Category: Memory Lane

Remember the greatest players and memories of the past with this honorable category.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Scariest Moments in Baseball

This article contains disturbing true stories that occurred during Major League Baseball games. Reader discretion is advised.

As this year’s Halloween approaches, we look back at the scariest moments in baseball history:

Dave Dravecky

Dave Dravecky was a pitcher for the Giants and Padres. After leaving baseball for a while due to cancer in his elbow, he was able to return. In his first game back, he threw a pitch that severely injured his arm. His left pitching arm needed to be amputated.

John McSherry

In a game between the Montreal Expos and Cincinatti Reds, home plate umpire John McSherry starting walking away for home plate. He collapsed and suffered a major heart attack. His fellow umpiring crew was not able to revive him. The game was postponed, and McSherry was left to rest at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Fan Falls Out of Second Deck

In a 2015 game at Turner Field, a fan fell from the second level. The game was a rare competition with the Yankees facing the Atlanta Braves. The fan got so involved with booing Alex Rodriguez that his momentum took him over the railing. He ended up dying and the game was delayed.

Girl Gets Hit in the Face with a 100+ mph Line Drive

In 2017 at Yankee Stadium, Yankees’ third baseman Todd Frazier hit a line drive into the first level. The ball ended up hitting a two year old girl square in the face. Thankfully she survived, but she had to be taken into the hospital for multiple surgeries. Frazier was very upset and was able to reach the girl’s father to help the family walk through the process.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Tom Seaver Rookie Season

Tom Seaver was born November 17, 1944, in Fresno, California. He began his 20 year career with the Mets in 1967. That year, Seaver won the National League Rookie of the Year by winning 16 games, pitching 251 innings, striking out 170 batters, and posting a 2.76 ERA. This was just the start of a legacy for Tom.

This is a great season for today’s standards, but even better for 1967’s standards. After 1967, Tom would go on to win 295 more wins and pave his route to the Hall of Fame.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Cal Ripken Jr.

Cal Ripken Jr. was a shortstop/third baseman who played his entire 21 year career with the Baltimore Orioles. Cal was born August 24, 1960 in Havre de Grace, Maryland. e played his first game in 1981. He is known as the Iron Man because he played 2,632 consecutive games. In his career, Ripken hit 431 home runs, doubled 603 times, drove in 1,695 RBIs, scored 1,647 runs, collected 3,184 hits, and batted .276 in 3,001 career games. He won the Rookie of the Year in 1982, the MVP twice in 1983 and 1991, and the All Star Game MVP in 1991 and 2001. He also won the Silver Slugger eight times from 1983-1986, 1989, 1991, and 1993-1994. On top of this, Cal won the Gold Glove in 1991 and 1992 and the Roberto Clemente Award in 1992. He played his last game in 2001.

Cal Ripken Jr. was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. After his life in Major League Baseball,Cal started his own league called Ripken Baseball. He also went on to be a part of 20 books.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Steal Facts: Willie Mays

Willie Mays

  • Willie Mays was born May 6 of 1931
  • Willie Mays first played with the New York Giants in 1951. He hit 20 home runs and was declared the Rookie of the Year.
  • For 15 consecutive seasons, Willie hit 20 or more homers. In that span, he reached 40+ home runs six times.
  • Mays hit 660 career home runs, drove in 1,903 RBIs, doubled 523 times, collected 3,283 hits, stole 338 bases, and scored 2,062 runs.
  • Willie Mays won 12 career Gold Glove awards all from 1957 to 1968.
  • Mays won two All Star Game MVP awards and two regular season MVP awards.
  • Willie appeared in the postseason five times; four times with the Giants and once with the Mets.
  • In Harper’s first four Major League seasons, he has appeared in three All Star Games.
  • Willie Mays was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
by Jacoby Nolnaho

Kevin Millar

Kevin Millar was a first baseman/outfielder who played for the Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays in his 12 year career. After his playing career, Millar switched to broadcasting. In this article one will learn a plethora about Kevin Millar.

Kevin Millar was born September 24, 1971. He was raised only by his mother, Judy Millar. Mrs. Millar raised Kevin into a baseball player. On April 11 of 1998, Kevin Millar went 1-2 in his Major League debut with the Florida Marlins. His first full season was the next year in 1999. That year, he hit nine home runs and collected 17 doubles in 105 games. 2001 was when he really opened eyes. Millar had one of his best seasons that year. He hit 20 home runs, collected 39 doubles, drove in 85 RBIs, and posted a career best in batting average with a .314 mark and slugging percentage with an outstanding .557. 2002 saw similar numbers for Millar. He connected for 16 home runs and 41 doubles. He would continue his success with the Red Sox. After the Marlins tried to sell Millar to Japan, the Boston Red Sox came and seized the opportunity. Kevin showed the Marlins why they should have kept him. In 148 games with the Sox, Millar hit 30 doubles, scored a career high 83 runs, hit a career high 25 home runs, drove in a career high 96 RBIs, and posted a .276 batting average. In 2004, Kevin Millar was part of something special. Millar lead the team to the World Series with his great stats and wacky gimmicks. Despite hitting 18 home runs and connecting for 36 doubles, Millar came up with a phrase “Cowboy Up.” It became a success and gave motivation for the ball club. The Red Sox would go on to win the World Series for the first time since 1918.

2008 was Millar’s last full season. He played 145 for the Orioles hitting 20 homers and 25 doubles. Kevin played half a season for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2009. He tried to come back in 2010 with the Cubs but decided to call it quits. Kevin Millar finished his career with 170 home runs, 699 runs batted in, 648 runs, 296 doubles, 1,284 hits, and a World Series ring in 1,427 career regular season games. After his playing career, Kevin Millar still found a place in baseball. He joined MLB Network and was named the co-host of the new show, Intentional Talk. He still hosts today alongside fellow cost and friend Chris Rose. Now he visits other stadiums and interviews players for his job. All the players enjoy talking to and being around Kevin Millar. As one can see, Kevin Millar is one of the most loved players in Red Sox history and on MLB Network.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Gil Hodges

Gil Hodges was one of the best players of his era. He was also a legendary manager of the New York Mets. We now dive into the facts about Gil Hodges.

Gil Hodges was born April 4 of 1924. Gil Hodges was an outfielder/first basemen for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets. He was amazing with the bat and with the glove. Gil won the Gold Glove award in 1957, 1958, and 1959. 1954 was arguably his best season. That year, Hodges got a career high in home runs with 42, hits with 176, batting average with .304, runs batted in (RBIs) with 130, and slugging percentage with an astonishing .579. In his 18 year career, Hodges posted amazing numbers. In 2,071 games, Hodges crushed 370 home runs, drove in 1,274 RBIs, scored 1,105 runs, knocked 1,921 hits, got 295 doubles, and posted a .273 career batting average.

When Gil Hodges’ playing career ended, he transitioned to the manager role. He managed the Washington Senators for five years. He was an average manager. He led the Senators to a 321-444 record. One year, his team lost 100 games. Gil left the Senators and went to manager for his former team, the New York Mets. After one rough year in 1968, he gave hope to the Mets. The next year, he led the Mets to a 100-62 record. This record got them all the way to the postseason. The Amazin’ Mets ended up winning their first World Series in franchise history under the watch of Hodges. The next two years, the Mets posted a steady record of 83-79. 1971 was Gil’s last year in baseball. In 1971, Gil Hodges suffered from a sudden heart attack and died at the age of 61. Despite his loss, his memory is still survived. There is a lot of controversy about whether or not Hodges should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1982, he was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame by retiring his number 14. In conclusion, Gil Hodges was one of the best baseball figures of all time.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle was arguably the best switch hitter of all time. He collected a plethora of honors and records during his 18 year career. In this article one will learn the basics on the great Mickey Mantle.

Mickey Charles Mantle was born in Oklahoma on October 20, 1931. He was named after future Hall of Famer Mickey Cochrane. His dad, Mutt Mantle, taught his son everything he knew about baseball so Mickey wouldn’t have to work in the coal mines like him. Mickey took batting practice from both sides of the plate at a young age. This would make him extremely famous later on. Mickey Mantle was signed young by the New York Yankees. He would play his entire career in pinstripes. He would make his Major League debut in 1951 at the age of 19. He was the backup for the retiring Joe DiMaggio. In the 1951 World Series, Casey Stengal told Mickey to cover Joe if he couldn’t get to any balls. When a ball was hit, Mantle charged to get it. DiMaggio called him off, and Mickey’s spike got stuck in a drain when he was trying to stop his momentum. This would mark the first of many injuries in Mantle’s career. Mickey truly became a household name in 1956. In that year, he won the American League Triple Crown award. He led the league in home runs with 52, runs batted in (RBIs) with 130, and batting average with .353. He also led the league in runs with 132, slugging percentage with .705, and wins above replacement (WAR) with 11.0. He went on to win the Most Valuable Player award, too. Mickey would go on to have a season with similar numbers in 1961. That year, he and Roger Maris engaged in a grueling battle to beat Babe Ruth’s home run record. Maris would break the record due to Mantle’s season ending with injuries. Before the injury, Mantle crushed 54 home runs, drove in 128 RBIs, scored 132 runs, and posted a .317 batting average.

When Mantle finished his career, he stood with a Major League record for World Series home runs with 18 and home runs by a switch hitter with 536. Also, Mantle drove in 1,509 RBIs, scored an outstanding 1,677 runs, walked 1,733 times, posted a .298 batting average, and collected 2,415 career hits in 2,401 career games. Mickey also won the MVP award three times; in 1956, 1957, and in 1962. He won his first and only Gold Glove award in 1962. Mickey was a part of seven World Series teams. In 1974, Mickey Mantle’s number 7 was retired by the New York Yankees. Also that year, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame alongside former teammate Whitey Ford. Mickey Mantle passed away in 1995 due to a drinking problem. Despite his death, many Yankee fans still love Mickey. As one can see, Mickey Mantle is one of the greatest players in the history of Major League Baseball.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Clete Boyer

Clete Boyer was an infielder for the Yankees, Braves, and Kansas City Athletics. Clete had his best years with the Yankees. The Yankees picked him up in 1959. Boyer’s best season was in 1967 with the Braves when he hit 26 home runs with 96 runs batted in. He also won two World Series rings with the Yankees. One in 1961 and a second in 1962. Boyer’s main career highlight besides the World Series rings is the Gold Glove he picked up in 1969 with the Braves. Boyer played his last game in the Majors with the Braves. At the end of his career, Boyer had accumulated 162 home runs, 654 RBIs, 200 doubles, a .242 batting average, and 1,396 hits over 1,725 career games. Boyer sadly died in 2007 at the age of 70. Even though he is gone, his legacy lives on in die-hard Yankee fans’ hearts.