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Blog #54 (Robin Yount)

June 12, 2013

This week there is no legal section of the blog.

Now for the Opening Day memory:

First ballot Hall of Famer Robin Yount spent his entire 20 year playing career with the Milwaukee Brewers and still holds many of their statistical career records. He was selected by them third in the 1973 draft, right ahead of fellow Hall of Famer Dave Winfield. He made his Brewers' debut at age 18, and went 0 for his first 4 games, before hitting a game winning home run in his 6th game. No 18 year old has hit a major league home run since. During the 1975 season, Robin broke Mel Ott's 47 year old record for most consecutive games played before age 20. In 1978, Robin created some controversy with the Brewers by threatening to retire and play golf unless he was paid what he thought he deserved. He had his best year, in which he won his first of two MVP awards, in 1982, hitting .331 with 210 hits (his only year with 200+ hits) 29 HR's and 114 RBI's (all career highs). He also led the league in slugging percentage and total bases. The Brewers were tied with the Baltimore Orioles on the last day of the season and they played each other for the American League pennant. All Robin did was homer in his first two at bats against fellow Hall of Famer Jim Palmer (among his 4 hits) in a 10-2 Brewers pounding of the Orioles. Robin then made his only career World Series appearance, but his Brewers were beaten in 7 by the St. Louis Cardinals. Injuries resulted in Robin moving to the outfield in 1985. He became the Brewers full time CF in 1986 and won his second MVP award in 1989. He is one of only 4 players to win the MVP in two different positions (the others are Hank Greenberg, Stan Musial and Alex Rodriguez). He was an All Star in 1980, 1982 and 1983, won the Gold Glove as an SS in 1982 and won the Silver Slugger award in 1980, 1982 and 1989. He retired with a lifetime .285 batting average, 251 HRs, 1632 runs scored and 1406 RBIs. He had more hits than anyone else in the 1980's. He got his 3000th hit in 1992 and the Brewers retired his number 19 in 1994. After his retirement, he was a coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Brewers. Here are his Opening Day memories:

Blog #53 (Barry Bonnell)

May 29, 2013

This week there is no legal section of the blog.

Now for the Opening Day memory:

Although the Philadelphia Phillies made Barry Bonnell the first pick of the 1975 Major League Draft, he never played for them. Rather, he began his 10 year major league career with the Atlanta Braves in 1977, concluded it with the Seattle Mariners in 1986 and had a 4 year pit stop with the Toronto Blue Jays from 1980-1983 where in 1983 he had his best year hitting .318 with 10 home runs, 10 stolen bases and 54 RBI. He was known as a clutch right handed hitter who hit 4 career grand slams, almost always led his team in game winning RBI and had an excellent big league outfield arm. He finished his career with a respectable .272 average, 56 home runs and 355 RBI's. After his retirement from baseball, he pursued his passion for aviation. Here are his Opening Day memories:

Blog #52 (Don Newcombe)

May 15, 2013

This week there is no legal section of the blog.

Now for the Opening Day memory:

Don Newcombe is intertwined with major league baseball history. In 1949, he became the first African American to start a World Series game. In 1955, he became the first African American pitcher to win 20 games. In 1956, he became the first pitcher to win the MVP and Cy Young in the same season. Until 2011 when Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander won the MVP and Cy Young, Don had been the only player ever to win Rookie of the Year, the MVP and the Cy Young. Don played (together with Brooklyn Dodgers teammate Roy Campanella) on the nation's first integrated team in 1946--the Nashua Dodgers in the New England League. In 1949, he became a member of the Newark Eagles of the Negro League. That same year, the Eagles let Branch Rickey sign Don to a contract with the Dodgers for no compensation. Don proceeded to win 17 games, lead the league in shutouts and pitch 32 consecutive scoreless innings. He was one of the first 4 African American players to be named to an All Star team along with Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Larry Doby, and was named Rookie of the Year. In 1950, he won 19 games for the Dodgers. In 1951, he had his first 20 win season and led the league in strikeouts. In the "shot heard around the world" playoff game against the Giants where Bobby Thomson hit the home run off of Ralph Branca, it was Don who Branca relieved.