Cooperstown

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Behold, the Signed Baseball to Top All Signed Baseballs

Clogged with signatures of Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, and 8 other stars, it fetches $623K

(Newser) - How could a baseball artifact possibly top a ball signed by both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig? How about a ball signed by Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Cy Young, Tris Speaker, George Sisler, Walter Johnson, Connie Mack, Nap Lajoie, Eddie Collins, and Pete Alexander, on the day they...

Barry Larkin Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop gets 495 votes

(Newser) - Barry Larkin has been elected to baseball's Hall of Fame. The former Cincinnati Reds shortstop received 495 votes (86%) in balloting announced today by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, well above the necessary 430 (75%). Larkin was on the ballot for the third time after falling 75 votes...

MLB Chief Weighs Pardon for Pete Rose

Aaron, others want disgraced player in Hall of Fame

(Newser) - Pete Rose may yet have a shot at baseball’s Hall of Fame: Commissioner Bud Selig is weighing ending Rose’s lifetime ban for gambling on the sport, the New York Daily News reports. Hank Aaron, whose opinion counts heavily with Selig, told reporters over the weekend he’d like...

Hall of Fame Voting So Predictable, a Computer Can Do it

(Newser) - The Baseball Writers of America turn out to be a predictable lot. A new computer program from a Missouri State computer science professor can accurately predict who’ll join the Hall of Fame, the Wall Street Journal reports. Given a set of 1,592 players who retired between 1950 and...

McGwire Hall Snub Bodes Ill for Bonds, Clemens
McGwire Hall Snub Bodes
Ill for Bonds, Clemens
OPINION

McGwire Hall Snub Bodes Ill for Bonds, Clemens

Could Bonds, Clemens face exclusion?

(Newser) - Mark McGwire's awful showing in Hall of Fame voting—he got only 21.9% of votes this year, which is actually worse than last year and way below the required 75%—is a good sign that that fellow steroid pals Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds face long odds when they...

Henderson, Rice Headed to Cooperstown

Prototype leadoff hitter elected to Baseball Hall on first try; Rice gets in on last try

(Newser) - Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, MLB reports today. Henderson, often cited as the best leadoff hitter ever, was considered a shoe-in, and captured 94.8% of votes in his first year on the ballot. Rice, a Boston stalwart, squeaked in with...

Piazza Retires After 16 Seasons
 Piazza Retires After 16 Seasons 

Piazza Retires After 16 Seasons

Slugging catcher a lock for the hall

(Newser) - The most prolific hitting catcher of all-time is hanging up his spikes. After 16 years, Mike Piazza is calling it a career, one that saw him amass a .308 lifetime batting average and 427 homeruns; 396 of those dingers came as a catcher, which is the most all time, reports...

Closer's Canine Eats Historic Baseball

Papelbon admits ball from World Series' final out is in pieces

(Newser) - The mystery location of the ball that served the final out of the 2007 World Series has been solved—it's all over Jonathan Papelbon's house, ESPN reports. "My dog ate it," said the Red Sox closer of the ball used to strike out Colorado's Seth Smith. "He...

Ripken, Gwynn Deck the Hall
Ripken, Gwynn Deck the Hall

Ripken, Gwynn Deck the Hall

75,000 fans show up for induction of loyal franchise centerpieces

(Newser) - Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr., were inducted to baseball's Hall of Fame today; both were notable for their remarkable consistency over careers spanning three decades, and both spent those careers with single teams. Their loyalty was repaid by circa 75,000 fans who came to see them inducted, the...

Cooperstown Won't Be Long on Bonds
Cooperstown Won't Be Long on Bonds

Cooperstown Won't Be Long on Bonds

Grouchy slugger sees no need to donate historic memorabilia to Hall of Fame

(Newser) - With 746 home runs, Giants masher and suspected steroid user Barry Bonds is just 10 away from breaking the record. The souvenirs from his run at history, however, may be staying in the family, the crotchety superstar has announced. Curators at the Hall of Fame are concerned that they will...

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