Baseball Digest articles from May 2005

Baseball Digest archives from May 2005

Letters to the editor.(The Fans Speak Out)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... In 1949 or 1950, I seem to remember that the White Sox swept a three-game series against the Yankees in New York, winning all games by a shutout. I think the White Sox pitchers were all left-handed, including Bill Wight, Billy Pierce and...

Use of steroids has stained majors, but the game will survive.(Warm Up Tosses)(baseball players' drug use)
May 1, 2005... THROUGH ITS LONG HISTORY, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HAS SUSTAINED A variety of assaults on its well-being, its integrity and its popularity with the masses. These attacks randomly include: * Throwing of the 1919 World Series by the Chicago...

Cubs have a star at third in Aramis Ramirez: right-handed slugger performed at a high level on the field and with the bat during 2004 season.(Cover Story)
May 1, 2005... WHEN IT COMES TO CURSES, THE CHICAGO CUBS ARE NOW BASEBALLS LAST team standing. Or perhaps that should be cowering. The Red Sox victory in the 2004 World Series, ending an 86-year drought, left Boston fans vacillating between unmitigated joy...

For catchers, the name of the game is defense; despite a weak bat, receivers who can work well with pitchers and are strong defensively will always have a place in the major leagues.
May 1, 2005... STEVE O'NEILL, WHO MANAGED four major league teams, including the Detroit Tigers to a World Series title in 1945, was among the finest defensive catchers of his day, but as the cliche goes, "he couldn't hit a lick" early in his playing career....

A wonderful group of vintage collectibles of great teams, great players, great records.(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... (1) 1984 Detroit Tigers World Champion 30" Pennant--Huge 6" Tigers logo. Players' names in 10" scroll. Very Fine condition. It is now some two decades old and has a $55 value in The Standard Catalog of Sports Memorabilia. Baseball Digest...

Carl Crawford--part of Tampa Bay's foundation of talent: young outfielder is a vital piece to the Devil Rays' hopes of turning club into a contender for post-season play.
May 1, 2005... YOU GROW UP IN HOUSTON, Texas, and football is king. You score a touchdown every game of your senior year in high school and have every college football coach in the country salivating. You are offered a scholarship to play at the...

Pirates Shortstop Jack Wilson: a no name no more: early in his career, he was labeled as a good fielder with limited hitting abilities, but a .308 average last year proves his bat is as lethal as his glove.
May 1, 2005... TYPECASTING WAS JUST AROUND the corner for Jack Wilson. Another very good year in the field, a given for the Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop, coupled with another very ordinary offensive performance, would just about do it. Good field, no...

Goose gossage: former closer recalls playoff contest between Yankees and Red Sox in 1978 to decide the A.L. East division championship.(The Game I'll Never Forget)(Interview)
May 1, 2005... WHAT'S THE BIGGEST GAME I ever played? That's easy. It was the one-game playoff against the Red Sox at Fenway Park in 1978. That was my first season with the Yankees, and we never expected to be in that situation. We were 14 games behind...

Baseball profile: Mark Kotsay--Oakland A's.
May 1, 2005... FULL NAME: Mark Steven Kotsay AGE, HT., WT.: 29, 6-0, 200 HOME: Reno, Nevada STATUS/FAMILY: Married with one daughter NICKNAME: Kots LIFE OUTSIDE OF BASEBALL: Mainly a family person. We travel and see different things....

Jesse Orosco recalls memorable moments from his career.(Turn Back The Clock)(Interview)
May 1, 2005... WHEN THE 47-YEAR-OLD LEFT-HANDER Jesse Orosco retired in the spring of 2004 after 24 years and a record 1,252 game appearances, he said, "I just don't feel the fire anymore." Since he made the decision only after weighing an offer from the...

Unusual cache of vintage baseball collectibles scarce old cards, uncut sheets, prints, and signs.(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... 1980s All-Time Greats Baseball Greats. 50-card set full of Hall of Famers. Included are Aaron, Banks, Berra, Campanella, Clemente, Cobb, DiMaggio, Feller, Ford, Foxx, Gehrig, Greenberg, Hornsby, Mantle, Mathewson, Mays, Musial, Ott, Brooks...

Troy Percival: a scout's insight helped launch his career: Tiger closer started as a catcher in the minors before weak hitting and strong arm convinced him to become a pitcher.(Interview)
May 1, 2005... IN 1990, BOB CLEAR HAD THE KIND of insight that can lead to a World Series championship. Clear was a roving instructor in the minor league system of the California Angels. On a visit to the Angels' rookie-league farm club in Idaho, he took...

Nelson Briles: a key performer for three pennant-winning clubs: before his untimely death last February, former pitcher reflected on his 14-year major league career.(Interview)
May 1, 2005... IN 1967, AFTER BOB GIBSON'S LEG was broken by a line drive off the bat of Roberto Clemente, Nelson "Nellie" Briles entered the St. Louis Cardinals' pitching rotation in mid-season and helped the team win the National League pennant. ...

Baseball quick quiz.
May 1, 2005... Collect ten points for each question answered correctly. Answers on page 90 (If you score 80 or better, you are a baseball expert; 70 or better, superior; between 60 and 70, good, and between 40 and 60, average. 1. Since the MVP Award...

Johnny Pesky--former Red Sox Great was key to Boston's pennant-contending clubs; during his 10 seasons in the majors, he was one of the top shortstops of his era.
May 1, 2005... HE'S THE FIRST PLAYER EVER TO lead the league in hits during his first three years in the majors. He's as much of a Red Sox icon as Phil Rizzuto is to the Yankees. Yet, Johnny Pesky hasn't been elected to join his famous teammates Ted...

7th inning stretch: players with 200 or more career home runs and stolen bases.(baseball)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Players With 200 or More Career Home Runs and Stolen Bases THROUGH THE 2004 SEASON THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY 35 PLAYERS WHO HAVE HIT 200 OR MORE HOME RUNS AND STOLEN 200-plus bases during their careers. Among the 35, ten are Hall of Famers...

2005 pre-season rosters--American league.(baseball)
May 1, 2005... Baltimore Orioles Manager: (13) LEE MAZZILLI Coaches: (34) Ray Miller, pitching; (24) Rick Dempsey, first base; (48) Terry Crowley, hitting; (2) Sam Perlozzo, bench; (49) Tom Trebelhorn, third base; (44) Elrod Hendricks, bullpen...

2005 pre-season rosters--national league.(baseball)
May 1, 2005... Arizona D'backs Manager: (3) BOB MELVIN Coaches: (13) Mark Davis, pitching; (2) Brett Butler, first base; (8) Mike Aldrete, hitting; (33) Jay Bell, bench; (14) Carlos Tosca, third base; (53) Glenn Sherlock,bullpen No....

Baseball rules corner: here are the fine points of umpire interference.
May 1, 2005... TO SAY THAT UMPIRES ARE treated like dirt is not a stretch of the imagination. Take what happened in Game 1 of the 2004 World Series played between the Red Sox and Cardinals at Fenway Park. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Manny Ramirez...