War II

1947: Yankees almost trade DiMaggio to Red Sox for Ted Williams. Yanks bow out when Sox demanded Yogi Berra as well.

1947: Yankees win World Series

1947: AL MVP

1949: Becomes the first player to earn $100,000 (under $1 million in today’s dollars)

1949-51: Yankees win World Series

1951: DiMaggio is blamed for a career-threatening knee injury to Mickey Mantle.

1951: Retired

1954: Married Marilyn Monroe (they divorced 274 days later)

1955: Elected to Hall of Fame

1962: Monroe died and DiMaggio handled the funeral arrangements

1968: Dubbed “The Greatest Living Ballplayer” by writers

1968: Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” asks “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?”

1968-70: A’s coach (worked with Reggie Jackson)

1970s-90s: Mr. Coffee spokesman

1999: Died

1999: Elected to All Century Team

2011: USPS unveils DiMaggio stamp

Accomplishments

9x World Champion

13x All Star

3x MVP

2x batting champ

.325 career hitter

Hit .300: 11x

Hit .350+: 3x

1390 runs

100+ runs: 8x

Led league w/151 runs (1937)

2214 hits

200+ hits: 2x

389 doubles

30+ doubles: 7x

40+ doubles: 2x

131 triples

10+ triples: 8x

15+ triples: 2x

Led league w/15 triples (1936)

361 home runs

Led league in HR: 2x

30+ HR: 7x

46 HR (1937)

1537 RBI

100+ RBI: 9x

150+ RBI: 2x

Led league in RBI: 2x

790 walks-369 strikeouts

.398 OBP

.400 OBP: 5x

.579 slugging

.500 slugging: 11x

.600 slugging: 4x

Led league in slugging: 2x

.977 OPS

OPS 1.000+:  5x

3948 TB

300+ TB: 9x

418 TB (1937)

Led league in TB: 3x

Postseason: .338, 8 HR, 30 RBI, .760 OPS (10 World Series-Won 9)

Keith Hernandez timeline

Born: October 20, 1953

1971: Graduated High School (Played HS Ball with future Major Leaguer Bob McClure)

1971: Drafted by Cardinals

Debut: August 30, 1974 (Cardinals)

1976: Switched uniform number to 37 in honor of Mickey Mantle’s #7

1979: NL MVP

1979: Won Batting Title (.344)

1982: Had key hit in Game 7 of 1982 World Series

1982: Cards win World Series

1983: Traded to Mets

1983: Switched to #17 because Mets retired #37 for Casey Stengel

1985: Involved in the Pittsburgh drug trials

1985: Set ML record with 24 GW RBI

1986: Had key hit in Game 7 of the 1986 World Series

1986: Mets win World Series

1987: Named team captain

1988: Mets win NL East & lose LCS to Dodgers

1989: Signed with Indians

1992: Made now classic Seinfeld appearance as himself

2000s and beyond: Mets announcer and Just For Men pitch man

2004: Fell off Hall of Fame Ballot

2006: Involved in controversy regarding women in the dugout

2010: Won Emmy

Accomplishments:

2x World Champion

1979 MVP

1979 Batting Champion

5x All Star

11x Gold Glove winner

2x Silver Slugger

Revolutionized first base position

.296 career hitter

162 Home Runs

1071 RBI

1124 Runs

2182 hits

426 doubles

1070 Walks-1012 Strikeouts

.384 OBP

100+ Runs: 2x

Led league in runs: 2x

210 hits (1979)

30+ doubles: 8x

40+ doubles: 2x

Led league in doubles with 48 (1979)

11 Triples (1979)

105 RBI (1979)

100 walks (1982)

Led league w/94 walks (1986)

Hit .300: 7x

.400 OBP: 6x

Led league w/ .408 OBP (1980)

.513 slugging (1979)

313 total bases (1979)

Led league with 19 intentional walks (1982)

Postseason: .265 with 2 home runs and 21 RBI (5 series-117 at bats)

Hit .333 in 1982 NLCS

Had key hits in Game 7 of both the 1982 and 1986 World Series

Moose Skowron: Timeline

Born: December 18, 1930

1938: Dubbed “Mussolini” for his haircut, the name was shortened to “Moose” and stuck for the rest of his life.

1950: Signed with New York Yankees after attending Purdue on a football scholarship

Debut: April 13, 1954 (New York Yankees)

1955: Yankees win Pennant

1956: Yankees win World Series

1957: Yankees win Pennant

1958: Became full time first baseman

1958: Had game-winning hit in Game 6 of the World Series and a key 3-run home run in Game 7.

1958: Yankees win World Series

1960: Yankees win Pennant

1961: Yankees win World Series

1962: Scored only run in Game 7 of the World Series

1962: Yankees win World Series

1962: Traded to the Dodgers

1963: Dodgers win World Series

1963: Purchased by the Senators

1964: Traded to the White Sox

1967: Traded to the Angels

1967: Released by Angels/Retired

1999: Worked for White Sox Community Relations

2005: White Sox win World Series

2012: Died of congestive heart failure

Accomplishments:
5x World Champion

8x All Star

.282 average

211 home runs

888 RBI

1566 hits

682 runs

.792 OPS

34 doubles (1960)

20+ home runs: 4x

90+ RBI: 2x

Hit .300+: 3x

.500 slugging: 3x

.910 OPS (1956)

Postseason: .293, 8 Home runs, 29 RBI (8 World Series)

Top 10 Centerfielders of All Time

In no particular order...cause I am lazy I guess...

Ty Cobb

Tris Speaker

Duke Snider

Willie Mays

Mickey Mantle

Joe DiMaggio

Ken Griffey Jr.

Earl Averill

Edd Rousch

Kirby Puckett

Houston Astros Top 10 Moments

The Astrodome Opens (April 9, 1965): Not sure if indoor baseball on Astroturf qualifies as a great moment, but it is noteworthy. The Astrodome was the world’s first domed sports facility. The idea originated in the early fifties, but it took Houston’s brutal climate to motivate someone to build it. The first ballgame was an exhibition between Houston and the New York Yankees. Mickey Mantle hit the first homer in the dome’s history. The first regular season game occurred three days later with the Phillies beating Houston 2-0 behind Dick Allen’s home run.


Houston: 1 Philadelphia: 0 (October 10, 1980 Game 3 NLCS): The Astros took a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five NLCS with an 11 inning win over Tug McGraw and the Phillies. They won the game in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly by Denny Walling. The Astros failed in their two attempts to close out the series. Four of the five games went into extra innings with Philadelphia winning the last two for the pennant.

Nolan Ryan’s 5th No-Hitter (September 26, 1981): Nolan Ryan passed Sandy Koufax for most career no-hitters in 1981. By this point in his career, it seemed unlikely that Ryan would be able to toss another no-no. He beat the Dodgers 5-0. Later in his career, he’d throw two more no-hitters.

Mike Scott’s no-hitter wins NL West (September 25, 1986): Almost five years to the day that Nolan Ryan tossed his gem, Mike Scott equaled the feat. In this case, Scott victimized San Francisco and clinched the NL West with the win. Scott struck out 13 in the 2-0 win. It remains the only no-hitter to clinch a postseason berth.

Scott k’s 14 Mets (October 8, 1986 Game 1 NLCS): Mike Scott capped off his Cy Young campaign with a 1-0 victory in Game 1 of the 1986 NLCS. He bested Dwight Gooden and the Mets by scattering five meaningless hits and striking out 14. He returned to even the series at 2 with a Game 4 win. Luckily for the Mets, they managed to win the series in six. Mets players admit they had no chance against Scott in a Game 7.

The 22 inning game: Astros: 5 Dodgers: 4 (June 3, 1989): It took 7 hours and 14 minutes, but the Astros outlasted the Dodgers. Jim Clancy beat reserve infielder Jeff Hamilton. The Dodgers ran out of pitchers, so Tommy Lasorda used Hamilton in the 21st inning. The Astros won on a walk off single by Rafael Ramirez which scored Bill Doran. The following day, Houston beat Los Angeles in 13 innings. The two teams combined for 35 innings and 11 hours and 31 minutes of baseball over two days.

Chris Burke’s 18th inning home run (October 9, 2005 Game 4 NLDS): The Astros have a history of extra inning playoff games. From a Houston perspective, the Braves and Astros NLDS game is perhaps the best of the lot. The game lasted nearly 6 hours and Houston ran out of pitchers. Roger Clemens was forced to pitch three innings in relief before Burke ended the series with a dramatic home run off Joey Devine.

Clemens in Relief (October 9, 2005 Game 4 NLDS): It’s rare that the same game will score two appearances on a best of list, but that NLDS game has to be considered one of the greatest ever played. Roger Clemens lost three days earlier to John Smoltz. He wanted a measure of revenge and was given the opportunity. He pitched three lockdown innings to win the game and save Houston’s bacon.

Astros in pennant in 6 games (2005): Houston lost a hard fought series to St Louis in 2004. They avenged that loss and advanced to their first, and only, World Series with a six game NLCS victory over the Cardinals. Roy Oswalt earned MVP honors and a tractor from Houston’s owner. The ‘stros went on to lose the World Series to the White Sox.

Craig Biggio gets 3000 hits (June 28, 2007): Craig Biggio scored five hits, including his 3000th, in Houston’s victory over Colorado. Carlos Lee won the game in the 11th with a slam, but Biggio was the story. He needed three hits to reach the magic number and he managed five safeties to finish the game with 3002. He finished his career with 3060 hits and is the only Astros player to ever reach the 3000 hit plateau.