Yankee4Life

Tom Seaver Pitcher Batted: Right Threw: Right 300 game winner. Hall of Fame 1982 Teams: Mostly New York Mets (also Reds and White Sox and Red Sox) An intelligent, hard-working perfectionist and the quintessential professional, Seaver was the first true star for the Mets and led them to their miracle World Championship in 1969. In his 10 years in New York from 1967 to 1977, he won 25% of the Mets' games. The 17th 300-game winner in major league history, Seaver set a major league record by striking out 200 or more hitters in 10 seasons, nine in a row from 1968 to 1976. Seaver came to the Mets via a strange lottery: In 1966, the Braves offered him $40,000, but the NCAA and baseball commissioner William Eckert voided the offer and made Seaver, still at USC, available to any team willing to match the Braves' offer. The Phillies, Indians, and Mets were willing and, in a drawing held in the commissioner's office, the Mets were picked out of a hat. Seaver was an immediate star, picked to the All-Star team in his first season when he won 16 games for a Met team that won just 61 games, and captured Rookie of the Year honors. In 1969 he won his first of three Cy Young Awards with a 25-7 record and a 2.21 ERA and led the NL in wins and winning percentage. On July 9, Seaver lost a perfect game when rookie Jimmy Qualls of the Cubs singled with one out in the ninth. The game was more important, however, since the Mets won 4-0, and began to make their move on the Cubs on their way to the World Championship. In Game One of the LCS against the Braves, Seaver was pinch hit for in the eighth inning, down 5-4, and emerged the winner over Phil Niekro as the Mets rallied for five runs. Seaver had less luck in Game One of the World Series, as he surrendered a homer to the Orioles' first batter, Don Buford, and lost 4-1. He came back to win a 2-1 ten-inning thriller in Game Four, helped by Ron Swoboda's game-saving catch in the ninth inning. Seaver picked up where he left off the next season. On April 22, 1970, he struck out 19 Padres, including a record 10 in a row to end the game, to tie the then-ML record for a nine-inning game, set by Steve Carlton. Although he didn't duplicate his 20-win season, he led the league in strikeouts (283) and ERA (2.81). Seaver himself felt that 1971 was his best season; he compiled a 20-10 record and led the league for the second year in a row in with a 1.76 ERA and 289 strikeouts. Overshadowed by Steve Carlton in 1972, in 1973 Seaver became the first non-20-game winner to win the Cy Young Award when he led the NL in ERA (2.08) and strikeouts (251) and tied for the lead in complete games (18) while leading the Mets to another improbable pennant. In Game One of the LCS, Seaver drove in the Mets' only run and almost made it stand for the victory, walking none and striking out 13, but he gave up solo homers to Pete Rose and Johnny Bench in the eighth and ninth innings to take the loss. The Mets' chronically weak offense often let him down during his career, but never so glaringly. He did come back in Game Five to win the clincher 7-2, giving up only one earned run. He took a no-decision in the Mets' 11-inning 3-2 loss in Game Three of the World Series, striking out 12 in eight innings. He pitched another strong game in the sixth contest, surrendering two runs in seven innings, but once again lost a tough one 3-1. A sore hip caused Seaver's worst season in 1974 with an 11-11 record and his first ERA over 3.00 (3.20). He bounced back in 1975 with his last great season for the Mets, going 22-9 and leading the league in strikeouts, wins, and winning percentage to capture another Cy Young trophy. In September, Seaver put together a seven-game winning streak, including another near no-hitter against the Cubs, broken up by Joe Wallis. By 1976, Seaver was having trouble with Met general manager M. Donald Grant over Seaver's salary and how the team was being run, and the two traded private and public taunts. On April 17, 1977, Seaver pitched his third one-hitter against the Cubs, a single in the fifth by Steve Ontiveros keeping him from the elusive no-hitter. Two months later, on June 15, the bomb dropped. Seaver was unceremoniously dealt to Cincinnati for four players, Pat Zachry, Doug Flynn, Steve Henderson, and Dan Norman, a trade that ripped out the hearts of New York fans. Seaver completed his last 20-win season with the Reds, finishing with a combined 21-6 mark and leading the NL with seven shutouts. Almost exactly a year from the trade, on June 16, 1978, Seaver finally got his no-hitter, blanking the Cardinals 4-0. Seaver had four winning years with the Reds, including 1979, when he went 16-6 and led the NL in winning percentage and shutouts (5). He took another tough no-decision in the LCS when he left Game One after eight innings tied 2-2 with the Pirates' John Candelaria; Pittsburgh won in the 11th inning. In the strike-shortened 1981 season, Seaver went 14-2 and led the majors in victories but lost a controversial Cy Young vote to rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela. After Seaver slumped to 5-13 in 1982, the Reds completed the circle by trading The Franchise back to the Mets for three players. Although compiling only a 9-14 record (due mostly to the Mets' usual poor offense; his ERA was a better-than-average 3.55), fans were outraged when he was claimed by the White Sox after he was mysteriously left unprotected in the free agent compensation pool. He won 15 games for the White Sox in 1984, and 16 in 1985 when he set several career standards. On August 4 in Yankee Stadium, he won his 300th game, a 4-1 complete game on a six-hitter. On October 4, he moved past Walter Johnson into third place on the all-time strikeout list. After getting off to a slow start the following season, he was dealt to Boston (closer to his Greenwich, CT home), where he finished his career. An ankle injury prevented him from appearing against the Mets in the World Series, and the Red Sox released him following the season. Seaver tried to latch on with the Mets in 1987, but called it quits when he wasn't satisfied with his performance while getting into shape. After sitting out the 1988 season, Seaver was named to replace newly named National League president Bill White in the Yankee broadcast booth, and replaced Joe Garagiola for NBC Saturday telecasts with Vin Scully.

Wow, I didn't think there was any interest in this thread anymore.

Leo Durocher Hall of Fame, 1994 (posthumously) Durocher had many adjectives applied to him during his colorful career, both kind and unkind. He was a brash, abrasive, hustling, light-hitting, slick-fielding, umpire-baiting bench jockey who was in baseball for nearly five decades as a player, manager, coach, and commentator. Durocher spent his first full major league season with the 1928 World Champion Yankees, and became New York's starting shortstop in 1929. He moved on to the Reds in 1930, and the Cardinals in 1933, becoming captain of the "Gashouse Gang" in 1934. His last season as a first-stringer came with the 1939 Dodgers. Never much of a hitter, he topped .260 only five times in 17 years, with a high of .286 in 1936. He became an All-Star mostly on the strength of his glovework; a flashy, acrobatic SS, he led the NL in fielding in '36 and 1938. Durocher went on to a long, distinguished, and tumultuous career as a manager. He was player-manager of the Dodgers in 1939-41, 1943, and 1945, though he played only a few games in the latter three years. He guided the Dodgers to the NL pennant in 1941, and to second-place finishes in 1940, 1942, and 1946. Perhaps his finest moment as Dodger manager came in spring training of 1947 when he personally quashed a rebellion by players who were protesting the presence of Jackie Robinson. Durocher's tenure in Brooklyn was marked by - among other things - feuds with GM Branch Rickey, who could not always tolerate Durocher's antics and managing style. Durocher lived life in the fast lane. He was a pro at the card table, and favored the horse track. Stories emerged that he was friendly with such characters as Bugsy Siegel. In 1945, he was indicted for assaulting a fan under the stands. His problems reached a peak in 1947, when he was suspended for the season for reputed association with gamblers. The Dodgers won the pennant with Burt Shotton at the helm instead. Durocher returned in 1948, gave rookie Roy Campanella the catching job, and moved young Gil Hodges to first base. But the Dodgers fell to last place on July 7. Eight days later, Rickey fired Durocher and rehired Shotton, as the rival Giants fired their manager, Mel Ott, and hired Durocher. Durocher guided the Giants to a pennant in 1951, overtaking the Dodgers in a spectacular race and defeating them in the subsequent playoff, thanks to Bobby Thomson. In 1954, Durocher led New York to his only WS victory. After the 1955 season, he became a TV commentator. Durocher returned to manage the Cubs from 1966 until late in 1972, and the Astros through 1973, finishing second several times. Toward the end, his players were aware that he was becoming senile; some were with Durocher for weeks before the manager knew who they were. He retired among the all-times leaders in games managed (3740), wins (2010), and losses (1710). His life story was told in his autobiography, Nice Guys Finish Last, co-written with Ed Linn. The phrase (or something to that effect) was one that had been attributed to Durocher in '47, referring to Ott, whose Giants had been losing.

Van Lingle Mungo Real name: Van Lingle Mungo 1931-41 Brooklyn 1942-45 New York Giants W 120 L 115 ERA 3.4 In the mid-1930s, Mungo was considered to have the talent of contemporaries Dizzy Dean and Carl Hubbell, but he pitched for losing Dodger clubs and made matters worse by being easily upset by his teammates' ineptitude. Accused of wasting his strength by compiling strikeouts early in his games, he believed the only sure way to retire batters was to fan them. He was the 1936 National League strikeout leader, with 238. He also led the NL in walks three times. In an era when starters were expected to go the distance, Mungo, who led the NL in games started in 1934 and 1936, only finished 47% of his career starts. But between 1932 and 1936, he averaged 16 wins a year. Mungo was wild and mean, a high-kicking fireballer with a fierce temper. He was known as a drinker, and was involved in some bizarre off-the-field incidents. He once had to be smuggled out of Cuba to escape the machete-wielding husband of a nightclub dancer with whom he'd been caught in bed. His career went downhill after he injured his arm in the 1937 All-Star Game. He won only 13 ML games over his next six seasons. Becoming a junkballer, he went 14-7 in 1945. The lifetime .221 hitter sometimes pinch-hit. In 1970 his colorful name was prominently used in a nostalgic bossa nova ballad. *** ***Song included here in this post. It is a jazz song that was written over 35 years ago. Van Lingle Mungo.mp3

In the 60's I was just a baby. I don't have a lot of memories of that time. The 70's I have more memories. I just know from reading that the 60's was the Love generation. Flower power and all that stuff. I have no idea what that was about!

It's not making a lot of people here happy either. But keep the faith, that's all I can say. And what's this about the 70's where everything was about peace? You are a decade off, the 60's were the decade of peace.

Updated to 10-28 ...Wow, that's pretty rare. I'm following myself in this thread. I guess a lot of people were either busy or had nothing to say last week. ...The Red Sox are up 3 - 0 in the series. I've only watched maybe five entire pitches in the three games. If and when they win this thing, just watch how many new users join for the rest of the year that will have Red Sox as their user name or something to do with them. It happened in 2004 over and over. ...I've been home this weekend all by myself. Alone. No wife or dogs. They are out of town visiting family. I didn't go because I am going there for Thanksgiving. I have forgotten how much of a pleasure it is to have complete quiet around here. It's so quiet I can't sleep. ....I think I'll watch that NFL game today that is over in London. It's just too bad they got the Dolphins (0-7) there. ...I'll tell you what, if A-Rod signs that extension with the Yankees and he doesn't start coming through he is going to have a very rough time in 2008. And from what I read about the offer the Yankees made (5 year extension, around 140 million) it is more than fair. If he doesn't like it, then get out. ...As far as I am concerned none of the current Yankees (except for the rookies because they need a chance to show what they have) are untouchable and that includes Jeter. People seem to forget his choke job against the Indians but not me. ...While I am at it F*** you Jorge Posada. ...I am starting to wonder when Jamarcus Russell is going to make his first appearance for the Raiders. ...Maybe the less said about Oakland the better. ...Ok, when I read this the other day I could not stop laughing. I hope this brings a laugh to you on this Sunday morning. ...Have a good week, I know I will because I am home this week.

Updated to 10-21 ...If Cleveland blows this ALCS tonight they deserve every bit of criticism thrown their way over the winter. ...What I don't like most of all if the Red Sox win tonight is that all the Red Sox fans won't shut up about it. ...That being said, I hope the entire Red Sox "nation" tonight has a very miserable night. ...I still don't know what to think after reading about Joe Torre not coming back to the Yankees. But I do know one thing in that is wasn't his fault for the playoff losses. ...Given the option, I'd give Joe Girardi a chance in New York. ...But as far as the A-Rod situation goes, that's a different story. I don't want that Scott Boras guy to hold up the Yankees for some outrageous ten year 30 million a year deal. No one is worth that. No one is close to being worth that. ...So far MLB has been lucky with the post season games this year in the case of getting all of them in with no rainouts. But these days off during the playoffs will eventually hurt them I think. As anyone here who lives in the east can attest, the weather in October can change at a moment's notice. One day you'll have a nice 67 degree day and the next day it could be 40 degrees. My point is get the games in as fast as you can. ...I love audiobooks on baseball. ...It's nice to see Randy Moss playing like himself again. All he needed was a quarterback and a good team. And the desire to make an effort again. ...Four more days of work and then I run off to vacation. It's not like I'm counting down or anything like that. :)

Updated to 10-14 ...Last night's Cleveland-Boston playoff game was over five hours long and I didn't watch a second of it. You see, I'm still in mourning. :cry: ...I hope those bugs in Cleveland attack the Red Sox now. ...I'll tell you what, if it is true that Alex Rodriguez is looking for a new ten year contract for 30 million a year, then let him go. No one is worth that much. Isn't the 25 million he is getting enough? ...And as far as any other Yankee saying they won't be back unless Joe Torre is, they can **ck off too. It's not like you've actually won anything these past seven years, have you? ...One last thing about this latest Yankee playoff collapse because I really don't want to think about it anymore. Once again I read articles where they blamed Alex Rodriguez for this loss to Cleveland. Forget the fact that Posada and Jeter were even worse. But only one guy, Mike Lupica, had the guts to call out Jeter in this article right here and say that he had a terrible series. The way I see it, it was more Jeter and Posada's fault for this loss, and you can't forget Chien Ming-Wang, who gave up it seemed fifty earned runs. ...Another vacation for me is getting closer and closer. When I get out of work on the 25th, I'll be free for eleven days. Oh, do I need it ...Mvp 2005 baseball question: Who here has had success in hitting the knuckleball in that game? It's not fun at all. ...MVP Caribe. That's the big thing going on this month. And HFLR, do you have a copy of the interview you had with that sportswriter? I'd love to read it. ...Can someone who understands this stuff explain what this avatar means to someone who is out of touch (like me)? This belongs to Mark and I don't know what it means. ...Nice to see Tribetime come back here to say hi. It's always good to see our original members back here.

You know what? Even though I don't understand a word of spanish except for Taco Bell, I am still getting this mod. This looks like an exciting mod to get into. These guys over at the Spanish area of this site have really worked like crazy for this. Hats off to HFLR and everyone there.

I love it HFLR and I commented in the youtube area too.

Updated to 10-7 ...I remember a time not too long ago when it was exciting to watch a Yankee playoff game. Not anymore. ...I am just concerned that if the Yankees go down today or sometime in this series the wrong people are going to be blamed for this. No one has hit the ball, but A-Rod is only being blamed. Someone out there explain that. ...Again, and I could be wrong, but I think we need another Paul O'Neill type player on this team because no one on that Yankee team seems to get upset when they are losing. ...The only pleasure I got out of watching the Cubs lose yesterday -and believe me, I don't root against them or for them- was watching Alfonso Soriano make the final out in game three. The multimillionaire showed he was worth all that money as he went 0 for 4 in the game and hit .143 in the series. ...I'm sure the ratings for the Arizona and Colorado NLCS are going to suck. I'll be doing my part in this as I plan to ignore this along with everyone else east of Chicago. ...I am sure the Mets fans are very happy about the Phillies losing to the Rockies but they got to remember Philadelphia actually got there. ...I hate those Dane Cook commercials for FOX. In fact I hate Dane Cook. ...TBS is a network I can get used to watching post season baseball with no problem at all. ...I actually bought a Christmas present this week for my wife. She wanted one of those Ipod Nano machines and there is an Apple store at one of our malls around here that sells them. (Attn, YankeexDev, in case you are reading this, this store is in the Eastview Mall if you are into this stuff.) So, after separating myself from $200, I got the Ipod. Now I got to hide it until Christmas day. ...All I want for Christmas is a Yankee championship.

Updated to 9-30 ....If the Mets win today and the Phillies lose to Washington, you are going to hear boos coming out of Philadelphia no matter what part of the country you live in. ...That being said, the National League races have been exciting. ...And this is why I like it when the Yankees win the division by ten games. ...Next week is the time for Alfonso Soriano to show the Cubs that he was worth all that money. I'm confident that he won't be doing this. ...The Yankees have to wait until Thursday to start this *&(*% series? What the hell is this? ...Angels or Red Sox in that series? I could care less. ...Someone give me some good news and tell me that Kyle Farnsworthless is off the playoff roster. ...And if the Yankees make a quick exit out of the playoffs again, nothing will save Joe Torre. I'm not saying this is right or wrong, but it is what it is. ...Welcome back NHL. Now I might get NHL 08 from EA Sports. Good luck Canadians. ...Daunte Culpepper leads Oakland into Miami today at 1 pm. Let's hope he has a score to settle.

I don't like it. I thought it was a cheap way to win.

Updated to 9-23 ...Don't misunderstand me now because I'm glad the Yankees won yesterday, but I hate games like the one that was played yesterday. ...Eric Gagne, you have nothing on Kyle Farnsworthless because Farnsworthless has been sucking like this his entire career. ...Isn't it nice that the Blue Jays are waiting until now to play their best? I guess the first 150 games of the season they were just getting warmed up. ...I am silently praying that these "Joba rules" are dismissed once the post season starts. That is of course we get in it. ...When you have Julio Lugo hitting game winning home runs for you, you know you are a damn lucky team. ...I hate those Giuseppe Franco commercials on the YES Network. ...My wife wants a Ipod Nano thing that shows videos for Christmas. And so it begins. ...I told her I don't need anything and to go pay bills. Of course she won't listen. ...I can't wait until January to take care of this knee problem. I haven't mowed my lawn all year because I can't. I have to pay some landscaping guy to do it. ...Now that the Falcons are 0 - 2, they must really be cursing Michael Vick.

Look, I didn't mean anything insulting by that. I know that without you there's no Mvp 08.

That is exactly my point. :(

Updated to 9-16 ...I'm up early this morning. You can blame that on the Red Sox. I've had a splitting headache since the end of the game last night, which made this a very long night. ...So Jason Giambi is a first baseman? ...Of all my years of watching this great game, the 2007 Yankees are the most frustrating team that I've seen. The word "inconsistent" is used many times to describe teams, but that's exactly what this year's squad has been and I don't like it one bit. ...YankeexDev was in Fenway Park yesterday to see this game. I felt bad for him. Not for seeing the Yankees lose, but for being surrounded by that collection of drunks and parole violators that the press lovingly calls "Red Sox Nation." ...Yeah, I am still fuming about yesterday's game. I better stop now. I feel the headache comin' back. ...It's too early department: Yesterday morning my wife and I had to go to BJ's wholesale club (it's a place like Sam's club) to get some stuff. Well, we walked in and after a few steps inside she turns to me and says "do you hear that?" I stop and listen and I said "yeah I do, but it can't be. It's too early." Well, my ears were not playing tricks on me and yes, it was still too early, but that didn't take away the fact that BJ's was playing "Silent Night" over their speaker system. The next song was "Silver Bells." And the Christmas season has begun. ...So of course when we got home my wife started looking through catalogs to "help me out with some hints" as to what to get her this December. She goes above and beyond the call when she helps me out like that. ...Can anyone make a guess as to when Jamarcus Russell will have his first bit of action for Oakland? I am kind of guessing early October, but I could be way wrong with that guess. ...First we got Total Classics 1978, and now that we have an updated version, this mod is going to look and play even better. Check it out and give some positive feedback to Jim825, who did some fantastic work on this. Also, let Rolie know how much you like the 2007 version of Dodger stadium that he just did. This is one beautiful looking park that he just did and even a Giant fan would agree that the work he did on this was spectacular. Thank you for both contributions guys! ...NHL 2008 just came out by EA. I wonder if it is worth getting? ...Gamebase 08 :lol:

IF YOU BUMP YOUR REQUEST ONE MORE TIME YOU WON'T BE HERE TO HAVE YOUR GOD DAMN SIG. YOU UNDERSTAND?

Updated to 9-9 ...No way around it, the big deal today is the first Sunday of the NFL season. Here's hoping your team does well this year. As for Raider fans like myself, it can only be better. ...Don't get me wrong, I like the NFL as much as anyone else, it's just that I really can't get into it until after the World Series is done. Baseball's always been number one to me and always will be. ...It's been a pleasure watching the Seattle Mariners fall from the playoff race these past few weeks. ...A couple of things I am worried about concerning the Yankees this week is what's the condition of Jeter's knee and how is Mussina going to pitch in Toronto this week? That is, how bad are the Blue Jays going to murder him? ...If the Yankees can't stay focused for the rest of the season then they don't deserve to be there in the first place. And yes, that means beating Tampa Bay because that team sucks. ...Do you ever think you will need a new computer just for all the season mods that there are and are going to come out? ...The Australians have a funny sense of humor and if you ever get a chance, check it out yourself. Right now on CNN, and I hope I have this link correct for you right here, scroll down on the list of videos they have there and look for OSAMA PRANK. It is near the bottom of all those videos. I won't give it away, but these Australians crack me up. ...Al Leiter is one of the best Yankee announcers on YES that the network has ever had. I wish that guy would be there all the time. ...It is funny how we don't read about the so called Yankee fans wanting to trade Alex Rodriguez now, don't we? ...I enjoy watching movies by M. Night Shyamalan because his movies have a lot of suspense in them. He's the guy who directed The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, both with Bruce Willis, Signs and most recently Lady in the Water. This guy's one of the better directors in Hollywood.

I would request you wear that until the World Series is over. PLEASE!!!

Updated to 9-2 ...I'm not even in school anymore but September is still a depressing month for me. I guess old habits never die. Or maybe I am down in the dumps about another summer slipping by. ...Welcome to the major leagues Mr. Ian Kennedy. I hope you stay a long time. ...For the rest of the year we are going to hear about Clay Buchholz ad nauseum because of what he did last night. Cooperstown's going to make a special exemption to let him in next year. ...Josh Beckett seems to be a pretty brave guy yelling at people in the safety of his own dugout but at the same time he's a gutless pr*** on the mound. ...The buzz about a possible new baseball game for the PC is exciting. Sure, it would be an adjustment period to get used to a new game and to mod it, but I still think anything's possible. To free up server space we probably would have to remove all the Mvp 2004 files and all the old 2005 files for the new mods. But I am getting way ahead of myself here, aren't I? ...And it's another year of missing the New York State Fair! Man, I'm on a hot streak. I had to work yesterday while everyone got to go to the Fair over in Solvay, New York, which is near Syracuse. I don't mind at all since I really seem to have developed a fear of crowds. ...Gas around here is $2.95 per gallon for regular unleaded as of yesterday. And people wonder why I didn't take a vacation. I'll need to take out a loan just for the gas. .Whenever I see a picture of Bud Selig, the same thing pops into my mind every time. I've never seen such a confused looking person in all my life. And this guy's in charge of our favorite game. Make sense to you? ...If anyone reading this signed up for fantasy football this year on EAmods, I got one question. In last year's fantasy football that you guys had, who won it? I never followed it to be honest. ...I think I might be going to see that new Jodie Foster movie next month. What the hell's it called?

Yeah, I got a comment. If I were a Met fan I would have this on my desktop ASAP. Wonderful job.

No, not yet because I was busy last night. I was working this weekend. I am hoping to look at it on Monday.

Three hours a night for homework in the summer? What the hell is that about? No way would I like to do that.