Three Strikes…yer OUT!

Tom Seaver

Hi everyone! Episode seventeen of the Three Strikes…yer OUT! podcast is now published and available on apple podcasts in iTunes. I am proud to bring you Part 2 of a biography on one of the ten best pitchers of all time…Tom Seaver! Known by the colorful and accurate nicknames “The Franchise” and “Tom Terrific”, Tom Seaver won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1967 and was a huge part of bringing the New York Mets their first world championship in 1969. This fantastic pitcher was a 12-time All-Star, won 3 NL Cy Young Awards, and is the Mets’ all-time leader in wins.

This is part 2 of 2. Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Career Highlights:

• He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1967
• He was a 12-time All-Star  
• He won 3 NL Cy Young Awards (in 1969, 1973, and 1975)
• He was a World Series Champion with the New York Mets in 1969
• He threw a no-hitter in 1978
• He had 16 Opening-Day starts over his 22 year career
• He has the record for striking out the most hitters in a row (with 10)
• He was the NL leader in strikeouts 5 times (in 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, and 1976)
• He led the NL in Earned Run Avg 3 times (in 1970, 1971, and 1973)
• He won 20 or more games in a season 5 times (1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, and 1977)
• He holds the record for consecutive 200-strikeout seasons with nine (1968–1976)
• He is one of only two players to reach 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts, with an earned run average under 3.00
• And he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992 with the highest percentage of votes (98.84%) up to that time

List of sources:

1. SABR.org (Society for American Baseball Research)
2. baseball-reference.com (THE resource for stats on all MLB players!)
3. Wikipedia
4. baseballhall.org

Tom Seaver

Hi everyone! Episode sixteen of the Three Strikes…yer OUT! podcast is now published and available on apple podcasts in iTunes. I am proud to bring you Part 1 of a two-part biography on one of the ten best pitchers of all time…Tom Seaver! Known by the colorful and accurate nicknames “The Franchise” and “Tom Terrific”, Tom Seaver won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1967 and was a huge part of bringing the New York Mets their first world championship in 1969. This fantastic pitcher was a 12-time All-Star, won 3 NL Cy Young Awards, and is the Mets’ all-time leader in wins.

Career Highlights:

• He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1967
• He was a 12-time All-Star  
• He won 3 NL Cy Young Awards (in 1969, 1973, and 1975)
• He was a World Series Champion with the New York Mets in 1969
• He threw a no-hitter in 1978
• He had 16 Opening-Day starts over his 22 year career
• He has the record for striking out the most hitters in a row (with 10)
• He was the NL leader in strikeouts 5 times (in 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, and 1976)
• He led the NL in Earned Run Avg 3 times (in 1970, 1971, and 1973)
• He won 20 or more games in a season 5 times (1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, and 1977)
• He holds the record for consecutive 200-strikeout seasons with nine (1968–1976)
• He is one of only two players to reach 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts, with an earned run average under 3.00
• And he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992 with the highest percentage of votes (98.84%) up to that time

List of sources:

1. SABR.org (Society for American Baseball Research)
2. baseball-reference.com (THE resource for stats on all MLB players!)
3. Wikipedia
4. baseballhall.org

Hi everyone! Episode fifteen of Three Strikes…yer OUT! podcast is now published and available on apple podcasts in iTunes. Next up, a biography of perhaps the best 2nd baseman of all time…Joe Morgan! This amazing ball player could hit for average and power, was an excellent base stealer, and also won 5 straight Gold Gloves at his position. During the Reds World Championship years in 1975 and 1976, he won back-to-back National League MVP awards.

Career Highlights:

• He was a 10-time All-Star
• He won 5 straight Gold Gloves at 2nd base (from 1973 thru 1977)
• He won the National League Most Valuable Player Award twice (in 1975 and 1976)
• He won the Silver Slugger award (in 1982)
• He was among the top 10 leaders in stolen bases during 5 seasons
• He was a two-time World Series Champion with the Cincinnati Reds in 1975 and 1976
• And he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990

List of sources:

1. SABR.org (Society for American Baseball Research)
2. baseball-reference.com (THE resource for stats on all MLB players!)
3. Wikipedia
4. baseballhall.org

Hi everyone! Episode fourteen of Three Strikes…yer OUT! podcast is now published and available on apple podcasts in iTunes. Next up, a biography of one of the greatest hitters of all time…Ichiro Suzuki! Ichiro played right field for the Seattle Mariners, the New York Yankees, and the Miami Marlins for 19 seasons, playing from 2001 until 2019. Ichiro established a number of amazing batting records, including Major League Baseball’s single-season record for hits with an astonishing 262. He also achieved 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons, the longest streak by any player in history.

Career Highlights:

• He was a 10-time All-Star
• He was the 2001 American League Rookie of the Year
• He won the American League Most Valuable Player Award (2001)
• He was the American League Batting Champion twice (2001, 2004)
• He won 10 straight Gold Gloves for his outfield play
• He won the Silver Slugger Award 3 times (2001, 2007, 2009)
• He won the 2007 All-Star Game MVP Award for a three-hit performance that included the event’s first-ever inside-the-park home run
• He is a member of the 3000 hit club and is currently #23 on the all-time hits list with 3,089
• He led the American League in hits an amazing 7 times!
• He has the MLB single-season record for hits with an astounding 262!!!
• And he achieved 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons!

List of sources:

1. baseball-reference.com (THE resource for stats on all MLB players!)
2. Wikipedia
3. ESPN.com
4. britannica.com

Hi everyone! Episode thirteen of Three Strikes…yer OUT! podcast is now published and available on apple podcasts in iTunes. Next up, a biography of my favorite player on the great Oakland A’s teams of the 1970’s…Joe Rudi! During the A’s great championship years during the early to mid 1970’s, he was a core member of the team. He was an amazing left fielder, perhaps the best in the major leagues during the early to mid 1970’s. He was also an excellent hitter, hitting .300 twice and averaging .289 during the 1970 thru 1974 seasons. And he made one of the greatest outfield catches in World Series history during the 1972 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. This quiet, low key guy was a truly excellent player on an amazing championship team.

Career Highlights:

• He was a 3-time All-Star (in 1972, 1974, and 1975)
• He won 3 straight Gold Gloves as a left fielder (in 1974, 1975, and 1976)
• He was a runner-up twice for the American League Most Valuable Player Award (in 1972, 1974)
• He was the American League leader in hits with 181 (1972)
• He was the American League leader in extra base hits with 65 (1974)
• And he was a World Series Champion with the Oakland A’s in 1972, 1973, and 1974

List of sources:

1. SABR.org (Society for American Baseball Research)
2. baseball-reference.com (THE resource for stats on all MLB players!)
3. Wikipedia

Hi everyone! Here’s a quick update episode to let you know where I’ve been, what I’ve been doing, and what is coming up on the podcast schedule. Thank you all for staying with me and listening to the show. I appreciate it!

Upcoming Shows:

• Joe Rudi (out now)
• Ichiro Suzuki (out now)

Hi everyone! Episode eleven of Three Strikes…yer OUT! podcast is now published and available on apple podcasts in iTunes. Next up, a biography of an amazing hitter who hit for both power and average for the San Francisco Giants, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Atlanta Braves: the great Orlando Cepeda! He was a fun-loving clubhouse leader for the Cardinals as they went on to a World Series victory in 1967. He had an excellent career and an interesting life.

Career Highlights:

• He was a 7-time All-Star
•  He was the 1958 National League Rookie of the Year
•  He won the National League Most Valuable Player Award (1967)
•  He was a World Series Champion with the St. Louis Cardinals (1967)
•  He was the National League Home Run Champion in 1961
•  He led the National League in RBIs twice in 1961 and 1967
•  He had 9 seasons where he batted over .300
•  He was the first winner of the American League’s Outstanding Designated Hitter Award (1973)
•  And he was the 2nd Puerto Rican baseball player (after Roberto Clemente) to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame

List of sources:

1. SABR.org (Society for American Baseball Research)
2. baseball-reference.com (THE resource for stats on all MLB players!)
3. Wikipedia
4. baseballhall.org (MLB Hall of Fame website)

Hi everyone! Episode ten of Three Strikes…yer OUT! podcast is now published and available on apple podcasts in iTunes. Next up, Part 2 of a biography of one of the greatest all-around players ever, Pittsburgh Pirates Right Fielder, Roberto Clemente! This guy was truly one in a million! Enjoy!

I want to mention (again) an excellent DVD I used for some source material on Roberto Clemente. It is an episode of “American Experience” produced by PBS in 2008, entitled “Roberto Clemente.” If you can get ahold of it, this has some great footage and insight into both the player and the man. Highly recommended!

Career Highlights:

• He was a 12-time All-Star.
• He won the National League Most Valuable Player Award (1966).
• He was the National League Batting Champion four times (1961, 1964, 1965, and 1967).
• He was a Gold Glove Award winner as an outfielder for twelve consecutive seasons from 1961 through 1972.
• He had 13 seasons where he batted over .300.
• He was a member of the 3,000 hit club.
• He was a World Series Champion twice with the Pirates (1960, 1971).
• He was the 1971 World Series Most Valuable Player.
• He was both the first Latin American and Caribbean player to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

List of sources:

1. SABR.org (Society for American Baseball Research)
2. baseball-reference.com (THE resource for stats on all MLB players!)
3. Wikipedia
4. baseballhall.org (MLB Hall of Fame website)
5. Clemente, Roberto; Directed by Bernardo Ruiz (2008). American Experience, PBS HOME VIDEO (DVD). ISBN 0-7936-9448-5

Special Credit goes to YouTuber MrRunnerholic for the great cover of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame!” and the permission to use it on my podcast. Man, I love it! Thank you so much!

Hi everyone! Episode nine of Three Strikes…yer OUT! podcast is now published and available on apple podcasts in iTunes. Next up, Part 1 of a biography of one of the greatest all-around players ever, Pittsburgh Pirates Right Fielder, Roberto Clemente! He was a true five-tool player and is widely regarded as one of the top two defensive outfielders ever. He had a sensational throwing arm, speed to burn on the bases, and was a tremendous hitter, hitting for both power and high average. This guy was truly one in a million!

I want to mention an excellent DVD I used for some source material on Roberto Clemente. It is an episode of “American Experience” produced by PBS in 2008, entitled “Roberto Clemente.” If you can get ahold of it, this has some great footage and insight into both the player and the man. Highly recommended!

Career Highlights:

• He was a 12-time All-Star.
• He won the National League Most Valuable Player Award (1966).
• He was the National League Batting Champion four times (1961, 1964, 1965, and 1967).
• He was a Gold Glove Award winner as an outfielder for twelve consecutive seasons from 1961 through 1972.
• He had 13 seasons where he batted over .300.
• He was a member of the 3,000 hit club.
• He was a World Series Champion twice with the Pirates (1960, 1971).
• He was the 1971 World Series Most Valuable Player.
• He was both the first Latin American and Caribbean player to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

List of sources:

1. SABR.org (Society for American Baseball Research)
2. baseball-reference.com (THE resource for stats on all MLB players!)
3. Wikipedia
4. baseballhall.org (MLB Hall of Fame website)
5. Clemente, Roberto; Directed by Bernardo Ruiz (2008). American Experience, PBS HOME VIDEO (DVD). ISBN 0-7936-9448-5

Special Credit goes to YouTuber MrRunnerholic for the great cover of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame!” and the permission to use it on my podcast. Man, I love it! Thank you so much!

As a special thank you, I’m giving shout outs to all cities and towns that have listened to Three Strikes…yer OUT!! in the past year. My heartfelt thanks to everyone!

Happy New Year!!!