Long before Shohei Ohtani amazed the baseball universe with his two-way prowess as a hitter and pitcher, there was Martin Dihigo, whose exploits on the field were overshadowed by another two-way superstar named Babe Ruth. A Black Cuban who starred in the Negro Leagues and Latin American and Caribbean winter leagues from the 1920s to
PEDRO MARTINEZ Pitcher Born: October 25, 1971 in Manoguayabo, Dominican Republic MLB debut: Sept. 24, 1992, for the Los Angeles Dodgers Last MLB appearance: Sept. 30, 2009, for the Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame induction: 2015 Primary Team: Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame plaque: "Featuring an electric arsenal of pitches that vanquished batters during
The baseball world was shocked and stunned after news spread that Pittsburgh Pirates icon Roberto Clemente had been killed in an airplane crash on this day in béisbol, December 31, 1972. Clemente, 38, died along with four other passengers and crew on the four-engine DC-7, which slammed into the ocean shortly after 9 p.m. after
Fireballing Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman was traded to the Yankees for four minor leaguers on this day in béisbol, December 28, 2015. New York already had a formidable late-game bullpen combo in right handers Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances when they brought in Chapman, a lefty whose pitches routinely hit more than 100 mph.
Moises Alou leveraged an excellent season with the Cubs into a one-year, $7.25 million contract with the San Francisco Giants on this day in béisbol, December 27, 2004. The 37-year-old outfielder had one of his finest seasons in ’04, when he slammed 39 homers with 106 RBI and a .293 average for Chicago. He hit
A rare combination of power and defense behind the plate, Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez was named the American League’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2020 on this day in béisbol after missing the entire previous season with an elbow injury. A tear of the UCL in his right elbow required Tommy John
