1954 HEADLINE: Willie Mays Makes The Greatest Catch In Baseball History!!!

1954 HEADLINE: Willie Mays Makes The Greatest Catch In Baseball History!!!

On this day back in 1954, Willie Mays made ‘The Catch’.

Often considered to be the greatest defensive play in baseball history, this outstanding catch still gets ‘air-time’ every year.  The fact that this catch happened in front of a national audience during the baseball playoffs only added to its legend.

One could certainly argue that more amazing catches have been made since, but this is ‘The Catch’ that still stands out amongst all others.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Mays!!!

1998 HEADLINE: Barry Bonds Joins ‘The 40/40 Club’

1998 HEADLINE: Barry Bonds Joins ‘The 40/40 Club’

On this day in 1996, Barry Bonds joined an elite class of baseball player by becoming a member of the ’40/40 Club’.

On the road in Colorado, and nearing the end of the 1998 baseball season, Barry Bonds swiped the 40th base of his season.  That steal, his last one of the 1998 season, became monumental occasion launching Bonds into another world of player.

As the third member of the group, Bonds’ all-around athletic game put him on par with the other members of the ’40/40 Club’ – Jose Canseco and Alex Rodriguez.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Bonds!!!

1969 HEADLINE: Willie Mays Connects For Career Home Run #600!!!

1969 HEADLINE:  Willie Mays Connects For Career Home Run #600!!!

On this day in 1969, Willie Mays connected for home run number 600 of his major league career.

On the road and taking on their divisional rivals, the San Diego Padres, Mays and his Giants teammates were getting close to wrapping up their 1969 baseball season.

With the Giants leading the division by 20 and with the Padres in the cellar in 6th, the crowd of 4,779 was understandable.

Unless you were a fan of Willie Mays!!

In the top of the 7th inning, Mays entered the game as a pinch-hitter and delivered the 600th home run of his career.  It was a blast that accounted for two runs, and it came at the expense of Mike Corkins.

The Giants won the game 4-2, largely in part to Mays’ heroics!

Happy Anniversary Mr. Mays!!!

1965 HEADLINE: Willie Mays Joins The ‘500 Home Runs Club’

1965 HEADLINE:  Willie Mays Joins The ‘500 Home Runs Club’

On this day in 1965, Willie Mays connected for the 500th home run of his baseball career!!!

On the road in Houston to take on the Astros at the Astrodome, Mays and his Giants teammates played in front of a relatively small crowd of just under 20,000.  I wonder how many people had tickets to the game but decided to stay home since the lowly Astros were so far behind(24 games) in the pennant chase…  In today’s world of sports and the Internet, this game would have had a sold-out crowd with the anticipation of seeing history made!!

And for the 19,827 fans in attendance, they were in for a treat…

Leading off the 4th inning for the Giants, Mays blasted the 500th home run of his baseball career.  He joined the 500 HR club with a solo shot to right field.  The homer came off of Don Nottebart and it helped the Giants win the game 5-1 and extend their win streak to 11 consecutive games!!

Happy Anniversary Mr. Mays!!!

1998 Headline: “Welcome To The 400/400 Club, Barry Bonds”

1998 Headline:  “Welcome To The 400/400 Club, Barry Bonds”

On this day in 1998, Barry Bonds stole the 400th base of his major league career!!  And in the process, he became the first and only member of the “400/400 club”.

There was no question prior, but this moment in baseball history solidified Bonds as one of the greatest offensive weapons that the sport has ever seen.  A dynamic player at the plate and on the base paths, Bonds was able to take over game and win with his amazing array of baseball talents!

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary, Mr. Bonds!!

1973 HEADLINE: Willie Mays Connects For Final Home Run Of His Career, #660!!!

1973 HEADLINE: Willie Mays Connects For Final Home Run Of His Career, #660!!!

On this day in 1973, Willie Mays hit the final home run of his career – #660!!

At Shea Stadium, in front of a crowd of more than 36,000 fans, the New York Mets hosted the Cincinnati Reds.  And in the bottom of the 4th inning, Willie Mays connected for the final home run of his amazing Hall of Fame career.  It was a solo shot off of Reds’ pitcher Don Gullett.  The Mets went on to lose the game 2-1.

Willie Mays had an amazing baseball career.  As one of the game’s most well-rounded players of all-time, smashing home run #660 was just another in the very long list of amazing accomplishments by the ‘Say Hey Kid’!!!

Happy Anniversary, Mr. Mays!

Happy Birthday Barry Bonds!!!

Happy Birthday Barry Bonds!!!

Barry Bonds turns 50 years old today.

We are all entitled to our opinions, and I know that we all have them when it comes to Bonds. But, of all of the guys that have exited the game during the course of the last few years and are headed to Cooperstown, we saw sharp declines in their output – except for that of Barry Bonds. We saw it from Frank Thomas and Ken Griffey Jr. and John Smoltz and Randy Johnson and even my beloved Greg Maddux.  And while I don’t enjoy watching the demise of my baseball heroes, I do think that Barry Bonds was posied to give us more.

Bonds is the guy that I feel like he could have given us a lot more to watch. 3,000 hits was very close. As was 800 home runs. I would have liked to have seen him reach both milestones prior to his retirement from the game.

Easily one of the best hitters of his generation, Bonds worked very hard to get to that level.  He did that by learning on the job – becoming more disciplined at the plate, hitting the ball the other way, being disruptive on the bases.  He was a true menace – in a very, very good way.

Happy Birthday Mr. Bonds – you are missed by this fan!!!