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Steve Finley
Steven Allen Finley (born March 12, 1965) is an American former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for eight teams between 1989 and 2007, most notably the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, and Arizona Diamondbacks. He is one of only two players, along with Matt Herges, to play for all five National League West teams. An outstanding all-around player with power, speed, and defensive skill, he is one of only four players since 1945 with 300 home runs and 100 triples, along with Stan Musial, Willie Mays, and George Brett. He is also one of three players, along with Mays and Ken Griffey Jr., to have 2,500 hits and win five Gold Glove Awards in center field. A two-time All-Star (1997, 2000), Finley led the National League (NL) in triples twice, and helped the Diamondbacks win the 2001 World Series title, batting .368 in the Series. His walk-off grand slam in an October game against the San Francisco Giants clinched the 2004 division title for the Los Angeles Dod ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Center Fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the center fielder is assigned the number 8. Position description Outfielders must cover large distances, so speed, instincts and quickness to react to the ball are key. They must be able to catch fly balls above their heads and on the run. They must be able to throw the ball accurately over a long distance to be effective. As well as the requirements above, the center fielder must be the outfielder who has the best combination of speed and throwing distance. The center fielder "covers more 'grass' than any other player" (see photo) and, most likely, will catch the most fly balls. The position also has the greatest responsibility among the three outfielders for coordinating their play to prevent collisions when converging on a fly ball, and o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
World Series Champion
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) and concludes the MLB postseason. First played in 1903, the World Series championship is a best-of-seven playoff and is a contest between the champions of baseball's National League (NL) and American League (AL). Often referred to as the "Fall Classic", the modern World Series has been played every year since 1903 with two exceptions: in 1904, when the NL champion New York Giants declined to play the AL champion Boston Americans; and in 1994, when the series was canceled due to the players' strike. The best-of-seven style has been the format of all World Series except in 1903, 1919, 1920, 1921, when the winner was determined through a best-of-nine playoff. Although the large majority of contests have been played entirely during the month of October, a small number of Series have also had games played during September and November. The Series-winning team is awarded the Commissioner's Trop ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National League (baseball)
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NAPBBP) of 1871–1875 (often called simply the "National Association"), the NL is sometimes called the Senior Circuit, in contrast to MLB's other league, the American League, which was founded 25 years later and is called the "Junior Circuit". Both leagues currently have 15 teams. The National League survived competition from various other professional baseball leagues during the late 19th century. Most did not last for more than a few seasons, with a handful of teams joining the NL once their leagues folded. The American League declared itself a second major league in 1901, and the AL and NL engaged in a "baseball war" durin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit (denoted by H), also called a base hit, is credited to a batting (baseball), batter when the batter safely reaches or passes first base after hitting the ball into fair ball, fair territory with neither the benefit of an error (baseball), error nor a fielder's choice. Scoring a hit To achieve a hit, the batter must reach first base before any fielder can either tag out, tag him with the ball, throw to another player protecting the base before the batter reaches it, or force play, tag first base while carrying the ball. The hit is scored the moment the batter reaches first base safely; if he is put out while attempting to stretch his hit to a double (baseball), double or triple (baseball), triple or home run on the same play, he still gets credit for a hit (according to the last base he reached safely on the play). If a batter reaches first base because of offensive interference by a preceding runner (including if a preceding runner is hit by a batt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ken Griffey Jr
George Kenneth Griffey Jr. (born November 21, 1969), nicknamed "Junior" and "the Kid", is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played 22 years in Major League Baseball (MLB). He spent most of his career with the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds, along with a short stint with the Chicago White Sox. The List of first overall Major League Baseball draft picks, first overall pick in the 1987 Major League Baseball draft, 1987 draft and a 13-time Major League Baseball All-Star Game, All-Star, Griffey is one of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball history; his 630 home runs rank as the List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders, seventh-most in MLB history. Griffey was also an exceptional defender and won 10 Gold Glove Awards in center fielder, center field. He is tied for the record of most consecutive games with a home run (eight, with Don Mattingly and Dale Long). Griffey signed lucrative deals with companies of international prominence l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Brett
George Howard Brett (born May 15, 1953) is an American former professional baseball third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals. Brett's 3,154 career hit (baseball), hits are second most by any third baseman in major league history (after only Adrián Beltré, Adrian Beltré's 3,166) and rank 18th all-time. He is one of five players in MLB history to accumulate 3,000 hits, 300 home runs, and a career .300 batting average (baseball), batting average (the others being Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Miguel Cabrera, and Stan Musial). He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1999 in his first year of eligibility, and is the only player in MLB history to win a List of Major League Baseball batting champions, batting title in three different decades. He was also a member of the Royals' 1985 World Series victory over ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays Jr. (May 6, 1931 – June 18, 2024), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid", was an American professional baseball center fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Mays was a five-tool player who began his career in the Negro leagues, playing for the Birmingham Black Barons, and spent the rest of his career in the National League (baseball), National League (NL), playing for the New York Giants (baseball), New York / San Francisco Giants and New York Mets. Born in Westfield, Alabama, Mays was an all-around athlete. He joined the Black Barons of the Negro American League in 1948, playing with them until the Giants signed him upon his graduation from high school in 1950. He debuted in MLB with the Giants and won the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award, Rookie of the Year Award in 1951 after hitting 20 home runs to help the Giants win their first pennant in 14 years. In 1954, he won ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stan Musial
Stanley Frank Musial (; born Stanislaw Franciszek Musial; November 21, 1920 – January 19, 2013), nicknamed "Stan the Man", was an American baseball outfielder and first baseman. Widely considered to be one of the greatest and most consistent hitters in baseball history, Musial spent 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), playing for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1941 to 1944 and from 1946 to 1963. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969 in his first year of eligibility. Musial was born in Donora, Pennsylvania, where he frequently played baseball informally and in organized settings and eventually played on the baseball team at Donora High School. Signed to a professional contract by the St. Louis Cardinals as a pitcher in 1938, Musial was converted into an outfielder and made his major league debut in 1941. Noted for his unique batting stance, he quickly established himself as a consistent and productive hitter. In his first full season, 1942, the Cardi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a Batter (baseball), batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay (see error (baseball statistics), error) nor another baserunner, runner being put out on a fielder's choice. A triple is sometimes called a "three-bagger" or "three-base hit". For baseball statistics, statistical and baseball scorekeeping, scorekeeping purposes it is denoted by 3B. Triples have become somewhat rare in Major League Baseball, less common than both the Double (baseball), double and the home run. This is because it requires a ball to be hit solidly to a distant part of the field (ordinarily a line drive or Fly ball (baseball), fly ball near the Foul line (baseball), foul line closest to Right fielder, right field), or the ball to take an irregular bounce in the outfield, usually against the wall, away from a outfielder, fielder. It also requires the batter's team to have a good strategic reason for wanting ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Home Run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the Baseball (ball), ball is hit in such a way that the batting (baseball), batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safe (baseball), safely in one play without any error (baseball), errors being committed by the Defense (sports), defensive team. A home run is usually achieved by hitting the ball over the outfield fence between the foul poles (or hitting either foul pole) without the ball touching the Baseball field, field. Inside-the-park home runs where the batter reaches home safely while the baseball is in play on the field are infrequent. In very rare cases, a fielder attempting to catch a ball in flight may misplay it and knock it over the outfield fence, resulting in a home run. An official scorer will credit the batter with a hit (baseball), hit, a Run (baseball), run scored, and a run batted in (RBI), as well as an RBI for each Base running, runner on base. The pitcher is recorded as having given u ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National League West
The National League West is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was created for the 1969 season when the National League (baseball), National League (NL) expanded to 12 teams by adding the San Diego Padres and the Montreal Expos. For purpose of keeping a regular-season of 162 games, half of the teams were put into the new National League East, East Division and half into the new West Division. Within each division, the teams played 18 games each against their five division mates (90 games), and also 12 games against the teams in the opposite division (72 games), totaling 162 games. Prior to 1969, the National League had informal, internal divisions strictly for scheduling purposes. Geography Despite the geography, the owners of the Chicago Cubs insisted that their team be placed into the East Division along with the teams in New York City, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Also, the owners of the St. Louis Cardinals wanted their team to be in the same divisi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Matt Herges
Matthew Tyler Herges (born April 1, 1970) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1999 to 2009, and is the former pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Herges played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and Cleveland Indians. He is one of only two players, along with Steve Finley, to play for all five National League West teams. He is an alumnus of Illinois State University and is the brother-in-law of former Major League Baseball player Todd Hollandsworth. Career Amateur A native of Champaign, Illinois, Herges attended Centennial High School and Illinois State. In 1990, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Los Angeles Dodgers Herges was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1992. He began his career with the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
