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1980 New York Mets Season
The 1980 New York Mets season was the 19th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Led by manager Joe Torre, the team had a 67–95 record and finished in fifth place in the National League East. Offseason The beginnings of the 1986 team On January 24, 1980, ownership of the team changed hands. The group that bought the Mets for an estimated $22 million (the largest amount paid for a ball club to that point) was headed by Nelson Doubleday, Jr. and Fred Wilpon. Doubleday was head of the old and distinguished publishing company that bore his name, while Wilpon was a highly successful real-estate developer. The new owners promised to invest money to acquire winning players and develop a competitive club, though it took a few years before the new partners were able to rebuild a solid contender. In February, the new owners hired Frank Cashen, who had spent ten years in the front office of the Baltimore Orioles from 1966 to 1976, during which time the O ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National League East
The National League East is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. Along with the American League Central it is one of two divisions to have every member win at least one World Series title. The division was created when the National League (along with the American League) added two expansion teams and divided into two divisions, East and West effective for the 1969 season. The National League's geographical alignment was rather peculiar as its partitioning was really more north and south instead of east and west. Two teams in the Eastern Time Zone, the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, were in the same division as teams on the Pacific coast. This was due to the demands of the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, who refused to support expansion unless they were promised they would be kept together in the newly created East division. During the two-division era, from 1969 to 1993, the Phillies–Pirates rivalry, Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates toget ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1980 Major League Baseball Draft
First round selections The following are the first round picks in the 1980 Major League Baseball draft. Compensation Picks Other notable players *Tim Teufel, 2nd round, 38th overall Minnesota Twins *Dan Plesac, 2nd round, 41st overall St. Louis Cardinals (did not sign) * Dave Miley, 2nd round, 47th overall Cincinnati Reds * Tim Burke†, 2nd round, 49th overall Pittsburgh Pirates * Joe Hesketh, 2nd round, 50th overall Montreal Expos *Danny Tartabull†, 3rd round, 71st overall Cincinnati Reds *Doug Drabek†, 4th round, 87th overall Cleveland Indians (did not sign) * Ricky Horton, 4th round, 92nd overall St. Louis Cardinals * Joe Orsulak, 6th round, 152nd overall Pittsburgh Pirates *Randy Ready, 6th round, 154th overall Milwaukee Brewers *Don Slaught, 7th round, 171st overall Kansas City Royals *Lloyd McClendon, 8th round, 183rd overall New York Mets * Eric Davis†, 8th round, 201st overall Cincinnati Reds * John Farrell, 9th round, 212th overall Oakland Athletics (did n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Craig Swan
Craig Steven Swan (born November 30, 1950) is a former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1973 to 1984 for the New York Mets and California Angels. Swan's best season came in when he posted a 9–6 win–loss record (pitching), win–loss record and led the National League with an earned run average of 2.43. This was significant as the Mets were in the National League East cellar that year. Swan featured a fastball between 90 and 95 miles per hour with good movement and an occasional Slider (baseball), slider. Early life and career Swan was born in Van Nuys, California. At age 14, he pitched for Long Beach, California, Long Beach in the PONY Baseball and Softball, PONY League, hurled a no-hitter, and was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium before Game 5 of the World Series; his pitch was televised and can be seen on the TV broadcast, with announcer Ray Scott (sportscaster), Ray Scott describing his pitching exploi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Stearns
John Hardin Stearns (August 21, 1951 – September 15, 2022), nicknamed "Bad Dude", was an American professional baseball catcher and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the New York Mets from 1975 to 1984 after playing a single game for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1974. Stearns was a two-sport star in college, and he entered professional baseball after being selected in both the MLB and National Football League drafts. He was a four-time MLB All-Star, but struggled with injuries in the latter portion of his career. After his retirement as a player, Stearns served as a coach for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Mets of MLB, as well as in Minor League Baseball. Early life Stearns attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, Colorado. He played three sports in high school, winning state championships in baseball and basketball. The Oakland Athletics selected Stearns in the 13th round of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft at 17 years o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jerry Morales
Julio Ruben "Jerry" Morales Torres (born February 18, 1949) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from -. Career Morales was originally signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent at the age of 17 in 1966. He went to the San Diego Padres in 1968 in that year's expansion draft, and spent several seasons going up and down in the Padres' farm system, finally becoming a semiregular in and . On November 7, 1973 Morales was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Glenn Beckert and minor league infielder Bobby Fenwick. Morales, who ended up playing seven seasons for the Cubs over two stints (1973-, -1983) was a consistent and quiet outfielder who played all three outfield positions with above average speed and a good glove. He was known for his unusual "basket catch" style. Unless he was running when he caught a ball, he always made a two-handed basket catch, directly in front of his body, below the belt. At the time of the Beckert deal, Cubs general manager John Holl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lee Mazzilli
Lee Louis Mazzilli (born March 25, 1955) is an American professional baseball player, coach, and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder for the New York Mets, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Toronto Blue Jays from 1976 through 1989. He was an MLB All-Star in 1979. Mazzilli also managed the Baltimore Orioles from 2004 through 2005 and coached the Yankees from 2000 through 2003 and in 2006. Early years An excellent athlete, Mazzilli was the son of welterweight boxer Libero Mazzilli and his wife, June. Unlike most switch hitters, who naturally bat from one side of the plate and train themselves to feel comfortable on the other, Mazzilli was naturally ambidextrous, and swung the bat both ways from an early age. The sport he most excelled in as a junior was speed skating, in which he won eight national championships. He graduated from Brooklyn's Lincoln High School in 1973, and was the first round selection (14th pick overall) of t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elliott Maddox
Elliott Maddox (born December 21, 1947) is an American former Major League Baseball player. In , he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round (20th pick) of the draft (secondary phase). He made his MLB debut in 1970. Early years Maddox was born in East Orange, New Jersey and grew up in Vauxhall, New Jersey. He graduated from Union High School in Union County, New Jersey. As a senior, he was selected by the Houston Astros in the fourth round of the 1966 Major League Baseball draft, but chose to attend the University of Michigan, instead. As a sophomore in , he won the Big Ten batting title with a .467 batting average. In June , he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round (20th pick) of the draft (secondary phase). He converted to Judaism in the 1970s. Detroit Tigers Maddox spent just two seasons in the Tigers' farm system, never playing higher than high A ball, before making his major league debut as a 22 year old in . An exceptional all around fielder, Ma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mike Jorgensen
Michael Jorgensen (born August 16, 1948) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and outfielder who currently works in the St. Louis Cardinals' front office. The New York Mets drafted him in the fourth round of the 1966 Major League Baseball Draft. In a 17-year Major League Baseball (MLB) playing career spanning from 1968 to 1985, he played primarily with the Mets and Montreal Expos and had brief stints with the Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics. He also has served as a manager for the Cardinals. Jorgensen is the only major league baseball player to have been born the day Babe Ruth died. Playing career Jorgensen was raised in Bayside, Queens, in New York City."Mets Sign Dyer and Two Rookies: Matlack and Jorgensen Lift Total Under Contract to 18". ''The New York Times''. February 1, 1970. p. S2. He attended Francis Lewis High School. The New York Mets signed a contract with him in 1966. Jorgensen made his major league debut with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steve Henderson (baseball)
Steven Curtis Henderson (born November 18, 1952) is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre." Cincinnati Reds Henderson was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth round of the 1974 Major League Baseball Draft out of Prairie View A&M University. After leading the Eastern League with 158 hits, eleven triples and 255 total bases, and batting .312 in for the Reds' Double-A affiliate, the Trois-Rivières Aigles, he was batting .326 for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in at the time of his trade to New York. New York Mets Tom Seaver was in a contract dispute with New York Mets chairman M. Donald Grant when on June 15, 1977, the Mets traded Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds for Pat Zachry, Doug Flynn, Dan Norman and Henderson, one of a series of trades that became known as the "Midnight Massacre". Henderson debuted with the Mets the following day as a pinch ru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Doug Flynn
Robert Douglas Flynn, Jr. (born April 18, 1951) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1975 to 1985 as an infielder for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Montreal Expos and the Detroit Tigers. Flynn was a member of two world championship winning teams with the Cincinnati Reds and won a Gold Glove Award in 1980 as a member of the New York Mets. Early life Flynn was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky. He attended Bryan Station High School, where he starred in baseball, basketball and football, playing quarterback on a 12-1 team. He went to the University of Kentucky on a combination baseball-basketball scholarship. While attending Kentucky, Flynn and some friends went to a Cincinnati Reds tryout camp. Flynn made the cut. After one more tryout camp and yet another audition at Riverfront Stadium, the Reds signed him as an amateur free agent in . Playing career Cincinnati Reds Flynn batted .245 with six h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
DiamondVision
Diamond Vision (known as ''Aurora Vision'' in Japan) displays are large-scale video walls for indoor and outdoor sports venues and commercial applications, produced by the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. Diamond Vision Systems is a division of Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. and is headquartered in Warrendale, Pennsylvania, where certain products are designed and assembled for the North American market. Diamond Vision video screens incorporate technologies developed by Mitsubishi Electric. For wide viewing angles, Diamond Vision screens utilize chip-type LEDs. Mitsubishi Electric also uses patented processing technology in Diamond Vision boards for imagery and color reproduction. Early Diamond Vision displays used Cathode-ray tube technology, similarly to Jumbotrons. Diamond Vision's awards include an Emmy Award and the Best in Sports Technology award from the Sports Business Journal–Sports Business Daily.Tripp Mickle and Ross Nethery “Big night for Jones, NFL.”Sp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Moneyball
''Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game'' is a book by Michael Lewis, published in 2003, about the Oakland Athletics baseball team and its general manager Billy Beane. Its focus is the team's analytical, evidence-based, sabermetric approach to assembling a competitive baseball team despite Oakland's small budget. A film based on Lewis' book, starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, was released in 2011. Synopsis The central premise of ''Moneyball'' is that the collective wisdom of baseball insiders (including players, managers, coaches, scouts, and the front office) over the past century is outdated, subjective, and often flawed. Statistics such as stolen bases, runs batted in, and batting average, typically used to gauge players, are relics of a 19th-century view of the game and the statistics available at that time. Before sabermetrics was introduced to baseball, teams were dependent on the skills of their scouts to find and evaluate players. Scouts are experienced in the spo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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