Walk Off Bunts

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

Ken Holtzman

Ken Holtzman’s misfortune was to break in with the Chicago Cubs in 1966, when the Cubbies would finish dead last in the National League. In his rookie campaign, he would finish with a record of 11-16 with an ERA of 3.79.

In 1969, on August 19, 1969, he would throw his first no-hitter besting the Atlanta Braves. June 3, 1971, Holtzman would no-hit the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium. It would be the first no-hitter in that in the history of Riverfront Stadium. Holtzman was the first pitcher in modern baseball to toss two no-hitters.

After the 1971 season, he was traded to the Oakland A’s for an outfield named Rick Monday. Holtzman would have his best seasons in Oakland.

He was a two time all-star, three time World Series Champion with the Oakland A’s 1972-1974. The 1973 season would be his only twenty win season. He would finish his career with a record of 174-150 with an ERA of 3.49. He had 1,601 career strike outs. He made stops with the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and came back to finish his career with the Cubs.

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

The Baltimore Orioles Boog Powell

Boog Powell has a storied career for the Baltimore Orioles. He made his debut as a 19 year-old appearing four games in 1961, and in his first full season in 1962, he clubbed 15 home runs, a glimpse of the power that was to come for the slugger. He started off playing both leftfield, and first base. By 1966, when the Orioles won the World Series, he was the every day first baseman. At 6-4, 230 pounds Powell was an intimidating presence in the batters box.

Powell would hit 20 or more home runs in 9 seasons, and in four of those season, he would hit 30 or more. No easy feat with most of his early career when pitching dominated Major League Baseball. He hit 25 home runs with 82 RBI in 1963, and he followed it up with 39 home runs and 99 RBI, and end that season with a line of .290/.366/.606. 

The Orioles would sweep the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966 in the World Series, and in that season Powell had his best to date, hitting 34 home runs and 109 RBI. He put together another good line .287/.372/.532. The Orioles dominated the American League, and the American League Eastern division beginning in 1969. The Orioles won the World Series in 1966 and 1970. 1969 and 1971, the Orioles won the American League pennant.  Powell hit 37 home runs with 121 RBI in 1969, followed by 1970 season 35 home runs with 114 RBI.  It would be the last time he would hit over 30 home runs in a season, and have over 100 RBI.

Earl Weaver's use of a platoon system started costing Powell playing time during the 1973-1974 seasons. He was traded to the Cleveland Indians, where in 1975, he responded with a 27 home runs and 86 RBI, and line of .297/.377/.524. He would play one more season in Cleveland. His number dropped dramatically. In 1977, his final season, he ended his career with the Los Dodgers used as a pinch-hitter.

He finished his career with .339 home runs with 1,187 RBI with a slash line of .266/.361/.462. Powell was an American League all-star from 1968-1971. He was the American League Most Valuable Player, and he is a member of the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame.

The Baltimore Orioles Dave McNally

Dave McNally is now remembered as being part of the 1975 Seitz decision, which ushered in the free agent era, but from 1968-1971, he was one of those most dominating pitchers in baseball. He won 20 games or more in each of the four seasons. Including the best season of his career in 1970, when he led American League in wins with 24, and had a 3.22 ERA in 40 starts.

He made his debut as a 19 year-old with the Baltimore Orioles in 1962.  In 1963, he would become a starter for the Orioles, and would pitch for them for 13 seasons. He would finish with 181 wins and 113 losses as a Baltimore Oriole. He was 184-119 with a career ERA of 3.24. At one point between the end of the 1968 season, and a 15-0 start to the 1969 season winning 17 straight decisions.

He pitched for the 1966 and 1970 World Series champion Baltimore Orioles.  In game 3, of the 1970 World Series, McNally became the only pitcher in Major League history to hit a grand slam in a World Series game.  The Orioles would also win the American League pennant in 1969, and 1971.

McNally was a 3 time all-star in 1969, 1970, and 1972.  In 1971, he was part of the Orioles staff that produced four twenty game winners (Mike Cuellar, Pat Dobson and Jim Palmer were the other three). McNally would die from lung cancer on December 1, 2002.

Fernando Valenzuela: A Look Back At Fernandomania

He made his debut out of the bullpen the Dodgers.  In 1981, he earned a spot in the Dodgers rotation which would set off in Los Angeles in what is remembered as Fernandomania. He won his first eight starts in the major leagues, and a remarkable five of those were shutouts. In the strike shortened season of 1981, he would make 25 starts, 8 shutouts, and 11 complete games, and finished a won-loss record of 13-7.  He was the first to win the Cy Young award, and Rookie of the Year award in same season. The Dodgers won the World Series, 

He was a six-time National League all-star, in 1986, he would win the Gold Glove. A good hitting pitcher, Valenzuela would earn Silver Slugger awards in 1981 and 1983. On June 29, 1990, Valenzuela would toss his only no-hitter in beating the St. Louis Cardinals.  1986 was the only season he was a twenty game winner, winning 21 that season. 

The Dodgers would release him after a power showing in spring training 1991. After a brief appearance with the California Angels, and spent time in the Mexican league before returning to the major leagues with the Baltimore Orioles. He would never enjoy the same success as he did in Los Angeles. He would finish career 173-153 with an ERA of 3.54. He was inducted into the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. 

Mark Fidrych A Brief Memorable Career

His career was like a shooting star, bright and brief pitching only parts of five major league seasons. As a long haired teenager with a mop of hair similar to the Mark "The Bird" Fidrych  made his debut talking to the baseball, manicuring the pitching mound with his hands. This bit of insanity made me an immediate fan. 

Fidrych took the American League by storm in 1976. Not expected to make the Tigers roster, he earned his place on the team as a non-roster invitee to spring training. He would wouldn't get a start until May 15, in era of four man rotations, and quality pitchers went the distance in games opportunities had been few. In his first outing he pitched six no-hit innings before allowing a single, and went the distance in a 2-1 game. It would be the first of twenty-nine starts that season. He would complete 24 of them. By comparison in today's era of specialization with pitching staffs the San Francisco Giants led all of major league baseball with 10 complete games as a staff.

Fidrych would go 9-1 in his first ten decisions,  which included a seven game winning streak. He did his pitching with cunning, he allowed only 7.8 hits per nine innings, and 1.9 walks, and 3.5 strike outs per nine. He would finish the season with a won-loss record of 19-9, and he would finish second to Jim Palmer in the Cy Young balloting. He was named Rookie of the Year, and led the American League in ERA 2.34.  He would be an all-star in both 1976 and 1977. He would only make 27 more starts in his career.

In 1977, he would begin the season by tearing cartilage in his knee during spring training. He was just as effective upon his return, but in July of that year he tore his rotator cuff in a game against the Baltimore Orioles. It was an injury that wouldn't be diagnosed by doctors until 1985, and was to bring about treatments that are remarkable today. He turned down his all-star invitation due to injury.  He would finish his injury riddled career with a 29-19 record and a 3.10 ERA. In 2009, he would die in a tragic accident on his farm.

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

Orioles-Royals Fight of 6/7/2016

June 7,2016. Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura drills the Baltimore Orioles Manny Machado with a fastball which sparked the brawl.

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

Cal Ripken Jr. Hits Three Home Runs

May 28, 1996. Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. hits three home runs and knocks in eight runs in a 12-8 victory over the Seattle Mariners at the Kingdome. Ripken hits a grand slam, and two two-run homers, and his brother Billy gets in on the act with a home run  of his own.

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

Chris Hoiles Hits Walk-Off Grand Slam

May 17, 2016. Baltimore Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles hits a walk-off grand slam home run off Seattle Mariner reliever Norm Charlton. The Orioles entered the ninth inning trailing the Mariners 13-10, when on a 3-2 pitch with two out Hoiles hit the game winner. The first time in Major League Baseball history that a grand slam had been hit with two out on a full count.

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

Josh Hamilton Hits Four Home Runs

May 8, 2012. Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers becomes the 16th player in major league history to hit four home runs in a game. He also had a double in the game to establish a new American League record with 18 total bases in a game. The Rangers thumped the Baltimore Orioles in Camden Yards 10-3. Each home run Hamilton hit in the contest came with a runner on base.

Chris Davis Earns Pitching Win

May 6, 2012. Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis earns a win in his first pitching appearance. Darnell McDonald an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox takes the loss in the 17-inning affair. Adam Jones three-run homer provides the margin of victory. It is the first time since 1902 that two position players figure in a decision in the same game.

Lou Gehrig Plays His Final Game

On April 3, 1939, Lou Gehrig played his last game for the New York Yankees. The Iron Horse went 0 for 4 against the Washington Senators in a 3-2 Yankee loss. The Hall of Fame first baseman concludes his career with 490 home runs, and a lifetime batting average of .340. He played in a record 2,130 consecutive games. A record that was held until broken by the Baltimore Orioles Cal Ripken Jr.

In Memory of Milt Pappas, His No-Hitter

April 19, 2016, former Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas passed away. Pappas pitched seventeen years in Major League Baseball. He was 209-164 with an ERA of 3.40. He was a three-time All-Star, and had 43 career shutouts. He tossed a no-hitter on September 2, 1972, missing a perfect game when umpire Bruce Froemming squeezed the plate with Larry Stahl at the plate. He pitched for the Orioles, Reds, Braves, and closed out his career with the Cubs from 1970-1973.

John McGraw Begins Managerial Career in 1899

April 18, 1899. Hall of Fame Manager John McGraw manages his first game with the old Baltimore Orioles, and beats the New York Giants. He would later manage the Giants for 30 years, and spent 33 years as Major League manager. He had a career record of 2763-1948 (.586 winning percentage). He won 10 Pennants, and three World Series Championships. He was known as Mugsy, and stood only 5-3, but was one most fearless managers in baseball history. The film is the New York Giants training in 1917.

Juan Nieves Tosses First No-Hitter In Brewer History

April 15, 1987. On this day in baseball history Milwaukee Brewers lefty Juan Nieves tossed the first no-hitter in Milwaukee Brewers history. He is the only Brewer to throw a no-hitter. He is the youngest pitcher to accomplished the feat. He was 32-25 in his career with an ERA of 4.71. His promising career was derailed by an arm injury. His accomplishment was the first no-hitter pitched by a Puerto Rican in Major League baseball history. Nieves has had a career serving in a coaching capacity for various major league organizations.

Mickey Mantle's 500th Home Run

On May 14, 1967, Mickey Mantle unloaded on a pitch from Stu Miller of the Baltimore Orioles. It was the 500th home run of his distinguished career. Mantle would retire at the end of the 1968, and I don't remember seeing him play. The Hall of Fame outfielder  hit some of the longest home runs in baseball history.