Random Baseball Facts, Part 2
Since yesterday's list was so much fun to compile, I decided to gather some more facts. Here you go.1. The Milwaukee Brewers was the only franchise to switch leagues. When they played in the American League from 1970 until 1997. They've been in the National League ever since.
2. The Florida Marlins have never lost a playoff series. They won the World Series in 1997 and 2003. Outside of those two seasons, they've never made the playoffs.
3. The Houston Astros were originally called the Houston Colt .45s.
4. No pitcher has ever thrown a no-hitter for the New York Mets. Nolan Ryan, who came up with the Mets, threw seven no-hitters in his career.
5. The Toronto Blue Jays are the only team outside of the United States to win the World Series. They were World Series champions in 1992 and 1993.
6. A pitcher's earned run average (ERA) is calculated by dividing his number of earned runs allowed by his total number of innings pitched, then multiplying that number by nine.
7. The San Francisco Giants won 103 games in 1993 and did not make the playoffs. The Atlanta Braves won 104 to claim the division title.
8. California has more Major League Baseball teams than any other state. The San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants call California home.
9. The Dodgers won only one World Series while playing in Brooklyn (1955).
10. Boston's Fenway Park is the oldest active park in the Major Leagues. It was built in 1912.
So you were scouted? That's fantastic! Any photos of you on the mound? I'd love to see those on Humzoo.
When I was a junior at Western Illinois University (1966) "Brownie" (Ellsworth Brown, the scout) told me that after my senior year we would talk contract. I didn't want baseball as my profession; I had spent several years participating in the sport and doing all the things in practice that one must do. Since baseball was not what I wanted to make a living at (salaries then weren't like today's salaries) I decided to quit baseball and didn't go out my senior year!
"Brownie" died last year at the age of 94. His age didn't slow him down from scouting, however. In 1970 he signed Bill Madlock for the Seators. In 1982 he signed Kirby Puckett for the Twins. So I guess he stayed with the Senators when they became the Twins, rather than going with the new Senators that became the Rangers.