Jim Abbott: timeline

Born: September 19, 1967
1985: Drafted by Toronto Blue Jays, but did not sign
1985-8: University of Michigan
1987: Golden Spikes winner (U of Michigan)
1988: Big Ten Athlete of the Year
1988: Gold Medal in Olympics
1988: Drafted by California Angels
Debut: April 8, 1989 (Angels)
1992: Traded to New York Yankees
1993: No-Hit Cleveland  (September 4)
1995: Signed with Chicago White Sox
1995: Hutch Award
1996: Signed with Angels
1998: Signed with White Sox
1999: Signed with Milwaukee Brewers
2005: Dropped off Hall of Fame Ballot (2.5% of vote)
2007: College Baseball Hall of Fame
2012: Published autobiography

Accomplishments:
Golden Spikes
Olympic Gold Medal
Babe Didrickson Award
Tony Conigliaro Award
No-Hitter
Hutch Award
AL Player of the Week (September 5, 1993)
87-108
4.25
263 Games-254 Starts
31 CG
6 SHO
1674 IP
1.433 WHIP
888 Strikeouts
18 wins (1991)
Sub 3.50 ERA: 2x
Sub 3 ERA: 2x
200+ IP: 4x

Branch Rickey: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1967

Born: December 20, 1881

1898-1901: Earned B.A. at Ohio Wesleyan University and played catcher on baseball team

1902: Played football

1903: Signed pro contract with Terra Haute

1904-05: Played baseball, taught college, and coached football

1905: Ended up with White Sox, who flipped him to the Browns

Debut: June 16, 1905 (Browns)

1907: Traded to the Highlanders (Yankees)

1907: Allowed 13 stolen bases in one game (record)

1907: Attended University of Michigan and earned LL B.

1913: Joined Browns front office

1913-15: Managed Browns (139-179)

1915: Helped sign George Sisler

1917-1918: World War I service

1919-1925: Managed Cardinals (458-485)

1919-42: Cardinals GM. He pioneered the farm system.

1926: Cardinals won World Seres

1931: Cardinals won World Series

1934: Cardinals won World Series

1942: Cardinals won World Series

1943-50: Dodgers GM

1945: Signed Jackie Robinson

1947: Helped integrate baseball

1950-55: Pirates GM

1954: Drafted Roberto Clemente

1955: His efforts led to the Dodgers world title

1960: His efforts led to the Pirates world title

1965: Died

1967: Elected to Hall of Fame

2013: Played by Harrison Ford in "42"

Accomplishments:

4x World Champion (role in two others) as GM

Helped integrate baseball

Developed the farm system

Jackie Robinson, George Sisler, Roberto Clemente

As a manager: 597-664 (.473)

As a player: .239, 3 HR, 39 RBI, .628 OPS (120 games-343 AB)

George Sisler: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1939

Born: March 24, 1893

1915: Graduated from the University of Michigan

Debut: June 28, 1915 (St. Louis Browns)

1920: Played every inning of the season

1920: Set MLB record of 257 hits (Broken by Ichiro)

1920: Batting Champ (.407)

1922: 41-game hitting streak

1922: AL MVP

1922: Batting Champ (.420)

1923: Sinusitis caused double vision and missed entire season

1924: Returned to baseball, but he was not the same

1924-26: Managed the Browns (218-241 record)

1928: Sold to the Senators

1929: Sold to the Boston Braves

1930: Retired. He became a scout to several teams.

1939: Elected to Hall of Fame on fourth ballot

Died: March 26, 1973

2009: Ichiro visited Sisler’s gravesite

Accomplishments:
1922 AL MVP

41-Game Hit Streak (1922)

Record 257 hits (1922)

.340 average

2812 hits

375 steals

Led league in games played: 1920 (154)

Led league in runs: 1922 (134)

100+ runs: 4x

Led league in hits: 2x

200+ hits: 6x

30+ doubles: 7x

40+ doubles: 3x

Led league in triples: 2x

10+ triples: 8x

100+ RBI: 4x

Led league in steals: 4x

30+ steals: 6x

40+ steals: 3x

51 steals (1922)

Hit .300+: 14x

Hit .400+: 2x

.400+ OBP: 4x

.500+ Slugging: 4x

.632 slugging (1920)

.900+ OPS: 4x

1.000+ OPS: 2x

Led league in total bases: 1920 (399)

300+ total bases: 4x

As a pitcher:
5-6, 2.35 ERA

As a manager:
218-241 (.475)

Presidential Songs: Gerald Ford

Gerald Ford captained the University of Michigan football team winning two national titles. Forty years later, he became president. Instead of "Hail to the Chief", the marine band often played "Hail to the Victors."

The Victors:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnkOkraJXK4

Ford at U-M:

http://mvictors.com/?p=179

All Time Michigan Wolverines Offensive Unit

C- Gerald Ford (1932-34)

C- Germany Schulz (1904-05; 1907-08)

OG- Steve Hutchinson (1997-2001)

OG- Reggie McKenzie (1969-71)

OG- Albert Benbrook (1908-10)

OT- Dan Dierdorf (1968-70)

OT- Jumbo Elliott (1984-87)

OT- Greg Skrepenak (1988-91)

OT- Jake Long (2003-06)

QB- Bennie Friedman (1923-26)

QB- Jim Harbaugh (1982-86)

QB- Rick Leach (1975-78)

RB- Tom Harmon (1938-40)

RB- Tyrone Wheatley (1991-94)

FB- Willie Heston (1901-04)

WR- Bennie Oosterbaan (1924-28)

WR- Anthony Carter (1979-82)

WR- Braylon Edwards (2001-04)

WR- John Kolesar (1985-88)

TE- Ron Kramer (1953-56)

Predictions 2010

Here are my fearless predictions for the coming year....

Afghan War: Afghan surge is successful.


The Economy: China collapses the world economy. Hello 1932!!!

Iran: The Iranian Mullahs are overthrown. Goodbye Islamic Republic of Iran!

Europe: Tensions over immigration leads to race riots. Meanwhile, the economic downturn and government cutbacks lead to leftist rioting.

American Elections: GOP gains 30 House Seats and 6 in the Senate; California governorship, Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, and Chris Dodd lose

Technology: Blu Ray collapses as a result of the economy, computer downloads, and old school DVDs.

Entertainment: Someone dies trying to get on a reality TV show. The genre will collapse this decade.

University of Michigan: Rich Rodriguez will be fired.

Sports: The NY Yankees will have one of the great seasons in sports history.

Football Picks

Last Week: 3-0

This week's picks:

U-M over EMU

Notre Dame over MSU

Nebraska over Va Tech

CMU over Alcorn State

Vikes over Lions (by a lot)