Latest news with #BaseballHallOfFame
Fox News
21 minutes ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Smoltz: If Shohei Ohtani Only Pitched, 'He'd be the Best Pitcher in Baseball'
John Smoltz knows pitching. He's in the Baseball Hall of Fame for making a career out of it as both a starter and a closer, and the FOX Sports' analyst made it clear how he feels about the talent of Shohei Ohtani when he's on the mound. "If all he did was pitch, he'd be the best pitcher in baseball." Smoltz was speaking to a panel of FOX Sports' analysts previewing Tuesday's 2025 MLB All-Star Game, when fellow Cooperstown inductee David Ortiz asked him about the chances of Ohtani pitching in this year's game. Smoltz does not believe he will, not while he's still ramping his way back up to his full workload following a second Tommy John surgery, but made sure to say that future All-Star games as a pitcher were a lock for Ohtani. "Shohei Ohtani is…I can't say enough, there's no words to describe it," Smoltz told the panel. "I said this three years ago, and people thought I'd lost my mind. It's a hypothetical, but if he never hits, and he pitches one year and all he does is pitch, he'd be the best pitcher in baseball. Without a doubt, I don't have any reservations, I don't have any what ifs." To back up Smoltz's assertion here, we have Ohtani's career where he's worked exclusively as a hitter. The 2024 season saw Ohtani, who did not pitch at all due to the aforementioned Tommy John procedure at the end of 2023, go on to hit an NL-leading 54 home runs – a career-high – while stealing 59 bases. Ohtani led the majors in total bases with 411, produced over nine wins above replacement exclusively as a hitter and led the NL in on-base percentage (.390), slugging (.646), OPS (.988) and OPS+ (174), too. Smoltz is simply applying the same reasoning in the other direction: Ohtani's skill is such that, given the opportunity to do just one thing instead of two, he becomes the greatest around at that one thing. "If all he did was pitch, which he'll never do, he'd be the best pitcher in baseball," Smoltz continued. "That just tells you what you need to know about his athleticism, how good of a feel he has, and he can not only hit, but he can pitch." As Smoltz said, it's unlikely that we'll ever get to find out if it's true. But given what we do know about Ohtani, it follows some clearly defined logic. Luckily, we get to watch him do both, and don't have to choose either way – he might be the best in the game if he did one thing, but there's nothing wrong with being one of the best at multiple things, either. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Longtime Cubs star, Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg dies after cancer battle
Longtime Chicago Cubs star and Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg died on Monday, the team announced. He was 65. Sandberg died due to complications with cancer, something he was diagnosed with twice in 2024. He first revealed last January that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. Sandberg fended it off initially and said about eight months later that he was cancer-free. In December, however, Sandberg announced that it had spread to other organs in his body. That led him to undergo 'more intensive treatment.' Sandberg spent nearly all of his career in the league with the Cubs. After a 13-game stint with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981, Sandberg then spent the next 15 seasons with the Cubs before he retired after the 1997 campaign. He made 10 straight All-Star appearances starting in 1984, which was the same year he won NL MVP honors while leading the league in both triples and runs scored. Sandberg won seven Silver Slugger awards and nine Gold Gloves throughout his career. He led the NL with 40 home runs during the 1990 season, too, which is the same year he won the Home Run Derby at Wrigley Field. Sandberg rarely missed time, either. He played in at least 115 games in all but one of his seasons with the Cubs, and he surpassed 150 games in all but four seasons. Sandberg was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, and the cubs retired his number that year, too. Last season, the Cubs officially unveiled a statue outside of Wrigley Field honoring Sandberg. Sandberg, who the Phillies took in the 20th round of the 1978 MLB Draft, grew up in Spokane, Washington. After his playing career ended, Sandberg spent time coaching with both the Cubs and Phillies organizations before he took over as the Phillies manager in 2013. He spent three seasons with the team, but resigned during the 2015 campaign. He finished with a 119-159 record as a manager, and only completed one full season. This post will be updated with more information shortly.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Cubs icon, Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg dies at 65 years old
Ryne Sandberg, an iconic player for generations of Chicago Cubs fans and a distinguished member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, died Monday at the age of 65 from metastatic prostate cancer, the team announced. Sandberg passed away at his home, surrounded by his family, the Cubs shared. The loss will be felt deeply around Wrigley Field, where Sandberg's No. 23 jersey is retired and his image is immortalized with a statue outside the legendary ballpark. With great sadness, we share that Ryne Sandberg has passed away today. — Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 29, 2025 Often called 'Ryno,' Sandberg turned himself into one of the best second basemen the game has ever seen. With an unassuming demeanor and a consistent work ethic, he earned seven Silver Sluggers and nine Gold Gloves. His all-around skills and steady production led to 10 consecutive All-Star selections, every season between 1984 and 1993. Advertisement In Chicago, a city obsessed with sports, Sandberg approached a level of superstardom that at the time placed him among luminaries such as Michael Jordan and Walter Payton. Though Sandberg was never part of the kind of dynasty that Jordan built for the Bulls, or a team as dominant as the '85 Bears surrounding Payton, Sandberg elevated the Wrigleyville experience to new heights. Sandberg became a face of the franchise as Harry Caray vividly described the scene for the WGN superstation and the organization installed lights for night games at Wrigley Field. That momentum helped transform the neighborhood and preserve the classic ballpark, cementing it as a destination for both tourists and baseball aficionados. The spotlight found Sandberg, who preferred to do his job quietly and focus on the team rather than individual achievements. He carried the Cubs during his National League MVP campaign in 1984 and remained a constant during some lean years. The franchise's championship drought, which would last for more than a century, limited Sandberg to only two postseason appearances in 1984 and 1989. In those 10 playoff games combined, he batted .385 with a 1.098 OPS, showing the sense of calm and competitiveness that endeared him to longtime teammates. 'We know he's getting called up to the real big leagues,' said Bob Dernier, who with Sandberg once formed what Caray dubbed the 'Daily Double' at the top of Chicago's lineup. 'I love him like a brother.' Born and raised in Spokane, Washington, Sandberg developed into an outstanding multisport athlete. Recruited by several major college football programs, he signed a letter of intent to stay close to home and play quarterback at Washington State before choosing baseball as his professional pursuit. The Philadelphia Phillies selected Sandberg out of high school in the 20th round of the 1978 draft. He rose steadily through Philadelphia's farm system, but he didn't do much as a September call-up in 1981. Dallas Green, the ex-Phillies manager hired by Tribune Co. to run the Cubs' front office, saw an opportunity. Advertisement Green, a World Series-winning manager in Philadelphia, insisted that Sandberg be included in the Iván de Jesús-for-Larry Bowa trade. That deal went down in January 1982, changing the trajectory of a franchise that would watch Sandberg put up nearly all of his career statistics in a Cubs uniform. That impressive body of work — 2,386 hits, 282 home runs, a .285 career batting average, seven seasons with at least 100 runs scored, 12 seasons with double-digit stolen bases — made Sandberg part of the Hall of Fame's 2005 class. 'If I had ever allowed myself to think this was possible, if I had ever taken one day in pro ball for granted, I'm sure I would not be here today,' Sandberg said during his Cooperstown induction speech. 'The reason I am here, they tell me, is that I played the game a certain way, that I played the game the way it was supposed to be played. I don't know about that, but I do know this: I had too much respect for the game to play it any other way. 'I was taught you never, ever disrespect your opponent or your teammates or your organization or your manager — and never, ever your uniform. Make a great play, act like you've done it before. Get a big hit, look for the third-base coach and get ready to run the bases. Hit a home run, put your head down, drop the bat, run around the bases. Because the name on the front is a lot more important than the name on the back.' Sandberg's speech resonated so much that the Hall of Fame chairman, Jane Forbes Clark, quoted it during this summer's induction ceremony, when word of his condition had already begun to spread within the baseball community. 'There is not a man seated behind me this afternoon who didn't play the game the same way Ryno did,' Clark said July 27. 'It is that respect, character, sportsmanship, integrity and excellence that leads to just 1 percent of those who have ever played Major League Baseball to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.' Advertisement That attitude fueled Sandberg's desire to become a major-league manager and help shape the next generation of players. When Cubs officials did not immediately embrace this idea, he made an unheard-of career move. He began managing the club's Class-A Peoria affiliate in 2007, climbing the ladder to Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa over the next three years. Sensing the next opportunity would not come in Chicago, Sandberg made the lateral move to manage Philadelphia's Triple-A affiliate in 2011. By 2013, the Phillies had installed him as a third-base coach and then the interim manager. His understated style as a player and an instructor in the minors did not translate well in Philadelphia. That rocky tenure ended when he resigned in the middle of the 2015 season with an overall 119-159 record. That timing pulled Sandberg back into the Cubs' orbit as a team determined to make history marched toward the 2016 World Series. Being around that epic celebration mattered to Sandberg and other former players who envisioned what it would be like when the Cubs finally won it all. A devoted grandfather, Sandberg maintained a home on Chicago's suburban North Shore, so that he could stay close to family and be a regular presence at Wrigley Field as an ambassador for the Cubs. He disclosed publicly in January 2024 that he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. That reveal coincided with the team's statue plans and the 40th anniversary of 'The Sandberg Game.' Those moments on national TV catapulted Sandberg, who went 5-for-6 with two late home runs off Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter in a wild 12-11 comeback victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. That performance put him on the map. A post shared by Ryne Sandberg (@rynesandberg23) While guarded as a player, Sandberg opened up more during that cancer scare, sharing health updates on Instagram and welcoming the support. He had a different perspective than the second baseman with flip sunglasses and a pullover V-neck jersey, frozen in a defensive crouch. 'I've learned about the people in my life,' Sandberg said the day the Cubs unveiled his statue. 'From my family to my friends to my neighbors to my teammates to the Cubs fans, it's all about the relationships that I have with people. And there's a lot of them, so it's just a reflection on that. To see everybody here today, that's kind of what I'm talking about – how special it is. I've felt it.' Advertisement Sandberg's condition recently seemed to worsen. During the All-Star break in mid-July, his Instagram account shared an ominous message that thanked fans for their support. 'It's been a challenging few months as I have been going through treatment on a regular basis,' Sandberg posted. 'While I am continuing to fight, I'm looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends. 'I haven't been to Wrigley Field as much as I hoped in the first half but I'm watching every game and am excited for the second half and to see Wrigley rocking like 1984!' Cubs legends Jon Lester and Kerry Wood wore throwback Sandberg jerseys during that first series out of the All-Star break. Lester and Wood were part of the festivities for a marquee series featuring the Boston Red Sox at the Friendly Confines. During the July 20 game against the Red Sox, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer joined the Marquee Sports Network broadcast. Sitting in the TV booth at Wrigley Field's highest level, Hoyer looked out at the picturesque scene and gave a shout-out to Sandberg. The energetic crowd of 40,433, the modern trappings of a classically renovated ballpark and the parties on rooftop buildings don't just automatically happen. 'I know Ryno watches our games,' Hoyer said. 'On behalf of everyone, I just want to say a really heartfelt thank you. This atmosphere is so incredible right now. You look out on all these people and all this excitement. I think the '84 Cubs and Ryne Sandberg started all of that. Day baseball, WGN and Ryne Sandberg. That's how this fervor got going. That's how this national fan base got going. He was a superhero in this city. 'I can't imagine a person handling their fame better, their responsibility for a city better than he did. All of us just owe him a debt of gratitude for creating this, and creating all those memories.'
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Japan's Ichiro Suzuki paved way for generation of players
Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners, 2019. Photo: ICHIRO OHARA / AFP Ichiro Suzuki, a remarkable hitter with dazzling speed and arm strength, not only broke stereotypes during a career played across two continents but also blazed a trail for a generation of Japanese-born players in Major League Baseball. Suzuki, who proved his abilities despite starting his MLB journey at a relatively advanced age, became the first Japanese-born player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, on Sunday. Arriving from the Orix BlueWave of the Pacific League in Nippon Professional Baseball as a 27-year-old major league rookie with the Seattle Mariners, Ichiro wasted no time showing that his talent and determination translated on MLB diamonds. The slender Ichiro, with an unorthodox high leg kick to time his swing in the batter's box, turned routine ground balls into short infield singles with his speed down the line and made baserunners cautious with his strong arm in right field. Suzuki announced himself with an electric 2001 season in which he hit .350 to win the batting title with a rookie record 242 hits while swiping a league-leading 56 bases in sweeping Rookie of the Year and American League MVP honors. The batting title/stolen base double had last been achieved in 1949 by fabled trailblazer Jackie Robinson, the man who broke the color barrier as MLB's first African American player. Suzuki, who had won seven batting titles in a row and three straight Pacific League MVP awards in Japan, was just getting warmed up in the majors and quickly became a household name in Seattle. Following a strict daily practice routine and stretching regimen, Suzuki was a model of high level consistency during a 19-year MLB career that also included stops with the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins. He went on to post a record 10 consecutive seasons of at least 200 hits, reaching his zenith in 2004 when he stroked 262 hits to break an 84-year-old major league record set by George Sisler as he claimed another batting title with a .372 average. Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki batting in 2009. Photo: Bob Stanton/Icon SMI / PHOTOSPORT By the time he retired, Suzuki was a 10-times MLB All-Star who held the record for the most hits by a professional baseball player, including his time in Japan, with 4,367. Including his 1,278 hits for Orix in Japan, the claim has been made that with his major league hits total, Ichiro has surpassed the late Pete Rose, who is MLB's career hits leader with 4,256. "He's a guy who comes around once in a lifetime," Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, who was a teammate of Suzuki's when the Japanese outfielder played with the Yankees from 2012 to 2014, once said. "No one's ever seen anybody like him. And to be quite honest, we probably won't see anybody like him again." Suzuki, who during his career smashed the perception that only Japanese pitchers were good enough to excel in MLB, not only inspired a generation of players but also prompted clubs to more aggressively scout and sign hitters from Japan. His rise to stardom while playing in MLB opened the door for fellow Japanese hitters like Hideki Matsuyama while current Los Angeles Dodgers two-way standout Shohei Ohtani has also referenced him as an inspiration. "Growing up, Ichiro was for me the way that I think some kids, some people, look at me today," Ohtani told GQ magazine in 2023. "Like I'm a different species. Larger than life. He was a superstar in Japan. He had this charisma about him." -Reuters
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'About damn time': Dave Parker's emotional poem read by son at Hall of Fame induction
Dave Parker did not make it to have his day in Cooperstown, dying from Parkinson's disease on June 28, exactly one month before the Baseball Hall of Fame was set to induct the Cobra along with four other players. Yet Parker, who was 74, seemed to sense this day was coming, and penned a poem that his son, David Parker II, read to the assembled throng at Cooperstown July 28. It was equal parts defiant and reflective, braggadocious and appreciative and, for Pittsburgh, a balm. Parker played 19 major league seasons, the first 11 with the Pirates, helping them win the 1979 World Series. He went on to the Cincinnati Reds, won another title in Oakland and finished with one season in Milwaukee. Yet Parker proclaimed "I'm a Pirate for Bucs on my heart." Dave Parker poem Here's the full text of his son's reading: Here I am, 39. About damn time. I know I had to wait a little, but that's what you do with fine aged wine. I'm a Pirate for life. Wouldn't have it no other way. That was my family, even though I didn't go on Parade Day. I love y'all, the Bucs on my heart because those two championships I got, y'all played in the first part. I'm in the Hall now, you can't take that away. That statue better look good -- you know I got a pretty face. Top-tier athlete, fashion icon, sex symbol. No reason to list the rest of my credentials. I'm him, period. The Cobra. Known for my rocket arm, and I will run any catcher over. To my friends, families: I love y'all. Thanks for staying by my side. I told y'all Cooperstown would be my last ride.'' Dave Parker induction Parker hit 339 home runs and was a seven-time All-Star. He failed to garner the required 75% support on ballots submitted by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, peaking at 24.5% in 1998. He also failed to earn any votes in his first two appearances on a veteran's committee ballot in 2014 and 2018, but earned 43.8% in 2020 and was named on 14 of 16 ballots in December 2024, enough for enshrinement. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dave Parker Hall of Fame induction: Son reads late father's poem
