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Max Carey

Archive for March, 2010

All-Time N.Y. Baseball Team (Part 1)

Mar 31

Posted by Jerry Milani in History, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Sports on TV | 1 Comment

MSG Network is selecting its All-Time New York Baseball Lineup with an online game and on-air panel show discussing their choices, one position per week, through May.

The panelists on the show are Fran Healy, Gary Carter, Sparky Lyle, Will Leitch and Steve Hirdt.

I just caught on to this today, so I missed out on voting on the catchers and first basemen.  The game has a complicated points system based on which players contestants select vs. those of the panel (you’re supposed to pick a top five).  The prizes include signed baseballs from legendary players, and Ford sponsors the contest.

They list the catchers, first basemen and second basemen that are considered, but not the other positions, I suppose to get users to have to come back each week, which I think most will forget to do.  So I’ll do those positions for now — and the ones the panel has picked so far.

CATCHER
Nominees: Mike Piazza, Gary Carter, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Jorge Posada, Bill Dickey, Thurman Munson, Al Lopez, Elston Howard and Roger Bresnahan.

My Picks: Berra, Piazza, Carter, Dickey, Campanella
Note: It’s tough to compare eras, and as important as defense is to the position, it’s difficult to rate.  Berra has all those World Series titles, Piazza is the best offensive catcher of all time and Carter and Dickey combined both.  I went with Berra and the championships.
MSG Picks: Berra, Campanella, Piazza, Posada, Carter

FIRST BASE
Nominees: Lou Gehrig, Bill Terry, Keith Hernandez, Don Mattingly, Johnny Mize, Hal Chase, Gil Hodges, George Kelly, Ed Kranepool, Tino Martinez
My Picks: Gehrig, Mattingly, Hernandez, Terry, Hodges
Note: Surprisingly not as strong a field as you would think for such an offensive position.  Gehrig is so far and away ahead of this field that first place has no debate — he’s probably the most accomplished 1B in MLB history.  The rest are kind of a toss-up, but the fact that Kranepool and Chase are even on this list speak to the strange lack of 1B depth in NY.
MSG Picks: Gehrig, Hernandez, Mattingly, Mize, Terry

Frankie Frisch

SECOND BASE
Nominees: Tony Lazzeri, Joe Gordon, Jackie Robinson, Bobby Richardson, Frankie Frisch, Willie Randolph, Billy Martin, Jeff Kent, Felix Millan, Billy Herman
My Picks:  Robinson, Frisch, Gordon, Lazzeri, Richardson
Note:  Not much debate here.  Robinson is pretty clearly ahead of this field, which is kind of light (Felix Millan?  Jeff Kent?).

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“Give Me Hamm on 5, Hold the Mayo”

Mar 25

Posted by Jerry Milani in Minnesota Twins, Movies, St. Louis Cardinals | 1 Comment

This post is an excuse to (a) remember Peter Graves, a great, great actor whose comedic work later in his career was even better because of all the serious roles he had played, and (b) use one of my favorite lines from Airplane in a cheesy, semi-connected headline.  Graves was born in Minneapolis, which provides another tenuous thread to make this post work.

The news, however, is that the Twins and the Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic have formed a partnership to improve health in the region.

The clinic will serve as sponsor of the exhibition series between the Twins and Cardinals, opening the new Target Field on April 2-3.  In addition, Mayo will conduct on-site health screenings and educational events throughout the season.

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Baseball Bracketing

Mar 21

Posted by Jerry Milani in Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, History, New York Yankees | No Comments

It seems this time of year there’s a “bracket” for everything, modeled after the NCAA basketball tournament.  Some work well (SI.com’s “Best in Swimsuit”), some not as well (The Big Lead’s “Culture Bracket”).

Two baseball “bracket” setups are coming this week, as Was Watching is preparing a “Greatest/Favorite” Yankees tournament.  I hope that site proprietor Steve Lombardi decides on one of the two, because they are quite different questions.  I look forward to participating.

The other is on Baseball Daily Digest, which is teaming with Strat-O-Matic for a comprehensive, bracket-type elimination tournament with the 64 best teams of all time.  I’d be interested to see if they seed by record, or a subjective perceived greatness, or weighing teams against their own competition, rather than against teams all time.  I don’t know if those generally accepted superteams like the ‘27, ‘61 and ‘98 Yankees, ‘75 Reds, ‘84 Tigers and late-80s A’s teams translate to Strat.  And will the deadball era Cubs, Pirates and Red Sox be included?  “Selection Show” coming soon.

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We Interrupt this Pledge Drive for Pirates vs. Yankees

Mar 14

Posted by Jerry Milani in Announcers/Broadcasting, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Sports on TV | No Comments

Most of the time if I can catch a Spring Training game on TV, it’ll be a YES Network broadcast with the Yankees announcers and from a Yankees perspective.  And though there are a few ticket-sales purchases in those broadcasts, they are not too intrusive.

I realize that the Yankees broadcast more than a dozen Spring games, so they can spread the sales pitches over a bunch of games.  And that the Pirates only have a couple of games sent back to Pittsburgh in March.  But today’s Yankees-Pirates game, shown on Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh and simulcasted on MLB Network, seemed to spend more time pitching Pirates season ticket plans than following the action.

Now, I hope that the Pirates sold thousands of tickets today; for sure, there is plenty of inventory.  Prices were extremely reasonable (some plans had tickets priced in the $7 and $8 range, good luck finding anything like that in points East like New York, Boston or Philadelphia.  There were even some extra goodies for fans buying certain packages — Bill Mazeroski signed baseballs and Roberto Clemente jerseys.

Having a team rep or two in the booth for a couple of innings at the beginning of the game was fine, but did we really need to go Live! from PNC Park, talking to random ticket office personnel as they fielded calls, PBS style?

For sure we are spoiled in New York today.  I remember in the late 70’s, even into the 80’s, that many regular season games weren’t televised.  Spring games were a rare treat, usually a game against the Mets and one or two others, if that.  Last week, one of the XM Home Plate announcers was talking about how until recently most teams would broadcast just one or two Spring games back home and they would make sure to play all the starters in those so as to look best for potential ticket buyers.

The Pirates looked great today, shutting down what was some of the Yankees regular lineup, then scoring a bunch of runs off Jonathan Albaladejo and former Angel Dustin Moseley.  Hopefully Bucs fans weren’t turned off enough by the constant sales pitch to stick around and see it.

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Stylin’ in New Tommy Bahama MLB Team Shirts

Mar 8

Posted by Jerry Milani in Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Logos, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies | 5 Comments

It might be time for me to update my Yankees wardrobe — for games I usually go with the old-time 1903-era New York Highlanders cap and a home or away jersey over a Yanks or plain tee, at least during the warmer months.  While I don’t usually stray from the traditional (no multi-colored caps or inane “Got Rings?” t-shirts), these new offerings from Tommy Bahama combine the classic Yankees design with an updated look.

According to the Tommy Bahama news item, they will only be offering eight teams — the Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, Mariners, Angels, Dodgers, Phillies and Cardinals. I’m not sure how the M’s got in there over, say, the Mets, though I suspect the Ichiro effect on the Asian market might have something to do with it.

In any case, the company says that the Yankees and Red Sox shirts will be rolled out first, in time for their season opener on April 4.

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Flaherty to be Honored as Irish-American Sports Good Guy

Mar 2

Posted by Jerry Milani in Announcers/Broadcasting, Awards, New York Yankees | 3 Comments

Former Yankee, current YES Network broadcaster and all-around good guy John Flaherty will be honored on Monday, March 15, with the inaugural Halligan-McGuire Irish American Sports Good Guy Award.  Former N.Y. Ranger Dave Maloney is also receiving the award, named for Dick McGuire, the legendary St. John’s and New York Knicks star and NBA Hall of Famer, and John Halligan, the Rangers and NHL public relations executive, historian and author.

The luncheon benefits Fordham University, alma mater of Halligan and yours truly, among others.

The details from our friends at YES Network and Gallagher’s:

Former Yankee Catcher, YES Network Analyst and New York City Native John Flaherty Heads Honorees at Halligan-McGuire Irish American Sports Good Guy Awards Luncheon on Monday, March 15, at Gallagher’s Steak House to Benefit Fordham University Featuring Irish Culinary Delights

***Remembering Two Irish-American Sports Legends In N.Y., Dick McGuire And John Halligan***

New York, March 2 — Two beloved New York sports figures of Irish American heritage who recently passed away will be remembered at a St. Patrick’s week benefit luncheon. On Monday afternoon, March 15, at 12:00 noon at Gallagher’s Steak House in  New York City, Dick McGuire, the legendary St. John’s and New York Knicks star and NBA Hall of Famer, and John Halligan, the Rangers and NHL public relations executive, historian and author, will be honored with the creation of the “Halligan-McGuire Irish American Sports Good Guy Awards.”  John Flaherty, former Yankee and YES Network analyst; Janet Halligan,   John’s loving wife of 41 years; Teri McGuire, Dick’s loving wife of 54 years; and Dave Maloney, the former Ranger and 1050 ESPN Radio Rangers analyst, will be the inaugural honorees at the luncheon to benefit Fordham University.

Tickets are priced at $75, and include a three course luncheon menu and a donation. For information and tickets call Cirillo World at 212-972-5337 or email johnnycigarpr@aol.com. Gallagher’s Steak House is located at 228 West  52nd Street (between Broadway and Eighth Avenue) in New York City (212.245.5336).

New York City native Flaherty enters his sixth season on the YES Network broadcast lineup as a field reporter, studio analyst and game analyst for Yankees telecasts. Though Flaherty was drafted by Boston in 1988, he is perhaps best known to Yankees fans for his 2004 pinch-hit walk-off single that ended a 13-inning regular season game against his former team, the Red Sox.  In the 2005 season, he became Yankees ace Randy Johnson’s catcher, in addition to backing up Jorge Posada. Flaherty played in over 1,000 games during 14 Major League seasons.

Born in the Bronx, a product of the Rockaways and a long time Dix Hills, Long Island resident, McGuire was a part of the Knicks organization for 53 seasons as a player, coach and scout. The St. John’s University star was one of the most selfless players in NBA history. The deft-passing McGuire was a five-time all star and led the Knicks to three straight NBA Finals in the fifties. His number 15 was retired to the Madison Square Garden rafters in 1992, and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame the following year. A native of Bergenfield, NJ, and a longtime resident of Franklin Lakes, Halligan began his career in the Rangers publicity office in 1963, upon graduation from Fordham University. Over the next 20 years his role expanded to include vice president of communications and business manager.  Halligan left the Rangers for a public relations position with the NHL in 1983, before returning to the Rangers in 1986. He went back to the NHL in 1990 before retiring in 2006. He wrote several books, including “100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters” and “Game of My Life: New York Rangers.”

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