Free Republic

Frank Howard, the beloved Washington Senators slugger and four-time All-Star, has passed away at 87. Howard's death was announced by the Washington Nationals – a club he never technically played for, but which honored him with a statue outside its stadium, nonetheless. 'We are deeply saddened to share that Washington Senators legend Frank Howard has passed away at the age of 87,' read the club statement. 'We join Frank's loved ones in mourning.' A native of Columbus, Howard was a two-sport star at Ohio State, where he played both baseball and basketball. In fact, he proved so skilled at the...

On this day in 1934, Washington Senator's backup catcher Morris "Moe" Berg's streak of 117 games in a row without committing an error comes to an end, setting an American League record. Berg wasn't your typical athlete: before signing with the Brooklyn Robins (they wouldn't become the Dodgers until 1932), he graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. magna cum laude in modern languages. Ted Lyons, Berg's teammate with the White Sox, would say that "he can speak seven languages but can't hit in any of them." Berg didn't have a great bat, but when every one of manager Ray...

<p>WASHINGTON — When the Texas Rangers finally made the World Series, there was only one logical reaction from old-time baseball fans in the nation’s capital.</p> <p>"First Minnesota, and then Texas. My heavens!" Charlie Brotman said. "Everybody but the real thing is there."</p>

The easy part of the American League Championship Series will be enjoying the pitching showdowns in which Cliff Lee is involved for the Texas Rangers. Yea, verily, even against the Empire Emeritus. All things considered, the Rangers' and the Yankees' pitching may be about equal, if you don't consider advantage, Lee. It's the Rangers' first trip to any postseason series off a postseason series win. It's the farthest the franchise has gone since its birth in 1961. You say you forgot, or didn't realise the Rangers were that old? Gather 'round, pop the tab on a cold one. Learn how...

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) jokes that if any more candidates for his party's nomination enter the race, they'll have enough for a baseball team. It wouldn't be a very good team, however. None of the candidates are willing to play anywhere but in left field.

Red Sox legend Ted Williams dead at 83 07/05/2002 Associated Press CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. - Ted Williams, the Boston Red Sox revered and sometimes reviled "Splendid Splinter" and baseball's last .400 hitter, has died at age 83. Williams, who suffered a series of strokes and congestive heart failure in recent years, was taken Friday to Citrus County Memorial Hospital "where he was pronounced deceased," said sheriff's department spokesman Lt. Joe Eckstein. He underwent open-heart surgery in January 2001 and had a pacemaker inserted in November 2000. AP The Hall of Famer, who managed the Texas Rangers when the team...