Frank Robinson: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1982

Born: August 31, 1935

1953: Signed by Cincinnati Reds

Debut: April 17, 1956 (Reds)

1956: NL Rookie of the Year

Late 1950s: Attended Xavier College

1958: Won Gold Glove

1961: Reds win Pennant

1961: NL MVP (.323, 37, 124, 117 runs, .404 OBP, .611 SLG, 1.015 OPS, 333 TB)

1965: Traded to Baltimore Orioles

1966: AL MVP (.316, 49, 122, 122 runs, .410 OBP, .637 SLG, 1.047 OPS, 367 TB)

1966: Won Triple Crown

1966: Only player to hit a ball out of Memorial Stadium

1966: Orioles win World Series

1966: World Series MVP

1969: Orioles win Pennant

1970: Hit back-to-back Grand Slams

1970: Orioles win World Series

1971: ASG MVP

1971: Orioles win Pennant

1971: Traded to Los Angeles Dodgers

1972: Traded to California Angels

1974: Traded to Cleveland Indians

1975: Became player-manager for Indians (186-189)

1975: First African-American manager (homered in first AB as manager)

1975-7: Indians Manager

1981-84: Giants Manager (264-277)

1982: Elected to Hall of Fame (89.2%)

1988-91: Orioles Manager (230-285)

1989: AL Manager of the Year

1999: Finalist for All Century Team

1999-2002: VP of On field Ops for Baseball

2002-2006: Managed Expos/Nationals (385-425)

2003: Statue in Cincinnati

2005: Presidential Medal of Freedom

2007-present: Various executive positions with MLB

2012: Statue in Baltimore


Accomplishments:
2x World Champion

2x MVP

14x All Star

1971 ASG MVP

1966 World Series MVP

1966 Triple Crown

1966 Batting title

1966 Babe Ruth award

1966: Player of the Year

1956 ROY

1958 Gold Glove

1989 Manager of the Year

2x Player of the Month

.294

586 HR

1,812 RBI

1,829 Runs

2,943 Hits

528 Doubles

204 SB

.389 OBP

.537 SLG

.926 OPS

5,373 TB

198 HBP

100+ Runs: 8x

208 Hits (1962)

30+ Doubles: 7x

51 Doubles (1962)-Led League

20+ HR: 17x

30+ HR: 11x

49 HR (1966)-Led League

100+ RBI: 6x

20+ SB: 3x

Hit .300: 9x

.400 OBP: 6x

.500 SLG: 14x

.600 SLG: 3x

1.000OPS: 4x

300 TB: 8x

Led league in Runs: 3x

Led league in OBP: 2x

Led league in SLG: 4x

Led league in OPS: 4x

Led league in TB (367): 1966

Led league in HBP: 7x

Led league in IBB: 4x

Led league in SF (10): 1961

Postseason: .238, 10 HR, 19 RBI, .887 OPS (8 Series)

Quotes of the Month: November 2012

Quote of the Month:

"I remember when I went to the ownership meetings in Colorado in August, and I was walking back from dinner with Tony La Russa (retired Cardinals manager) and we're talking about statistics and about WAR. And, no offense to the player, but when I woke up that morning they had on the (ESPN.com) site that Darwin Barney that day was ranked ahead of Miguel Cabrera in WAR. And I don't mean anything against Darwin Barney, but there wasn't a person in Major League Baseball who on that particular day would have traded Miguel Cabrera for Darwin Barney. So, when people say WAR is all-encompassing, that loses the argument to me right there."

-Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski

Stupid Quote of the month:

“Thank God for Hurricane Sandy!”

-Chris Mathews

And the rest…

“All white folks are going to hell.”

-Rev Joseph Lowery

"There's never been a day in the last four years I've been proud to be his vice president."

-Joe Biden

 “Obamacare is the law of the land.”

-John Boehner

“Israel has opened the gates of hell.”

-Qassam Brigade

“I thought you were going to win, then the hurricane happened, and gave the president a chance to be presidential, and to look bipartisan.”

-Bill Clinton to Mitt Romney

“Our Lord and savior Barack Obama.”

-Jamie Foxx

Mike Cameron: Timeline

Born: January 8, 1973

1991: Drafted by White Sox

Debut: August 27, 1995

1998: Traded to Reds for Paul Konerko

2000: Traded to Seattle for Ken Griffey Jr.

2001: All Star

2002: Hit four home runs in a game

2002: Wrote book: It Takes a Team: Mike Cameron

2003: Signed with Mets

2005: Traded to Padres

2005: Suffered concussion in outfield collision

2007: Failed drug test for stimulants (used to combat effects of concussion)

2008: Signed with Brewers

2009: Signed with Red Sox

2011: Traded to Marlins

2011: Signed with Nationals

2012: Retired

Accomplishments:

2001 All Star

3x Gold Glove

Four Home Run Game (May 2, 2002)

.249 career average

278 HR

968 RBI

1700 Hits

383 doubles

.782 OPS

90+ runs: 3x

30+ doubles: 7x

20+ HR: 8x

30 HR (2004)

110 RBI (2001)

20+ SB: 8x

30+ SB: 3x

297 SB

1901 Strikeouts

Postseason: .174, 1 HR, 7RBI, .581 OPS (6 series)

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

Dwight Evans: Timeline

Born: November 3, 1951

1969: Drafted by Boston Red Sox

Debut: September 16, 1972 (Boston Red Sox)

1975: Red Sox win Pennant

1980-89: Led American League with 256 home runs

1981: AL Home Run Champ (22)

1986: Homered on season’s first pitch

1986: Red Sox win pennant

1988: Red Sox win AL East

1990: Red Sox win AL East

1990: Has public feud with Dennis Eckersley over showboating

1990: Signed with Baltimore Orioles

1992: Released by Orioles/Retired

1999: Dropped from Hall of Fame ballot on third try

2000: Elected to Red Sox Hall of Fame

2002: Red Sox hitting coach

2003: Began work as a consultant for Red Sox

2011: Appeared in the movie, Hall Pass.

Accomplishments:
3x All Star

8x Gold Glove winner

2x Silver Slugger

1981 Home Run champion

.272 hitter

.305 (1987)

385 home runs

20+ home runs: 11x

30+ home runs: 3x

1384 RBI

100+ RBI: 4x

Led league in games: 2x

100+ Runs: 4x

Led league with 121 runs (1984)

2446 hits

483 doubles

30+ doubles: 7x

1391 walks

100+ walks: 3x

Lead league in walks: 3x

.400 plus OBP: 3x

Led League with .402 OBP (1982)

.470 slugging

.500+ Slugging: 5x

300+ total bases: 3x

Led league with 215 total bases (1981)

Postseason (6 series-32 games): .239 with 4 HR and 19 RBI.

Hit .300 with 3 home runs and 14 RBI and .977 OPS in 2 World Series (14 games)

Bob Forsch timeline

Born: January 13, 1950

1968: Drafted by Cardinals

1970: Converted from third base to pitcher while in minors

Debut: July 7, 1974 (Cardinals)

1974: Threw a shutout in second ML start.

1977: 20-7

1978: No-hit the Phillies

1979: His brother, Ken, no-hit the Braves, making the Forsch brothers the only brothers to throw no-hitters

1982: Cards win World Series

1983: No-hit the Expos

1984: Major back surgery

1985: Pitched division clincher

1985: Cards win Pennant (Lose World Series to Royals)

1987: Forsch plunks Jeff Leonard for being an ass in the NLCS causing a controversy

1987: Cards win Pennant (Lose World Series to Twins)

1988: Traded to Astros

1989: Retired

1995: Received 0.4% of the HOF vote and taken off ballot for 1996

He wrote a book in retirement and served as a minor league pitching coach (2009-2011)

Died: November 3, 2011

Accomplishments:
1982 World Champion

Two no-hitters

Part of only brother combo to throw no-hitters in the majors

2x Silver Slugger

168-136 record

3.76 ERA

67 CG

19 shutouts

10+ wins: 11x

15+ wins: 3x

20-7 (1977)

Sub 3 ERA: 2.86 (1975)

200+ IP: 7x

Postseason (6 series): 3-4 record, 5.79 ERA (3 NLCS: 2-1, 3.52 ERA, 0.848 WHIP)

All Time single season baseball leaders (in my lifetime)

Batting Average:
George Brett .390 (1980)

Tony Gwynn .394 (1994)

OBP:
Barry Bonds .609 (2004)

Non-Steroid OBP:
Frank Thomas .487 (1994)

Wade Boggs .476 (1988)

SLG:
Barry Bonds .863 (2001)

Jeff Bagwell .750 (1994)

Larry Walker .720 (1997)

At Bats:
Jimmy Rollins 716 (2007)

Runs:
Jeff Bagwell 152 (2000)

Hits:
Ichiro: 262 (2004)

Doubles:
Todd Helton 59 (2000)

Triples:
Curtis Granderson 23 (2007)

Home Runs:
Barry Bonds 73 (2001)

Ryan Howard 58 (2006)

RBI:
Manny Ramirez 165 (1999)

Andres Galarraga 150 (1996)

Walks:
Barry Bonds 232 (2004)

Jeff Bagwell 149 (1999)

Strikeouts:
Mark Reynolds 223 (2009)

Steals:
Rickey Henderson 130 (1982)

OPS:
Barry Bonds 1.421 (2004)

Frank Thomas 1.217 (1994)

Larry Walker 1.171 (1997)

Pitchers

ERA :

Dwight Gooden 1.53 (1985)

Wins:
Steve Carlton 27 (1972)

Bob Welch 27 (1990)

Games:
Mike Marshall 106 (1974)

Saves:
Francisco Rodriguez 62 (2008)

IP:
Wilbur Wood 376 2/3 (1972)

Strikeouts:
Nolan Ryan 383 (1973)

Complete Games:
Catfish Hunter 30 (1975)

Shutouts:
John Tudor 10 (1985)

Game Starts:
Wilbur Wood 49 (1972)

Walks:
Nolan Ryan 204 (1977)

Losses:
Steve Arlin 21 (1972)

Steve Bahnsen 21 (1973)

Mike Maroth 21 (2003)

Charles Comiskey: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1939

A timeline of his life and career.

Born: August 15, 1859

Debut: May 2, 1882 (St Louis Brown Stockings)

1883-1889: Managed the Browns (563-273 record and four championships)

1890: Player/Manager for the Chicago Pirates (75-62 record)

1891: Back to St. Louis

1892-84: Played for and Managed the Cincinnati Reds (202-206 record)

1900: Became owner of the White Sox

1901: White Sox win Pennant (No World Series until 1903)

1906: White Sox win World Series

1910: Built Comiskey Park

1917: White Sox win World Series

1917: Becomes bitter enemies with AL President and Founder Ban Johnson

1919: White Sox throw World Series because their owner is ridiculously cheap

1920: Grand Jury convened in Black Sox Scandal

1921: Key evidence in the trial disappeared.

1921: The Black Sox are acquited, but Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned the eight men for life. The team collapsed and took a long time to recover. The White Sox do not win another pennant until 1959 and another World Series until 2005.

Died: October 26, 1931

1939: Elected to Hall of Fame on the Second Ballot

1958: Comiskey Family sell the White Sox

1974: The Godfather Part II mentions the fixed World Series.

1988: The movie Eight Men Out chronicles the 1919 World Series.

2010: HBO’s Boardwalk Empire covers the scandal.

Accomplishments:

Led league in At Bats in 1888 (576)

Managerial Record:

840-541 Record (.608) with four pennants

As an owner:

Four Pennants (1901, 1906, 1917, 1919)

Two World Championships (1906, 1917)

Built Comiskey Park

His frugal nature resulted in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal

Mike Flanagan

Born: December 16, 1951

1971: Drafted by the Astros, but did not sign

1973: Drafted by the Orioles

1973-1975: Played in Minor Leagues

Major League Debut: September 5, 1975

1975: Graduated from the University of Massachusetts

1976: First Major League Win on September 1 against Kansas City

1978: Made AL All Star Team

1979: Won Cy Young Award (23-9, 3.08 ERA, 16 Complete Games)

1979: Orioles lose World Series to Pirates

2000: Elected to University of Massachusetts Athletic Hall of Fame

1983: Orioles win World Series

1987: Traded to Toronto

1989: Blue Jays win AL East

1991: Signs with Orioles as a Free Agent

1992: Retires

1995 and 1998: Orioles Pitching Coach

1996-97, 1999-2002, 2010: Oriole Broadcaster

He has also served as Oriole General Manager and Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations.

Died: August 24, 2011

Accomplishments
1983 World Champion

1979 Cy Young Award Winner

1979 TSN Pitcher of the Year

1978 All Star

167-143 record

3.90 Career ERA

101 complete games

19 shutouts

Double digit wins: 8x

15 or more wins: 5x

Led league in wins: 1979 (23)

Led league in Game Starts: 1978 (40)

Led league in shutouts: 1979 (5)

200 or more innings: 7x

Top 10 Relief Pitchers of All Time

#1 is Mariano. #1 old school is Rollie Fingers.

The complete 10:

Dennis Eckersley

Rollie Fingers

Goose Gossage

Bruce Sutter

Mariano Rivera

Trevor Hoffman

Hoyt Wilhelm

Tug McGraw

Lee Smith

Billy Wagner

Top 10 Left Fielders of All Time

Ted Williams is #1 by the proverbial country mile...and the rest....in no particular order.

Ted Williams

Barry Bonds*

Al Simmons

Carl Yastrzemski

Rickey Henderson

Joe Jackson

Manny Ramirez*

Ralph Kiner

Willie Stargell

Stan Musial

Cy Young: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1937

Born: March 29, 1867 (Real Name: Denton True Young)

1888: Played semi-pro ball

1889: Played minor league ball in Canton.

1890: Signed with the Cleveland Spiders

Debut: August 6, 1890 (He threw a 3-hit shutout)

1892: The National League moved the mound back 5 feet to the current 60 feet 6 inches

1895: The Spiders won the Temple Cup (precursor to the World Series)

1897: No-hit the Reds

1899: Young left the Spiders for the Perfectos (future Cardinals). He played two seasons in St Louis.

1901: Signed with the Red Sox (He is currently tied with most wins in Red Sox history with Roger Clemens)

1901: Won the Triple Crown (33 wins, 1.62 ERA, 158 strikeouts)

1903: Red Sox win the first World Series (Young went 2-1 with a 1.85 ERA vs. the Pirates)

1904: Rube Waddell taunted the Sox ace. Young responded with a Perfect Game. It was the first Perfect Game in AL history.

1905: Pitched 13 innings in a 20-inning loss to Waddell

1907: Pitched 13-inning scoreless tie against Waddell

1907: Managed Boston Red Sox (Americans) for 6 games (3-3 record)

1908: Throws 3^rd no-hitter

August 13, 1908: The AL celebrated “Cy Young Day.” No games were played. A group of All-Stars traveled to Boston to play the Red Sox.

1909: Traded to Cleveland.

1910: Won his 500^th game

1911: Finished career with Boston Rustlers (future Atlanta Braves)

Final Game: October 6, 1911

1911: Retired to his farm. He spent the rest of his life tending his crops.

1937: Elected to the Hall of Fame on the second ballot. A mix-up kept him from being elected the previous year.

Died: November 4, 1955

1956: Cy Young Award created for best pitcher in the majors

1967: Beginning in 1967, the baseball writers awarded a Cy Young to the best pitcher in each league

1993: Statue to Young dedicated at Northeastern University at the site of the first World Series

1999: Elected to All Century Team

Accomplishments:
1903 World Champion

Two No-Hitters

One Perfect Game

All-Century Team

1901 Triple Crown

511 Wins (1^st All Time)

316 Losses (1^st All Time)

.618 winning percentage

2803 Strikeouts (#1 all time at time of retirement)

2.63 ERA

906 Games

815 Game Starts (1^st all time)

749 Complete Games (1^st all time)

76 Shutouts (4^th all time)

7356 innings (1^st all time)

Led league in wins: 5x

20+ wins: 15x

30+ wins: 5x

Win percentage leader: 2x

ERA champ: 2x

Led league in games and game starts (1902)

Complete Game leader: 3x

Shutout leader: 7x

Saves leader: 2x

IP leader: 2x

Pitched 400+ innings: 5x

Pitched 300+ innings: 16x

Strikeout leader: 2x

SO/BB leader: 11x

Managerial Record: 3-3

George Wright: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1937

Never heard of him? Best shortstop of his era and first batter in the history of the National League.

Born: January 28, 1847

1864: Became regular catcher for New York team

1865: Played Cricket, but returned to baseball for 1866

1867: Played for Washington Nationals

1868: Returned to New York to play

1869-1870: Played for Reds

Debut: May 5, 1871

1871-78: Played for Boston; Considered best shortstop of his era.

1876: First Batter in NL History

1879: Moved to Providence Grays

1879: Managed the Grays to championship (59-25 record)

1880-81: Back to Boston for 8 total games

1882: Back to Providence

1882: Returned to Cricket

1890: Designed America’s first public golf course in Boston (Franklin Park)

1906-07: Member of Mills Commission that named Cooperstown, New York as baseball’s birthplace.

1937: Elected to Hall of Fame on the second ballot

Died: August 21, 1937

2005: Inducted into Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame

Accomplishments:
Member Mills Commission

.301 career hitter

Led League in Games played: 3x

Led League in plate appearances: 3x

Led League in at-bats: 4x

1874 triples leader (15)

59-25 managerial record

1879 World Champion

Golf Course designer

Cricket Star

Tris Speaker: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1937

Born: April 4, 1888

1905: Played College Baseball for Fort Worth Polytechnic Institute

1905: Suffered severe football injury. Doctors wanted to amputate his left arm. He refused and recovered.

1906: Played in Minor Leagues and was sold to the Red Sox the following year.

Debut: September 12, 1907. He played in 7 games. In 1908, he played in 31 big league contests.

1909: He became a starter for the Red Sox

1910: Part of the “million dollar outfield” with Harry Hooper and Duffy Lewis.

1912: Red Sox won the World Series

1912: AL MVP

1914: Twice pulled off an unassisted double play from the outfield

1915: Red Sox won the World Series

1916: Sold to Cleveland Indians after refusing to take a pay cut

1916: Won batting title

1919-1926: Managed the Indians (617-520 record)

1920: Indians won the World Series

1925: 3000^th hit off Washington Senators pitcher Tom Zachary

1926: Forced to resign as manager amidst a gambling scandal. He was later cleared.

1927: Signed with the Senators

1928: Signed with the A’s and retired at season’s end.

1929-31: Minor league manager

1933: Became part owner of the Kansas City Blues. Became involved in a liquor distributorship and chaired the Cleveland Boxing Commission.

1937: Elected to Hall of Fame on second ballot

1939: Elected president of the National Professional Indoor Baseball League. The league quickly folded for lack of fans.

1947-58: Worked for Cleveland Indians as a scout, coach, and advisor. He became a personal coach for Larry Doby. Also worked with children’s charities.

Died: December 8, 1958

Accomplishments:
.345 career hitter (5^th all-time)

1912 MVP

3x World Champion

1916 Batting champ (.386)

Hit .380 or better: 5x

3514 career hits

792 career doubles (1^st all-time)

283 career strikeouts and 1381 walks

.928 career OPS (.428 OBP, .500 SLG)

Led league in games played in 1914 (158)

Led league in hits 2x

200 or more hits: 4x

Led league in doubles: 8x

50 + doubles: 5x

222 career triples (6^th all-time)

1912 HR champ (10)

4x OBP leader

Led league in slugging in and OPS in 1916 (.502, .972)

1914 TB leader (287)

Most career OF assists (449)

As a Manager:

617-520 record with Cleveland (.543)

1920 World Champions

John McGraw: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1937

Born: April 7, 1873

1890: Minor Leagues

Debut: August 26, 1891 for Baltimore Orioles

1892: Baltimore moved to the National League

1897: Led league in OBP

1898: Led league in runs and walks

1899: Led league in runs, walks, and OBP

1899: Managed Baltimore Orioles (86-62 record)

1900: Played for the Cardinals and led league in OBP

1901-02: Managed and played for AL Baltimore Orioles (94-96 record)

1902: Moved to New York Giants and played very few games until 1906

1902: Began managing New York Giants (2583-1790 record)

1904: Giants win Pennant; McGraw refused to play in the World Series. McGraw declared the Giants World Champions.

1905: Won World Series. Pitcher Christy Mathewson threw three complete game shutouts for the Giants.

Final Game as a player: September 12, 1906

1911-1913: Won NL Pennant, but lost the World Series each time.

1917: Won NL Pennant; Lost World Series to the White Sox

1921: Won World Series

1922: Won World Series

1923: Won NL Pennant, but lost World Series to the Yankees

1924: Won NL Pennant, but lost World Series to Washington

1932: Retired. His retirement dominated the news and pushed Lou Gehrig’s four home run game off the front page.

1933: Managed NL team in first All Star Game

Died: February 25, 1934

1937: Elected to Hall of Fame

Sometime after his death, his wife discovered a list of black players McGraw wanted to sign, but was blocked by the institutional racism within Major League Baseball.

Accomplishments:
3x OBP leader

2x Runs scored leader

2x Walk leader

10 Pennants

3x World Champion

4x 100-win seasons as a manager

2763-1948 career win-loss

2763 wins were first all time when he retired. Today, they are second all time behind Connie Mack. Tony LaRussa is on the verge of passing McGraw.

Connie Mack: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1937

December 22, 1862: Born

Major League Debut: September 11, 1886

Mack played for Washington, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh. He was a .244 career hitter.

Final Game: August 29, 1896

1894-1896: Managed the Pirates (289-149 record).

1897-1900: Managed the minor league Milwaukee Brewers.

1901: Became manager and part-owner of the Philadelphia Athletics.

1902: Won Pennant

1905: Won Pennant, lost World Series to Giants

1910: Won World Series

1910s: A’s teams featured the “$100,000 infield” of Eddie Collins, Home Run Baker, Jack Barry, and Stuffy McInnis.

1911: Won World Series

1913: Won World Series

1914: Won Pennant, lost World Series to the Braves

1915: Mack dismantled the team rather than pay its stars. The A’s lose 109 games.

1916: 117 loss season. Philadelphia would suffer through 100 loss seasons from 1919-21.

1929: Won World Series

1930: Won World Series

1931: Lost World Series to the Cardinals

1932: Dismantled the team again at season‘s end. The Philadelphia A’s never recover.

1936: Becomes full owner of Athletics

1937: Elected to Hall of Fame

1950: Retired. At the end, his faculties were disintegrating. (A’s record: 3582-3814)

1954: The Mack Family sells the Athletics. The new owner moves them to Kansas City

February 8, 1956: Died

Accomplishments:
3731-3948 Overall record.

#1 All time wins

#1 All time losses

#1 All Time games managed

9 Pennants

5x World Champion

Napoleon Lajoie: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1937

Born: September 5, 1874

Debut: August 12, 1896

1898: Switched to second base

1901: Left Phillies for the Athletics

1901: Wins Triple Crown (.426, 14, 125) and is walked intentionally with the bases loaded in a game. Also: 145 Runs, 232 Hits, 48 doubles, 14 triples, .463 OBP, .643 slugging, 1.106 OPS, and 350 Total Bases.

1902: Phillies gain injunction against Lajoie. He could not play for any team in Pennsylvania. Connie Mack trades Lajoie to Cleveland. Lajoie could not enter Pennsylvania until 1903.

1902: Wins Batting Title (.378)

1903: Wins Batting Title (.344)

1904: Wins Batting Title (.376)

1905-1909: Managed Cleveland (377-309 Record)

1910: Chalmers Controversy culminates rivalry with Ty Cobb

1916: Retired from Majors

1917: Played for Toronto in International League and hit .380. Won his only championship.
1918: Managed Toronto and hit .282.

1918-1925: Ran for Cuyahoga Sheriff and lost. Worked as a rubber salesman.

1925: Retired to Florida

1937: Elected to the Hall of Fame on the second ballot

Died: February 7, 1959

Accomplishments:
1901 Triple Crown

4x Batting Champion

OBP Leader: 2x

Slugging Champion: 4x

OPS Leader: 3x

Runs Scored Leader: 1901

Total Bases Leader: 4x

.338 Career Hitter

.380 Career OBP

1599 Career RBI

3242 Career Hits

1504 Career Runs

Ban Johnson: Baseball Hall of Fame 1937

1864: Born in Ohio

1893: Sportswriter Johnson elected president of the faltering Western League

1899: Expanded the Western League following the National League’s contraction and moved other franchises to fill the void left behind. Grand Rapids moved to Cleveland and St. Paul moved to Chicago.

1900: Renamed the Western League, the American League. The AL remained a minor league.

1901: Moved the Buffalo franchise to Boston

1901: NL cut salaries, so Johnson raided their rosters. The AL became a major league.

1917: Harry Frazee bought the Red Sox leading to a clash with Johnson. Johnson did not handpick Frazee and tried to drive him out. The league split into factions. Some supported Johnson while others Frazee. The controversy led to a break with Charles Comiskey.

1919: The Black Sox throw the World Series. Johnson ignores Comiskey’s complaints about the series.

1920: The Black Sox scandal breaks. The owners agree to an independent commission to investigate undercutting Johnson’s authority. Kenesaw Mountain Landis is appointed commissioner with absolute power.

1924: Johnson demanded the World Series be cancelled after allegations surfaced that players accepted bribes. Landis refused and threatened to resign if Johnson did not shut up.

1927: The AL owners forced Johnson out rather than lose Landis.

1931: Died

Morgan Bulkeley: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1937

Who the heck is Morgan Bulkeley?

Born: December 26, 1837

1853: His father helped found Aetna Life Insurance

1861: Joined the Union Army. Served under General McClellan.

1862: Fought in the Peninsula Campaign.

1865: Returned to private life.

1872: Helped found the United States Bank of Hartford and became its first president.

1874: Formed the Hartford Blue Dukes, a professional baseball team. That same year, he entered politics.

1876: Helped found the National League and served as its first president. Bulkeley helped perpetuate the myth that Abner Doubleday created baseball.

1880: Won Hartford's Mayoral Election. Served as mayor for eight years.

1888: Won a disputed gubernatorial race. Served one term as Connecticut's from 1889-1893.

1905-1911: US Senator

November 6, 1922: Died after serving 43 years as president for Aetna.

Top 10 Right Handed Pitchers of All Time

Walter Johnson is #1. Although, anyone on this list could be #1.

Cy Young

Walter Johnson

Grover Alexander

Christy Mathewson

Greg Maddux

Roger Clemens

Bob Feller

Bob Gibson

Tom Seaver

Jim Palmer