R.I.P Whitey Ford

 Whitey Ford died at the age of 91 watching a playoff baseball game. I imagine watching a game that made you a Hall of Famer, a legend is an appropriate way to pass on. 

The Yankee legend won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1950. The following two years he served his country in the Korean War. Serving in the Army would be enough to get him some respect.

He came back and was a 10 time All star and was on six World Championship Teams. He also won a Cy Young.

A clip of him pitching..

The New York Yankees pitcher is in Baseball's Hall of Fame and his jersey retired by the Yankees. Nearly 2000 strikeouts and 236 wins highlighted his career.

He will be missed!

R.I.P Claudell Washington

 Sports will age you. First players you grew up watching retire. Second you reach that age when you realize you are too old to play them professionally (or in some people's cases can no longer play them professionally.) In my case I had other things working against me. I could list them but this isn't a self roasting blog. Then sadly players you used to watch pass away. That happened with Claudell Washington this week.

Washington would have turned 66 on August 31st. Still a little early in my book. I became a fan of his during his Atlanta Braves tenure from 1981 to 1986. During that time he was named an All-Star. 

By the time he came to the Braves he already had a World Series ring and was named an All-Star at the age of 20 with the Oakland A's. 

Here is some highlights from his first All-Star game..

He went on to play for the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and New York Mets before coming to the Atlanta Braves. After the Braves he played for the Yankees and California Angels. Below is a memorable game winning homer for the Yankees in an 18 inning game..

His death was probably cancer related as he had battled it in recent years. He left his mark in baseball an will be missed. I hope he rests in peace.

Baseball lost a Slugger and a Catcher

Don Baylor passed away this week at the age of 68. He started his baseball playing career with the Baltimore Orioles and ended with the Oakland A's.

1987 World Series game 6 with the Minnesota Twins...

A 5-RBI game in the American League Championship Series in 1982..

338 home runs, an All-star, a World Series Champion, an MVP, inducted to the Angels Hall of Fame, and a National League Manager of the Year Award highlight his career. He provided memories for baseball  fans and will be missed.


Best known for his years playing with the Philadelphia Phillies Darren Daulton also passed away this week. He was only 55. He is on the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame, a three time All-Star and a World Series Champion with the Miami Marlins.

Here is a home run in the 1993 World Series with the Phillies...

Here is a homerun with the Florida Marlins in the 1997 World Series..

He will be remembered by Philadelphia fans for years to come.

R.I.P. Yogi Berra

Yogi Berra one of the best catchers in baseball history passed away yesterday at the age of 90. Among his quotable quotes he once said "It ain't over 'til it's over" well today it is over.

A mini biography of the New York Yankee great..

The Hall of Fame catcher was a World War II veteran. So even without his incredible baseball career his passing would be worth a moment to reflect on.

He was involved in 21 World Series as a player, coach or manager during his career and wound up on the winning side 13 times. In addition to being inducted into the Hall of Fame he was also selected for the All-Century team in 1999.

Celebration of his 90th birthday earlier this year..

His jersey number retired by the New York Yankees. He was a three time American League MVP and an All-Star selection 18 times.

His wit will be missed, gratitude for his military services always extended, and his place in baseball history unmatched. I hope he rests in peace and I am glad he enjoyed a long life.

Thoughts on the End of Baseball Season

Major League Baseball saved some greatness for the final day of the season. The Oakland A's edged out the Seattle Mariners for a wild cart spot, Jordan Zimmerman pitched a no hitter for the Washington Nationals.

No team won 100 games or more and no team lost 100 games. 15 teams had winning records.

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter the Captain for the New York Yankees calls it a career. His .310 career batting average and 3465 hits make a compelling argument for the Hall of Fame. Add being a 14-time All Star, five World Series Championship,  and World Series MVP and they may want to make some room in Cooperstown.

Paul Konerko

Paul Konerko the Captain for the Chicago White Sox calls it a career too! A six time All Star with a .279 career average and 439 home runs. Might not make it to the Hall of Fame but will be remembered along with other White Sox greats.

Post Season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the Wild Card. A beautiful stadium, western Pennsylvania in the Fall, and baseball! That is something to enjoy.The Kansas City Royals are in the Wild Card in the American League it has been a long time for both these teams.

The post season where Spring Training dreams live on for ten teams.

R.I.P Don Zimmer

The title of Don Zimmer's book Zim: A Baseball Life is a great way to sum up Don Zimmer's life. 66 of his 83 years of life were spent in professional baseball. Playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds and Washington Senators.

Don Zimmer managed the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, and the Chicago Cubs. He coached the Montreal Expos, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, and Tampa Bay Rays.

He was old school and I don't think I will ever forget this game...

Here is a tribute to him..

He was involved with a lot of history of the game, he was knowledgeable of the game, and was a link in the games history. He will be missed may he rest in peace.

October Baseball

This has been one of the greatest post seasons for baseball. I could be biased, I do have a family connection to the San Francisco Giants and two local teams to me the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals were in the playoffs as well.

I think it all started on the last day of the regular season when the Oakland A's over took the Texas Rangers to win that division.

Then every divisional series came down to the wire going 5 games...

The New York Yankees beat their division rival Baltimore Orioles 3 games to 2...here are highlights from a game the O's win but the Yankees would win the series

Then the Detroit Tigers eliminated the Oakland A's 3 games to 2. In this series Detroit won the first two, then the A's won 2 before the Tigers won the last one.

Then the St. Louis Cardinals broke the Washington Nationals hearts in game five rallying back from a 5-1 deficit to win the series..

The San Francisco Giants lost the first two games to the Cincinnati Reds and had to win the last three to advance to the Championship series..

Okay the Detroit Tigers swept the New York Yankees to advance to the World Series..

Not much drama in that series.

The St. Louis Cardinals had a 3 game to 1 lead on the Giants but San Francisco won the next three in a row to advance to the World Series..

I'm looking forward to the World Series between the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants, hoping for one more great series in 2012!

Congrats to The Yankees!

Congratulations to the New York Yankees for winning the World Series. The Yankees are the 2009 Major League Baseball Champions and are without question the best team in baseball.
The New York Yankees had the best record in baseball

The New York Yankees swept the Minnesota Twins and went on to beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in six games. Then the New York Yankees beat the 2008 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies in six games in the World Series. The Yankees beat the best of the best to prove the Yankees were the best team in baseball.

Sports

Well the World Series starts on Wednesday. It features the New York Yankees against the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies. It should be great series. I didn't get around to writing a preview of the Philadelphia Phillies, however I did write a preview of the New York Yankees which you can read here.

In college football I mixed up the rankings once again this week. You can view the new rankings here. It is a great time of year for college footbal since their are great conference match up games and rivalry games. Boise State and TCU look like they are getting ready to give their best efforts to break into the BCS bowls.

My Fantasy Football Team had another blowout win. A lot of my success is that I have been able to fill in for injuries and prepare for bye weeks. However, next week looks like I will be down one quarterback and a running back. It still looks like my team should win, however it will be closer than the last two weeks.

Previews of the Yankees and Red Sox

I know most of my sports writting lately has been about football. Since summer has given way to Fall, it means the boys of sukmer will be playing the Fall Classic soon.

I'm running a little behind schedule on these. However, I have a preview of the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox just in time for the playoffs.

New York Yankees here.

Boston Red Sox here.

I also have my weekly football ranking here.

Well it is late, I will post a new blog soon.