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HONORING
DAYTON’S BEST Our community is a great place to live, work, and play. But what makes Dayton truly great are the people who do incredible things each and every day to make our community a special place to call home. The Dragons Community All-Stars Program honors those citizens and organizations that have gone above and beyond to help others in need or improve the quality of life in the Miami Valley. The Dragons recognize these Community All-Stars for their good deeds and efforts at games all season long.
WHO ARE COMMUNITY ALL-STARS? Community All-Stars come from all walks of life and age ranges. They are firefighters and police officers, doctors and good Samaritans, first responders and volunteers. Whether they’re saving a life or lending a hand, Community All-Stars help make life better for others.
NOMINATE YOUR COMMUNITY ALL-STAR TODAY! Do you know a person or organization that’s making a positive impact on our community? If you do, we want to hear their story. Simply visit www.daytondragons.com/communityallstar, tell us about your nominee, and hit submit. Entries with more details are more likely to receive consideration.
The Dragons Community All-Star Program is made possible by:
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THE NCAA D-III UNIVERSITY IN GREATER CINCINNATI
NCAA D-III SPORTS CINCINNATI, OH www.msj.edu/dragons Mount St. Joseph University is committed to providing an educational and employment environment free from discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other minority or protected status. Visit msj.edu/non-discrimination for the full policy and contact information. 10-WO-001433/20/Ad DAY TON
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know a deserving local veteran? THEY COULD BE HONORED DURING A DRAGONS GAME!
CareSource’s Veteran Salute program highlights five veterans’ stories during the course of each season. Veterans who are chosen are honored at a Dragons game with an on-field ceremony and given VIP treatment during their special game.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR VETERAN’S STORY!
FEATURED STORY
1 2
Do you know what to throw? For recycling to thrive, we need to RECYLE RIGHT by recycling the YES things and keeping the NO things out.
Step 1 Grab an RBI tracking form at a Dragons game or download at www.daytondragons.com/rbi.
Step 2 Submit form online at www.daytondragons.com/rbi or follow instructions for alternate methods.
Step 3 Each participant will receive up to four lawn tickets to an RBI Night at a sold-out Dragons game.
Plus a chance to win more
Dayton dragons prizes! VIP First Pitch
Luxury Suite
VIP Exclusive Experience Gift
Visit www.daytondragons.com/rbi 6 and to participate. for more information DAY TON
DRAGONS
OVER $100 VALUE FOR ONLY $19.99!
MEMBERS RECEIVE: DRAGONS JERSEY DRAGONS BACKPACK DRAGONS HAT FREE MINI MEAL AT PARTICIPATING FRISCH’S BIG BOY RESTAURANTS
You will get the above items mailed to you shortly after you place your online order.
YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE TWO (2) DRAGONS LAWN TICKETS AND TWO (2) DRAGONS ZONE PASSES.
Once we have more information regarding the 2020 Dragons season, we will reach out to you via email to get those dates selected and mail you the game tickets/ Dragons Zone passes.
JOIN TODAY AT
DAYTONDRAGONS.COM/KIDSCLUB
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DRAGONS EVENTS & Promos
VIRTUAL DRAGONS 5K
GREAT AMERICAN BEER TASTING
Presented by Orthopedic Associates Sign up by June 30
Presented by Heidelberg Distributing Saturday, August 8 @ 2pm
All participants receive four lawn tickets to a future Dragons game, custom Dragons 5K t-shirt, Dragons hat, NEW home plate finisher’s medal, 50% off the Dragons 5K for 2021 and more! $25 adults, $15 youth. www.daytondragons.com/dragons5k
Save the Date! Fans in attendance will receive 20, four-ounce samples, as well as, a pint glass, t-shirt, and four raffle tickets for great prizes from the Dragons and Heidelberg Distributing for only $30. www.daytondragons.com/beertasting
BOBBLEHEADS ON SALE
Dragons bobbleheads are now available for purchase in our online Dragons Den Team Store! Grab some of your favorite bobbleheads – Hunter Greene, Jose Siri, Heater, and Gem. Proceeds from the sale of bobbleheads go to the Dragons Foundation. www.dragons.milbstore.com
®
RECYCLING BIN INITIATIVE
Presented by Montgomery County ES Recycling can be done at any time! Recycle right and win some cool Dragons prizes and experiences with the Recycling Bin Initiative. This is a free, educational tool families can use to learn which items can and can not be recycled. www.daytondragons.com/rbiat
ion.
CARESOURCE’S VETERAN SALUTE Presented by CareSource
Know a deserving veteran in the Miami Valley? The Veteran Salute Program highlights veterans’ stories during the course of the season. Veterans who are chosen are honored at a Dragons game with an on-field ceremony and provided with VIP treatment during their special night. www.daytondragons.com/veteransalute DAY TON
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Season Preview
2020
The Hot CORNER
This is part five of a nine-part series previewing the 2020 Dragons. Players listed here are candidates for positions on the 25-man Dragons season-opening roster. Minor League rosters have not yet been assigned. While the timeline to the start of our season is unknown at this point, when play resumes, the players in these previews will compete for roster positions with the Dragons.
Rece Hinds, like potential Dragons infielder Tyler Callihan, was one of the top high school players in the nation in the 2019 draft class. If he begins the 2020 season with the Dragons, he would be one of the top prospects on the team. Just like Callihan, the questions regarding Hinds’ assignment to the Dragons in 2020 relate not to his ability level, but to his youth and readiness to face Midwest League pitchers, many of whom have significant college experience. Even more than Callihan, who played professionally for 10 weeks last summer in the Reds system after his high school graduation, Hinds would be on a steep learning curve. Injuries limited Hinds to just three games and eight at-bats with Greeneville in the Reds organization last summer after he turned pro. Hinds was the Reds second round draft pick in 2019, taken with the Reds next selection after they chose pitcher Nick Lodolo out of Texas Christian University. Hinds was a power-hitting infielder at IMG Academy in Florida and was 18 years old when he was signed by the Reds. Hinds is known for massive home run blasts and off-the-charts power. In 2018, both Hinds and Callihan were among eight high school players in the country to be invited to the Home Run Derby at the Major League AllStar Game at Nationals Park. It would be interesting for Dragons fans DAY TON
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The Hot CORNER
Season Preview
2020
if two of the eight most highly-regarded home run hitters in the entire nation among high school talent in 2018 both wind up on the Dayton roster. As we described in our second base preview, Callihan performed very well in the contest, tying for fourth. Hinds did better, finishing second.
Baseball America ranks Hinds as the #11 prospect in the Reds organization, two spots ahead of Callihan. Other publications have Callihan slightly higher than Hinds. Callihan is considered the more polished hitter of the two, while Hinds is considered to have the better pure power. After the Reds drafted Hinds in the second round in 2019, they took Callihan in the third round. Both players were projected by MLB Network to go in the first round and were considered to rank among the top 10 high school hitting prospects in the country. Baseball America credits Hinds with “the ability to crush baseball to all fields due to sheer strength…his extreme power fits as a masher in a corner (infielder or outfielder) if he can make enough contact.” Hinds certainly has the arm for third base. He was clocked at 98 mph in a throw across the infield by Perfect Game last summer. They clocked the exit velocity of a ball off his bat at 101 mph, an amazing stat for a high school player.
Rece Hinds
Photo credit: Brace Hemmelgarn DAY TON
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One of the biggest days for Hinds in his amateur career came in June of 2018 at the Tournament of Stars Gold Medal Game (another of the top showcase events of the summer featuring the top players in America). Hinds put on a show, blasting two home runs and driving in seven runs to lead his team to the gold. Hinds also started at third base for the East All-Stars in the 2018 Perfect Game All-Star Classic at Petco Park in San Diego. Callihan was his teammate in that game. D R A G*CONTINUED ONS
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The Hot CORNER
Season Preview
2020
In our second base preview discussing Callihan, we detailed the challenges faced by hitters who are less than a year removed from high school in making the jump to the Midwest League. History has shown it to be a difficult transition. The Reds will determine if Hinds is best served by opening the season in extended spring training to gain experience, or by jumping right into the deep end with the Dragons. Victor Ruiz was the starting third baseman for the Billings club that went to the playoffs in 2019. Ruiz signed with the Reds as a free agent out of Mexico three days before his 17th birthday in 2016, and he has played three seasons in the Reds system. Ruiz was a catcher in 2017-18 but converted to third base in 2019. Ruiz played in 60 games with Billings in 2019, batting .270 with one home run. He has a career batting average of .266 with three home runs in 118 games. There could also be a chance that the Dragons third baseman in 2019, Juan Martinez, could return to Dayton. Martinez played in 129 games with the Dragons, batting .238 with eight home runs. ### Juan Martinez with Dayton in 2019
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Billy Hamilton Stole 100 Bases for the Dragons in 2011 In the summer of 2010, the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League had a player that was generating some interesting discussion. Those conversations were especially relative to the Dayton Dragons, since most Dragons players come to Dayton immediately after playing with Billings. As Reds roving instructors (traveling coaches who visit all Reds affiliates) made stops in Dayton after spending time in Billings, they helped create what was becoming legend. The Billings team featured a player who was changing the strategy of the Mustangs opponents to a level that was previously unthinkable. One Reds roving instructor informed Dragons coaches that a Pioneer League manager told his catcher that when Hamilton attempted to steal a base, the preferred strategy was to simply throw the ball back to the pitcher. That manager felt the chances of throwing out Hamilton were so slim that they did not justify the risk of a rushed throw by the catcher to a base. “Some scouts tell me that Billy Hamilton might be the fastest professional baseball player since Deion Sanders,� said Billings broadcaster Joe Block in an interview on Dragons radio in 2010. *CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
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When Hamilton did arrive in Dayton the next April, he joined Dragons broadcaster Tom Nichols for their first conversation. Nichols asked Hamilton if he had set a specific numeric goal for his stolen base total with the Dragons in 2011. “Yes, I have,” explained Hamilton, who took into account his total number of stolen bases at Billings, and factored in the increased number of games he would play in a Midwest League season. “It is 96,” said Hamilton. “That’s the number I think I can get to.” Nichols thought for a moment. The Dragons club record at that time for most stolen bases in a season was 37, by Noochie Varner in 2002. Hamilton had set a goal of 96. What an unlikely accomplishment that would seem to be. Yet when the season reached its conclusion, Hamilton had actually undersold his own ability to steal bases. Billy Hamilton had been drafted by the Reds in the second round in 2009 out of Taylorsville High School in Mississippi. He was a tremendous multi-sport athlete in high school, earning all-state honors in basketball and football as well as baseball. He signed a national letter of intent to play wide receiver at Mississippi State University. But the Reds convinced Hamilton to play baseball and inked him to a professional contract with a big signing bonus well into six figures. Hamilton made it to Dayton to start his second full year in the Minor Leagues in 2011. In the case of the most special athletes to play for the Dragons, there was often a moment when onlookers knew that the legendary talk was not an exaggeration. With hard-throwing pitcher Hunter Greene, it came when he fired his very first pitch in a Dragons uniform, and the scoreboard displayed 100 mph to confirm the power in his electric right arm. For Hamilton, that confirmation came in the first inning of his first game with the Dragons. Hamilton, hitting in the lead-off position in the Dayton batting order, opened the bottom of the first inning with a base hit on opening night, April 7, 2011. Bowling Green starting pitcher Enny Romero, very much aware of Hamilton’s reputation, made a decision that regardless of anything else that might happen in that situation, he was going to do everything within his power to keep Hamilton from stealing second base. Time after time, Romero threw to first to try to hold Hamilton close. Before he threw a single pitch to the Dragons #2 hitter, Kurtis Muller, Romero continuously threw to first base to send Hamilton diving back to the bag. *CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
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The fans became restless, but Romero kept throwing to first anyway. Eventually, he had to throw a pitch to Muller. It would be assumed that in light of the number of tosses to first base by Romero, that Hamilton might be a little more careful before trying to steal second base, perhaps waiting to allow Romero to become a bit complacent in his efforts to keep Hamilton from getting a good jump off first base. If you made that assumption, you did not see Billy Hamilton in 2011. On the very first pitch to Muller, Hamilton broke aggressively toward second base. Muller did not swing at the pitch, and Bowling Green catcher Luke Bailey threw quickly to second. It was way too late. Hamilton slid in safely, well before a tag could be applied. You could almost hear everyone in the crowd saying the same words. “After all of that, it wasn’t even close.” Hamilton became such a base stealing threat for the Dragons over the early part of the 2011 season that every time he reached base, a murmur arose from the crowd as they knew what was about to happen. A Dragons season typically begins in early April and continues until Labor Day in September. But by May 25th, Hamilton had already broken Varner’s club record when he stole his 38th base of the year. Hamilton’s stolen base numbers continued to pile up throughout the season, but his most amazing set of games came later in the year. On August 21, the Dragons were in Lansing to meet the Lugnuts. Hamilton opened the game with a base hit to right field. On the first pitch to the next Dragons batter, Ronald Torreyes, Hamilton stole second. On the second pitch to Torreyes, he stole third. The next night in Lansing, he again opened the game with a hit. He again stole second base on the first pitch to Torreyes and stole third on the second pitch. The next night, the Dragons were in Midland, Michigan to battle the Great Lakes Loons, who had clearly heard about how Hamilton had opened the last two games. *CONTINUED ON PAGE 23
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Sure enough, Hamilton again opened the game with a base hit, and despite a long string of pick-off throws to first base, he stole second on the very first pitch to Torreyes. At this point, the Loons manager changed the normal positioning of his second baseman, Casio Grider. He yelled to Grider to straddle the second base bag, like a first baseman holding a runner at first. It left the entire right side of the infield open for Torreyes, but it did shorten Hamilton’s lead enough that even the game’s fastest player did not attempt to steal third. The streak ended. Over three nights, Hamilton stole five bases on the first five pitches to the second batter of the game. It was something to see. “Have you ever heard of anything like that?” asked Nichols of Dragons manager Delino DeShields, himself one of the great base stealers in the Major Leagues in the 1990’s. “Never,” answered DeShields. “I would move him up to Cincinnati tomorrow and just let him pinch run. They won’t have any better chance of stopping him up there than they do down here.” Over four games on that road trip, Hamilton stole nine bases. In the Dragons final series of the season, Hamilton reached the magical 100 stolen base mark. He added three more steals for good measure to end the season with 103. It was the highest stolen base total in the history of the Cincinnati Reds organization, Major League or Minor League, but the new record lasted for just one year. The next season, Hamilton stole 155 bases, the most ever recorded anywhere in professional baseball. When Hamilton eventually got to the Major Leagues with the Reds, there was a time period when his exploits were the talk of baseball. But Dragons fans were not surprised. For every crazy, never-before-seen moment that Hamilton pulled off in the big leagues, Dragons fans could say that they had not only seen it before, but they had seen it for a full season. For every time he scored from second base on a wild pitch or tagged up and scored from third on a popup to the first baseman or raced around to score from second on a groundout to the shortstop, Dragons fans had already seen those things. Hamilton spent a full season in the Midwest League with the Dragons in 2011, leading the team to its best-ever record of 83-57. But it was the excitement of his game, the murmur of the crowd when he reached base, and the pressure he placed on the opposing pitcher and defense that left the biggest memory of his time in Dayton, and the comments by fans to this day as they say, “yes, I remember Billy Hamilton, and there was never anyone else like him.” ###
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The Last Time... In 20 seasons, the Dragons have had plenty of firsts, but when was the last time... Dragons Hit Walk-Off Home Run: August 15, 2015 - Aristides Aquino vs. Burlington Dragons Player Hit Two Home Runs in a Game: July 27, 2019 - Brian Rey at Fort Wayne Dragons Player Hit Three Home Runs in a Game: April 23, 2019 - Pabel Manzanero at Lake County Dragons Player Collected Five Hits in a Game: July 20, 2018 - Jose Garcia at Wisconsin
Narciso Crook
Dragons Player Had Three Extra Base Hits in a Game: July 27, 2019 - Brian Rey at Fort Wayne (2 HR, 1 2B) Dragons Hit Inside-the-Park Home Run: May 4, 2018 - Narciso Crook at Clinton Dragons Player Hit for the Cycle: July 21, 2011 - Donald Lutz vs. Peoria Dragons Player Hit Grand Slam Home Run: July 27, 2019 - Brian Rey at Fort Wayne Dragons Batter Opened Game with Home Run: June 26, 2019 - Michael Siani at West Michigan
Johnny Cueto
Dragons Hit Back-to-Back Home Runs: May 28, 2019 - Reniel Ozuna & Brian Rey vs. Lansing Dragons Hit Three Straight Home Runs: June 13, 2015 - Jose Ortiz, Jimmy Pickens, Luis Gonzalez vs. Beloit Dragons Player Stole Three Bases in a Game: April 11, 2019 - Michael Siani at Fort Wayne Dragons Team Threw a No-Hitter: May 20, 2017 - Scott Moss: 6 IP; Carlos Machorro: 2 IP; Brian Hunter: 1 IP vs. Bowling Green DAY TON
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Donald Lutz
The Last Time... Dragons Pitcher Threw a Complete Game a No-Hitter: May 13, 2006 - Johnny Cueto at Appleton (5 innings) Dragons Pitcher Tossed 9-Inning Complete Game: June 28, 2017 - Ty Boyles at West Michigan Dragons Pitcher Tossed 9-Inning Complete Game Shutout: June 28, 2017 - Ty Boyles at West Michigan Dragons Pitcher Struck out 10 or More Batters in a Game: Aug. 30, 2019 - Randy Wynne at Great Lakes (12 strikeouts) Aristides Aristides Aquino Aquino
Dragons Pitcher Struck out 4 Batters in an Inning: April 11, 2019 - Ryan Campbell (4 in 7th) at Fort Wayne Dragons Won at Least 7 Straight Games: June 2 - 12, 2019 (won 10 straight) Dragons Scored at Least 15 Runs in a Game: June 5, 2015 at Clinton (17 runs) Dragons Collected at Least 20 Hits in a Game: July 4, 2012 vs. South Bend (24 hits) Dragons Won Back-to-Back Shutouts: April 29, 2017 vs. Great Lakes (doubleheader)
Scott Scott Moss Moss
Dragons went Entire Series without an Error: June 8 - 11, 2018 vs. Bowling Green (4-game series) May 3 - 5, 2019 at Cedar Rapids (3-game series) Dragons Swept Home Series: June 7 - 10, 2019 vs. Fort Wayne (4-game series) July 13 - 15, 2019 vs. Beloit (3-game series) Dragons Swept Road Series: June 4 - 6, 2019 at West Michigan (3-game series) Dragons Played 9-Inning Game in Under Two Hours: May 5, 2019 at Cedar Rapids (one hour, 50 minutes)
JOey Votto
Dragons Played a Game in Over Four Hours: Aug. 14, 2019 at Bowling Green (4 hours, 11 minutes, 12 inn.)
Dayton Daily News
Proud SuPPorter
of the Dayton Dragons
BASEBALL CARD COLLECTING
A Pastime in Itself
Memorabilia collections are an ongoing process for many and provide a wave of nostalgia for others. From comics to sports memorabilia, these collections contain valuable pieces of our past. Some have million-dollar price tags, while others are priceless. They give us a different angle of insight into the interests of the collector. One of the most influential collectibles is the baseball card. Millions of players from diverse backgrounds and time periods are printed on cardboard, silk, or plastic and available to gather. They are timeless pieces of baseball history that anyone and everyone. Baseball card collecting did not explode until the baby boomer era in the mid-20th century, but card production began as early as the mid-19th century. Some of the rarest and most sought-after cards come from these early stages of production. During the beginning stages of the 1900s, a majority of baseball cards were produced by confectionary and tobacco companies. The American Tobacco Company included the cards in cigarette packs from 1909 to 1912 before the organization was dissolved. This is partially why the 1909 T206 Honus Wagner is the most expensive baseball card in history. There were hardly any made of the Pittsburgh Pirates star. Considered the “Mona Lisa� of baseball cards, it sold at auction for $3.12 million in 2016. In the 1930s, manufacturing skyrocketed and gum companies took control of the industry. Compared to the economical designs of previous decades, bright colored pictures of players like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig painted the front with personal information and brief biographies on the back. Dayton Dragons baseball cards are available for purchase at dragons.milbstore.com
*CONTINUED ON PAGE 29
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*Although AZEK Deck products are cooler to the touch than many other deck board products, all decking products will get hot in the sun. Additionally, the darker the decking color, the hotter it will feel. For hotter climates, consider choosing a lighter color. ©2020 AZEK Building Products DRAGONS
This more closely aligns with the baseball cards we think of today. Gum Goudey Gum Company controlled the market from 1930-1948, until Bowman and Topps emerged. In 1956, Topps bought out Bowman and was the unchallenged industry leader in the baseball card business for the next two decades. Topps held exclusive rights to producing Major League Baseball cards until 1975. Developing rival Fleer sued Topps to break up the monopoly and won. In 1981, Fleer and Donruss began issuing baseball card sets without gum (Topps still held exclusive rights to issue cards with gum). Competition grew and more manufacturers arose such as Upper Deck in 1988. Upper Deck became the first mainstream company to charge 99 cents for a pack because of its innovative production methods. Most card sets prior to this point in the 1970s could be purchased for anywhere from 10 cents (8-10 cards) to 59 cents (40-50 cards). Added features such as foil packaging, hologram-style logos, and thicker card stock drove up the price. Other unique attributes that followed were reflective foil to create a rainbow shine, parallel cards, pieces of game-used uniforms, and more. *CONTINUED ON PAGE 31 B:8.75"
T:8.5"
The 1952 Mickey Mantle card used to be worth one dollar but sold for $2.88 million in 2018.
(courtesy AP Photo).
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The 1909 T206 Honus Wagner card sold for $3.12 million and is the most expensive baseball card in history. (courtesy AP Photo)
Prior to the 1970s, baseball cards did not have much worth and were treated as such. A great example of this is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card. In the late 1960s it cost about one dollar. A decade later, it was worth $1,000. Along with the 1909 T206 Honus Wagner, the 1952 Mickey Mantle is one of the priciest cards ever sold at $2.88 million. Others include the 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle Rookie Card ($750,000), 1916 Sporting News Babe Ruth ($717,000), 1963 Topps Pete Rose ($717,000), and 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan ($612,359). Most of the time, these cards do not have a starting price, but hard-core collectors understand their worth. As we have transitioned into the digital age, baseball card collecting is becoming more rare. Kids would walk for blocks just to be able to purchase one pack. It remains a niche hobby for some though, and minor league cards, like Dayton Dragons players, can be purchased as well. Prices for the rare cards, however, are higher than ever. Unlike earlier decades, the cards themselves are treated like securities instead of memorabilia. Instead of keeping the cards in a shoebox or a binder, they are locked away in vaults because of their enormous worth. Baseball card collecting has a different connotation today than it did 50-60 years ago but is still a pastime in itself. ### DAY TON
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PITCHER’S PITCHES The goal of a pitch in baseball is very simple. Throw it for a strike and don’t let the batter hit it. As you journey in to the finer nuances of the game, it becomes more complex. The variety of pitches a player can throw, the mechanics necessary to throw them, and the decision of firing the right pitch in a certain situation morph this straightforward effort in to a challenging artform. So, what are the different pitches used in today’s game?
CURVEBALL
As for off-speed pitches, the curveball is the most well-known. The hand of the pitcher forms a “C shape” with two fingers on the right seam. As the pitcher’s arm comes forward, the ball is snapped downward at the top of the throwing arc to generate a forward spin. This causes the ball to eventually dive. The amount of break on the pitch depends on the pitcher’s arm velocity, the way the ball is snapped, the throw off, the arm angle, etc. The curveball can break straight downwards, which is known as a 12-6 curveball, or slant at an angle while traveling down. On average, a MLB pitcher throws a curveball at 77 MPH. However, with the aid of time, technology, and increasing athleticism, curveballs have more movement than ever before. Two prominent pitchers in today’s game with outstanding curveballs are Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander, while legendary pitchers Sandy Koufax and Orel Hershiser were also known for the deadly breakers.
SLIDER
A close relative to the curveball is the slider, which travels laterally and downward with more speed than a curveball. It is similar to the cut fastball but, has more break and less velocity. Movement of the slider is in direct correlation to the fingertip pressure applied on the ball while a pitcher throws in the same motion as a fastball. With a similar grip to the curveball, pressure is placed on the index (outside) finger instead of the middle (inside) finger. A slider often looks like a fastball out of a pitcher’s hand with a late break, making it exceedingly difficult for opposing batters. Zach Greinke has one of the best sliders amongst current players, while the “Big Unit” Randy Johnson had arguably the greatest slider in MLB history, paired with his 100 MPH fastball. Other pitchers who threw the slider very well were Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton, and Dennis Eckersley. *CONTINUED ON PAGE 35 DAY TON
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Despite decline in recent years, the fastball is still the most common pitch thrown by baseball pitchers. As the name suggests, pitchers rely on the speed of the fastball to prevent the batter from making contact. Within the fastball category, there are options to make the task of hitting that much more difficult.
FOUR-SEAM
The four-seam fastball occurs when the pitcher grips the two seams perpendicularly with two extended fingers. It is the most common variant and is regarded as the fastest version of a fastball that can be thrown. The downside is minimal movement which could result poorly if the batter times the pitch correctly. The fastest four-seam fastball recognized by the MLB was off the hand of former Reds player, Aroldis Chapman, at 105.1 MPH. Another branch is the two-seam fastball. To throw a two-seamer, the pitcher locates the area of the baseball where the two seams are closest together and places the index and middle fingers on each of the two seams. This takes away from the speed a four-seam fastball has but, adds to the movement. Depending on which finger the pitcher applies more pressure, the fastball can move laterally or sink. Hall of Fame pitchers, including Greg Maddux and Pedro Martinez, were known for their exceptional two-seam fastballs that forced no or soft contact from hitters.
TWO-SEAM
SPLITTER
An increasingly popular pitch is the cutter. To throw a cutter, the pitcher starts with a four-seam grip but shifts the thumb inward and two fingers to the outside of the ball to create more spin. This causes a late shift but looks very similar to a four-seam fastball out of the pitcher’s hand. This deceiving grip and unexpected motion can stymie a hitter. Hall-of-Fame closer, Mariano Rivera, had the best cutter in baseball history, throwing it with significant movement and at a speed of up to 96 MPH. The splitter, or split-fingered fastball, is thrown like a fastball but, behaves like a change-up. The pitcher needs long and flexible fingers to grip the outside of the horseshoe seam on the ball. As the ball approaches the plate, it appears to travel in a tumbling fashion, like a knuckleball but, comes in much faster. The pitch breaks downwards late, to the right or the left. Current New York Yankee, Masahiro Tanaka, uses the splitter very effectively, while retired pitchers including Roger Clemens, John Smoltz, and Bruce Sutter, also threw excellent splitters. DAY TON 35 D R A G O N S *CONTINUED ON PAGE 37
CRUSHING IT SINCE 1946
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DRAGONS
CHANGE-UP A lost art in the game of baseball, the change-up is the least flashy but, can arguably be the most effective off-speed pitch. Held further back in the hand, it is thrown the same way as a fastball, throwing off the hitters’ timing. While there are several change-up variations, the circle change grip is well-known. The pitcher forms a circle with the index finger and thumb while the rest of the fingers sprawl across the seams. With this hand positioning, it can lead to a break in the opposite direction of a curveball along with a slight downward shift. Stephen Strasburg, Lucas Giolito, and Max Scherzer are a few current pitchers who throw a phenomenal change-up. Many consider the change-up the best pitch thrown by Hall of Famer, Pedro Martinez, as well. The knuckleball is one of the more unusual, yet entertaining, pitches in baseball. It’s designed to minimize the spin of the ball, causing erratic and unpredictable motion as it approaches the plate. This is challenging for hitters but, can also be difficult for catchers and umpires to judge. Common terms used to describe the movement of the ball are “flutter”, “dance”, and “jiggle”. Pitchers initially used their knuckles to grip the ball, leading to the name of the pitch. The more common and effective grip is with a pitcher’s fingertips while the thumb is used for balance. The most recent pitcher to use the knuckleball at a high level was Mets hurler, R.A Dickey, who won the Cy Young in 2012. Tim Wakefield and Phil “Knucksie” Niekro also had excellent knuckleballs. An extremely rare pitch, the eephus is thrown with a very high trajectory, at a very low speed. Bearing resemblance to a slow-pitch softball arc, the pitch is normally thrown around 45-55 mph. Pirates pitcher, Rip Sewell, was the first to throw it regularly in the 1940s. In the 1946 MLB All-Star Game, Sewell threw the pitch to all-time great, Ted Williams. Williams swung and missed. He asked Sewell to throw another and Sewell obliged leading Williams to hit a home run. While any professional hitter could make good contact, the challenge is the hitter has to provide all of the power himself. Former Reds first baseman, Tony Perez, is remembered for hitting a home run in the 1975 World Series off an eephus pitch from Boston’s Bill Lee. ### DAY TON 37 D R A G O N S
The Official Team Store of the
DAYTON DRAGONS
GEAR UP ONLINE
While the Dragons retail store at Day Air Ballpark, the Dragons Den, is closed during this emergency, all items available at the store are currently available for on-line purchases. You can go to DaytonDragons.com/Shop for a complete selection of a wide variety of items. Here are some examples of what is currently available at the Dragons Den online...
REPLICA JERSEYS Replica jerseys are available for all five Dragons jersey styles, including: • White home jerseys • Orange Friday jerseys • Green Sunday jerseys • Gray road jerseys • Black practice jerseys Jerseys are $79 for adults, $59 for kids (home, Friday, and Sunday only in kids’ sizes).
*Other jersey styles are also available.
IN THE SHOPPING MOOD? As a bonus, please take 20% off your online purchase and use the code SUMMER2020 at the checkout. This 20% is now available through July 31, 2020. (some exclusions apply) DAY TON
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PROUD PARTNER of the DAYTON DRAGONS IGS Energy is celebrating 30 years of energizing the Greater Dayton Area.
IGS.COM | 855.435.4637 |
GEAR UP ONLINE New Era Clubhouse Collection Hats The New Era 9FIFTY hats feature a rubberized Dragons logo. They are available in snapback for $30. Other styles include 9FORTY adjustable caps for $25 and 39THIRTY fitted for $29. Other popular style caps are the ’47 Clean Up with Dragons mascots Heater or Gem on the hat, available in adult and youth sizes.
*Many other styles of hats are also available.
Other Popular Items • Men’s Outerwear, T-Shirts, Sweatpants, and Shorts • Women’s and Youth • Outerwear and T-Shirts • Toddler/Infant T-Shirts and Hats • Novelties including Dogs Items, Plush Items, Baseballs, Keychains • Baseball Cards and Mini Bats
SAVE 20% AT CHECKOUT
Be sure to grab your code to save 20% at checkout: SUMMER2020.
Shop Online at
DAYTONDRAGONS.COM/ SHOP
What does his future look like? One never knows, but we all know excellent education and training will last a lifetime. With our main campus in Piqua set on 130 acres of rolling green space, additional
campuses in Eaton, Greenville, and Troy, Edison State Community College continues to serve southwestern Ohio and eastern Indiana with a broad range of baccalaureate
transfer programs, advanced coursework, and continuing education offerings designed to result in university transfer, career advancement, and workforce development. You’ll be amazed at what we’re doing.
Have you seen us lately? www.edisonohio.edu/tour
PROUD PARTNER OF THE DAYTON DRAGONS
DAY TON
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The Dragons MVP Program uses the marketing power of Dayton Dragons Baseball as an educational tool for fourth and fifth grade teachers in the five county area. Each teacher can select five students as a Dayton Dragons MVP in their classroom. Each MVP winner receives four tickets to a special MVP night at a Dragons game at Day Air Ballpark, MVP certificate, access to the “MVP Zone� with a player photobooth, face painting, and games, as well as a MVP hat. During MVP nights at Dragons games, all MVPs in attendance are invited on the field for a pre-game parade. MVPs are randomly selected to throw a first pitch, deliver the official lineup card, deliver the game ball, or become a Jr. PA Announcer! Another part of the MVP Program are school visits where Dayton Dragons players, staff, and mascot bring the Dragons experience to local 4th and 5th graders.
CLASSROOM V ISITS
PRE-GAME PARADES
DRAGONS MVP NIGHTS
The Dayton Dragons MVP Program is made possible by the generous support of
DAY TON
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DRAGONS
FEATURED STORY
LIC #27182
WWW.DETMERSONS.COM DAYTON: 937.879.2373 SPRINGFIELD:44937.325.7396 DAY TON
DRAGONS
Answer Key: 1. Dragons, 2. Infield, 3. Day Air Ballpark, 4. Baseball, 5. Green Team,
DRAGONS unscramble
6. Pitcher, 7. Wink, 8. Cracker Jacks, 9. Batter, 10. Base *CONTINUED ON PAGE 43
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
GDSNOAR LIFENDI ayd ira rblakpal asleblab egner amte ictreph nkwi krcarce kjsac tbetar sbea
Keep your team in the lineup! Cover your bases with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Anthem medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, life and disability benefits can help keep you and your family on the field. You’re covered 100% for preventive care like shots and checkups, so you’ll be ready to bring your “A” game any time. Make the winning play... choose Anthem. Call your broker or Anthem rep or go to anthem.com for a free quote.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Community Insurance Company. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Assocation. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. 650890HMENABS 01/18
PRESENTED BY:
The Dayton Dragons are proud to shine the spotlight on the military through our Hometown Heroes program.
SPOTLIGHTING MILITARY MEMBERS & THEIR FAMILIES
CELEBRATION NIGHT
SUPPORTING MILITARY & VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS
CELEBRATING MISSED MILESTONES OF DEPLOYED
• Recognizing military focused organizations
• Conducting swearing in ceremonies in front of sold out crowds
• Celebrating missed milestones of deployed
• Hosting families of deployed
DIGITAL PLAYBALL! ISSUE #5 Presented BY:
Click HERE for Dragons Poster - 1 of 5
Click HERE for Dragons Poster - 2 of 5
Click HERE for Dragons Poster - 3 of 5
Click HERE for Dragons Poster - 4 of 5
Click HERE for Dragons Poster - 5 of 5
FAN GIVEAWAY CLICK HERE TO ENTER
Autographed Hunter Greene Baseball & $50 for the Dragons Den Team Store!
