Week 16

Hey all,

As we bid farewell to July 2102, we also bid farewell to high scores for the week.  Not a lot of big scores posted this week in the Longball League.

Roster Moves

7/23/2012
Sierra Vista Coachwhips
Dropped J. Bautista (TOR), Added J. Kubel (ARI)


This Week's Three Trivial Things

1. Here's one I missed about a week or so ago. Back on July 21st, the Giants beat the Phillies, 6-5.  What was unusual about the game is that both starting pitchers homered off each other in the same inning. In the top of the third, San Francisco hurler Matt Cain deposited a Cole Hamels pitch into the left field seats.  In the bottom of the inning Hamels returned the favor by slapping a Cain offereing into the right field stands at Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia.

2. On September 7, 1945 first baseman Joe Kuhel of the Washington Senators hit an inside the park home run off pitcher Bob Muncrief of the St. Louis Browns. Kuhel's mad dash homer was the only one the Senators hit at home for the entire season. The Senators were a pretty punchless bunch in '45.  As a team they only hit 27 homers total for the year.  The amazing thing is that despite their lack of power, the boys form D.C. almost won the pennant.  They finished second, just 1 1/2 games behind the Detroit Tigers. These stats illustrate just how low the talent level dropped in baseball during World War II.

3. So, just how bad has the Vernon Wells trade been for the Angels? Mike Napoli was one of the players given up by the Angels for Wells in the deal back before the 2011 season. Napoli has 11 multi-hit games in Anaheim as a member of the Texas Rangers.  Vernon Wells only has 9 multi-hit games in Anaheim as an Angel.    

Baseball Card of the Week

This week's honor goes to Joe Kuhel for that inside the park homer back in 1945. Here's a look at Kuhel's from the 1936 Diamond Kings  set. He's pictured on card #78 in this classic set. I went back to 1936 for this card of Kuhel, because there were no really appealing card sets issued from 1941-45.

Until next week folks, remember that Vernon Wells is 0 for 7 since being reactivated off the disabled list for the Angels.

-The Commissioner

Week 15

Hey all,

Might as well call it sweeps weekend in MLB as there were nine series sweeps over the weekend. It was just another exciting weekend in majors and in turn, the Longball League.  Here's the first column since the All-Star break as we head into the "dog days" of summer.

Roster Moves
7/13/12
Tax Dodgers: Dropped G. Stanton (MIA) and ReAdded M. Kemp (LAD)

7/18/12
San Pedro Sea Monkeys: Dropped J. Bautista (TOR) and Added M. Trumbo (LAA)
Invisible Hands: Dropped J. Bautista (TOR) and Added A. McCutchen (PIT)

This week's Three Trivial Things

1. On this past Saturday night the St. Louis Cardinals were locked in a scoreless tie with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.  The Redbirds then broke the game wide open by erupting for 12 runs in the top of the seventh inning.  The Cards won the game, 12-0.  Those 12 runs were not the most runs scored in a single inning.  The modern record is held by the Boston Red Sox who crossed the plate 17 times in the bottomt of the seventh inning v. the Detroit Tigers on June 18, 1953.  The Red Sox sent 25 batters to the plate, scoring 17 runs on 14 hits.  They left the bases loaded when 3B George Kell flied out to LF Don Lund to end the inning.  Oh, the Red Sox did win the game, 23-3. The all-time record belongs to the Chicago White Stockings of National League.  They scored 18 runs in seventh inning v. the Detroit Wolverines on September 6, 1883.

2. This past weekend in Oakland, the A's pulled off a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees.  It was the A's first home four-game sweep of the Bronx Bombers since 1913. Those 1913 A's, led by manager Connie Mack won the AL pennant that year with a 96-57 record.  They would go on to defeat John McGraw's New York Giants four games to one in the World Series.

3. Not so trivial, but baseball's Hall of fame induction ceremonies are always cool to watch.  However, I can't think of how controversial a year 2013 will be for those in Cooperstown.  Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens will both be on the ballot for the first time. Now, the debate over the "steroid era" and Cooperstown eligibility will be on center stage.

Baseball Card of the Week

This week's honoree is Coco Crisp of the Oaklnad A's.  His single off pitcher Cody Eppley in the bottom of the 12th brought in the winning run and a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees.  Here's a look at Coco's 2012 Topps Card #374.

Until next time folks, remember that if you're looking to add a player to your roster for a big run at the postseason at trade deadline, the price will be very high.

-The Commissioner

All Star Break 2012 (WEEK 13 1/2)

Hey All,

How about that exciting All-Star game?  Yeah, the game that was over after Detroit's Justin Verlander sunk the AL's chances with one bad inning.  Onto this week's info...

Roster Moves

7/5/12
Rubber Band Men: Dropped C.C. Sabathia (NYY) and picked up S. Starsburg (WAS).

This week's Three Trivial Things- All Star Edition

1. Last night's 8-0 win by the National League in the All-Star Game was not the largest margin of history in the history of the midsummer classic.  In the 1946 contest, the AL whipped the NL, 12-0.  Bob Feller, Hal Newhouser, and Jack Kramer (of the St. Louis Browns), starred on the hill for the AL, while Ted Williams was the big hitter on the day.  Ted went 4 for 4 with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs to lead the Junior Circuit to victory.

2. Everyone looks forward to the All Star Game being played in July, but the game has been played in August twice. Back in the strike season of 1981, the game was played on August 9th at Cleveland Stadium where Mike Schmidt's eighth inning, two-run blast off Rollie Fingers gave the NL a 5-4 win.  The other game took place on August 3, 1959 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It was the second All-Star Game played that year.  From 1959-62 there were two All-Star Games a year, (why? I don't know). Anyway. the AL won, 5-3.  Here's the two lineups form the game:

AL                                  NL
Pete Runnels 1B             Johnny Temple 2B
Nellie Fox 2B                 Ken Boyer 3B
Ted Williams RF            Hank Aaron RF
Yogi Berra C                  Willie Mays CF
Mickey Mantle CF         Ernie Banks SS
Roger Maris RF             Stan Musial 1B
Frank Malzone 3B         Wally Moon LF          
Luis Aparicio SS            Del Crandall C
Jerry Walker P                Don Drysdale P


3. Everyone likes seeing the players in their individual team uniforms in the All-Star Game.  However, this wasn't always the case for the National League.  In the first midsummer classic back in 1933, the National League wore special uniforms with "National League" stitched across the jerseys and caps that read "NL." I understand that the uniforms were road grey with with dark blue trim, lettering, stirrups, and caps.  Here's a picture of Chuck Klein of the NL checking out bats with AL sluggers, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Jimmie Foxx.

Baseball Card of the Week

He's the guy whose triple basically put the All Star Game out of reach for the American League.  yup, it's the Kung Fu Panda, Pablo Sandoval.  Here's a look a the Panda's 2012 Topps Heritage issue.

Now, a little housekeeping.  With only a short schedule this week in the bigs, the next Longball League report won't be until July 23rd.  Hey, by that time, NFL teams will be back in camp!  Woo Hoo!

Until next time folks, remember you can't give up five runs early and expect to win the midsummer classic.

-The Commissioner

Week 12

Hey All,

I hope everyone has had great week. Now, did everyone observe Canada Day on 7/1?  I only knew it was Canada Day because the Angels were in Toronto over the weekend.

Roster Moves
None

This Week's Three Trivial Things

I was just given the 2012 Angels information guide and would like to share these truly trivial things with you.

1. The most runs ever scored in a game by the Angels was 24.  On August 25, 1979 the Angels whipped the Blue Jays, 24-2.

2. In 1971, Sandy Alomar Sr. set the Angel record for most at-bats in a season with 689.

3. In 2002, Garret Anderson set the Angels record for most extra-base hits in a season with 88.  I can still remember his biggest postseason hit.  It was the double off Livan Hernandez in game 7 of the 2002 World Series.  It was the hit that brought a ring to Anaheim.

Baseball Card of the Week

With the All-Star game approaching I thought I'd honor Angels rookie, Mike Trout.  The "little fish" as he's known made the All-Star team at the ripe old age of 20.  However, he will not be the youngest player ever to play in the game.  That player was Dwight Gooden. Dr K. was just 19 years and 7 months old when he worked two scoreless innings in the 1984 midsummer classic. Now, back to Trout.  Since being brought up to the bigs by the Halos, he has gone on to lead the AL in hitting and stolen bases, while being a great leadoff man who is the spark plug in the Halos lineup.  Here's a look at Mike's 2012 Topps Heritage card (#207).

Until next week folks, remember that a new press guide for The Commissioner is like a new toy. A big thanks goes to the my favorite member of the working media who gave me such a cool gift.

-The Commissioner