Baseball Nicknames

by Aaron Walad

Seems like there is no end to the number of nicknames there are in baseball.

Here is a list of some of these dandies.

The animal nicknames. Some are fierce and make you quiver or some just make you take notice. Like “The Big Cat” for Johnny Mize, “Godzilla” for Hideki Matsui, “Moose” for Bill Skowron, “The Iron Horse” for Lou Gehrig, or “King Kong “ for Charlie Keller. Other animals are not so scary. Like “Ducky” for Joe Medwick, or “The Mule” for Yankee Killer Frank Lary., and “The Penguin” for Ron Cey. Goose Goslin was better known as “Goose” than his real name of Leon. Maybe “The Bird” ( Mark Fidrych) and “Mickey Mouse” for Cliff Melton were names that tried to trick us. Who would be scared to bat against a bird? Before he got hurt “The Bird” used to mow ‘em down. And then there is one of my favorites – “The Silver Fox” for Duke Snider.

Then there are the Royal nicknames. Names of Nobility. These names are fitting to baseball immortals, Like “The Sultan of Swat” (Babe Ruth), “Prince Albert” (Albert Pujols), “Rajah” (Rogers Hornsby),” Prince Hal” ( Hal Schumacher), “King Carl “ (Carl Hubbel). “Duke” for Edwin Charles Snider is more recognizable than his first name of Edwin. And another one of my favorites “The Count” – John Montefusco. Do you think the person that was anointing these greats with their nickname was thinking majestically?

You know where they are from nicknames like “Memphis Bill” for Bill Terry, “Dominican Dandy” for Jaun Marichal, “The Reading Rifle” for Carl Furillo, “The Fordham Flash” for Frankie Frisch, “Country” for Enos Slaughter, “Commerce Comet” for Mickey Mantle, “The Kentucky Colonel” for Earle Combs and of course “The Georgia Peach” for Ty Cobb. Hey who’s from Jersey? “Jersey Joe” Stripp that’s who.

“The Old Professor” (Casey Stengel ), “The Little Professor” (Dom DiMaggio) “Teddy Ballgame” ( Ted Williams ) and “ Donnie Baseball” ( Don Mattingly ) seem to indicate that these men knew something about the game. While names like Dizzy Dean, Daffy Dean, Dazzy Vance or “The Brat“for Eddie Stanky, seem to tell another story about these guys. Maybe they were a head case?

Names that depict respect. “Mr Cub” (Ernie Banks) , “The Man” (Stan Musial) , “The Yankee Clipper” ( Joe DiMaggio), “Mr October” ( Reggie Jackson) “Mr November” (Derek Jeter)and “The Master” for Mel Ott. And then there are names that do not illuminate respect like “Fat Freddie” for Freddie Fitzsimmons or “Crab” for Johnnie Evers or “The Sphinx” for Don Mossi.

And nicknames of strength – “The Iron Horse” (Lou Gehrig), “Iron Man” McGinnity, “The Iron Man” (Cal Ripken), “The Man of Steal” (Rickey Henderson), ”The Wall” (Thurman Munson). These are guys I want on my team.

Some nicknames have fascinated me. Like “Jack The Ripper” What does this say about Jack Clark? Twinkletoes Selkirk the old Yankee infielder must have had a great time explaining that one. Leo Durocher had an interesting moniker – Leo The Lip. “The Big Hurt” for Frank Thomas started out as a name that told a story about how he destroyed the other team. Later on in his career does the name describe his ongoing state of his own physical condition? “Boog” What is a Boog Mr Powell?

And last but not least are names that I just enjoy. “Hammerin” Hank Aaron, The Kid
(Ted Williams), “Ryan’s Express” (Nolan Ryan),”The Rocket” (Roger Clemens),”The Vacuum Cleaner” (Brooks Robinson),”The Wizard of Oz” (Ozzie Smith). And of course there is my nickname “ Hoch Fleisch.

Pass this on to someone you think would get a kick out of reading it.

About the Author:
The great game of baseball. What could be better? Loving the game of baseball for Aron Wallad has been a job of joy for a long time. For over 45 years he has followed the game by coaching, watching games, reading stories and checking player’s stats. Playing baseball, softball and stickball were his games of choice. Join Aron as he looks at the game from some different points of view. You will find his stories moving. You will be amazed when you see some of the unusual statistics he presents. The quotes will move you or make you laugh. Go here right now to join his ezine, and have some more fun.http://www.baseballsprideandjoy.comOr to check out some Rawlings Baseball Equipment go here http://baseballsprideandjoy.com/rawlingsbaseballequipment.htm

Gator Freshman Candidate for Top Baseball Honors

by Gertie The Gator

You might not have heard of the Dick Howser Trophy, but that’s OK. A lot of people haven’t heard of it either. Here’s the deal. The Dick Howser Trophy for baseball is the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy in football. It’s awarded to the top of the top, the best of the best.

This year, one of the fifty players being considered for the trophy is second baseman Josh Adams, who was named Thursday to the watch list. The award is given by the National Baseball Writers Association working with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce.

Adams, though a rookie freshman, has had an awesome season, starting 39 games so far, and playing five different positions. If that’s not enough for you, he’s batting .354. He leads the Gators in RBIs, multiple hits, doubles and tied for second most homers on the team with six. The rest of his numbers are astounding and he leads the SEC Orange & Blue with a ton of RBIs, homers and doubles in league play. Oh, and he can steal bases, too! Like a pro – or better.

Adams was named Freshman of the Week on March 17th after an incredible.727 (8 of 11) sweep of Auburn. In the second game alone, he had a 3-run homer, an RBI single, a double, and a stolen base. In the first game he only drove in six runs, hit three doubles, went to the plate 13 times and made it on base 10 times. Must have been a slow day!

Keep your eye on Adams. He is a great ball player and an asset to UF and the Gators.
This is a guy you should show your spirit for. This is a team you should sport your colors for. Get your Official Gator Merchandise and wear it proud. You won’t see many players like this anywhere on the planet. Show Adams-and the team – your support.

About the Author:
Want the latest Gator news and information? Perfect Gertie wants to make sure you get it. Please visit http://www.gatordistrict.com./ You will find plenty of gator gear, news, and merchandise, enough to satisfy the hungriest of Gators!

What I Know and Remember About Baseball - Juicing

by Mr. Dowdy

Juicing in baseball occurs on two levels. First is the newer baseballs with composite rubber compounds that enable the ball to behave stronger. Better flight and response to the bat which results in more home runs. Second, juicing the player with steroids for increase red blood cells that allow more oxygen metabolizing and muscle growth.

For any baseball fan that has a subscription to Scientific American you can appreciate how they bring in subjects that in one aspect are very in line with their thinking. But even the best minds can have trouble putting together the simplest concepts.

In April 2008 issue they go to great lengths to discuss the compound effects of steroid use. Some of these effects are well known and others you may find surprising.

As a young man just entering college I was fortunate enough to be able to have my exercise regime overseen by the then bench press world record holder. Under his watch I put on 30 lbs and took my bench press to doing repetitions with 450lbs and perform the squat with 680lbs. At 5 foot 11 inches it was impressive.

What I learned most from my mentor was that the stories about steroids were true. Within a few years of taking steroids he developed testicular cancer which resulted in the loss of one. He constantly fought roid rages which brought stress to his whole family. In that Gym, even the discussion of steroid use was frowned upon.

Aside from the emotional and physical trauma steroids put on the athlete, the article in Scientific American points out a lesser known truth. In the periods from 1994 through 1996 world class bicyclists were dying in their sleep. These guys are at the top of all sports when it comes to overall cardio conditioning. They ride for hundreds of miles daily at paces the average Joe can only keep up for mere minutes.

Steroids create additional red blood cells. More red blood cells, the more oxygen the bodies circulatory system has available the harder the muscles can work and recover. Every thing gets stronger down the line. Lungs become larger to pass more oxygen and the cycle goes through again.

What was pointed out is that with all these new red blood cells and athletes with superior cardio is that they were having heart attacks in their sleep. You will have to read the article to get all details on how the heart attacks were actually caused. But so far as it to say, cyclists on steroids were now sleeping with heart monitors to wake them up should their heart stop.

While this is all interesting you are wondering what it has to do with baseball. Simple, steroids are a short term gain and long term loss. How short and long the terms are depends on your unique chemistry. But have no doubt, you will pay a price that you never expected.

The current controversy surrounding baseball really should be laid to rest. The lure of steroid use is so great to these top athletes as it can be the difference between a multi year multi million dollar contract or minimum wage work at Home Depot. The solution to stop steroid use in professional athletics is out there. But today, no one has been able to find it.

For athletes who are not paid but want to take their game up a level. Simple, do it without steroids. Performance enhancement through chemistry is no solution. It just may be that you are not a premium athlete. Believe in yourself that your level of play, how ever frustrating it may be to your self image, is okay.

To break it down even farther; steroids without a prescription are contraband and the mere possession of them can get you jail time. If you have convinced yourself that your body chemistry is suitable for steroids then you are a candidate for instant hire at the human gene research center, they do not even know how it all works together.

Steroids are a hurricane. Once introduced into the body you have now idea when or how bad the storm will hit, but be sure, the storm is coming. No one can be prepared for what it will bring.

As athletes mature and move on into other fields were they are successful other than sports, being brought down from a mistake in the past can wreck havoc on all their current successes. Look forward to your life at 40 or 50, do you really want your kids with you in the hospital waiting for cancer surgery. How about having your heart stop on your wedding night.

As a person you are not an island. Many people are connected with your life and are affected by what you do and go through. Be patient with yourself. There are those you may never meet but your live will impact them. So if preserving yourself is not a good enough reason, maybe they are.

About the Author:
Mr. Dowdy is an Official Distributor for NW Kelley USA Baseball you can also click over to Hirsch Group for more tips/articles or even Hirsch Group Blog for current events. Thanks for reading my article!

The Incredible Wiffle Ball Bat

Is there a better backyard game than playing wiffle ball with an official wiffle ball bat? I can remember as a kid playing wiffle ball day after day during the summer in our neighborhood. What started in the 1950's has sure exploded today.

There are now so many competitive wiffle ball leagues throughout the U.S. and it just continues to grow. Do you know how the game of wiffle ball got its start?

It all began back in the early 1950's when David A Mullany and his good friends would get together and play baseball in the yard. Instead of using a hard baseball they used an old plastic golf ball along with a broom handle for a bat. (No wiffle ball bat yet) Haven't we all done that before? Well, trying to throw a curveball with a plastic golf ball just doesn't work out too well.

David's father got an idea to change all that. He had used to be a semi-pro baseball player and knew a lot about pitching. He went down to a local factory and took some plastic tooling designs and came home with a plastic ball. Using a knife he cut eight oblong perforations into one half of the ball and tested it out.

The ball curved beautifully without a lot of effort. They had what they wanted for their game. Of course, what they didn't know at that time was that they had a whole new way of playing baseball! A year later they began packaging and selling their wiffle balls.
Today, they are sold literally around the world. The name for wiffle ball came from the fact that a swing and a miss in baseball is called a "whiff". And because it can be difficult to hit a curving wiffle ball, the name was a natural for it.

The game itself is very simple. The only equipment is the ball and the bat. There is no need for baseball gloves, uniforms, or cleats. As for the wiffle ball bat, they are manufactured for the wiffle ball company by someone else. The standard yellow wiffle ball bat is 30" long and only 1.25" in diameter. It is made as a hard hollow plastic.
There are many other types and brands of plastic baseball bats, but the wiffle ball bat is the one I would stick with. Not only is it a little tougher to hit, but it makes the game more fair. If you are using one of those jumbo orange bats then you're not playing a real game.

The original yellow wiffle ball bat has the pop and the crispness that all other bats lack. I have also seen others using a metal wiffle ball bat, but again, that is a little unfair to pitchers and the game in general. Plus, it can easily break the wiffle ball itself with its power.

The original wiffle ball rules are still available from the company today. You can write to them and have them sent to you. Here is the company address. The Wiffle Ball Inc., PO Box 193, Shelton, CT 06484.

Wiffle ball is just flat out fun and exciting for both kids and parents as well. Hopefully you have taken the opportunity to play the game yourself.

About the Author
You can find out more about the Wiffle Ball Bat as well as more information on all types of bats at http://www.Ball-Bats.InfoFromA-z.com

College Baseball Bats

by Jimmy Spier

Bats out of aluminium are usually preferred with the beaters out of wooden due to their light and raised power (note: one allows of pro players to use the beaters only drink some). Lighter beaters are usually preferable with heavier beaters because they make it possible to the bruiser to create sufficient speed to put some oomph in him (although there are restrictions about the weights of beater to the majority of the levels). Moreover, the aluminium bats can ensure more pop baseball in addition to beater, and are much more stable (thus profitable) that beaters out of wooden. The beaters today become advanced technology more and more and expensive.

The bats of university are more point than the beaters than for employs. For, you see, are behind times with their bats. Their relics out of wooden were out of model during years. The marks drink some for the bats which are heavier, less durable, and less functional than their counterparts made starting from aluminium.

The best bats of Today must be found in the ranks of university. They're made of military aluminium of category provided by companies like Alcoa and Kaiser. And these companies continue to work with this aluminium of plane to make more extremely it lighter, and more stable, thinner.

These aluminium alloys go by their a number or trademarks of corporation, and usually by names of mark too. You can sometimes note that the same trademark is launched on the market by various manufacturers of beater close with the difference of the names of mark.

If you want to see whether your bats of university are made from one of these avançés alloys, look at simply the beater. Usually, the manufacturers are so proud owing to the fact that the they'll announce it in large letters "bold" on the beater. Other side, if the beater of you're is -11 or the lighter, it is required by law not to state which kind of alloy is used for its assembly. In any event, these lighter beaters probably do not contain stronger newer alloys. To make the weight, the producer probably had the practice a lighter alloy for the thinner walls of the beater.

If you want to be able to know exactly what is in your bats of university, seek the number of category on them. For example, a number of category of 7046 means that the beater is manufactured with the standard aluminium of plane, a material adapted for many beaters of budget.

Category 7050 means that the aluminium alloy contains a quantity of copper, which makes him a third more strongly than 7046. Other numbers and categories, naturally, indicate other mixtures of alloy and different forces.

Bats are measured by using their length to weigh the report/ratio, a negative number which represents how many ounces a beater weigh compared with the it the length in inches. For example, a beater of 32 inches which weighs 28 ounces is has - 4. The greatest report/ratio is in the range of -12 (for small beaters of league), while university and beaters of college are limited to A - 3. These restrictions are for reasons of safety - a player of university or college the oscillation of a very light beater (- 4 +) would have simply too much power and could pose a danger with other players at once. Take care to check the payments of your league before buying a bat!

About the Author
For tips on baseball pitches and baseball drills, visit the Baseball Tips website.

Selling Baseball Equipment Online

by Sofia Rey

Selling baseball equipment, such as baseball bats or battling gloves online can certainly create new income streams.
As the internet matures, so do the attitude of people buying more and more online. Most existing companies will ship the merchandise to nearly any address specified, regardless whether the delivery address is not the same address as the buyer. This opens the door for selling opportunities for just about anyone with the initiative to do some work online and keep track of their earnings.
Opportunities do exist for online selling of sports equipment, such as baseball bat, baseball gloves or any other baseball equipment.
However, one of the problem with having a retail website is that you become the buyer, seller and shipper all at once. When you offer merchandise for sale online you are opening the door to a global audience and will need to have an inventory of merchandise that you offer for sale. Constantly sending out apologetic emails informing buyers their choice is either discontinued or on back order will not win many repeat customers and will eventually leave you with nothing but a nice looking website.
You can, however get hooked up with wholesalers who maintain a large inventory of merchandise and allow you to sell it on your website. When an order comes in, it goes directly to the wholesaler who will pack it and ship it as well as handle all the finances. You make money based on the profit from the sale of the item. For example, you advertise an Easton baseball glove on your site for $159.99 plus tax plus shipping an handling. A customer buys it and submits the order. Once payment is received, the item will be shipped.
Many drop-shippers work with online auction sellers who simply list the merchandise on their auction site and the wholesaler takes over the shipping of the merchandise. For auction merchandise there is a risk to the seller in that if a listed item does not sell, the seller is still responsible for any listing fees for putting their item on the auction.
You can also choose to buy small inventories of baseball equipment you believe will be in high demand online and list in the items description how many are available. Being honest with potential buyers on the front side that only so many are available may improve the chance of a sale, as well as diminish disappointment when you run out of the required item.
About the Author
Sofia Rey is an enthusiastic affiliate marketer who also runs an online baseball equipment store.
Visit her online baseball equipment store at http://www.bb.internetforte.com
Sofia also recommends your visit to http://www.ewenworkingfromhome.internetforte.com for work from home opportunities.

Baseball Lingo And Definitions That Start With The Letter A

by JP

Ever sit down to watch a ballgame, and here the announcer say, "That pitcher is all over the place!" Or how about, "He took that one to the alley!" Are you the person who says, "What the heck is that suppose to mean?" Then, this article is just for you. I'm going to go over some popular lingo used in baseball and I'm going to do it step by step with the alphabet. I guess you can say this will be sort of a dictionary of baseball lingo, and this particular article starts just like the Webster's Dictionary, with the letter A. Granted, some of these terms are hardly used anymore, but who's to say they can't come back into fashion and hey, you might even learn a few odd ball facts about the game too!

Ace: 1. An excellent pitcher. The term usually refers to a team's best starting pitcher, although it may also pertain to the best reliever on a pitching staff, as in BULLPEN ACE or RELIEF ACE. "Ace" derives from Asa Brainard, the only pitcher on the Cincinnati Red Stockings team of 1869. Brainard's record, as well as the team's, was 56 wins, no defeats, and one tie. Thereafter, any pitcher who won many games was called a "Asa," which was eventually shortened to "ace". Also STOPPER. 2. A run. In the 1840s, when the first amateur baseball teams were being formed by men's recreational clubs, card terms were often applied to baseball, such as "ace" for a run scored. Now days, the first definition is the one most used.

Action Pitch: A pitch thrown on a count of three balls and two strikes with two outs and a man on first base, men on first and second, or with the bases loaded. In any of these situations, the man or men on base start running just before the pitch is thrown, so as to get a jump in case of a base hit.

Afterpiece: The second game of a doubleheader. Also NIGHTCAP, which is the term most used now days.

Agent: A representative hired by a player to handle his business affairs, especially contract negotiations. In 1970 baseball team owners agreed that a player could use a representative in salary negotiations. Three years later Jerry Kapstein became the first agent under the new system. His first client was outfielder Richie Zisk of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Air Ball: A fly ball, a baseball term of the late 1800s.

Alibi Ike: A player who has an excuse for every one of his failures on the field. The name comes from a 1915 Ring Lardner short story of that title about such a player.
Alley: The area of the outfield between the left fielder and the center fielder, or between the center fielder and the right fielder. Also GAP and POWER ALLEY.

All Over The Plate: Unable to throw strikes. The phrase refers to a pitcher whose deliveries are consistently and variously out of the strike zone, and may also refer to the pitches themselves. Also WILD.

All-Star Break: the three-day break in the regular season during which the All-Star Game is played.

All-Star Game: An annual exhibition game pitting the best players of the American League against the best of the National League. Also MIDSUMMER CLASSIC. In 1933 Chicago Tribune sports editor Arch Ward conceived the idea of the game, which would be played at Chicago's Comiskey Park in conjunction with the city's Century of Progress exposition. The game took place on July 06, with Babe Ruth's two-run homer leading the Americans to a 4-2 win. Selection of the All-Star squads, always a controversial process, was decided by the respective managers (the skippers of the previous season's league champions) through the 1946 game, although fans offered their suggestions in informal polls taken by baseball officials in 1933 and 1934. From 1947 to 1957, the selection was handed over to the fans. But after Cincinnati rooters were accused of stuffing the ballot box in favor of Red 1957, major league players, coaches, and managers began picking the All-Star teams, and did so through 1969. Baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn returned the vote to the fans in 1970.

Alternative Pitch: A euphemism for an illegal pitch. When a pitcher is having a bad game, he often has no alternative but to go to his bag of tricks, the most useful of which is illegally putting some foreign substance--such as hair cream, saliva, or sweat--on the ball, so as to make it break sharply and unexpectedly as it nears home plate.

American Association: 1. A professional baseball league that lasted from 1882 through 1891. It was the third major league formed, after the National Association (1871-1875) and the National League (1876- ). 2. One of the three minor leagues at the top, or AAA, level of the minors, along with the Pacific Coast League and the International League.

American League: One of the two major leagues, the other being the National League. Abbreviated AL. The American League was founded in 1901 by Byron Bancroft "Ban" Johnson and immediately proclaimed itself an equal competitor of the National League, which had been founded 15 years earlier. The new league was dubbed the "junior circuit," a name that is still used even though the two leagues have been considered equals from the early years of their rivalry. The AL's charter member teams were in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. In 1969 each major league was restructured into two six team divisions known as the Eastern and Western Divisions. In 1977 the American League added one team to each of its divisions. In 1994, the league, along with the National League, reorganized into three divisions (East, Central and West) and added a second round to the playoffs in the form of the League Divisional Series, with the best second-place team advancing to the playoffs as a wild card team, in addition to the three divisional champions. Originally, the Milwaukee Brewers were in the Central division, but they left to join the National League in 1998, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, joined the Eastern division, which kept the league's membership at 14 teams.

Angel: A cloud, in a virtually cloudless sky, that allows a fielder to better see a high fly ball. Also known as a GUARDIAN ANGEL.

Annie Oakley: A base on balls or a WALK. Complimentary tickets to the theater or to sporting events have traditionally been punched with holes to designate that the tickets are free. During the late 1800s, these freebies were called "Annie Oakleys" in honor of the famous riflewoman whose feats included shooting holes in small cards. Baseball observers quickly adapted "Annie Oakley" to mean a base on balls, which was and still is also known as a "free ticket" or "free pass."

Ant: A fan. The word dates from the early 1900s and stems from the observation that fans in the stands often appear as small as ants to the players.

Appeal Play: A special appeal made by the defensive team to an umpire after a base runner has failed to tag up on a fly ball or has neglected to step on a base while advancing or while returning to his original base. To put out the runner on an appeal, a defensive player with the ball must tag the runner or the base he missed or the base from which he failed to tag up properly. The appeal must be made to the umpire before the next pitch. The umpire may have seen the misplay but will not call the out unless appealed to by the defense.

Apple: A baseball, so called for its resemblance to an apple.

Arbitration: The process by which an objective party, or arbitrator, settles a contract dispute between a player and the management of his team. Such arbitration cases are binding; the ruling is entirely in favor of either the player or the club. Arbitration was first used in major league baseball in 1974.

Arlie Latham: A sharply hit ground ball that is difficult to field. A major league third baseman during the late 1800s, Arlie Latham had a reputation for letting hard grounders go by rather than risk injury by getting in front of them.

Arm: 1. Outstanding throwing ability, as in "That outfield has one hell of an arm." 2. A strong throwing arm. Also known as BAZOOKA, CANNON, GUN, and RIFLE.

Around The Horn: Refers to a double play in which the third baseman fields a ground ball and throws to the second baseman, who forces a runner at second base and then throws to the first baseman to retire the batter. The term derives from the custom of ships to take the long route around Cape Horn at the tip of South America to get from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, or vice versa, before the construction of the Panama Canal.

Artificial Turf: A synthetic, carpet like surface that has replaced the grass fields in some major league stadiums. Also known as CARPET and RUG. The first artificial playing surface was installed in the Houston Astrodome in 1965. On April 9th of that year, the New York Yankees beat the Houston Astros, 2-1, in an exhibition at the Astrodome, the first game played on a synthetic surface. Now days the only teams still using artificial turf are the Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Tampa Bay Rays. Probably the best editorial comment about artificial turf came from a player--often attributed to either Willie Mays or Dick Allen-- who said, "If cows don't eat it, I won't play on it."

Ash: A bat. Ash has resiliency and strength, and has long been one of the favored types of wood for the manufacturing of bats.

Aspirin, Aspirin Tablet: A baseball thrown or pitched with such great speed that it appears as small as an aspirin.

Assist: A credit for a fielder's direct involvement in a put out. He gets an assist by making a throw that results in a put out, or by touching a batted ball in a play that results in a put out.
There you have it. Baseball lingo in the tune of the letter A!

Are you looking for a new baseball or softball glove? Or are you a collector of vintage baseball mitts? Then click for a discount baseball glove for you so go find the perfect glove and play ball!

About the Author
Avid cyclist, Vietnam War zippo collector, model train collector, antique tool collector, amateur historian, and baseball fan.

Tools to Become a Baseball Player

by BJ Johnson

Do you dream of a career in the baseball? To dream is the first stage, just thus you know, as well as the ambition and the determination. But if your dreams and goals are serious and if you are convinced that you belong among the players of baseball of the United States of top, then here some ends which can help you to carry out what you wish! Or perhaps you are the relative of a child who is of great interest for the baseball of the United States, by observing it and by practising it. You thus ensure to you your child of don't loss potentials!

The first thing that you have need if you want to become a player of baseball is the right equipment, what still? Sure, this means pocket money, but all the pastimes and talents come with a price. After all, it is not a siexigeant pastime.

Thus, of that do you have need? First of all, you must go to a specialized department store, such as the athletics in abundance, Akadema (where you can find a range of articles for juniors) or right beaters. Us all that the glove of baseball is the article of the most important equipment and most valid in this sport, but it know are the only necessary one? Not. Your list of purchases should include: bats, gloves of baseball, beaters of the baseball, gloves of wadding in sheet, cable clamps of baseball, guards of trunk and helmets of wadding in sheet.

If you are an amateur, you can save the gloves of wadding in sheet, for example, but if you want to be a professional, all these pieces will be real must-rich. By choosing the equipment necessary, you ensure that you choose best the best, if you would really aspire to be a professional player of baseball.

The equipment must feel exact, adapt you and this is why you to have to be advised by a specialist when you make shopping and test the equipment before you buy it. The cheap equipment is not the best choices, thus you ensure to choose the honourable marks which can offer the execution and protection to you that you have requirement by playing the game.

If you are wondering whether there are certain conditions of academic in order to go well to a player of baseball of the United States, the answer is simple: not. However, this does not mean that we all have equal chances of the becoming players of baseball. First of all, you need the good tonality of muscle, the suitable one and the type of strong body, the one considerable talent and must join to you a club folâtre, a local team - some large sportsmen started starting from the smallest teams of baseball and managed to go well to the true professionals.

But there is more thing of which you have need in order to become a professional player of baseball and who is... chance. Without counting that the goals, the ambition, the equipment, hard work and the formation, you must that ingredient of chance in order to obtain this successful receipt of player of baseball of the United States.

About the Author
For more baseball information visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball. Also for baseball bats visit http://www.justbats.com.

Cards Aren't the Only Baseball Collectibles in High Demand

by Jimmy Spier

Baseball collectible enthusiasts have an appetite for more than just playing cards. The memorabilia that's now being sought after spans the spectrum from bobble heads, bats, gloves, jerseys to autographed balls, caps and even action figures.

Of course the best kind of baseball collectible is the one you were able to secure for yourself - having a baseball player sign an autograph is a memory you won't soon forget.

But for many fans of the sport, baseball collectibles can only be obtained through online purchases or the occasional gift a loved one presented to them. Memorabilia is often passed down from generation to generation, increasing the value of the baseball collectibles throughout the years.

It's just the monetary value of the memorabilia that makes it so special. Baseball is America's favorite past time, and baseball collectibles often provide fond memories of warm summer nights and good times spent with friends and family.

When it comes to keepsakes, the barriers of team against team break down because fans often appreciate the value of a baseball collectible regardless of what team the item originated from.
While cards used to be the primary starter kit for any fan wishing to amass a collection of baseball memorabilia, today's collectors focus on a variety of mementos. Vintage equipment, pins, and pennants are a staple of many fans' baseball collectibles.

Anything carrying an autograph from a player, such as a cap, call, or glove is a prized possession when it comes to baseball collectibles. Bobbing (or bobble head) dolls of players are extremely popular, circulating from as early as the 1950s when baseball was as much a part of every American family's life as the food on their dinner table.

Some fans like to approach their baseball collectibles from the standpoint of team memorabilia, focusing on an entire assortment of Yankee or Red Sox souvenirs. Others prefer to simply collect items from major players of any team, as long as the player made an impact on the game itself.
While modern day figures may not fetch as much as the ones who made this game so popular in the beginning, that hasn't deterred loyal fans from scooping up keepsakes from the headliners of today. Not only are baseball collectibles a good investment of memorabilia, but many fans enjoy the fun they have tracking down special and unique pieces to preserve over the years and pass down to their own heirs.

About the Author
Information on baseball tips can be found at the Baseball Tips site.

Going Batty Over Aluminum Bats

by Coach Bobby B

There are grass roots efforts in some states to remove the aluminum bat from Youth Basebal Leagues. Recently, a boy in New Jersey was incapacitated by a line drive that struck him in the chest, causing cardiac arrest. He's alive but has severe problems because of lack of oxygen to the brain for an extended period of time. The parents are suing the maker of the bat and the store that sold it.

Now a grass roots effort is gaining momentum in New Jersey to have the aluminum bat eliminated from the Youth Baseball world. Their argument is that the aluminum bats are too dangerous.

As a youth baseball coach in New Jersey I can understand the proponents of the effort to ban the aluminum bats. But is banning the aluminum bat a solution?

How about a change of strategy. Why not get Little League and Youth League officials to pressure the aluminum bat makers to deaden the aluminum bat. To make them react more like a wooden bat.

You see, the problem with aluminum bats is most of the bat is a sweet spot. The companies even trumpet this aspect in their marketing campaigns. The bigger the sweet spot the more chances there are of a serious injury or death occurring.

Do you think banning aluminum bats will stop tragic deaths in youth baseball. What happens if deaths occur with only wood bats. What then? Do we ban Youth Baseball leagues altogether for the YOUTH WIFFLE BALL LEAGUE .

Come on folks be realistic!

About the Author
Coach Bobby B is a youth baseball coach in northern new jersey who stresses baseball fundamentals to his players - Respect, hustle and most important - have fun!

What Baseball Means To Me

by BronxBlogger

It's a season for America. The smell of hot dogs in the walk-ways, the sound of the die hards screaming across the field, and the beautiful green grass in which tradition plays out. This is baseball, our national pastime, our savior during the Great Depression, it kept our hopes up during the second world war, and now with an international influx, a world renowned sport.

My love for this sport began as a child. It started with a shoe box, as most memories do. But my memory takes a different path, a path blocked by my father, and a path pursued by myself.

This shoe box was the earliest memory I have of baseball. It was a Reebok box with the familiar Union Jack on the lid, inside was a vast assortment of cards. I never owned cards before then, so this was a goldmine for me. I took them out and looked at the people pictured on the cardboard reading their names, not knowing who a single person was. The cards kept me entertained for a couple hours before being placed back in the box and in my closet.

As the days went by, the box untouched, I told a friend that I had received this and we talked about possibly trading cards. I was still a child, so I had no idea who I traded, either way, I was happy to be able to share my collection with someone else as he enjoyed the deal. I probably got ripped off, but I didn't care at the time.

This sparked my interest in the cards again and I went ahead and took a good look at them. The backs were filled with numbers and abbreviations that I would later decipher in my life. I spent some time with my new found collection and organized the cards by teams. Then I committed the most ungodly act of all. I wanted to keep the cards together so I grabbed some rubber bands and tied them together, not knowing that they would put notches in the side of them. I even took a couple and did the classic move by placing them in the spokes of my bicycle to create the motorcycle sound effect. I ask you, who hasn't done that as a kid?

My grandmother soon realized I had begun to like baseball and gave my my first glove on my birthday. It was a small tan leather glove, no replica autographs, no fancy padding, not even an index finger hole. I did not care, I had something I could use and enjoy. I didn't on any baseballs at the time, so I would use rocks, lost tennis balls, and super balls as a substitute. No one I knew had baseball equipment, so I would go to the park and throw my tennis ball, or whatever it was for the day, at a fence or the side of a building and retrieve it on the bounce back. I became quite good at catching and cutting off the ball before it went too far past me. I didn't had a bat until I was in high school, so at the time my bats were broom sticks and small branches that had fallen from the tree in my yard. Did I care? No. I wanted to play baseball and I would use anything I could.

One day I did get my first baseball. It was found in the outfield of my local baseball field. Armed with my branch, glove (which started to slowly get smaller as I aged), and baseball, I would stay at the ball park usually till dusk hitting my lonely ball up against the fence hoping that one day I would be asked to join in a game of sandlot. Those hopes did happen and it was a tremendous feeling. I was playing an actual baseball game with kids my age and having fun. This memory will never leave me no matter what. Even if I were to lose my motor functions and be in a vegetative state, I will carry that one moment with me.

Me being a Yankees fan could be blamed on one of two things. As an infant, my mom would put on a mini Yankees jacket in the winter. But like all infants, we do not remember anything. I did not even realize this until a couple years ago when she showed my that jacket that was worn, which is now hung on the wall in her basement next to the bar.

Another possibility on how I became a fan was my pure chance. I was in Syracuse, New York when I got the cards as mentioned above, and being in New York you were either a Yankees fan or a Mets fan. At the time, I did not know the Mets existed. So by default, I chose the pinstripes and never looked back.

In middle school, I had my first opportunity to play in an organized league. I had never played T-Ball or little league, and throwing the ball up and hitting it with a branch really put me at a disadvantage compared to the other children who had experience. I knew about the basic rules and how the game ran. Three strikes make an out, four balls is a walk, and nine innings is regulation. I joined about half way into the season and was riding pine most of the way. My batting was horrible as I reached base only once via a base hit. I was scared to swing since I didn't want to strike out. Eve my first at bat was frightful. The first pitch I saw was right down the middle, but I jumped out of the batters box way anyway. The umpire warned me if I did that again, he would call it a strike. Second pitcher I did the same exact thing and got the strike call. We had a horrible season, losing every game, but a first for me nonetheless.

High school was different. We had no baseball team, however, the local youth center had a team and I asked my dad if I could join. He had no problem with it as long as there was practice everyday. Unfortunately it was three days a week, so I was denied. My father pushed me to do sports, which I didn't mind, but I wanted to play baseball; that never happened.

His idea of playing catch was I throw the ball, he holds onto it while changing the station on his walk man, then throws it back.. This would last for about ten minutes before he gave up and went home. The scene in "Field of Dreams" where Ray Kinsella plays catch with his father always makes me swell up. I never had the joy of doing that, and when I have children of my own, I will not deny them the chance of a great father-son moment.

My baseball career had ended. My love for the sport grew day by day. I used my birthday money to buy cards and took better care of them. No more rubber bands, no bike spokes. I was going to take care of them. It got to the point where I started shoplifting packs of cards until one day when I was caught. It's not a good feeling getting busted, knowing you were so close, yet so far from your goal. Since then I have never shoplifted again.

After high school, I began to study the game in depth, absorbing stats, trivia, rosters, strategies. I wanted to know everything about baseball and how the game ran from the inside.
To the untrained eye, baseball is a simple sport. One guy pitches, one guy hits, the the other guys try to get him out. To one who understands the complexities from within, it's not about the base hit. It's about sacrifices, bunts, hit and runs, fielding shifts, and all the other methods of gaining an edge.

I became a huge fan of statistics and wanting to know more about them. Most are so trivial, it's a wonder why it even became a stat. No one really cares who hit .280 with 15 home runs, 60 runs batted in while hitting 5 double playing at third base. I did.

Baseball became more of a numbers game to a point where I got tired of reading stats and wanted to focus on the game itself. I began to balance enjoying the game, and studying the game so I can enjoy both equally. I would watch games on TV and try to guess what the manager was thinking.

Baseball grew so much in my life that I wanted to share my thoughts and opinions with others, so I created my own blog. My blog went unnoticed at first, I had very few readers and even fewer comments. But as the days went by, more and more people came to my site and even had a few regular readers. Sharing my thoughts with others is something that will always be with me and being able to talk about America's most historical sport always brightens my day.

Baseball is my passion. Tears come to my eyes during the final out of the World Series, not because I am happy to witness the unfolding events, but sad because baseball has ended.

It takes a true fan to enjoy your team as they struggle to stay out of last place, but a greater fan to mourn the ending of the 162 game marathon. My year does not begin on January 1st, but on Opening Day.

Baseball for me is life. A life I grew up in, a life I cherish, and a life I share.
And this is what baseball means to me.

About the Author
BronxBlogger is an avid baseball fan. He loves to talk baseball, and he will even give some fantasy baseball advice every now and then.