17/61 days

January 28, 2011

17 days until pitchers and catchers

61 days until Opening Day

Trivia:  Easy one today since it’s Friday.  Everyone knows the Indians haven’t won the World Series since 1948 and that the Cubs haven’t won since the Neolithic Era.  Of teams who have won a World Series, who has the longest drought after the Cubs and Indians? (answer at the bottom)

Today in baseball history: In 1901 the American League officially organizes as a major league.  Previously the American League had been a minor league.  The new major American League is comprised of the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Americans, Washington Nationals, Cleveland Blues, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Chicago White Sox.  Three clubs were dropped – Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Buffalo.  Having lost baseball, Buffalo immediately turned its attention to losing Super Bowls.

In 1949 the New York Giants sign their first black players, one of whom was Monte Irvin.  Irvin would go on to be elected to the Hall of Fame based primarily upon a stellar career in the Negro Leagues.  He is perhaps most famous for moving to Florida and being a neighbor of my grandparents for a time.

Obscure baseball birthday: Daunte Culpepper.  Yes, that Daunte Culpepper.  He counts as a baseball birthday because he was drafted by the Yankees out of high school as an outfielder.  Obviously he did not sign.  He decided to stick with football, and as a result he is now the quarterback for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League.  He also played in the NFL.

Trivia answer:  The Pirates last won in 1979.  They beat the Orioles, who have the second-longest streak (1983).  Willie Stargell won the MVP at 39 years old, the oldest World Series MVP ever.  He hit .400.  That Pirates team was the last to win Game 7 of a championship series on the road in any sport until the Penguins beat the Red Wings in Detroit in the 2009 Stanley Cup.