When he retired, Luis Aparicio was considered the best defensive shortstop ever. At that time, he had played the most games, had the most assists and double plays, and had the best (they were not invented yet) best Dwar and zone range of any shortstop in MLB history. Since retiring, he has fallen…
Cal Ripken Jr. discusses coming into the Orioles’ organization and choosing to be an everyday player instead of a pitcher. On September 6, 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. took measure of his place in baseball history, and said, “I know that if Lou Gehrig is looking down on tonight’s activities, he isn’t concerned about someone playing…
Ranking the Shortstops The 1990’s and early 2000’s were the time of the shortstops. No longer were they just slick fielders. They became middle of the order hitters and MVP’s, Alex Rodriquez, Derek Jeter,Nomar Garciaparra, Miguel Tejeda, and Barry Larkin lead the way. ♦ Most heroic, Travis ⇒ ♦ Biggest overachiever, Eckstein ⇒ ♦ Most disappointing career, Templeton…
Cal Ripken Jr. Positions: Shortstop and Third BasemanBats: Right • Throws: Right6-4, 200lb (193cm, 90kg)Born: August 24, 1960 in Havre de Grace, MDDraft: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2nd round of the 1978 MLB June Amateur Draft from Aberdeen HS (Aberdeen, MD).High School: Aberdeen HS (Aberdeen, MD)Debut: August 10, 1981 ( 12,078th in MLB history)vs. KCR 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SBLast Game:…
Sports Illustrated names Derek Jeter as its Sportsman of the Year, making the ‘Captain’ the first Yankee honored by the magazine. The other baseball recipients to win the award, given annually since SI’s inception in 1954, include Johnny Podres (Dodgers – 1955), Stan Musial (Cardinals – 1957), Sandy Koufax (Dodgers – 1965), Tom Seaver (Mets – 1969), Pete Rose (Reds – 1975), Orel Hershiser (Dodgers – 1988), Cal Ripken Jr. (Orioles – 1995), Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa (Cardinals, Cubs – 1998), Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling (Diamondbacks – 2001), and the entire Red Sox team (2004).
Joining Cal Ripken Jr. (Orioles – 1983) and Ryan Howard (Phillies – 2006), Dustin Pedroia (.326, 17, 83) becomes the third player in major league history to win the Most Valuable Player award a season after being selected as the Rookie of the Year. The scrappy Gold Glove second baseman, the tenth Red Sox player to earn the American League honor, received 16 of the 28 first-place votes to easily outdistance heavy-hitting Twins first baseman Justin Morneau (.300, 23, 129).
The Hall of Fame induction of Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn takes in front of a record crowd of an estimated 75,000 fans and an unprecedented number of 53 Hall of Famers. Joining the ballplayers on the dais are Denny Matthews, the longtime radio voice of the Royals, the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award given to outstanding broadcasters, and Rick Hummel, beat writer for the Post-Dispatch, the J.G. Taylor Spink Award honoree for his outstanding coverage of the Cardinals.
Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. are inducted into the Hall of Fame.
On January 9, 2007, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. are elected to the Hall of Fame with the seventh and third highest voting percentages in history, respectively. Ripken is named on 537 of 545 ballots, and Gwynn receives 532 votes.
Major League Season Recap 2001 World Series – Arizona Diamondbacks NL over New York Yankees AL 4 games to 3 World Series MVP – Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling Babe Ruth Award – Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling Championship Series ALCS New York Yankees over Seattle Mariners 4 games to 1 ALCS MVP – Andy Pettitte NLCS Arizona Diamondbacks over Atlanta Braves…