It was roughly 18 months ago that I wrote in this space of my intention to give up my professional wrestling habit. It was exactly one week ago that I was reminded why.
Read More
Baseball America editor-in-chief Will Lingo saw Alfonso Soriano smash two home runs at Fenway Park in 1999 at the inaugural Futures Game and remembers when Jose Reyes used the 2002 showcase in Milwaukee as a springboard to arrive on the national scene. "If you’re looking for a one-stop showcase to see the top prospects in the sport, the Futures Game is it," Lingo said.
Read More
It started with a booming Babe Ruth home run and has developed into one of the most anticipated and entertaining events on the summer baseball calendar.And now, for just the third time, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is coming to San Francisco. The event has been a showcase for baseball’s best since Ruth’s blast in the inaugural 1933 game, with legends such as Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Reggie Jackson and Roger Clemens all creating lasting memories.
Read More
The Giants’ biggest problem is that they don’t trust their fans.From the opening of their park in China Basin, the Giants have set Bay Area attendance records, but ownership and management have always been fearful that it wouldn’t continue. Over and over, I heard from club executives that attendance would fall in any season in which they did not field a contending team.
Read More
Santana’s slow start to the season had some critics doubting his chances of defending his 2006 AL Cy Young Award, but with two dominant performances last week, he proved why he is still the most feared pitcher in the American League. In 15 innings of work, Santana allowed a single run, struck out nine and gave up just nine hits in the Minnesota Twins’ victories over the Florida Marlins and the New York Mets. Santana’s impressive week was highlighted by a 9-0 shutout against the Mets on June 19 in which he struck out one without walking anyone.
Read More
While J.J. Hardy was attracting plenty of attention for his much-improved play early in the season and Prince Fielder has continued his emergence as one of the National League’s premier power hitters, the Milwaukee Brewers most likely would not be sitting in first place in the NL Central if not for the efforts of versatile right fielder Corey Hart.Through Wednesday, Hart is batting .315 (tops among Milwaukee regulars), with 10 home runs, 31 RBIs, 35 runs and 16 stolen bases (tying him for sixth in the NL), to help lead the Brewers to a 46-32 mark.
Read More
Even occupying some of the best seats in the house, Larry Ellison was anxious, sitting restlessly with his family right behind home plate at AT&T Park.Finally, he stopped tapping his feet, stood up, said goodbye and started walking toward the exit. "They were great seats, and we were surrounded by some all-time Giants greats," Ellison said of his 2004 foray into the ballpark’s high-rent district. "But I thought, ‘I can’t get a home run ball back here.’"
Read More
30th all-star game » NL 5, AL 4 (10 innings) on Tuesday, July 11, 1961.A roll call of baseball immortals led the National League to a come-from-behind victory in The City’s first All-Star Game. Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the 10th, home run king Hank Aaron led off with a single and scored when Willie Mays followed with a double. Giants great Orlando Cepeda then drew a walk, and Pittsburgh Pirates legend Roberto Clemente drove in Mays with a game-winning single. All four of those players, plus losing pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm, have since been enshrined in Cooperstown.
Read More
Left field: Barry Bonds (1993-present) The polarizing power hitter has dominated the game and the headlines since arriving from Pittsburgh. Bonds has won the NL MVP seven times (five with San Francisco), is a 13-time All-Star (11) and eight-time Gold Glove winner (five). He is second all-time in home runs (749) and fourth in RBIs (1,965). He hit 73 home runs in 2001 to set the single-season record and is just six away from breaking Hank Aaron’s all-time mark of 755.Right field: Bobby Bonds (1968-1974)
Read More
The traveling baseball carnival known as All-Star FanFest comes to San Francisco from July 6-10, bringing baseball history, interactive exhibits and an opportunity to meet some of the legends of the game in an affordable, fan-friendly supplement to the Midsummer Classic. Here are The Examiner’s 10 must-see attractions. FanFest Auction (first floor)
Read More
URL: http://www.sfexaminer.com/archive/20?page=547
