1956 HEADLINE: Don Larsen Hurls The First Perfect Game In World Series History!!!

1956 HEADLINE: Don Larsen Hurls The First Perfect Game In World Series History!!!

On this day in 1956, and front of the world, Don Larsen threw a perfect game in Game 5 of the World Series.

More than 50 years later, this game is still talked about during each post-season.  Many consider this pitching performance by Larsen to be the greatest single-game performance in baseball’s great history.

In Yankee Stadium, and with 64,000+ fans behind him, Larsen and his teammates were battling their cross-town rivals, the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Larsen’s numbers looked like this:

9 innings pitched.  0 runs allowed.  0 hits given up.  0 walks.  0 base runners.

A truly remarkable and historic event!!!  Happy Anniversary Mr. Larsen!!!!

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Happy Birthday Randy Johnson!!!

Happy Birthday Randy Johnson!!!

Randy Johnson turns 51 years old today.

And now that he has been out of the game for almost a few seasons, it gets pretty easy to look back at his amazing career and say that he is one of the greatest pitchers from his era and ranks pretty high on the all-time list as well.

With a pitching career that boasts of every major pitching accomplishment achieved, and some multiple times, Johnson was a machine during his playing days.  From No-Hitters to Cy Young awards to Strikeout records to perfect games to 300 wins to World Series championships, Johnson has done it all.

He is an absolute first-ballott Hall of Famer, and I personally feel that his talents would have dominated any generation of the sport.

Happy Birthday to ‘The Big Unit’!!!

1995 HEADLINE: Reds’ Tom Browning Visits Wrigley Rooftops During Game

1995 HEADLINE: Reds’ Tom Browning Visits Wrigley Rooftops During Game

On this day in 1995, Tom Browning left a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs while the game was still going on.  In fact, he left during the third inning!!

Where did he go, you ask??  Well, he went where everyone wanted to be – The rooftops!  Browning exited Wrigley Field, walked across the street, and proceeded to the rooftops of the buildings behind the outfield wall to experience the game from that vantage point.  And he did all of this while wearing his Reds’ uniform!!!

Truly amazing!  Truly unprofessional!  Truly hilarious!

Brownings’ manager, Davey Johnson, was waiting for him.  And when he got back, Browning received a $500 fine.

Of the incident, Browning says, “If I was the manager, I’d fine me, too,” he said. “But it was done strictly in jest, for fun. You have to enjoy the game.”

Did You Know…

No Diamondbacks pitcher has won more games in a single season than Randy Johnson’s 24 wins from the 2002 baseball season.

Happy Birthday Roy Halladay!!!

Happy Birthday Roy Halladay!!!

Roy Halladay turns 37 years old today!!

Halladay is one my favorite pitchers of the modern era that has never been affiliated with the Florida Marlins. His style and approach on the mound reminds me of Fergie Jenkins and I believe that the 2 of these guys were and are very under-appreciated in comparison to their peers.

The 16-year veteran is a 8-time All-star that has won 2 Cy Young Award and placed in the Top 5 five more times. ‘Doc’ was the picture of consistency for the Toronto Blue Jays for more than a decade now and then delivered impressive numbers with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Roy Halladay finished his career with a 203-105 record, good for a 65.9% winning percentage.  He threw in over 2,749 innings and struck out 2,117 batters during that stretch while walking just 592.

Halladay made it to the postseason with the Phillies during the 2010 and 2011 baseball seasons but he never played in the World Series.  He did, however, throw a no-hitter in the 2010 NLDS that is one of the best pitching performances in the history of baseball’s postseason.

Happy Birthday Roy!!!

2001 HEADLINE: Randy Johnson Strikes Out 20 Batters In One Game!!!

2001 HEADLINE: Randy Johnson Strikes Out 20 Batters In One Game!!!

On this day in 2001, Randy Johnson struck out 20 batters!!

That’s right 20! And it came against the Cincinnati Reds.

In that contest, Johnson pitched 9 innings while allowing just 3 hits and 1 run. He struck out 20 batters, while walking none. For the Reds, every starter struck out at least one time with two of them racking up three K’s a piece against ‘The Big Unit’.

Congratulations on this incredible feat – and Happy Anniversary!!!

Oh, Johnson’s team ended winning the game 4-3 in 11 innings. Johnson was awarded with a no-decision for his amazing efforts…

Happy Birthday David Cone!!!

Happy Birthday David Cone!!!

David Cone turns 51 years old today.

Immensely talented, Cone was a dominant force over the course of his 17-season career.  With a lifetime record of 194-126, along with 2,668 strikeouts, Cone was often the leader of the rotation and set the pace for some of baseball’s greatest teams in the 1990’s.  In his best season as a member of the Kansas City Royals in 1994, David Cone won the Cy Young award.  With a 16-5 record alongside a 2.94 ERA and 2.44 K:walk ratio, Cone dominated the American League.  During his 17-year career, Cone finished in the top 6 for the Cy Young award a total of 5 times.

The individual highlight of Cone’s career is the perfect game he pitched in 1999 against the Expos.  As incredible as the no-hitter is, the perfect game is outstanding.  Cone dominated the Expos for 9 innings as he struck out 10 batters while not allowing any player for the Expos to reach first base.

David Cone may be the best example of a player being ‘in the right place at the right time’.  Cone has 5 World Series Championship rings. Simply Amazing.  Cone won 1 title with the Toronto Blue Jays and 4 more as a member of the New York Yankees.  In 15 post-season match-ups, Cone has a record of 8-3 with over 100 innings pitched.

Happy Birthday Mr. Cone!!