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Matt Blank
Clarence Matthew Blank (born April 5, 1976) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Montreal Expos, and in the KBO League for the Kia Tigers. Early life Blank attended James W. Martin High School in Arlington, Texas. He was selected by the New York Yankees in the 37th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign, and instead enrolled at Galveston College. After a year in college, Blank was drafted in the 40th round of the 1995 Major League Baseball draft by the Florida Marlins, but again declined to sign. He later transferred to Texas A&M University. In 1996, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Professional career After not being drafted in , Blank was drafted in the 11th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball draft by the Montreal Expos. He signed on to play in the Expos organization, and made his professional baseball debut with the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is assigned the number 1. The pitcher is often considered the most important player on the defensive side of the game, and as such is situated at the right end of the defensive spectrum. There are many different types of pitchers, such as the starting pitcher, relief pitcher, middle reliever, lefty specialist, setup man, and the closer. Traditionally, the pitcher also bats. Starting in 1973 with the American League(and later the National League) and spreading to further leagues throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the hitting duties of the pitcher have generally been given over to the position of designated hitter, a cause of some controversy. The Japanese Central Le ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1995 Major League Baseball Draft
First round selections The following are the first round picks in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft. ''*'' Did not sign Background Outfielder Darin Erstad of the University of Nebraska was the first pick in the 1995 Rule 4 Draft. Erstad compiled a career .356 average in three seasons with the Cornhuskers, including 41 runs and 182 RBI in 176 games. He was the first Big Eight player to be selected as the number one pick in a Major League Baseball Rule 4 Draft. Among the first round selections was Kerry Wood, fourth overall by the Cubs. Wood made it to the majors in 1998 and won Rookie of the Year honors later that season. In just his fifth major league start, he tied the major league record of 20 strikeouts in a single game. NFL great Tom Brady was drafted in the 18th round by the Montreal Expos, though he never signed with the team. Other notable players *Jarrod Washburn, 2nd round, 31st overall by the California Angels * Mark Bellhorn, 2nd round, 35th overall by the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cape Fear Crocs
The Cape Fear Crocs were a minor league baseball team in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They were a low Class-A baseball team which played in the South Atlantic League, and were a farm team of the Montreal Expos for the franchise's entire tenure as the Cape Fear Crocs. They played all of their home games at J. P. Riddle Stadium and were previously known as the Fayetteville Generals. Even though the Crocs were a perennial playoff team during their time in the SAL, poor attendance figures and problems having their existing stadium renovated and updated to league standards or even a new downtown stadium built, all proved too much to bear for the ownership of the struggling franchise. Prior to the 2001 season, the Crocs were sold and moved to New Jersey, where they officially became the Lakewood BlueClaws, and dropped their affiliation with the Expos in favor of becoming an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Their mascot was the Cape Fear Croc. List of Cape Fear Croc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Class A (baseball)
Class A, also known as Single-A and sometimes as Low-A, is the fourth-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States, below Triple-A, Double-A, and High-A. There are 30 teams classified at the Single-A level, one for each team in Major League Baseball (MLB), organized into three leagues: the California League, Carolina League, and Florida State League. History Class A was originally the highest level of Minor League Baseball, beginning with the earliest classifications, established circa 1890. Teams within leagues at this level had their players' contracts protected and the players were subject to reserve clauses. When the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues – the formal name of Minor League Baseball – was founded in 1901, Class A remained the highest level, restricted to leagues with cities that had an aggregate population of over a million people. Entering the 1902 season, the only Class A leagues were the Eastern League and the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Inning
In baseball, softball, and similar games, an inning is the basic unit of play, consisting of two halves or frames, the "top" (first half) and the "bottom" (second half). In each half, one team bats until three outs are made, with the other team playing defense. A full baseball game is typically scheduled for nine innings, while softball games consist of seven innings; although this may be shortened due to weather or extended if the score is tied at the end of the scheduled innings. The use of the term ''inning'' in baseball and softball contrasts with cricket and rounders, in which the term is '' innings'' in both singular and plural. Gameplay Each half-inning formally starts when the umpire calls "Play" or "Play ball". A full inning consists of six outs, three for each team; and, in Major League Baseball and most other adult leagues, a regulation game consists of nine innings. The visiting team bats in the first half-inning, the ''top'' of the inning, derived from the position ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is denoted by K in scorekeeping and statistics. A "strikeout looking" — in which the batter does not swing and the third strike is called by the umpire — is usually denoted by a ꓘ. Although a strikeout suggests that the pitcher dominated the batter, the free-swinging style that generates home runs also leaves batters susceptible to striking out. Some of the greatest home run hitters of all time—such as Alex Rodriguez, Reggie Jackson, and Jim Thome—were notorious for striking out. Rules and jargon A pitched ball is ruled a ''ball'' by the umpire if the batter did not swing at it and, in that umpire's judgement, it does not pass through the strike zone. Any pitch at which the batter swings unsuccessfully or, that in that umpire's judg ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Earned Run Average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine. Thus, a lower ERA is better. Runs resulting from passed balls or defensive errors (including pitchers' defensive errors) are recorded as unearned runs and omitted from ERA calculations. Origins Henry Chadwick is credited with devising the statistic, which caught on as a measure of pitching effectiveness after relief pitching came into vogue in the 1900s. Prior to 1900—and, in fact, for many years afterward—pitchers were routinely expected to pitch a complete game, and their win–loss record was considered sufficient in determining their effectiveness. After pitchers like James Otis Crandall and Charley Hall made names for themselves as relief specialists, gauging a pitcher's e ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vermont Expos
Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec to the north. admission to the Union, Admitted to the union in 1791 as the 14th state, it is the only state in New England not bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the state has a population of 643,503, ranking it the List of U.S. states and territories by population, second least-populated in the U.S. after Wyoming. It is also the nation's List of U.S. states and territories by area, sixth-smallest state in area. List of capitals in the United States, The state's capital Montpelier, Vermont, Montpelier is the least-populous state capital in the U.S., while its most-populous city, Burlington, Vermont, Burlington, is the least- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Class A-Short Season
Class A Short Season (officially Short-Season A) was a level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States from 1965 through 2020. In the hierarchy of minor league classifications, it was below Triple-A, Double-A, Class A-Advanced (created in 1990), and Class A. Teams in Class A Short Season played about 75 to 80 games per season, compared to the 130- to 140-game seasons of most professional baseball minor leagues. As part of the 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues, Class A Short Season was eliminated along with its two leagues, the New York–Penn League and Northwest League. Nine of the 22 active short-season teams were organized into new leagues at the High-A classification level. History In 1965, the Northern League of Class A started a 66-game season in late June, a departure from the league's previous "full season" schedules of about 120 games. In December 1965, the Northwest League announced that it would play an 85-game schedule starting in late June 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1997 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1997 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1997. A total of 1607 players were drafted over the course of 92 rounds. First round selections Supplemental first round selections Compensation Picks Other notable players *Randy Wolf, 2nd round, 54th overall by the Philadelphia Phillies *Scott Linebrink, 2nd round, 56th overall by the San Francisco Giants * Tyler Walker, 2nd round, 58th overall by the New York Mets *Jeff Weaver, 2nd round, 62nd overall by the Chicago White Sox, but did not sign *Aaron Cook, 2nd round, 70th overall by the Colorado Rockies *Rick Ankiel, 2nd round, 72nd overall by the St. Louis Cardinals *Chase Utley, 2nd round, 76th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but did not sign *Jeremy Affeldt, 3rd round, 91st overall by the Kansas City Royals *John Grabow, 3rd round, 92nd overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates *Scott Downs, 3rd round, 94th overall by the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL or Cape League) is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of the nation's premier collegiate summer leagues, the league boasts over one thousand former players who have gone on to play in the major leagues. History Pre-modern era Origins As early as the 1860s, baseball teams representing various Cape Cod towns and villages were competing against one another. The earliest newspaper account is of an 1867 game in Sandwich between the hometown "Nichols Club" and the visiting Cummaquid team. Though not formalized as a league, the games provided entertainment for residents and summer visitors. In 1885, a Fourth of July baseball game was held matching teams from Barnstable and Sandwich. According to contemporary accounts, the 1885 contest may have been at least the twelfth such annual game. By the late 19th century, an annual championship baseball tournament was being held each ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wareham Gatemen
The Wareham Gatemen are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Wareham, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's West Division. The Gatemen play their home games at Clem Spillane Field in Wareham. The Gatemen most recently won the CCBL championship in 2018 when they defeated the Chatham Anglers two games to none to win the best of three championship series. The title was the eighth in team history, including back-to-back championships in 2001–2002. The team is led by field manager Harvey Shapiro. History Pre-modern era The early Cape League era (1923–1939) In 1923, the Cape Cod Baseball League was formed and included four teams: Falmouth, Chatham, Osterville, and Hyannis. This early Cape League operated through the 1939 season and disbanded in 1940, due in large part to the difficulty of securing ongoing funding during the Great Depression. Wareham was the first new team added to the league, joining fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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