Jacoby Ellsbury

Player: Jacoby Ellsbury
Team: Yankees
Age: 30
Relationship Status: Married

Jacoby grew up in Oregon. He attended Oregon State University where he made the first-team All-American and Pac-10 Conference Co-Player of the year. In 2005 he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox.

2007 was a big year for Ellsbury. He went to Florida with the Red Sox for Spring Training, and on June 30 he was called up and made his MLB debut. Jacoby was named MLB’s American League Rookie of the Month for September. The Red Sox made the World Series, and in game 3 Jacoby became the first rookie to hit two doubles in the same inning.

In 2008 and 2009 Jacoby led the American League in stolen bases for the second consecutive year in 2009. In 2009 he also led the league in triples with 10. Ellsbury was named Defensive Player of the Year in MLB.com’s annual This Year in Baseball Awards.

On September 25, 2011 Jacoby became the first member of the Boston Red Sox to join the 30–30 club (when a player earns 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season).

That same year he won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, a Silver Slugger and was voted the American League Comeback Player of the Year.

In 2013 the Red Sox won the World Series, and Ellsbury’s contract was officially up. On Dec 7, 2013 Ellsbury was officially signed with the Yankees.

Tomorrow Ellsbury will wear No. 22 and take the field with the Yankees, and we will all be waiting to see how those pinstripes fit!

“Opening day. All you have to do is say the words and you feel the shutters thrown wide, the room air out, the light pour in. In baseball, no other day is so pure with possibility. No scores yet, no losses, no blame or disappointment. No hangover, at least until the game’s over.”

August 26, 1939- a day we should all be thankful for. This was the first time we were able to watch the boys of baseball without having to look good ourselves.

The first baseball game to be broadcast on television was between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Unfortunately for the women of the time, HD wasn’t even an idea. There were only two camera angels on the field: one looking down the third base line and the other above home plate.

Luckily, the baseball broadcast was a hit, and now we can enjoy the boys of baseball in the comfort of our sweatpants and messy buns.

 

Ian Kinsler

Player: Ian Kinsler
Team: Tigers
Age: 31
Relationship Status: Married

 

 

Ian grew up playing baseball in Arizona. He helped Canyon del Oro High School win multiple state titles, which helped him steal the attention of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was drafted in the 29^th round, but decided to play at Central Arizona College. After one season Kinsler transferred to Arizona State, before making a final transfer to the University of Missouri.

 

In 2003 the Texas Rangers drafted Ian in the 17^th round. After bouncing around the minors a few seasons, Kinsler went to Spring Training in 2006. He made his major league debut April 3, 2006, and was named Rookie of the Year.

 

In 2008 Ian was chosen for the All Star game. On June 16, 2009 Kinsler broke the club record for career leadoff homers earning his ninth. Throughout the next few seasons he continued to break records including the most stolen career bases.

 

Ian was named for the 2010 and 2012 All Star games, before he was traded in 2013 to the Detroit Tigers.

 

1) This weekend the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers traveled to Australia to play the first game of the 2014 season.  The Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks 3-1 in game 1, and 7-5 in game 2.

 

2)  Jurickson Profar, Rangers second baseman, suffered a muscle tear in his right shoulder. He does not need surgery, but will have to sit out somewhere between 10 and 12 weeks.

 

3)  Though it hasn’t been announced officially, rumor has it David Ortiz will agree to a one-year $16 million extension with the Red Sox. David has proven his worth with the Red Sox over the last ten seasons, even winning the Most Valuable Player in the 2013 World Series.

The Knickerbocker (a nickname for New Yorker) Baseball Club of New York was the very first organized baseball team.  In 1845 the club created a list of twenty rules, and started playing in Hoboken, New Jersey. 

The team was made up not of athletes, but lawyers, shop-owners, and ordinary men willing to cross the Hudson river to practice.  On June 19, 1846 the first official baseball game took place at Elysian Fields in Hoboken.  The Knickerbockers lost to the New York Nine 23-1, with Alexander Cartwright as the umpire. 

In 1849 the Knickerbockers start to wear uniforms for the first time. 
In 1856 Baseball is named the national pastime, and by 1857 the National Association of Base Ball Players is formed as the first league with sixteen teams total.

In 1861 soldiers of the Civil War played the baseball and it spread throughout the country.

Bryce Harper

 

Player: Bryce Harper
Team: Nationals
Age: 21
Relationship Status: In a relationship

Bryce Harper, born on October 16, 1992 has accomplished quite a lot in the most recent of his 21 years.

Harper grew up in Las Vegas.  After playing baseball in high school he played at the College of Southern Nevada before being drafted to the Washington Nationals in 2012.

He made his MLB debut on April 28, 2012, and that May stole home plate – a play that hasn’t been done by a teenager since 1964.  Harper was chosen for the 2012 All-Star Game becoming the youngest position player to ever be selected for the All- Star game.  As you may have guessed, Bryce Harper was awarded the 2012 rookie of the year.

Since 2012 Harper has transformed from a teenager to a man.  At 6’2, 230 pounds Harper is in great shape for the 2014 season- and we can’t wait to watch.

 

1) Patrick Corbin was excited to pitch the first ball at the MLB season opener in Australia, but now Wade Miley will take his place.  Today the Diamondbacks announced Corbin suffered damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.

“This is kind of all new to me, so it’s disappointing,” said Corbin

 

2) Michael Bourn, Indians outfielder, had to leave the game early today in the middle of the second inning.   His left hamstring was tight and will be re-evaluated tomorrow.

 

3) Met’s Jon Niese had to leave today’s game because of pain in his left elbow. Niese was sent back to New York, and will receive an MRI exam on Monday morning.  This will be his second hospital visit in three weeks.  “It’s the Spring Training from hell,” Niese said. “I’ve never experienced anything like this, and it’s just frustrating.”

Biggest scandal in baseball

 

 

The Black Sox Scandal of 1919 wasn’t the first or the last, but it very may well be the most notorious.

Hugh Fullerton, a Chicago sportswriter, was the first to report the Black Sox scandal of 1919.  The press attacked Fullerton for his accusation.  The editor of Baseball Magazine wrote, “If a man really knows so little about baseball that he believes the game is or can be fixed, he should keep his mouth shut when in the presence of intelligent people.”  As it turns out, Fullerton was right. 

Fullerton uncovered the scandal after hearing rumors of a possible fix.  He partnered with New York Giants pitcher, Christy Matthewson to watch for suspicious plays in the World Series.  After finding seven suspicious plays throughout the series, Fullerton declared the fix.

Through investigations it was found that eight players from the Chicago White Sox ( pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Claude (Lefty) Williams, outfielders Joe Jackson and Happy Felsch, first baseman Chick Gandil, shortstop Swede Risberg, third baseman Buck Weaver and reserve infielder Fred McMullin ) worked with gamblers to fix the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds to earn some extra money. 

The Baseball League decided  to create a “czar,” a single person the public sees as responsible for handling the problem.  The Baseball League chose suggested Kenesaw Mountain Landis, known as one of the toughest federal judges, as the czar, declaring for the first time in baseball history, the title Baseball Commissioner.  Landis took office in January of 1921.

None of the eight men faced criminal charges, but still were punished.

“Regardless of the verdict of juries,” the commissioner said in a statement, “no player that throws a ball game, no player that entertains proposals or promises to throw a game, no player that sits in a conference with a bunch of crooked players and gamblers where the ways and means of throwing games are discussed, and does not promptly tell his club about it, will ever again play professional baseball.” To this day participants in the Black Sox conspiracy have been denied entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

 

 

 

Adam Wainwright

Player: Adam Wainwright
Team: Cardinals
Age: 32
Relationship Status: Married

Adam Wainwright, pitcher for the defending NL Champions , is stealing everyone’s attention with high hopes for the 2014 season.  Filled with confidence, Wainwright is predicted to be a huge part of the ultimate pitching trio for the St. Louis Cardinals. 

Adam hasn’t always had this confidence though. 

Wainwright grew up in Brunswick, Georgia and dreamed to play on the Braves team.  In 2000, he was named Gatorade’s Player of the Year for Georgia.  He was offered a full ride by Georgia Tech, and was also chosen by the Atlanta Braves with its top pick.

After bouncing around the Braves Minor leagues, Wainwright was traded to the Cardinals in December 2003, the same day he proposed to his future wife.

Adam struggled to make his ways up to the Majors, but finally in 2006 he was called up for good.  He explains, “Something inside told me I was mentally and physically ready to play up here. It’s one thing to tell yourself that, and it’s one thing to believe it. I think this year I believed it for the first time. Other years I was just thinking it.”

Since 2006 Wainwright has earned two Golden Glove’s, appeared in two All-star games, won pitcher of the month, received the Darryl Kile award, was named Pitcher of the Week and took home the World Series in 2006.   In 2013 he he led the National League in wins, innings and shutouts.