The MLB and NFL Go Prime Time 3/5/14

Hey baseball fans!

I'm sure that most football fans are familiar with NFL Hall of Fame cornerback and punt returner Deion Sanders. But just like Bo Jackson, Sanders also played in the MLB! He wasn't as good as Bo, but he still is one of the few prominent two-sport athletes.

Neon Deion played for the Braves, Reds, Yankees, and Giants form 1989-2001, but missed '96, '98, '99, and 2000 due to the NFL. However, in his nine years as a baseball player, Sanders collected 558 hits in 641 games, 43 of those hits being triples! He totaled 39 career homers and 168 RBIs, along with 186 stolen bases and a .263 average. Just like he was in the NFL, Deion was a speedster, which is why he averaged 47 steals every 162 games.

In the MLB, his most famous moment came in the 1992 World Series, where his Braves met the Toronto Blue Jays. He was on second and Terry Pendleton was on first in the top of the fourth of Game Three. After a leaping catch from Toronto's Devon White in center and Pendleton passing Sanders in between second and third base (which equals two outs), Toronto third baseman Kelly Gruber tried to chase Deion back to second base. Deion almost got tagged, but was able to retreat to second base safely. Or was he tagged? Replays later showed that Gruber did tag Prime Time with his glove, even though Bob Davidson said otherwise when he had to make the call on the spot. To summarize, Deion Sanders is the result of there being one less triple play in World Series history than there should be.

Although Neon Deion did not have the greatest MLB career, he is still remembered by many fans because of his NFL skills. I just wish that Sanders played baseball full-time. Who knows how many bases he could've stolen? Anyway, thanks for reading this post. I hope you enjoyed it and check back in a few days for more of "all the buzz on what wuzz."

The Phillies Only Bright Spot in the 1930s 2/26/14

Hey baseball fans!

Fun fact: all of the players who won the batting Triple Crown in the 20th century have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. However, before I knew this fun fact, there was one person who won the Triple Crown who I had never heard of. I researched this player and it turns out that he had a pretty good career and is in fact in Cooperstown. So today, I want to tell you all a little bit about this "mystery player". Without further delay, here's Chuck Klein!

Chuck was a powerful hitter who played from 1928-1944 with the Phillies, Cubs, and Pirates. He led the National League in homers four times, in hits twice, and in RBIs twice. Klein batted .320 during his career and smacked out 300 homers on the dot. The 1980 inductee into the Hall was also an excellent right fielder. With these skills, he was able to represent the NL out in right field in the first two All Star Games (1933 and 1934). Like I mentioned previously, Chuck won the Triple Crown. He won it in 1933, when he batted .368, hit out 28 dingers, and drove in 120 runs. The 1932 NL MVP became the first NL ballplayer to hit out four home runs in a game in the 1900s on July 10, 1936 while playing for the Phillies against the Pirates at Pittsburgh.

Chuck may not have been the most prominent retired right fielder, but he sure did have an excellent career, which would explain why he is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Anyway, thanks for reading this post. I hope you enjoyed it and check back in a few days for more of "all the buzz on what wuzz."

An Interview with Hank Aaron!!!!!! 9/20/12

Hey baseball fans!

I'm here with another interview everyone! I recently sent in some questions to the awesome, the best, the absolutely amazing.............Hammerin' Hank Aaron! That's right baseball fans, here are the answers that I got via email from probably the best baseball player alive today! (He only answered three of my seven questions, because he gets so many requests, so it's a short interview.) But first, let me tell you all a little about the Braves and Brewers great:

In a career from 1954-1976 with the Bravos and the Brew Crew, Hank Aaron was in one word: GREATSPECTACULARAWESOMECOOLESTBBALLPLAYEREVER! He is second career-wise in homers (755), third in hits (3,771) and first in RBIs (2,297).  He also made it to 25 All-Star Games, a record. (The leader before that was Stan Musial.) Although he was so good, he only won one World Series (it was against the Yankees)! Good thing the Bronx Bombers beat them the year after. Anyway, he got into the Hall of Fame easily in his first opportunity after retirement. Here's Hank's Hall of Fame page, if you're interested. Ok, I think I've said enough about Hammerin' Hank, so here's the interview:

Matt: You were so consistent during your entire career despite some major distractions. How did you always manage to stay so focused?
Hank: That is a large part of playing the game. You must remain focused at all times when on the field. You learn to block out crowd noise and other events that could distract you during a game, and it just came naturally.

Matt: Most people know that you were a great hitter, but a lot less know that you won three Gold Gloves. Did you work a lot at your fielding?
Hank: All players work hard on whatever is required of them at their particular position, particularly in spring training.

Matt: Are you buddies with Willie Mays and other Hall of Famers? If so, what do you guys talk about when you get together?
Hank: Oh yes, I am still friends with a number of players who played when I did and not all are in the Hall of Fame. We discuss current day baseball and our daily lives.

Well, there you have it folks, an interview with Hank Aaron. Even though it was kind of short, I hope you all liked it.  Thanks so much to Hank Aaron for agreeing to answer the questions (he is the first member of my dream team that I've ever interviewed). Also thanks to Susan Bailey for coordinating the interview with Hank.

Anyway, there is more good stuff coming your way. As I said in my blog about Juan Gonzalez, the next scheduled blog post will be about players dying or almost dying because of an on-the-field injury! Crazy, I know, but true. I also have some big surprises I am working on, so stay tuned!!  Well, thanks for reading, baseball fans!