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Rick Langford
James Rick Langford (born March 20, 1952) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1976 through 1986. He has served as a coach (baseball), coach for the Toronto Blue Jays in MLB and for their farm teams in Minor League Baseball. Career Langford grew up in Varina, Virginia. He attended Varina High School, where he participated in four sports. He signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a free agent in 1973. He made his MLB debut with the Pirates in 1976. Before the 1977 season, the Pirates traded Langford, Tony Armas, Doug Bair, Dave Giusti, Doc Medich and Mitchell Page to the Oakland Athletics for Phil Garner, Chris Batton, and Tommy Helms. In a streak that began on May 23, 1980, Langford pitched 22 consecutive complete games. The streak ended on September 17, when he came within of an inning of another complete game. He then pitched consecutive complete games in his next thr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy Merchant ship, merchant Sailing ship, sailing vessels known as clippers. The team has played their home games at Huntington Park (Columbus, Ohio), Huntington Park since 2009. They previously played at Cooper Stadium from 1977 to 2008. The Clippers were established in 1977 as members of the Triple-A International League. In conjunction with Major League Baseball's reorganization of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Clippers were shifted to the Triple-A East, but this was renamed the IL in 2022. They won seven List of International League champions, IL championships during a 28-year affiliation with the New York Yankees (1979–2006). Columbus has won four more IL titles and two Triple-A National Championship Game, Triple-A championships since affiliating with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Free Agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present but who is allowed to solicit offers from other teams. In some circumstances, the free agent's options are limited by the league's rules. Free agency was severely restricted in many sports leagues, instead clubs had a reserve clause which allowed them to retain players indefinitely. Usage Association football In professional association football, a free agent is either a player that has been released by a professional association football club and now is no longer affiliated with any league, or a player whose contract with their current club has expired and is thus free to join any other club under the terms of the Bosman ruling. Free agents do not have to be signed during the normal transfer window that is implemented in some ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin Jr. (May 16, 1928 – December 25, 1989) was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager who, in addition to leading other teams, was five times the manager of the New York Yankees. First known as a scrappy infielder who made considerable contributions to the championship Yankee teams of the 1950s, he then built a reputation as a manager who would initially make bad teams good, before ultimately being fired amid dysfunction. In each of his stints with the Yankees he managed them to winning records before being fired by team owner George Steinbrenner or resigning under fire, usually amid a well-publicized scandal such as Martin's involvement in an alcohol-fueled fight. Martin was born in a working-class section of Berkeley, California. His skill as a baseball player gave him a route out of his home town. Signed by the Pacific Coast League Oakland Oaks, Martin learned much from Casey Stengel, the man who would manage him both in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rob Neyer
Rob Neyer (born October 22, 1965) is an American baseball writer known for his use of statistical analysis or sabermetrics. He started his career working for Bill James and STATS and then joined ESPN.com as a columnist and blogger from 1996 to 2011. He was National Baseball Editor for SB Nation from 2011 to 2014, and Senior Baseball Editor for FoxSports.com in 2015 and 2016. Biography Rob Neyer lived in the Kansas City area as a child and attended the University of Kansas After dropping out of college, he was soon hired as a research assistant by Bill James. After four years with James, Neyer took a job at STATS, before joining ESPNet SportsZone, ESPN.com's forerunner, in 1996. Since May 2018, Neyer has served as Commissioner of the West Coast League, a collegiate summer baseball league based in the Pacific Northwest. He lives in Portland, Oregon. Writing career Neyer wrote for ESPN for 15 years from 1996 to January 2011. He joined SB Nation as its National Baseball Editor in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Line Drive
In the sports of baseball and softball, a batted ball is a pitch that has been contacted by the batter's bat. Batted balls are either fair or foul, and can be characterized as a fly ball, pop-up, line drive, or ground ball. In baseball, a foul ball counts as a strike against the batter, unless there are already two strikes on the batter, with special rules applying to foul tips and foul bunts. Fly balls are those hit in an arcing manner, with pop-ups being a subset of fly balls that do not travel far. Line drives are batted balls hit on a straight line trajectory, while ground balls are hit at a low trajectory, contact the ground shortly after being hit, and then either roll or bounce. Batted balls, especially line drives, can present a hazard to players, umpires, and spectators, as people have been seriously injured or killed after being struck by batted balls. Fair or foul upright=.8, A view along a first base foul line, looking from the outfield wall back towards home p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is the younger of two sports leagues, leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League (original), Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to Major League Baseball, major league status. It is sometimes called the Junior Circuit because it claimed Major League status for the 1901 season, 25 years after the formation of the National League (baseball), National League (the "Senior Circuit"). Since 1903, the American League champion has played in the World Series against the National League champion with only two exceptions: 1904, when the NL champion New York Giants (baseball), New York Giants refused to play their AL counterpart, and 1994, when a 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike, players' strike resulted in the cancellation of the Series. Through ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Complete Game
In baseball, a complete game (CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A pitcher who meets this criterion will be credited with a complete game regardless of the number of innings played—pitchers who throw an entire official game that is shortened by rain will still be credited with a complete game, while starting pitchers who are relieved in extra innings after throwing nine or more innings will not be credited with a complete game. A starting pitcher who is replaced by a pinch hitter in the final half inning of a game will still be credited with a complete game. Complete games have become increasingly rare over the course of baseball history. In the early 20th century, pitchers completed almost all of the games they started, and they were generally expected to do so. In modern baseball, the feat is much more rare. Since 1975, no pitcher has thrown 30 or more complete games in a season; in the 21st century, only twice has any ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tommy Helms
Tommy Vann Helms (May 5, 1941 – April 13, 2025) was an American professional baseball player and manager. Over a 14-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career (1964–1977), Helms played for four teams, including eight seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, four with the Houston Astros, and one each with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. He won the 1966 National League Rookie of the Year Award, two Gold Glove Awards at second base, and he was twice an MLB All-Star. Helms also managed the Reds for parts of two seasons (1988–1989). Early life Helms was born May 5, 1941, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was a 1959 graduate of West Mecklenburg High School, where he played baseball and basketball. In 1959, he signed as an amateur free agent with the Reds at age 18. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps beginning in October 1963. Minor league career In 1959-60, Helms played shortstop for the Palatka RedLegs of the Class-D Florida State League. In his only full season, 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chris Batton
Christopher Sean Batton (born August 24, 1954) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played part of one season in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics. Batton was drafted by the Athletics in the 12th round of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft, and pitched in their organization through his major league debut in September 1976. He pitched two games for the A's with no decisions. The following spring he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates with Phil Garner and Tommy Helms to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Tony Armas, Rick Langford, Doug Bair, Dave Giusti, Doc Medich, and Mitchell Page. He never pitched in the major leagues again. Batton's twin brother John pitched briefly in the minor leagues in the Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phil Garner
Philip Mason Garner (born April 30, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an infielder with the Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants from to . With the Pirates, he won the 1979 World Series over the Baltimore Orioles. He was manager of the Astros from July 14, to August 27, , leading Houston to a World Series appearance in . Early life Garner was born on April 30, 1949, in Jefferson City, Tennessee, and grew up in Rutledge, Tennessee. After a year of high school in Rutledge, which did not have a football team, Garner's father moved the family to Knoxville so Garner could attend Bearden High School which had an athletic program with both football and baseball. Garner played football and baseball, and going to Bearden gave him an opportunity to play both sports, increasing his chance of obtaining an athletic scholarship to college which ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mitchell Page
Mitchell Otis Page (October 15, 1951 – March 12, 2011) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder and designated hitter from to , most prominently as a member of the Oakland Athletics where, he placed second to Hall of Fame member Eddie Murray in the 1977 American League Rookie of the Year balloting. Page made an impressive start to his major league career when, he became the second player in Major League Baseball history with more than 20 home runs and 40 stolen bases in their rookie season however, his offensive production declined over the next few seasons and, he never lived up to the promise of his debut season. He played his final season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After the conclusion of his playing career, Page became a successful hitting coach for the Washington Nationals and for the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals. He also authored a book on hitting. Early years Page was born in Los A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Doc Medich
George Francis "Doc" Medich (born December 9, 1948) is an American former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1972 to 1982. He was a medical student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and acquired the nickname "Doc" during his early baseball career. Early years While in college, Medich (of Serbian descent) pitched for the Pitt baseball team and played tight end on the Pittsburgh Panthers football team. Professional career Draft and minors Medich was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 30th round of the 1970 Major League Baseball draft, and spent three seasons as a starting pitcher in their farm system, going 21–13 over that span with a 2.27 ERA. New York Yankees Medich received a call to the majors in September , facing four batters in his major league debut, giving up two singles and two walks. From there, Medich improved substantially, as he went 14–9 with a 2.95 ERA in to finish third in American League Rookie of t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
