Perhaps only A-Rod could polarize fans, media and opposing teams alike more than Manny Machado, the San Diego Padres’ slick-fielding, trash-talking third baseman who quickly became one of the game’s best all-around players after his 2012 debut at age 19 with the Baltimore Orioles. On this day in béisbol, July 17, 2018, with the Orioles having one of the most putrid seasons in baseball history — never mind in the history of the once-storied franchise — Machado and his $16 million salary were dumped to the Dodgers in a trade that brought five minor leaguers. The Florida-born Dominican was only

For anyone who ever wondered why there’s a statue of Roberto Clemente at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, his accomplishments on this day in béisbol, July 17, 1970 proved why he was a once-in-a-generation immortal. In a thrilling 4-3 win against the Cincinnati Reds, the Pirates superstar showed off his five-tool skill set by hitting a single, triple and home run, scoring the tying run and knocking in the winning run. And, oh yeah, he also gunned down the potential winning run at the plate in the ninth inning. The hitting, running and throwing clinic the Hall of Fame right fielder

Minnie Minoso was an outstanding outfielder whose 16-year career was spent mostly with the Chicago White Sox. But the seven-time All-Star is probably best remembered for a rare accomplishment thanks to the White Sox’s canny marketing department — the Cuban native appeared in MLB games in five separate decades.  He debuted in 1949 with the Indians, became a star in the 1950s and retired in 1964 — then was activated for three games in 1976 at age 50 and went 1-for-8 as a DH. In 1980, at age 54, he was back in a Major League lineup for Chicago, going

Vladimir Guerrero was at the top of his game and just about halfway through his Hall of Fame career when he became the seventh-fastest player to knock in his 1,000th career RBI on this day in béisbol, July 15, 2006.  The Anaheim Angels outfielder reached the milestone with a first inning-single in an eventual 9-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Anaheim. The 30-year-old Guerrero, the defending American League MVP, would come in third in 2006’s Most Valuable Player voting. He ended the season with 32 home runs, 108 RBIs and a .317 average. Also on this day: Orioles

It wasn’t apparent at the time, but the Braves would eventually get the short end of a shortstop trade with the Blue Jays. On this day in béisbol, July 14, 2010, Atlanta sent shortstop Yunel Escobar and pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes to Toronto for shortstop Alex Gonzalez and two minor leaguers.  Gonzalez, a former all-star from Venezuela, had hit 17 homers with 50 RBI in 85 games but tailed off with the Braves, hitting 6 HR with 38 RBI in 72 games. Escobar, from Havana, Cuba, hit .238 with zero homers and 19 RBI with Atlanta, but slammed 4 home runs

Pedro Martinez wasn’t about to let a little thing like a 100-degree day mess with his high heat. On this day in béisbol, July 13, 1997, the Expos righty hurls a one-hit shutout against the Reds, 2-0. His only blemish was allowing a harmless single in the fifth inning. Two years later, Martinez, now pitching for the Red Sox, gives the hometown fans a treat when he wins MVP honors at the 1999 All-Star Game in Fenway Park. Martinez fanned five of the six batters he faced in a 4-1 victory for the American League.    The Globe and Mail,

Saving 23 games before the All-Star Game apparently wasn’t good enough. On this day in béisbol, July 12, 2011, the New York Mets dealt closer Francisco Rodriguez and cash to the Brewers for two players to be named later. The move forced K-Rod out of his familiar closer role, but he would become a solid set-up man with Milwaukee where he went 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA the rest of the way.  Rodriguez, from Caracas, Venezuela, would become an elite closer again three years later in a second stint with Milwaukee, when he saved 44 games I in 2014. Also

He was a good-field, weak-hitting third basemen whose lack of power was glaring even for the pre-Dead Ball era. But while few, if any, people 150 years ago likely realized the significance of the moment, when Esteban Bellan took the field on this day in béisbol, May 9, 1871, the Cuban-born infielder made history as the first Latino to play in a U.S. major league. While it wasn’t yet the MLB we know of today, the 21-year-old Bellan, 21, who was also known as Steve, played for the Troy Haymakers, an upstate New York club that was part of the