Custom⚾️Baseball

To all: I am sorry to not post today. My drive is corrupted and all my work is in limbo. I have some back ups, but it will be days before I post again. I appreciate anyone who has liked,followed, and shared. I hadn’t missed a day since Opening Day 2020…I’ll be back soon.

I know they have pitching clocks now, but since three outs was standardized in the 1800's, this is the only true clock baseball has, and why the game is about good timing, not the time it takes.

Just for fun. #Giants #Dodgers

Recommended reading: @MikeShropshire's hilarious book Seasons in Hell about covering Texas #Rangers baseball in the 1970's.

#OTD in 1996, National League umpire John McSherry suffered a heart attack seven pitches into calling opening day in Cincinnati. The game was postponed to the next day. Foot-in-mouth expert, #Reds owner Marge Schott, was a critic of the postponement.

#OTD in 1977, This Week In Baseball was released in syndication. Hosted by Mel Allen, it was #MLB's answer to This Week in Pro Football (NFL Films).

Traded before the team would ever have a regular season game, #OTD in 1969, the Seattle Pilots traded Lou Piniella to the Kansas City #Royals. Piniella would win the AL Rookie of the Year that season.

#OTD in 1989, former Yale President and NL head A. Bartlett Giamatti became MLB Commissioner.

Born #OTD in 1944, Rusty Staub. La Grande Orange was a 6x All-Star and first star of the the #Expos (avg. 26 HR 90 RBI). He was a #Colt45 #Astros #Mets #Tiers #Rangers player as well.

Bar Wars: #OTD in 1988, the Cheers bar was NOT a place where everybody knew your name when Wade Boggs appeared. Well, they knew his name, but they didn't believe it was him. He was summarily pants'd. @ChickenMan3010 I'll have a @PabstBlueRibbon, Woody...

Traded by the Montreal #Expos #OTD in 1980, one La Grand Orange (Rusty Staub), to the Texas #Rangers for Chris Smith and LaRue Washington. He would hit .300 in the Texas heat that season.

#MLB's first regular season game in March was a walk-off win via Alex Rodriguez #OTD in 1996. In the 12th inning, Arod singled home the winning run as the #Mariners defeated the #WhiteSox 3-2.

#OTD in 1968, the city of Seattle announced their new baseball name, the Pilots.

In one of the greatest career revival seasons, #OTD in 1982, All-Star Al Oliver began his great year traded by the Texas #Rangers to the Montreal #Expos for Dave Hostetler and Larry Parrish. By season end, he'd lead the NL in H, 2B, RBI, & a Batting title.

Born #OTD in 1939, Phil Niekro. Knucksie would win 318 over 24 seasons, striking out 3,342. He was a 5xAS and won 5xGG. #Braves #Indians #Yankees #BlueJays

Born #OTD in 1901, George "Mule" Suttles. As bad as Negro League stats were kept, we KNOW he played at least 89 games in his 1926 Triple Crown season with 32 HR and 130 RBI. So, double that! And hit .425. 5x AS. 2x Batting titles. HOF 2006.

#OTD in 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot leaving the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Curiously, NBC reported the gunman, John Hinkley Jr., was to have dinner the night before with Neil Bush, son of the VP George H.W. Bush (but cancelled).

#OTD in 1981, the Chicago #WhiteSox purchased hometown big boy Greg Luzinski from the Philadelphia #Phillies.

#OTD in 1978, the Cleveland #Indians traded Dennis Eckersley (with Fred Kendall) to the Boston #RedSox for Ted Cox, Bo Díaz, Mike Paxton and Rick Wise.