Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinWant to know something incredible about Billy Wagner, the lefty who hurled thunderbolts to close games? To quote Inigo Montoya from the classic movie “The Princess Bride”: “I am not left-handed.” Yup. Wagner is right-handed, but since he broke his dominant arm twice at a young age, he taught himself to throw lefty. Pretty impressive results, huh? Here are 10 feats that he accomplished in a career that …

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Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinFirst things first: How did Fred McGriff get the nickname “Crime Dog”? For those not in the know, there was a commercial for CrimeStoppers featuring a dog mascot named McGruff. He wore a trench coat, and his motto was “Take a Bite Outta Crime!” The Hall of Famer believes it was Kirby Puckett, a fellow Cooperstown inductee, who first came up with the moniker. There’s video of the …

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Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinOn the surface, baseball seems like a simple game. There are nine players on the field, including the pitcher. Each side tries to get three outs an inning, and there are nine innings in a game. However, there are many complex strategies at play during each contest that might go unnoticed by the uninitiated. For example, before the pitch clock era, Pedro Martinez would vary the time between …

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Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinThis turned out to be a pretty interesting thought exercise for me. I decided to eliminate several players who are already shoo-ins once they retire, like Miggy Cabrera, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Clayton Kershaw. Instead, I’m focusing on players who, while they have put together a good resume, need things to go their way to solidify their chances. Then there are some younger ones, like Pete Alonso, …

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Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael SchatzThe 1940s were baseball’s golden age, when outfielders swung lumber bats that cracked like thunder and dove for catches on grass so real you could smell the earth after rain. These were the men who patrolled the outfield during wartime and beyond, creating memories that still echo in the hearts of those who remember. 20. Dom DiMaggio: The Little Professor’s Scientific Approach The Little Professor’s wire-rimmed glasses and …

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Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael SchatzRemember when baseball was pure? Neither do we. From spitballs to corked bats, America’s pastime has always danced with controversy, and the steroid era was just another verse in that familiar song. 10. The Hall Already Honors Players from Baseball’s Segregation Era The Hall of Fame proudly displays plaques of players who participated in baseball’s most shameful era—when talented Black athletes were systematically excluded from the major leagues. …

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Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinIf you attend or watch a baseball game on TV, you’re going to see a ceremonial first pitch. Most are thrown by local community members or celebrities. But sometimes, the marketing department thinks outside the (batter’s) box and brings in some… unusual choices. Here are 10 examples of those. 10. Darth Vader Throws Out the First Pitch Can Darth Vader get the ball over the plate? The Dark …

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Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Matthew BrownNot every championship is won by superstars. Sometimes, the most crucial moments come from the guys at the end of the bench: platoon players and backup catchers who suddenly find themselves in the spotlight. Here are the unsung heroes who turned October dreams into a championship reality. 10. Brian Doyle: The Yankees’ 1978 World Series Hero Nobody Remembers When Willie Randolph went down with an injury, nobody expected …

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Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinSandy Koufax was the embodiment of the phrase, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” He was dominating hitters one day, and the next, he announced his retirement at age 30. Arthritis robbed baseball fans of seeing him build on his numbers to the point that he might have reached 4,000 strikeouts before Nolan Ryan. Then again, he could have declined as well. Let’s appreciate these …

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Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinI’m gonna be that guy: I saw Frank Thomas before he was “The Big Hurt.” It was 1990, I was a freshman at Boston University, and saw the Red Sox clinch the division by beating the White Sox. There was a huge Chicago player on deck, and I later looked up that it was Thomas. So, that’s my first take on watching the guy who had the most …

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