Happy Birthday Fred McGriff!!!

Happy Birthday Fred McGriff!!!

That’s right, the ‘Crime Dog’ turns 51 today!!!

Fred McGriff is arguably one of the most underrated baseball players from the last 20 years.  An extremely consistent hitter over the course of his 19-year career, McGriff added solid hitting and amazing power to the line-up.

Fred McGriff is a 5-time All-Star and winner of 3 Silver Slugger Awards.  He is a lifetime .284 hitter with 2,490 career hits.  Over 19 seasons, McGriff connected for 441 doubles and 493 home runs.  He also scored 1,349 runs while driving in 1,550.

McGriff was a consistent MVP candidate for half of his years in the league.  And he was a fan favorite too.

Happy Birthday to the ‘Crime Dog’!!!

1993 HEADLINE: Joe Carter’s Dynamic Home Run Captures The World Series For Toronto!!!

1993 HEADLINE: Joe Carter’s Dynamic Home Run Captures The World Series For Toronto!!!

On this day in 1993 Joe Carter hit one of the most recognizable home runs in World Series history.  On baseball’s biggest stage, he rose to the occasion and secured his spot as one of the game’s biggest heroes.

I remember watching this game and seeing the joy in Joe’s eyes, smile, and body language as he rounded the bases after blasting this huge World Series winning home run.  As kids, we all dream of this exact spot that Joe Carter was in on that night in October.  His boyhood dream became reality right in front of our eyes and it was an amazing sight to witness.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Carter!!

Happy Birthday George Bell!!!

Happy Birthday George Bell!!!

George Bell turns 55 years old today.

One of the sport’s biggest sluggers during the late 1980’s, George Bell was a hitting machine during his time with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Seen primarily as a slugger, Bell did have a knack for delivering the longball and driving in runs, but he was also a very talented contact hitter.  During his playing days, Bell amassed 1,702 career hits along with a batting average of .278.  He won three Silver Slugger awards and had two seasons (1986 & 1987) in which he batted above .300.

As for his power numbers, Bell crushed 265 homers in 12 seasons while also driving in 1,002 runs.  His numbers were so impressive in 1987 that he won the AL MVP award.  The numbers from that year were unreal – .308/47/134.

George Bell was a 3-time All-Star.  He competed in the postseason twice, but never advanced to the World Series.

Happy Birthday Mr. Bell!!!

1982 HEADLINE: Paul Molitor Sets Record With 5 Hits In World Series Game

1982 HEADLINE: Paul Molitor Sets Record With 5 Hits In World Series Game

On this day in 1982, Paul Molitor collected the first 5-hit game in World Series history!!!

In Game 1, and on the road in St. Louis, Molitor did everything possible to help put his Brewers in the best position to win.

His box score looking something like this – 6 at bats, 5 hits, 2 RBI, 1 run scored.  And most importantly, the Brewers won the game 10-0.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Molitor!!!

2010 HEADLINE: Roy Halladay Fires A No-Hitter Against The Reds In His Postseason Debut

2010 HEADLINE: Roy Halladay Fires A No-Hitter Against The Reds

On this day in 2010, Roy Halladay threw a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds.

The game was played in Philadelphia at Citizen’s Bank Park and was Game 1 of the NLDS.

Halladay’s stat line looked like this – complete game, 104 pitches, 8 strikeouts, 1 walk, 12 ground ball outs, 7 fly ball outs, and 1 line drive out.

Halladay’s no-hitter was the first post-season no-hitter since Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series.

1989 HEADLINE: Dave Stewart Captures 20th Win For Third Straight Season

1989 HEADLINE: Dave Stewart Captures 20th Win For Third Straight Season

On this day in 1989, Dave Stewart of the Oakland Athletics won his 20th win of the baseball season.

The win gave Stewart 20 or more wins in three consecutive seasons, confirming his status as the team’s ace as well as being one of the best pitchers in the major leagues.

Here are the numbers from those three fantastic seasons:

1987 – 20 wins
1988 – 21 wins
1989 – 21 wins

How did he fare in 1990?  Hmmmm…  How about 22 wins?!?!

Congratulations on a fantastic baseball career Mr. Stewart!  Happy Anniversary!!!

Happy Birthday Cecil Fielder!!!

Happy Birthday Cecil Fielder!!!

Cecil Fielder turns 51 years old today!!

As mighty of a power hitter as there ever has been, Cecil Fielder is the owner of some of the biggest, and longest home runs hit in the last 30 years!!

To say he is known for one thing is a fair statement.  That happens when you bash 51, 44, 35, 30, 38, 31, and 39 home runs in consecutive seasons.  But Fielder’s game was a bit more well-rounded than his power numbers may hint at.  ‘Big Daddy’ had 7 straight seasons with at least 100 hits or more and he also had two seasons where he scored 100+ runs.

Cecil Fielder is a 3-time All-Star, 2-time Silver Slugger winner, and a World Series champion.

Happy Birthday Cecil Fielder!!!

1996 HEADLINE: Paul Molitor Joins The 3,000 Hits Club

1996 HEADLINE: Paul Molitor Joins The 3,000 Hits Club

On this day in 1996, Paul Molitor collected the 3,000th hit of his major league career.

On the road playing the Kansas City Royals, Molitor and his Twins teammates took the field in front of 16,000+ fans at Kaufman Stadium.

For the game, Molitor went 3-for-4 hitting 2 singles and a triple.

Of the 3 hits he collected over the course of the game, #3000 was the triple he hit in the top of the 5th inning off of Jose Rosado.

Currently, Molitor ranks 9th in total hits in a major league career with 3,319 total hits.  It appears that Molitor’s space in the Top 10 of all-time is secure for quite some time!!

Happy Anniversary Mr. Molitor!!!

1993 HEADLINE: Paul Molitor Becomes Oldest Player To Reach 100 RBI In A Season

1993 HEADLINE: Paul Molitor Becomes Oldest Player To Reach 100 RBI In A Season

On this day in 1993, future Hall of Famer Paul Molitor set a major league record by being the oldest player to reach the 100 RBI tally in a single season.

At 37 years of age, Molitor still had it going as he was able to reach the 100-RBI plateau for the first time in his career, and the 16th season of his career.

The 100-RBI mark by a player older than 37 has been eclipsed several times since 1993, including Molitor doing it again in 1996 with 113 RBI at the age of 39.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Molitor!!!

Happy Birthday Paul Molitor!!!

Happy Birthday Paul Molitor!!!

Paul Molitor turns 56 years old today.

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004, Paul Molitor had a brilliant 21-year career.  Never getting the opportunity to showcase his talents in front of a consistently large crowd, Molitor spent most of his career as an unheralded superstar.

With 3,316 career hits and a lifetime batting average of .306 Paul Molitor is one of the greatest hitters of the last 40 years.  For a player that was not classified as a ‘power hitter’ Molitor quietly bashed 234 home runs.  And while also never being classified as a ‘speedster’, Paul also accumulated 504 stolen bases.  This multi-dimensional player was a 7-time All-star, and he won 4 Silver Slugger awards as well.  Molitor finished in the Top 20 for the MVP award 9 times over the course of his career where his highest finish was coming in at 2nd place in 1993.

Happy Birthday Mr. Molitor!!!