If Chris Berman still did baseball highlights on ESPN, somehow I think Jake Arrieta would be Jake Walking on Air-ieta. Nickname or no, the Texan was walking on air last night in Los Angeles, following his no-hit effort for the Cubs against the home standing Dodgers in ESPN's Sunday night game. Until baffling the Dodgers ...
Little players, Big Dreams Described by Big Men
This afternoon is the final of the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, PA. A number of MLB players have passed through Lamade Statium on the way to the top. Todd Frazier of the Reds, who recently put up his 30th home run, made a name in the late '90s as his home town team, Toms River ...
He Runs like a Catcher–OOPS!
Ask a baseball fan-any fan-to say what enters his mind when he hears the word "catcher." The first thing he could say might be "durable, strong, tough, good with pitchers, good arm throwing to second, good hitter." Some Brooklyn fans felt if Roy Campanella had caught the last of the 9th against the Giants on ...
High Drama East of Broad
Some years ago, author pat Conroy wrote a book called "South of Broad." It drew a lot of attention on a web site where books for the blind are reviewed. Last night, in a period of about 4 hours the Mets and Phillies packed more unlikely drama into one game than you'll find in Conroy's ...
Vintage Verlander-Almost a Third NoNo
Detroit Tiger fans have been wondering over the past couple of seasons what would become of their team, considering that former pitching ace Justin Verlander is signed through 2019 for superstar bucks. The contract, signed in 2009 seemed like a good idea at the time. Verlander went 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA in 2011, and ...
Remembering Harry Kalas
Instead of profiling one of today's baseball broadcasters, I have been requested by Miss M. A. Middleton of Brookhaven, PA. to write my memories of Harry Kalas, the longtime voice of the Phillies. I first heard Harry Norbert Kalas in his first year with the Phillies, 1971. At that time Byrum "By" Saam was the ...
Big Bouquet of Cookies
Picture if you will, you're a baseball team just arriving in Philadelphia after a flight from Denver. You reach your hotel near Midnight, and there, in the lobby is your formerly injured team captain, in full battle array, with cookies for all of you. This may not sound like much unless you realize two things. For ...
Van Morrison Would Love This
One of the most famous songs by the Irish singer Van Morrison is called "Wild Night." Philadelphia has had its share of wild nights in the sports world. Just for starters: the night Gene Tunney upset Jack Dempsey for the heavyweight championship in 1926; the night a bloodied but unbowed Matthew Franklin knocked out Marvin ...
Introducing Tom Hamilton of Cleveland
The first time I went to Canton, Ohio to broadcast a AA game, it was the opener of the 1993 season. This was before the Internet, so going to a different city meant hearing a baseball announcer I had never heard before. While my partner and I broadcast our game, I recorded the Indians game ...
In the Bronx the Past is Not Enough
No team has a more glorious past than the Yankees. No team comes close. But the past can't compensate for mistakes being made by their present owners, not that the sons of Steinbrenner aren't trying to turn the clock back and not allow the fans to remember their most recent mistake. This weekend, Jorge Posada and Andy ...