April 1st - Phil Niekro, 1939



A longtime symbol of the Atlanta Braves, Phil Niekro holds many major league records, nearly all of which are as a result of his trademark pitch, the knuckleball, which kept him in the majors until he was 48. Niekro's records tend to center on longevity, durability, and unpredictability, as his reliance on the knuckler saved his arm, fooled batters, and caused catchers to consider a new occupation.

Niekro's effectiveness did not falter with age and his undistinguished records reflected the ragged teams behind him more than anything. In his forties Niekro was able to fashion a 17-4 mark with Atlanta in 1982. At age 45, the gray-haired Niekro went 16-8 for the 1984 Yankees.

During a 24-year career, Phil Niekro relied not on velocity-but on a fluttering knuckleball-to frustrate major league hitters. His lifetime record of 318-274 produced a winning percentage significantly higher than those teams for which he pitched. Knucksie twice led the National League in wins and propelled Atlanta to the National League West title in 1969, when he recorded 23 victories, 21 complete games and a 2.57 ERA. A five-time All-Star, he no-hit the Padres on August 5, 1973.

Quote
"Trying to hit him is like trying to eat Jell-O with chopsticks."
— Bobby Murcer

Phil Niekro, a five-time Gold Glove Award winner, won 121 games after he turned 40, the most wins by anyone over that age in baseball history.

April 2nd - Lucius Benjamin (Luke) Appling, 1907
Old Aches and Pains



Hall of Fame 1964

Holding down the White Sox shortstop position during his 20-year career, Luke Appling proved to be a consistent fielder, solid lead-off hitter and fan favorite. As a lead-off batter, he was known for his ability to intentionally foul-off pitches until receiving the pitch he wanted for a base hit. He twice captured the American League batting title, finished with a .310 lifetime average and a career total of 2,749 hits. The seven-time All-Star selection was also selected as the White Sox greatest player by the Chicago fans.

In his greatest year, 1936, Appling led the AL with a .388 average. It was the first batting title won by a White Sox player. He also had a club-record 27-game hitting streak and a seven-for-seven performance over three games. In 1943, at age 35, he won his second batting title. He hit .300 15 times.

Quotes
"My Daddy was left-handed, and I was left-handed when I was little. In fact, I was left-handed all the way to high school. Then I switched over to right-handed cause I wanted to play shortstop."

"The fans may be surprised to know that during my freshman year at Oglethorpe, I waited on tables and never made an error, never dropped a tray nor broke a dish." From Cooperstown Corner (1969) by Lee Allen

"You can't let any team awe you. If you do, you'll wind up a horseshit player." - from The Official New York Yankees Hater's Handbook (1983) by William B. Mead

"Few were better or more deadly with two strikes than Appling. He just waited for the pitch he wanted and lashed into it."
— sportswriter Arthur Daley

and regarding that nickname:
"When (Luke) Appling was around, the real blunder was to ask him, 'How do you feel?' It would sometimes take half an hour before he stopped telling you." - Maury Allen in Big-Time Baseball (1978)

April 3rd - Wally Moon, 1930



Moon was born in April, 1930 in Arkansas. After playing for Texas A&M University, where he earned a Masters Degree, he joined the Cardinals’ organization in 1950. As rumor has it, Moon mistakenly showed up at the major league camp in St. Petersburg in the spring of 1954 instead of the minor league facility. He got to stay.

As it there wasn’t enough pressure on the highly-touted youngster, to make room for Moon in the line-up, popular star Enos “Country” Slaughter was traded to the New York Yankees just prior to opening day. In ’54, Moon homered in his very first at-bat, as the ball traveled over the right field wall at Sportsman’s Park and onto Grand Avenue. He was the last Cardinal rookie to homer during the home opener until Albert Pujols did it again some 47 years later. After that start, Moon never looked back. For the ’54 season, he registered a .304 average and beat out none other than Hank Aaron for the ROY honor.

As a Cardinal, Moon peaked with 24 home runs in 1957, the same season he had a league-high 24-game hit streak and made the All-Star team. Moon later had a second All-Star appearance with the Dodgers, to whom he was traded in 1958, after hitting just .238 in his final, injury-plagued season with the Cards. Moon went to the Dodgers for the forgettable Gino Cimolli, whose Cardinals career lasted just one season. After leaving St. Louis, Moon’s career was far from over.

There is one part of baseball vernacular for which Moon is directly responsible. Moon shots was the name coined at that time for the home runs that the lefthanded-batting Moon golfed over the 42-foot wall located just 250 feet down the Los Angeles Coliseum's left field line. Moon’s inside-out swing was ideal for the football stadium turned temporary home of the Dodgers.

Moon, having arrived in L.A. one year after the Dodgers relocated from Brooklyn, was a fan favorite and an important cog in the Dodgers’ unit that went from seventh place in 1958 to the World Championship in 1959. Moon hit .302 during his first season in Dodger blue, led the league in triples with 11 and finished fourth in the NL Most Valuable Player voting. In 1960, Moon was honored with his only Gold Glove. Moon scored the last run ever in the Coliseum before the team moved into the brand-new Dodger Stadium. In 1961, his final season as a full-time player, Moon registered personal highs in average (.328) and RBI (88).

Moon was released by the Dodgers in October, 1965, as his final Dodgers team again won the NL pennant and the World Series, giving him his second ring. He finished his playing days with a .289 batting average, along with 142 home runs and 661 RBI in 1457 regular-season games.

–Written by Brian Walton

April 4th - Gil Hodges, 1924



Achievements

seems you either got it or you don't:
Hodges was nineteen when he played third base for one game with the Dodgers in late 1943. He struck out twice and walked, then joined the Marines. He returned in 1947 as a catcher, but with the emergence of Roy Campanella, he was moved to first base. Manager Leo Durocher said, With my catching set, I put a first baseman's glove on our other rookie catcher, Gil Hodges, and told him to have some fun. Three days later, I looked up and, wow, I was looking at the best first baseman I'd seen since Dolf Camilli.

Hodges was the Dodgers' Lou Gehrig - big, strong, and gentle. The three-time Gold Glove winner played first base gracefully. His hands were so large that teammates joked he didn't even need a glove. His quick footwork provoked the allegation that he rarely had his foot on the bag for his putouts.

and from this opinion article

April 5th - Rennie Stennett, 1951



On September 16, 1975, Stennett became the only player in the 20th century to collect seven hits in a nine-inning game, going 7-for-7 in a 22-0 rout of the Cubs. Stennett was good enough to beat out [Orioles' first base coach in 2006] Dave Cash and Willie Randolph for the Pirates' second base job. The strong-armed Panamanian was used frequently at shortstop and in the outfield in 1972 and 1973 before Pittsburgh traded Cash to make room at second base. Stennett responded by leading NL second basemen in both putouts and total chances per game (and did it again in 1976) while batting .291 with 84 runs. He just missed Ken Hubbs's record of 418 consecutive errorless chances, falling short by eight.

The contact hitter had his best season in 1977, finishing second to teammate Dave Parker in the batting race with a .336 mark while stealing 28 bases, both personal highs. He never hit above .250 thereafter, however, and was pushed out of the 2B job by Phil Garner. Stennett was signed by the Giants to a big free agent contract after the 1979 season, but was replaced by Joe Morgan in 1981.

oddly, there is no mention on BaseballLibrary.com, one of my usual sources, of that injury that virtually ended his career:
Aug. 21, 1977: Pittsburgh's Rennie Stennett, batting .336 for the season and .285 for his career, breaks his right ankle sliding into second base. Stennett, 26, missed the rest of the season (falling 12 plate appearances short of qualifying for the batting title, won by teammate Dave Parker at .338). He never batted higher than .244 again.

April 6th - Smokey Joe Williams, 1885



about that birthday:

In 31 documented games against major league competition, Williams compiled a 22-7 record. However, two of Williams’ most impressive feats – a no-hitter against the New York Giants and a 1-0 victory over Walter Johnson, both reportedly in 1917 – have yet to be historically documented and survive only in tales passed down from generation to generation.

A tall, lean man with an extraordinary fastball, Williams claimed to have pitched five no-hit games in his career, including one against ex-teammate Dick Redding on Opening Day 1919. His decade of excellence in New York made him a well-known figure in Harlem, and he developed a reputation as a “stage door johnny” before marrying an ex-showgirl in 1922. In 1924 the Lincoln Giants released Williams because they believed that, at age 38, his best days were behind him.

In 1925 Williams signed with the Homestead Grays, a powerful Pittsburgh-based team, where he enjoyed an extraordinary late-career renaissance. On 7 August 1930 Williams pitched perhaps the greatest game in Negro Leagues history. In a night game against the renowned Kansas City Monarchs, he allowed only one hit and struck out 27 batters in a 1-0, 12-inning victory.

In 1952, a poll taken by the Pittsburgh Courier named Williams the greatest pitcher in Negro leagues history.

Joe Williams defeated five Hall of Fame pitchers in exhibition competition during his stellar career: Grover Alexander, Chief Bender, Waite Hoyt, Walter Johnson and Rube Marquard.

April 7th - John McGraw, 1873
Little Napoleon

[dohtml]<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/John-McGraw-1910.jpeg/436px-John-McGraw-1910.jpeg" width=250>[/dohtml]

Played For:
Baltimore Orioles NL (1891-1899)
St. Louis Cardinals (1900)
Baltimore Orioles AL (1901-1902)
New York Giants (1902-1906)
Primary Team: New York Giants

Managed: Baltimore Orioles NL (1899)
Baltimore Orioles AL (1901-1902)
New York Giants (1902-1932)

John McGraw was the fiery third baseman of the Baltimore Orioles in the 1890s, but he achieved much more recognition as an innovative, autocratic field manager. In his 31 years at the helm of the New York Giants, "Little Napoleon's" teams won 10 pennants, finished second 11 times and took home three World Series trophies. He ranks second all-time with 2,840 wins. As a player, he was credited with helping to develop the hit-and-run, the Baltimore chop, the squeeze play and other strategic moves.

i wonder who's first in wins?

Some excerpts that reflect on the personality of "Little Napoleon":

and this: "Strategically, McGraw favored the hit-and-run and disdained the sacrifice bunt. He had a sharp eye for playing talent and traded daringly, getting useful work from drinkers and neurotics other clubs had given up on. And with tips from his many friends in bush leagues across the country, he found bright young stars to replace fading older ones."

sources: BaseballLibrary.com, National Baseball Hall of Fame site

April 8th - Gary Carter, 1954



A rugged receiver and enthusiastic on-field general, Gary Carter excelled at one of baseball’s most demanding positions, as both as offensive and defensive force. A three-time Gold Glove Award winner, Carter belted 324 home runs in his 19-season major league career. “Kid” showed a knack for the big-time, twice earning All-Star Game MVP awards in his 11 selections. His clutch 10th-inning single in Game Six of the 1986 World Series sparked a dramatic Mets’ comeback victory, ultimately leading to a World Series title.

from the Ultimate Mets Database:

He became a full-time catcher in 1977 and on April 20th of that year hit homers in three consecutive at-bats. Known equally for his defensive skills, Carter set a record for fewest passed balls in 150 or more games, with just one.

Between 1977 and 1982, he led the NL in most chances six times, in putouts five times, assists four times, and double plays three times.

Carter won 1981 All-Star Game MVP honors on the strength of two homers. He led the NL with a career-high 106 RBI in 1984, and won his second All-Star Game MVP that season. In the All-Star game, he caught Mets' rookie phenom Dwight Gooden for the first time. The following season he caught the Cy Young winning Gooden on a regular basis after getting dealt for four players to New York. On Opening Day 1985, he hit a grand slam to win the game. On September 3, 1985, he had three consecutive homers in a game, and he finished the season with 18 game-winning RBI. In 1986 his 105 RBI led the Mets to the World Series. Carter launched a pair of home runs at Boston's Fenway Park in Game Four and contributed a crucial single in the club's miraculous two-out, 10th inning rally to defeat the Red Sox in Game Six.

"He was a human backstop back there. Early, before his knees went bad, you couldn't steal on him in Montreal. When he wasn't able to throw because of his knees, that never affected his performance. He was running on and off the field after three outs. This guy played in some pain and it was hustle, hustle, hustle."
— teammate Keith Hernandez

sources: BaseballLibrary.com, National Baseball Hall of Fame, ultimatemets.com

April 9th - James "Hippo" Vaughn, 1888



James Leslie "Hippo" Vaughn was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs during the 1910s. He had some good years for the Cubs during a time when they were not always competitive, winning over 20 games in four seasons, including a National League-leading 22 in 1918, when the season was ended a month early due to government restrictions brought about by World War I.

Vaughn was born in Weatherford, Texas. Aside from the unflattering nickname (at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he was only slightly less heavy than 1970s Cubs star Rick Reuschel), he is best remembered for his participation in what the record books used to refer to as a "double no-hitter." Early in the 1917 season, at the ballpark now known as Wrigley Field, Vaughn dueled with Fred Toney of the Cincinnati Reds for 9 hitless innings. In the tenth, the Reds scored on a couple of hits, while Toney continued to hold the Cubs hitless in the bottom of the inning, winning the game for the Reds. This game is no longer listed as a no-hitter for Vaughn, but it is still the only occasion in major league history in which a regulation nine innings was played without either team logging a hit.

gleaned from the long but fun to read article below:
1910 - 13 games, 1.83 ERA
1911 - 8-10, 4.39 ERA
1912 - 2-8, 5.14 ERA
1913 - 4-3, 2.89 ERA

moves to Cubs:
1914 - 21-13, 2.05 ERA, 293 IP
1915 - 20-12, 2.87 ERA, 269 IP
1916 - 17-15, 2.20 ERA, 294 IP
1917 - 23-13, 2.01 ERA, 295-2/3 IP
1918 - 22-10, 1.74 ERA, 290 IP, NL leader in W, ERA, K, IP, SHO
1919 - 21-14, 1.79 ERA, 306 IP, NL leader in Ks
1920 - 19-16, 2.54 ERA, 301 IP

tires out:
1921 - 3-11, 6.01 ERA, 109 IP

career:
178 ML Wins, 2.49 ERA, 41 shutouts

1917, Toney/Vaughn "Double No-Hitter"

from JAMES "HIPPO" VAUGHN

April 10th - Ken Griffey, Sr., 1950



An unsung star of the 1975-81 Reds, Ken Griffey hit .307 in nine years in his first stint with Cincinnati and challenged for the NL batting title in 1976 and 1977. The right fielder was a heads-up, all-around player, but was most proficient at the plate. Hailing from Donora, Pennsylvania, like Stan Musial, the lefthanded Griffey's career slumped after he moved to the Yankees in a 1981 transaction. Used in a platoon role at first base and in the outfield, Griffey's entire game suffered. Injuries also slowed him, but Ken was rejuvenated upon joining the Braves. Rejoining the Reds in 1989, he and his son, Ken Jr., made history as the first father and son to play in the major leagues at the same time.

"Faster than his son and as good an outfielder, probably will wind up with a better career batting average. He had everything Junior has except the power stroke and the endorsement contracts."–Bill James

from a Q&A of Sr. about Jr. here:

April 11th - Bret Saberhagen, 1964


Bret Saberhagen (left) and George Brett celebrate the Royals' first World Series title in 1985. (AP)

Saberhagen was not selected until the 19th round in the 1982 draft but quickly proved to be a fine acquisition for Kansas City. After logging an 18-7 record in his first year of minor league play, Saberhagen earned a berth in the Royals' rotation at the tender age of twenty, and demonstrated control and poise beyond his years.
He made his Major League debut on April 4, 1984. He made an immediate impact with the team, compiling a 10-11 record and 3.48 ERA. The Royals made the postseason but lost to the Detroit Tigers. Saberhagen pitched well in his only postseason start, giving up two runs in 8 innings.

In 1985, the 21-year-old Saberhagen established himself as the ace of the staff, going 20-6 with a 2.87 ERA, leading the Royals to a World Series championship (and being named MVP of the Series along the way, pitching two complete games in the Series, including a shutout in Game 7), and becoming the youngest pitcher ever to capture the Cy Young Award.--a reward he would earn again in 1989, after going 23-6 with a 2.16 ERA, after going 18-2 in his last 20 decisions and blazing a miniscule 1.29 ERA over the last two months of the season..

Saberhagen enjoyed mixed success during the rest of his career, including the years in between his Cy Young awards. He had sharp control (1.8 walks per nine innings over his first five seasons) and a 93-mph fastball, but had trouble putting it all together for a full season, often having an outstanding first half and then faltering. In fact, he had three losing records (1986, 1988, 1990), during a span generally considered his most productive years. On the other hand, he posted several solid seasons otherwise, winning 14 games for the New York Mets in the strike shortened 1994 season and winning 15 games for the Boston Red Sox in 1998. Also in 1994, he had more wins (14) than walks (13); no other pitcher (as of 2005) pitching more than 150 innings had accomplished this feat since 1919.

After missing the entire 2000 season, Saberhagen made a comeback in 2001 but pitched in only three games. He retired at the end of the season.

source: baseballlibrary.com

April 12th - Johnny Antonelli, 1930



One of the first "bonus babies," the tall, dark-eyed Antonelli signed with the Boston Braves for $65,000 in 1948 and pitched only in spots, mostly in relief, before leaving for military service in 1951-52. His 1954 trade to the Giants for Polo Grounds hero Bobby Thomson temporarily infuriated New Yorkers, but Antonelli silenced the critics with a 21-7 mark for Durocher's world champions. He led the NL in winning percentage (.750), ERA (2.30), and shutouts (6), and had a win and a save in the WS. He won 20 again in 1956 and 19 for the San Francisco transplants of 1959, leading the NL in shutouts again in both seasons. His 26 career shutouts constitute 21% of his ML wins.

April 13th - Claude Hendrix, 1889

[dohtml]<img src="http://www.blacksoxfan.com/images/cards/w514_hendrix.jpg" width=350>[/dohtml]

A 24-game-winner for the Pirates in 1912, Hendrix's best season came with the Chicago Whales of the Federal League in 1914, when he went 29-11 with a 1.69 ERA and led the league in wins, appearances, and complete games. He also batted .322 that season and was a lifetime .241 hitter, with 13 HR and 97 RBI. On May 15, 1915 he pitched a 10-0 no-hitter over Pittsburgh (FL). Following the Federal League's demise, Hendrix went to the Cubs in 1916. His 19-7 record tied for the league lead in winning percentage (.727) in 1918 and helped the Cubs capture the pennant. Hendrix's career ended under suspicious circumstances in February of 1921. The Cubs released him for having allegedly bet against his teammates in a game he was scheduled to pitch the previous August, but in which he was replaced at the last moment by Grover Alexander.

about the Federal League:

source: baseballlibrary.com, Bill James

April 14th - Greg Maddux, 1966



on July 26, 2005 against the Giants, Greg pitched his 3000th career strikeout.

since i first posted this in 2006, he's moved up from #15 to 9 on the all-time wins list:

1.Cy Young-511
2.Walter Johnson-417
3.Grover Alexander-373
3.Christy Mathewson-373
5.Warrren Spahn-363
6.Pud Galvin-361
6.Kid Nichols-361
8.Roger Clemens-354
9.Greg Maddux-347
10.Tim Keefe-342

here's an article that describes who he is kinda nicely, i think:

and then, of course, you get traded and reach free agency and go sign to play in a city where everyone wants to live, San Diego.....

source: baseballlibrary.com, sports.yahoo.com

April 15th - Willie Davis, 1940



Davis was named TSN Minor League Player of the Year in 1960, and was generally considered the fastest man in baseball. The Dodgers' regular centerfielder for 13 years, Davis ranks high in virtually every all-time Dodger offensive category.

In a 18-season career, Davis posted a .279 batting average with 182 home runs and 1053 RBI in 2429 games. He also collected 2561 hits and 398 stolen bases.

Davis debuted with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1960. The following season he replaced Duke Snider at centerfield, where he stayed for 13 years. Widely considered as one of the fastest player in the 1960s, Davis had 20 or more stolen bases in eleven consecutive seasons, with a career-high 42 in 1964. Along with Maury Wills, he provided speed at the top of Los Angeles line up, being part of three pennant-winning Dodgers teams.

In 1962, Davis hit .283 with 85 RBI and posted career-highs in home runs (21), runs (103) and hits (171). The same season, Davis and Wills set a National League record for stolen bases by two teammates with 136 (Wills had 104, Davis 32).

Davis hit a career-high .311 in 1969, including a 31-game hitting streak – the longest in MLB in almost a quarter-century. In 1970 he hit .305, and had another hitting streak of 25 games in 1971, ending with a .309 average and double figures in doubles (33), triples (10), home runs (10) and stolen bases (20). He also led the NL in triples in 1962 and 1970.

During three straight seasons Davis made the National League All-Star team and won the Gold Glove Award (1971, 1972, and 1973). In the 1965 World Series, Davis set a then record of three stolen bases in a single game. But he also twice led the NL in errors, and committed three errors in Game Two of the 1966 World Series, all in the fifth inning, setting a Series record.

Between 1974 and 1976 Davis played with the Expos, Rangers, Cardinals and Padres. After two years in Japanese baseball, he played his final major league season with the Angels in 1979.


BaseballLibrary, Wikipedia

April 16th - Paul Waner, 1903
"Big Poison"

Paul Waner began his professional career as a pitcher in the minors, but his proficiency as a hitter convinced his manager to move him to the outfield. Spending his entire career with the Pirates, "Big Poison," the speedy, line-drive hitter, captured three National League batting titles and became a member of the exclusive 3,000 hit club. Waner was also named to four All-Star squads (1933-1935 and 1937). He collected 200 or more hits on eight occasions, was the MVP in 1927 and compiled a lifetime batting average of .333.

Paul Waner still holds the major league record for consecutive games with an extra base hit (12 doubles, four triples, and four home runs over 14 straight games in 1927).

Boxscore from The Sporting News

and on a personal note...
Waner had the sharpest bloodshot eyes in baseball. He hit doubles and triples during games and drank them after. Nonetheless, he amassed 3,152 hits with good power. One year he announced he was on the wagon, but when his batting average hovered around .250, his manager personally shepherded him to his nearest watering hole. Within a few weeks, he was back over .300. ... he found steady employment as a hitting coach after his retirement as a player, but his distaste for discipline made him an inappropriate candidate for managing.

!

National Baseball Hall of Fame, BaseballLibrary

April 17th - Alexander Cartwright, 1820


cool photo, huh? here's a weird trivia fact:

Americans began playing baseball on informal teams, using local rules, in the early 1800s. By the 1860s, the sport, unrivaled in popularity, was being described as America's "national pastime."

Alexander Joy Cartwright (1820-1892) of New York invented the modern baseball field in 1845. Alexander Cartwright and the members of his New York Knickerbocker Base Ball Club, devised the first rules and regulations for the modern game of baseball.

Baseball was based on the English game of rounders. Rounders become popular in the United States in the early 19th century, where the game was called "townball," "base," or "baseball." Cartwright formalized the modern rules of baseball.

The first recorded baseball game in 1846 when Alexander Cartwright's Knickerbockers lost to the New York Baseball Club. The game was held at the Elysian Fields, in Hoboken, New Jersey. In 1858, the National Association of Base Ball Players, the first organized baseball league was formed.

and from the HOF site:
Alexander Cartwright is often referred to as "The Father of Modern baseball." Though the appellation may be an overstatement, Cartwright was a founding and influential member of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York City, baseball's first organized club. Cartwright likely played a key role in formalizing the first published rules of the game, including the concept of foul territory, the distance between bases, three-out innings, and the elimination of retiring baserunners by throwing batted baseballs at them.

finally, this from the 'open encyclopedia project'
While working at the Knickerbockers fire station, Alexander became involved in playing town ball (an early version of baseball) on a vacant lot in Manhattan. In 1845, the vacant lot in Manhattan became unavailable for use. The group was forced to look for another location to play ball. They found a playing field, Elysian Field, across the Hudson River in Hoboken New Jersey that charged $75 a year to rent.

In order to pay the rental fees, Cartwright organized a ball club so that he could collect fees for the rental of Elysian Field. The club was named the 'Knickerbockers,' in honor of the fire station where Cartwright worked. The Knickerbockers club was organized on September 23, 1845.

The formality of creating a club for the ball players called for a formal set of rules for each member to adhere to. Cartwright formalized a set of 20 rules for the Knickerbockers. The club rules he wrote included: making the distances between the bases equal; three strikes and a batter is out; three outs to an inning; the addition of an umpire; and the creation of fair and foul territory. These rules went on to become the backbone of modern day baseball.

It is likely that Cartwright picked some of his 20 rules based upon his previous experience in town ball play at Manhattan. The original rules of play at the vacant lot in Manhattan were not documented so it cannot be said which rules of the 20 were Cartwright's own invention. Most likely, Cartwright's rules are based upon the Manhattan rules that he twisted at his own personal discretion.

About.com:Inventors, Baseball Hall of Fame, Open-Site.Org

April 18th - Samuel Earl Crawford, 1880
Wahoo Sam



Sam Crawford was one of the top all-around players from the dead ball era. Combining a powerful stroke and blazing speed, it was with the triple that "Wahoo Sam" would make his mark as he set the major league record with 312, leading the league six times. Over his 19-year major league career he captured 363 steals.

Crawford started out with the Cincinnati Reds in 1899 and hit a then-astounding total of 16 HR in 1901. In 1903 he jumped to the Tigers and led the American League in triples with 25. What is often forgotten about Crawford was his power to drive the ball over fences as well as between fielders; he hit 97 career HR, and at his retirement held the AL career record with 70. In 1908, Crawford led the AL in homers with seven, and so became the only player in baseball history to lead both leagues in homers.



Crawford is most famous for hitting triples, 312 of them over a 19-year career, first on the all-time list. Second on the all-time triples list is Ty Cobb, who batted third in front of Crawford for the Tigers following the birth of the American League. The order is ironic because although the two were teammates, and often pulled off some uniquely synchronized double steals, the normally easy-going Crawford despised the fiery Cobb.

Although they disliked each other, Cobb and Crawford worked closely together on the bases. Cobb, either by steals or by a triple, would often be standing at third when Crawford came to bat. Crawford was often walked. Crawford would jaunt easily to first and then, on cue from Cobb, switch into high gear and take off for second. At the same time, Cobb would break for home.

"Sometimes they'd get him," Crawford would later recall, "sometimes they'd get me, and sometimes they wouldn't get either of us."

sort of abridged "Historic Tiger Baseball" i think...

April 19th - Frank Viola, 1960


* All-Star (AL): 1988, 1990, 1991
* Cy Young Award (AL): 1988
* World Series champion: 1987
* World Series MVP: 1987
* Babe Ruth Award: 1987

Viola came up with the Twins in 1982. After posting a combined 11-25 record and a 5.38 ERA in his first two seasons, Viola posted two consecutive 18-win years in 1984 and 1985, adding a 16-13 record in 1986, when he led the league in starts. Key to Viola's success was a changeup taught to him by Twins pitching coach Johnny Podres; it gave Viola more confidence in his fastball, and would eventually become his signature pitch.

The most prominent portion of his career came in Minnesota, where he picked up 112 of his 176 career wins. His overall career stats are impressive, with a 3.73 ERA, 176-150 record, 74 complete games, and 16 shutouts in 421 games.

Averaging 229 innings pitched per season through his career, he was a true workhorse, finishing 74 of the 420 games he started. His best year, which was also his last full year with the Twins, most likely came in 1988 when he won 24 games, losing only 7 and completing 7 games, 2 for shutouts. That year, he had an impressive 255 innings pitched and gave up only 20 home runs, and 54 walks. Viola led the league in wins that year, and his ERA was a career-low 2.64. He would go on to win the AL Cy Young Award, beating out 2nd place Dennis Eckersley.

cool trivia of sorts:

USA Today.com, Jan 31, 2008

April 20th - Don Mattingly, 1961



Gold Glove - '85-'89, '91-'94
American League MVP - 1985
Batting Champion - 1984
Hits Leader - 1984, 1986
RBI Leader - 1985

Don was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 19th round of the 1979 amateur draft.

Donald Arthur Mattingly (nicknamed "Donnie Baseball" and "The Hit Man") was a star left-handed baseball player (first baseman) for the New York Yankees of the American League from 1982-1995.

Mattingly spent his official rookie season of 1983 as a part-time first baseman and outfielder, waiting for a full-time spot in the lineup to open up. Mattingly wore number 46 during his rookie season. He played well, hitting .283, but with little power.

That part of his game arrived in 1984, when he became the Yankees' full time first baseman, switched his uniform number to 23, and was an MVP candidate. He hit .343 and beat out teammate Dave Winfield for the American League batting title by getting 4 hits in 5 at-bats on the last day of the season, while slugging a league-leading 44 doubles to go with 23 home runs and 110 RBI.

He followed that up with a spectacular 1985 season, winning the MVP award in the American League; he batted .324 with 35 home runs and 145 RBI, then the most RBI in a season by a major league batter since Ted Williams hit 159 in 1949. He may have been even better in 1986, when he hit .352 with a league-leading 238 hits and 53 doubles. However, he was beat out in the American League MVP voting by pitcher Roger Clemens, who also won the Cy Young Award that year.

In 1987, Mattingly tied a major league record by hitting home runs in eight consecutive games. Also in 1987, he set a major league record by hitting six grand slam home runs in a season. (Curiously, the six grand slams in 1987 were the only grand slams he hit in his entire career.)

Most baseball fans and experts agree that he is the best Yankee player to have never played in a World Series with the team.

The Yankees retired his number 23 and dedicated his plaque for Monument Park at Yankee Stadium on August 31, 1997. The plaque calls him "A humble man of grace and dignity, a captain who led by example, proud of the Pinstripe tradition and dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, a Yankee forever."

Baseball-Almanac; Netglimse(?) "The Curse of Donnie Baseball"

April 21st - Joseph Vincent McCarthy, 1887



Joe McCarthy, best known as the Yankees manager of the 1930s and early 1940s, finished his long career with an all-time best winning percentage of .614. Over a 24-year major league career, "Marse Joe" achieved nine pennants - one with the Chicago Cubs and the rest with the Yankees, including four World Championships in a row from 1936 to 1939. His teams also placed second seven times, and he never finished out of the first division, compiling an impressive 2,126 wins.

His seven World Championships are a record shared only with another Yankee manager, Casey Stengel.

McCarthy's teams were outstanding. They seldom had a difficult pennant race and, by and large, they overwhelmed their World Series foes. They were so good that some believed the batboy could have taken them to pennants, an insinuation that McCarthy hated. His temper flared when it was suggested he had only to push buttons to win. Many experts consider McCarthy the greatest manager of all time. He was a great double-play teacher, but his real strengths lay in his mental alertness. He seldom made the same mistake twice, missed little on the field, and had an amazing
memory for minute details. Joe DiMaggio said, "Never a day went by when you didn't learn something from McCarthy."

1929 World Series
1932 World Series
1936 World Series
1937 World Series
1938 World Series
1939 World Series
1941 World Series
1942 World Series
1943 World Series

Named Manager of the Year by The Sporting News in 1936, 1943.

baseballhalloffame.org, baseballlibrary.com

Edit: Another addition based on more current events, from www.mudhens.com:

April 22nd - Jimmy Key, 1961



Before Key debuted with the Blue Jays in 1984, the franchise had never enjoyed good left-handed pitching. He broke that trend by setting a club rookie record for saves (10), as well as a club mark for appearances with 63. When Toronto acquired reliever Gary Lavelle in the offseason, Key emigrated from the pen to become the first lefty starter to win a game for Toronto since 1980 -- an incredible 614-game dry spell. He went 14-6 while notching a 3.00 ERA, fourth in the league.

Key's 2.76 ERA in 1987 led the league, and his 17 wins tied a club record. Though pained by elbow bone chips in 1988, Key persevered and posted a 12-5 record with a 3.29 ERA. Key continued to give the Jays much-needed quality outings, and was considered a go-to man despite being just a couple of games over .500 each year. Key helped the team reach and win their first World Series victory in 1992, recording two of the four wins in the Fall Classic that year.

Key fled to the New York Yankees in the offseason, and quickly established himself as their ace, going 18-6 and rekindling hopes in the Bombers' quest for postseason play. The following year Jimmy notched the most wins in the league, going 17-4 by the time the strike broke. But old arm injuries came back to haunt him the next year. Key went on the disabled list in May 1995, and two months later, he underwent season-ending rotator cuff surgery.

Key came back strong the following year in Spring Training, but his arm injuries had not abated and he went on the DL twice during the season as the Yankees won their first championship since 1978. It was clear that Key was not the pitcher he once was, sporting a 12-11 record with a 4.68 ERA, the highest ever in a full season for him.
Upset with the Yankees' low-ball one-year contract offer in December 1996, Key signed on with the Baltimore Orioles, reuniting with former Blue Jay GM Pat Gillick. Jimmy pitched a full 1997 with the O's, helping to boost yet another team into the postseason.

By the end of the next season, injuries had impaired him to the point that he would require shoulder surgery to be able to pitch again. At the age of 37, Key decided it wasn't worth it and retired in February 1999 with a .614 lifetime winning percentage.

i don't have any idea what the sources are, except for that quote being attributed as stated...

April 23rd - Warren Spahn, 1921



"Spahn and Sain and pray for rain"

Stylish Warren Spahn is the winningest left-hander in history with 363 victories, all but seven coming with the Boston-Milwaukee Braves. He was a 20-game winner 13 times, including six years in a row; and led the National League in wins eight times and complete games on nine occasions. He still holds the National League lifetime mark for innings pitched over his 21-year career, during which he hurled two no-hitters and won the 1957 Cy Young Award. He earned the prestigious Purple Heart and Bronze Star in World War II.

In his two best seasons, Spahn was 23-7 and led the league with a 2.10 ERA in 1953 at age 32, then matched that record a decade later at 42. But he had a 2.60 ERA in 1963.

When he was criticized for pitching that long (until he was 46), he said, "I don't care what the public thinks. I'm pitching because I enjoy pitching."

ESPN Classic, Baseball Hall of Fame, Baseball-Almanac

April 24th - Larry Wayne Jones, Jr. – "Chipper" Jones, 1972

* 5-time All-Star (1996-98, 2000-01)
* National League MVP (1999)
* 2-time Silver Slugger at 3rd Base (1999-2000)
* TSN Rookie of the Year (1995)

Along with his many awards, Jones has also finished in the top ten of the National League MVP (1996-98, 2000) voting four separate times. He also had a streak of eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons from 1996-2003, but failed to reach it again in 2004 with only ninety-six.

In an 11-season career, Jones is a .303 hitter with 331 home runs and 1111 RBIs in 1651 games.

He is the only switch hitter in Major League Baseball history to have a .300+ career batting average and more than 300 home runs.

his own personal photo gallery

Jones was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 1st round (1st pick) of the 1990 amateur draft. He made a quick jump through the minors to make his major league debut on September 11, 1993.

After sitting out the entire 1994 season with an ACL tear in his left knee, Jones came back strong in 1995, leading all major league rookies in RBI (86), games played (145), games started (123), plate appearances (602), at-bats (524), and runs scored (87). He eventually went on to win The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award, and finished second in the BBWAA ROY balloting behind Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo.

In 1999, Jones won the National League MVP award after hitting .319 with 45 home runs and 110 RBI. Jones led the Braves to the World Series against the New York Yankees that year, in which the Braves were swept. He did, however, hit their only home run in the series, against Yankees starter Orlando Hernández.

Jones was selected to play in the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic. He hit a homerun in his first at bat of the classic against Mexico, in fact prior to the at bat Chipper told a coach that he would hit a homerun on the first strike he saw. This would be the game winning run for Team U.S.A. against Mexico.

facing Team South Africa behind Roger Clemens:



Wikipedia, www.chipperjones.com, me

April 25th - John Henry "Pop" Lloyd, 1884



A line-drive hitter whose extraordinary skills at shortstop drew favorable comparisons to Honus Wagner, John Henry Lloyd was one of the best black players of the dead ball era. Although a consummate gentleman off the field, Lloyd was an aggressive, fearless baserunner on it, and was also one of the best hitters of his era. He had great range and large, steady hands that led Cuban fans to dub him "El Cuchara" ("The Shovel"). The easygoing Lloyd later became a player-manager, and was given the affectionate nickname, "Pop," by the young players he mentored.

In 1938, a St. Louis sportswriter, asked to name the best player in baseball history, said, "If you mean in organized baseball, my answer would be Babe Ruth: but if you mean in all of baseball, my answer would have to be an Atlantic City colored man named John Henry Lloyd."

Lloyd's plaque at the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown tells his story both statistically and philosophically:
"Batted over .400 several times...
managed more than 10 seasons..
instrumental in helping open Yankee Stadium to Negro baseball...
personified best qualities of athletes both on and off the field."

Lloyd played professional baseball in the Negro Leagues from 1906 to 1932, including two stints with the Bacharach Giants of Atlantic City. In 1910 he out-hit Ty Cobb in a Cuban winter league series, .500 to .385. His lifetime average of .368 is a point higher than Cobb's.

Hall of Fame website, popsballyard.org

April 26th - Amos Otis, 1947



Originally signed by the Red Sox, Otis was drafted by the Mets and went to the Royals with pitcher Bob Johnson in a lopsided December 1969 trade for third baseman Joe Foy. Foy was gone from the majors within 2 years, while Otis starred in centerfield with Kansas City for 14. During his tenure, one of the most popular chants in Royals Stadium was "A-O, A-O." The dapper Otis was criticized at times for a casual demeanor, lack of aggressiveness, and one-handed catches, but he won three Gold Gloves and three times was named Royals Player of the Year.

He tied for the American League lead in doubles his first full year, 1970, and led in 1976.

In 1971, the speedster stole five bases in a September 7 game and captured the league stolen-base title (52). In 1975 he tied an AL record by stealing seven bases in two consecutive games, April 30 and May 1.

excerpts from an interview by Harold Friend:

He batted .300 twice and hit for power, with a career-high 26 HR in 1973.

He starred on four Kansas City division champions. When the Royals won their one AL title, he led all players in the 1980 World Series with 11 hits.

He left the Royals in 1983 as their all-time leader in several offensive categories, including runs, hits, and RBI.

BaseballLibrary.com, baseball-almanac.com

April 27th - Rogers Hornsby, 1896



Perhaps the game's most proficient right-handed hitter, Rogers Hornsby captured seven batting titles - including six in a row - topping .400 three times. A complete player with a fierce passion for the game, Hornsby's .424 mark in 1924 is a National League record for the 20th century and his career average of .359 is the highest ever in the National League. "The Rajah," a two-time MVP and two-time Triple Crown winner, was the player-manager of the Cardinals' first World Championship team in 1926 and was the first National League player to hit 300 home runs.

On September 13, 1931, Rogers Hornsby became the first big leaguer to connect for an extra-inning, pinch-hit grand slam, as the Cubs defeated the Braves in 11 innings, 11-7.

In 1922 “The Rajah” showcased the most dominant season at the plate in the history of baseball. He demolished National League pitching and exceeded his unbelievable hitting performance from the previous season. He finally eclipsed the .400 mark, leading the league by nearly 50 points over the second-place finisher Ray Grimes. Rogers also crushed a surprising 42 home runs — twice as many as runner-up Cy Williams. To complete the Triple Crown, he knocked in an astonishing 152 RBI. Amazingly, Rogers did not win the 1922 MVP award. (It went to George Sisler, who .420 and swiped 51 bases.)
...
In 1925 he somehow topped his unprecedented 1924 season. Cardinals owner Sam Breadon. Breadon asked Hornsby to take over as the Redbirds’ manager. Hornsby's perfectionist style on the playing field started to rub off on his players. The Cardinals finished in fourth place with Roger at the helm. More importantly, he won his second Triple Crown, nearly matching his statistics from his first unforgettable Crown season in 1922. This time, however, he would win the Most Valuable Player award. He hit .403 with 39 long balls and 143 RBI. This would be the fourth straight season he would reach the .400 mark.

Baseball's greatest righthanded hitter always stood in the far back corner of the batter's box and strode into the pitch with a perfectly level swing. Catchers frequently called low and away against him, but his diagonal stride brought those pitches comfortably within reach. High and inside, he said, was hardest to hit, because his move edged him so close to the pitch. Often he simply leaned away, and umpires who respected his judgment of the strike zone would call a ball.

» "Hornsby never chewed tobacco or smoked or drank anything at all, and he expected all his ballplayers to live that way. He didn't know how to handle men": Charlie Grimm

» "I broke in with the Cubs under Hornsby in 1931. He ignored me completely, and I figured it was because I was a rookie. But then I saw he ignored everybody": Billy Herman

» "[Gil McDougald] had one of the craziest stances anyone had ever seen; but he had hit .336 that way at Beaumont, where Rogers Hornsby, his manager, had sense enough to leave him alone": Leonard Koppett

At the plate, Hornsby was imperturbable. He never argued with umpires, and was never thrown out of a game. He hit line drives to all fields, and was swift down to first and going for extra bases.

Since he could hit them all, he feared no pitcher. He disdained golf, he once explained, because when he hit a ball, he wanted someone else to chase it.

Hall of Fame site, rogershornsby.com, BaseballLibrary.com

April 28th - Barry Louis Larkin, 1964


In his first full season, Larkin led the league with 29 errors but batted .296 with 49 extra-base hits and 40 stolen bases. He also displayed a tremendous batting eye for a young player, striking out just 24 times in 588 at bats. In November of 1988 he joined a group of All-Stars on a barnstorming tour of Japan, during which he batted .474 and was named the U.S. team's MVP.

Over the next several seasons, Larkin not only improved his play, but also grew into the role of team leader. In September of 1990, with the Reds struggling to close out the NL West title, he called a clubhouse meeting and ripped his teammates for coasting through the stretch run. The message apparently got through, as the Reds swiftly wrapped up the Division Crown and took aim at a bigger prize. After dispatching with the NL East Champion Pittsburgh Pirates in six games, Cincinnati stunned the baseball world by sweeping the overwhelmingly favored Oakland Athletics in the World Series.

The Reds won their division again in 1995 as the National League paid Larkin the ultimate tribute to his all-around excellence. Despite huge offensive years from sluggers like Dante Bichette and Mike Piazza, Larkin (who posted comparatively modest numbers) became the first National League shortstop to win the MVP since Maury Wills in 1962. Larkin batted .319, and stroked fifteen homers, driving in 66 runs, scoring 98 and swiping a career-high 51 bases. There was little doubt that the voters were rewarding Larkin as much for his defense and steady team leadership as for his offensive production. In the post-season, Larkin further distinguished himself, batting .387 as the Reds swept Los Angeles in the Division Series but were stopped by Atlanta in the NLCS.

sound familiar?

In his 18-year career with Cincinnati, Larkin:
--batted for a .295 batting average,
–hit 190 home runs,
–collected 918 runs batted in,
–scored 1274 runs, and
–stole 377 bases.

Baseball historian and expert Bill James has called Larkin one of the greatest shortstops of all time.

Larkin called off a planned retirement ceremony scheduled for October 2, 2004 because he was not sure if he would retire. He did indeed retire, and is now working in the Washington Nationals organization.

Wikipedia...baseball-libary.com?

April 29th - Luis Aparicio, 1934

Following his debut in 1956, Luis Aparicio helped to redefine the role and expectations of major league shortstops with agile fielding, spray-hitting and speedy base-running. He took Rookie of the Year honors in 1956, collected nine Gold Glove awards, led the American League in stolen bases nine seasons and was named to the All Star squad 10 times. When he retired in 1973, he held the career record for shortstops for games played, double plays and assists.



Video from Hall of Fame Website

Hall of Fame site

April 30th - Phil Garner, 1949

As a Player:


A three-time All-Star, Garner enjoyed an 18-year professional playing career beginning in 1971. He made his big league debut with the A's in 1973 and also played for Pittsburgh, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Garner earned his first career All-Star selection for Oakland in 1976 and he was named to the AL squad in his second full year in the big leagues. He led AL second basemen in total chances that season (865). In 1977, he was traded to Pittsburgh.

In 1978, he tied a Major League record for most grand slams in two consecutive games as he hit bases-loaded homers on Sept. 14 and 15. The two grand slams also tied the NL marks for slams in a single month. The following season, he batted a career-best .293 with 32 doubles as he helped the Pirates to the 1979 World Championship. During the postseason, he set a World Series record for most double plays by a second baseman in a seven-game series (nine), and he also tied Series marks for highest batting average (.500) in a seven-game series by collecting at least one hit in each of the seven games.

Garner led NL second basemen in assists (499), total chances (869) and double plays (116) in the 1980 season, and he was named to the NL All-Star team in both 1980 and 81 for the Pirates.

He was dealt to the Astros in 1981 and remained there through 1986.

Trivia: Garner was involved in the two longest post-season games in the history of baseball, played almost 20 years apart. He was the Astros' manager in the 18-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves on October 9, 2005. In the 16-inning loss to the New York Mets on October 15, 1986, Garner was the starting third baseman for the Astros, going 1-for-3, before being replaced by a pinch-hitter. Both games had the final score of 7-6.

As a Manager:

Prior to joining the Tigers, Garner served as skipper of the Milwaukee Brewers. He was replaced as the Brewers manager on Aug. 12, 1999, and left as the club's all-time leader in games managed and victories with a 563-617 mark. He passed Tom Trebelhorn for first place in Brewers history in wins with his 423rd on Aug. 24, 1997, in a 6-0 victory vs. Detroit.

Garner finished in the top three in balloting for the AL Manager of the Year award in two seasons, placing third in 1997 and second in 1992.

During his tenure with the Tigers, Garner finished sixth in American League Manager of the Year voting in 2000, receiving two third-place votes. He earned his 700th win as a manager on Sept. 16, 2001, with a 6-2 victory at Minnesota, and he picked up his 600th career victory on July 4, 2000, in an 11-0 win at Tampa Bay.

In the second half of 2004, he guided Houston to a 48-26 record (.649) and within one game of a World Series appearance. The Astros were 36-10 (.783) in their last 46 games of the 2004 regular season, the best record in baseball during that time period, the best finish in franchise history, and the second-best finish in NL history from Aug. 15 through the end of the season. Houston claimed the National League Wild Card, and the club won its first postseason series in franchise history by defeating the Atlanta Braves in the NL Division Series before falling to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series. He finished fourth in NL Manager of the Year voting.

do ya think i could find something about the fact that he took the 2005 Astros to the World Series? well, consider it said :rolleyes: meanwhile, here's a little lighter reading in the style of our own fellow bay area poster

seattlepi.com, houston.astros.mlb.com, wikipedia.com

there. caught up for april. next, to catch up May. perhaps on the holiday weekend...