The Last of Their Kind at Yankee Stadium

Yankee Stadium, as we all know, closed on Sunday. Of all the historical things to have happened there, here are the last of their kinds to have happened at the Stadium. Some happened on Sunday, some happened days, weeks, and years earlier. Take a look at the statistics that will stand forever:

• Last Out: Brian Roberts (Orioles-9/21/08, ground out to first baseman Cody Ransom)
• Last Hit: Jason Giambi (9/21/08, a single)
• Last RBI: Robinson Cano (9/21/08, sacrifice fly)
• Last Home Run: Jose Molina (9/21/08)
• Last Run: Brett Gardner (9/21/08)
• Last Double: Kevin Millar (Orioles-9/21/08)
• Last Triple: Adam Jones (Orioles-9/21/08)
• Last Grand Slam: Alex Rodriguez (9/14/08)
• Last Walk: Johnny Damon (9/21/08)
• Last Stolen Base: Bobby Abreu (9/21/08)
• Last Win: Andy Pettitte (9/21/08)
• Last Loss: Chris Waters (Orioles-9/21/08)
• Last Save: Mariano Rivera (9/19/08)
• Last Pitch: Mariano Rivera (9/21/08)
• Last Strikeout: Aubrey Huff (Orioles-9/21/08)
• Last Pitched Strikeout: Joba Chamberlain (9/21/08)
• Last Error: Brandon Fahey (Orioles-9/21/08)
• Last Shutout: Jon Lester (Red Sox-7/3/08)
• Last Inside the Park Home Run: Chris Duffy (Pirates-6/8/07)
• Last Pinch Hitter: Ivan Rodriguez (9/21/08, for Hideki Matsui)
• Last Ground Ball hit into Doubleplay: Jason Giambi (9/21/08)
• Last Extra-Inning Game: Yankees-3, Royals-2 (8/16/08, 13 innings)
• Last Ejection: Edwar Ramirez (7/30/08)
• Last Cycle: Tony Fernandez (9/3/95)
• Last No-Hitter: Roy Oswalt, Peter Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel, Billy Wagner (Astros-6/11/03, 6 pitchers combined to no-hit Yankees)

The history of Yankee Stadium will never change. These names and feats will always stay the same. These players will always be a part of the history of this glorious place.

Chicks Dig the Long Ball

Okay, I'll admit it. While I love the game of baseball, I am partial to the home run. There is just something about it that drives me wild. It changes the outcome of a game. It makes history. It is arguably the biggest stat celebrated. I love a good, old fashioned game of baseball, where base hits score the runs. However, I love to see a ball fly out over the centerfield wall, some 400 feet away. I hate the home run when it's against my team, but it's still something special to watch. Here are some of the big home run hitters this year, and guys that all the chicks can dig:

Carlos Quentin (36 HR's)

Grady Sizemore (32 HR's; 110 career HR's in 4 MLB seasons)

Ryan Braun (35 HR's; 69 HR's in 2 MLB seasons)

Evan Longoria (22 HR's; Rays rookie record)

Josh Hamilton (31 HR's)

Chase Utley (31 HR's)

David Wright (31 HR's)

Alex Rodriguez (34 HR's; 552 career, 12th place on all-time list)

Nate McLouth (26 HR's)

Matt Holliday (25 HR's; 128 HR's in 4 MLB seasons)

Mark Teixeira (30 HR's; 200 HR's in 5 MLB seasons)

The History of the Home Run

Last night, Gary Sheffield hit a 2nd inning home run off of Gio Gonzalez of the Oakland A's. Why is this significant? Not because it was a grand slam. Not because it was the 496th home run of his career. The home run that he hit was the 250,000th home run hit in major league history. In the illustrious history of baseball, Sheffield hit a milestone 132 years in the making. Here is a look at other historic, monumental, and memorable home runs that helped make this milestone possible:

• May 2, 1876: Ross Barnes of the Chicago White Stockings hits the first home run in major league history off of Cherokee Fisher of Cincinnati.


• June 17, 1879: Charley Jones of the Boston Red Caps hits the 100th home run in major league history.


• July 4, 1884: Ned Williamson of the Chicago White Stockings hits home run #1,000.


• September 5, 1903: Joe Tinker of the Chicago Cubs hits the 10,000th home run in major league history.


• April 18, 1923: Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees hits the first home run in Yankee Stadium against the Boston Red Sox.


• May 3, 1924: Wally Pipp of the New York Yankees records the 20,000th home run in the majors.


• September 20, 1927: Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees hits his 60th home run of the season, a new single season record.


• September 3, 1932: Debs Garms of the St. Louis Browns hits his first ever home run, the 30,000th home run ever recorded.


• May 25, 1935: Babe Ruth hits the 714th and final home run of his career. With that, he becomes the all-time home run leader.


• June 1, 1940: George McQuinn of the St. Louis Browns hits home run #40,000.


• June 30, 1948: Johnny Mize of the New York Giants reaches a major milestone in hitting the 50,000th home run in major league history.


• August 31, 1953: Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians hits home run #60,000.


• July 1, 1958: Bob Boyd of the Baltimore Orioles hits the 70,000th home run ever.


• September 10, 1960: Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees hits a "tape measure" home run. The ball was estimated to have traveled 565 feet, clearing the roof of Tiger Stadium.


• October 13, 1960: In Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski hit a walkoff home run to win the Series for the Pirates, defeating the New York Yankees.


• October 1, 1961: Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hit his 61st home run of the season, setting a new single season record, eclipsing Babe Ruth's 34-year old record of 60 home runs in a season.


• July 14, 1962: Eddie Bressoud of the Boston Red Sox hit the 80,000th home run in major league history.


• May 22, 1966: Ron Swoboda of the New York Mets hits home run #90,000.


• April 30, 1970: Hal King of the Atlanta Braves hits the 100,000th home run in major league history.


• July 7, 1973: Buddy Bradford of the Chicago White Sox hits home run #110,000.


• April 8, 1974: Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit the 715th home run of his career, passing Babe Ruth to become the all-time home run leader.


• July 20, 1976: Hank Aaron, now of the Milwaukee Brewers, hit his 755th and final home run. He ended his career as the all-time home run king.


• May 24, 1977: Barry Foote of the Montreal Expos hit the 120,000th home run ever.


• May 30, 1980: Dick Davis of the Milwaukee Brewers hits the 130,000th home run in major league history.


• August 25, 1983: Reid Nichols of the Boston Red Sox hits the 140,000th home run in major league history.


• July 15, 1985: Dave Parker of the Cincinnati Reds wins the first ever home run derby. Carlton Fisk, Eddie Murray, and Ryne Sandberg were among other participants.


• August 3, 1986: John Russell of the Philadelphia Phillies hits home run #150,000 in major league history.


• October 15, 1988: In the first game of the 1988 World Series, injured NL MVP Kirk Gibson of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was a surprise pinch-hitter in the 9th inning of Game 1. With two out and one man on, Gibson fell behind in the count 0-2. After working the count to 3-2, Gibson hit the game-winning home run, pumping his fists as he ran the bases. It was the only at bat of the series for Gibson.


• June 4, 1989: Dwayne Murphy of the Philadelphia Phillies hits home run #160,000.


• June 16, 1992: Ron Gant of the Atlanta Braves hits the 170,000th home run ever.


• October 23, 1993: In Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, Joe Carter of the Toronto Blue Jays came to the plate in the 9th inning. On a 2-2 count, Carter hit a three-run home run, a walkoff, to win the World Series for the Jays.


• May 28, 1995: Bernard Gilkey of the St. Louis Cardinals hits the major leagues 180,000th home run.


• October 9, 1996: During Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS, a young New York Yankees fan altered the game. Jeffrey Maier reached over the wall to nab a Derek Jeter fly ball. It was ruled a home run, but the Orioles complained that it was aided by the fan. The call was upheld, and the Yankees went on to win the series.


• June 14, 1997: Andres Galarraga of the Colorado Rockies hits the 190,000th home run in major league history.


• September 8, 1998: Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his 62nd home run of the season. With that, he broke the single-season home run record, held for 37 years by Roger Maris.


• September 27, 1998: After breaking the single-season record, Mark McGwire hit his 70th home run of the season, establishing a new single-season record.


• June 12, 1999: Paul O'Neill of the New York Yankees makes history by hitting the 200,000th home run in major league history.


• April 29, 2001: Jermaine Dye of the Kansas City Royals hits home run #210,000.


• October 7, 2001: Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hit his 73rd home run of the season, establishing a new single-season record, breaking the 3-year old record set by Mark McGwire.


• April 12, 2003: Doug Mientkiewicz of the Minnesota Twins hits the 220,000th home run in major league history.


• October 16, 2003: At the start of the 11th inning in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, Aaron Boone hit a walkoff home run to help the New York Yankees win the series. They defeated the Boston Red Sox, prolonging their curse for another year.


• September 23, 2004: Gerald Williams of the New York Mets hits the 230,000th home run in major league history.


• September 8, 2006: David Newhan of the Baltimore Orioles hits home run #240,000.


• August 4, 2007: Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants tied the all-time home run record, hitting his 755th home run. On the same day, Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees hit his 500th home run, becoming the youngest player to accomplish that feat.



• August 7, 2007: Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hit his 756th career home run off of Mike Bacsik of the Washington Nationals. With that shot, Bonds became the all-time home run leader, surpassing Hank Aaron.


• September 3, 2008: In the 9th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays, Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees hit a fly ball that flew right over the top of the foul line, and was called a home run. With enough complaints by the Rays, the umpires decided to review the call. Instant replay was used for the first time ever in major league history. The call was upheld, and the Yankees won the game.


• September 8, 2008: Exactly two years to the day that home run #240,000 was hit, Gary Sheffield of the Detroit Tigers accomplished a major feat in hitting the 250,000th home run in major league history.



The home run is a play that has always astounded fans. In the long history of baseball, 250,000 have been hit. A wide range of players have hit them, and there are many memorable home run moments. Its been 9 years since #200,000 was hit. Will we wait another 9 years for #300,000? Home run numbers are down, but there are still plenty of home runs hit on a daily basis. With a new era of home run hitters, we can look forward to many more historical and memorable home runs.

Colt Brennan: The Case for Heisman

I don't understand why Colt Brennan doesn't get more love. Hawaii is 2nd in the nation in passing yards per game, with 450.9 (They did lead the nation, but Brennan sat out all but two snaps against Fresno State, dropping his average.) This guy holds 25 NCAA records! He recently broke the record for all-time touchdown passes, beating Ty Detmer's (BYU) 121 career mark. And still, no love. I guess it all starts with his team.

The Hawaii Warriors are the only undefeated team in the nation, and still aren't in the top 10. Florida, a 3-loss team, ranks higher. All the talk about their schedule is what's keeping them down. Out of 119 BCS teams, Hawaii's schedule strength is ranked 119th. So what? No victory is given. Everyone has to be earned. Hawaii has earned all of their victories. Don't give me this schedule strength bullshit. Give them some love.

As for Colt, he should already have a Heisman in his hands. Let's look at his numbers from last year:

• 58 Touchdown passes, an NCAA single-season record
• 186.0 pass efficiency rating, and NCAA record
• Was the team's second leading rusher with 366 yards and 5 TD's
• Responsible for 384 points, an NCAA record
• 14 games gaining 400+ yards, an NCAA record

That's just some of his numbers. Despite all that, he still came in 6th in the Heisman voting, behind guys like Troy Smith. Troy Smith did nothing to deserve that award. Brennan's most prestigious award? WAC Offensive Player of the Year. Now let's look at this year.

Brennan has thrown for 3,732 yards, with a passer efficiency of 169.1. He's responsibly for 246 points, throwing 33 TD passes. His completion rate is an astounding 70%! Earlier this year, it was at 72%, which led the nation. He's been the WAC Player of the Week three times, and is a nominee for the Manning Award, for the nation's best QB. All in all, he's led the nation in 7 statistical passing categories this year. He's also accomplished two major feats:

• Broke the NCAA record for most touchdown passes in a career (121). He now has 126, with one more game to go, followed by a bowl game.
• Broke the NCAA record for most career touchdowns. He is at 141, with two games left in his college career.
• He has also tied the NCAA record for most touchdown passes by a quarterback-wide receiver combination, getting number 39 to Davone Bess. With two games left, that is almost another record he is sure to break.

Along with all the NCAA records, he has broken or set 17 WAC records, and 41 school records.

And still, no love.

The Heisman voters should wise up. Don't look at schedule's or opponents, or whatever. The best player in college football should win the Heisman. Quite simply, that's Colt. It shouldn't be any other way.

Thank you Joe #6

Now that it is official, and Joe Torre is not coming back to the Yankees, I have decided to write this, because I will sincerely miss that man behind the helm.

For as long as I can remember, Joe Torre has always been the manager of the New York Yankees. And that's the way I liked it. It's going to be hard to see the Yankees play without their dedicated skipper on the bench. In many cases, I don't think of him just as the Yankees manager, rather, I think of him as my manager. I love Torre so much, that it is so hard to say goodbye. I about had tears running down my face at the announcement that he turned down his offer. Since becoming a manager in 1977, he has recorded 2,067 wins. He is 9th on the all time managerial wins list.

Joe Torre's managing career didn't start so hot. From 1977 until 1995, he had lost 1,003 career games, as opposed to only 894 wins. When he joined the Yankees in 1996, the New York media shunned him, saying his hiring was a mistake, even calling him "Clueless Joe." Boy were they wrong. In 12 years with the Yankees, Torre compiled these stats:

• Led team to playoffs in each of his 12 years there.
• Compiled 1,173 wins, passing Casey Stengel for number one on the Yankees all-time win list.
• AL Manager of the year in 1996 and 1998.
• Won 10 division titles, including 9 in a row.
• Won 6 pennants.
• Won 4 World Series titles.

In his first five seasons, the Yankees won the World Series 4 times, making them a dynasty. Torre's name will forever be linked to that dynasty, and will always be considered one of the greatest Yankee managers of all time.

Joe Torre was more than just the coach of the Yankees; he was the coach of the Yankee fans. We all knew and felt his heartbreak when his brother Rocco passed away unexpectedaly in the 1996 season. We were all scared and worried when Torre was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 1999. When told of that news, many of his players wept. Many fans wept as well. We all prayed for his brother Frank to receive a successful heart transplant, in which he did.

Joe Torre is more than just a manager. He is the favorite man on the bench for Yankee fans. He is the leader of our favorite team, who is doing all he can to get them to victory. It will hurt seeing him in Dodgers blue this year, but as long as he is happy, I will be happy. I will never forget everything he did for the Yankees, and will never condem him for the things he didn't do. He will always be the number 1 Yankees manager in my heart, and will always be the best.

Thank you Joe. For everyting.

Second to None

ESPN and USA Today came out with their top 25 poll in college basketball. Check out where we rank:

It won't be long before they're number 1! Also, props to Southern Illinois for making it to number 23. They are a good team. Returning starters:

Darren Collison, G

Josh Shipp, G/F

Lorenzo Mata, C

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, F

Looking Good!

Jonathan Papelbon is Not Intimidating

As he walks out to the music of "Wild Thing," Jonathan Papelbon looks to stare down hitters with his "evil eyes."

Jonathan Papelbon, you are not intimidating.

Hitters are not intimidated by his wicked stare, or the puff of breath he blows out through that hole in his face. He is not scary. Big deal, he can throw a 98 mph fastball. So can many other big league pitchers. He would never make it as a starter, despite popular belief. He is not a "wild thing," nor is he even worth the money he gets paid to look like an ass.

Jonathan Papelbon, you are not intimidating. You are just a bitch.

Buc Luck

Buc Luck(n): The type of luck distributed among the Buccaneers team, players and fans. Generally bad in nature, there have been a few rare examples of "good" Buc Luck (see: 2003 Super Bowl Champions)

I have become convinced that there is something out there that wants to cause as much pain to the Buccaneers faithful as possible. I can't say it's a curse, rather, unexplainable bad luck. Thus,
I've coined the term "Buc Luck," because it seems that the Bucs always have a run in with this "Buc Luck," but it always seems to be on the bad side of things. Things have only taken a turn for the worse this season, where the "Buc Luck" is overwhelming, making it seem as if the Bucs had no bad luck, they would have no luck at all.

It all started before the season ever started, when it was announced that Mike Alstott, Buc extraordinaire, team leader, etc., would miss the entire season due to a neck injury. To make matters worse, he might not ever play in the NFL again.

Things didn't get much better for the Bucs, following the news that their leading rusher, Carnell "Cadillac" Williams would miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, coming off the heels of a Week 4 victory against Carolina. His injury is so severe, there is speculation that he may never walk again. He wasn't the only injury of the game. Luke Petitgout, the New York Giants import, also suffered a season ending knee injury.

The very next week, with the running game already hurting, the Bucs lost backup running back Michael Pittman for six long weeks, because of torn ligaments in his ankle. He is expected to return this season, but nothing is concrete.

As if things couldn't get worse, in Week 7 the Bucs lost Mark Jones, their very productive kick returner, for the season with a knee injury. Going into Week 7, Jones was ranked 5th in the NFL in punt return average (11.9 yards per return), and 7th in the NFL in kickoff return average(30.3). He was the only player in the NFL through the first six weeks to rank in the top 10 in both categories. He is the man I was sure would score the first ever touchdown on a kickoff return in Bucs history.

In Week 7, 7 players were inactive for the Bucs, and now troubling is how Michael Clayton's MRI will turn out. In Week 7, he went down awkwardly, having to leave the game in the first quarter. Getting out of this season, let's focus on some other examples of "Buc Luck."

It all started with the Bucs inaugural season in 1976. That year, the Bucs were perfect. A perfect 0-14 that is. Ultimately the laughing stock of the league, the Buccaneers were basically invisible at the beginning of the season. When they arrived at the Astrodome for the opening game against the Houston Oilers, they were refused entry by the security services. "The Buccaneers?" the guard asked. "Are they a college team or something?" They weren't invisible by the end of the season, ending with a big goose-egg in the win column. It's not as if they were horrible. Three times they came within a touchdown of winning. That's just the "Buc Luck" for you. This team's place in history is complete. They are the last team to go winless for an entire season. Despite their success in SuperBowl XXXVII, the losing team will probably always be more famous, as the Bucs are looked at as a failing team.

In 1983, the Bucs dark years began. It was the first of 14 straight losing seasons, 13 in which they would lose 10 games or more. The Bucs of course were the laughing stock in the league, as every team that faced them knew that victory was eventual.

The SuperBowl curse came around in 2003, as we all saw the defending Super Bowl champs fall to a 7-9 record. 2004 didn't provide much healing, as the Bucs went even deeper into the cellar, falling to 5-11. A brief glimpse of hope came through in 2005, before the Bucs stumbled to a 4-12 record in 2006.

Among the miscues of the 2006 season, things became really hard following Week 3. In a game against Carolina, quarterback Chris Simms took a brutal shot from a Carolina defender, rupturing his spleen. He played the rest of the game, but following the game was immediately rushed to the emergency room where his spleen was removed. The poor guy lost his season, and possibly his job as QB for the Bucs. Because of losing Simms, the Bucs were stuck with 3rd String quarterback, rookie Bruce Gradkowski. In short, he sucked.

My only hope is that this tainted "Buc Luck" will disappear, or at least deliver us some good luck. This season was going well, but the injuries are piling up. I can only hope for the best, staying away from a losing season, and avoiding losing coach Jon Gruden. I can only leave you with this, a sign of the good "Buc Luck" that has embraced the Buccaneers over the years. Hopefully we'll get some this year too.