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Mickey Mantle was born in October 20th 1931 in Spavinaw, Oklahoma. His father Mutt Mantle was a semi-pro baseball player. His father loved baseball and named his son Mickey after the Detroit Tigers catcher Mickey Cochran. From a very early age Mickey played baseball with his father and was taught to be a switch hitter. His childhood was typical of most young boys playing all types of sports. During his high school years in Commerce, Okla. he was an all around athlete and was injured playing baseball. This injury would later develop into osteomelitis that eventually affected his career in major league baseball. Mantle starting playing for the New York Yankees minor league in 1949 at 18[..]

There are many things said by coaches and players during a game. Many things said provide useful information and guidance to players. There are other things that I feel are best not said during a game. Here are three things that I feel should never be said by coaches or players during a game: 1. "We are going to lose." - Expecting to win is vital. The old saying, "Whether you expect to win or expect to lose, you are probably right!" is never truer than in coaching youth baseball. Having a positive attitude is the first step toward having a good game. I do not even use the word "lose" in any conversation during practices or game. I do not want to plant a "seed" that might grow into a team[..]

You think that you should make a Career Change, but you are just not sure. You like your present job in Sales but you think that you might be happier as a Buyer. You're confused. Or, you are going off to College and you don't have a clue as to what to declare as your major. You are going into a rapid meltdown. No need for the confusion. Do not fear. Your solution is right inside your heart. No I don't mean it's between arteries or anything like that. Your answer is in your very being and it has been there since before birth. It became manifested as you grew. God (or the Higher Power as some prefer to say) has blessed you with several gifts. Unfortunately, some folks never learned how to[..]

Without a doubt, Derek Jeter is in line with the best of the best in the history of baseball. He started playing baseball during his high school days and then went on to become captain of the legendary New York Yankees team. He took baseball seriously in 1995 and later became one of the greatest rookies of all time. Until now, he is still a top player and continues to be successful. Jeter did not become popular for nothing. He was a great player even before he became a Yankee. But he did reach celebrity status by playing impressively for the New York Yankees, which won four World Series during Jeter's first five years as a player in the league. People, especially the baseball fanatics,[..]

A baseball glove is a glove made of leather that baseball players wear to help them catch the ball while out on the field. During the late 1800s, players began using the gloves while playing baseball. At first glove usage was not accepted by some players. They slowly gained popularity as more and more players began using gloves. By mid 1890s the majority of baseball players were using baseball gloves. During the early days baseball gloves were nothing more than a leather glove with a little extra padding. Since then, the functionality of baseball gloves has grown significantly. Not only have they grown in size, but they have become more specialized, depending on the position played[..]

Southpaw Pitchers as baseball players are a prize in that there are a real scarcity of these lefthanders. Major league teams are constantly scouring the countryside looking for exceptional left handed throwers. First priority for any team is to have some good left handed or Southpaw Pitchers on the team. Check the roster of your favorite major league team and tell me how many Southpaw Pitchers are on the team. The professional roster will normally reflect only two or maybe three lefties on an eight man pitching rotation roster. Well! You might say the team owners and managers had rather have a top heavy roster with right handed pitchers. I contend the shortage is simply a shortfall in[..]

In today's sports, softball is considered to be the most common sport that is able to accumulate approximately 56 million Americans who will vie for anything just to be able to play this well-loved game in a year. Before, softball was considered as a game only for women, but later on gained acceptance and was widely played by more players regardless of their respective genders. Basically, the concept behind this very competitive game is for a player, known as the batter, to hit the ball thrown by another player, known as the pitcher. The ring-shaped rod being used to hit the ball is identified as a bat. To be able to score in the game, the batter has to run and tap the four bases in the[..]

That sport called baseball is really quiet right now as the new season will not be starting for a few months and the World Series was finished quite a while ago. Having said that, I really do enjoy giving my personal opinions on different aspects of this great game as I have written several articles thus far. Here I will be discussing five pitchers who are currently playing baseball and whom I believe are among the best ones in the sport right now. My five picks are as follows. If you feel differently than I do about them, then go ahead and let me know by writing down your thoughts. Taking the #5 spot on my list is Zack Greinke, the pitcher who achieved the status of having the greatest[..]

I have seen significant changes how youth baseball has been 'taught' in the U.S. since the 1960's, and the changes haven't been positive. I didn't say coached because coaching refers to strategy and competition, and the concentration of youth baseball must be on skill development, rules understanding, and team play. We need teaching coaches for that, because today's players show deficiencies in these areas more than previous generations. When people of my era started playing baseball, it was the most popular sport in America and engrained in our culture. There were many different forms that helped improve individual skills: fast pitch, whiffle ball, ledge, penner, or just throwing popups[..]

If you have a son or daughter playing baseball or softball then you probably have noticed the chaos that ensues in the team's dugout. Most ball field complexes consist mainly of fences and benches. The few types of dugout organizers that exist are easily damaged or just hold one equipment item such as bats. So there often is no place for the players to put their equipment. A lot of young players carry very simple bat bags to their games and hang them on the fence but once the players take their stuff out of their bags it doesn't go back in until the end of the game. In these instances, players typically just toss their gloves and hats about the dugout and they often end up on the ground[..]

If you or your kid have played baseball long enough, I'm sure you have heard the phrase "mental toughness". In fact, you probably have heard those words used plenty of times in other sports and even outside of sports. But what exactly is it and how can you improve your mental toughness? We've all witnessed the guys who strike out, throw their helmet, and are obviously angry for the rest of the game. In the field, they make an error on an easy ground ball. Then, next time their up, with a chance to win the game, they swing at bad pitches and hit fly out to end the game. Compared that to someone who is considered "mentally tough". Yes, he strikes out the first and he appears angry for a[..]

If you have a child who is hell-bent on being the next Babe Ruth, you know how expensive sporting equipment can be. On the one hand, all the expense might be worth it because you always want them to have nothing but the best. ON the other hand, how do you give them the best without having to rob from their college fund? One way is to shop for bargains at sporting goods or second-hand sporting goods stores. You'd be surprised at what you'll probably find, even if some of the equipment has some minor imperfections or blemishes that won't affect performance. Baseball is definitely a sport that requires equipment designed for the player to be at their best if at all possible. When it comes[..]

I umpired an extremely competitive and closely fought high school baseball game a couple of days ago. My assignment was to be the field umpire and my partner was assigned to home plate. We had our pregame conference with both head coaches and they both seemed like terrific guys. We shake hands and we all wish each other good luck. Boy, things can really change in a hurry and so can personalities. About the fourth inning, a player on one of the teams is taking a very HUGE lead off second base. After about three pitches, the catcher throws behind him to second base. Everything looked like the runner was going to be picked off. The throw from the catcher arrived at second base and beat the[..]

If you have attended an independent professional baseball game then you know that the level of play is equivalent to different levels of the regular "affiliated" Minor Leagues. What is not known by many fans, however, is how little money many of the independent baseball players make. Unlike many other jobs across North America, independent baseball players do not have union. They can be released almost at any time, for almost any reason, and there is usually nothing in their contracts which guarantees any sort of payment after players retire. When told all about this, many fans say, "Why would these players do that?!?" Here are a few of the reasons: * Genuine love of the game: Many[..]

There are not too many feelings better than getting hits for baseball players. Actually, there is? Getting a hit in the clutch is an even better feeling. Of all the great memories I have of playing baseball, the ones that are most memorable are those of clutch hits that I had. Many people think of clutch hits as those that drive in runs or win games, but just as important sometimes are hits that players get to start a rally, break up a no hitter or knock a good pitcher out of the game. One of my great memories of a clutch at-bat did not involve a hit but a sacrifice fly that I hit in the 17th inning that drove in the winning run against the New York Yankees. This was as memorable as a[..]

Finding a reliable baseball warehouse to purchase from is a big aspect of finding the equipment you need. Not only will a reputable vendor have everything you need, but they will also have a long customer service record, reasonable prices, and trustworthy shipping. This should be the case for any type of online shopping you do, but as with any type of sports equipment this can be tricky to find online without running into some bumps. If you have never bought anything for baseball before, the some of types of equipment needed might be strange to you. There are a lot of aspects of baseball equipment and apparel that are just not regularly known by most people. You may be buying uniforms[..]

If you are a professional player, purchasing a quality baseball product is very important. It is just like concentrating on a particular skill that can help you in the end. Baseball products are a basic requirement for any player. However, baseball products can be a good addition to your collection as well. Most importantly, the baseball products should fit all your needs. In fact, these days, baseball is becoming a big business. Top companies are struggling to come out with the best baseball products for players. This is because the right product plays a crucial role in improving the performance level of the player. These days, you can find baseball products anywhere in the world.[..]

Whether a child should play travel baseball and at what age they should begin playing travel is often a tough call for parents. Deciding to go the travel baseball route too early in a player's career can be detrimental to their desire to continue playing baseball in subsequent years. When anyone of the key factors listed below are missing, it may lead to unhappy ball players. Whereas, not playing travel soon enough can feel like a year wasted, it is usually not so serious because a player can try out the following year for travel ball. I believe a player's talent will come through in the end whether they play travel baseball or not. But when a child seems to be bored or not challenged at[..]

Are your prayers always answered? Or do you wish God might be hearing you every time you pray? Is prayer really a hit or miss way of communicating with God? Contrary to what many Christians believe, there is not one prayer in the Bible that God ignored. Jesus said, whatever we ask of God in His name, we will receive. Then why are so many prayers seemingly left unanswered? Why do most believers hope that God will hear them instead of having the absolute assurance that He will? Both of these problems stem from lack of knowledge. 1.- Lack of knowledge about who God is If God is a person you fear because you think He'll whack you on the head every time you do something wrong, you will not[..]

A good ball glove can have a big effect on youth's enjoyment of playing baseball and even about whether baseball is a worthwhile sport for them to participate in. Kids could be playing many other sports, and in fact, participation in basketball and soccer is growing fast in the US. There's no better summer sport or pastime than baseball though. It has a rich American tradition that other sports don't possess and that's an important part of your own child's sports experience. Baseball is a game that is dependent on equipment though, and if the equipment is poor quality or in doesn't suit the kids using them, it can dampen their enthusiasm for little league baseball. It's important to buy[..]

All my life I have been a big fan of cricket. There was a time when I never used to miss even a single match of cricket. More than just watching the cricket, I have felt the cricket running in my veins. I feel that more than everything a have worshiped this game from the core of my heart. Cricket is not so much complicated game as others are. You just need a small introduction what it is and you start to know it. If you know baseball, it is going to be even easier for you. The answer to the question that two games are similar or not, can be a yes and no as well. Yes, as it has some concepts similar to the cricket but the two games are entirely different. The rules of the cricket are[..]

There are a great number of people who are really more psyched in going to baseball parks to see their favorite baseball team than just watching the game at home on their TVs. They say that nothing could beat being at the ball park because there anyone can feel the excitement in the air and seeing a game victories is really better with hearing live shouts of hurray. Even with the heat and crowdedness that are among the norm in ball parks, there are really people who would still choose being where the action really is than being in their living rooms in front of their TVs. However, no matter how many people might perceive watching games right in baseball parks, there are still advantages[..]

Baseball players wear gloves, also known as mitts. These baseball gloves are made of leather, and you can choose between different types. They are worn by the catchers in the defending team or by the batter who is hitting the ball. The gloves are come handy when the catcher has to stop a throw which is thrown by his team mate. Gloves were not used in the early days. Catchers used to play with bare hands. But the days of the bare hand catchers are over; today, players use gloves known as mitts. Among the first players, to use the glove or the mitt was Doug Alison who played with the Cincinnati Red Stockings. This was in the 1870's though Charles Waite is credited for having used it[..]

Baseball is a sport played with a bat and ball. It is between two teams, each of which has nine players. The winner of the game is the team that has scored more runs at the end of nine innings. Runs are scored by hitting a thrown ball with the bat and then running to touch as many bases as possible before the ball can be caught and thrown back. The bases are arranged in a 90-foot square called a baseball diamond. The batting team takes turns facing the pitcher of the opposing team who stands in the middle of the diamond on the pitcher's mound. The pitcher is backed by the other eight players on his team who are arrayed in such a way as to retrieve the ball quickly after it is hit. Their[..]

The baseball hat, worn by team players as well as fans, is an important symbol of the game of baseball. In 1860 there were many styles of baseball hats. The baseball hat of the late 1860's was made of wool and ranged in price from $1.25 to $2 each. Today there are still different styles and the prices depend on where you buy and what the baseball hats are made of. The baseball hats of today are easy to wear and feel good. They are worn by men and women, young and old. Baseball hats can be worn at any time of the year and to almost any function. Baseball hats are even made for infants. If you have a favorite team or player you will have a huge selection of baseball hats. They are[..]

Ash baseball bats have an important position in the history of the game of baseball. Ash, a soft, light, and porous wood, is traditionally used to make baseball bats. These cost-effective bats perform almost as effectively as maple bats. The straight grain patterns in ahs are convenient for designing beautiful bats. Ash is a ring porous wood, which makes large cells during its early life; later on these cells become smaller and denser. The weak wood has larger cells. The hardness of the wood is determined by the grain count. Normally, white ash, which is considered a high-quality wood, is used for crafting baseball bats. White ash is approved by most leagues and organizations. Owing to[..]

The game of baseball has a long history of superstition. I'm sure you've heard about the curse of the Bambino, players refusing to shave and pre-game routines. Pitchers are known to be the most superstitious of all baseball players. So much so, that the non-pitchers think they are all crazy. The funny thing about baseball superstition is they can arise at anytime based on good or bad game experience. Baseball superstitions are fascinating and is embedded deep in baseball folklore. Here are my nine top baseball superstitions. I'm using nine to go with that "superstition" theme - shake a leg! The Top 9 Baseball Superstitions 1. Not Stepping on the foul line when going on or coming off the[..]

In the last 5 years the growing popularity and use of illegal substances like steroids in major league baseball has created a public outcry and led to indictments, arrests and congressional hearings. Some have even put major league baseball on par with professional wrestling as it is now a drugged or juiced game and old, lasting records by the greats like Ruth and Hank Aaron can easily be broken by lesser athletes on steroids and have become meaningless. Just look at Barry Bonds for an example. Barry Bonds became depressed in the late 90s as new athletes like McGwire and Jose Conseco were becoming more popular for belting homeruns. Bonds was a great athlete, but he was aging and just[..]

There are a lot of great Major League Baseball teams out there that have rich histories and have basically created their own cultures.  One of these teams is the Oakland Athletics.  The Oakland Athletics are currently in the Western Division of the American League and are based in Oakland, California.  They currently play their home games in the Oakland Coliseum and have done so since 1968.  They are affectionately known as the "A's" because of the large Black A that has become a trademark of the team, and they are usually referred to as the "A's" more than they are referred to as the "Athletics".  Another nickname they have been know by is the "White Elephants" in reference to John[..]

A comparison between softball and baseball can easily be made as softball is directly descended from baseball and therefore, it contains some important similarities. Despite this fact, however, there are also several important differences. The primary reason for these differences is that softball was originally intended to be played indoors. It would be a lot easier to talk about the differences between these two, but we are here to talk about their similarities. Softball shares many similarities with baseball. It's a nine-a-side game played on a grass diamond, with a batter attempting to hit pitches and get onto base. Softball was developed as a game for women, dating back to the late[..]

There have been so many great moments in the game of baseball that to list them all would take a book in itself, maybe even several books. What follows is simply a few moments in baseball that may or may not mean something to you. Some are from long ago and others are more recent. These are in no special order. Just a few things to remind us of how great the game of baseball is and how much it has meant to the American people. In 1969 a team by the name of the New York Mets did something that nobody ever thought they would come close to doing. This team, that spent the first six years of its existence at the bottom of the National League, or close to it, finally made it to the World[..]

Commonly referred to as the 'Home of the Braves' in honor of it's tenants, Turner Field hosted it's inaugural Atlanta Braves game in April 1997. With the capability to seat more than 50,000 fans, spectators regularly pack themselves into this facility featuring a combination of vintage baseball styling and modern amenities. Speaking of amenities, Turner Field offers constant game updates via the Atlanta BravesVision video board, the PlazaVision board and more than 500 television monitors throughout. Inside the ballpark, spectators are invited to do the tomahawk chop in conjunction the 27ft. neon tomahawk, which resides atop the video board. The playing surface at Turner Field is[..]