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
