The San Diego Padres established a name for themselves in 1968 after being awarded a National League franchise team during an owners meeting in Chicago. As the initial expansion draft took place – the team crafted a solid team consisting of thirty players, with Ollie Lee “Downtown” Brown as their first pick. The group of newly found teammates … Read more
Considered cornerstones of the function-over-fashion movement in professional baseball, players in the 1800s would wear circular-brimmed straw hats on the field, like farmers. As the 20th century unfolded, early versions of today’s MLB hat were adopted and logos stitched onto the front. You can imagine the baseball diamond an expanse of tumbleweeds with straw hats blowing all … Read more
The City of Brotherly Love: a critical cog in the clockwork of our young nation. History runs through its architecture, politics, and culture. From Benjamin Franklin and the Liberty Bell to the Philly cheesesteak, Philly knows all about making a name for itself. Philadelphia has such strong conviction that even its baseball team has an … Read more
The Toronto Blue Jays came into existence in 1976, after the American League voted to expand into Canada – or more specifically, into the city of Toronto. The Jays received their name after holding a “Name the Team” contest in ’76, involving close to 4,000 names and 30,000 entries. The results proved “Blue Jays” to be the winner, but … Read more
The defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs are primed for an electric follow-up to last year’s curse-crushing performance. As one of the most storied teams in the MLB, a follow-up championship appearance would certainly bookend the team’s success. In fact, the Chicago Cubs first one a World Series title in 1907 and again in 1908. The Cubs first … Read more
As the pitcher mound evolved, so did the three essential tools of the sport: the ball, bat, and glove. Each tool specializes in a different function, allowing players to throw, catch, and hit effectively. Take a look at the visual to see how baseball gear has changed throughout the decades. The Ball: The development of … Read more
“T” is for Texas, and it represents the Rangers. In 1972, the new American League franchise kicked off their inaugural season with their lucky block letter “T” stitched into their caps. With two recent World Series appearances (and losses) in 2010 and 2011, the Rangers are right on the doorstep of major league glory. After 45 years of … Read more
While the game of baseball developed and experienced a series of changes, so too did the field dimensions, specifically the pitcher’s mound. Nowadays, the pitcher is often viewed as one of the most vital positions on the field, but this wasn’t always the scenario. The early years of gameplay employed the pitcher to merely toss the … Read more