Baseball (MLB, WBC, College, etc.)

Jav_sol wrote:
I wasn't just talking about the starters. Although, I'm not happy that the highest paid pitchers were also the worst last year. :beaten:

Yes you're right about the whole staff, Paps was up and down too much, especially in the big games. Think picking up Jenks was a real solid move, :victory: he could probably still close for a lot of teams, also gives them insurance in the closer role along with Bard who was the ace of the 'pen last year. :applaud:

Duke Snider, Dodger great, dies at 84

February 27, 2011 | 12:51 pm

Snider Duke Snider, one of the Brooklyn Dodgers' Boys of Summer and one of three outstanding New York center fielders in the 1950s, died Sunday. He was 84.

Snider died at the Valle Vista Convalescent Hospital in Escondido, the Dodgers announced. No cause was given.

Here is a look at how dominant Snider was during his career with the Dodgers. From the Los Angeles Times' obituary by former staff writer Mike Kupper:

The Duke of Flatbush, a smooth-fielding outfielder and, thanks to his prowess as a home run hitter, a fan favorite in Ebbets Field, was a Dodger, both in Brooklyn and his native Los Angeles, for 16 of his 18 years in the major leagues. A Hall of Fame member, the eight-time All-Star helped the Dodgers to six National League championships, and Brooklyn's only World Series title, in his first 11 seasons, providing Dodger power from the left side of the plate.

Snider hit 40 or more homers in five consecutive seasons and during the 1950s led all major leaguers in home runs, 326; runs batted in, 1,031; runs scored, 970; and slugging percentage, .569. He finished his career with a lifetime batting average of .295 and 407 home runs, 389 of them as a Dodger, still the team record. He is the only player to have twice hit four homers in the World Series, matching his 1952 feat in '55, the year the Dodgers won the Series and he was named major league player of the year by Sporting News.

He hit the last home run in Ebbets Field and had the first hit in Dodger Stadium, a single on opening day in 1962, and was part of the 1959 Los Angeles Dodgers team that beat the Chicago White Sox in the World Series.

bmwracer wrote:Duke Snider, Dodger great, dies at 84

:shamefulcry: The last time I saw him was at Dodger stadium in '05 when they had a thing to honor the 50th anniversary of the '55 champion Dodgers and he needed a cane to get around then. RIP, Duke.

Duke Snider, Willie Mays, and Mickey Mantle--three great hall of fame center fielders playing at the same time in the same city. Pretty remarkable.

Snider was one of the all-time Dodger greats. He played on Brooklyn's only world series championship team in 1955 and L.A.'s first world series championship team in 1959 (I wonder how many players who were members of both those teams are still alive?).

shin2 wrote:(I wonder how many players who were members of both those teams are still alive?).

Koufax, for one. :)

bmwracer wrote:
Koufax, for one. :)

I looked it up. Also still living are Roger Craig, Carl Erskine and Don Zimmer.

gaijinmark wrote:I looked it up. Also still living are Roger Craig, Carl Erskine and Don Zimmer.

I was thinking Don Newcombe, but Wiki said that he was traded to the Reds in '58... :(

gaijinmark wrote:
I looked it up. Also still living are Roger Craig, Carl Erskine and Don Zimmer.

Interestingly, Craig and Zimmer were also members of the 1962 Amazin' Mets team that lost 120 games along with other former Dodgers Gil Hodges, Charley Neal and Clem Labine.

gaijinmark wrote:Interestingly, Craig and Zimmer were also members of the 1962 Amazin' Mets team that lost 120 games along with other former Dodgers Gil Hodges, Charley Neal and Clem Labine.

LOL... From the penthouse to the basement.

I knew that Sandy Koufax (best pitcher ever :woot:) and Roger Craig were members of the 55 and 59 teams; I would never have been able to get Carl Erskine and Don Zimmer.

shin2 wrote:I knew that Sandy Koufax (best pitcher ever :woot:)

Yes. :applaud: :applaud: :applaud:

He was great, for a 5 year stretch, longevity though has to mean something which for sure would bump him down the list a bit. :sweat:

hitomi #1 wrote: longevity though has to mean something which for sure would bump him down the list a bit. :sweat:

Not for me it doesn't. I will always look at Sandy Koufax from the perspective of a kid whose family moved to Southern California in the summer of 1965, just in time for the NL pennant race which ultimately resulted in the Dodgers going to the World Series and beating the Twins in the seventh game with Koufax, pitching on only two days rest and relying only on his fast ball hurling a complete game shutout.
I was already a fan of Koufax (and the Dodgers) before moving to the L.A. area; after that I idolized him. And, when he suddenly retired after the '66 season, I was crushed. In retrospect, what his premature retirement did was leave a lasting impression in my mind and the minds of countless other baseball fans who saw him pitch, of Koufax at his best, and spared us the image of a great player slowly declining.

Nowadays I no longer root for the Dodgers; heck, I don't even follow baseball anymore.

But bring up the name of Sandy Koufax, and I immediately view him from the perspective of a kid who thought he was the greatest pitcher ever, and that is one opinion of mine which will never ever change.

^^ Certainly not arguing, we all have our opinions, none are wrong, so many 'ifs' though in the history of baseball, if there was no WW2 would people be discussing whether Feller or Spahn were the best ever? Or if Dizzy Dean never got hurt? Interesting stat, in the 110 year history of the Yanks lefthanders have won 20 games 16 times total, Spahn won 20 games 13 times in a 17 year period. :applaud:

hitomi #1 wrote:longevity though has to mean something which for sure would bump him down the list a bit. :sweat:

It does, but you all have to consider extraordinary pitching excellence, too: Koufax dominated like no other in those six years (1961-1966), pitching four no-hitters in four consecutive years, the strikeouts, all those wins... Has there ever been a pitcher dominated like that?

No doubt a dominating period, :applaud: possibly the best by a lefty may have been by Lefty Grove from 1928-33, that was the hey day of offensive baseball when it was unheard of if a team scored less than 5 runs a game and he pitched in the best hitting park in the AL. :sweat: He went 152-41 over that period, leading the AL in ERA nd K's 4 times each, CGs 3 time, winning percentage 4 times and even saves one year. :victory: He got a late start to his career, back then the minor leagues weren't owned by the majors so they had to buy the players off thise teams, Grove pitched for Baltimore who didn't want to sell him because he packed the stands for them, finally after almost 5 years they eventually did sell him to the A's, as great as his career was would have been off the charts if he could have 5 more years in MLB. :bow:

'Nisei Jackie Robinson' dies at age 85

By JAYMES SONG, AP Sports Writer

[image]

HONOLULU – Wally Kaname Yonamine, the first American to play professional baseball in Japan after World War II and a former running back with the San Francisco 49ers, has died. He was 85.

His son, Paul Yonamine, told The Associated Press that two-sport standout died Monday night at a Honolulu retirement home after a bout with prostate cancer.

"Most people remember him for his accomplishments on the diamond, but our family, we have a great deal of respect for him for what he's done off the diamond," Paul Yonamine said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "One hell of a guy."

The outfielder was known as the "Nisei Jackie Robinson" for breaking into Japanese baseball and building ties between the countries in a highly sensitive period after World War II. Facing a language barrier, he was sometimes met with hostility, including rock throwing, for being an American and his aggressive style of play.

The Maui-born Yonamine is considered one of the greatest athletes to come out of Hawaii.

"He was in Japan for a really long time, but he always stayed Hawaii," Paul Yonamine said. "He was always a local boy. Along with it, a lot of great values of Hawaii that he was able to share in Japan."

He played pro football for the 49ers in their second season in 1947, three years before the team joined the NFL. It was a time when many Bay Area residents of Japanese descent were returning to their homes after spending time in an internment camp in Utah during World War II.

Yonamine, who inked a two-year deal worth $14,000, is believed to be the first player of Japanese ancestry to play pro football. But he was released after one season after hurting his wrist while playing baseball in the offseason.

Despite playing just one season, the 49ers said Yonamine's impact in pro sports was far-reaching. The team established the Perry/Yonamine Unity Award in 2007.

"Wally will be sadly missed by me and those with a love of 49ers history," said John York, the 49ers' owner and co-chairman said in a statement.

Yonamine started three of 12 games with the 49ers, rushed 19 times for 74 yards, caught three passes for 40 yards and had intercepted a pass.

"He was an outsider with the 49ers and he moved to Japan and became an outsider for the opposite reason \ because he was American as opposed to being Asian," said author Robert K. Fitts, who wrote Yonamine's biography released in 2008 titled "Wally Yonamine: The Man Who Changed Japanese Baseball."

"So he got used to being on the outside and having to deal with that the whole time," Fitts said. "There was a great deal of prejudice in both places toward him. But he managed to not let it get under his skin like most people would."

He returned to baseball and played in the Pacific Coast League before heading to Japan at the age of 26 in 1951.

Yonamine played for the Yomiuri Giants and the Chunichi Dragons, helping transform how the game was played in Japan where it was a more passive style of game then with no players sliding hard into second to break up a double play like Yonamine did in his first game to the shock of the fans.

"Wally is credited with introducing American-style baseball, a hard-nosed Pete Rose-style of baseball to Japan," Fitts said. "The change wasn't overnight. He was very unpopular at first. He was really booed and had rocks thrown at him. A lot of that was his play and not because he was an American. But the players saw quickly that was the way to win.

"The Japanese became a lot more aggressive and they hired a lot more Americans because of him."

With a .311 career batting average, the seven-time All-Star won three batting titles and was the 1957 Central League MVP before serving decades as a manager and being inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1994.

In 1954, Yonamine became the first foreigner to win the Central League batting crown with a .361 average. He also led the league in hits, doubles and runs scored. Two decades years later, Yonamine became the first foreign manager to win the Central League title with his Dragons beating the powerhouse Giants, his former team.

"He was a true pioneer breaking into two leagues. He was willing to adapt and check his ego at the door," said Fitts, who spent three years working with Yonamine on the biography. "Everybody you talk to will tell you the same thing. Wally was the nicest person you'll ever meet."

In 1998, Yonamine was honored by the Emperor of Japan for his long career as a player and ambassador.

"Just like Jackie Robinson was not the best black player at the time he was chosen to come to the Brooklyn Dodgers, but he was the best fit to make the jump," Fitts said. "Wally was the best fit to make the jump to Japan. And because he succeeded, now about 1,000 American players have played in Japan."

Paul Yonamine said despite all the adversity his father faced, he never badmouthed any one or cussed. He always stressed having integrity.

"The last several months, where he's having a real bad time with his health, he never complained once," he said. "It's things like that, where he always walks the talk. He didn't just talk about things. He always practiced what he preached."

After baseball, Yonamine and his family ran successful pearl stores in Tokyo and the Los Angeles area.

Yonamine is survived by his wife Jane; daughters Amy Roper and Wallis Yamamoto; and son Paul. Services are scheduled for Saturday in Honolulu.

hitomi #1 wrote:^^ Certainly not arguing, we all have our opinions, none are wrong,

I was not trying to argue either. The point I was trying to make was that memories influence how we think and what we believe. Re: Koufax--stats and longevity are secondary; as a kid who lived through his exploits, I thought he was the best pitcher ever, and 45 years later, that impression remains inviolate.

bmwracer wrote:'Nisei Jackie Robinson' dies at age 85

By JAYMES SONG, AP Sports Writer

[image]

HONOLULU – Wally Kaname Yonamine, the first American to play professional baseball in Japan after World War II and a former running back with the San Francisco 49ers, has died. He was 85.

His son, Paul Yonamine, told The Associated Press that two-sport standout died Monday night at a Honolulu retirement home after a bout with prostate cancer.

"Most people remember him for his accomplishments on the diamond, but our family, we have a great deal of respect for him for what he's done off the diamond," Paul Yonamine said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "One hell of a guy."

The outfielder was known as the "Nisei Jackie Robinson" for breaking into Japanese baseball and building ties between the countries in a highly sensitive period after World War II. Facing a language barrier, he was sometimes met with hostility, including rock throwing, for being an American and his aggressive style of play.

The Maui-born Yonamine is considered one of the greatest athletes to come out of Hawaii.

"He was in Japan for a really long time, but he always stayed Hawaii," Paul Yonamine said. "He was always a local boy. Along with it, a lot of great values of Hawaii that he was able to share in Japan."

He played pro football for the 49ers in their second season in 1947, three years before the team joined the NFL. It was a time when many Bay Area residents of Japanese descent were returning to their homes after spending time in an internment camp in Utah during World War II.

Yonamine, who inked a two-year deal worth $14,000, is believed to be the first player of Japanese ancestry to play pro football. But he was released after one season after hurting his wrist while playing baseball in the offseason.

Despite playing just one season, the 49ers said Yonamine's impact in pro sports was far-reaching. The team established the Perry/Yonamine Unity Award in 2007.

"Wally will be sadly missed by me and those with a love of 49ers history," said John York, the 49ers' owner and co-chairman said in a statement.

Yonamine started three of 12 games with the 49ers, rushed 19 times for 74 yards, caught three passes for 40 yards and had intercepted a pass.

"He was an outsider with the 49ers and he moved to Japan and became an outsider for the opposite reason \ because he was American as opposed to being Asian," said author Robert K. Fitts, who wrote Yonamine's biography released in 2008 titled "Wally Yonamine: The Man Who Changed Japanese Baseball."

"So he got used to being on the outside and having to deal with that the whole time," Fitts said. "There was a great deal of prejudice in both places toward him. But he managed to not let it get under his skin like most people would."

He returned to baseball and played in the Pacific Coast League before heading to Japan at the age of 26 in 1951.

Yonamine played for the Yomiuri Giants and the Chunichi Dragons, helping transform how the game was played in Japan where it was a more passive style of game then with no players sliding hard into second to break up a double play like Yonamine did in his first game to the shock of the fans.

"Wally is credited with introducing American-style baseball, a hard-nosed Pete Rose-style of baseball to Japan," Fitts said. "The change wasn't overnight. He was very unpopular at first. He was really booed and had rocks thrown at him. A lot of that was his play and not because he was an American. But the players saw quickly that was the way to win.

"The Japanese became a lot more aggressive and they hired a lot more Americans because of him."

With a .311 career batting average, the seven-time All-Star won three batting titles and was the 1957 Central League MVP before serving decades as a manager and being inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1994.

In 1954, Yonamine became the first foreigner to win the Central League batting crown with a .361 average. He also led the league in hits, doubles and runs scored. Two decades years later, Yonamine became the first foreign manager to win the Central League title with his Dragons beating the powerhouse Giants, his former team.

"He was a true pioneer breaking into two leagues. He was willing to adapt and check his ego at the door," said Fitts, who spent three years working with Yonamine on the biography. "Everybody you talk to will tell you the same thing. Wally was the nicest person you'll ever meet."

In 1998, Yonamine was honored by the Emperor of Japan for his long career as a player and ambassador.

"Just like Jackie Robinson was not the best black player at the time he was chosen to come to the Brooklyn Dodgers, but he was the best fit to make the jump," Fitts said. "Wally was the best fit to make the jump to Japan. And because he succeeded, now about 1,000 American players have played in Japan."

Paul Yonamine said despite all the adversity his father faced, he never badmouthed any one or cussed. He always stressed having integrity.

"The last several months, where he's having a real bad time with his health, he never complained once," he said. "It's things like that, where he always walks the talk. He didn't just talk about things. He always practiced what he preached."

After baseball, Yonamine and his family ran successful pearl stores in Tokyo and the Los Angeles area.

Yonamine is survived by his wife Jane; daughters Amy Roper and Wallis Yamamoto; and son Paul. Services are scheduled for Saturday in Honolulu.

For old-time kama'aina, Wally Yonamine was a sports icon. Growing up in Hawaii in the 50's and early 60's, I remember my relatives talking about Yonamine. He led a very remarkable life.

There's a book out about Wally:http://www.amazon.com/Wally-Yonamine-Changed-Japanese-Baseball/dp/0803213816/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299075473&sr=1-1#_