Ria Cortesio, professional baseball’s only active female umpire and sixth overall, is released after nine years of making calls in the minors. The 31 year-old crew chief, whose mask is in the Hall of Fame, worked the Futures Game and Home Run Derby at the 2006 All-Star Game played in Pittsburgh, and she was on the bases for an exhibition game between the Diamondbacks and Cubs during spring training.

ByTom

Ria Cortesio, professional baseball’s only active female umpire and sixth overall, is released after nine years of making calls in the minors. The 31 year-old crew chief, whose mask is in the Hall of Fame, worked the Futures Game and Home Run Derby at the 2006 All-Star Game played in Pittsburgh, and she was on the bases for an exhibition game between the Diamondbacks and Cubs during spring training.

Citing the veteran catcher’s ability to mentor younger players, the Astros re-sign Brad Ausmus to a one-year, $2 million incentive-laden deal. The 38 year-old Gold Glove backstop is expected to have a reduced role next season as rookie sensation J.R. Towles takes over behind the plate for Houston.

ByBaseball

Citing the veteran catcher’s ability to mentor younger players, the Astros re-sign Brad Ausmus to a one-year, $2 million incentive-laden deal. The 38 year-old Gold Glove backstop is expected to have a reduced role next season as rookie sensation J.R. Towles takes over behind the plate for Houston.

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, calling it a mutual decision, announces Grady Little (170-154, .525) has decided to leave the organization with a year left on his three-year contract to manage the club. The resignation fuels speculation of the club hiring former Yankee manager Joe Torre as the team’s new skipper.

ByBaseball

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, calling it a mutual decision, announces Grady Little (170-154, .525) has decided to leave the organization with a year left on his three-year contract to manage the club. The resignation fuels speculation of the club hiring former Yankee manager Joe Torre as the team’s new skipper.

The Yankees sign Joe Girardi to a three-year deal worth a reported $7.5 million to replace popular manager Joe Torre, who left earlier in the month, rejecting a 29% pay cut after guiding his club to their 12th postseason appearance in 12 years. The 43 year-old former catcher and broadcaster, the NL manager of the year with the 2006 Marlins, beat out coaches Don Mattingly and Tony Pena to become the team’s 32nd skipper.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Yankees sign Joe Girardi to a three-year deal worth a reported $7.5 million to replace popular manager Joe Torre, who left earlier in the month, rejecting a 29% pay cut after guiding his club to their 12th postseason appearance in 12 years. The 43 year-old former catcher and broadcaster, the NL manager of the year with the 2006 Marlins, beat out coaches Don Mattingly and Tony Pena to become the team’s 32nd skipper.

2007 – Rikkert Faneyte is hired as head coach of the Amsterdam Pirates, a year after their first playoff trip in 15 years. Faneyte has won two MVP awards as a player for the team, appearing both before and after his major league career. Faneyte was Amsterdam’s pitching coach previously. He will lead the team to the 2008 Holland Series title.

ByBaseball

2007 – Rikkert Faneyte is hired as head coach of the Amsterdam Pirates, a year after their first playoff trip in 15 years. Faneyte has won two MVP awards as a player for the team, appearing both before and after his major league career. Faneyte was Amsterdam’s pitching coach previously. He will lead the team to the 2008 Holland Series title.

The SK Wyverns win their first Korean Series, taking the final four games of the 2007 Korean Series after dropping two to the Doosan Bears. The MVP is veteran Jae-hyun Kim, who is coming off a .196 season, clearly the worst in a career in which he topped .300 six times.

ByBaseball

The SK Wyverns win their first Korean Series, taking the final four games of the 2007 Korean Series after dropping two to the Doosan Bears. The MVP is veteran Jae-hyun Kim, who is coming off a .196 season, clearly the worst in a career in which he topped .300 six times.

During the middle of Game 4 of the World Series between the Red Sox and the Rockies, si.com reports Alex Rodriguez has decided to opt out of his contract with the Yankees. The timing of the announcement and being a no-show at the game to receive the Hank Aaron Award, which honors the most outstanding offensive performer in each league, are severely criticized by fans and the media.

ByBaseball

During the middle of Game 4 of the World Series between the Red Sox and the Rockies, si.com reports Alex Rodriguez has decided to opt out of his contract with the Yankees. The timing of the announcement and being a no-show at the game to receive the Hank Aaron Award, which honors the most outstanding offensive performer in each league, are severely criticized by fans and the media.

Jon Lester
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The Red Sox win their second Championship of the decade, with their sweep of the Rockies in the 2007 World Series. Colorado had won 21 of 22 games entering the Series before falling flat. They lose Game 4 by a 4 – 3 score, thanks to 5 2/3 scoreless innings from Jon Lester. Mike Lowell is named World Series MVP.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Red Sox win their second Championship of the decade, with their sweep of the Rockies in the 2007 World Series. Colorado had won 21 of 22 games entering the Series before falling flat. They lose Game 4 by a 4 – 3 score, thanks to 5 2/3 scoreless innings from Jon Lester. Mike Lowell is named World Series MVP.

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2007 – Newly-retired Astro Craig Biggio receives the Roberto Clemente Award, recognizing humanitarian efforts, at Game Three of the World Series in Denver. Clemente, who died in a plane crash while assisting Nicaraguan earthquake victims in 1972, was one of the players Biggio passed on the 3,000-hit list. Biggio has worked for over a decade with the Sunshine Kids, a group that helps children with cancer. 

ByTom

2007 – Newly-retired Astro Craig Biggio receives the Roberto Clemente Award, recognizing humanitarian efforts, at Game Three of the World Series in Denver. Clemente, who died in a plane crash while assisting Nicaraguan earthquake victims in 1972, was one of the players Biggio passed on the 3,000-hit list. Biggio has worked for over a decade with the Sunshine Kids, a group that helps children with cancer. 

Daisuke Matsuzaka becomes the first Japanese starting pitcher in World Series history

ByThis Day in Baseball

In the first Fall Classic game ever played in Colorado, Daisuke Matsuzaka becomes the first Japanese starting pitcher in World Series history, allowing two runs on three hits in 5.1 innings, to get the win against the Rockies in the 10-5 Red Sox Game 3 victory. After paying $51.1 million for the rights to negotiate with the right-hander, Boston obtained ‘Dice-K’ from the Seibu Lions, signing the World Baseball Classic MVP to a 6-year deal worth $52 million.