Baseball caps and beyond
I missed the news last year when the United States Postal Service issued a “forever” stamp in honor of Hank Aaron. But a lovely surprise arrived in the mail the other day. A friend and former Associated Press colleague had stuck one of the stamps in a notecard and mailed it to me in an […]
Read More Hammerin’ Hank is foreverI could scarcely believe my eyes. During the three-game weekend college baseball series between Yale and Princeton, several batters squared to — wait for it! — bunt. The Bulldogs and Tigers each laid down a successful sacrifice bunt in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, and Yale laid down two in the nightcap. Neither team […]
Read More Surprise! Baseball players buntingWhen your season is unexpectedly cut short by a pandemic, what’s a college coach to do? At Princeton, Scott Bradley has turned to virtual tools to keep coaching. Through the university’s athletic fellows program, I’ve had a glimpse of how the head coach and his assistants have managed to keep the team together and inspire […]
Read More Keeping the Tiger team intactVia an alumni newsletter I learned today that Hank Aaron will be the commencement speaker at Marquette University on May 20. Aaron is a wonderful choice for the Milwaukee campus, which this time of year is preoccupied with basketball. Aaron spent much of his Hall-of-Fame career in Milwaukee with the Braves and even returned there for the […]
Read More Hank Aaron to be Marquette University’s graduation speakerThe Baseball Bloggers Alliance gives the Goose Gossage award each year to the best relievers in baseball, and here’s my ballot. I have nominations for the American and National leagues. American League 1. Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers – The best in baseball in 2011 based on number of saves, and I think that’s an accurate reflection […]
Read More Who were the best relievers in baseball in 2011? Jose Valverde and J.J. PutzIn the Baseball Bloggers Alliance, this is my rookie year for voting in the group’s end-of-season awards. In the BBA, the Willie Mays Award goes to the top rookie, and here’s my ballot influenced heavily by the great MLB.com statistical rundown on rookies: 1. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta – Braves: Playing virtually every game at 1st […]
Read More Who was the best rookie in Major League Baseball in 2011? Freddie FreemanWhat a crazy night in baseball. Using the MLB app on my iPhone, I just listened to the last inning as the Braves fell to the Phillies in 13 innings to give the Cardinals the NL wild card. Then I switched over to the Yankees broadcast to hear the Rays win in the 12th moments […]
Read More What a night in baseball!This is a low key weekend around our house as America and the world reflect on the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. We had our share of drama that day, as I’ve recounted elsewhere. Here on the Ball Caps Blog, I hold a cap over my heart in tribute to those who lost their […]
Read More Baseball, America and 9-11: A short tributeAs I write this post, the Yankees and Red Sox (again!) are playing on the Sunday night telecast. If the Yankees win, they’ll manage a tie in first place of the American League East not with the Sox but with the Baltimore Orioles. Whoa. And check the AL Central standings. The Indians, who (be honest) […]
Read More After the first full week of play, some startling names atop the baseball standingsOur youngest child recently headed off to college in Philadelphia and called a week or so ago with a request: can you send me a Phillies cap? Years ago my son had played on a Phillies team during Little League, but his cap had long since disappeared. I had been a coach and kept my […]
Read More A San Francisco Giants fan bids farewell to his Phillies cap
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