Remembering Harry O’Neill: Philadelphia A’s Catcher and American Hero
Over one thousand Major League Baseball players served in the US military during World War II. Yet despite this large number – and in spite of both the ferocity and length of the war – only two of those ballplayers were killed in action during World War II. Their names were Elmer Gedeon and Harry […]
REMEMBERING YOGI BERRA
“Mr. Berra is a very strange fellow of very remarkable abilities.” –Casey Stengel “Talking to Yogi Berra about baseball, is like talking to Homer about the gods.” – Bart Giamatti The kid who grew up in St. Louis eating banana sandwiches with mustard grew up to be one of the legends of legends of […]
Yogi 10/04/2015
The baseball community suffered a great loss. On September 22, 2015, Yogi Berra passed away of natural causes. An all-around great person, Yogi is one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, known for his prowess behind the plate and his unique power in the batter’s box. But there’s more to Yogi than just assertions […]
Baseball in Australia 1953 – Bill Reay’s Story
My name is Bill Reay from Melbourne Australia. I’m just starting some reports that hopefully interest people on the way baseball has developed in Australia since I took it up a long time ago. I started playing baseball when I was 19 years of age in 1953. I had never played before and a couple […]
Catching science: The mind behind the mask
Editor’s note (SABR editor): This article was first published in the APS Observer Vol. 25, No. 4, in April 2012 and is reprinted at SABR.org with permission of the authors. BR Editor’s Note: This is being republished with permission from the authors. By James R. Arkin and Robert M. Arkin Home plate was round, something like […]
Baseball Umpiring In High School: You Blew The Game Coach And Not Me!
I umpired an extremely competitive and closely fought high school baseball game a couple of days ago. My assignment was to be the field umpire and my partner was assigned to home plate. We had our pregame conference with both head coaches and they both seemed like terrific guys. We shake hands and we all […]
2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: The Top 15 Catchers
This year, there are four catchers widely accepted as top-50 players: Joe Mauer (ADP 20.59), Brian McCann (29.93), Victor Martinez (29.95) and Buster Posey (45.46). Yet despite this general belief, it’s highly unlikely that any catcher will finish the season as a top-50 player. Andy Behrens recently dug up some mind-boggling numbers that explain this theory. To paraphrase, […]
Former Phillies Player, Dave Hollins, Tell His Diabetes Story
I have recently decided that Baseball Reflections will start broadening our horizons just a bit. Call it one of our 2010 resolutions. We will now be bringing you selected videos in a more frequent basis than we have in our previous two years of operation. We hope this ads to your enjoyment of this site! […]
Jason Varitek’s Pre-Season Workout Video (2009-2010)
If you are anything like me, you wonder what catchers have to go through in the offseason to prepare for a season of 162 games. Well here’s a video showing us a typical day in Red Sox captain and part time catcher (I am having problems calling him a back up after all of these […]
Akadema’s Praying Mantis Catcher’s Mitt, Designed by Hall of Famer Gary Carter
Here is the next installment in my series of recommended Akadema Gloves. This, like the last one earlier this month (the Prodigy AOZ 91) was designed by a Hall of Famer, this time, catcher Gary Carter who use to play for the Expos, Mets, Giants and Dodgers before finishing his playing career back with the […]
Bob Gibson/Reggie Jackson: Sixty Feet, Six Inches
I just finished reading a great baseball book, ‘Sixty Feet, Six Inches‘, by Bob Gibson and Reggie Jackson with Ronnie Wheeler. This book is a running conversation by two of baseball’s greatest players about the mind games and strategies that go on between the pitcher and batter. One almost pictures himself eating dinner with these […]
Product Review: Akadema’s ProSoft 1B Mitt: AJJ 254
When my contact at Akadema asked me if I would do another review if sent another glove I jumped at the chance! This time I asked for a first baseman‘s glove as I have always been fascinated with them for reasons unknown to even myself. Maybe it’s because when I was growing up, my dad […]
The Tommy John Interview: Part 3
Tommy John and His Thoughts on the Game Today I started off the conversation in part 1 talking about how he became affiliated with the increasingly popular children’s book, “A Glove of Their Own”. Part 2 was a conversation on Tommy’s great career (in my humble opinion, he should be inducted into the Baseball Hall […]
Interview With Former MLB Catcher Brent Mayne
Whenever you get the chance to talk to someone that has been there, it’s always special to see it through their eyes. On June the 19th, 2009, I was given the pleasure of an audience with Brent Mayne, a 15 year Major League Veteran. My connection with Brent was made through a gentleman named Bob […]
Ryan Hanigan: From Rollins College to the Cincinnati Reds
When the Rollins College baseball team hosted the Cincinnati Reds for a spring training exhibition in 2001, no one could have anticipated that one of the Tars would some day be living the big-league dream as a key member of the Reds. But fast-forward ahead eight years and sure enough in 2009 former Rollins standout […]
Nick’s Fantasy Focus: 2009 All-Breakout Team
With the start of the fantasy baseball season upon us, let’s highlight a few players at each position who are primed for a breakout season in 2009. C – Matt Wieters – Orioles Surprise! After posting a .355/.454/.600 line with 27 HR between High A and AA last season, Wieters is the popular pick for […]
Tribe Signs Catcher Shoppach to One Year Deal
The Indians recently signed their current back-up catcher Kelly Shoppach to a one year deal. Shoppach has been with the Tribe since the 2006 season when he was traded from the Boston Red Sox in an off season deal involving outfielder Coco Crisp and third baseman Andy Marte. Shoppach’s role has grown since 2006 and […]
