Check out Jackie Robinson with just some of the trophies and awards he'd collected so far in his career. It is an undated International News/The Sporting News press photograph that I ran into on eBay. Go here to check out the auction.
Below are some links to check out:
- Awesome! Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Dribbling on behalf of Jackie Robinson."
I was in a Harlem Globetrotters rabbit hole last weekend when I stumbled upon this connection between famed Harlem Globetrotter Marques Haynes and famed Dodger Jackie Robinson.
- Via Harold Uhlman at Think Blue LA, "A look back at the 2014 Rancho Cucamonga Quakes."
- Via Carson Cistulli at FanGraphs, "The Other Uncertainty Regarding Brett Anderson." Just something to think/worry about.
Another uncertainty regarding Anderson, however — perhaps related to his injuries and perhaps not — concerns his fastball velocity. For, simultaneous to recording the worst park-adjusted xFIP (96 xFIP-) of his career in 2014, Anderson also recorded his lowest ever average fastball velocity (89.8 mph). There’s a distinct relationship between velocity and success, nor does Anderson appear to be immune from it.
- Via Joe Frisaro at the Fish Pond blog tells us that, "Haren not intending on joining Marlins."
If Miami cannot work out a trade, it is not clear yet if the 12-year big league veteran will retire.
- bpb47 at BaseballPinbackButtons has solved a vintage Jackie Robinson pin mystery in a piece entitled, "ONE MYSTERY SOLVED!" This really is a big deal for Dodger/Jackie Robinson pin collectors. Go here to check it out. It relates to the pin on the right and the letter "J" above the name "Brooklyn Eagle". We now know what the "J" is all about, and there could possible be pins with many different letters in the marketplace. ("J" appears to be most common, but "R" and "N" are known to exist.) On a side note, I was asked about this pin many months ago, but didn't have an answer then. Now, I do. Below is a pic of the ad discussed in the story:
- Via David Golebiewski at the Daily Gammons, "Kuroda Quietly Brilliant During MLB Tenure."
In 2015, Kuroda will re-join the Hiroshima Carp having proven to be durable, occasionally dominant, and still capable of vanquishing MLB hitters as he nears his 40th birthday. From 2008-14, Kuroda ranked 19th among starters in innings pitched (1,319) and Wins Above Replacement (21.7). Had he decided to pitch another year in the show — or make just one more stellar start, even — he would have passed Nomo (21.8 WAR) for the highest career WAR total among Japanese-born hurlers.
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