The Season That Was...May

With an exciting start to the baseball season in the rearview mirror...May brought just as much electricity as April. And I'm not just saying that because some dude I know put out a book.

One of The Hall's favorite players, Jamie Moyer, became the oldest pitcher in Major League history to throw a complete game shutout on May 7. Baseball's elder statesman was 47 years, 170 days when he beat the Atlanta Braves at (Senior) Citizens Bank Park.

See what I did there?

With the win, he also became the first pitcher to pitch complete game shutouts in four different decades.

On Mothers Day, with his grandmother in the stands, Oakland's Dallas Braden threw the season's first perfect game. Earlier in the season, the Michael Rappaport lookalike became an ESPN staple when he shouted down Alex Rodriguez for crossing his mound.

The HOVG Mid-Season Report

So here we are, folks…the All-Star break. What have we learned?

The Yankees, with their league-best 56-32 record are dominating their opponents. Home runs are making headlines night after night and big league umpires need, according to many fans…better glasses.

Now while you’re bound to come across plenty of first half re-caps, here are ten milestones (or stories) that The Hall of Very Good has found of particular interest.


Jason Heyward Hits Home Run in Major League Debut
With one swing of the bat, Atlanta Braves super rookie did something only 104 players had done prior to Opening Day 2010…ht a home run in his first at bat. Within weeks, three more players joined him…most notably was what Boston rookie Daniel Nava pulled off.


Mike Leake Skips Minors…Debuts in Reds Rotation
While most of the baseball world was applauding the debut of Jason Heyward and counting down the moments until Stephen Strasburg took the hill for the first time…Cincinnati starter Mike Leake was busy not playing in the Minors and taking his act to the pros, winning his first five starts in the process.


No-Hitters, Perfect and Notso Perfect Games
If one more person calls 2010 the “Year of the Pitcher” I’m going to vomit. So here we are…living in the Year of the Pitcher! Never before have we seen two perfect games (Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay), two no-hitters (Ubaldo Jimenez and Edwin Jackson) and whatever you call what Armando Galarraga pulled off…all before the All-Star break! I’m almost afraid to see what the second half of the season has in store for us.


Matt Stairs…Professional Hitter
My fascination with Matt Stairs started in his first season in the Minors…1989. More than 20 years and a Major League best 20 pinch hit home runs later…Stairs is still swinging for the fences. Matter of fact, he’s done so for more teams (11) than anyone else out there today.


Junior Retires
Fifth on the all-time home run list with 630 career bombs, "The Kid" was regarded as one of the game's premier players throughout the 1990s, nabbing ten straight Gold Gloves while playing with Seattle and being elected to start eleven straight All-Star Games. Quietly, he called it quits June 2 and made the 2016 Hall of Fame induction an easy day to schedule.


Stephen Strasburg Makes His Historic Debut
What can be written about Stephen Strasburg that hasn’t been written before? How about the fact that dude sold more jerseys (78,000) in June than any Washington National has in their history? Oh…a big thanks to those who have found The Hall while Googling “Stephen Strasburg shoe size”.


Home Run Milestones Aplenty!
Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Scott Rolen all reached the 300 home run plateau for their careers. Not to be outdone, Andruw Jones hit his 400th. The next big home run milestone on the docket? Alex Rodriguez is a mere three longballs from 600.


Jamie Moyer Becomes Home Run King
And speaking of home runs…did you hear the one about Jamie Moyer becoming the all-time leader in home runs by a pitcher. Last month, Moyer served up home run number 506 and later this month…he’ll get his AARP card. You know…because he’s old. ZING!


Jon Adkins Sets Save Record
Sure, it’s not a Major League milestone…but it IS a milestone. Good friend of The Hall, closer Jon Adkins became the all-time saves leader for the Cincinnati Red Triple-A affiliate Louisville Bats back in June. Unfortunately, Adkins won’t be able to add to his career total…the Reds released the pitcher on the eve of the Major League All-Star break Sunday night.


Goodbye, Old Friends
In a season full of memorable debuts…we’ve also seen our fair share of departures. In May, the baseball world lost both Ernie Harwell and Jose Lima. And right before the All-Star break, longtime Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard passed. But in what will be regarded as one of the top sports/news stories of the year…Yankees owner George Steinbrenner succumbed to a heart attack early Tuesday morning.


To put a cap on the first half of the baseball season, Gar Ryness, better known as Batting Stance Guy was at the All-Star Game in Anaheim Tuesday night and ran into “reputable reporter” Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.

Here’s their round up of the 2010 season so far.

Ernie Harwell Signs Off

92 year-old Ernie Harwell succumbed to bile duct cancer Tuesday at his home in Novi, Michigan with his wife Lulu by his side. Now, I apologize for not being a little more creative with my lead, but a lot is going to be written about the passing of Harwell and, frankly, it should.

You're going to read headlines about "the voice of the Tigers" being "silenced" or as I put it in my headline..."signing off".

You see, Harwell was a lot of things to a lot of different people. He was a broadcaster, a Hall of Famer...a legend. He did, as one writer I stumbled upon tonight "painted pictures for the fans".

But also, he was, apparently, a "good guy".

No, seriously...my Grandfather told me that once and he didn't come to that conclusion via Facebook, Twitter or even by watching old Tigers broadcasts.

He went fishing with the man.

Probably 15 years ago, my Grandfather had a chance to go fishing with Harwell through a friend of his from church...former Major Leaguer Andy McGaffigan.

Shortly after I got a letter in the mail.

It simply said: "Went fishing with Ernie Harwell. Good guy. Grandpa"

I immediately called him and grilled him about his meeting with the legendary broadcaster.

I asked him up and down about what they talked about...hoping that the stories I would have wanted to hear were shared to my Grandfather that day in McGaffigan's boat.

I was told they talked fishing and church...that was it.

It does make sense though, considering that the last thing I want to talk about when I am out spending a relaxing weekend with friends is work. But still...you have to wonder about the stories that could have been told.

A lot is going to be said about Harwell now that he's gone, but regardless of how many tributes are aired on TV and radio or pop up in print or on the internet...I'll know him simply as a "good guy".

My Grandfather said so.

Ernie Harwell is a good guy

Aparently Ernie Harwell is a "good guy".

No, seriously...my Grandfather told me that once and he didn't come to that conclusion via Facebook, Twitter or even by watching old Tigers broadcasts.

He went fishing with the man.

Probably 15 years ago, my Grandfather had a chance to go fishing with Harwell through a friend of his from church...former Major Leaguer Andy McGaffigan. Shortly after I got a letter in the mail.

It simply said: "Went fishing with Ernie Harwell. Good guy. Grandpa"

I immediately called him and grilled him about his meeting with the Hall of Fame broadcaster. I asked him up and down about what they talked about...hoping that the stories I would have wanted to hear were shared to my Grandfather that day in McGaffigan's boat.

I was told they talked fishing and church...that was it.

It does make sense though considering that the last thing I want to talk about when I am out spending a relaxing weekend with friends is work. But still...you have to wonder about the stories that could have been told.

Check out the story on Harwell's current battle over at MLB.com. But better yet, do yourself a favor and read J. Ellet Lambie's account of when he met the legend and know that regardless of how this latest chapter plays out...Ernie's a good guy.

My Grandfather said so.