Reggie Jackson had a pretty good year in 1980. He hit .300 for the only time in his career, led the AL in homers, including the 400th of his Hall of Fame career, finished 2nd in the MVP balloting and led his team to the playoffs. He also almost died. Twice. Nothing Good Happens After …
“Reggie Jackson is the ”straw that stirs the drink” on the Yankees now. Unless a serious problem develops in the negotiations of Jackson’s new contract and Reggie feels that George Steinbrenner has adopted Dave Winfield and abandoned him.” -Dave Anderson, New York Times, 12/16/80 When the Yankees signed Dave Winfield, his new teammate Reggie Jackson had a piece …
Reggie Jackson may have been the straw that stirred the drink, but it took a few years after his arrival in New York for the drink to be served. By 1980, Billy Martin was gone, as was Chris Chambliss, Mickey Rivers and, tragically, Thurman Munson. The Yankees were finally Reggie’s team and Jerry Koosman may …
The Braves bring Phil Niekro home, Lefty wins his 300th, and Reggie Jackson has a disagreement with John Denny on September 23rd in 1980s Baseball
The Royals, Mets, and White Sox clinch their divisions and big days for Reggie Jackson and Johnny Bench highlight September 17th in 1980s Baseball.
A Number 1 pick makes his debut, Reggie Jackson hits a milestone, and Gary Carter does, too, on August 11th in 1980s Baseball.
An excerpt from Patrick Montgomery’s new book, Baseball’s Great Expectations: Candid Stories of Ballplayers Who Didn’t Live Up to the Hype
About Suds Series In Suds Series, J. Daniel takes readers back forty years, telling a story that is part baseball history, part urban history, and part U.S. cultural history, the narrative weaving together the development of the Midwest cities of St. Louis and Milwaukee through their engagement with beer and baseball. As the National and American …
Robin Yount missed being the seventh player to unanimously win the MVP by one vote in 1982.
Meet the man who said no.
Happy Birthday to Bo Jackson, Dave Righetti wins Rookie of the Year, and Andre Thornton calls it a career on November 30th in 1980s Baseball
Happy Birthday to Steve Yeager, Cal brings home some hardware, and its is the end of the road for The Big Bopper on November 24th in 1980s Baseball.
Happy Birthday to Teddy Higuera while Robin Yount and Frank Viola bring home some hardware on November 9th in 1980s Baseball
Happy Birthday to The Duke, Schmitty hits a huge dinger, and Greg Gagne pulls off a rarity on October 4th in 1980s Baseball
Happy Birthday to Ryno, The Tigers clinch, and Tim Raines gets into the record books on September 18th in 1980s Baseball.
Happy Birthday to The Big Unit. Bill Gullickson sets a record, and the Mets and Cardinals empty the benches on September 10th in 1980s Baseball
Paul Molitor’s hitting streak comes to a close, Garry Templeton and Whitey have a disagreement, and Dennis Rasmussen gets traded twice on July 26th in 1980s Baseball.
Happy Birthday to Butch Hobson, Pete’s swan song, and the Red Sox make a big trade on August 17th in 1980s Baseball
Happy Birthday to Sid Bream, The Yankees make (another) managerial change, and Joe Niekro gets framed on August 3rd in 1980s Baseball
Happy Birthday to two All-Stars, the Phillies make two big trades, and a milestone for Don Sutton on June 18th in 1980s Baseball.
Happy Birthday to a should be Hall of Famer, a near no-no for an underrated pitcher, and a big day for Molly highlight May 12 in 1980s Baseball
Davey Lopes’ Birthday, milestones for Fergie Jenkins and Ron Cey, and Eric Davis goes off on May 3rd in 1980s Baseball
Multiple big days for Nolan Ryan, a triumphant return for Reggie, and the end of a potential Hall of Fame career on April 27th in 1980s Baseball
Happy Birthday to Will the Thrill, the Phillies sign a big free agent and Jim Rice battles the Red Sox PR guy on March 13th in 1980s Baseball
Happy Birthday to Atlee Hammaker, the Mets are sold, and Orel Hershiser collects more hardware on January 24th in 1980s Baseball.
Happy Birthday to Ron Kittle, Lance Parrish makes an appearance on Diff’rent Strokes, and the Hall of Fame welcomes five ’80s greats on January 5th in 1980s Baseball
Billy Martin strode to the mound at Arlington Stadium to talk to his starter, Rick Langford. “I think it’s time now,” he said. It was September 17th, 1980 and the Oakland A’s were up two in the 9th inning with two outs. But Rusty Staub‘s 2-run homer in the inning was followed by a Bump Wills …
Note: This is a guest post from Rocco Constantino July 24, 1983 The old baseball cliché is that you see something new at the ballpark every time you go to a game. It could be something as simple as a player recording his first major-league hit or achieving a team record; however, sometimes something so …
The Pittsburgh Pirates sent a scout to look at him. He left after a few minutes. Not because he wasn’t impressed, but because he knew his there was no chance the kid would still be available when the Pirates pick rolled around. A Phillies scout called him, “the best prospect I’ve seen in 30 years.” “I’d …
I grew up reading Angell, Halberstam, Kahn and others wax nostalgic about baseball in the 1950’s. The pictures they painted of sun-drenched afternoons at Ebbets Field or the Polo Grounds made the era come to life. I’m sure it was a magical time with great baseball. They can have it. This isn’t an indictment of …
Happy Birthday to Fastball John, The A’s bring Reggie home, and Harry the K reads The Night Before Christmas on December 24th in 1980s Baseball
Happy Birthday to Rick Monday, Billy Martin is Manager of the Year, and Don Mattingly wins an MVP on November 20th in 1980s Baseball
Happy Birthday to Dwight Gooden, Harry Caray moves north, and Cal Ripken Jr. makes history on November 16th in 1980s Baseball
Happy Birthday to a World Series hero, the Yankees deal Jack Clark, and Kent Hrbek launches a dramatic homer on October 24th in 1980s Baseball
Happy Birthday to Doug DeCinces, the Cardinals make a trade that pays off well, and a game is postponed due to multiple explosions on August 29th in 1980s Baseball
The Braves make a managerial change, Fernando gets revenge, and a milestone for Fergie highlight May 23rd in 1980s baseball
Happy ’80s Birthday to Reggie, Fernando finally loses and the big league debut of a man who would make baseball history highlight May 17th in ’80s Baseball History.
Happy Birthday to a World Series MVP, a dubious milestone for Reggie, and a big day for Fred Lynn highlight May 13th in 1980s Baseball
Happy Birthday to Leon Roberts, Reggie has a new home, and the owners get busted for collusion because they suck on January 22nd in 1980s Baseball
