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.

R.I.P Bob Welch

Bob Welch passed away yesterday from a heart attack. Welch is perhaps best known for ending game two of the 1978 World Series by striking out Mr. October himself Reggie Jackson.

Bob Welch pitching his famous strike out...

Bob Welch won 211 games pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland A's. Welch was a two time All-Star and a Cy Young winner. He pitched for four World Series squads.

A news report of his death...

Bob Welch had his best season when he won an amazing 27 games in 1990. He finished the year 27-6 with a 2.95 ERA and the Cy Young Award.

Bob Welch passed away at the age of 57. At times he battled his demons, 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!