Category: ball parks

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When it comes to Yankees News that I read along with all the teams, it is always interesting how the same interview, in this case, GM Cashman on MLB Hot Stove can be viewed.

The New York Daily News posted this (link) article 16 hours ago

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-unwilling-give-key-prospects-short-term-gain-article-1.2927974

NJ.com posted this article one hour ago

http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2016/12/mlb_hot_stove_yankees_hint_willingness_to_trade_pr.html

My real take away from this is the baseball off-season never stops entertaining the fan while waiting for Spring Training to begin in 44 days from today December 30.

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The first pitch of 2016 Baseball Season is a few short hours away. Every year for more years than I will admit to I have studied and followed the teams that play in my opinion “The Greatest Game” ever created.

Unlike the 2016 season picks, the usual safe bets; I feel this season will be full of surprises. That will make this one of those “Miracle Seasons” like the 1914 Braves, 1967 Red Sox, and the 1969 Mets.

Let the games begin!David WrightLorenzo Cain after scoring for the Royals

Wrigley Field 1978
Wrigley Field 1978

Yadier Molina

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February 19th Baseball Spring Training camps official open for most MLB teams, with full squads reporting the following week between 23rd and 25th. Today team equipment managers are going over their list checking off items and packing up trunks getting ready for some time around February 10th, when those big 18 wheelers will be pulling away from the ballparks on their way to the Florida and Arizona, for that other annual rite of Spring Training “Truck Day”.

2015 NY Yankees truck leaving for Spring Training
2015 NY Yankees truck leaving for Spring Training

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I am a New York Yankees fan and have been for 60 years, and I’m rooting for the Mets, to win the World Series.
I grew up in Bronx section known as Highbridge between the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium.

The Red Dot was the building we live in

My father and grandmother were big Dodger fans. Except for my uncle taking me to Yankee games, (my first was Old Timers Day 1952) the Dodgers were the team on our television.

Sixty years ago on October 4, 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers defeated the Yankees 2-0 to win their only Championship.

I remember it clearly I came home from school and watched the end of the game I was both happy and sad. October 4, 1955, was also my 9th birthday. That night my father and grandmother were very excited and my birthday took a back seat.

After the Dodgers had moved to Los Angles, my father and grandmother lost interest in baseball.

Then 1962 along came the Mets.

New York Mets Spring Training March 1963, the early years
New York Mets Spring Training March 1963, the early years

Those early years were rough, but my grandmother and I would talk baseball and about the Mets. She loved the Mets would watch or listen to every game on the radio. When they played, on the west coast she would stay up until the game was over. My grandmother went to mass every day, and the only thing that would cause her to swear was when the Mets lost a close game. Something they did a lot in 1960’s. She lived to be 92 and passed away in 1980 just before the start of the baseball season

So of course I will be rooting for the Mets tonight. Every year we go to Queens and see a few games. We have been to Citi Field more than many Mets I know.

The Yankees will always be my main team, but I will also continue to root for the Mets.

Lets Go Mets!

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Three weeks ago we started out on our cross-country trip. The first nights stop Dublin Ohio, then on to St, Charles, Missouri. The first stop on the original cross-country trip by Lewis & Clark. Nestled along the Missouri River it retains its small town feeling.

Planning trips, we like taking different routes and finding places to see, with Abilene Kansas, being one of those spots. It is his boyhood President Eisenhower and his Presidential Library and Museum. Eisenhower was one of the most influential men of the 20th Century, and even with its out-of-the-location it is worth and afternoon. From there we drove to Salina only 29 miles away. In Salina, we had ribs at Tucson Steakhouse. I am not a foodie, but those ribs were as good as any we have eaten in Memphis, and Kansas City.

Leaving the middle of the country, you also leave behind cheap gas prices, the low was $2.11 with the high being $2.49

Our other stops included Denver, Park City, Reno and Sacramento.
In western Kansas, you start to see drought that’s gripped the west in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. Since 2009, this is our fourth road trip to the west coast, seeing how dry and dusty it is sad. We like California and know it’s it dry at this time of the year, but seeing the dry riverbeds, is sobering.

Months ago we booked a VRBO for 26 days in Sausalito it’s lovely. They are however suffering though there worst heatwave in memory. The establishments out here do not have air conditioning; a few more summer like this and that may change. Even the locals are wearing shorts. The forecast starting this weekend looks like the temperatures returning to normal.

BallpatkPrints_ Sausalito_

Today about 4:20 am the foghorns could be heard, it has been awhile, it must have seemed like music to the locals.

BallpatkPrints_SanFrancisco_Fog

As I stated, this is our fourth trip to San Francisco and do think I could remember businesses close early, and the last ferry out of San Francisco to Sausalito is 7:55 pm. Now it will require a few extra trips driving on the Golden Gate Bridge. A good thing I did get Fastrak.

 

 

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Today in the media it is evaluation day of who is the winners and losers in MLB’s annual July 31st trading deadline. Watching the 4 pm countdown yesterday on Fox Sports (I’m on the Jersey Shore in rented beach house) and seeing my team the NY Yankees standing pat made me very happy. My first thoughts were of that old baseball adage. “The trades you don’t make are your best ones.”(1)

I am 100% a fan of baseball and enjoy watching games of all the teams, and all that goes on from the fall Hot Stove League to the August Waiver Wire, and everything in between. I just love it.

After the 4 pm deadline that is 4:15 pm as the commissioner office needs that extra 15 minutes to approve last of the last minute deals. Then the conversation starts who won who lost. After reviewing all the transactions, it struck me that the players being traded were for minor leagues who are not the front-line prospect, as one would expect.

But all of the stories surrounding the Yankees and trades it was only about their rated front-line prospects, and late last night 21 year Luis Severino one of the prospects every team wanted was called up. He’s scheduled to make his major league debut Tuesday night. I expect a lot of second-guessing from the media and fans next Wednesday.

As of today, the Blue Jays who were voted this year’s trading deadline winners are 6-games behind the Yankees, so should all know by the end of this season if standing pat was the right decision.

1- The trades you don’t make are the best ones.
Attributed to Branch Rickey and also Bill Veeck

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1970 Washington Senators
1970 Washington Senators

 

Spring Training 2015 is 30 days away let the countdown begin. I will be leaving February 24th with a two-day stop in Washington DC to visit US Copyright office. My other countdown is after two years this coming Monday we will be  moving into our new place in Bronxville NY. It is going be such a relief not thinking about real estate properties.

In 1970 Sport magazine hired Ozzie Sweet to photograph spring training and spend a little extra time shooting the Washington Senators two new players Denny McLain and Curt Flood. Plus shoot Ted Williams for the cover of the spring training issue.

Over the next 30 days, I will be posting images from Ozzie Sweet and my spring training trips.

 

2015 Cactus League Reporting Dates
Team Pitchers & Catchers First Workout Position Players First Workout Location
Angels February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Tempe
A’s February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Mesa
Brewers February 20 February 22 February 25 February 26 Maryvale
Cubs February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Mesa
Diamondbacks February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Scottsdale
Dodgers February 19 February 20 February 25 February 26 Glendale
Giants February 18 February 19 February 23 February 24 Scottsdale
Indians February 18 February 20 February 22 February 24 Goodyear
Mariners February 20 February 21 February 24 February 25 Peoria
Padres February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Peoria
Rangers February 20 February 21 February 25 February 26 Surprise
Reds February 18 February 19 February 23 February 24 Goodyear
Rockies February 20 February 21 February 27 Scottsdale
Royals February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Surprise
White Sox February 19 February 20 February 24 Glendale

2015 Grapefruit League Reporting Dates
Team Pitchers & Catchers First Workout Position Players First Workout Location
Astros February 20 February 21 February 24 February 25 Kissimmee
Blue Jays February 23 February 27 Dunedin
Braves February 20 February 21 February 25 February 26 Orlando
Cardinals February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Jupiter
Marlins February 20 February 20 February 24 February 24 Jupiter
Mets February 19 February 21 February 24 February 26 Port St. Lucie
Nationals February 19 February 21 February 24 February 26 Viera
Orioles February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Sarasota
Phillies February 18 February 19 February 23 February 24 Clearwater
Pirates February 18 February 19 February 23 February 24 Bradenton
Rays February 22 February 23 February 27 February 28 Port Charlotte
Red Sox February 20 February 21 February 24 February 25 Fort Myers
Tigers February 19 February 20 February 23 February 24 Lakeland
Twins February 22 February 23 February 27 February 28 Fort Myers
Yankees February 20 February 21 February 25 February 26 Tampa

 

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Sy Berger creator of Topps Baseball Cards passed away Sunday December 14.
To this day every spring I drive to the store when Topps Baseball Cards go on sale and buy a few packs sit in my car and open them. Not because I’m a collector (anymore) but because it still gives me a feeling of being a kid again. Thank you Sy Berger for a lifetime of fun.

 

 

Sy Berger' 2004 Topps Bseball Card
Sy Berger’ 2004 Topps Bseball Card

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Why isn’t Jim Kaat in the Baseball Hall of Fame?

jimkaat's avatarKaat's Korner

Wow! What a backlash from friends, current Hall of Famers, baseball fans from all teams and all areas of the country. I wish I could personally thank you for your sentiments and well wishes. I want to say up front that this post is not intended to be one of bitterness, disappointment or “sour grapes.” I have a wonderful life, had a wonderful career and whether I have a plaque in Cooperstown — though a very high honor — will not have any affect on me personally.

I understand the process and I understand the difficulty to receive 75 percent of the votes necessary for induction. I told friends I guessed I would get 10 votes — maybe 11 at the most and possibly as few as eight. I embrace the process, having been through it a few times. I am a big horse racing enthusiast, like my friend, the…

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