Sunday, September 08, 2002
Baseball insider
Barry, meet Babe
By Bob Matthews
Gannett News Service
San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds has all but clinched an unprecedented fifth National League Most Valuable Player Award. No other player has won more than three MVP awards.
But let's give Babe Ruth (left) his due respect.
The current version of the MVP award was introduced in 1931, when Ruth was beginning to fade.
Before 1931, baseball picked an MVP from 1922 through 1928. Under league rules, a player could win only once. Ruth won in 1923.
Had the 1931 version of the MVP award been in existence when Ruth became a full-time player as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1915, he probably would have finished 1-2-3 in MVP voting in 1916, '17, '18, '19, '20, '21, '23, '24, '26, '27, '28, '29 and '30.
A's-minus?
The most amazing thing about the winning streak of the Oakland A's is that the team did it minus departed free agents Jason Giambi (to the New York Yankees) and Johnny Damon (to the Boston Red Sox). The most amazing thing about the 15-game home losing streak by the New York Mets was doing it despite the additions of free agents Roberto Alomar, Mo Vaughn, Jeromy Burnitz and Roger Cedeno.
Streak stuff
What do the A's and 1906 Chicago White Sox have in common other than long winning streaks? Great pitching. The 1906 White Sox hit an American League-low .230 with seven home runs, but they had a stingy 2.13 earned run average and pitched 32 shutouts. The “Hitless Wonders” won the AL pennant with a 93-58 record and beat the Chicago Cubs (116-36 record) four games to two in the World Series.
Lotta Tejada
Don't be surprised if Oakland shortstop Miguel Tejada (above) earns the American League Most Valuable Player Award despite finishing second to Texas' Alex Rodriguez in balloting for shortstop on the season-ending Associated Press Major League All-Star Team.
Kudos, Cal
Cal Ripken Jr.'s first season as a baseball owner was a smash hit, at least off the field. His Aberdeen (Md.) IronBirds, the New York-Penn League (Single-A) farm team of the Baltimore Orioles, finished far below .500 — 31-54 (.408) — but drew 231,935 fans for 38 home dates. The team has a waiting list of 1,100 for season tickets. The Montreal Expos should be so fortunate.
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Field hockey results
Girls cross country results
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Volleyball results
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