Sunday, November 26, 2017

HANK BAUER REMEMBERED - By Harvey Frommer

HANK BAUER
                    By Harvey Frommer
Image result for hank bauer images   Image result for hank bauer images

    He was born in East St. Louis, Illinois on July 31, 1922. Like Yogi Berra, his education only lasted through the eighth grade. The tough and gritty Bauer was a Marine in the Second World War and saw action in the battle of Okinawa.
"We went in with 64," he recalled, "and six of us came out." He won quite a few battle stars for his combat in the Pacific.
          Signing with the Yankees after the war, the rugged Bauer climbed up the minor league rungs. In late 1948, he was promoted from Kansas City. He was 26, old for a rookie.
           Busting it in one game in the outfield which was his way, he took notice of centerfielder Joe DiMaggio glaring at him in a not too friendly manner.
            "Did I do something wrong?" a puzzled Bauer asked.
           "No, you didn't do anything wrong," DiMaggio responded. "But you're the first son of a bitch who ever invaded my territory."
           Bauer never invaded the Yankee Clipper’s territory again.
           Casey Stengel often platooned him in the outfield. "I didn't like it," Bauer said. "But there wasn't much I could do about it. He was the boss. Later on in my career I finally realized he probably prolonged my career a couple of years."
             “He had that rough, grumbled talk, but was a real nice guy,” Bauer’s old teammate Irv Noren recalled. “He was a tough guy who got a lot of respect – no one wanted to fight him not even Billy Martin.”
A solid hitter with the power, Bauer collected 8 first-inning leadoff career home runs. Playing on nine pennant winners for the Yankees from 1949 thru 1959, his favorite expression was: "Don't mess with money!" When he saw a teammate he though was not putting out as much effort as though was required, Bauer used that phrase as a wakeup call.
               A Yankee for 1,406 games spread over a dozen seasons, a three-time All-Star, and one of Casey Stengel's favorites, Bauer didn't make mental mistakes and became testy when his teammates did.
The Yankee time for Hank Bauer ended in 1960 when he was shipped off to Kansas City in a big trade that brought Roger Maris to the Yankees. It ended a Yankee career that spanned the the end of the DiMaggio era through the rise of Mickey Mantle.
Dependable, selfless, honed in, were just a few of the ways he was described. Famed cartoonist Willard Mullin chose Henry Albert Bauer, who had a rugged handsomeness, as the model for the prototypical Yankee.
Oddly enough, Hank Bauer does not have a plaque in Monument Park.
About Harvey Frommer:  One of the most prolific and respected sports journalists and oral historians in the United States, author of the autobiographies of legends Nolan Ryan, Tony Dorsett, and Red Holzman, Dr. Harvey Frommer is an expert on the New York Yankees and has arguably written more books, articles and reviews on the New York Yankees than anyone.   In 2010, he was selected by the City of New York as an historical consultant for the re-imagined old Yankee Stadium site, Heritage Field. A professor for more than two decades in the MALS program at Dartmouth College, Frommer was dubbed “Dartmouth’s Mr. Baseball” by their alumni magazine.
 His ULTIMATE YANKEE BOOK can be ordered from AMAZON: http://www.frommerbooks.com/ultimate-yankees.html.

Sunday, November 19, 2017

IBWAA SELECTS ALTUVE, STANTON IN MVP VOTE

IBWAA SELECTS ALTUVE, STANTON IN MVP VOTE
 
Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its Most Valuable Player category Thursday, with the Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve winning the group’s American League award, and Giancarlo Stanton, of the Miami Marlins, being selected in the National League.
 
Altuve received 107 first-place votes (72.79%) and 1838 points while being named on 146 of 147 ballots (99.32%). Others receiving first-place votes include Aaron Judge (28), Mike Trout (7) and Francisco Lindor (2).
 
Stanton received 58 first-place votes (40%) and 1492 points while being named on 144 of 145 (97.96%) ballots. Others receiving first-place votes include Paul Goldschmidt (25), Nolan Arenado (20), Joey Votto (16), Charlie Blackmon (15) and Anthony Rendon (7).
 
Election results are as follows:
 
AL MVP
 
1st Place:                  Jose Altuve, Houston Astros – 1838 points
2nd Place:                 Aaron JudgeNew York Yankees – 1341
3rd Place:                 
 Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 1067
4th Place:                 Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians – 997
5th Place:                  Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians – 562
6th Place:                  Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians – 389
7th Place:                  Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox – 376 
8th Place:                  Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox – 280
9th Place:                 George Springer, Houston Astros – 207
10th Place:                Andrelton Simmons, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 202
 
NL MVP
 
1st Place:                  Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins – 1492 points
2nd Place:                 
Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks – 1115 
3rd Place
:                  Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds – 1025
4th Place:                  Charlie BlackmonColorado Rockies – 1003
5th Place:                  Nolan ArenadoColorado Rockies – 959
6th Place:                  Anthony RendonWashington Nationals – 577
7th Place:                  Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs – 512
8th Place:                  Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers – 253
9th Place:                  Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers – 243
10th Place:                Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals – 185
 
Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.
 
The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.
 
Among others, IBWAA members include Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports; Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk; Bill Chuck, Billy-Ball.com; Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Jon Heyman and Jesse Spector, Today’s Knuckleball; Danny Knobler, Bleacher Report; Kevin Kennedy; Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated; Brian Kenny, MLBN; Will Leitch, Sports on Earth; Bruce Markusen, Hardball Times; Ross Newhan; Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com; Tom Hoffarth and J.P. Hoornstra Los Angeles Daily News; Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times; Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.com; Ken Rosenthal, TheAthletic.com; Eno Sarris, FanGraphs; David Schoenfield of ESPN.com; Jim Bowden and Bill Arnold.
 
Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a $75 lifetime fee. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.

For more information please visit 
www.ibwaa.com.

Contact:
 
Howard Cole
Founding Director, IBWAA
baseballsavvy@aol.com

IBWAA SELECTS KLUBER, SCHERZER IN CY YOUNG VOTE

IBWAA SELECTS KLUBER, SCHERZER IN CY YOUNG VOTE
 
Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its Cy Young category Wednesday, with the Cleveland Indians’ Corey Kluber winning the group’s American League prize, and Max Scherzer, of the Washington Nationals, being selected in the National League, both for the second consecutive year.
 
Kluber received 118 first-place votes (80.27%) and 942 points while being named on all 146 ballots. Others receiving first-place votes include Chris Sale (29).
 
Scherzer received 91 first place votes (61.90%) and 846 points while being named on 146 of 147 ballots (99.32%). Others receiving first-place votes include Clayton Kershaw (50), Zack Greinke (2) and Corey Knebel (2).
 
Election results are as follows:
 
AL Cy Young:
 
1st Place:                  Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians – 942 points
2nd Place:                 
Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox – 653
3rd Place:                  
Luis Severino, New York Yankees – 328
4th Place:                 Carlos Carassco, Cleveland Indians – 178
5th Place:                 Justin Verlander, Houston Astros – 129
 
NL Cy Young:
 
1st Place:                  Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals – 846 points
2nd Place:                 
Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers – 658 
3rd Place
:                  Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks – 323
4th Place:                 Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals – 276
5th Place:                 Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals – 127
 
Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.
 
The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.
 
Among others, IBWAA members include Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports; Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk; Bill Chuck, Billy-Ball.com; Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Jon Heyman and Jesse Spector, Today’s Knuckleball; Danny Knobler, Bleacher Report; Kevin Kennedy; Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated; Brian Kenny, MLBN; Will Leitch, Sports on Earth; Bruce Markusen, Hardball Times; Ross Newhan; Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com; Tom Hoffarth and J.P. Hoornstra Los Angeles Daily News; Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times; Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.com; Ken Rosenthal, TheAthletic.com; Eno Sarris, FanGraphs; David Schoenfield of ESPN.com; Jim Bowden and Bill Arnold.
 
Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a $75 lifetime fee. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.

For more information please visit 
www.ibwaa.com.

Contact:
 
Howard Cole
Founding Director, IBWAA
baseballsavvy@aol.com

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

IBWAA SELECTS FRANCONA, LOVULLO IN MANAGER OF THE YEAR VOTE

IBWAA SELECTS FRANCONA, LOVULLO IN MANAGER OF THE YEAR VOTE
 
Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its Manager of the Year category Tuesday, with the Cleveland Indians’ Terry Francona winning the group’s American League award, and Torey Lovullo, of the Arizona Diamondbacks, being selected in the National League.
 
Francona received 57 first-place votes (39.04%) and 468 points while being named on 134 of 146 ballots (91.16%). Others receiving first-place votes include Paul Molitor (64), A.J Hinch (13), Joe Girardi (9) and Mike Scoiscia (2).
 
Lovullo received 75 first-place votes (51.72%) and 477 points while being named on 121 of 145 ballots (82.31%). Others receiving first-place votes include Dave Roberts (27), Bud Black (14) and Dusty Baker (9).
 
Election results are as follows:
 
AL Manager:
 
1st Place:                  Terry Francona, Cleveland Indians – 468 points
2nd Place:                 Paul Molitor, Minnesota Twins 
– 421
3rd Place:                  
A.J. Hinch, Houston Astros – 247
 
NL Manager:
 
1st Place:                  Torey LovulloArizona Diamondbacks – 477 points
2nd Place:                 
Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers – 250
3rd Place:                  Bud Black, Colorado Rockies – 218
 
Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.
 
The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.
 
Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a $75 lifetime fee. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.

For more information please visit 
www.ibwaa.com.

Contact:
 
Howard Cole
Founding Director, IBWAA
baseballsavvy@aol.com

Monday, November 13, 2017

IBWAA SELECTS BELLINGER, JUDGE IN ROOKIE AWARDS VOTE

IBWAA SELECTS BELLINGER, JUDGE IN ROOKIE AWARDS VOTE
 
Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its rookie category Monday, with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger winning the 2017 IBWAA National League Rookie of the Year award unanimously, and Aaron Judge, of the New York Yankees, being selected as the 2017 IBWAA American League Rookie winner.
 
Bellinger received 146 first-place votes (100%) and 730 points.
 
Judge received 143 first-place votes (97.95%) and 721 points while being named on 145 of 146 ballots (98.64%). Others receiving first-place votes include Andrew Benintendi (2) and Jordan Montgomery (1).
 
Election results are as follows:
 
NL Rookie:
 
1st Place:                  Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers – 730 points
2nd Place:                 
Paul DeJong, St. Louis Cardinals – 163
3rd Place:                  
Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates – 139
 
AL Rookie:
 
1st Place:                  Aaron JudgeNew York Yankees – 721 points
2nd Place:                 
Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox – 305
3rd Place
:                  Trey Mancini, Baltimore Orioles – 75
 
Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.
 
The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.
 
Among others, IBWAA members include Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports; Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk; Bill Chuck, Billy-Ball.com; Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Jon Heyman and Jesse Spector, Today’s Knuckleball; Danny Knobler, Bleacher Report; Kevin Kennedy; Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated; Brian Kenny, MLBN; Will Leitch, Sports on Earth; Bruce Markusen, Hardball Times; Ross Newhan; Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com; Tom Hoffarth and J.P. Hoornstra Los Angeles Daily News; Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times; Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.com; Ken Rosenthal, TheAthletic.com; Eno Sarris, FanGraphs; David Schoenfield of ESPN.com; Bill Bowden and Bill Arnold.
 
Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a $75 lifetime fee. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.

For more information please visit 
www.ibwaa.com.

Contact:
 
Howard Cole
Founding Director, IBWAA
baseballsavvy@aol.com

Sunday, November 12, 2017

IBWAA Selects Jansen, Kimbrel in Relief Pitcher Awards Vote

IBWAA SELECTS JANSEN, KIMBREL IN RELIEF PITCHER AWARDS VOTE

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its relief pitcher category Sunday, with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Kenley Jansen winning the 2017 IBWAA Hoyt Wilhelm National League Relief Pitcher of the Year Award for the second straight year, and Craig Kimbrel, of the Boston Red Sox, being selected as the 2017 IBWAA Rollie Fingers American League Relief Pitcher of the Year.
 
Jansen received 124 first-place votes (87.94%) and 656 points while being named on 138 of 141 ballots (93.88%). Others receiving first-place votes include Corey Knebel (9), Archie Bradley (4) and Greg Holland (2).
 
Kimbrel received 131 first-place votes (91.61%) and 679 points while being named on 141 of 143 ballots (95.92%). Others receiving first-place votes include Alex Colome (9), Andrew Miller (1) and Dellin Betances (1).
 
The relief pitcher awards were established in 2010.
 
Election results are as follows:
 
NL Reief Pitcher:
 
1st Place:                  Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers – 656 points
2nd Place:                 
Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers – 320
3rd Place:                  
Archie BradleyArizona Diamondbakcs – 77
3rd Place:                 Greg HollandColorado Rockies – 77
 
AL Relief Pitcher:
 
1st Place:                  Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox – 679 points
2nd Place:                 
Alex Colome, Tampa Bay Rays – 151 
3rd Place
:                  Andrew Miller, Cleveland Indians – 101
 
Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.
 
The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.
 
Among others, IBWAA members include Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports; Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk; Bill Chuck, GammonsDaily.com; Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Jon Heyman and Jesse Spector, Today’s Knuckleball; Danny Knobler, Bleacher Report; Kevin Kennedy; Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated; Brian Kenny, MLBN; Will Leitch, Sports on Earth; Bruce Markusen, Hardball Times; Ross Newhan; Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com; Tom Hoffarth and J.P. Hoornstra Los Angeles Daily News; Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times; Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.com; Ken Rosenthal, TheAthletic.com; Eno Sarris, FanGraphs; David Schoenfield of ESPN.com; Bill Bowden and Bill Arnold.
 
Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a $75 lifetime fee. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.

For more information please visit 
www.ibwaa.com.

Contact:
 
Howard Cole
Founding Director, IBWAA
baseballsavvy@aol.com

Sunday, November 5, 2017

ULTIMATE YANKEE QUIZ - Part 2 - By Harvey Frommer

      ULTIMATE YANKEE QUIZ (Part 2)
       By Harvey Frommer

Image result for JOE GIRARDI

As a result of popular demand, for your reading and wondering pleasure, here come the Yankees in quiz form from the professor of Bronx Bomber content. No peeking at the answers. Take the quiz first. Five correct answers makes you an “All Star.”   Lower than that, read some of my Yankee books.
  
QUESTIONS

16. In defeating the Oakland A's in the 2001 American League Division playoffs, what did the Yankees accomplish that no team ever had done before in a three-of-five-game series?
A. Limited their opponents to a total of two runs  
B. Had a perfect fielding percentage
C. Won three straight after losing two games at home
D. Hit at least one home run in every game
17. What Yankees MVP appeared in the fewest games in the year in which he won the award? 
18. Easy one: What was Yogi Berra's given name?
19.  What uniform number was retired by the Yankees to honor a player who never was on the team?
A. Jackie Robinson B. Bob Feller C. Dom DiMaggio D. Pee Wee Reese
 20. Who remains the only Yankee to hit four home runs in one game?
A. Lou Gehrig B. Reggie Jackson C. Babe Ruth   D. Yogi Berra
21.  Which Yankees pitcher once led the league in wins one year and saves the next?
22.    Who was the last batter Don Larsen faced in the Perfect Game he pitched in the 1956 World Series for the Yankees?
A. Roy Campanella B. Jackie Robinson C. Dale Mitchell D. Pee Wee Reese
23. What Yankee pitcher had the nickname “Rags”?
A. Johnny Sain B. Joe Page C.  Dave Righetti    D.  Don Larsen
24. What position did Wally Pipp play?
A. First Base B. Center Field   C. Catcher   D. Third Base
25. What is the most games Mariano Rivera saved in a season?
A. 61   B   47    C  53    D 51

26.  "SEE YA! SEE YA! SEE YA!"  is the signature call of?
A. Suzyn Waldman      B. John Sterling C. Michael Kay   D. Mel Allen
27. Who was the only pitcher for the franchise to win 40 games in a season under modern rules?  
28. What major league team did Joe Girardi manage before the Yankees?
A. Cubs B. Marlins    C. Red Sox     D Indians
29.  Who was the “Junk Man?”
 A. Ron Guidry B. Joe Page    C. Eddie Lopat D. Don Larsen
30.  What positions did Johnny Mize play for the Yankees and what other New York team did he play for?  A bit of a trick question.
 ANSWERS
16. C. They won three straight after losing two games at home.
17. Pitcher Spud Chandler appeared in 30 games when he won the American League award in 1943. 
18. Lawrence Peter
19. Jackie Robinson
20. Lou Gehrig
21. Waite Hoyt. 1927 he had 22 wins.  In 1928 he had 8 saves.
22.  C. Dale Mitchell
23. C.  Dave Righetti
24. A. First Base until Lou Gehrig came along.
25 C. 53
26. C. Michael Kay
27.     The year was 1904. The pitcher was Jack Chesbro who won 41 games.
28.  B. Marlins
29. C. Eddie Lopat  
30.  He played for St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants. He played exclusively first base for Yankees.
About Harvey Frommer:  One of the most prolific and respected sports journalists and oral historians in the United States, author of the autobiographies of legends Nolan Ryan, Tony Dorsett, and Red Holzman, Dr. Harvey Frommer is an expert on the New York Yankees and has arguably written more books, articles and reviews on the New York Yankees than anyone.   In 2010, he was selected by the City of New York as an historical consultant for the re-imagined old Yankee Stadium site, Heritage Field. A professor for more than two decades in the MALS program at Dartmouth College, Frommer was dubbed “Dartmouth’s Mr. Baseball” by their alumni magazine.

His ULTIMATE YANKEE BOOK can be ordered from AMAZON: http://www.frommerbooks.com/ultimate-yankees.html.