BR Bullpen:Did You Know Archive

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This is an archive of articles that were featured on the Main Page as part of Did You Know?.

Did you know...

...that Ming-Tsu Lu led to a rule change in Nippon Pro Baseball's All-Star Game as a rookie?
...that Hamilton Richardson was named MVP of Hoofdklasse five times?
...that Jeff Samardzija was an All-American in college - but not in baseball?
...what Stephan Rapaglia does when not managing the British national team?
...that two Cubans each scored more runs in the 1987 Intercontinental Cup than all their opponents combined?
...how Tom Hallion led (indirectly) to many umpires losing their jobs?
...that Jiangang Lu was the first Chinese player to sign with a NPB team?
...why Mike Sime and Clarence Roper were blacklisted from baseball?
...how old Yutaka Ono was when he became the oldest pitcher to throw a shutout in the Central League?
...what record Pedro Jova set while managing in Cuba - and what record he set while playing in Cuba?
...what Dave Bristol did to organize the Big Red Machine?
...why Chien-Cheng Kuo was banned from the Chinese Professional Baseball League?
...that Keith Ramsey threw the 4th perfect game in Carolina League history?
...that I-Chung Hong had his career year when he was 39 years old?
...that Travis Wilson was the first New Zealand native to sign with a MLB club?
...that Giulio Glorioso scored more runs one year as a batter than he allowed as a pitcher - without playing a game in the field?
...what Jayson Nix did to be named MVP of the 2007 Baseball World Cup?
...what record Ryan Roberts set in 2008?
...that R.J. Swindle won the highest percentage of his team's games in NCAA Division I one year?
...what fielding record Masahiro Araki holds?
...why Sung-ki Jung missed three seasons at a key point in his development?
...that Brian Farley is an Olympic pitching coach married to a former Olympic softball pitcher?
...what record Cole Gillespie helped set during the 2008 season?
...that Yi-Hsin Chen won MVP awards 3 times in the first 7 years of Taiwanese professional baseball?
...that Lew Kent once pinch-hit for Barry Bonds in a key game?
...that Walter Ball was the first black pitcher to beat a white MLB team?
...that Brad Tippett held left-handed batters to an 0-for-36 performance in 2007?
...how Davy Jones got his nickname?
...that Tommy Hanson threw the first no-hitter in Mississippi Braves history?
...which Hall-of-Famer Jason Kosow portrayed in a TV miniseries?
...that Germany Schaefer successfully pulled off the hidden ball trick in a World Series game?
...that Kyle Russell led NCAA Division I in home runs in 2007?
...that Marvin Williams won two minor league home run and batting crowns after the Boston Red Sox passed on him and Jackie Robinson?
...that Jake Arrieta was the first player from Texas Christian University to appear on Team USA?
...what Ed Killian did for a living after his baseball career came to an end?
...why Chang-Ming Cheng was banned from the CPBL three years after he played in the Olympics?
...why Beau Mills was suspended at a key moment in the 2006 Fresno State University season?
...that Luis Iglesias was the first player to hit 100 career home runs in the Chinese Professional Baseball League?
...that George Mullin was known for playing mind games with hitters?
...that Esequier Pie threw the first no-hitter in the Israel Baseball League?
...how long Taiwan star Chih-Sheng Lin was suspended for his attack on an umpire?
...how long Cuban star Michel Enríquez was suspended for his attack on an umpire?
...that Jordan Brown won back-to-back minor league MVP awards?
...how Frank Smith got his unusual nickname?
...that David Cooper almost tied a Barry Bonds record in college?
...that Mike Aviles led NCAA Division II in both average and home runs in 2003?
...what the 1976 AL Batting Champ Controversy was?
...what Ray Schalk did after each no-hitter in the majors?
...what school record Ike Davis set in 2006?
...that Doc White had the first save in World Series history?
...that Amaury Martí has been known by three different last names during his baseball career?
...how Shifty Jim West met his untimely end?
...that Jared Goedert led the state of Kansas in passing yards as a high school quarterback?
...that Scott Campbell was the first New Zealand native picked in the MLB amateur draft?
...what record Kuo-Ching Kao set in the 2007 CPBL season?
...that Cliff Floyd won Minor League Player of the Year honors while in AA?
...that Si-hyun Son wound up in the Army due to a draft-dodging scandal two years after he was named the best shortstop in the Korea Baseball Organization?
...that Adiel Palma won the Gold Medal game in both the 2004 Olympics and 2007 Pan American Games?
...that Shawn Chacon set a MLB record for most consecutive no-decisions by a starting pitcher to open a season?
...that Jim Gruzdis won a batting title three years after retiring from active duty as a player?
...that Billy Sullivan Sr. went 0 for 21 during a World Series - while playing appropriately for the Hitless Wonders?
...that Tom Lawless was once traded for a manager?
...that Héctor Olivera Jr. scored the winning run in the Cuban Serie Nacional finals two of the past four years?
...that Jason Michaels won a community service award - one year after fighting with a police officer outside a nightclub?
...that Hernán Iribarren had the second-highest average in a season in Arizona League history?
...that Ernie Hrovatic died in World War II a year after starring in the minor leagues?
...that Pedro Alvarez won the Baseball America Freshman of the Year Award after his teammates had voted against him winning the third base job out of fall training?
...what Shinichi Eto considered the greatest moment of his stellar career in Japan?
...that Pavel Budský was the first Czech-born and -raised minor leaguer?
...that the 1987 Expos lost their general manager because he was having an affair with the team President's wife?
...that Rogelio García is the all-time strikeout leader in the Cuban leagues?
...that Jordan Schafer was suspended for Human Growth Hormone use months after being named the top prospect in the South Atlantic League?
...that Eugene Kingsale was the first Aruban major leaguer - by five days?
...that Masahide Kobayashi set a Nippon Pro Baseball record for consecutive saves?
...that Rube Currie appeared in the first four Negro World Series?
...that Matt Rogelstad was the toughest player to strike out in NCAA Division I one year?
...why first-team All-American Dexter Fowler fell to the 14th round of the 2004 amateur draft?
...what legal problems befell Carlos Pérez?
...that Rowdy Hardy set the all-time Ohio Valley Conference win record?
...that Kwang-hyun Kim was the first Korean pitcher to beat the Japanese team in an Asia Series?
...that the 1989 Orioles tried a 3-man pitching rotation for a time?
...that Jeff Larish tied the College World Series single-game home run record in 2005?
...that Australian pitcher Tom Becker won the finale of the European Cup three years in a row?
...that Shairon Martis threw the only no-hitter in World Baseball Classic history?
...that Adrian Meagher was on the first Australian team to win Gold in a major international event - several years after he had initially retired?
...what freak occurence led to the end of Gerardo Sanchez's consecutive games played streak - the longest in Mexican League history?
...what star players were hampered by collusion?
...that former Negro League infielder John Britton was the first foreign player to be named to a Pacific League All-Star team?
...that Billy McLean was the umpire in the first National League game?
...that Norge Vera was the first pitcher to pick up wins in both the semifinals and finals of a Baseball World Cup?
...that Giichi Hayashi threw the first no-hitter in Pacific League history?
...how long integration took at different levels of baseball?
...that Matt Macri was an All-State pick in both football and baseball in his senior year of high school, leading his school to titles in both sports?
...that Andruw Jones was the youngest player in World Series history to hit a home run?
...that Jimmy Van Ostrand was one of the best badminton players in Canada before he chose to pursue baseball?
...when Gary White had a hit deemed perhaps the most significant in Australian baseball history by some historians?
...that Doug Mientkiewicz twice hit game-deciding home runs against South Korea in the 2000 Olympics?
...that Bobby Slaybaugh lost an eye - and returned to pitch the same year?
...how Kleber Ojima could be said to have had one of the best games in Brazilian baseball history even though he lost the contest?
...that Frederich Cepeda has led the Cuban Serie Nacional in walks five of the past seven seasons?
...that the 1984 Amateur World Series boasted a future MLB home run record holder?
...why it created a stir when Tonny Cohen was picked for the Dutch national team in 1992?
...that Jinten Haku was the only .400 hitter in Korea Baseball Organization history?
...why Eduardo Paret was once banned from action due to a phone call he made?
...what records Tilson Brito set in the 2007 CPBL?
...how a basketball game helped ruin the hopes of the 1985 Orioles?
...that Ryan Doherty was the first minor league pitcher over 7 feet tall?
...that Yoshitomo Tani is not only an Olympic athlete but also married to an Olympic athlete?
...that Matthew Sheldon-Collins has the lowest strikeout rate in Australian Baseball League history?
...that Brett Willemburg outhit many major leaguers in the 2006 World Baseball Classic - despite having washed out of Rookie ball?
...that Mitch Williams had the latest plate appearance in a major league game?
...which future Cuban defector was MVP of the 2002 Intercontinental Cup?
...that Jesus Matos won three consecutive strikeout titles in Serie A1?
...that Sam Fuld set the career hit record in the College World Series?
...that Michael Franke was the first German player signed by a MLB organization in over four decades when he joined the Milwaukee Brewers chain in 2000
...why Cale Iorg did not play baseball for two years before being drafted
...that Jorge Luis Valdés threw the first no-hitter in Pan American Games history?
...that Jerry Eaves and Earl Caldwell Jr. both were teammates of their fathers in the minor leagues?
...why Evel Bastida-Martinez was once sentenced to 200 hours of community service for his actions on the baseball field?
...that Martin Helmig is the all-time German national team leader in batting average and slugging percentage?
...that former minor league outfielder Andre King became a NFL wide receiver after he failed to make it past AA?
...that Agapito Mayor was the first Caribbean Series Most Valuable Player?
...that Kai Gronauer has the best fielding percentage in the history of the German national team?
...how far former Baseball America Freshman of the Year J.J. Jurries got in professional baseball?
...what controversy Carlos Tabares was involved in the Gold Medal game of the 2004 Olympics?
...that Vince Rooi almost beat out two future All-Stars for the team RBI lead when they were in the minors together?
...that Billy Scripture was named to the All-Time Atlantic Coast Conference team?
...that Daniel Fernández is the all-time run leader in the Mexican League?
...how close Yadel Martí came to the second perfect game in Baseball World Cup history?
...which minor baseball power almost upset Cuba in the 2003 Baseball World Cup?
...that Rikki Johnston was the youngest player in the history of the Australian Baseball League?
...that Antonio Pacheco is the all-time hit leader in the Cuban National League?
...that Calfee Park was built by the Works Progress Administration?
...that Eddie Lantigua won the Baseball America independent league player of the year award one year?
...that Bill Byron was known as the "singing umpire"?
...what happened in 2007 in Japanese Baseball?
...how Texas-born Paul Gonzalez wound up starring for the Australian national team?
...that Raily Legito has taken part in both Dutch national team wins over Cuba in international competition?
...that Yutaka Wada had the longest homerless run in Nippon Pro Baseball history?
...why a Curacao-based radio station sent announcers to Maryland to cover Sherwin Cijntje?
...what historic win Steven Shell recorded in the 2007 Baseball World Cup?
...what historic win Cody Cillo recorded in the 2007 Baseball World Cup?
...that Adam Burton was the only two-time batting titlist in the history of the Australian Baseball League?
...that Eelco Jansen was the first Dutch pitcher to throw a perfect game during the regular Hoofdklasse season?
...that Mitch Hilligoss set the Purdue University record for runs in a season?
...that Kazuhisa Inao won four straight games in the 1958 Japan Series?
...that basketball Hall-of-Famer Benny Borgmann scored over 1,000 runs in the minor leagues and hit over .300 on the farm but never played in the majors?
...that Ying-Chieh Lin held the Chinese Professional Baseball League strikeout record for two years?
...who had the worst Game Score in recorded history?
...what injuries ruined the career of Frankie Silvanic?
...that Bob Nilsson was the all-time save leader in the Australian Baseball League?
...that George Sobek was an All-American basketball player before his long tenure in baseball as a player, manager and scout?
...that Tai-Shan Chang holds the Chinese Professional Baseball League record for home runs in a season by a Taiwan native?
...that J. Brent Cox set a record for most career appearances in College World Series games?
...that Richard Orman holds the Hoofdklasse record for wins by a left-handed pitcher?
...that the 1992 Kinston Indians had a Hog Happenin' Special promotion?
...that Jeff Niemann tied a NCAA Division I record for most wins in a year without suffering a single loss?
...that Lorenzo Gray had the longest hitting streak in the minor leagues in 1982?
...that En-Yu Lin threw the first pitch in World Baseball Classic history?
...that Maels Rodríguez was the first pitcher in Cuban baseball history to be timed at 100 mph?
...that Jimmy Strong was the son of a Harlem Globetrotter and a member of the Italian Baseball Hall of Fame?
...that Pythias Russ was one of the top contact hitters in Negro League history but died young due to tuberculosis?
...that Ariel Pestano had the best batting average in the 2004 Olympics?
...what the Largest Baseball Families were?
...why Daisuke Yamai was yanked after eight perfect innings in the final game of the 2007 Japan Series?
...that Mike Young was twice an IBAF Manager of the Year in his work for the Australian national team?
...that the 1994 Baseball World Cup was the last Baseball World Cup to feature only amateur players?
...that Antonio Muñoz is the all-time walk leader in the Cuban National League?
...that Monty Swartz holds the MLB record for innings pitched for a pitcher with only one game pitched?
...why twin brothers Loidel Chapellí and Laidel Chapellí played for different countries in international competition?
...that Ken Suzuki was the second player in Japan Series history to hit a pinch-hit grand slam?
...that Alexander Smit led a minor league in strikeouts once despite pitching under 50 innings?
...that Bob Walk won three ERA titles in the minors?
...that Anderson Gomes was the first player from Brazil to play in the Futures Game?
...what injury caused Justin Huber move from catcher to first base?
...what controversial decision Gene Mauch made that might have cost his team a pennant?
...that Nic Ungs pitched 61 innings for a team one year without issuing a single walk?
...that the 1999 Pan American Games were the first Pan American Games to feature professional players?
...that Carlos Morán is a member of the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame despite hitting under .100 one season?
...that Ken Bolek runs an academy for elite high school baseball players?
...what scandal involving David Francia wound up sending a baseball executive to jail?
...that Jay Ward once hit grand slams in consecutive innings?
...that Frank Duncan formed perhaps the first father-son battery in professional baseball history?
...that C.C. Sabathia was recruited to play tight end by a couple college football programs?
...that Chien-Fu Kuo Lee was MVP of the 1988 Baseball World Cup despite being on a 4-5 team?
...that J.R. Towles set a Houston Astros franchise record in his sixth major league game?
...why Nick Adenhart fell from being a top high school prospect to a 14th-round draft pick?
...that José Ibar was the first 20-game winner in the history of the Cuban National League?
...what type of stadium became prominent during the 1970s?
...that Daisuke Araki had a future superstar named after him - when Araki was a sophomore in high school?
...that Henry Hyde Jr., the son of the Congressman, pitched in the minor leagues for three years?
...that Josh Beckett was the only junior on the Baseball America high school All-American team in 1998?
...that Pat Scantlebury took eight years off of his age to get a chance in Organized Baseball?
...that Yung-Chi Chen drove in over 45% of Taiwan's runs in the 2006 World Baseball Classic?
...that Pro Football Hall of Fame halfback Joe Guyon hit over .340 for three years in the highest minor league classification of his era, but never made the major leagues?
...what team in the 1987 Pan American Games gave the Cuban national team its first Pan American Games defeat in 20 years?
...that Zach Greinke battled mental health problems the season after he led the American League in losses?
...that Brad Harman hit more home runs in the 9-game 2006 Intercontinental Cup than he had hit in 119 games for the Clearwater Threshers that year?
...that César King spent five days on a MLB roster but never played in the majors?
...that Oscar Rivera threw the only perfect game in Mexican League playoff history?
...what controversy arose over Luke Hochevar's negotiations with the Los Angeles Dodgers?
...that Luís Tiant holds the record for most complete games (23) pitched in a year without registering a shutout?
...who the Nine Old Men were?
...that Eddie Dwight was the father of the first African-American Astronaut?
...how the ending of The Natural differed between the book and movie versions?
...why Yurendell de Caster won the Baseball America Winter League Player of the Year award in 2005-2006?
...why Kip Bouknight was not picked in the first 20 rounds of the draft after winning the Golden Spikes Award as a junior?
...that Yoshihiko Takahashi had the longest hitting streak in Nippon Pro Baseball history?
...why Victor Mesa was ejected from the 1983 Intercontinental Cup after hitting a home run?
...that Alonzo Perry is second all-time in the Mexican League in average among players with over 3,000 at-bats but saw most of his US minor league action as a pitcher?
...who is the only non-Hall-of-Famer ahead of Matt Morris on the St. Louis Cardinals career strikeout leader list?
...that Tom Shearn was the oldest Cincinnati Reds pitcher to debut in over 50 years?
...that Eric Patterson is the son of a former NFL defensive back?
...why Nap Reyes was banned from the major leagues for a couple years?
...that Scott Mathieson had a career 13-26 minor league record entering the year he debuted in the majors?
...that Aloha Stadium was the first minor league stadium with moveable grandstands?
...that Negro League player Blue Washington later acted in Gone With the Wind and Angels in the Outfield?
...that Jair Jurrjens recently became the first major league pitcher from the Dutch Antilles?
...how Belgian native Brant Ust came to be a baseball fan?
...why Jerome Williams wore a puka shell necklace?
...why Chris Oxspring was the IBAF Male athlete of the year in 2004?
...that Jack Maloof helped Tony Gwynn develop his swing?
...that Bull Durham director Ron Shelton made it to AAA as a minor league infielder?
...why Michel Abreu had his first professional contract voided?
...why the 1990 Baseball World Cup drew criticism for its format?
...why Jake Stephens sent a fake telegram to himself claiming his father had died?
...that Hae-yong Ma was nearly suspended for life from the Korea Baseball Organization within two years of winning a batting title?
...that Luis Polonia is the all-time Caribbean Series leader in several categories?
...why Orlando Hernández once worked in a mental hospital during his career?
...that the 2000 World Series was the first Subway Series featuring the New York Mets versus the New York Yankees?
...how Travis Lee exploited a loophole to shatter the record for the most expensive contract by an amateur player?
...that the 1924 Negro World Series was the first Negro World Series?
...that Manny Parra threw the third 9-inning perfect game in Pacific Coast League history?
...that the 1986 Expos were briefly called Buck's Bombers?
...that Jesús Alfaro topped .300 in the Texas League in three straight decades?
...that Rick Lancellotti won one home run title while hitting .218 and claimed another during a .209 season?
...that Lourdes Gourriel made the All-Star team in six consecutive major international tournaments?
...that Matt Harrington was the first player to be drafted five times since the amateur draft went to a once-per-year format?
...that the 2001 World Series was the latest ever in terms of calendar starting dates?
...that 17 players were involved in the Largest Trade in Baseball History and only one, Ted Del Guercio, never saw time in the major leagues?
...that the 2001 Baseball World Cup was the first Cup in which the USA used professional players?
...that Carlos Bernhardt set a Dominican javelin record - held by another baseball player - before becoming a long-time scout?
...who won Manager of the Year honors for his work with the 2001 Phillies?
...that Joey Votto did not play baseball in high school yet almost set the Southern League record for doubles in 2006?
...which member of the 1997 Phillies set the franchise strikeout record that year?
...that Wei Wang hit the first home run in the history of the World Baseball Classic?
...what debacle led to the elimination of the free agent compensation draft?
...what was controversial about the final game in the 1988 Baseball World Cup?
...that Ricky Stone took a year off from baseball to run a drywall business?
...that the losing team in the 2003 World Series had a rotation which averaged 214 MLB wins to that point while the winning team's starting rotation averaged 33 MLB wins?
...how Pedro Luis Lazo figured into a surreal incident involving a journalist and a bicycle in Cuba?
...that pitcher Hal Carlson died of an internal hemorrhage at age 38, one day after his scheduled start was rained out?
...that infielder Jake Mauer was selected selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 2001 amateur draft along with brother Joe Mauer?
...that Otto Denning would frequently attend Chicago Cubs games with Bill Veeck in the 1980s?
...that pitcher Dick Drott struck out 15 batters in a game during his rookie season?
...that Hall of Famer Lou Boudreau became the youngest manager in big league history after writing his team owner a letter to apply for the job?
...that pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith has the first hyphenated surname in major league history?
...that Jim Rantz has been a part of the Minnesota Twins organization for every year of the club's existence?
...that Erv Dusak earned the nickname "Four Sack" from a poem written by a fan?
...that Todd Frazier first drew notice as the star of the 1998 Little League World Series?
...that Myung-hwan Park drew international attention for his unusual use of a vegetable?
...that the 2006 World Series was the first to feature rookie starting pitchers for both sides in game one?
...that Frank Isbell once quit the major leagues to work on a farm?
...which 35 pitchers pitched a no-hitter and started Game 1 of the World Series?
...that Chris Valaika had the longest hitting streak in the minor leagues in 2006?
...that Jack McDowell started the first game in the history of New Comiskey Park?
...that Katsuo Osugi once punched out an opposing player but was not ejected?
...that Bill Lucas was the highest-ranking black executive in baseball at the time of his death?
...that Brendan Kingman made the final out of the 2004 Olympics, having previously rewritten the Australian Baseball League record book?
...that the 2000 White Sox defied low expectations to win the most games that year in the American League?
...that Mitch Jones holds the single-season home run record at the school that produced Barry Bonds, Reggie Jackson and Bob Horner?
...that Gregory Halman almost won a Triple Crown in a professional league at age 17?
...that Bronson Sardinha became the highest-drafted Hawaiian high schooler in 2001?
...that Yovani Gallardo holds the record for strikeouts by a Milwaukee Brewers farmhand?
...that Ty Griffin handed the Cuban national team its first loss in the Pan-American Games in 20 years?
...that Troy Cate allowed the lowest batting average in the affiliated minors in 2006?
...that Matt DeSalvo wrote a book (as yet unpublished) before he made the majors?
...which team had 9 of the 12 All-Stars in the 1998 Baseball World Cup?
...that Joba Chamberlain was the highest-drafted Native American player ever?
...that J.P. Arencibia tied a home run record belonging to Alex Rodriguez?
...that Euclides Rojas set the all-time Cuban Serie Nacional record for saves?
...why Nixey Callahan was banned from Major League Baseball for a period?
...that former Central League batting champion Keiji Nagasaki is running for political office?
...how Earl Agnoly cost the Panamanian national team an Intercontinental Cup title despite posting an OPS over 1000 and fielding 1.000?
...that Jeff King was the third major leaguer to twice hit two home runs in an inning during his career?
...that Graeme Lloyd lost his wife to illness at a young age?
...that Dave Turgeon once drew more than twice as many intentional walks as Sammy Sosa, Juan Gonzalez and Jeff Conine combined and then later pitched professionally in at least five different countries?
...that Sung-min Cho had a nationally televised wedding that ended two years later in divorce?
...which former star helped Mike York battle alcoholism?
...that Hee-seop Choi was the first South Korean position player in the major leagues?
...that Will Venable was the second player in Ivy League history to be All-Conference in both basketball and baseball?
...that Landon Powell had the winning hit in the 1998 World Youth Championship despite not being a starter that game?
...that Carl Mays used to scrape his knuckles against the ground during his submarine delivery?
...which long-time major leaguer only went into baseball due to the influence of former Negro League catcher Nish Williams?
...that Jesse Litsch was a batboy in the major leagues six years before he became a big-league pitcher?
...that Hiroaki Fukushi holds the single-season Korea Baseball Organization records for both wins and losses?
...that Steve Pearce hit the most home runs in minor league baseball in April of 2007?
...that the 1994 Phillies were the first team in MLB history to open up their year with two road wins in which they trailed entering the 8th inning?
...that Tim Lincecum holds the Pacific-10 Conference career strikeout record?
...that Bryan Engelhardt was the first two-time winner of the Jacques Reuvers Award?
...that Marshall McDougall holds the NCAA Division I record for total bases in a game?
...that Jimmy Newberry was the first African-American pitcher in Nippon Pro Baseball?
...which team pitched shutouts in six of seven games in the 2002 World University Championship?
...that Yukio Tanaka was the third player in Nippon Pro Baseball history to homer from every spot in the lineup and is the all-time home run leader for the Nippon Ham Fighters?
...that Thad Bosley became a gospel musician after his baseball career ended?
...that Osmani Urrutia holds the wood-bat batting average records in the Cuban Serie Nacional for a single season and for a career?
...that umpire Bill Stewart was also a referee in the National Hockey League - the first American to hold that job?
...that Jin-woo Song is the all-time Korea Baseball Organization win leader and also helped organize the players' union there?
...how Dennis Bair has used baseball promotions to help locate missing kids?
...that Ron Wright is studying to become a pharmacist?
...that Dae-ho Lee won the first Korea Baseball Organization Triple Crown in 22 years in 2006?
...that Dan Kolb was the first pitcher in MLB history to save 30 games without striking out 30 batters?
...that Homer Bailey has been rated the Cincinnati Reds top prospect three years in a row by Baseball America?
...that Rocky Cherry sold paint at Home Depot at one point in his baseball career?
...that Dan Bankhead was the first African-American pitcher in the Majors?
...that John Grabow is of Lebanese Jewish descent?
...that Koichi Tabuchi fielded 900 consecutive grounders over a 3-hour period at age 38?
...that Ox Eckhardt almost lost a batting title to Joe DiMaggio in what would have been a major ethical controversy?
...that Charles Murray, one of Eddie Murray's brothers, once won a minor league home run title despite hitting under the Mendoza Line?
...that Scott Bullett was unsigned out of high school yet played 18 years in professional baseball?
...that Seung Song was the first three-time participant in the Futures Game?
...that brothers Michael Duursma and Mark Duursma tied for the Hoofdklasse Honkbal lead in walks in 2006?
...that Mike Stenhouse nearly had the best batting average of any NCAA Division I hitter in his freshman year?
...that Jae-hong Park was the first 30-30 player in the history of the Korea Baseball Organization?
...under what conditions Jesse Tannehill revealed a plot to jump to the American League to Pittsburgh Pirates officials?
...that Rick Vanden Hurk recently became the youngest Major Leaguer to grow up in the Netherlands?
...that Larry Gardner had a degree in chemistry and ran an auto dealership after his baseball career ended?
...that Kyung-wan Park holds the Korea Baseball Organization records for home runs by a catcher?
...why George Lauzerique lost a no-hitter under unusual circumstances for the era in 1967?
...that Ralph Garcia is the all-time Mexican League leader in winning percentage for a pitcher with 2,000+ IP?
...that Jake Stahl was the youngest player-manager in American League history?
...how Yoshinori Hirose, #2 all-time in steals in Nippon Pro Baseball, started out as a pitcher?
...that Buck Freeman hit the first ball out of South Side Park?
...that Hugo Bezdek is the only person to manage a Major League Baseball team and coach a National Football League team?
...that Freddy Parent was the last surviving player from the first World Series?
...that Hobe Ferris is second all-time for single season errors by an American League second baseman yet was known for his glovework?
...that Bob (Schoolboy) Griffith is second all-time in the California Winter League in winning percentage, behind Hall-of-Famer Bill Foster and right ahead of Hall-of-Famers Satchel Paige and Walter Johnson?
...that Lou Criger was the favorite catcher for Cy Young?
...how Hector Fajardo earned the nickname Senor Lluvia in the minors?
...that Soo-kyung Kim nearly handed Cuba their first loss in 16 years of Olympic competition?
...how Ray Miller led to a rule change by his local Little League?
...that Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Ken Strong holds a share of the all-time Eastern League home run record?
...that Ban Johnson was a sportswriter before he started the Western League and American League?
...that Michio Nishizawa was the youngest player ever to sign a contract in Nippon Pro Baseball?
...that Pat Caraway struck out Joe Sewell twice in a game in a season in which Joe only went down on strikes three times altogether?
...that the Altoona Curve once gave away their general manager's gall bladder?
...that Bruno Haas began his career by setting a major league record and finished it by starting a triple play?
...that Jim Magnuson had the lowest single-season ERA in the history of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference?
...that Charles Somers helped get several American League clubs started financially?
...what trick Brian Doyle and Blake Doyle pulled on the New York Yankees front office in 1978?
...how Johnny Bench was duped in game three of the 1972 World Series?
...which major leaguers died on their birthday?
...how Webster McDonald was begged for a chance to play by a future Hall-of-Famer?
...that Jake Jones was the only major leaguer to earn the title of "ace" as a military pilot?
...that Isao Shibata was the only Yomiuri Giants cleanup hitter other than Shigeo Nagashima and Sadaharu Oh while those two legends were on the club?
...which national high school records Ken Beardslee holds more than 55 years after he finished his amateur stardom?
...that recent research uncovered a new major leaguer from the 1920s, Norm Glaser?
...which Hall-of-Famer allowed the game-ending home run to which Hall-of-Famer in the 1935 East-West Game?
...why the 1940 Indians were nicknamed "Vitt's Crybabies"?
...that deaf infielder Luis D. Figueroa won a Puerto Rican League batting title?
...that Bosse Field was the first municipally-owned stadium in the United States?
...that the 2005 Baseball World Cup marked the highest finish by a Dutch team in the World Cup to date?
...why Hurley McNair pulled a knife on players once?
...why there were several different House of David teams in existance at the same time?
...that Jeff Banister almost had his leg amputated while in high school yet bounced back to play in the majors?
...why Bill Drake refused to pitch in the Cuban Winter League?
...which Hall-of-Famer allowed the game-ending home run to which Hall-of-Famer in the 1935 East-West Game?
...why Steve Nicosia tried to make a snowball out of fire extinguisher foam?
...that Young-soo Bae's control problems led to a season-ending suspension after a hit batsmen - but he wasn't the one suspended?
...that both Yomiuri's Koichi Ogata and Hiroshima's Koichi Ogata were born the same year and both led the Central League in stolen bases multiple times in the 1990s?
...why Paul List changed his name to Lou at one point during his career in the minors?
...that former minor league player Andy Phillip made the basketball Hall of Fame?
...that Seung-hwan Oh set a new Asian save record in 2006, breaking Hitoki Iwase's mark?
...that only 1,500 people came out to see the last game of the 1925 Negro World Series?
...that Felix Jose won batting titles in three countries and led a league in a fourth in OPS?
...that Kris Benson had his stretch of personal scandals and injuries start in the same month?
...that three no-hitters of note were thrown in 2006 in Japanese Baseball?
...that Joe Reliford was the youngest player in professional baseball history when he played in a Georgia State League game at the age of twelve?
...that Juan Gonzalez was Puerto Rican League MVP one year despite not playing a game until after the All-Star break?
...that writer Zane Grey played in the minors and based one of his books partially on his brother, major leaguer Reddy Grey?
...how Shigeru Chiba is responsible for the name of the Orix Buffaloes?
...who has won Korea Baseball Organization Gold Gloves?
...that Monte Irvin almost won a Mexican League Triple Crown despite only playing part of the season?
...that Jay Davis has had the longest career by a foreign player in the Korea Baseball Organization?
...that Orlando Merced only got signed originally because of a friendship with Luis Clemente?
...that the Brooklyn Dodgers almost vanished from the National League in 1902?
...that Bonnie Baker was the only woman hired to manage full-time in the AAGPBL?
...that Jim Tobin is the only pitcher in modern baseball history to hit three home runs in a game?
...that Johnny Balentina was the first player from the Netherlands Antilles to play 100 games for the Dutch national team?
...that Bill Shipke once used a paper with "magic properties" to help his hitting?
...that Diegomar Markwell, a cousin of Andruw Jones, was Hoofdklasse Pitcher of the Year in 2006?
...that Phil Garner how promised his wife a historic home run feat - and delivered?
...that Candy Jim Taylor won more games than any other Negro League manager?
...that Karl Winsch once managed a team for which his wife was the star pitcher?
...that Esteban Yan was the first American League pitcher to homer in his first career at-bat after the introduction of the Designated Hitter rule?
...that Wladimir Balentien set the Arizona League home run record?
...that Jin-Man Park was the Korean Series MVP in 2006?
...that Adam LaRoche attributed his fine performance in 2006 to his pharmaceutical treatment of his attention deficit disorder?
...about the controversy that erupted when ex-convict Alabama Pitts was signed by the Albany Senators in 1935?
...that the 1958 Caribbean Series marked the first time the Caribbean Series had a repeat winner?
...that Dong-Yeol Sun won 8 ERA titles in the Korea Baseball Organization?
...what circumstances made Dave Malarcher the manager of the Chicago American Giants?
...that former minor leaguer Randy Poffo achieved fame as wrestler Randy "Macho Man" Savage?
...that Cliff Brumbaugh won two MVP awards in one year?
...that Bruce Dostal missed playing in a major league game only because Harold Baines didn't reach base?
...how backup Frankie Zak was chosen for the 1944 All-Star Game?
...that Ray Knoblauch (the father of Chuck Knoblauch) coached a high school team to four Texas state championships?
...that Masayuki Nagayasu was the first Nippon Pro Baseball player to be banned for life?
...that Twins reliever Pat Neshek collects sports memorabilia?
...that former minor leaguer Scott Lucas eventually became the US Senate Majority Leader?
...why Rick Guttormson was sent down to the minors a day after throwing a no-hitter?
...that José Hernández broke a long-standing home run record previously held by a Hall-of-Famer?
...why NPB single-season save record holder Hitoki Iwase chose his uniform number?
...the fate of the New York Yankees' two big international signees in 1996 - Jackson Melián and Katsuhiro Maeda?
...that sportswriter Rick Wolff had a 15-year break in his professional baseball career yet had the best average in the Chicago White Sox chain upon his return?
...that Bob Thurman is the all-time home run leader in the Puerto Rican Winter League?
...that Len Picota was invited to spring training by the Montréal Expos seven years after he had last pitched in the affiliated minor leagues?
...that Clemente Nunez was the first player ever signed by the Florida Marlins?
...that Masahiro Kawai is the all-time world leader in sacrifice hits?
...that Preacher Roe admitted to throwing a spitball?
...that Slim Jones died of pneumonia after selling his winter coat to buy whiskey?
...that Larry Jansen was the last pitcher to win 30 games in AAA?
...that Steve Biras had a hit in his only two major league at-bats - and never got an at-bat in the minors, making him a 1.000 hitter in pro ball?
...that Bunny Mick tried to teach Vince Coleman how to bunt?
...which future MVP Steve Stone often beat in pool during their college days?
...that Greg Bicknell set the modern Northern League record for wins one year - and the record for losses the next?
...that Ryan Goleski had surgery shortly before being the first pick in the 2006 Rule V Draft, a fact not revealed by his team?
...that Joe Black hurt his arm trying to expand his repertoire?
...that Hirofumi Naito was offered a deal by the Brooklyn Dodgers over a decade before Masanori Murakami became the first Japanese player in the majors?
...what Manuel García's unusual nickname was and how he got it?
...that Tom Paciorek's first minor league roommate was his last major league manager?
...how Louis Santop broke three ribs of a fellow future Hall-of-Famer?
...that Dutch Meyer kicked the winning field goal in the 1936 Sugar Bowl?
...that Andy Pafko was the left fielder when the Shot Heard 'Round the World sailed into the left field seats?
...that Pat Patterson was the first black member of the Texas Coaches Hall of Fame?
...that José Uribe almost broke Orel Hershiser's scoreless inning streak before Hershiser had passed record-holder Don Drysdale?
...that Brian Dayett set the Columbus Clippers home run record one year after being the Southern League MVP?
...that Tetsuya Iida set a Central League record for consecutive steals without getting nabbed?
...that Bill Lange faked an injury and delayed reporting to spring training one year so he could see a boxing match?
...about some of the more famous Fire Sales in Major League Baseball history?
...that Andre Keene was once traded for a Muddy Waters album and cash?
...that Craig Stansberry is one step from becoming the first Major League player born in the Middle East?
...that Andy Green was the Pacific Coast League MVP in 2005?
...that Eddie Locke pitched complete games in both ends of a doubleheader four times in 1953 - and won all 8 games?
...that Al Schacht left high school when he was forbidden from pitching?
...that Larry Jaster set the record for most consecutive shutouts of the same team in a year?
...that Johnny Davis was only allowed to play games in New York State for two years due to his being on probation?
...that Choji Murata was the first Japanese star to have Tommy John surgery?
...that Luis Padrón almost became the first Cuban player of the 20th Century?
...that John Van Benschoten led NCAA Division I in home runs and slugging - and then was converted into a pitcher?
...that Panamanian shortstop Frank Austin lost one Negro National League batting title upon recent research - but gained a different batting championship?
...that former independent league infielder Bo Durkac was a Baseball America contributor before writing two books?
...that Jack Wilson is in the Hall of Fame of a team he never played on?
...that Jumbo Ozaki became one of Japan's greatest golfers after his baseball career went nowhere?
...that Mike Birkbeck just missed two pitching Triple Crowns in the minor leagues?
...that the 1946 World Series was the only postseason appearance by Ted Williams as well as the scene of Enos Slaughter's famed mad dash?
...that Tatsuya Ozeki lost his chance to play in the Milwaukee Brewers system when they botched the immigration paperwork?
...that there was once a minor league player whose actual name was Ten Million?
...that 1992-1993 Orix BlueWave manager Shozo Doi refused to give regular playing time to a young Ichiro Suzuki, convinced he could not succeed with his swing?
...that the Prince William Pirates were Barry Bonds' first professional club?
...that John E. Olerud (the father of John Olerud) studied medicine while playing baseball and then retired to become a doctor?
...that Jimmie Reese was the third man to have his number retired by the California Angels?
...that Heavy Johnson won a Negro National League Triple Crown a year after leaving the army?
...that Kazumi Saitoh recently became the first two-time Sawamura Award winner from the Pacific League?
...how Charlie Hough defined a good knuckleball?
...that former Orix BlueWave and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Takahito Nomura was recently arrested for possession of drugs?
...that Chuck Connors retired after four games in the minors before resuming his career two years later?
...that Ronald Williamson is the subject of a new book by John Grisham?
...that Gary W. Jones led his league in walks at least five times?
...that Skeeter Ebnet was killed by a pitch in a 1938 game?
...that Barney Pelty has the records for the lowest career ERA by a Jewish pitcher and the lowest single-season ERA by a St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles pitcher?
...that Zach Duke had a 1.46 ERA in the minor leagues in 2004?
...how Jack McKeon almost lost his life in 1950?
...that Ntema Ndungidi was the first African native to play for an affiliated minor league team and almost the first Canadian drafted in the first round of major league baseball's amateur draft?
...that Takuro Ishii is the all-time Yokohama BayStars franchise hit leader despite having been a pitcher for his first three years?
...that pitching prospect Erik Walker recently lost his life in a tragic boating accident?
...that Jose Oliva posthumously won a Dominican League MVP award?
...that former GM Kevin Malone claimed that baseball is run by Satan?
...how Hiromi Makihara pitched a perfect game despite an error by his club?
...that Milt Wilcox is into dog diving?
...that Phil Seghi hired Frank Robinson as the first black manager in the majors?
...that the Grand Rapids Rippers and their opponents averaged 22.1 runs per game in that club's only season of play?
...that Jimmie Lyons fell 25' down an elevator shaft but was back in the lineup in four days?
...that Fernando Seguignol led the minor leagues in slugging in 2003?
...that Sachio Kinugasa holds the Most Consecutive Games Played in Nippon Pro Baseball despite leading the Central League in times hit by pitch six times?
...that Joe Engel scouted Goose Goslin and Joe Cronin?
...that the 1949 Caribbean Series was the first edition of the Caribbean Series and was the subject of a sweep by the Almendares Blues?
...that Fernando Valenzuela Jr. is a winter ball teammate of his father?
...that Bill DeWitt began his baseball career selling soda?
...that Xavier Nady broke Mark McGwire's slugging record for the Pacific-10 Conference?
...that Gentry Jessup's brother was a prizefighter?
...that Omar Moreno broke a 91-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates record for steals in a season - then topped it the next year?
...that Darryl Brinkley is the only Winter League Player of the Year not to make the majors?
...that Morimichi Takagi was supposedly offered a million yen bonus if he would show more emotion?
...that Bill Kazmierczak was the first Carolina League pitcher to throw a no-hitter twice in a season?
...that minor league infielder Joe Rovner had a bit part in a 1950s movie?
...that Jeromy Burnitz was the first 30-30 player in Eastern League history?
...that former Negro League pitcher Si Simmons was recently discovered to still be alive at 110 years of age?
...that Tony Freitas once was let out of jail to pitch in a game, then returned to complete his sentence?
...that Charlie Berry was an umpire in the 1958 World Series after having been an official at the NFL title game that year?
...that Takao Kajimoto oddly set NPB records for both consecutive losses and consecutive strikeouts?
...that Devern Hansack worked as a lobsterman in between his first and second stints in the minor leagues?
...how Greg Minton discovered his best pitch?
...that Francisco Campos won the first Mexican League pitching Triple Crown in 48 years?
...that the Eastern League stolen base leader one year was Wonderful Terrific Monds III?
...that recently retired Atsushi Kataoka holds the Pacific League single-season walk record?
...that former AAGPBL infielder Marge Callaghan is the aunt of Casey Candaele?
...that the 1985 Expos were helped by Jeff Reardon setting a team save record?
...why George Britt was called Chippy?
...that Demond Smith has stolen over 500 bases in the minor leagues?
...that Dirk van 't Klooster outhit outfield mates Andruw Jones and Yurendell de Caster in the 2006 World Baseball Classic?
...that Salomon Torres worked as a minor league baseball coach for a couple seasons before returning to the major leagues as a pitcher?
...that Darrell Evans had such poor vision that he could not see the pitcher without wearing his contact lenses?
...that Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams spent four seasons as an outfielder in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system?
...that Bobby Mattick scouted Frank Robinson and later was one of the first employees of the Toronto Blue Jays?
...that Kenichi Zenimura is known as the Father of Japanese American baseball - and was also the father of two professional baseball players?
...why Alonzo Powell made his Chunichi Dragons teammates T-shirts of an elephant swinging a baseball bat
...that Tsuyoshi Wada holds the Tokyo Big Six University League record for strikeouts in a career?
...that Kal Daniels had six knee surgeries during the course of his career?
...that Mackey Sasser was moved from catching after developing a psychological block about throwing the ball back to the pitcher?
...that Sam Barkley's signing by the Pittsburgh Alleghenies led to the resignation of the club president?
...that Leroy Matlock once won 26 consecutive Negro National League games?
...that Dennis Holmberg's wife has been in a vegetative state for over two decades
...that Kazuhisa Ishii holds the Nippon Pro Baseball record for wild pitches in a season?
...that Jouett Meekin is reputed to have issued the first intentional walk in baseball history?
...that Futoshi Nakanishi married his manager's daughter the year he was Pacific League MVP?
...that minor league pitcher Jon Hooker recently died in a plane crash one day after his wedding?
...that Shohei Baba became a famous wrestler after his NPB pitching career was ended by injury?
...that Jimmy Wood was believed to be the first Canadian major leaguer until research in 2006 proved this to be false?
...which characters played which positions in the Peanuts comic strip?
...that Kazumi Takahashi won the clincher in the Japan Series a record four years in a row?
...that Roy Campanella was suspended by the Negro National League for his appearance in an exhibition contest
...that Cheol-Sun Bak was the first South Korean native to sign with a major league team?
...that the Chronicle-Telegraph Cup was a postseason competition in 1900?
...that Jason Bay's sister, Lauren, was a pitcher for the Canadian softball team at the 2004 Olympics?
...why Jake Atz quit his job as manager of the Fort Worth Panthers only to return the next year?
...that Gil Patterson was working as a valet when he was first offered a job as a pitching coach?
...why Mike Gonzalez was traded between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox twice in nine days?
...that the Osceola Astros shattered the Florida State League record for steals in 1988'?
...that The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award predates the more famous Rookie of the Year award given out by the BBWAA?
...that Hitoshi Tamura lost his chances at a Triple Crown in 2005 when he crashed his porsche and missed a month due to injuries?
...that Eric Hillman was the second foreign pitcher in the Pacific League to be named to the Best Nine, earning the honor 32 years after it was first accomplished?
...that Deacon White had the first hit in the first game in the first professional baseball league?
...that AAGPBL All-Star Thelma Eisen once played in a womens' football league that was banned by the city of Los Angeles, CA?
...that Nick Markakis was the first two-time Junior College Player of the Year?
...that Aaron Pointer, the last man to hit .400 in a full season, US-based minor league, is the brother of the famous Pointer Sisters? Or that his most recent challenger was Rick Short?
...that Mark Merchant was taken second overall in the 1987 amateur draft, right after Ken Griffey Jr., but barely even played in AAA, never making the majors?
...that Tommy Brown was the youngest player ever to steal home in a major league game?
...that Hiroki Kuroda was the second Olympic athlete in his family? He pitched in the 2004 Olympics while his mother had been an Olympic shotputter.
...that Angel Moreno has won over 420 games in 31 seasons in professional baseball?
...that Shinya Miyamoto, the captain of Japan's team in the 2000 Olympics, holds the NPB record with 67 sacrifice hits in a season?
...that minor league umpire Larry Smith died at age 21 in the Vietnam War?
...that infamously light-hitting Mario Mendoza is a member of the Salon de la Fama, Mexico's Baseball Hall of Fame?
...that Billy Geer played at the highest level of baseball at the time at age 14?
...that Harry Chozen wrote a letter to Kenesaw Mountain Landis demanding free agency in 1938?
...that Jose Bautista (bautijo02) was part of four transactions within one year, winding up back where he started?
...that Rikkert Faneyte was MVP of the 1987 European Championships and a two-time MVP in Hoofdklasse?
...that Akinori Otsuka refused to report to the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 2003, demanding a trade when he felt they rigged his chances under the posting system?
...that Willie Wells once played on the same infield as his son, Willie Wells Jr.?
...that Doc Cramer was not ejected for a game during the first 16 years of his career?
...that Ted Page was ironically beaten to death with a baseball bat after making his living using one?
...that the Águilas del Zulia have produced the likes of Greg Maddux, Luis Aparicio and Ryne Sandberg?
...that Yukio Muramatsu had a 1.26 career ERA before his life was cut short by World War II?
...that Jeff Allison did not allow an earned run in his senior year of high school and nearly died the next year?
...that Chile Gomez was once paraded through the streets of Mexico City on the shoulders of the fans?
...that Matt Stairs was signed off of the Canadian national team after being undrafted out of high school, then was the Eastern League MVP a short two years later?
...that Richard Nixon once put together a list of All-Time All-Star Teams which appeared in many newspapers?
...that Cristobal Torriente was one of the initial inductees in the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame a year after dying in poverty?
...that the Tennessee Tomahawks went 33-1 in the second half of the 1997 Heartland League season?
...that Nick Etten led the 1945 AL in RBI and was considered one of the worst defensive first basemen ever?
...that Takahiro Arai, as a rookie, lost track of the number of outs and threw away the baseball with two outs, letting a run score?
...that Sam Jethroe led his leagues at least eight times in stolen bases, multiple times in runs, average, doubles, triples, outfield put-outsand at least once (possibly more given limited data) in hits, walks, OBP and times hit by pitch?
...that Emmett O'Donnell was once picked to serve as major league baseball commissioner but did not serve in that role?
...that Oliver Perez, in 2004, became the #3 pitcher in Pittsburgh Pirates club history in single-season strikeouts?
...that Mike Easler spent 10 years in the minors, winning two batting titles, before he was able to win a bench job with the