Pete Rose will be 80 years old next year. Pete broke into major league baseball at the age of 22 and played for another 23 years, until his retirement in 1986. Pete Rose is the all-time MLB leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at bats (14,053), singles (3,215), and outs (10,328). He won two Gold Gloves, and madeContinue reading “#20 Pete Rose”
Category Archives: baseball
#18 Tommy John
So as we enter Easter weekend, SSOMG thought it would be appropriate to tell the story of one, or actually two, of the greatest comeback stories in baseball, the story of Tommy John. Tommy John pitched for 6 major league teams during his career and of course most notably for the Los Angeles Dodgers. HeContinue reading “#18 Tommy John”
#14 Al Kaline
SSOMG would like to take a time out and honor Al Kaline tonight. Al died yesterday at the age of 85. If you have never heard of Al Kaline, I would not be surprised. Al played baseball for the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers are in the American League, and Detroit is a long way fromContinue reading “#14 Al Kaline”
#12 Baseball Cards
This is an odd one. But it came to mind that what really got me interested in sports, other than Vin Scully, were baseball cards. We moved to Jose Way in Fullerton in July 1964. I was 11 at the time. Alan Garber lived across the street. I think he was at least a yearContinue reading “#12 Baseball Cards”
#11 Johnny Roseboro
Don’t spread this around, but I don’t ever remember catching a baseball game. I could be wrong, but I do not remember sitting behind home plate with a mask on, with a too-large catcher’s mitt on my left hand. Maybe it was because I have never been very flexible, and didn’t enjoy sitting in aContinue reading “#11 Johnny Roseboro”
#9 Vin Scully
When I was growing up things were different. In the early 1960’s when I was following baseball very closely, we had a black and white TV. That was not the color of the TV; it was the color of the transmission; black and white. This was before color TV. Not only that, but there wasContinue reading “#9 Vin Scully”
#6 Jim Gilliam
Baseball statistics and baseball stories just go on and on. Some players are stars, and we all know their names. Others are the support cast, and we don’t always remember their names, and how important they were to help the stars become the stars. Jim Gilliam is the answer to a few baseball riddles thatContinue reading “#6 Jim Gilliam”
#3 Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Eckersley was named to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. That’s right, he was that good. He also was named Number 98 in the top 100 Greatest Baseball Players by the Sporting News in 1999…yes, he was that good….one of the best relief pitchers of any era. Dennis grew upContinue reading “#3 Dennis Eckersley”
#2 Roger Maris
It was a race; A race like no other. From April to October of 1961, Roger Maris was in the race of his life. The race included some formidable opponents: It was a race against teammate Mickey Mantle to be the first to hit 61 home runs. It was a race against a legend, BabeContinue reading “#2 Roger Maris”
#1 Joe Nuxhall
On June 10th, 1944, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Joe Nuxhall pitched the 9th inning of a very one-sided loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Reds lost the game 18-0. Joe got two outs, but gave up 5 walks and two hits. He was pulled after a wild pitch. It would be his last pitch inContinue reading “#1 Joe Nuxhall”
Sports Stories of My Generation 