George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees since 1973, passes away from a heart attack at his home in Tampa, FL. Steinbrenner restored the Yankees to greatness during his ownership, spent lavishly on free agents, fired managers and front office personnel at a sometimes dizzying pace, but saw the team win seven World Series titles. He had relinquished the team’s operations to his son Hal Steinbrenner as his health deteriorated badly in 2008.

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George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees since 1973, passes away from a heart attack at his home in Tampa, FL. Steinbrenner restored the Yankees to greatness during his ownership, spent lavishly on free agents, fired managers and front office personnel at a sometimes dizzying pace, but saw the team win seven World Series titles. He had relinquished the team’s operations to his son Hal Steinbrenner as his health deteriorated badly in 2008.

Veteran slugger David Ortiz wins the All-Star Game’s Home Run Derby with a dazzling performance, lining ball after ball into the right field stands at Angel Stadium, for a total of 32 long balls – 11 of them in the final round, where he defeats fellow Dominican Hanley Ramirez. He dedicates his performance to his friend, pitcher Jose Lima, who passed away suddenly a few weeks earlier.

ByBaseball

Veteran slugger David Ortiz wins the All-Star Game’s Home Run Derby with a dazzling performance, lining ball after ball into the right field stands at Angel Stadium, for a total of 32 long balls – 11 of them in the final round, where he defeats fellow Dominican Hanley Ramirez. He dedicates his performance to his friend, pitcher Jose Lima, who passed away suddenly a few weeks earlier.

After firing Sean Berry as the club’s hitting coach, the struggling Astros name Jeff Bagwell to fill the position for the remainder of the season. The former All-Star first baseman, who retired with a lifetime .297 batting average, is the all-time team leader with 449 home runs and 1,529 RBIs.

ByTom

After firing Sean Berry as the club’s hitting coach, the struggling Astros name Jeff Bagwell to fill the position for the remainder of the season. The former All-Star first baseman, who retired with a lifetime .297 batting average, is the all-time team leader with 449 home runs and 1,529 RBIs.

Philadelphia wins 1 – 0 over the Reds to complete a four-game sweep. It is the first time since 1913 that the Phils have recorded consecutive 1 – 0 victories. Cole Hamels pitches scoreless ball into the 8th inning and relievers J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge record the last four outs of the game. Jimmy Rollins becomes the first National Leaguer since Roger Maris in 1968 to drive in the only run in consecutive 1 – 0 wins.

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Philadelphia wins 1 – 0 over the Reds to complete a four-game sweep. It is the first time since 1913 that the Phils have recorded consecutive 1 – 0 victories. Cole Hamels pitches scoreless ball into the 8th inning and relievers J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge record the last four outs of the game. Jimmy Rollins becomes the first National Leaguer since Roger Maris in 1968 to drive in the only run in consecutive 1 – 0 wins.

The White Sox take advantage of five home runs – two by Carlos Quentin, including a grand slam, and one each by Alex Rios, Andruw Jones and Dayan Viciedo – to beat the Royals, 15 – 5. It’s the Sox’s 8th straight win and puts them in first place in the AL Central at the All-Star break, capping a remarkable turnaround that has seen the Pale Hose win 25 of its last 30 games after a slow start to the season.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The White Sox take advantage of five home runs – two by Carlos Quentin, including a grand slam, and one each by Alex Rios, Andruw Jones and Dayan Viciedo – to beat the Royals, 15 – 5. It’s the Sox’s 8th straight win and puts them in first place in the AL Central at the All-Star break, capping a remarkable turnaround that has seen the Pale Hose win 25 of its last 30 games after a slow start to the season.

18-year-old Mike Trout, the youngest player in the game, hits a double and single and fellow Angels prospect Hank Conger hits a three-run homer to lead the United States to a 9 – 1 victory over the World team at the 2010 Futures Game in Anaheim. Eric Hosmer collects four hits for the winners, while Desmond Jennings scores three runs, but it is Conger who receives the Larry Doby Award as MVP of the game.

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18-year-old Mike Trout, the youngest player in the game, hits a double and single and fellow Angels prospect Hank Conger hits a three-run homer to lead the United States to a 9 – 1 victory over the World team at the 2010 Futures Game in Anaheim. Eric Hosmer collects four hits for the winners, while Desmond Jennings scores three runs, but it is Conger who receives the Larry Doby Award as MVP of the game.

In his third big league start and matched up against the Phillies’ Roy Halladay, rookie Travis Wood of the Reds takes a perfect game into the 9th inning but fails to get even a win. The Phillies win the game, 1 – 0, in the 11th, on Carlos Ruiz’s double and Jimmy Rollins’ single. Ruiz breaks up the perfect game bid with a single in the 9th, and Wood is lifted for a pinch-hitter in the 10th after pitching 9 scoreless innings. The Reds fail to score in spite of loading the bases that inning to set up the Phillies’ winning drive an inning later.

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In his third big league start and matched up against the Phillies’ Roy Halladay, rookie Travis Wood of the Reds takes a perfect game into the 9th inning but fails to get even a win. The Phillies win the game, 1 – 0, in the 11th, on Carlos Ruiz’s double and Jimmy Rollins’ single. Ruiz breaks up the perfect game bid with a single in the 9th, and Wood is lifted for a pinch-hitter in the 10th after pitching 9 scoreless innings. The Reds fail to score in spite of loading the bases that inning to set up the Phillies’ winning drive an inning later.

Cliff Lee makes his first start for the Texas Rangers, hours after being acquired in a trade with Seattle for a bevy of prospects, but he is rocked for 3 homers and 6 runs in a 6 – 1 loss to the Orioles. He still manages to pitch a complete game, but loses to Chris Tillman.

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Cliff Lee makes his first start for the Texas Rangers, hours after being acquired in a trade with Seattle for a bevy of prospects, but he is rocked for 3 homers and 6 runs in a 6 – 1 loss to the Orioles. He still manages to pitch a complete game, but loses to Chris Tillman.

A day before Spain wins the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Spanish Division Honor baseball season ends. CB Sant Boi beats FC Barcelona, 5 – 1, for their second title. Junior Guerra fans 13 and goes the distance to improve to 11-1, while Daniel Sanchez doubles twice, scores and drives in a run.

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A day before Spain wins the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Spanish Division Honor baseball season ends. CB Sant Boi beats FC Barcelona, 5 – 1, for their second title. Junior Guerra fans 13 and goes the distance to improve to 11-1, while Daniel Sanchez doubles twice, scores and drives in a run.

The Seattle Mariners trade ace hurler Cliff Lee, Mark Lowe and $2.25 million to the Texas Rangers for prospects Justin Smoak, Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke and Matthew Lawson. Seattle goes for a youth movement after acquiring Lee for prospects last winter, while Texas, in first place in the AL West, pushes for a playoff run.

ByBaseball

The Seattle Mariners trade ace hurler Cliff Lee, Mark Lowe and $2.25 million to the Texas Rangers for prospects Justin Smoak, Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke and Matthew Lawson. Seattle goes for a youth movement after acquiring Lee for prospects last winter, while Texas, in first place in the AL West, pushes for a playoff run.