David Justice
David entered the baseball scene in May of 1989 as he was playing in last place for Atlantic Brave. It was his first full job with the Atlantic Brave team but he was then traded to Philadelphia Philes. His first wonderful season was in 1990 when he was awarded the National League Rookie of the Year.
He stopped for a moment in 1991 when he suffered from a terrible back injury. However, regardless of the pain in his back, nothing stopped him from still batting and playing in his first every World Series.
Justice married Halle Berry in ’92 and yet divorced in 1997. He got married again with Rebecca Villalobos in 2001.
Photo via baseball-almanac.com
Vladimir Guerrero
Born on February 9, 1976 in Dominican Republic, Vladimir played as a popular home run hitter in the playing field of baseball. He played the right fielder and in 2007 started playing for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The first league he played was on September 19, 1996 and from then on, he became one of the top five hundred home run hitters of all time. He likes to bat without the gloves and in 2007, he was hailed winner of the famous Home Run Derby.
Photo via famouswhy.com
Early “Gus” Wynn
Early Wynn Jr. was a popular right-hand baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, the Cleveland Indians, and the Washington Senators. He was introduced and became a part of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
During the entirety of his career, he established a presence of a hard-nosed pitcher who always gives blazing fastballs making him so intimidating all the batters feared him. Wynn was born in Hartford, Alabama and was introduced to the world of big leagues when he was just 19 when he started out with the Washington Senators.
With his retirement coming in 1963, he was the last major leaguer who still get to play regardless if he started in the 1930s. He also became the pitching coach of Sa, McDowell, Luis Tiant, Steve Hargan and Sonny Siebert.
Photo via baseball-almanac.com
Richie “Don Richie” Ashburn
Ashburn was the one who took over Harry ‘The Hat’ Walker’s position as the center fielder in 1948. He was known for his speed as he batted .333 and stolen bases with 32 and an amazing leadoff man. He may not have extreme power at all times, but he has a very keen eye which made him earn a lot of walks. He was traded to Chicago Cubs in the 1959 season and in 1962 became the original member of New York Mets.
It was in 1962 when he turned out to become a broadcaster for the Phillies and was a sports columnist for the Philadelphia newspaper from 1974 to 1991. He passed away due to a heart attack in New York.
Photo via hickoksports.com
Cap Anson, 1852 – 1922
Adrian Constantine Anson or more popularly known as Cap Anson was a professional player of baseball in both the Major League and the National Association. He was able to play for a total of 27 seasons and was hailed to be one of the greatest baseball players of his time.
He managed the New York Giants after his retirement as a player and left the Colts. He ran a few businesses in Chicago which included a billiards hall which ran a semi-professional baseball team called as Anson’s Colts. A lot of his business plans failed though which led him to bankruptcy.
He was included in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.
Photo via brittanica.com
Sparky Anderson
Known to be the legendary baseball manager, Sparky is one of the most popular managers in the entire baseball history. He started with the Cincinnati Reds and ended up with Detroit Tigers, all these from 1970 to 1995. Regardless of how tough the going was, he was able to lead these two teams to heights of success.
He was the only baseball manage to have won the World Series in the American League and the National League. He was also the first to win a hundred games in one season for both leagues. He is the ambassador for baseball and also a world renowned speaker.
Sparky is a philanthropist and the founder of CATCH, a charitable institution for underprivileged kids in Detroit. He started this in 1987.
Photo via baseballguru.com
Walter ‘Smokey’ Alston
Alston was just a boy when he discovered he was a pitcher and the nickname Smokey was what he earned for all his fastballs. He grew up very fond of basketball and baseball all throughout his educational years from gradeschool to college.
It was in 1954 when Smokey was promoted to become manager of the Dodgers. The Dodgers under Smokey’s management won the International League twice and finished in second place for the following year. From then on, success made up Alston’s trademark. He was voted manager of the year in years 1955, 1959 and 1963.
He died in Oxford, Ohio on October 1, 1984.
Photo via Britannica.com
Hank Aaron
Born In Mobile, Alabama, this former all time home run king of the baseball world, played as an outfielder for a total of 23 years for the Milwaukee Braves and Brewers. He is a world record holder for various baseball accomplishments including 2,297 batted runs, 1,477 extra base hits, 6,856 total bases and with more than thirty home runs. He also belongs in the list of top 5 career runs and hits.
His record for the most career home runs which reached 755 was beaten by Barry Bonds with 756 home runs on August 7 of 2007. In year 1999, in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Babe Ruth’s record being beaten by Hank, the Hank Aaron Award was presented by the Major League Baseball – a prestigious award that was given yearly by the best hitter in every league. In 2002, Hank Aaron was given the honor to be awarded with the Presidential Medal Freedom.
Photo via hankaaronbiography.com
Baseball Pitching Grips – The Two Seam Fastball
Here is a baseball pitch grip generally thought of as a movement pitch, or somewhat similar to cut fastball, a cutter or sinker. The two seam fastball is a pitch that requires a slightly tight grip and deeper in the throwing hand compared to the four-seamer.
In pitching a two-seam fastball, the position of your index and middle fingers are kept directly on top of the narrow seams of the baseball. (See above photo).
Then, keep your thumb on the bottom side of the baseball and on the silky leather in between the narrow seams.
The two seam fastball pitch requires a firm grip to give essential friction; And this is a good advantage to cause the baseball to change direction, it can “back up” or “run in” to the throwing hand side of the plate. It slightly reduces the speed of the pitch as well, which is slower than four-seam fastballs.
(Photo via thecompletepitcher.com)

Chan Ho Park is now a Yankee?
Chan Ho Park, who pitched for the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies out of the bullpen last season, has made a one year deal agreement with the New York Yankees. This announcement was made Monday at a news conference in Seoul, South Korea. Although the Yankees have not confirmed the signing and even the team’s General Manager Brian Cashman has not disclosed if the deal was really approved and finalized. There were some talks between Park’s agent Jeff Borris and Cashman, and according to Brian Cashman, the deal is not yet over.
It was said that the offered package is worth US$1.2 million with an additional $300,000 in performance bonuses if Park decides to join the Yankees. And this is exactly what Chan Ho Park agreed to when he announced in the news conference his decision to join the New York Yankees. The 36-year old right-hander went 3-3 with a 4.43 earned-run average in 45 games with the NL champion Philadelphia Phillies last year. Park also made 3 1-3 scoreless innings against the Yankees in the World Series.
Park has a career record of 120-95 with a 4.35 ERA over 16 big-league seasons with the Phillies, Rangers, Dodgers, Padres and Mets. And the first South Korean to play in the Major League
(Photo via zimbio.com)










