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November 19, 1979
The Houston Astros sign free agent pitcher Nolan Ryan. Coming off a season in which he won 16 games and struck out 223 batters for the California Angels, Ryan signs a four-year deal worth $4.5 million. The contract makes him the first Major League player to average more than $1 million in annual salary.
My, how times have changed! What would Nolan sign for today in his prime?:eek:
SF Kid
11-19-2008, 08:47 PM
He couldn't buy his Starbucks with money like that. How would he make ends meet?
McCovey
11-20-2008, 10:43 AM
Ryan would probably be a $16 million/season pitcher at least.
Ryan would probably be a $16 million/season pitcher at least.
If not more. But 16 is a good starting place.:beerbang:
McCovey
11-20-2008, 11:53 AM
If not more. But 16 is a good starting place.:beerbang:
Well if he had Scott Boras as his agent, sure.
MLB.com
November 20, 1951
The Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues sign a skinny, 17-year-old infielder named Henry Aaron. The Mobile, Ala. native will spend one season in the Negro Leagues before signing a contract with the Milwaukee Braves' organization, where he will embark on a 23-year Hall of Fame career.
How high does Aaron rank on your all-time team?:confused:
MLB.com
November 23, 1962
Maury Wills is voted the National League's Most Valuable Player. The Los Angeles shortstop batted .299 and scored 130 runs, but also set a single-season record with 104 steals. Wills narrowly edges Willie Mays, who led the league with 49 home runs, by a final tally of 209 points to 202.
Wills could not carry Mays' jock on the field in 1962 or any other year!:nono:
McCovey
11-23-2008, 11:21 PM
How high does Aaron rank on your all-time team?:confused:
Second greatest right fielder behind Babe Ruth. Though Aaron never had any truly historic seaons his 20 All-Star level consistency is truly unique. Aaron literally didn't have an off-year until he was 40 years old. That is impressive.
McCovey
11-23-2008, 11:27 PM
Wills could not carry Mays' jock on the field in 1962 or any other year!:nono:
The main reason that Wills won the 1962 NL MVP award was simply because he stole 104 bases, breaking Ty Cobb's long standing majorleague single season stolen base record. Frank Robinson was probably the best player in the NL in 1962 and the Reds finished in third just 3.5 games back. However, Mays would have been a bette choice for MVP than Wills.
November 25, 1914
MLB.com
Future Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio is born in Martinez, California. The son of Italian immigrants, DiMaggio will become a local legend with the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League before embarking on a 13-year career with the New York Yankees.
The Bear knew Joe the last 15 years of his life. He was a nice man but very strange.:cool:
McCovey
11-25-2008, 05:37 PM
The Bear knew Joe the last 15 years of his life. He was a nice man but very strange.:cool:
In what way was Jolting' Joe strange?
In what way was Jolting' Joe strange?
To be honest he was very shy. He also was not the sharpest knife in the drawer if you know what I mean either. At the time I was a playground director for the city and Joe came to the playground and would sit on the bench and watch the Kids play. From time to time I would sit and talk with him, but seldom would he talk about baseball. He also live right around the block from me and our backyards shared a fence. I was later told he had a room off his yard that had flood to ceiling sports stuff from his playing days, but I never saw that. I will say this he was in very good shape way up into his golden years, but not to bright.:rolleyes:
Another cute story was the Kids did not know who Joe was but this one day this kid who was about seven at the time asked who he was. I told him who he was and that he was in the HOF and he ran home to tell his dad. The father told the kid I was full of s*** and that was not Joe. The kid came back and told the Kids that his dad said I was full of s***. So I said tell your dad if he had $50.00 to put up behind his big mouth I would be willing to take it from him. The dad told the Kid lets go collect the money from that BS director and came down to the playground and he almost sh*t his pants because Joe was his hero when he was a Kid and he knew it was Joe as soon as he saw him. He tried to get out of paying me but could not without looking worse than he already did in front of his Kid. I never saw that father again.:)
McCovey
11-25-2008, 06:27 PM
To be honest he was very shy. He also was not the sharpest knife in the drawer if you know what I mean either. At the time I was a playground director for the city and Joe came to the playground and would sit on the bench and watch the Kids play. From time to time I would sit and talk with him, but seldom would he talk about baseball. He also live right around the block from me and our backyards shared a fence. I was later told he had a room off his yard that had flood to ceiling sports stuff from his playing days, but I never saw that. I will say this he was in very good shape way up into his golden years, but not to bright.:rolleyes:
Great stuff, Bear. from what I hear Joe wasn't very approachable even to his own teammates. It's one thing to blow off fans and the media but to blow off your own teammates is low class IMO. But Joe was an amazing ballplayer. He even was a coach for the Oakland A's in 1968 which I find kind of odd.
McCovey
11-25-2008, 06:30 PM
Joe as an Oakland A's coach.
Great stuff, Bear. from what I hear Joe wasn't very approachable even to his own teammates. It's one thing to blow off fans and the media but to blow off your own teammates is low class IMO. But Joe was an amazing ballplayer. He even was a coach for the Oakland A's in 1968 which I find kind of odd.
That was a Charlie O. thing. It was just for PR and Joe hated it. We talked about it one afternoon and he told me it was like being a mascot.:eek:
McCovey
11-25-2008, 06:49 PM
That was a Charlie O. thing. It was just for PR and Joe hated it. We talked about it one afternoon and he told me it was like being a mascot.:eek:
If Joe hated it why did he do it in the first place? :shrug: I suspect Finely paid Joe a very nice salary.
SF Kid
11-25-2008, 07:17 PM
Who's Joe?
Why did I never hear this story or see the guy at the school yard? I think the Bear is full of s***. :D
If Joe hated it why did he do it in the first place? :shrug: I suspect Finely paid Joe a very nice salary.
You can be sure of that. Joe never did anything he was not paid for.;)
Who's Joe?
Why did I never hear this story or see the guy at the school yard? I think the Bear is full of s***. :D
The Bear would like to take some of your money too.:pound:
SF Kid
11-25-2008, 09:20 PM
Explain to me how this guy could be hanging out at the school yard and the SF Kid didn't know it. I was there almost as much as the Bear was. I think the Bear is full of s***. :neener:
Explain to me how this guy could be hanging out at the school yard and the SF Kid didn't know it. I was there almost as much as the Bear was. I think the Bear is full of s***. :neener:
Was the Kid there durning the week or only on weekends? Was the Kid playing with children or with adults. And does the Bear give a shit if the Kid believes him or not? Next time the Kid sees Mrs Bear ask her. The Bear is now no longer talking about this because he does not feel he needs to explain himself to anyone. Basta!:eek:
SF Kid
11-26-2008, 08:00 AM
Bear is full of s***. :D
November 26, 1975
Boston center fielder Fred Lynn becomes the first rookie to take home an MVP Award. Not only did Lynn put together a terrific offensive season, batting .331 with 21 home runs and 105 RBIs, he also sparked the pennant-winning Sox with his breathtaking defense in the outfield.
Fred got the most out of his talent which is why he was such a great team player. :beerbang:
McCovey
11-26-2008, 03:41 PM
November 26, 1975
Boston center fielder Fred Lynn becomes the first rookie to take home an MVP Award. Not only did Lynn put together a terrific offensive season, batting .331 with 21 home runs and 105 RBIs, he also sparked the pennant-winning Sox with his breathtaking defense in the outfield.
Fred got the most out of his talent which is why he was such a great team player. :beerbang:
A great player for a short time. His 1979 season was pretty awesome as well. If he hadn't been constantly injured he may have had a HoF career.
A great player for a short time. His 1979 season was pretty awesome as well. If he hadn't been constantly injured he may have had a HoF career.
I never said his career was long only that when healthy he was great!:beerbang:
As far as the HOF goes I am not sure I care anymore. Lots of great players have not gotten in and some who are not that great have so the Hall has lost some luster for me.:nono:
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