Baseball's Power Surge - Is It Coming to an End?

The major leagues suffered or enjoyed a “power outage” in 2008, wrote George Vass, and the retreat is likely to continue this year. There is much speculation as to why the offensive part of the game is in apparent retreat. The most favored reason for the power slide is that the use of performance-enhancing drugs has been greatly reduced. Fewer players are hitting an extraordinary number of home runs in a season. Last year only two sluggers reached 40 homers, with Ryan Howard, shown here, topping the National League with 48 round-trippers. For the story, go to Major League Baseball

Japan Wins 2009 World Baseball Classic

Seattle Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki, pictured here, hit a two-out, two-run single in the top of the 10th inning as defending champion Japan beat reigning Olympic champion South Korea 5-3 to win its second straight World Baseball Classic title. The game was tied, 1-1, until Japan went ahead in the seventh in a predictably simple fashion – a single, a stolen base, Suzuki’s bunt single, later a sacrifice fly. Daisuke Matsuzaka was named the tournament’s MVP for the second time, posting a 3-0 record with a 2.45 ERA. To read, go to Major League Baseball and World Baseball

Team USA's Loss Runs Deeper Than One Game

There was a troubling refrain from Team USA players on March 22 after an 8-4 loss to Japan in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic. Japan did the little things and played with basics and fundamentals. The United States did not. Players repeatedly referred to the Japanese team’s attention to detail and as if it was a foreign-concept or a long lost art. Teams from Japan and Korea play fundamentally sound baseball. The refrain makes one wonder whether the United States may have lost more than a baseball game. For the articles, go to Major League Baseball and World Baseball

Opening Day in Major League Baseball

Opening Day has in the past been warmly regarded in North American tradition as the beginning of a new Major League Baseball season. Many feel that the occasion represents a newness or a chance to forget last season, in that the 30 major league clubs and their millions of fans begin with 0 – 0 records. There is nothing like watching the first game of the new season with your friends and family after a long winter without baseball. For generations, Opening Day has arrived amid pageantry, as pictured here with introductions at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros. For the story, go to Major League Baseball

Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice Heading to the Hall of Fame

	Rickey Henderson dashed into the Hall of Fame on his first try, while Jim Rice made it with a final swing. Henderson is baseball’s undisputed standard for leadoff hitters and career leader in runs scored and stolen bases, while Rice was among the game’s most feared sluggers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The pair will be inducted into the Hall on July 26 in Cooperstown, N.Y. Other BPA articles are “Henderson and Rice Give African American Kids Hope”, “Taking Strikes to Watch Rickey Run”, “Joe Gordon, Overlooked Yankee, Gets His Due”, and “The Art of Catching” by former big league catcher Brent Mayne.
For the articles, go to News Release and Skills and Strategies and Newsletter

Hank Aaron Honored on 75th Birthday by Clinton and Others

On his 75th birthday, Hank Aaron felt nothing but love, in contrast to the hate mail he received as he closed in on Babe Ruth’s home run record in 1974. From former President Bill Clinton to baseball commissioner Bud Selig, the famous came together to celebrate a landmark birthday for the man who hit 755 homers during his Hall of Fame career. Aaron was honored on the same day Barry Bonds was in a San Francisco courtroom pleading not guilty to perjury charges stemming from testimony that he never knowingly took drugs as he was chasing Aaron’s record. For the article, go to Feature Stories

Time for Baseball to Come Clean

We may never know the real truth about Alex Rodriguez, who like Mark McGwire, seems to have a selective memory about the past. The same goes for Miguel Tejada. What we do know is, we will never look at either player again without wondering how much was real. There is a list of 104 players who tested positive for steroids in 2003. Their names must be released to remove the cloud over baseball, and the names of other players can be cleared. It appears that players will grow old before Bud Selig and union chief Donald Fehr do anything to protect the integrity of baseball. For the article, go to News Release

In Tony Kubek, Hall of Fame Honors an Authentic Voice

Tony Kubek broke from baseball in 1994, resigning as a Yankees analyst on the MSG Network. He didn’t like players’ attitudes, the strike that ended the season early, and the years of travel. And he wanted to spend more time at home with his family in Wisconsin. These days, Kubek teaches English as a second language to Hmong immigrants and Latinos. Early in December, Kubek, a former Yankees shortstop who is now 73, was named the winner of the Ford C. Frick Award, which the National Baseball Hall of Fame presents annually to a deserving broadcaster. For the articles, go to News Release and Feature Stories

Greg Maddux Closes Model Pitching Career

Greg Maddux grew up with the same weekend ritual as so many other American kids. He would run down to the park to play ball against the older guys from the neighborhood in regular Sunday games. Nearly three decades later, he has retired from baseball as one of the greatest pitchers to put on a uniform. After 355 wins, a 3.11 ERA, and 23 major league seasons, Maddux held a 30-minute news conference to announce his retirement. The four-time Cy Young Award winner with a record 18 Gold Gloves was an eight-time All-Star and won at least 13 games in 20 straight seasons. For the story, go to Newsletter

Bob Costas to Join the MLB Network

Bob Costas, one of the most accomplished and highly decorated sports broadcasters in history, has joined the MLB Network. As part of a multi-year deal, MLB Network will be the exclusive cable home for Costas, who will host special original programming with an emphasis on the game’s history and its most significant figures. He will serve as the lead play by play commentator. A 29-year veteran of NBC Sports, Costas has been honored as Sportscaster of the Year a record eight times. He also won the Sports Emmy for "Outstanding Studio Host" every year from 2002-2006. Another story on Bob's new job is "MLB Network Throws out First Pitch", in addition to "Bill Werber, Who Played with Babe Ruth, Is Dead at 100."

For these articles, go to Feature Stories and Major League Baseball

Traditional Pitching Wind-up Has Returned

	Many of baseball's most successful pitchers today are using a bigger, a more traditional wind-up. During the 2008 post-season play, southpaw Cole Hamels, right-hander Brett Myers of the Phillies, and left-hander David Price of the Rays were outstanding on the mound. They have returned to a rhythmic, more deceptive pitching delivery. All have big motions, long arm actions, and deceptive wind-ups. Pictured here are Hamels and Jake Peavy. Don Weiskopf's study features his series sequence photos of Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichal, Don Sutton, Bob Shaw, and Billy Pierce.
For the report, go to Coaching Clinic

The Baseball Lesson By Bob Schieffer

In his short essay, The Baseball Lesson, Bob Schieffer, moderator of CBS’s Face The Nation, tells how more and more parents are paying professional instructors $70 an hour to teach ten-year-old Little Leaguers how to hit or pitch a baseball. The parents say it’s about self-esteem; that striking out is too hard on kids. Schieffer, however, thinks “They’re missing one of the best parts of being a parent and the whole point of what baseball is about.” He writes, “Baseball is about learning to deal with failure. Even the best fail more than they succeed.” To read, go to Newsletter

Minor League Baseball Start Opening Day Countdowns

In Minor League Baseball, there’s much to look forward to in 2009, including AutoZone Park in Memphis. This year, in this economic climate, people will be holding on to their entertainment dollars more than ever. Jonathan Mayo writes, “How baseball as a whole responds will be one of the more fascinating things to watch this coming season, at least from a business perspective.” Yet, Mayo sees yet another attendance record – the sixth straight – broken in 2009. Additional articles are “Ride ‘Em In, Rawhide,” Derek Holland, the Rangers’ young left-hander, and outfielder Shane Robinson of the Cardinals. For the stories, go to Minor League

An Aggressive Baseball Offense

The best offense in baseball is an aggressive attack, which is capable of exerting continuous pressure on the defense. Hitting away is not the only way to score runs. Bunting, the steal, hit and run, run and hit, and the squeeze play can all advance runners to scoring position or score them. From the textbook Don Weiskopf co-authored with Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston, they wrote, “Some of baseball’s best teams have achieved success largely on aggressive tactics and strategy and speed”, as pictured here by Maury Wills. Demonstrating the basic offensive skills are Manny Mota, Bobby Valentine, and Bill Russell. For this illustrated article, go to Skills and Strategies

Bandleader Les Elgart Had Offers from Pro Baseball Teams

Still a high school student, Les Elgart was faced with a difficult and significant choice: He could play professional baseball or he could follow a music career. He had joined his high school orchestra, but also found time to play prep baseball. A top pitcher, young Elgart soon had a stack of offers from professional baseball teams, but he stuck with his trumpet. During the 1950s and later years, Elgart’s “Sophisticated Swing” was a by-word to the collegiate campuses across the country. For his story, go to Newsletter

Baseball Is Back in Play at the University of Oregon

The University of Oregon is in its first college baseball season after dropping its program 28 years ago. On their return to the diamond on February 20 at Saint Mary’s College, the Ducks, coached by George Horton, won the opener 5-3. The following week on the Oregon campus, an enthusiastic crowd of 2,777 filled PK Park to watch Oregon’s first home game in nearly three decades. Pinch-hitter Andrew Schmidt singled in Eddy Rodriguez with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 1-0 triumph over defending national champion Fresno State. The Ducks are inexperienced – 20 freshmen on a roster of 35. Pictured here is Oregon freshman second baseman putting the tag on Fresno State's Danny Muno. For this story, go to High School/College/Senior Baseball

150 Years of College Baseball Remembered

The 150th anniversary of the first game of college baseball will be carried live nationally on ESPNU on Sunday, May 3, between Amherst and Williams at historic Wahconah Park. The two teams competed in the first intercollegiate game on July 1, 1859, to start a glorious, 150-year tradition of college baseball. The College Baseball Foundation, in Lubbock, Texas, designated Wahconah Park as the “Birthplace of College Baseball”. The 150th Anniversary Game will be preceded by a reenactment of the original game under the old rules with alumni players of both schools participating. To read, go to High School, College, Senior Baseball

Bill Thurston Will Be Honored at 150th Anniversary Game

Bill Thurston, head coach of the Amherst College baseball program since 1966, has led the Jeffs to nearly 800 victories over the last 43 seasons. Widely respected as a teacher of baseball skills and techniques, and a full-time tenured professor of physical education, his teams have posted 18 consecutive winning seasons. Thurston has done more than guide the Amherst baseball team. He has directly affected the way the game is played, taught, staffed, researched, officiated and equipped at both the national and global levels. For his many achievements, go to High School/College/ Senior Baseball

LSU Takes a New Field as No. 1

The Louisiana State University Tigers christened sparkling new Alex Box Stadium when it opened its 2009 baseball season February 20 against Villanova. The Tigers took the field as the top-ranked team in the country. In two seasons since leaving Notre Dame for LSU, coach Paul Mainieri has restored the once-dominant Tiger program to national prominence. He has built a team long on speed, defense, and power. Other BPA articles are “College Baseball Coaches Speak their Minds at NCAA Summit” and “Illinois High School Coach Carl Hunckler Inducted into the Hall of Fame.” For these articles, go to High School/College/ Senior Baseball

IBAF Baseball World Cup 2009 Will Be Held in September

The International Baseball Federation has set the dates and sites for the 2009 World Cup. The 22-team event, originally scheduled for Cuba but moved to Europe to try to help start the sport’s growth there, will have five preliminary groups from September 9-27. First round games will be held in Moscow, Prague, Sundyberg (Stockholm), Regensburg, Germany, and Barcelona, Spain. Other BPA articles are “German Baseball Officials Will Be Watching WBC Closely”, “IBAF Makes Olympic Pitch”, and “Confederation of European Baseball Commits to Little League.” For these articles, go to World Baseball

Southpaw Dick Fitzgerald Now 73, and Still Pitching

Dick Fitzgerald is a 73-year-old pitching marvel who can still throw nine innings once a week. One of the ageless miracles of senior baseball, “Fitz” can throw more miles an hour, 75, than his age. Since the 1950s, when he began playing AAA ball in the Pacific Coast League, Fitzgerald has been pitching steadily for nearly six decades, winning over 700 games during his extraordinary career. The stylish left-hander has never missed a season of pitching since he was 11 years old. Fitz says he doesn't know how long he will keep pitching. For his amazing career story, go to Feature Stories

Don Weiskopf's Favorite Baseball Photos

During his long career as a baseball author, writer, and photographer, Don Weiskopf has written many instructional textbooks on the basic fundamental techniques of baseball, including two with Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston. All of Don's books and articles featured high-speed sequence-series photographs of outstanding players demonstrating the skill techniques of the game, including Sandy Koufax and Mickey Mantle pictured here. In this edition of his Photo Gallery, he has selected many of his favorite photos. To view the photos, go to Photo Gallery

Fond Memories of Sandlot Baseball by a Former Major Leaguer

The demise of sandlot baseball is demoralizing, said Bob Will, former outfielder of the Chicago Cubs during the late 1950s and ‘60s. “I pass by many empty fields in the suburbs and the city of Chicago that are vacant of play, organized or otherwise, and I am saddened. As a boy, I can remember venturing to a friend’s areas and be gone the whole day. Other times, if there were only two or three of us, we would go to the school yard or playground and play our game. No parents, no supervision, no politics, and no worry.” For his story, go to Youth Baseball

Reviving the Sandlot Baseball Game

Most neighborhood ball fields today sit empty during the summer because young children have to have everything organized for them, wrote Don Weiskopf, publisher of Baseball Play America. There is still hope, however, that the sandlot and playground concept will not die. The lack of sandlot and pick-up games has hurt the development of young players in America. Batter's Up USA is taking an informal approach to rekindling interest in the game. Their goal is to introduce young children to baseball and have them play in a safe and stress-free environment with limited adult involvement. For the article, go to Youth Baseball

Sandlot Baseball Game Needs Players

For decades, sandlot baseball was a slice of American life enjoyed by youngsters from coast to coast, wrote Eric Olson of The Associated Press. Many men older 40 remember those summer days when they headed to the park or vacant lot and played all day – or until Mom sent word that it was time for dinner. Youngsters learned the game best in an unstructured setting. The lack of pick-up games and sandlot ball today has hurt the development of young players. They need to make playing catch fun and challenging. Young players need more skill-based, fun resulting experiences, as opposed to high-pressurized organized league play. For the article, go to Youth Baseball

Getting Kids Back to Sandlot Baseball

Children today do not play enough playground baseball. Don Weiskopf believes more opportunities to play baseball in parks and playgrounds need to be provided by local park and recreation departments. Programs of this kind will contribute much to the revival of sandlot ball and the pick-up game concept. The best way to get young children to play more baseball on their own is to promote a return of pick-up games. They need to be taught how to play them. For the article, go to Youth Baseball

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