Latest news with #WorldBaseballClassic
New York Post
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Chipper Jones honors Ozzy Osbourne, says he'll ‘forever be linked' to ‘Crazy Train' singer
Braves legend Chipper Jones shared a heartwarming message about the late rock icon Ozzy Osbourne, who died Tuesday at the age of 76. 'Saddened to hear of the passing of Ozzy Osbourne today. Jones wrote on X. 'I feel Ozzy and I will forever be linked due to his song, 'Crazy Train'!' 3 Late rock icon Ozzy Osbourne. Juan Rico / BACKGRID 3 Braves legend Chipper Jones talks to media at World Baseball Classic training. Charles Wenzelberg Jones used Osbourne's iconic song 'Crazy Train' as his walk-up tune during his career, which led to one funny interaction with Mets catching legend Mike Piazza. Jones remembered the exchange between the Baseball Hall of Famers. 'Facing the Mets at home….I walk to the plate and say 'Hey Mike [Piazza], how's it going?' He says, 'I'm doing fine Larry, but I hate this f–king song!' I said ' Well, get ready cuz ur gonna hear about 5 times today!' Pretty funny' Jones tormented the Mets in his career with 49 homers and a .949 OPS across 245 games. And with the passing of the legendary rocker, Jones was not the only sports figure to post a tribute to the late Black Sabbath singer. 3 Chipper Jones hits an RBI in 2003. New York Post The Patriots also posted to X about Osbourne after the franchise used 'Crazy Train' for two decades. 'The New England Patriots are saddened to learn of the passing of music legend Ozzy Osbourne, who provided the iconic intro for Patriots games for over 20 years,' the statement read. 'Condolences to his family and all who mourn his loss.' Osbourne once played 'Crazy Train' live at Gillette Stadium to open the 2005 Patriots' season after the team won back-to-back Super Bowls. In 1984, Osbourne was arrested in St. Louis while wearing a Blues jersey, which led the NHL team to pay tribute on Tuesday. 'St. Louis loves you, Ozzy. RIP,' the Blues wrote on X.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Red Sox Pitcher Who Returned to MLB After 7-Year Layoff Suddenly Retires
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Daniel Bard's latest attempt to return to Major League Baseball might have seemed far-fetched for some. The 40-year-old right-hander has faced longer odds before. Bard, forced out of MLB for seven years when a case of "the yips" derailed his career in 2013, made it back to the majors with the Colorado Rockies in 2017. Not only did Bard make it back, he spent the better part of the 2021 and 2022 seasons as the Rockies' closer. More news: Former MLB All-Star Announces Sudden Retirement, Aborting Comeback Bid After signing a minor league contract with Seattle in June, Bard was pitching for the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate this month when he decided to retire — a move that became official Friday, according to his minor league transactions page. Bard retires with a career record of 31-35 and a 3.74 ERA in 408 career games with the Boston Red Sox (2009-13) and Rockies (2020-23). He recorded 66 saves in his career. Pitcher Daniel Bard #52 of Team USA poses for a portrait ahead of the World Baseball Classic at Papago Park Sports Complex on March 07, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Pitcher Daniel Bard #52 of Team USA poses for a portrait ahead of the World Baseball Classic at Papago Park Sports Complex on March 07, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo byMore to come on this story from Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Cubs President Gives Three-Word Response Regarding Prospects
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Chicago Cubs are in prime position to make a run to the World Series for the first time since 2016. Chicago entered Friday 57-39, good for the second-best record in the National League and third best in all of baseball. The excellent start to the season means the Cubs will be buyers at this season's trade deadline. With that comes the loss of prospects. Team president Jed Hoyer was asked about the possibility of holding onto any key prospects and his response to that was rather short. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 01: Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer speaks to the media during a press conference at Wrigley Field on October 01, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 01: Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer speaks to the media during a press conference at Wrigley Field on October 01, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois."No one's untouchable," Hoyer told reporters in a video posted to X by Marquee Sports Network. "At the same time though, we have really great prospects, and we'd have to feel like we're getting great value." Chicago indeed does have great prospects, as it has five on MLB's top 100 prospect list. Those five are No. 41 Owen Caissie, No. 51 Moises Ballesteros, No. 62 Jefferson Rojas, No. 84 Kevin Alcantara and No. 100 Jaxon was the most recent addition to the list, as he was added on Tuesday. After the graduation of Matt Shaw from the Cubs prospect list, Caissie is now the top prospect in the organization and it's for good reason. He is showing out at Triple-A with a .278 average, 19 home runs, 20 doubles, 42 RBIs and a .961 OPS. Combine those stats with his performance in the 2023 World Baseball Classic with Team Canada and you have an outstanding, young outfielder. Owen Caissie carries the momentum from his hot season into the Futures Game! The @Cubs' No. 1 prospect, who has a .961 OPS at Triple-A, laces an RBI double for the National League. Watch LIVE: — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 12, 2025 Ballesteros and Alcantara have both reached the major leagues in their young careers, Rojas has yet to appear in Double-A and Wiggins is currently in Double-A. Whether it is Caissie or any of the other prospects listed above, Chicago's front office will certainly have a tough pill to swallow when deciding which of its top prospects to include in trades. More MLB: Mariners Predicted To Reunite With Former Slugger At Trade Deadline
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Ballers outfielder Lou Helmig represents deep baseball history in Germany
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — In the quiet dugout hours before first pitch, as a few teammates begin their pregame routines on the nearby grass, Lou Helmig pauses and ponders his baseball lineage. He holds a bat in his hand. It always seems he has a bat in hand, ready. Helmig also carries a deep family history with every swing and every catch, with every sprint around the basepaths. He has carried it at every level, in every new place he plays, on whatever continent it happens to be in a given moment. The larger-than-life right fielder for the independent Oakland Ballers is a third-generation German professional player trying to leave his own mark, just like his grandfather Claus, great-uncle Jurgen, and Helmig's own dad, Martin, before him. 'I come from a baseball family, third-generation professional baseball player and I've got to make a name for myself first,' he said. 'I've got to follow up the name. I love playing baseball, I love everything about it and I think it's the best job in the world that you can have being out here in the sunshine having an amazing day.' And people love to root for him. Like many of the Ballers, Helmig needed a fresh start, someone to believe in him again — and Oakland is thrilled he landed here to find it. He represented Germany in this year's World Baseball Classic qualifiers and played for the Phillies' Florida Coast League rookie-level club in 2022 and '23. At 6-foot-5, the slugging outfielder is already a beloved face inside Raimondi Park, a huge hit with fans starved for a star to grab onto after the Oakland Athletics' heartbreaking departure this year for West Sacramento. Some have been sporting lederhosen as a thoughtful nod to Helmig's native Bavaria in Germany. The 22-year-old Helmig loves seeing German flags waving in the stands. What many might not know is that his baseball pedigree dates back to pre-World War II-era Germany. Helmig's grandfather and great-uncle became the first German-born players to sign with a major league club when they joined the Orioles in 1955. But that meant playing in the Negro Leagues when Germans weren't always warmly welcomed in the U.S. 'After his playing career was over, he started bringing the game to Germany and to a lot of places. He was working with the Army bases which were still in Germany at that time,' Helmig shared. 'He was also a distributor of baseball equipment and American sports equipment during that time to spread the game all over Germany.' Father Martin played baseball, too, and still likes to chat with his son regularly about the games from across the world. 'I don't know anything else besides baseball,' the youngest Helmig said. 'My grandpa and my dad, you can change the subject on them but after five minutes it will come to baseball somehow.' With a name inspired by Lou Gehrig, he has played on five continents and speaks three languages. Baseball has taken him all over Europe, to the Netherlands, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, and also to Asia, Mexico, Panama, Dominican Republic, Colombia, South Africa, Australia. 'Quite a lot of places already,' he said, easily listing off all of the stops. This one has already been memorable. Just last week Helmig helped the second-year franchise clinch a Pioneer League playoff spot with the tying and go-ahead singles in the sixth and eighth innings of a 6-5 win over the Rocky Mountain Vibes on July 10. 'Lou's brought a great addition to the Ballers, just the personality, everything about him. He brings great energy to the field every day,' catcher Dillon Tatum said. 'I love his personality, that's what I love most about him. Same dude every day. Love him to death and glad to have him. It's amazing, Helmig family.' They hope to keep him all season. While players affiliated with major league clubs and in those teams' farm systems have processes in place with customs and immigration to secure work visas for athletes, the Pioneer League doesn't. But Helmig, Oakland's second-youngest player who was released by the Phillies in April 2024, still had an active visa from his recent stint with the Fargo, North Dakota, RedHawks team. Ballers assistant general manager Tyler Petersen is a German-American and loves the energy in the ballpark and support surrounding Helmig. 'It's a little bit of fun for me personally of course,' Petersen said. 'He has the tools, he's got the makeup. It's the same question we ask with all our athletes, can they put it together, can they show off to scouts to say either I deserve my next chance or my first chance? For him what was it that the Phillies gave up on him for? What can he show in this league? So what is the next step for him to make the jump back to the affiliate level, because he can play at the affiliate level. We love having him.' Just as the fans learn about Helmig, he has been educated on Oakland's sports history, too, like how the city lost its three major sports teams — the NFL's Raiders, the Golden State Warriors moving to San Francisco and then the A's, who plan to move to Las Vegas in 2028. So he quickly understood how much the Ballers fill a void for this baseball-crazed city. 'When I came here they told me everything about it. They gave me some history lessons in that,' he said of the loyal fan group called Last Dive Bar. 'I love this place, I love this setup. People here take really good care of me.' Always with him is the reminder of a family responsibility, and Helmig embraces it. 'It means a lot to me. I've still got to make a name for myself. I've got to be humble, keep going and keep working hard,' he said. 'I think about my grandpa a lot, too, obviously because he played the game I love, so it's always in the back of my head.' ___ AP MLB:
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ballers outfielder Lou Helmig represents deep baseball history in Germany
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — In the quiet dugout hours before first pitch, as a few teammates begin their pregame routines on the nearby grass, Lou Helmig pauses and ponders his baseball lineage. He holds a bat in his hand. It always seems he has a bat in hand, ready. Helmig also carries a deep family history with every swing and every catch, with every sprint around the basepaths. He has carried it at every level, in every new place he plays, on whatever continent it happens to be in a given moment. The larger-than-life right fielder for the independent Oakland Ballers is a third-generation German professional player trying to leave his own mark, just like his grandfather Claus, great-uncle Jurgen, and Helmig's own dad, Martin, before him. 'I come from a baseball family, third-generation professional baseball player and I've got to make a name for myself first,' he said. 'I've got to follow up the name. I love playing baseball, I love everything about it and I think it's the best job in the world that you can have being out here in the sunshine having an amazing day.' And people love to root for him. Like many of the Ballers, Helmig needed a fresh start, someone to believe in him again — and Oakland is thrilled he landed here to find it. He represented Germany in this year's World Baseball Classic qualifiers and played for the Phillies' Florida Coast League rookie-level club in 2022 and '23. At 6-foot-5, the slugging outfielder is already a beloved face inside Raimondi Park, a huge hit with fans starved for a star to grab onto after the Oakland Athletics' heartbreaking departure this year for West Sacramento. Some have been sporting lederhosen as a thoughtful nod to Helmig's native Bavaria in Germany. The 22-year-old Helmig loves seeing German flags waving in the stands. What many might not know is that his baseball pedigree dates back to pre-World War II-era Germany. Helmig's grandfather and great-uncle became the first German-born players to sign with a major league club when they joined the Orioles in 1955. But that meant playing in the Negro Leagues when Germans weren't always warmly welcomed in the U.S. 'After his playing career was over, he started bringing the game to Germany and to a lot of places. He was working with the Army bases which were still in Germany at that time,' Helmig shared. 'He was also a distributor of baseball equipment and American sports equipment during that time to spread the game all over Germany.' Father Martin played baseball, too, and still likes to chat with his son regularly about the games from across the world. 'I don't know anything else besides baseball,' the youngest Helmig said. 'My grandpa and my dad, you can change the subject on them but after five minutes it will come to baseball somehow.' With a name inspired by Lou Gehrig, he has played on five continents and speaks three languages. Baseball has taken him all over Europe, to the Netherlands, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, and also to Asia, Mexico, Panama, Dominican Republic, Colombia, South Africa, Australia. 'Quite a lot of places already,' he said, easily listing off all of the stops. This one has already been memorable. Just last week Helmig helped the second-year franchise clinch a Pioneer League playoff spot with the tying and go-ahead singles in the sixth and eighth innings of a 6-5 win over the Rocky Mountain Vibes on July 10. 'Lou's brought a great addition to the Ballers, just the personality, everything about him. He brings great energy to the field every day,' catcher Dillon Tatum said. 'I love his personality, that's what I love most about him. Same dude every day. Love him to death and glad to have him. It's amazing, Helmig family.' They hope to keep him all season. While players affiliated with major league clubs and in those teams' farm systems have processes in place with customs and immigration to secure work visas for athletes, the Pioneer League doesn't. But Helmig, Oakland's second-youngest player who was released by the Phillies in April 2024, still had an active visa from his recent stint with the Fargo, North Dakota, RedHawks team. Ballers assistant general manager Tyler Petersen is a German-American and loves the energy in the ballpark and support surrounding Helmig. 'It's a little bit of fun for me personally of course,' Petersen said. 'He has the tools, he's got the makeup. It's the same question we ask with all our athletes, can they put it together, can they show off to scouts to say either I deserve my next chance or my first chance? For him what was it that the Phillies gave up on him for? What can he show in this league? So what is the next step for him to make the jump back to the affiliate level, because he can play at the affiliate level. We love having him.' Just as the fans learn about Helmig, he has been educated on Oakland's sports history, too, like how the city lost its three major sports teams — the NFL's Raiders, the Golden State Warriors moving to San Francisco and then the A's, who plan to move to Las Vegas in 2028. So he quickly understood how much the Ballers fill a void for this baseball-crazed city. 'When I came here they told me everything about it. They gave me some history lessons in that,' he said of the loyal fan group called Last Dive Bar. 'I love this place, I love this setup. People here take really good care of me.' Always with him is the reminder of a family responsibility, and Helmig embraces it. 'It means a lot to me. I've still got to make a name for myself. I've got to be humble, keep going and keep working hard,' he said. 'I think about my grandpa a lot, too, obviously because he played the game I love, so it's always in the back of my head.' ___ AP MLB:
