|
Post by grover on May 1, 2007 23:14:37 GMT -5
Shut up Laura, Babe Ruth was so awesome, Jesus screame out his name as the Romans drove spikes into this wrists!!
|
|
|
Post by elliejay21 on May 2, 2007 5:56:41 GMT -5
Jesus had it coming. He never played for the Yankees.
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on May 2, 2007 6:00:17 GMT -5
Just because people take some ordinary person and make him or her something more than they are, doesn't make it true.
I've also heard conspiracy rumors that Ruth was part black. So what? If anything, that makes Robinson even LESS relevant.
Laura, not surprising that these points are sailing over your airhead.
Grover--it's not relevant does not mean there's no answer. It means it's not relevant. Let's say Jackie Robinson really did inspire football and basketball players. As laughable as that sounds, let's even go further and say he invented those games.
What the hell does that have to do with baseball? Nothing.
If Jackie Robinson brought down the ten commandments, and in another 50 years, baseball will act like he did, then he still wouldn't deserve to have his number retired throughout baseball.
Laura, not surprisingly, has brought up examples that have nothing to do with anything, and of course, they are bad examples. Washington became President in large part because of his brilliant leadership during the revolution. That was a unique talent. He set the stage for all the presidencies that followed by choosing not to become a king. Another person might have accepted being "elected" for life, and we would have a very different government today.
Lincoln also was unique. A weaker President at the time might have let the union dissolve. Again, unique.
Rosa Parks meant absolutely nothing. She was a martyr and anyone could have been made that. If you wanted an actual example of someone who actually impacted the Civil Rights movement, you might have gone with MLK.
Either way, weak attempt at a history lesson aside, you don't see every team in baseball retiring Rosa Parks' number.
Holy crap some of you people are stupid.
Jackie Robinson's number should not be retired by every team in baseball. It's overkill.
And you idiots are now talking about Rosa Parks.
As for Jesus, his number shouldn't be retired either. He couldn't even hit a curve.
|
|
|
Post by grover on May 2, 2007 10:02:37 GMT -5
No Balls, it's not overkill. Them honoring Robinson every few years is overkill, but I think the honor of retiring the number of a person who meant more to Baseball and America than Babe Ruth ever will is an amazing gesture.
Honor him at 50 years, and then at 75, 100, so on. Wow, such a fucking huge honor to not let someone wear a fucking sports number that we can't tip our caps to a courageous man who went through ten times more things than Ruth.
I'm quitting the board. I can't take arguments like this.
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on May 2, 2007 10:11:40 GMT -5
It IS overkill. Jackie Robinson did NOTHING to deserve having his number retired by teams he never played for, including teams that didn't even exist when he played.
Jackie Robinson did not mean more to baseball or American than Ruth. That's laughable.
All Robinson did was show up and not fight people. He took a lot of shit. Congratulations.
Now a whopping 8 percent of the game shares the color of his skin. Let's start a religion and change the name of baseball to Robinsonball.
|
|
|
Post by Bad Mouth Larry on May 2, 2007 10:19:05 GMT -5
thankfully ive read none of HIS drivel, but how can you not have time to check dl violations but have time for this nonsense that NO ONE agrees with once again.
|
|
|
Post by jwmcc on May 2, 2007 11:08:45 GMT -5
I think I'm going to take a break from this board for a little while as well. Jw
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on May 2, 2007 11:18:24 GMT -5
Taking your ball and going home will not change the stupidity of baseball retiring a number for every team on one player. No one deserves that honor.
|
|
|
Post by Bad Mouth Larry on May 2, 2007 11:35:59 GMT -5
i think baseball should retired hitlers number.
|
|
$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 4, 2007 22:21:33 GMT -5
Clete Boyer, a standout third baseman and key component of five New York Yankees World Series clubs, died Monday after suffering a massive stroke in Atlanta, Ga. He was 70. Regarded as a stellar defensive third baseman, Boyer's 16-year Major League career perhaps received its greatest accolades from his outstanding play in the 1961 World Series against the Reds. In the first game of the Fall Classic, Boyer contributed to the Yankees' efforts with two stunning plays, throwing out Gene Freese from his knees on a backhanded stop and diving to his left on a ball hit by Dick Gernert. "I think to when we played Cincinnati, and he made those great plays at third base," former Yankees teammate Moose Skowron said. "He took a couple of balls from his knees, I remember that. He was a [heck] of a gloveman." Boyer became the Yankees' starting third baseman in 1960 and held the job through the '66 season, when he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for prospect Bill Robinson. While many regarded Boyer as one of the game's top defensive third basemen during his era, Boyer often did not receive the accolades offered to his contemporary, Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson. Still, in years past, teammates and opponents have insisted that Boyer was every bit the defender Robinson was, helping save pitching staffs countless runs with his stellar play. "He was a real good player," said Yankees manager Joe Torre, who was a teammate of Boyer's in 1970 and '71 with the Atlanta Braves. "He was up during the Brooksie era and didn't get as much attention because of Brooksie, but he could play third base -- great arm." Boyer could also be a presence at the plate. In 1,725 Major League games with the Kansas City Athletics (1956-57), Yankees (1960-67) and Braves (1968-71), Boyer batted .242 and never hit higher than .272 in a single season, but he clubbed 162 career home runs, including a career high of 26 in 1967 for the Braves. "He hit a lot of home runs in Atlanta when we were teammates," Torre said. "Plus, he was a little goofy. It certainly helps you play the game." After his retirement, Boyer remained around the game. He was a frequent visitor to the annual Old Timers Days at Yankee Stadium and also attended the Yankees' Spring Training as a guest instructor -- a role that Skowron said Boyer was helping to fill even when he was still wearing a big-league uniform. "He helped out a lot of third basemen who'd join the Yankees in Spring Training," Skowron said. "He'd work out with them. He gave 100 percent, and that's all you can ask." Born in Cassville, Mo., two of Boyer's brothers -- Ken, a St. Louis Cardinals star, and Cloyd, a pitcher for St. Louis in the early 1950s -- reached the Major Leagues. Boyer, who was not married, is survived by six children. above reprinted from mlb.com
|
|
|
Post by 4dogg on Jun 6, 2007 8:19:58 GMT -5
gotta love the old baseball cards with the original stadium facade in the background....one of the best things about being an old bastard like myself was going to the old stadium
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Jun 24, 2007 16:19:54 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by kingdzbws on Jun 24, 2007 17:00:52 GMT -5
Ooops. I posted this too.
What's the difference? Is RIP only for Non- Ballplayers?
BTW, why all the hate Balls? He (and Lidle) weren't SOOOO bad, where they?
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Jun 24, 2007 17:21:43 GMT -5
I guess RIP in the main section can cover ballplayers too. I wouldn't delete a post there for that.
Lidle pisses me off. The only significant thing he ever did was die.
|
|
$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 24, 2007 22:58:00 GMT -5
May he rest in peace. Sorry, Balls, but I do not share your glee in ex-ballplayers who did not play for the Yankees dying too young. I forgot about this....I can respect this... While working his way back to the majors in 2003, Beck pitched for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs and lived in his Winnebago parked just beyond the outfield fence. Fans would drop by for autographs and stay for a beer, and Beck became a folk hero. My prayers to his family, friends, and fans.
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Jun 25, 2007 6:13:50 GMT -5
He's stiff as a Rod.
|
|
|
Post by 4dogg on Jun 25, 2007 7:05:17 GMT -5
A Rod is a stiff?
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Jun 25, 2007 7:54:10 GMT -5
Hey, these comments don't come at your BECK and call.
|
|
|
Post by thecaptain15 on Jun 25, 2007 8:18:29 GMT -5
ROD BECK DEAD AT 38 AP June 25, 2007 -- Rod Beck, an All-Star relief pitcher who wore a bushy mustache while earning 286 career saves, has died. He was 38.
Nicknamed "Shooter," Beck was found Saturday by police officers responding to a call to his home in suburban Phoenix, police said yesterday. Foul play is not suspected, though the cause of death might not be known for several days.
With unruly hair framing a menacing stare and an aggressive arm swing before delivering a pitch, the outgoing right-hander was a colorful baseball personality and a three-time All-Star. He spent the first seven of his 13 major league seasons with the Giants.
Beck, who also pitched for the Cubs, Red Sox and Padres, was popular with teammates, fans and reporters, but battled personal demons late in his life. He abruptly left the Padres for a two-month stint in drug rehabilitation during his final season in 2004.
Beck set the Giants' single-season record with 48 saves in 1993. He was on the mound when San Francisco clinched the NL West title in 1997, and was the Giants' career saves leader with 199 until Robb Nen passed him in 2002.
Beck saved 51 games for Chicago in 1998, helping the Cubs win the NL wild card. He had a career record of 38-45 in 704 games, with a 3.30 ERA.
|
|
|
Post by Bad Mouth Larry on Jun 26, 2007 9:15:15 GMT -5
i too remember fondly those reports of beck living in his motorhome outside the outfield fences in AAA iowa. seems like one of us. i always thought he would fit in 39 very well. he was my kind of guy and my kind of ballplayer. even though i never tend to like pitchers, this guy was cool. rip shooter.
|
|
$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Jul 23, 2007 7:23:40 GMT -5
Holy crap! This is bizarre, and sad, and quite chilling. On-field death, of a former major league ballplayer while coaching on the field in the minor leagues....hit by line drive. RIP Mike Coolbaugh.... and sadly had just joined this current club earlier this month, taking over for a guy who resigned for "personal reasons." Ah, if that job never came open... Minor League Baseball Coach Killed by Line DriveNORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The batting coach for the Tulsa Drillers was pronounced dead at a hospital Sunday evening after being struck in the head by a line drive as he stood in the first-base coach's box during a Texas League game with the Arkansas Travelers, police said. The game was suspended in the ninth inning after Mike Coolbaugh was hit by a hard-hit foul ball off the bat of Tino Sanchez and taken to Baptist Medical Center-North Little Rock. Phil Elson, spokesman for the Travelers, said Coolbaugh was struck by the ball on the right side of his head, or on the forehead — "I'm getting conflicting reports" — and fell to the ground immediately. According to a report posted on the Drillers' Web site late Sunday, Coolbaugh was knocked unconscious and CPR was administered to him on the field. Sgt. Terry Kuykendall, spokesman for North Little Rock police, said Coolbaugh was still alive when he was put in an ambulance for the trip to the hospital, but quit breathing as the ambulance arrived at the facility. "They tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at 9:47 p.m.," Kuykendall said. Coolbaugh played 44 games in the major leagues over two seasons, his last appearance with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2002. The Drillers' web site said Coolbaugh joined the Tulsa team's staff on July 3. The Travelers, an Angels affiliate, led 7-3 at the time the game was suspended with no outs and a runner on first in the top of the ninth inning. Officials said a date and time for finishing the game had not yet been chosen. Tulsa is a Rockies affiliate. MIKE COOLBAUGH'S BASEBALL-REFERENCE PAGE www.baseball-reference.com/c/coolbmi01.shtml
|
|
|
Post by 9 on Jul 23, 2007 8:51:19 GMT -5
I always used to joke about how Sheffield was going to kill a third-base coach with one of his foul line-drive bullets. This is sad.
|
|
|
Post by bernie51williams on Jul 23, 2007 15:31:40 GMT -5
horrible news to have that happen, R.I.P Mike Coolbaugh.
|
|
|
Post by drock2006 on Jul 23, 2007 18:43:36 GMT -5
wow..RIP..imagine the poor kid that hit the ball too.
|
|
$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Jul 23, 2007 19:00:33 GMT -5
I listened to the audio of the broadcast, which was inconceivably still available this morning on minorleaguebaseball.com, and the kid who hit the ball was wandering aimlessly after it happened, his hands on his head, totally shaken. Sad story all around.
|
|
|
Post by Jason Giambi on Jul 23, 2007 20:05:46 GMT -5
Ex-Brown Stiles dies; at 100, was oldest former major leaguer Ex-Brown Stiles dies; at 100, was oldest former major leaguer By JIM SALTER, Associated Press Writer July 23, 2007
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Former St. Louis Brown Rollie Stiles, believed to be the oldest former major leaguer, has died. He was 100.
Stiles died in his sleep Sunday morning at Bethesda Southgate nursing home in St. Louis County, a spokesman for the nursing home said Monday. A cause of death was not given.
ADVERTISEMENT
Born Nov. 17, 1906, in Ratcliff, Ark., Stiles pitched for the Browns in 1930, 1931 and 1933, compiling a 9-14 record with a 5.92 ERA. Babe Ruth was among the hitters he faced.
"I had a great game against him," Stiles recalled in a 2006 interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I held him to three hits."
Emmett McAuliffe, a board member of the St. Louis Browns fan club and a friend of Stiles, recalled him as a modest and graceful man grateful for his baseball career.
"Everything about him was class," McAuliffe said. "He knew he wasn't the greatest player that ever lived. But he loved the game."
In fact, Stiles played seven seasons in the minor leagues after his major league career ended.
"Even though the salary was bad, to be paid to play a boy's game was a great line of work to him," McAuliffe said.
Bill Borst, co-founder of the Browns fan club, said Stiles was scheduled to be the honored guest at the club's annual dinner Wednesday.
The Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Orioles after the 1953 season.
Stiles worked for Procter & Gamble after finishing his playing career, retiring in 1969. His wife died in 1997. Survivors include four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, according to the Browns fan club
|
|
|
Post by Jason Giambi on Jul 30, 2007 4:44:12 GMT -5
RIP Bill Robinson, Former player and coach....... He was most recently minor league hitting instructor for the Dodgers.
|
|
$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Jul 30, 2007 11:42:45 GMT -5
Ah, damn shame. The man even wore the pinstripes. May he rest easy. Following was from minorleaguebaseball.com...could not find it on mlb.com - damn them. DENVER -- Bill Robinson, the Dodgers' Minor League hitting coordinator, died Sunday, the club announced. He was 64, and a cause of death was not known. Memorial services are pending. "Bill was a wonderful family man and a great baseball player, coach, manager and friend to everyone he met," said Dodger general manager Ned Colletti. "Even though he never played for the Dodgers, it was an honor that he chose to be a part of the organization. Everyone he came into contact with was better for having known him.
"He had everyone's best interest in mind at all times, and he cared deeply about the development of our young players. He will be missed by everyone in the game of baseball, and our deepest sympathies are with his family, particularly Mary Alice, Bill Jr. and Kelley."
Robinson was in his second season in the Dodgers' organization following four years as a member of the Marlins coaching staff, where he was the hitting coach for the 2003 World Series championship team. He also served in that role for the Mets from 1984-89, which included their 1986 World Series title team.
"Bill was a true gentleman and the consummate professional," said Dodgers director of player development, De Jon Watson. "He worked tirelessly with our young players, sharing his wisdom and knowledge of the game. He will be greatly missed by the Dodger players and staff, and our deepest condolences go out to his family."
Robinson had a 16-year playing career as an outfielder for the Braves, Yankees, Phillies and Pirates from 1966-83. His finest season was in 1977, when Robinson batted .304 and set career highs in hits (154), runs (74) homers (26) and RBIs (104), which ranked eighth in the National League. Robinson also served as an analyst for ESPN's Baseball Tonight in 1990-91.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Alice, two children, William III and Kelley Ann, and three grandchildren, Bret, Ty and Will.ROBINSON'S BASEBALL-REFERENCE PAGE www.baseball-reference.com/r/robinbi02.shtml
|
|
$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Nov 23, 2007 14:48:59 GMT -5
Free agent pitcher Kennedy diesMLB.com Free agent pitcher Joe Kennedy, who last played for the Blue Jays, died early Friday while at home in Florida.
"This is tragic and stunning news," Blue Jays president and chief executive officer Paul Godfrey said in a statement. "It is difficult to express the emotions felt by the Blue Jays players and our organization. My sincere sympathies go to his wife, their son and the entire family."
ESPN.com, which first reported Kennedy's death, said that agent Damon Lapa told the website that the cause of death could not immediately be determined.
The Denver Post reported that, according to Lapa, Kennedy was visiting his wife's family in the Tampa area. He got up in the middle of the night and collapsed.
"The cause of death is unknown at this time," Lapa told FOXSports.com. "The best guess at this point is either a heart attack or a brain aneurysm. The way he died was sudden. There is no reasonable explanation for what happened."
The left-handed Kennedy, 28, was 43-61 with a 4.79 ERA in seven seasons with Tampa Bay, Colorado, Oakland, Arizona and Toronto.
He pitched for the A's, Diamondbacks and Blue Jays last season, signing with the Blue Jays on Aug. 29 after being designated for assignment by Arizona.
|
|
$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Dec 22, 2007 19:07:43 GMT -5
Former Yankee Byrne dies at 87 'Wild Man' found success despite lack of control on moundBy Bryan Hoch / MLB.com NEW YORK -- Tommy Byrne, a hard-throwing left-hander who pitched in four World Series and was known for struggles with his control, died on Thursday in Wake Forest, N.C. He was 87. A Baltimore product who grew up idolizing Babe Ruth, Byrne was signed by the Yankees in 1940 and debuted in New York in 1943. He pitched two stints with the Bombers, winning 15 games in both 1949 and '50 before returning to win a career-high 16 games in 1955.
Byrne's erratic control earned him the nickname "Wild Man." Byrne walked 179 batters in 1949 and 160 batters in 1950, and despite his high win totals in both seasons, he was dealt to the St. Louis Browns in June 1951 for left-handed pitcher Stubby Overmire.
Byrne was also known as a strong-hitting pitcher, one used frequently by Yankees manager Casey Stengel in pinch-hitting appearances. He sometimes batted seventh or eighth on the days he pitched.
Byrne batted .238 with 14 home runs and 98 RBIs in 601 career at-bats. With the White Sox on May 16, 1953, Byrne hit a pinch-hit grand slam off Yankees hurler Ewell Blackwell into the right-field seats at Yankee Stadium.
After spending time with the Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox, Byrne returned to the Yankees in 1954 at Stengel's urging and finished his career in New York, pitching a complete-game victory in Game 2 of the 1955 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Byrne would lose the decisive Game 7, to Johnny Podres, as Brooklyn celebrated the World Series victory with a 2-0 decision. Retiring after the 1957 season, Byrne had a career record of 85-69 with a 4.11 ERA in 281 Major League games.
In his post-baseball career, Byrne returned to Wake Forest, where he had attended college, and served as the town's mayor from 1973-87.
|
|