Ruth Cleveland Puns

Game footage from between the '26 Yankees and Indians. Watch Babe Ruth sock a dinger in slow motion!

Christy Mathewson throws a few pitches. Okay so it's only like 20 seconds, they're not all gonna be long form art pieces, k?

The A's, featuring manager Connie Mack, Lefty Grove, and Mickey Cochrane, and the Phillies, featuring manager Burt Shotton, Chuck Klein, Don Hurst, and Spud Davis. Demonstrations of pitches and hitting from both squads, as well as Mack talking about his expectations for his team, and Shotton talking about how to be a .300 hitter.

Babe Ruth in training during his single season with the Boston Braves, also some guy named "One-Eye" Connelly is there.

Welcome to Episode four of /r/Baseball’s 17th favorite recurring, off-season, non-Mike Trout drawing-related series*

So far we’ve looked at Hall of Fame ballot first timers Carl Crawford, Justin Morneau, and Jake Peavy. This week keeps us on the pitcher’s mound as we take a gander at the life and times of…

Tim Lincecum

Bill James Hall of Fame Monitor: 66

Career bWAR: 19.5 (10 seasons)

Stats: 110-89, 3.74 ERA, 1,682 IP, 1,736 K, 1.293 WHIP, 104 ERA+

League Leading Stats: Losses (15, 2012), Winning Percentage (.783, 2008), Starts (33, 2012) Complete Games (4, 2009), Shutouts (2, 2009), Earned Runs (107, 2012), Strikeouts x3 (265, 2008; 261, 2009; 231, 2010), Wild Pitches x3 (17, 2008; 17, 2012; 15, 2014), ERA+ (168, 2008), FIP x2 (2.62, 2008; 2.34, 2009), Hits/9 (7.2, 2008), HR/9 (0.4, 2008), K/9 x3 (10.5, 2008; 10.4, 2009, 9.8, 2010)

Awards: All-Star x4 (2008-2011), Cy Young x2 (2008-09), NL Babe Ruth Award (2010), World Champion x3 (2010, 2012, 2014)

Teams played for: Giants (2007-2015), Angels (2016)

Timothy Leroy Lincecum—Big Time Timmy Jim—is the answer to the question “would Sandy Koufax be a Hall of Famer if his career had happened in the opposite order?”

Not really. But the careers of the two men do have a surprising number of mirror-image similarities.

Koufax, famously, has a career that can neatly be divided in two: he was a very average MLB pitcher for the first six years of his career, then was the greatest pitcher on the planet for the final six. Lincecum did things the other way around, beginning his career with five seasons where he was one of—if not the—best pitchers in the game, then following those up with five seasons where he definitely was not.

But in those non-peak seasons, Koufax still managed to be serviceable: He would end up 36-40 with a 4.10 ERA and 3.94 FIP through the 1960 season, finishing those years with an exactly league average 100 ERA+. Lincecum meanwhile would play the last five years of his career to a 41-48, 4.94, 4.26 tune and an abysmal ERA+ of 72. Koufax’s prime accounted for 46.4 of his 48.9 career bWAR, but Linc was so bad in his last five years, they cost him WAR: he racked up 24.4 in his first five seasons, only to finish with 19.5. Ultimately, however, the final similarity between Koufax and Lincecum was in their exit: both men were betrayed by their bodies, and injuries cut both careers short.

Being completely average sized for a

As this year we come up to the 15 year anniversary of the biggest blowout in modern Major League Baseball history, I thought it would be interesting to assemble the best hitting team I could possibly think of to beat the worst team I could think of.

#Meet the team!

The "Wow these people good!" is the team name, and it is a hodge podge of the greatest individual hitting seasons from players ever.

This is what WhatIfSports.com, the website I am using to simulate this game, suggested as the best batting order, so I'm sticking with it.

And you might be wondering who tf Snake Wiltse is, well he is the pitcher with the highest single season OPS for a pitcher with a minimum of 50 plate appearances, and we're gonna need all the fire power we can get, so I decided for him to be on the mound, it's not like we can lose, right?

#Meet the opponents!

You may have thought the oppponents would be the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, who had an unbelievable 20-134 record, but you would be wrong!

The opponents will be the 2019 Orioles, who gave up the most home runs per 9 innings pitched than any other team in MLB history, a staggering 1.9 HR/9!

David Hess will be the starter for the Orioles (with his 7.09 ERA), and it is time to simulate!

#Simulation (click here for the full play by play of the game!)

And literally one game in, I think I found it...

A 61 run win for the "Wow these people good!".

Here are the important tables...

As you can see, the Orioles amazingly had the lead for 1 full inning! Scoring a run in the top of the 1st, and ending the bottom of it with just 1 hit surrendered. But it all fell apart, quickly.

He

There’s only one thing that sports fans like more than cheering on their own team and that’s hating on other teams.

And not just sports fans either. There are plenty of normal folks out there who can't stand certain teams for how they constantly win, how cocky and arrogant they are, and how much they get a free pass from the officials and so on.

For this list I'll include teams from all 4 major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL), and College Football and College Basketball.

And so, here are what I believe (and probably at least some who would agree with me) to be the most hated teams in sports:

14. Boston Celtics - You know you've got one helluva list when the Celtics barely make it. There was a time when the Celtics used to be the most hated team in the league and when many fans preferred their rivals, the Lakers (don't worry, we'll get to them). The Celtics were hated because they were winners. Until 2020, they had won the most NBA championships and were the most successful team in the league for decades. However I've put them very low on this list because ever since losing in the 1988 Eastern Conference Finals to the Bad Boy Pistons, they've been on a massive downward spiral.

They've only won one title since 1986. In 2008 the Big 3 of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen ended years of agony, and while that may have been a feel good story in the NBA world, there are still plenty who hate the Celtics today because of their past legacy, and because they're a Boston sports team, and the dominance of Boston sports teams over the past 20 years has made people salty about Boston. So, there you go.

13. Green Bay Packers - This may be just my inner Lions fan taking over, but I think there are plenty of reasons to hate the Packers. First, how they made the NFC North division incredibly stale for over a decade, as the fans of the other three teams in that division hate the Packers for how much torture they've put on them for many years. There's also the fact that the NFL always drops in crooked refs every time the Packers desperately need a win, screwing over teams like the Lions, Vikings, and other franchises who likely never will see a Super Bowl win. It also doesn't help that Aaron Rodgers, the NFL's OTHER golden boy (aside from Tom Brady) is actually a bit of a douchebag, as he's hated by his fellow players and coaches (source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10005908-packers-aaron-rodgers-is-selfish-disliked-by-teammates-coaches-ex-

You probably vaguely remember Andy Phillips. Utility infielder from mid 2000s, right? With a career line of .250/.294/.384 in 604 PA over five MLB seasons -- 0.4 bWAR -- you might think there's not that much to remember.

But there is!

George Andrew Phillips was born April 6, 1977, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He attended Demopolis High School, and the Brewers took him in the 41st round of the 1995 amateur draft as a high school senior. He didn't sign, going to the University of Alabama instead.

Andy was a stand-out third baseman at the University of Alabama, where in his four seasons he would hit .356/.412/.652 in 905 at-bats. As of 2020, he was the only player in school history with 50 home runs, 200 RBI, and 300 hits, and he ended his career as the all-time leader in home runs, RBI, hits, and total bases. The Crimson Tide made three College World Series tournament appearances in Phillips's four years.

As a senior, Phillips hit .396/.454/.781 in 260 AB, with 22 2B, 6, 3B, 22 HR, and 15 SB. He was a first team All-American and the runner-up for the 1999 Dick Howser Trophy as the best player in college baseball. (Jason Jennings won it.)

The Yankees were probably pinching themselves when Phillips was still there in the 7th round of the 1999 draft, #231 overall. (The only one other future major leaguer taken that round: Coco Crisp, taken by the Cardinals at #222.) Believe it or not, Phillips was the best -- by career bWAR -- player taken by the Yankees that year. 1st round pick Dave Walling never made it out of the minors; the only other players drafted and signed by the Yankees who saw MLB service time were 3rd rounder Alex Graman (-0.5 bWAR) and 31st rounder Kevin Thompson (-0.3 bWAR). Not a great draft. If you had a time machine, you could advise the Yankees to take Brian Roberts, who went 50th overall to the Orioles; Carl Crawford, 52nd to the Devil Rays; Brandon Phillips, 57th to the Expos; John Lackey, 68th to the Angels; Justin Morneau, 89th to the Twins; Shane Victorino, 194th to the Dodgers; Jake Peavy, 472nd to the Padres; or... Albert Pujols, 402nd to the Cardinals.

But we got Andy. And he got off to a great start, hitting .322/.417/.519 in 276 PA for Staten Island in the New York-Penn League (Low A). The following year he hit .287/.346/.446 in High A, and the year after that, .302/.353/.503 at the same level

I don't want to step on anybody's toes here, but the amount of non-dad jokes here in this subreddit really annoys me. First of all, dad jokes CAN be NSFW, it clearly says so in the sub rules. Secondly, it doesn't automatically make it a dad joke if it's from a conversation between you and your child. Most importantly, the jokes that your CHILDREN tell YOU are not dad jokes. The point of a dad joke is that it's so cheesy only a dad who's trying to be funny would make such a joke. That's it. They are stupid plays on words, lame puns and so on. There has to be a clever pun or wordplay for it to be considered a dad joke.

Again, to all the fellow dads, I apologise if I'm sounding too harsh. But I just needed to get it off my chest.

#Batters (non-pitcher, non-pinch-runner) that played less than 162 games for a franchise, and are in the HOF, sorted by franchise they played for:

In s8 e13, when Ross and Rachel found out they're having a girl Rachel says "we're having a little baby Ruth ". Call me stupid, but I don't get the joke. I've watched the show a thousand times and I still don't get it. Could someone please explain it to me? Thanks

Do your worst!

I'm surprised it hasn't decade.

This will be an on / off series of posts where I look through the current MLB franchises best players in 30 year chunks starting from year 1 of the franchise existence. This can be as early as 1876 and as late as, well, today!

#1901-1930 Philadelphia Athletics (Oakland Athletics)

Catcher - Mickey Cochrane (1925-1930)

The premier hitting catcher from the 1920s and early 30s, despite only playing 6 seasons for the Athletics during this time frame from 1901-1930 (he would play another 3 for the A's after 1930), he has by far the most WAR for any Philadelphia catcher during this period, and has the highest OPS+ of any team's catcher during this time.

Backup - Cy Perkins (1915, 1917-1930)

First Base - Harry Davis (1901-1911, 1913-1917)

Led the AL in homeruns for four straight seasons from 1904-1907 (hitting a total of just 38 during these 4 years), won back to back World Series with the A's in 1910 and 1911. No player from this period of 1901-1917, with 1000 games played mainly at first had a higher slugging percentage than Davis (.408).

Backup - Stuffy McGinnis (1909-1917)

Second Base - Eddie Collins (1906-1914, 1927-1930)

One of the greatest players of the dead ball era, and one of the best 2nd basemen ever. Helped A's to 4 world series appearances (and 3 titles) in his first stint with the team (before being sold by manager Connie Mack to the White Sox for 50,000 thousand dollars). Batted .338 and was a mad man on the base paths with 367 stolen bases in this 9 year span.

Backup - Max Bishop (1924-1930)

Third Base - Home Run Baker (1908-1914)

Before being similarly sold off like Eddie Collins to the New York Yankees, Baker led the AL in homeruns his past 4 seasons from 1911-1914. Had most home runs for any third baseman in the first 15 years of the modern MLB.

Backup - Lave Cross (1901-1905)

Shortstop - Jack Barry (1908-1915)

The forgotten member of the $100,000 dollar infield. While being a below average hitter, Barry was a good defender, and acrewed the most WAR and games played for any A's shortstop during this 30 year period.

Backup - Monte Cross (1902-1907)*

Leftfield - Al Simmons (1924-1930)

Hall of Famer who started out in center but moved over and stayed in left field. Hit for power and contact, slashing .360/.400/.590 o

For context I'm a Refuse Driver (Garbage man) & today I was on food waste. After I'd tipped I was checking the wagon for any defects when I spotted a lone pea balanced on the lifts.

I said "hey look, an escaPEA"

No one near me but it didn't half make me laugh for a good hour or so!

Edit: I can't believe how much this has blown up. Thank you everyone I've had a blast reading through the replies 😂

It really does, I swear!

Happy birthday to Joe Page, who was the 1940s version of Mariano Rivera when he was on the field... and Derek Jeter when he wasn't!

Joseph Francis Page was born October 28, 1917. The son of a coal miner in Western Pennsylvania, Page developed strong arms working in the mines himself. As a teenager, Page was in a serious car accident that nearly cost him his left leg; hospitalized for five months, it never fully recovered, getting him a 4-F from the draft board during World War II. But it served him well enough on the mound to be the league's best closer... at least for a little while.

In Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964, author Peter Golenbock paints a vivid portrait of Page:

> In his day Joe Page was Henry Fielding's Tom Jones in a baseball uniform, a tall, handsome celebrity with jet-black hair and a toothpaste smile, a rounder who enjoyed being noticed in public, who enjoyed the company of the street and the tavern, a night owl who greeted the sunrise through bloodshot eyes after a lusty night's play. For two years of his career Joe Page was also the best pitcher in the American League, a left-handed relief specialist who would leisurely, almost insolently, saunter to the mound from the right-field bullpen, his jacket casually slung over his shoulder partially covering the number 11 on the back of his pinstriped uniform. When he got there he would take the ball from the manager and nonchalantly fire a half-dozen warm-up pitches of medium velocity. Then after the batter would step into the batter's box, Page would survey the runners on base, sneer defiantly at the batter, and then streak exploding, rising fast balls past the usually overmatched batter.

Early in his career, Page relied on that blistering rising fastball and a hard, diving forkball, but as age, injuries, and poor conditioning slowed him down, he occasionally mixed in a spitball, as he admitted after retirement. As to his pitching strategy, that was simple: “Give ’em the good stuff right down the middle.”

Page played in amateur and semi-pro leagues in his early 20s, eventually attracting the attention of the Yankees, who signed him to a minor-league contract at age 22. Page, a big lefty, threw hard but was wild -- in 1943, he struck out 140 batters in 186 innings, but al

They’re on standbi

Buenosdillas

Pilot on me!!