Month: May 2016

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols is one of the best Major League Baseball hitter of all time. We now look at his legacy.

Albert Pujols is one of the best hitters of all time.  He played most of his current career with the St. Louis Cardinals. In the postseason of 2012, the Los Angeles Angels signed him. Albert took some time getting use to the dimensions of the Angels home stadium. In his first year with the Angels, he hit a horrible 17 home runs. He was used to hitting 40 or 50 home runs a year with the St. Louis Cardinals. He had some pretty big milestones with the Cardinals. He won the 2001 National League Rookie of the Year award. He also made numerous all-star appearances and won three MVP awards with the Cards. Besides making some great achievements with the Cardinals, he made two of the greatest milestones any player could make with the Angels. He hit his 500 home run in 2014. That is a really big deal that only few people achieve in their baseball career. Besides that, he also made another great milestone. That other milestone is the goal of reaching 2,500 hits. That is very good. Albert also is one of the best first basemen in baseball history. ‘’Prince Albert,” as some announcers call him, has multiple gold gloves with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Pujols, in his younger days, used to be able to steal around fifteen bases a year unlike any other first basemen. As you can see, Albert Pujols is one of the greatest first basemen in all of baseball history and has a few more years to up his already amazing stats. So don’t be surprised if he lands himself a place in Cooperstown.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Jered Weaver

Jered Weaver is one of the best pitchers. We now look at his overpowering profile.

Jered Weaver has always been a great player who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He has led the league in different pitching categories multiple times. Jered Weaver isn’t really a dominant strikeout pitcher like Clayton Kershaw or Felix Hernandez. But surprisingly he led the league in K’s in 2010. He led the league by getting only one more strikeout then the second place rival Felix Hernandez. That season he would go 13-12 with the league leading 233 strikeouts. From that point on Weaver would also tie the league leader in wins. He would tie the lead league in wins with 20 wins. Jered Weaver would also help bring his team to the postseason in 2014. He couldn’t have done this without the legendary Mike Trout. Weaver is also a regular starting pitcher at the all-star game. As you can see, Jered is one of the best pitchers in the game. The Angels would have trouble controlling their success without their ace.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Mike Trout: 2012

Mike Trout is one of the best all-around players in baseball. We now look at this young center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Mike Trout I one of the best all-around players in baseball. He has done many things in his short 4 year span as a big leaguer. One thing that stands out is how is his first full season he hit 30 home runs and also stole 30 bases. That made him in the 30-30 club which few people do. That season in 2012, he hit exactly 30 home runs and swiped a league leading 49 stolen bases. It was no surprise when he won the Rookie of  the Year.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Craig Kimbrel

 

Craig Kimbrel is one of the best relief pitchers in the game. We now look at his amazing closer career.

Craig Kimbrel is one of the best closers in the game alongside the flamethrower Aroldis Chapman. When the great and legendary Mariano Rivera retired in 2013, Craig got more fame then he already had. Since Craig is the face of the franchise of the Atlanta Braves, the fans cheer him on. Craig is now known as the greatest closer. Since 2011, Craig has led the National League in saves. In his 2011 rookie campaign, when he first led the league in saves, he broke a record. He got the most saves by a rookie closer in their first year. That would earn him the National League Rookie of the Year award. Craig has a very unique way of pitching that may be the key to his success. He has an unusual pitching stance. He dangles his arms while looking in at the sign the catcher has to offer him. They call his stance ‘’Kimbreling.’’ Then Craig usually strikes the batter out. Since Craig Kimbrel is so good at getting saves, the fans usually vote him in to attend the all-star game.

Craig also reached a milestone in 2014. He put his name on top of John Smoltz as the Atlanta Braves all-time saves leader. As you can see, Craig Kimbrel is one of the best closers in all of baseball.  Don’t be surprised if he goes into the Hall of Fame someday.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Andrew McCutchen

Andrew McCutchen is one of the best players. Let’s now look at the Pirates face of the franchise.

Andrew McCutchen might be the second best all-around player besides Mike Trout.  In 2013, he won the National League MVP honors.  He is most known for his amazing plays. But people often forget his offensive skills.  He hits a good amount of home runs and he is not afraid to attempt to steal a base every so often. He would have an even better season in 2014 than his MVP year in 2013.   He would get delayed just a little when he got hit in the back in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Andrew McCutchen was a candidate for the tight 2014 MVP honors.  As you can see, this amazing all around dreadlock wearing player is better than you think.  Without Andrew McCutchen, the Pittsburg Pirates wouldn’t be able to ‘’Raise the Jolly Roger.’’

by Jacoby Nolnaho

1956

In the never to be forgotten season of 1956, immortals would rise from the crowd. A 25 year old from Oklahoma would make headlines. A young but experienced pitcher would do the unspeakable in October. The Yankees were the home to many superstars that season. A switch hitting slugger named Mickey Mantle would lead the American League in home runs, RBIs, and batting average all in that same year for a Triple Crown. It was also good for the League MVP award, too. Meanwhile, downtown in Brooklyn, an iconic player who would not only change baseball but the nation would enter his final year in Major League Baseball. Jackie Robinson, the man who Rickey Branch signed to break the color barrier, would enter the final year of his legendary 10 season career. The year before, in 1955, Jackie Robinson and the rest of the Brooklyn Dodgers would beat out the Yankees in a great series. The 1956 World Series, as Mickey Mantle would say in one of his autobiographies, My Favorite Summer 1956, ‘’It would be a rematch of 1955.’’ But both teams didn’t get there just like that. They had to put up a fight.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

1961

1961. The year history would be rewritten. The year before, in 1960, the Yankees had come of a devastating lost in Game 7 of the World Series when a Pittsburgh Pirate would hit a home run over the ivy to walk of the World Series. One of the most memorable long shots in baseball history. Mickey Mantle was crying on the plane ride home. Another one of his teammates said that it was just a game. Mickey Mantle would explain in his autobiography that it wasn’t ‘’Yankee Type.’’ But 1961 had high hopes for the Yankees. Five years earlier Mickey Mantle won the Triple Crown and the MVP award. Also in the offseason of 1959, the Yankees acquired Roger Maris in a trade with the Kansas City Athletics.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Winning a World Series with the New York Yankees

The Yankees are baseball’s greatest team.  They have 40 pennants ( meaning that they’ve gone to the World Series) and are 27 world champions.  Now let’s go into the rich history of my favorite sport team.

A Birth in Baltimore

They Yankees were founded in 1903 as the Baltimore Orioles.  After a year in Baltimore,  the Orioles moved to New York City.  After the move,  they switched their name to the New York Highlanders.  They shared the famous Polo Grounds with the New York Giants.

The Highlanders weren’t a famous team.  They didn’t have the big name players such as Ty Cobb and Cy Young.  But soon,  the Yankees would strike it rich with some of the best players of all time.

Fiery Mangers

  Every team needs a good manager.  The Yankees have had a lot of managers, some good and some bad.  They have come and gone.  Some Hall of Fame managers, such as Joe Torre and Jake Ruppert, were some of the best managers of all time.

Joe Torre has won four World Series. You can’t forget about present day manager Joe Giradi.  He is a manager who stands up for his players  no matter what.                 

The Bambino

In 1914,  Babe Ruth debuted for the Boston Red Sox.  He was absolutely crushing home runs.  Once the Yankees noticed the Babe,  they wanted him to play for them.  The Yankees offered a cash trade.  The Red Sox agreed and the Babe was off to New York.  With the Yankees,  he would hit 60 home runs.  He would become the franchise leader in home runs and RBIs.

The Iron Horse

Babe Ruth wasn’t the only big name player in the Golden Age.  There was also Lou Gehrig.  Lou Gehrig played in 2,130 games.  He had 1,995 RBIs.  He would have had more if only his career wouldn’t have been shortened by ALS.  He led the team during the ’20’s and ’30’s.

Yankee/Red Sox Rivalry

After the trade of the Babe, the Red Sox would never win a World Series again until 2004. They called this time ”The Curse of the Bambino”.  Now, the Red Sox don’t trade anybody to the Yankees.  Plus, fights have broken out during the years between the teams. The Yankees are really sore with the Red Sox.

Foundations

Over the years, the Yankees have donated lots of money to different charities such as ALS, Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 and Hope Week.

ALS Foundation

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the disease that took Lou Gehrig’s life.  After he died, they renamed it Lou Gehrig disease.  They have a foundation which helps raise money to find a cure for this deadly disease.  The Yankees wore special hats to raise money and remember the great heroics of Lou Gehrig.  Plus, they showed a clip to remember the great Lou Gehrig.

Derek Jeter’s Turn 2

Derek Jeter’s foundation is Turn 2.  It is to teach kids and young adults to stay off drugs.  In his farewell tour, he gets checks along with gifts for his foundation.

Hope Week

Hope Week is where the Yankees recognize people with disabilities.  They do concerts and other special things such as letting disabled people throw the first pitch.  For the kids, they get to be a Yankee for a day.  Bernie Williams,  former Yankee and guitar player, had a musical at a hospital.

The Yankees players take time out of their lives for people who can’t experience things that others can.  They even had a real press conference for kids!  The Yankees even help put on their jerseys!

The Most Known Logo

The Yankees logo was originally supposed to be an award for a police officer that died.  But the Yankees wanted it.  They were able to get it and they still wear the logo today.  The Yankees aren’t the only team with the interlocking N Y.

Farewell Tours

As some of the greats and future Hall of Famers go, some teams honor them.  In the last two years, greats such as Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter have retired.  Every team has presented gifts and checks for them.  Derek Jeter donates his to the Turn 2 foundation.  Mariano donated his to the church he was building.  Plus, they got some pretty cool gifts to keep for themselves.  Mariano even got Metallica to perform his entrance music, Enter Sandman.

Also, both Mariano and Jeter both got cool patches to remember their retirements. Every player on the Yankees had to wear patches on their shoulders and hats.

Team Captains

The Yankees have had very few team captains. A team captain is the leader of the team.  You have to be really good and be with the Yankees to be a team captain.  From Lou Gehrig to Derek Jeter, the team captains have led the team. After Jeter, there might not be a team captain for a long time.

Lou Gehrig

Lou Gehrig was a lefty slugger that had a-then record of playing in 2,130 games. His career and life were both cut short due to a deadly disease which is now known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  Lou Gehrig would never brag and was quiet.  He was named team captain because he was a great five tool player.  If he hadn’t stopped playing, he would have been the greatest player ever.  In his speech, known as ”The Luckiest Man Speech,” he didn’t complain.  He was thankful for the life he had.  Today, Lou Gehrig is in the Hall of Fame.

Thurman Munson

Thurman Munson was a catcher for the New York Yankees.  He was really good.  He would be a captain until he died in a plane crash. It was a sad day for the Yankees.  To remember him, they retired his number.

 Ron Guidry

Ron Guidry was also a captain.  He was a captain because he was an amazing pitcher. He struck out 18 batters in a single game! He also had a season where he went 25-3! He was an amazing pitcher. Because of his shortened career, he wouldn’t be able to go into the Hall of Fame.  He did get his number retired in Monument Park.

Don Mattingly

 Don Mattingly was a first baseman. He was a good player.  He hit a lot of home runs. He was a role model to Mark Teixeira.  Now he manages the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter was a shortstop. He might be one of the best shortstops ever. Having five World Series rings and five Gold Gloves, nobody knows what will come from him.  In his 20 year career, Derek has racked up over 3,000 hits, 500 doubles, and 157 postseason appearances.  He is the Yankees franchise leader in hits, doubles, and steals.  He also is the longest playing Yankee.  He also is the last Yankee to wear a single digit on the back of their jersey.  Jeter’s number will be retired.  He has been a All-Star fourteen times.  Derek Jeter is a captain because he has so many hits and is such a good player.

Monument Park

Monument Park is in center field.  It honors all of the Yankee greats.  It has plaques and numbers of the Yankees.

Principal Owner

Every team needs a principal owner, who  owns the team and approves trades made by the general manager.  The most famous owner was George Steinbrenner.  He was known for saying that he didn’t want his players to have long hair and facial hair. He also fired lots of managers, especially Billy Martin.

World Series Magic

The Yankees are the best team in baseball.  They have won the World Series 27 times.  They also have had 40 appearances in the Fall Classic.  Let’s look at some of the World Series heroes.

Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle has 18 home runs in the World Series.  That is the most by any Yankee player.  He has the most runs and was an amazing player.

Don Larsen

  Don Larsen is also a World Series hero.  He pitched a perfect game in the 1956 World Series.  He is the only pitcher to do that.

Yogi Berra

Yogi Berra is famous for his World Series magic.  He has the most World Series appearances by any player. He is famous for jumping into the arms of Don Larsen during the perfect game.

Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson is known for slugging three home runs on three pitches in one game.  To finish up the series, he had five home runs tying Babe Ruth for the most.

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth is known for the called shot at Wrigley Field.  He also shares a record with Reggie Jackson for most World Series home runs.

Derek Jeter

When the Fall Classic went into November, Derek Jeter hit a lot of home runs.

Tino Martinez

Tino Martinez hits a grand slam in the World Series.

Broadcasters

Every team needs somebody to tell what’s happening in a game.  The Yankees have Michael Kay, Ken Singleton, and Paul O’Neil.

ALCS Heroes

The ALCS is where the two best teams in the American league square off in a big game.  Through the decades, there have been heroes which the Yankees needed.

Bucky Dent

Bucky Dent is the last name you would want to say at Fenway Park.  In the 1978 ALCS, he hit a home run over the towering Green Monster in left field.  That homer would send them to the World Series where they would win.

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter cut off a throw and flipped it to Jorge Posada to get Jeremy Giambi out.

Aaron Boone

Aaron Boone hit a home run to walk off the 2003 ALCS.

Yankee Networks

Like every team, the Yankees needed a network where they could put their games on.  They Yankees bought a TV station called Yes.  When they are not showing their games, they could be found showing the Yankees Classics or Yankeeography.

The Yankees also needed a radio station for their games.  They then took away the radio station WFAN away from the New York Mets.

Rookies of the Future

Masahiro Tanaka hopes he can lead the Yankees to another title.  The young rookie from Japan needs to lead the Yankees after Derek Jeter retires. Catcher Austin Romine has to become a good backup for Brian McCann. Strikeout king Dellin Betances has to play a role in the bullpen.             

Epilogue

It’s hard to be the best team in baseball.  Having to honor and retire all these numbers. Also having all these fierce managers.  From the old team captain power slugging rich history Lou Gehrig to the unbelievable plays of Derek Jeter, the Yankees are by far the greatest sports franchise ever.

 

        Bibliography

Here are some books that are good…

Mark, Vancil and Mark Mandrake.

        One Hundred Years New York Yankees The Official Retrospective. Chicago: Random House Books, 2002. Print

Krantz, Les. Yankee Classics: World Series Magic

        from the Bronx Bombers.  Minneapolis:  MBI Publishing Company, 2010. Print.

Claus, Santa. Stocking Stumpers: New York                              

         Yankees.  Saddle River: Red-Letter Press, Inc., 2012. Print.