The 1982 California Angels
May 16, 2012 by Derek Bain · 3 Comments
Two consecutive years of disappointment prompted the Angels ownership to react with a sense of urgency in the 1982 off-season. They made a big splash in the free agent pool, and several key trades positioned the franchise within reach of their first World Series appearance. Jackson and DeCinces Gene Autry outbid George Steinbrenner for Reggie […]
Is Mark Belanger a Hall of Famer?
January 10, 2011 by Austin Gisriel · 11 Comments
If we grant admission to players such as DHs and relievers who were one-dimensional, then we should think seriously about admitting players who played Hall of Fame caliber defense, but were weak with the stick. And that brings me to former Oriole shortstop Mark Belanger.
The Ultimate Seven-Game Fall Classic: Game Four
November 7, 2010 by Mike Lynch · 2 Comments
In part one of my Ultimate Seven-Game Fall Classic series, I featured Game One of the 1988 World Series between the Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Dodgers, won by the latter on Kirk Gibson’s walk-off two-run homer off Dennis Eckersley, ironic because it was Eck who coined the phrase “walk-off piece.” Part two featured an […]
Back to the Future: SPORT’s “Five Hottest Questions” of 1961
August 12, 2010 by Mike Lynch · 1 Comment
Last month I delved into SPORT’s predictions for the 1969 All-Stars made five years before in 1964. This time around, I’m looking at five questions writer Tom Meany asked prior to the 1961 season. In the May 1961 issue of SPORT, which actually hit newsstands in March, Meany penned an article titled, “The Big Leagues’ […]
