Posted on 10/02/2007 9:07:44 PM PDT by jazusamo
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Random thoughts on the New York Yankees:
The Yankee bullpen has some young pitchers who could throw a baseball through a brick wall -- if they had enough control to hit the wall.
More than one-fourth of the American League pennants in the 20th century were won by the New York Yankees -- and they didn't win their first pennant until 1920.
The major league records for the highest batting average by a catcher (.362), the most runs batted in by a first baseman (184) and the most home runs by a third baseman (54) were all set by Yankees -- Bill Dickey, Lou Gehrig and Alex Rodriguez, respectively.
The Yankees got rid of Babe Ruth when he was over the hill. Why are they still sticking with Jason Giambi, who is a serious liability in the field? Let the man retire and spend his time counting his millions.
There is no excuse for major league outfielders running into each other, when for generations center fielders have had the right of way. The Yankees' young center fielder Melky Cabrera doesn't hesitate to wave off the other outfielders when he goes for the ball, even when these are veterans with big salaries.
During Alex Rodriguez's great season this year, he became the first player in a quarter of a century to have more than 150 runs batted in. But Lou Gehrig had more than 150 RBIs in 7 of his 14 full seasons. That's the record. Even Babe Ruth had only 6.
Gehrig was probably the greatest clutch hitter of all time. Even though more than 20 players hit more home runs during their careers, Gehrig still holds the lifetime record for the most home runs with the bases loaded.
In addition to being one of the great relief pitchers of all time, Mariano Rivera is a throwback to the great poise and professionalism of the Yankees of old.
Everybody remembers Willie Mays' great catch in the Polo Grounds during the 1954 World Series but Joe DiMaggio made a great catch in the Polo Grounds, even deeper in center field, in the 1937 World Series.
Babe Ruth was easily the greatest ballplayer of all time, for he mastered every aspect of the game. No one else ever led the league in home runs, batting average, lowest earned run average and highest winning percentage as a pitcher. He was said to be the best bunter on the Yankees and even stole home a few times.
For all their greatness, the Yankees have never had a player with 3,000 hits in his career as a Yankee or a pitcher with 300 wins as a Yankee.
Derek Jeter is easily the best shortstop in the history of the Yankees -- and I have seen Yankee shortstops as far back as Frankie Crosetti.
The Yankees have had two center fielders with identical lifetime batting averages of .325 -- Joe DiMaggio and Earle Combs. But Combs played his career in the shadow of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
The Yankees once went 308 consecutive games without being shut out. That was the equivalent of two full seasons back in those days. The same pitcher shut them out on both ends of that streak -- Lefty Grove.
On the other hand, when Lefty Grove had his greatest season with 31 wins and 4 losses, three of those four losses were to the Yankees.
The American League record for the most shutouts in a season by a left-handed pitcher is held jointly by a Yankee and a future Yankee -- Ron Guidry and Babe Ruth.
Back in the heyday of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, the Yankees often won the pennant by such a wide margin that there was little reason for fans to go to Yankee Stadium at the end of September.
To create an attraction, Babe Ruth pitched the last game of the season for the Yankees six times. His won-lost record in these games was 6 and 0.
During Babe Ruth's record-setting 60 home run season, if you walked him you faced Lou Gehrig, who was batting .373 with 47 home runs and 175 runs batted in.
A Yankee player has led the league in home runs more years than players on any other team in the major leagues.
Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute and author of Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy.
This lifetime Yankee fan could not agree more. Thomas Sowell knows his baseball and the Yankees.
Perhaps, but Mays did it in the 8th inning of a 1-1 tie in game 1 against an Indians team that won 111 games in the regular year.
Thanks for the ping.
Excellent : Random thoughts on the New York Yankees
Just wow.
Thanks for the post! Always love Sowell's columns, and VERY happy to know he's such a knowledgeable baseball fan!
I have never for the life of me figured out why people who are brilliant at one thing insist on venturing out into outside interests and making a fool of themselves.
Sowell is a brilliant Economist and writer, but when he tries to opine on baseball he looks like, I dunno, David Lee Roth trying to replace Howard Stern on radio.
Joba Chamberlain not only throws 97-100 he has impeccable control and a slider that breaks off the table. Sowell doesn't know it yet, but he and the rest of the country will soon find out this week.
Jeez. Even baseball?
I’m enjoying the comments but I don’t know siccum about baseball. :)
In the 1998 season the Yankees had a losing record against only one team. Which team was it?
“Perhaps, but Mays did it in the 8th inning of a 1-1 tie in game 1 against an Indians team that won 111 games in the regular year.”
The main difference is that Mays catch was caught on film.
You’re quizzing the wrong guy, Raider. lol
Ah. Well this should be for anyone that reads the thread. Hopefully somebody knows the answer. :)
I like Sowell, in a matter of fact, add me to the ping list now that my idol Milton Friedman has passed away.
However, he is beyond clueless with the second line of a piece he has no business writing. Check out the statistics for yourself. If you have any questions please feel free to ask me or the drunk on the next bar stool who knows more about the Yankee bullpen than Sowell does.
making a fool of themselves...
The man is stating FACT - not opinion...
Thanks, I won’t hesitate to ask and welcome to the Sowell ping list, Eric Blair 2084. :)
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“The 2 greatest threats now facing America in this War on Terror are:
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1) Iran with a Nuclear weapon
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2) The Gullibility of the American People”
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...THOMAS SEWELL-2007
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I sense a thinly veiled slam on Phil Rizzuto here. ;) (Even though I do think Sowell is probably correct on this one.)
I sure wouldn’t argue with that, Ronnie!
Even Phil Rizzuto himself, God rest his soul he was like the grandfather I never had, said that Derek Jeter was the best shortstop the Yankees have ever had.
This was back in 1998.
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