Month: May 2016

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Jackie Bradley Jr.

Jackie Bradley Jr. evolved from a defensive superstar to an offensive legend. We now look into his ongoing legacy.

From 2013 to 2015, Jackie Bradley Jr. was an all-out defensive legend. During that same period, Jackie batted a mere .212. In 2015, he made a great over the shoulder catch drawing comparisons to Willie Mays. Bradley has also shown small sample sizes of speed. Through his first 283 games, he has stolen an average 15 bases. What is more impressive is that Bradley has never been caught stealing in this time! Jackie Bradley Jr. has always successfully stolen bases

In the second half of 2015, Jackie Bradley Jr. swung a hot bat. This hot hitting continued into 2016. Through his first 45 games of 2016, eight home runs, 34 RBIs, 25 runs, 12 doubles, and four triples. Bradley also has 56 hits. What stands out about this is that as of May 26, 2016, Bradley has a 29 game hitting streak. This is the longest streak in the majors since Jimmy Rollins had a 38 game hitting streak back in 2005-2006. Can Jackie keep it up? Time will tell the result of this headline. Jackie Bradley Jr. is one of the best hitters in 2016. If he keeps it up, Jackie can look forward to a great career.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Steal Facts: Mickey Mantle

        Mickey Mantle

  • Mickey Mantle, a legendary switch hitter who played 18 outstanding seasons with the New York Yankees, hit 536 combined home runs from both sides of the plate while posting a lifetime batting average of .298.
  • Mickey Mantle appeared in 12 World Series in his time with the Yankees. In that span, he hit 18 home runs which is a Major League Baseball record.
  • In 1956, Mickey Mantle won the MLB Triple Crown award for hitting a league leading 52 home runs, driving in 130 RBIs, scored 132 times, and posted a .353 batting average. He was awarded the American League Most Valuable Player award and went on to win another World Series ring.
  • Mickey Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on August 12, 1974.

Mickey Mantle passed away on August 13, 1995.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Steal Facts: Mariano Rivera

Mariano Rivera

  • Mariano Rivera played 19 seasons for the New York Yankees from 1995 to 2013. Mariano was brought up as a starter but transitioned to the bullpen over the years.
  • Mariano Rivera is baseball’s all-time saves leader with 652 and ERA leader with an earned run average of 2.21.
  • In 1996, Mariano Rivera was moved to be the set-up man who goes out to pitch the 8th That year, he went 8-3 with 5 saves while striking out 130 batters in 107.2 innings of work. He helped lead the Yankees to a World Series championship.
  • In Mariano Rivera’s career, he went 82-60, had a 2.21 ERA, had 652 saves, and struck out 1173 batters in 1283.2 innings pitched.
  • In the postseason, Mariano Rivera went 8-1 with 42 saves and 110 strikeouts in 141 innings pitched.
by Jacoby Nolnaho

Steal Facts: Roger Maris

Roger Maris

  • Roger Maris won the American League Most Valuable Player award in 1960 and 1961. In addition to that, he also won a World Series ring in each of those years.
  • In 1960, Roger Maris had a career high .283 batting average, hit 39 home runs, drove in 112 RBIs, and scored 98 runs. That year, in his first ever postseason, he would hit 2 home runs in 7 postseason contests.
  • In 1961, Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s 1927 home run record. Roger hit 61 home runs, drive in 142 RBIs, score 132 times, had a .269 batting average, and played in a career high161 games. On the last game of the 1961 season, Roger Maris would hit his 61st home run of the season to pass Babe Ruth. In the postseason, he hit a home run in 5 games.

Roger Maris got his number retired and a plaque on July 21st, 1984.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Steal Facts: Bobby Murcer

Bobby Murcer

  • Bobby Murcer had a span of 5 consecutive seasons with 20 or more home runs. Overall, in his career, he hit 252 home runs.
  • In 1972, Bobby Murcer had a .292 batting average, a career high 33 home runs, drove in 96 RBIs, stole 11 bases, and scored 102 times. He would be named to the All-Star game.
  • In 1971, Bobby Murcer got 175 hits. Doing so, he ended up batting an American League best .331. In addition to that, he would hit 25 home runs, drive in 94 RBIs, score 94 runs, and steal 14 bases.
  • Bobby Murcer’s first hit was a home run in 1965. His last hit would also be a home run in 1983.
  • After Bobby Murcer retired in 1983, he would go up to do 25 years of broadcasting the Yankee games.

Bobby Murcer died July 12, 2008 due to brain cancer.