Archive for December, 2008

The History of Advertising in Major League Baseball

Part 1 of 2

Companies have been using their own workers to advertise their product, even if they are not celebrities, for some time now. A much publicized Tylenol advertisement came out just a few years ago in which Tylenol used their own workers to sell the product. This technique is also used by major sports leagues across the country as they try to get people into the stadium…

Arizona Diamondbacks Off Season Report

Season Wrap Up

After a red hot start to the 2008 season, the team in the desert cooled off come June and never really struck fear into anyone in the NL West from that point forward, but theacquisition of LF Adam Dunn must have turned a few heads though. April did show a look into the future of RF Justin Upton who looked to be on the verge of competing for…

The History of African Americans in Baseball Bibiliography

Anderson, B. (2001). Celebrating Jackie Robinson? Major League Baseball Sees the Limitations of Promotions. Journal of Promotion Management, 7, 215-224.

Carroll, B. (2006). Early Twentieth-Century Heroes: Coverage of Negro League baseball in the Pittsburgh Courier and the Chicago Defender. Journalism History, 32, 34-42.

Carroll, B. (2006). From Fraternity to Fracture: Black Press Coverage of Involvement in Negro League Baseball in the 1920s. American Journal of Historians Association, 23, 69-95.

Dorinson, J., & Warmund, J.…

The History of African Americans in Baseball Part 4

Since that high point in the 1970s, the percentage of African Americans has steadily dropped over the past three decades to just over eight percent in 2008. Many cite the decrease of African Americans in the game as having something to do with the fact that MLB was not doing what they needed to do in order to bring the history of famous African Americans in baseball to the…

BaseballReflections.com Question Answering Service

Recently, one of this site’s readers has a question about television blackouts and why he wasn’t able to see the games of his favorite team.

His exact question was:

I live in Terre Haute, Indiana, and I would consider myself a die hard Cubs fan. Anyway, for some reason my cable company, Time Warner Cable, does not carry Comcast Sportsnet Chicago even though both the Cubs and White Sox claim Terre Haute is…

The History of African Americans in Baseball Part 3

Sometimes forgotten in the hype for Robinson was the man to break the color barrier in the American League with the Cleveland Indians, Larry Doby. This fact was even more surprising especially considering the fact that Doby entered during the same season as Robinson, just a couple of months later. This did not save Doby from numerous death threats and teammates who claimed they would refuse to play with…

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

No political correctness on this blog, after all, this is a baseball site and seeing that Charlie Brown and the rest of the peanuts gang (written and created by Charles M. Schultz) were also fans of the great sport of baseball I thought I’d add this clip from the classic, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, as a reminder to the true meaning of Christmas.

If the video doesn’t work, please click HERE.

Help support Baseball…

The History of African Americans in Baseball Part 2

Part 2 of 4

Although it was not well documented, black women even had their time in professional baseball as well when the male major leagues were in turmoil over labor agreements. While they were not accepted into the women’s baseball leagues which is now well known (thanks to the film A League of Their Own), they had to start their own. Despite the fact that they had two…

Los Angeles Dodgers Off Season Report

Season Wrap Up

Although the Dodgers had the worst record in the 2008 playoffs it was mainly a byproduct of their poor first half. The acquisition of Manny Ramirez from Boston in a three way deal at the deadline rejuvenated this young team, giving them the experience and the potent bat they were missing up to that point. Not a bad first year managing for Joe Torre, his experience definitely made the…

The History of African Americans in Baseball

Part 1 of 4

Even before the breaking of the color line, African Americans made baseball part of their lives by establishing very successful leagues of their own, known as the Negro Leagues. Barely anything is made of these leagues today, but obviously there was enough interest in baseball from African Americans to establish entire teams of their own across the country. Although there was always a fight for the…

Washington Nationals Off Season Report

Season Wrap Up

One word describes the 2008 Washington Nationals record: abysmal. They lost 102 games! Granted, they had injuries to both first basemen (Johnson and Young) and most if not all of their outfielders (Wily Mo Pena, Lastings Milledge, Austin Kearns and Elijah Dukes) at one time or another and 3B Zimmerman. Then they did the unthinkable and traded star RP Jon Rauch; hence, the 102 losses.

Holes to Fill

There aren’t many…

Baseball Reflections Product Review: Cooperstown Cookie Company Classic Baseball Shortbread

“The Best baseball you ever ate.” That’s the slogan of the shortbread cookie company based in Cooperstown, New York (home of the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum).

The cookie company’s main product is simple short bread cookies shaped like baseballs. While on the surface, it may not seem like much, the company does a good job selling their simple treat. Each pack of two shortbread cookies comes in a small tin with…

Florida Marlins Off Season Report

Season Wrap Up

Although the Marlins finished 7.5 games out in the NL East in 2008, they didn’t have a bad season. After trading away Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers last off season, no one expected a lot from them in 2008. For starters, second baseman Dan Uggla had a monster first half of baseball! His average was way up and his power numbers were looking to be ncreasing as…

Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim off Season Report

Season Wrap Up

The Angels no doubt have the blue print for making the playoffs memorized. The only problem is that in the past few seasons, when they get there, they are unable to get out of the Divisional round where they were the victim of the Boston Red Sox this season in just four games. General manager Tony Reagins has to be frustrated with the recent lack of success in the…

Indians Hire Melendez as Area Scouting Supervisor

Yesterday, the Cleveland Indians bolstered their scouting staff by hiring Junie Melendez as an Area Scouting Supervisor. Melendez will oversee the scouting for a region that includes Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky.

Melendez played college baseball at the University of Toledo, but went undrafted and unsigned. Melendez comes to an already strong scouting staff that many consider to be in the top ten in Major League Baseball. Due to the fact that the Indians…

Atlanta Braves Off Season Report

Season Wrap Up

Another year without postseason play after all of those consecutive years in it makes for unhappy Braves fans. But this time, I would have to say that a lot of the problem was caused by the myriad of injuries sustained, but especially those to their pitching staff, both starters and relievers alike. Beyond that, there was their lack of power and the disappointing season of their RF Jeff…

Indians Sign Former Cub Closer Wood

The Tribe filled their most dyer need on Saturday when they came to terms with closer Kerry Wood on a two year deal for $20.5 million. There is also an $11 million option for a third year in 2011 if Wood can save 55 games in either of his first two seasons with the Indians.

After going to the disabled list 12 times during the first ten years of his…

Texas Rangers off Season Report

Season Wrap Up

Despite finishing under .500, the Rangers still finished second in the American League West, although they were about a mile behind the Angels at the top of the division. Their 79-83 record was not by any means impressive, but with the expectations that were in place for the Rangers before the season, it’s not too out of line. Texas was picked by many to finish lower in the division,…

Seattle Mariners off Season Report

Season Wrap Up

Despite having the ninth ranked payroll in the major leagues at $118 million (and bringing the face of their franchise, Ichiro Suzuki, back in the off season), the Mariners still managed to lose 101 games and finish in last place in 2008. Prior to the season, many believed that the Mariners had the fire power to compete in their division. While winning it outright may have seemed like…

New York Mets Off Season Report

Season Wrap Up

For the second straight year, the Mets had the right tools to make the playoffs, but in the end, failed to reach that goal. 2008 saw the firing of manager Willie Randolph and the tired arm of aging closer Billy Wagner. It also saw a renewed spark from 1B Carlos Delgado, who just a year ago had to be wondering about retirement the way he was hitting. Although…

Tribe Gets Smith and Valbuena in Three Way Trade with Mets and Mariners

The Indians struck a three team deal yesterday with the Mets and Mariners involving seven players, the big name being former Mariner closer J.J. Putz who is now a Met. Here’s how the trade breaks down:

The Indians get: Pitcher Joe Smith from the Mets and infielder Luis Valbuena from the Mariners.

• Smith, a third round draftee from 2006, appeared in 82 games last season as a reliever for the Mets where he went 6-3…

Oakland Athletics off Season Report

Season Wrap Up

It seems that general manager Billy Beane has no problem finding pitching for his team and even when he trades away his best pitchers, he always has some waiting in the wings. The problem for Beane is finding proven hitting that can produce on a daily basis without needing much in the way of a paycheck. The team finished 75-86 which was good enough for third place in…

Philadelphia Phillies Off Season Report

Season Wrap Up

The Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays, MLB’s Cinderella story of 2008, to become the World Series Champs! What more needs to be said about 2008 except that Cole Hamels proved that he IS a # 1 starter with his performance in the playoffs. Just in case anyone was questioning his ability on baseball’s biggest stage. Also, despite an insane amount of K’s and a low average, 1B Ryan…

Indians Sell Pitcher Mastny’s Contract to Japanese Team

Tom Mastny is no longer a Cleveland Indian, but his new team isn’t even in America. The reliever’s contract was sold on Tuesday to the Yokohama Bay Stars of the Japanese Central League. Mastny burst onto the scene at the end of the regular season in 2006 when he was featured in 15 games after being called up. During this time, he was very promising had a few memorable outings.

In 2007 he…