Tony Gwynn Tribute Video

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

Scooter Gennett Hits 4 Home Runs

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

Tuffy Rhodes Three Home Runs On Opening Day

On April 4, 1994 Tuffy Rhodes of the Chicago Cubs became the first National Leaguer to hit three home runs on Opening Day.  He accomplished the task against New York Mets ace Dwight Gooden. Rhodes only hit 10 other home runs in his 590 career at-bats. Finishing his major league career with 13 home runs and 44 RBI.

Rhodes would enjoy a stellar career in Japanese baseball where he hit 464 home runs including tying Sadaharu Oh’s season record of 55 home runs (since broken by Wladimir Balentein in 2013 with 60). He also drove in 1269 runs.

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

Honus Wagner: The Flying Dutchman

Honus Wagner was signed by the Louisville Colonels of the National League making his debut in 1897 after spending only two seasons in the minor leagues. He would play in Louisville through the 1899 season, the National League contracted to 8 teams, and Wagner would go to the Pittsburgh Pirates where he would spend the rest of his career.

Wagner considered by many to be the best all around player of the Dead Ball Era. He hit 101 home runs with 1,732 RBI with a batting line of .328/.391/.467. He stole 722 bases in his career, and was the best shortstop of his era.

Wagner would win 8 National League batting titles, 5 times he would lead the league in RBI, and 5 times he would lead the league in stolen bases.

He would lead the Pirates to their only World Series Championship during his career in 1909. His #33 was retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1936, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

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

Chicago Cubs Shortstop Don Kessinger

Don Kessing was a slick fielding shortstop for the Chicago Cubs from 1964-1975. During that period he would be a six time National League All-Star. He would win the Gold Glove Award in 1969 and 1970.

Never known for his offense, he hit 14 home runs with 527 RBI with a hitting line of .252/.314/.312. His best offensive season would be 1969, when he hit 4 home runs with 53 RBI.

He would spend the end of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox. He would serve as manager for the White Sox in 1979 with a record of 46-60.

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

MLB: Pitchers Hitting Their First Career Home Runs

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

Yadier Molina 2016 Defensive Highlights

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

MLB Ejections

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

10 Great Players of the 19th Century

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

Joe Adcock: Milwaukee Brave

Joe Adcock broke into the major leagues with the Cincinnati Reds in 1950, but was stuck behind first baseman Ted Kluszewski. Adcock requested a trade, and was sent packing to the Braves.

The hard hitting first baseman would play in the long shadows of Eddie Matthews and Hank Aaron. The trio home run hitters made the Braves middle of the order one the most formidable in all of baseball. The Braves would win the 1957 World Series.

Adcock would hit 336 home runs with 1,122 RBI, and a batting line of .277/.33/.485. He was a two time all-star, and on July 31, 1954, he would slam four home runs in a game against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

At the end of this career he would spend time with the Angels and Indians. It included managing the Indians during the 1967 season to a 75-87 record. His .994 fielding percentage was 3^rd best all-time when he called it a career.

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

Dave Concepcion Defensive Wizard

Dave Concepcion was a defensive wizard as the shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds for 19 seasons. He was a solid part of the defense of The Big Red Machine teams of the mid-70’s. Perfecting the bounce throw on the artificial turf. The Reds won the World Series in 1975-1976.

Concepcion was a nine time National league all-star, twice he won the Silver Slugger Award, and 5 time Gold Glove Award winner. His #13 has been retired by the Reds, and he is a member of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

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

MLB Great Catches

Jim Edmonds Career Highlights

Jim Edmonds was known for his spectacular defensive plays. He would win eight Gold Glove Awards over the course of his career. Edmonds was also an offensive weapon for the California Angels and St. Louis Cardinals.

Edmonds had a career hitting line of .284/.376/.527 with 393 home runs, and 1,199 RBI. He was a four time all-star, 2004 Silver Slugger Award, and a member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame. He was a member of the 2006 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.

Sam "The Jet" Jethroe

Sam “The Jet” Jethroe was one of the fastest human beings he ever saw according to Don Newcombe. Jethroe began his career in the Negro Leagues with the Cincinnati/Cleveland Buckeyes where he hit .340, and won a pair of batting titles.

He was signed by the Boston Braves, and in 1950 became the first black player for the Braves. He would win Rookie of the Year honors for that season at age 33. He hit 18 home runs with 58 RBI, and stole 35 bases to lead the league.

In his career he would hit .261/.337/.418 with 49 home runs and 98 RBI. He won the NL stolen base title in 1950-51. His defense was his Achilles heel, and spent the 1953 season at Toledo before being traded to the Pirates. The Pirates would send him to Toronto, where he would spend five more seasons in minor league baseball before his career came to an end at age 41. 

Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown

Mordecai “Three-Finger” Brown is one of the best hurlers ever to pitch for the Chicago Cubs. It was a farm machine accident as a twelve year old that gave him the moniker of Three-Finger. He gave his ball unique movement.

He was from Nyesville, Indiana, and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, and made his debut in 1903. He was 9-13 with an ERA 2.60. The Cardinals traded Brown to the Chicago Cubs.

In Chicago, Brown would win 20 plus games from 1906-1911. He would lead the Cubs to the World Series four times, and winning it in 1907-1908.

He would finish his career with a record of 239-130, and an ERA of 2.06. He would be elected by the Veteran’s Committee to the Baseball of Hall of Fame in 1949.

Amos Rusie: The Hoosier Thunderbolt

Amos Rusie signed with the Indianapolis Hoosiers in 1889 as an 18 year old from Mooresville, Indiana. Rusie could throw hard, but often didn’t know where the ball was going. At the end of 1889 the Hoosiers disbanded, and Rusie signed with the New York Giants. In New York, he quickly became a fan favorite. His ability to throw hard earned him the nickname “The Hoosier Thunderbolt.”

He tossed a no hitter on July 31,1891.1894 would be his best season, when he would win the pitching triple crown (wins, ERA, and strikeouts). Five times he led the National League in strike outs, and five times in strike outs. In his career he would strike out 1950 hitters, but he also walked 1707. The 1891-1894 seasons he would win over thirty games in each season.

He would close his career with a won-loss record of 246-174, and an ERA of 3.07. He would be elected by the Veteran’s committee in 1977 to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Harry Caray Tribute: His Best Calls

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

Amazing Throws 1

Alfonso Soriano's Amazing Four Game Stretch

Alfonso Soriano had one of the most productive four game stretches in major league baseball history. He had 13 hits, and drove in 18 runs from August 13-16, 2013.

Soriano broke in with the New York Yankees in 1997. Always an offensive threat Soriano hit 412 home runs with 1,159 RBI before retiring at the end of the 2014 season.

He had been a seven time all-star and four time Silver Slugger award winner while hitting .270 over the course his career.