After the All-Star Break, The "Did You Know" section will be replaced by a highlight on cities. In that section, baseball history in different cities, as well as players who share that same hometown, will be highlighted.
Did You Know
Some players who we remember for their incredible power also were quite competent on the bases. Willie Mays, who clubbed 660 home runs over 23 seasons, also stole 338 bases, leading the National League in four straight seasons from 1956-1959. He topped out with 40 in 1956, which outnumbered his 36 home runs on the year. Hank Aaron, who hit 755 home runs over his 23-year career, stole 240 bases. His 31 in 1963 put him second in the National League. Reggie Jackson hit 563 home runs over 21 seasons, but also stole 228 bases. He topped out at 28 in 1976. Sammy Sosa, who homered 609 times in 18 years, stole 234 bases, including three seasons with more than 30. He topped out at 36 in 1993. Notorious steroid abuser Barry Bonds, who hit 762 home runs over his 22-year career, stole 514 bases. He reached 30 stolen bases nine times, and 40 stolen bases three times. He topped out at 52 in 1990, which finished third in the NL. The last player you expected to see on this list was Babe Ruth, hitter of 714 home runs. Actually, he stole 123 bases, all between 1918 and 1934, a span of 17 seasons. Granted, he was caught 117 times, good for a success rate of just 51.25 percent, but he twice stole 17 bases, in 1921 and 1923. In 1920, he stole 14. He had two more double-digit seasons, with 11 in 1926 and 10 in 1930.
This Day in Baseball History
6/28/1986: A day after Robby Thompson was caught stealing four times by Bo Diaz, Phil Niekro, with 304 career victories, squares off against Don Sutton, with 301 victories. It is the first time in the modern era that a pair of 300 game winners pitch against each other. Niekro tossed 6.1 innings of three-run ball, while Sutton tosses seven innings, also giving up three runs. Neither gets a decision as Sutton's Angels score six in the eighth inning, highlighted by Jerry Narron's pinch hit, three-run double. Three Hall of Famers, including Niekro, Sutton and Reggie Jackson, appear in the game.
News
In his first at bat back from the DL, Phillies second baseman Chase Utley homered.
Dodgers agreed to terms with Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig on a multi-year, $40 million+ deal.
A pair of Yankees starters hit the DL, as C.C. Sabathia strained his groin and is expected back after the All-Star Break. The more serious injury, however, was that of Andy Pettitte, who fractured his ankle and will miss at least six weeks.
The Giants swept the Dodgers to pull themselves into a first place tie. The Dodgers did not score in any of the games, marking the first time the Giants have done this to the Dodgers.
Game Scores
Nationals (43-30) beat the Rockies (28-46) 11-5.
Red Sox (40-35) beat the Blue Jays (38-37) 10-4.
Yankees (46-28) beat the Indians (37-37) 5-4.
Pirates (39-35) beat the Phillies (36-41) 11-7.
Giants (43-33) beat the Dodgers (43-33) 3-0.
Royals (34-39) beat the Rays (40-35) 5-4.
Braves (40-34) beat the Diamondbacks (37-37) 6-4.
Mets (40-36) beat the Cubs (26-49) 17-1.
Top Scorer: Mets beat the Cubs 17-1.
Standings
AL East: Yankees (46-28, .622 WPCT). AL Central: White Sox (40-35, .533). AL West: Rangers (47-29, .618).
NL East: Nationals (43-30, .589). NL Central: Reds (41-33, .554). NL West: Dodgers and Giants (43-33, .566).
AL Wild Cards: Angels (42-33, .560) and Orioles (41-33, .554). NL Wild Cards: Dodgers/Giants (43-33, .566) and Braves (40-34, .541).
Bottom Team: Cubs (26-49, .349). Longest W Streak: Yankees, 5 games. Longest L Streak: Indians, 5 games.
League Leaders
Offensive: AVG: Carlos Ruiz (Phillies), .364. Home runs: Jose Bautista (Blue Jays), 25. RBI: Josh Hamilton (Rangers), 67. Stolen bases: Tony Campana (Cubs) and Dee Gordon (Dodgers), 24.
Pitching: Wins: R.A. Dickey (Mets), 11. K's: Stephen Strasburg (Nationals), 118. ERA: Brandon Beachy (Braves), 2.00 (81 innings 18 earned runs). Saves: Chris Perez (Indians), 23.
Top Performers
Offensive: David Murphy (Rangers): 4-5, 2 home runs (9), 5 RBI, 3 runs, AVG up .014 from .269 to .283, hitting streak to 1 game (4-5, .800 AVG).
Pitching: Tim Lincecum (Giants): Win (3-8), 7 shutout innings, 4 hits, 2 walks, 8 K's (99), ERA drop: 0.47 runs from 6.07 to 5.60.
Worst Pitching Performance: Casey Coleman (Cubs): No decision, 1.2 innings, 7 earned runs, 6 hits, 2 walks, 1 K (11), ERA jump: 2.82 runs from 4.50 to 7.32.
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Teams followed in this update: Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies
If your team is not included, please leave a comment.
HR: home runs. RBI: runs batted in. AVG: batting average. SB: stolen bases. ERA: earned run average. BAA: batting average against. K's: strikeouts. WPCT: winning percentage
Zack Silverman
