Baseball on PBS

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This past Sunday I watched a documentary on PBS titled, “Babe Ruth at Sing Sing.” The documentary told the story of a 1929 exhibition game between the New York Yankees – and, of course, Babe Ruth – and a team of inmates at Sing Sing prison. The documentary also discusses ideas of imprisonment and reform of the time.

According to WTVP of Peoria, IL, there are other documentaries on PBS that discuss the relationship between sport, society, and community. However, you’ll need to check local schedules to see if they will be available in your area (I haven’t found the other two in my area, yet.) I’ve posted those trailers below. Also, don’t forget that you can stream Ken Burns’ Baseball documentary for free on PBS.

~ baseballrebecca

Best of the Week: 7/5/2930 – 7/11/2020

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This wasn’t posted this past week, but I found it this week (and its in keeping with my theme of the last two days), so it still counts as the Best of the Week:

~ baseballrebecca

Stat-urday, 7/11/2020

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Bo Jackson Library READ Poster Hemingway Old Man & Sea Book 1989 ...

Bo Jackson for American Library Association’s “Read” campaign, ca. 1989.

Today marks the 30th anniversary of that time Bo Jackson ran up the outfield wall in Memorial Stadium to catch a ball (check out the video I posted yesterday). In honor of that feat, below here are Jackson’s stats from his time in MLB and MiLB.

Happy Stat-urday!

~ baseballrebecca

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS
1986 23 KCR AL MLB KCR 25 91 82 9 17 2 1 2 9 0.207 0.286 0.329 0.615
1986 23 Memphis SOUL AA KCR 53 212 184 30 51 9 3 7 25 0.277 0.368 0.473 0.841
1987 24 KCR AL MLB KCR 116 434 396 46 93 17 2 22 53 0.235 0.296 0.455 0.750
1988 25 KCR AL MLB KCR 124 468 439 63 108 16 4 25 68 0.246 0.287 0.472 0.758
1989 26 KCR AL MLB KCR 135 561 515 86 132 15 6 32 105 0.256 0.310 0.495 0.805
1990 27 KCR AL MLB KCR 111 456 405 74 110 16 1 28 78 0.272 0.342 0.523 0.866
1991 28 2 Teams 2 Lgs AA-A+ CHW 6 24 19 3 6 0 0 0 2 0.316 0.417 0.316 0.732
1991 28 CHW AL MLB CHW 23 84 71 8 16 4 0 3 14 0.225 0.333 0.408 0.742
1991 28 Birmingham SOUL AA CHW 4 17 13 2 4 0 0 0 0 0.308 0.471 0.308 0.778
1991 28 Sarasota FLOR A+ CHW 2 7 6 1 2 0 0 0 2 0.333 0.286 0.333 0.619
1993 30 CHW AL MLB CHW 85 308 284 32 66 9 0 16 45 0.232 0.289 0.433 0.722
1994 31 CAL AL MLB CAL 75 224 201 23 56 7 0 13 43 0.279 0.344 0.507 0.851
MLB (8 seasons) MLB 694 2626 2393 341 598 86 14 141 415 0.250 0.309 0.474 0.784
Minors (2 seasons) Minors 59 236 203 33 57 9 3 7 27 0.281 0.373 0.458 0.831
All Levels (8 Seasons) 753 2862 2596 374 655 95 17 148 442 0.252 0.315 0.473 0.788
AA (2 seasons) Minors 57 229 197 32 55 9 3 7 25 0.279 0.376 0.462 0.837
A+ (1 season) Minors 2 7 6 1 2 0 0 0 2 0.333 0.286 0.333 0.619

Gear for the Season that Isn’t

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As the Eugene Emeralds said, “2020 sucks.” It sucks for Minor League Baseball and its fans. Nonetheless, teams are finding ways to entertain us. Initiatives like the ones below might not keep them afloat, but hopefully we can help them while they help us:

And if you hurry, you can still order your Baysox 2020 Undefeated shirt – but they’re only accepting orders through tomorrow (July 9):

Meanwhile, the Pulaski Yankees are selling the jerseys originally intended for their 2020 Agriculture Night:

Several teams are also selling face masks on the MILB Store website.

Perhaps you’re more in to experiences over stuff. Then – if you’re in the El Paso area – you just might want to have Chico the Chihuahua join-in on a birthday/graduation/whatever parade:

If you run across any other cool shutdown-related (or otherwise) MiLB merch, let me know!

~ baseballrebecca

So There’s A Schedule – Now What?

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File:076B8019 Freddie Freeman.jpg
Freddie Freeman with the Atlanta Braves in 2013. Photo by Bruce Tuten via Wikipedia

First Adam Jones moved to Japan. Then Spring Training was canceled and the MLB season put on hold. Then they cancelled the Minor League season. And now Nick Markakis has opted out. So, even though MLB finally announced the 2020 schedule, I have to admit – I’m not all that excited.

This is what has happened in just the past few days:

  • On Thursday MLB and MLBPA announced that the initial round of COVID-19 tests resulted in 38 positive tests – 31 players and 7 staff members. Not all players who tested positive were identified; in fact, the Orioles decided that they won’t publicize whether or not there are positive test results.
  • There have been problems with teams getting testing results in a timely manner and several teams had to cancel workouts yesterday
  • Sean Doolittle and Mike Trout, among other players, have doubts about the season.
  • Nick Markakis, David Price, and others have opted out of the season.
  • Freddie Freeman tested positive for the virus and experienced severe symptoms despite following precautions.

Meanwhile, in Japan they’re getting ready to let fans back into the stadiums. Maybe someone should just find a way to broadcast those games in the U.S. – preferably during prime time.

~ baseballrebecca

Best of the Week, 6/28/2020 – 7/4/2020

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The “Tip Your Cap 2020” campaign is gaining momentum with numerous politicians, athletes, actors, and other famous people tipping their caps to honor the Negro Leagues 100th Anniversary. As Bill Clinton said, “the Negro Leagues made baseball better and America better.”

~ baseballrebecca