Friday, July 31, 2009
Substance usage of Ortiz
At R.U.F.F. we believe one is innocent until proven guilty. How does this viewpoint impact Red Sox fans in light of the latest news about David Ortiz?
Sunday, July 26, 2009
American League Most Valuable Players, via the Red Sox
In 1931, the Baseball Writers of America Association (BBWAA) began selecting, via a vote of all members, a Most Valuable Player for both the American League and the National League. Over the first 78 years, the Boston Red Sox are the only team in major league baseball to have at least one player, in each decade, win this prestigious award.
In 1938, Jimmie Foxx won his third AL MVP (he won back to back MVP awards with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1932 & 1933). Foxx, who hit 534 career home runs, is the second youngest, at 32 years 336 days old, to reach the 500 home run mark (Alex Rodriguez is the youngest, at 32 years 8 days old).
Ted Williams won the MVP award in 1946 and 1949. He also won Triple Crowns (home runs, runs batted in, batting average in 1942 and 1947, yet did not win the MVP in either year).
In 1958, Red Sox right fielder Jackie Jensen won the MVP while playing right field. In 1948, while playing running back at the University of California, Jensen finished fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy won, which was won by Doak Walker of Southern Methodist University.
To cap off The Impossible Dream season and winning the Triple Crown, Carl Yastrzemski won the 1967 AL MVP award. While playing basketball at Bridgehampton High School on Long Island NY, Yastrzemski set scoring records previously by former Cleveland Brown great Jimmy Brown, who attended Manhassett High School.
In 1975, in addition to winning the AL Rookie of the Year award, Sox center fielder Fred Lynn captured the AL MVP. When his name was engraved on the MVP trophy, his first name, Frederic, was misspelled Frederec.
Jim Rice won the 1978 AL MVP, after accumulating 406 total bases, a total no AL players have reached since. Another remarkable feat from Rice in this year, he became, and still is, the only player in major league history to led the majors in triples (15), home runs (46) and runs batted in (139).
Roger Clemens was selected as the AL MVP in 1986 and also won the his first of six Cy Young Awards, thanks to a 24-4 record, a 2.48 ERA and 238 strikeouts.
In 1995, Sox first baseman Mo Vaughn won the AL MVP. In 1996, Vaughn bested all his numbers from the 1995 MVP season, 44 HRs vs. 39 last year, 143 RBIs vs. 126 last year and a .326 batting average vs. .300 last year, yet finished fifth in the the 1996 MVP voting. Moe Vaughn was the last Red Sox player to wear #42, before major league retired the number in honor of Jackie Robinson.
Dustin Pedroia, in 2008, was voted AL MVP, and for the first time in 49 years (Nellie Fox, from the Chicago White Sox, in 1959) was the last second baseman to win the AL MVP award. While attending Arizona State University, Pedroia renounced the last two years of his scholarship, to enable the Sun Devils coaching staff recruit much needed top-notch pitching candidates.
In 1938, Jimmie Foxx won his third AL MVP (he won back to back MVP awards with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1932 & 1933). Foxx, who hit 534 career home runs, is the second youngest, at 32 years 336 days old, to reach the 500 home run mark (Alex Rodriguez is the youngest, at 32 years 8 days old).
Ted Williams won the MVP award in 1946 and 1949. He also won Triple Crowns (home runs, runs batted in, batting average in 1942 and 1947, yet did not win the MVP in either year).
In 1958, Red Sox right fielder Jackie Jensen won the MVP while playing right field. In 1948, while playing running back at the University of California, Jensen finished fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy won, which was won by Doak Walker of Southern Methodist University.
To cap off The Impossible Dream season and winning the Triple Crown, Carl Yastrzemski won the 1967 AL MVP award. While playing basketball at Bridgehampton High School on Long Island NY, Yastrzemski set scoring records previously by former Cleveland Brown great Jimmy Brown, who attended Manhassett High School.
In 1975, in addition to winning the AL Rookie of the Year award, Sox center fielder Fred Lynn captured the AL MVP. When his name was engraved on the MVP trophy, his first name, Frederic, was misspelled Frederec.
Jim Rice won the 1978 AL MVP, after accumulating 406 total bases, a total no AL players have reached since. Another remarkable feat from Rice in this year, he became, and still is, the only player in major league history to led the majors in triples (15), home runs (46) and runs batted in (139).
Roger Clemens was selected as the AL MVP in 1986 and also won the his first of six Cy Young Awards, thanks to a 24-4 record, a 2.48 ERA and 238 strikeouts.
In 1995, Sox first baseman Mo Vaughn won the AL MVP. In 1996, Vaughn bested all his numbers from the 1995 MVP season, 44 HRs vs. 39 last year, 143 RBIs vs. 126 last year and a .326 batting average vs. .300 last year, yet finished fifth in the the 1996 MVP voting. Moe Vaughn was the last Red Sox player to wear #42, before major league retired the number in honor of Jackie Robinson.
Dustin Pedroia, in 2008, was voted AL MVP, and for the first time in 49 years (Nellie Fox, from the Chicago White Sox, in 1959) was the last second baseman to win the AL MVP award. While attending Arizona State University, Pedroia renounced the last two years of his scholarship, to enable the Sun Devils coaching staff recruit much needed top-notch pitching candidates.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Jim Rice follows in the footsteps of Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski, as a great Red Sox leftfielder, and now as a fellow Hall of Famer
Congratulatons to Jim Rice, in recognization for his induction, on Sunday, to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Looking at Rice's outstanding career, all 16 years in a Red Sox uniform, let's have a little bit of fun.
First and last major league pitcher, against Jim Rice, to allow a;
First / Last
Official at-Bat - Jim Kaat / Rod Nichols
Single - Wilbur Wood / Brian Holton
Double - Larry Gura / Pete Harnisch
Triple - Lerrin LaGrow / Scott Bankhead
Home Run - Steve Kline / Melido Perez
Run Batted In - Jim Kaat / Brian Holton
Sacrifice Fly - Jim Kaat / Shawn Hillegas
Strike Out - Wilbur Wood / Gregg Olson
Walk - Ross Grimsley / John Farrell (currently the Red Sox pitching coach)
Intentional Walk - Bill Singer / Paul Gibson
Hit By Pitch - Terry Forster / Nolan Ryan (fellow Hall of Famer)
First and last major league pitcher, against Jim Rice, to allow a;
First / Last
Official at-Bat - Jim Kaat / Rod Nichols
Single - Wilbur Wood / Brian Holton
Double - Larry Gura / Pete Harnisch
Triple - Lerrin LaGrow / Scott Bankhead
Home Run - Steve Kline / Melido Perez
Run Batted In - Jim Kaat / Brian Holton
Sacrifice Fly - Jim Kaat / Shawn Hillegas
Strike Out - Wilbur Wood / Gregg Olson
Walk - Ross Grimsley / John Farrell (currently the Red Sox pitching coach)
Intentional Walk - Bill Singer / Paul Gibson
Hit By Pitch - Terry Forster / Nolan Ryan (fellow Hall of Famer)
Tim Blackwell / Sam Horn were the first / last players Jim Rice were to pinch hit for.
Cecil Cooper / Randy Kutcher were the first / last players to pinch hit for Jim Rice.
The only time during his career when Jim Rice entered the game as a pich-runner was on September 18, 1976. Rice replaced Carl Yastrzemski, in the top of the 3rd inning, to pinch-run for Carl Yastrzemski, who had singled off Tigers relief pitcher Jim Crawford, who had just replaced Vern Ruhle!!!!
Before Ruhle broke Jim Rice's hand witha pitch in September 1975, Rice had three hits in eleven career at-bats, good for a .272 BA with three RBIs. After Rice returned in 1976, when facing Ruhle, for the balance of his career, Jim Ed was nine for 24, good for a .375 BA with two HRs and 5 RBIs.Friday, July 24, 2009
Red Sox placement of Mark Kotsay
What do fans think about the the Red Sox decision today to place Mark Kotsay on waviers to make a roster spot for new acquired Adam LaRoche?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Read Us For Fun
Coming October 26, 2009 (give or take, no more than seven days).......
PATRIOTS BITS & PIECES; FROM DAY ONE
Read Us For Fun Publishing is excited to announce the release of this 375 page perfect bound book. GUARANTEED to be the GREATEST and MOST unique New England-Boston Patriots book ever published. Make your reservations now for this limited time Commemorative Edition honoring the Patriots upcoming 50th anniversary year. Register to win your free copy.
Welcome to our blog. Read Us For Fun Publishing is proud to present unique, fascinating, "oh wow" and never-to-forget anecdotal stories & facts. Although R.U.F.F. specialty is sports, and the Boston teams specifically, there is not a subject off our radar screen. Thus far we have published a Red Sox book, The Heartache Years, a 165 page book, guaranteed to bring a smile to the face and a twinkle to the heart, of just about any Red Sox out there. Within a 60 days, Patriots Bits & Pieces; From Day One, a 300 plus page publication, will be ready and available for any Patriots fans wanting to own the greatest, most thorough, comprehensive and enjoyable book ever, about your own New England Patriots.
We interested to learn any interesting stories you may want to share with our readers in reference to the major Boston sports teams. Or how about, any strange twist, "oh wow", not your "run of mill" fact, about just almost anything? How about this one...........during filming of The Wizard of Oz in 1938-39, each actor who had the role as a Munchkin was paid $50 per week. There was another, named Terry, earning $125 per week. At one point during filming, Terry was involved in an accident. He had collided with one of the Wicked Witch's guards. This mishap resulted in Terry having to take a two week break from filming due to a bruised leg. Scenes involving Terry were put on hold but Terry continued to collect his $125 weekly salary. Among the other films Terry starred in were movies with Shirley Temple and Spencer Tracey during his brief Hollywood career. Terry was born in 1936 and passed away at the age of 63, in 1945. How is this possible, nine years doesn't equal 63 years, unless you're Terry, who was cast in The Wizard of Oz as Dorothy's dog Toto!!!!!
Welcome aboard, we look forward to having fun with our readers!!!
PATRIOTS BITS & PIECES; FROM DAY ONE
Read Us For Fun Publishing is excited to announce the release of this 375 page perfect bound book. GUARANTEED to be the GREATEST and MOST unique New England-Boston Patriots book ever published. Make your reservations now for this limited time Commemorative Edition honoring the Patriots upcoming 50th anniversary year. Register to win your free copy.
Welcome to our blog. Read Us For Fun Publishing is proud to present unique, fascinating, "oh wow" and never-to-forget anecdotal stories & facts. Although R.U.F.F. specialty is sports, and the Boston teams specifically, there is not a subject off our radar screen. Thus far we have published a Red Sox book, The Heartache Years, a 165 page book, guaranteed to bring a smile to the face and a twinkle to the heart, of just about any Red Sox out there. Within a 60 days, Patriots Bits & Pieces; From Day One, a 300 plus page publication, will be ready and available for any Patriots fans wanting to own the greatest, most thorough, comprehensive and enjoyable book ever, about your own New England Patriots.
We interested to learn any interesting stories you may want to share with our readers in reference to the major Boston sports teams. Or how about, any strange twist, "oh wow", not your "run of mill" fact, about just almost anything? How about this one...........during filming of The Wizard of Oz in 1938-39, each actor who had the role as a Munchkin was paid $50 per week. There was another, named Terry, earning $125 per week. At one point during filming, Terry was involved in an accident. He had collided with one of the Wicked Witch's guards. This mishap resulted in Terry having to take a two week break from filming due to a bruised leg. Scenes involving Terry were put on hold but Terry continued to collect his $125 weekly salary. Among the other films Terry starred in were movies with Shirley Temple and Spencer Tracey during his brief Hollywood career. Terry was born in 1936 and passed away at the age of 63, in 1945. How is this possible, nine years doesn't equal 63 years, unless you're Terry, who was cast in The Wizard of Oz as Dorothy's dog Toto!!!!!
Welcome aboard, we look forward to having fun with our readers!!!
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