Author Archive
New York Yankees Scored the Most Runs in a Season, but »
The 1931 New York Yankees scored 1,067 runs, which is the most runs ever scored by a major league team in a season. They led the league in batting average (.297), home runs (155), on base average (.380), slugging average (.457), and stolen bases (138). Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig tied for the home run championship with 46 each. Gehrig set the [...]
The Only Way Alex Rodriguez Can Top Dallas Braden »
When Alex Rodriguez "walked on Dallas Braden's pitching mound," Mr. Braden took umbrage because A-Rod broke an unwritten rule. The mound belongs to the pitcher. Alex responded by referring to Dallas' handful of wins. A few days ago, Alex claimed he was not making any more comments because he didn't want to add any more time to the left-handed [...]
Mike Mussina’s Near Miss Will Be Remembered For »
Mike Mussina once was a dominant pitcher, but never was he more masterful than on the night of Sept. 2, 2001 against the Boston Red Sox, when he came within one strike of pitching the fourth perfect game in Yankees’ history. Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre noted, as he watched Mussina warm up in the bullpen before the game, that he was [...]
The Addiction Of Winning and The Fear of Defeat »
The New York Yankees' last World Championship was in 2009. For many Yankees’ fans, the eight years between World Championships seemed like an eternity of defeats, despite the team being in the playoffs seven times. Some Yankees’ fans, and of course, Mr. George Steinbrenner, consider the only successful season one in which the Yankees [...]
Jorge Posada and the New York Yankees’ Hall Of »
The New York Yankees have had two Hall of Fame catchers. Bill Dickey played during the 1930s and early 1940s. Yogi Berra replaced Dickey and played from the late 1940s until the early 1960s. How does Jorge Posada compare to Dickey and Yogi? Jorge Posada had the best season of his career in 2007. He batted a robust .338, hit 20 home [...]
Phil Rizzuto Figured It Out and Listened »
Enos “Country” Slaughter replaced Phil Rizzuto on the New York Yankees’ roster on Aug. 25, 1956. The move was announced on Old Timers’ Day, and effectively ended the career of the second greatest shortstop in Yankees’ history. The Yankees needed help, which they hoped Slaughter could provide, but they were [...]
Is Roger Maris Really Injured? »
It started innocently enough, and it wasn't even reported in the newspapers. On Sunday, June 20, 1965, in the second game of a twin bill against the Minnesota Twins, Roger Maris, sliding into home plate, jammed his right hand against the home plate umpire's shin guard. No one, not even Roger, realized the seriousness of the injury. Roger [...]
Joe Dimaggio’s Untainted Achievement »
Now that the single season home run record, the lifetime home run record, and the record for most career hits are held by individuals who will get into the Hall of Fame only by paying the admission fee, Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak really is the greatest and most glamorous record in baseball, but for a few minutes, on a muggy [...]
Bobby Murcer, Thurman Munson, and Gene Michael: Not »
August 10 was the highlight of the 1969 season for New York Yankees fans. New York's other team, the beloved New York Mets, would not have its greatest moments until October. The day that Bobby Murcer, Thurman Munson, and Gene Michael hit consecutive home runs in the sixth inning against Oakland made a pedestrian New York Yankees season [...]
If It Weren’t New York Yankees Bias, What Was »
In 1947, Ted Williams won the American League's Triple Crown. He led the league in batting with a .343 average, in home runs with 32, and in RBIs with 114. Williams had a .499 on base average, a .634 slugging percentage, and drew 162 walks. In 1947, Joe DiMaggio hit .315 with 20 home runs and 97 RBIs. He had a .391 on base average, a [...]