DUTCH BORN 7 FOOTER PITCHING FOR THE TWINS -
SEVEN FOOT ONE RIGHTHANDER LOEK VAN MIL SIGNED AS A FREE AGENT BY THE MINNESOTA TWINS IS STARRING OUT OF THE BULLPEN FOR THE TWINS SINGLE A TEAM THE BELOIT SNAPPERS . NIL WOULD BE THE TALLEST PLAYER TO EVER PLAY IN THE BIG LEAGUES SHOPULD HE MAKE IT UP TO THE BIGS . ON A SIDE NOTE THE SHORTEST PLAYER IN THE AFFILIATED MINOR LEAGUES CHRIS CATES AT 5 FOOT TWO AND A HALF PLAYS SHORTSOP ON THE SAME SNAPPER'S SQUAD .
LOEK VAN MIL
7 FOOT ONE
CHRIS CATES
5'2 AND ONE HALF
CUBAN TEENAGE STAR DEFECTS - DAYAN VICIEDO WHO AT THE AGE OF 15 PLAYED IN THE CUBAN MAJOR LEAGUES , AND AT THE AGE OF 17 WAS ON THE CUBAN ROSTER FOR THE WORLD BASBEBALL CLASSIC IN 2006 , HAS DEFECTED FROM CUBA TO THE UNITED STATES . VICIEDO WAS PLAYING FOR THE CUBAN NATIONAL TEAM IN A TOURNAMENT IN PUERTO RICO LAST WEEK WHEN HE DEFECTED. THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT CALLED VICIEDO'S DEFECTION " DISHONORABLE " . UNLIKE ALOT OF CUBAN DEFECTORS WHO GOT THE CHANCE TO PLAY IN THE BIG LEAGUES VICIEDO WILL GET THE CHANCE TO ENTER AMERICAN PRO BALL AT AN EARLIER AGE .
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
KOREAN SLUGGER
SUNG-YEOP LEE
YOMIURI GIANTS LOOKS TO
REBOUND FROM AN INJURY
PLAUGED 2007 SEASON
FALLING FROM 41 HOME RUNS TO JUST 30 , AFTER LEADING THE PACK WITH FIVE HOMERUNS DURING THE WORLD BASBALL CLASSIC .
KOSUKE FUKODOME
JAPANESE STAR SIGNS WITH THE CHICAGO CUBS. FUKODOME IS SLATED TO START IN CENTERFIELD AND BAT LEADOFF FOR THE CUBBIES IN 2008 .
BASEBALLWORLDNEWS
SPONSORS INTERNET SEARCH PAGES FOR THE HOTTEST YOUNG PLAYERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TODAY . WE WILL BE MAKING THESE SEARCH PAGES AVAILABLE TO ADVERTISING SPONSOR-PARTNERS SOON . IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THESE TOP BASEBALL ROOKIES INTERNET TRAFFIC SEARCHES PLEASE EMAIL BASEBALLREPORTER@AOL.COM
JUST ADDED 6/23/2008
#1 2008 DRAFT CHOICE
TAMPA BAY RAYS
TIM BECKHAM
JAY BRUCE
DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
HUNTER PENCE
JOEY VOTTO
EVAN LONGORIA
JUSTIN UPTON
8/2008 - SPACEMAN RETURNS TO ALASKA
BILL "SPACEMAN " LEE AGE 61 , THE MODERN DAY SATCHEL PAIGE RETURNED TO ALASKA TO PITCH THE ANNUAL MIDNIGHT SUN GAME FOR THE ANCHORAGE PILOTS OF THE ALASKA SUMMER LEAGUE . THE LEAGUE IS COMPOSED OF COLLEGE PALYERS AND HAS SENT OVER 100 PLAYERS TO THE BIG LEAUGES INCLUDING HALL OF FAMERS TOM SEAVER AND DAVE WINFIELD.
THE SPACEMAN WENT SIX STRONG INNINGS OFTEN BAFFLING TOP COLLEGE HITTERS . LEE WAS THE STARTING AND LOSING PITCHER ALMOST 40 YEARS BEFORE TO A JAPANESE ALL STAR TEAM . THIS TIME HE PICKED UP THE WIN .
LEE WHO AT AGE 61 STILL PITCHES ALL OVER THE WORLD . LEE RECENTLY PITCHED FOR THE HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS (THE LAST BARNSTORMING TEAM OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY ) , IN A GAME AT DODGER STADIUM AGAINST A KOREAN ALL STAR CELEBRITY TEAM . LEE CONTINUES TO PITCH COMPETITIVELY AS WELL AS AUTHOR BOOKS ABOUT HIS BASEBALL EXPLOITS .
7/2008
U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM NAMED
THE U.S.A. BASEBALL TEAM PLAYING IN THE 2008 OLYMPICS BASEBALL EVENT HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY BOB WATSON AND OTHER COMITTEE MEMBERS.
PLAYERS SELECTED TO RPRESENT THE U.S ARE CURRENT MINOR LEAGUERS
INCLUDING MIKE KOPLOVE , TERRY TIFFEE , MIKE HESSMAN , JOHN GALL , DEXTER FOWLER , JAYSON NIX ,ALONG WITH OTHER AAA AND AA ALLSTARS MOST WITH SOME MAJOR LEAGUE EXPERIENCE , AND THE ONLY COLLEGE PLAYER ON THE SQUAD SAN DIEGO STATE PITCHER STEVEN STRASSBERG WHO AT 6 FEET FIVE INCHES TALL THROWS A 98 M.P.H. FASTABALL .
THE U.S. SQUAD LED BY FORMER BIG LEAGUE PLAYER AND WORLD SERIES MANAGER DAVEY JOHNSON STARTS A SERIES OF EXHIBITION GAME AUGUST 4TH. VERSUS THE CANADIAN NATIONAL TEAM BEFORE LEAVING FOR BEJIING .
JAYSON NIX
6/16/2008
BERT SHEPARD 87 PASSES AWAY -
BERT SHEPARD , A PILOT DURING WORLD WAR TWO WHO LOST PART OF HIS LEG AFTER BEING SHOT DOWN OVER GERMANY BUT HAVING RETURNED HOME AFTER BEING HELD IN A PRISONER OF WAR CAMP TO PITCH IN ONE MAJOR LEAGUE GAME FOR THE WASHINGTON SENATORS .
HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 87 . SHEPARD IS THE ONLY BELOW THE KNEE AMPUTEE TO APPEAR IN THE BIG LEAGUES . CLARK GRIFFITH THE OWNER OF THE SENATORS WAS PERSUADED TO GIVE SHEPARD A MINOR LEAGUE PITTCER WITH THE WHITE SOX A CHANCE AT MAKING A COMEBACK AFTER HIS RETURN BACK TO THE STATES . THE WORLD WAR TWO WAR HERO ENTERED HIS ONLY GAME ONAUGUST 4TH. , 1945 WITH THE BASES LOADED AT RED SOX SLUGGER CATFISH METKOVICH COMING TO BAT . SHEPARD STRCUK OUT METKOVICH TO END THE FOUTH INNING . SHEPARD WENT ON TO FINISH THE GAME IN HIS FIRST AND ONLY BIG LEAGUE APPEARENCE . SHEPARD'S LIFE STORY WAS RECENTLY FEATURED ON FOX SPORTS NETWORKS , " AMAZING SPORTS STORIES " .
6/05/2008
YANKEES DRAFT 102 YEAR OLD PLAYER -
THE NEW YORK YANKEES TODAY DRAFTED 102 YEAR OLD EX-NEGRO LEAGUE PLAYER EMILIO NAVARRO AS PART OF THE SPECIAL DRAFT OF LIVING NEGRO LEAGUE PLAYERS WELCOMING THEM INTO THE MAJOR LEAGUE FAMILY . THE BRAINCHILD OF HALL OF FAMER DAVE WINFIELD THE DRAFT WAS HELD BEFORE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S REGULAR 2008 PLAYER DRAFT , IN ALL 29 LIVING FORMER NEGRO LEAGUE PLAYERS WERE DRAFTED .
5/27/2008 - BRUCE SIZZLES IN DEBUT
CINCINATTI REDS PROSPECT JAY BRUCE MADE HIS MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT WITH A PERFECT SHOWING AT THE PLATE GOING THREE FOR THREE WITH TWO WALKS . BRUCE'S DEBUT REMINDS US OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT OF HOUSTON COLT 45'S BONUS BABY JOHN PACIOREK BACK IN 1963 . CALLED UP IN LATE SEPTEMBER WITH OTHER COLT PROSPECTS , JOE MORGAN , RUSTY STAUB , JOHN BATEMAN , SONNY JACKSON , AND LARRY DIERKER ,PACIOREK ALSO WENT THREE FOR THREE WITH TWO WALKS IN FIVE AT BATS IN HIS MAJOR DEBUT FOR THE COLTS . UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE COLTS AND PACIOREK THAT WAS TO BE HIS ONLY MAJOR LEAGUE GAME AS HE INJURED HIS BACK AND NEVER PLAYED IN A MAJOR LEAGUE GAME AGAIN . PACIOREK'S TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS TOM , AND JIM HAD LONGER BIG LEAGUE CAREERS HOWEVER .
JAY BRUCE
5/19/2008- TEAM CHINA SPLITS WITH THE ARMADA -
THE CHINESE OLYMPIC TEAM SPLIT A TWO GAME SERIES WITH THE LONG BEACH ARMADA AT BLAIR FIELD ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY . THE CHINESE OLYMPIC TEAM IS MANAGED BY EX-LOS ANGELES DODGER PLAYER AND SEATTLE MARINER'S MANAGER JIM LEFEBVRE .
5-1-2008
JULIO FRANCO RETIRES -
AFTER CLOSE TO THIRTY PROFESSIONAL SEASONS , 23 IN THE MAJORS , INCLUDING A LIFETIME .298 AVERAGE AND OVER 2500 MAJOR LEAGUE HITS , JULIO FRANCO FINALLY RETIRES AT THE AGE OF 49 FROM THE MEXICAN LEAGUES . LAST YEAR FRANCO SET A MAJOR LEAGUE RECORD OF HOMERING AT AGE 48 , THE OLDEST PLAYER TO EVER HIT A HOMERUN IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES.
4-15-2007
VOSBERG KEEPS CHUCKING
FORMER SAN DIEGO PADRES LEFTHANDER ED VOSBERG CONTINUES TO PITCH IN THE MEXICAN LEAGUE HOPING FOR A RETURN TO THE BIG LEAGUES. VOSBERG IS THE ONLY BASEBALL PLAYER TO EVER PLAY IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SEIRES , THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES AND THE MAJOR LEAGUE WORLD SERIES
3/14 - CRYSTAL CONNECTS
BILLY CRYSTAL MADE HIS YANKEES DEBUT AT LEGENDS FIELD ONE DAY BEFORE TURNING 60 . LEADING OFF AT D.H. FOR THE YANKEES CRYSTAL FACED LEFTHANDER PAUL MAHOLM AND FOULED A PITCH DOWN THE FIRST BASE LINE OVER THE FIRST BASEMAN'S HEAD JUST FOUL . AFTER WORKING THE COUNT TO 3 AND 1 , CRYSTAL SWUNG AND MISSED THE NEXT TWO PITCHES , CUT FASTALLS ON THE HANDS , FROM MAHOLMS , STRIKING OUT IN HIS ONLY AT BAT OF THE DAY .
3/12 - YANKEES SIGN CRYSTAL
THE NEW YORK YANKEES HAVE SIGNED ACTOR BILLY CRYSTAL TO A TWO DAY CONTRACT . CRYSTAL WHO WILL TURN SIXTY YEARS OF AGE ON FRIDAY WILL PLAY FOR THE YANKEES IN THEIR EXHIBITION GAME VERSUS THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES ON THURSDAY .
CRYSTAL JOINS A LIST OF HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITYS WHO HAVE PLAYED IN MAJOR LEAGUE EXHIBITION GAMES INCLUDING TOM SELLECK ( TIGERS ) , KEVIN COSTNER ( VS .ANGELS )
CHARLIE PRIDE , AND GARTH BROOKS ( THREE TEAMS ) .
3/11 PADRES HEAD TO CHINA VS. DODGERS
THE SAN DIEGO PADRES LEAVE FOR CHINA TODAY TO PLAY THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS . LED BY MANAGER BUD BALCK AND FUTURE HALL OF FAME CLOSER TREVOR HOFFMAN AS WELL AS ANOTHER 25 PADRES PLAYERS AND COACHES THE PADRES WILL FACE THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS IN BEJING IN A NEW BASEBALL STADIUM BUILT EXPRESSLY FOR THE 2008 OLYMPICS .
3/1 - LASORDA RETURNS
TOMMY LASORDA RETURNS TO MANAGE THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS FOR EIGHT GAMES DURING SPRING TRAINING FILLING IN FOR MANAGER JOE TORRE AS TORRE TAKES THE DODGERS A SQUAD FOR EXHIBITON GAMES IN CHINA .
LASORDA IS SHOWN WITH ICHIRO SUZUKI IN THE SPRING OF 2006 AFTER SUZUKI LAE THE JAPANESE TEAM TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC.
COPYRIGHT BASEBALL WORLD NEWS 2006 .
2/23 - JUAN GONE - NOT GONE YET !
FORMER MAJOR LEAGUE ALL-STAR AND M.V.P , JUAN GONZALES IS ATTEMPTING A COMEBACK WITH THE SAINT LOUIS CARDINALS THIS SPRING . GONZALES WHO LAST APPEARED IN THE BIG LEAGUES IN 2005 WITH THE CLEVELAND INDIANS HOPES TO MAKE THE CARDINALS OPENING DAY ROSTER .
2/16 - FUKODOME ARRIVES IN CUBS CAMP
KOSUKE FUKODOME ARRIVED IN THE CHICAGO CUBS SPRING TRAINING CAMP IN MESA . THE CUBS ARE HOPING FUKODOME JUMPSTARTS THEIR OFFENSE FROM THE LEADOFF POSTION MUCH THE SAME AS ICHIRO SUZUKI DID FOR THE 2001 SEATTLE MARINERS UPON HIS ARRIVAL IN THE STATES .
