1. As of this writing, 56% of y’all have been fans for a quarter century or more. You’re old, like me.
2. A full 92% have been fans for 11 years or more. (I probably should have broken down the groups a little better; maybe we’ll run another poll someday after folks have had a chance to forget about this one.)
3. I invited people to share stories of their first game at a big-league ballpark, and got some cool stuff coming back my way.

Because stories are what keep me hooked on baseball, I’d like to follow up on that last point. When was your first big-league game? Is there anything in particular you remember about it (either something that happened on the field, or maybe just the experience)? Can you find the box score at Baseball-Reference?

If you’ve already shared in the previous thread, thank you. If not, go nuts. I’m guessing that among us, we’ve seen some good stuff at our first game…

Post from: Knuckle Curve

So I take the wife out shopping today. She shops, I sit in the car and read Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2008, everyone’s happy.

On page 145 of the Annual, I come across an amusing anecdote about a gentleman named Clay Dalrymple:

One July day in Baltimore in 1969, the umpires were faced with a problem. Clay Dalrymple was to catch for Baltimore that evening, but he emerged from the dugout with both a catcher’s mitt (on his hand) and a fielder’s glove (in his back pocket).

“I asked him about it,” reported home plate umpire John Rice. “And he told me he was going to switch to the fielder’s glove if he had a play at the plate.”

The umpires huddled, and though they couldn’t think of a rule that specifically forbade the use of the second glove, they exacted a promise from Dalrymple that he wouldn’t use the glove until a ruling was made by the league office.

Oriole manager Earl Weaver argued, of course. “If nothing covers it in the rules,” offered Earl, “then why rule against the glove? Why not for?”

This incident (which thanks to the magic of Baseball-Reference, we know occurred in a game against the White Sox) led to the addition of Rule 1.12 to the Official Major League Rules Book. Gotta love Earl Weaver.

And Clay Dalrymple…

Post from: Knuckle Curve

I’ve been thinking about ways to bring you stuff that just isn’t available anywhere else. News and analysis is great, and I’ll certainly continue to do my share of that, but one thing I thought might be fun is to use Baseball-Reference’s “random” function and highlight whoever happens to appear when I give it a spin. We’ll do this every Wednesday because, well, in keeping with the spirit of things, I actually chose the day at random.

Anyway, our first player is Harry Lord, a left-handed hitting third baseman who played for the Boston Americans/Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, and Buffalo Blues (of the old Federal League). His career spanned from 1907 to 1915, and he posted a career line of .277/.326/.356. Those numbers might appear anemic to us now, but back then it was good enough for an OPS+ of 104.

In 1909, Lord placed fifth in the AL with a .311 batting average. The only players ahead of him that season were Sam Crawford, Nap Lajoie, Eddie Collins, and Ty Cobb. You may recognize those names — they are all in the Hall of Fame.

Although Lord spent most of his time at the hot corner, he also saw some action in the outfield while playing for the White Sox in 1912. He finished seventh in the American League with five home runs that year. (Philadelphia’s Frank Baker and Boston’s Tris Speaker tied for the league lead, with 10 homers. Like I said, it was a different era.)

Not surprisingly, Lord’s list of most comparable players is littered with guys who played before WWII. There is one name, however, from more recent years. Some of you may remember Alan Bannister, a utility player from the ’70s and ’80s.

And that, my friends, is an all-too-brief look at Harry Lord. Until next time…

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Like what you just read? Subscribe to Knuckle Curve and you’ll never miss another article…

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Realistically, assuming Konerko is given the opportunity to play every day, and assuming he is able to make the adjustments all young players must make when they step up to a higher level (and there’s no reason based on his past history to believe he cannot), Konerko should consistently put up numbers on the order of .280/.370/.550 for the next 8-12 years, numbers which Karros once approached, at age 27. Konerko’s ceiling is more along the lines of Jeff Bagwell. If he doesn’t develop as expected, he could settle into another Eric Karros, which would certainly be disappointing but by no means embarrassing.

Well, Bagwell was probably a bit of a stretch. Entering 2007, though, Konerko’s list of similar players through age 30 includes guys like Carlos Lee and Derrek Lee — no shame in that. As for the .280/.370/.550 line? Since he’s been in Chicago, Konerko is batting .284/.356/.502. That’s not quite what I predicted, but it’s not too far off either.

Anyway, I’d better go soak in the hot tub for a while. I think I pulled a muscle patting myself on the back.

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Post from: Knuckle Curve

1. Ron Gant
2. Shane Mack
3. Josh Bard
4. George Vuckovich
5. Rich Wortham

Useless information? Perhaps. But still kind of interesting…

Post from: Knuckle Curve