Sebastian Moya- final project

Flippin’ Bats

Table of Contents

On THe Cover

04 Ohtani’s New Threads

The baseball pheonom connects with new Dodger teammates.

10 Q & A with The Ryan Express

The hall of fame pitcher, Nolan Ryan, sits down for an interview.

Features

08 Baseball’s Unbeatable Records

Looking back at baseball’s most unbeatable records.

12 How to Break in a Glove

A detailed step by step on how to break in your glove.

14 Baseball’s Past and Present

Looking at the games biggest differences from the twentieth century to now.

16 Bucket List

The top destinations for baseball’s biggest fans.

18 Ballpark Foods

Ranking the 10 best MLB stadiums for food.

20 Wife Swap?

Late MLB pitcher, Fritz Peterson, swapped wifes with teammate Mike Kekich

How Shohei Ohtani is connecting with his Dodgers teammates

By: Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani struck out March 28 against St. Louis Cardinals reliever Riley O’Brien and took a seat alone on the bench in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ dugout. Moments later, Max Muncy, standing near the top step waiting to take his place in the on-deck circle, called over to him. It was the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ home opener, and Muncy wanted to get a better sense of O’Brien, a 29-year-old journeyman righthander. In that moment, Ohtani got what he probably needed most:

An opening. A chance to connect organically with new teammates. A reminder, perhaps, that nothing breaks down walls like the universal language of sports.

Ohtani walked Muncy through his at-bat, without the benefit of a translator, using hand gestures and a steadily improving grasp of English to explain the break on O’Brien’s slider and the depth of his curveball. Soon he was holding court for Teoscar Hernández and James Outman, too, a scene that has become familiar in the season’s first two-plus weeks.

Said Outman: “We speak the same language of baseball.”

Ohtani is both the biggest baseball star in the world and the sport’s greatest mystery. The enormity of his profile has almost necessitated a life of secrecy, one that has often distanced him from even his own teammates. Few, if any, can relate to his level of fame. The language barrier doesn’t help. The reality of his role this season, a designated hitter still in the early stages of his recovery as a pitcher, has put him on what Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described as “an island,” often alone in his work. And the betting scandal that surrounds Ohtani -- triggering the firing of his former interpreter and confi dant, Ippei Mizuhara, who has since been charged with bank fraud -- seems to have separated him further. april-MAy 2024 / Flippin’ Bats

One of the best ways to bridge that gap, the Dodgers have learned, is through the conversations that sprout within baseball games, many of them dugout scouting reports between at-bats. In those settings, Ohtani has been as much a provider as he has been a recipient.

“He understands baseball,” Muncy said. “There’s guys that I’ve never faced that he’s faced, guys that I’ve faced that he’s never faced, just being in two different leagues the last several years. And you’ve seen it with everybody. He’s trying to interact. He’s trying to just see what the pitch feels like, what the action feels like. And I give credit to him because he’s trying not to use a translator. He’s trying to just interact. There might be a language barrier but this is baseball, so it’s just easier for him to communicate.”

body. He’s trying to interact. He’s trying to just see what the pitch feels like, what the action feels like. And I give credit to him because he’s trying not to use a translator. He’s trying to just interact. There might be a language barrier but this is baseball, so it’s just easier for him to communicate.”

“The best thing we can all do is treat him like a regular baseball player, like everyone else in the clubhouse,” Roberts said. “Someone that’s so unique and so talented, I think people tend to get tentative and shy away. But in the clubhouse, you can’t do that.”

The dynamic of interacting with Ohtani changed dramatically March 21, when the Dodgers fired Mizuhara in the wake of media inquiries surrounding at least $4.5 million in wire transfers sent from Ohtani’s bank account to a Southern California bookmaking operation under federal investigation.

The Dodgers have mostly cruised through the early part of this season, winning 10 of 16 games and losing only one of five series. The top half of their lineup has been predictably devastating, with cleanup hitter Will Smith showing he might be just as big a force as Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, who bat in front of him. The dominance of Tyler Glasnow, the acclimation of Yoshinobu

The Dodgers are far from perfect -- key players are still struggling, the infield defense looks shoddy, and an effective lefty reliever might be needed -but their rise to the top of the National League West has felt inevitable since Opening Day. Their biggest initial challenge, then, has been navigating the attention that surrounds Ohtani and integrating him into the group.

Teoscar Hernández showering new teammate, Shohei Ohtani, with sunflower seeds after 1st Dodger homerun

Yamamoto and the promise of Bobby Miller have provided hints of brilliance for the rotation.

Ohtani emphatically denied involvement while delivering a prolonged statement March 25. Seventeen days later, on Thursday, federal authorities presented reams of phone records and bank statements showing, according to an affidavit, that Mizuhara took more than $16 million from an account owned by Ohtani to pay gambling debts without the twoway superstar’s knowledge.

The betting scandal had thrust Ohtani into the center of controversy at a time when he was adapting to a new team and facing the pressure of a $700 million contract. The person he would lean on most to navigate through something like that was gone, ironically enough because he allegedly put him through it in the first place. Roberts, though, believed not having Mizuhara around would actually make things easier. In the manager’s mind, it would streamline communication and force Ohtani outside his comfort zone.

“We’re seeing more of that,” Roberts said last week. “I think there’s more conversations, and I think that, in the long term, the long haul, over the course of

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the season, it’s going to be very beneficial.”

Ohtani is riding a 16-for-35 stretch that includes 12 extra-base hits, four of them homers. He is putting a slow start behind him and making it seem as if he were unaffected by the drama.

While addressing the media Monday in Minneapolis, Ohtani, speaking through new interpreter Will Ireton, said: “Regardless of whatever happens off the field, my ability to continue to play baseball hasn’t changed. It’s my job to make sure that I play to the best of my abilities.”

Members of Ohtani’s former team, the Los Angeles Angels, frequently lauded his ability to eliminate distractions and center his focus, a key to his ability to juggle hitting and pitching simultaneously. Dodgers teammates have seen that manifest itself in a whole new way.

“Only he knows what’s inside and what he’s feeling, but he’s not showing it -- and that means a lot,” Hernández said. “I think that’s being a professional. I know you’re dealing with something big off the field, but he’s still coming in here, focused, getting the job done and doing it for the team.”

Ohtani and Hernández, a corner outfielder signed to a one-year contract after a short stint with the Seattle Mariners, quickly became friends upon joining the Dodgers. Ohtani has often been described as uncommonly soft-spoken and respectful for a star of his caliber, but he also has a playful side.

Hernández has been one of a few Dodgers to tap into it so far.

Outman has often found himself talking with Ohtani about opposing pitchers because he sees the ball similarly as a fellow left-handed hitter. Asked what he has noticed about Ohtani through those interactions, Outman said: “That sometimes the game seems too easy for him.”

“He’s a ballplayer just like any of us. But he’s just extremely talented.”

Replacing Mizuhara with Ireton, a longtime team employee who maintains other responsibilities and is nowhere near as involved in Ohtani’s life, has helped carve a path for others to connect with Ohtani, several members of the Dodgers have said. Teammates have seemed more willing to approach Ohtani on a whim, simply because there isn’t somebody constantly by his side. They’ve noticed Ohtani begin to open up more -- at his locker, in hitters’ meetings and, perhaps most notably, during games. Flippin’ Bats / april-MAy

These MLB records might be unbreakable

By: Matt Kelly

The saying “Records are made to be broken” is about as old as the existence of sports records themselves. But in baseball, some achievements truly stretch the limits of that adage.

Johnny Vander Meer’s back-to-back no-hitters in 1938 is one of those achievements. Only a handful of the 200-plus pitchers with a no-hitter have managed even a few perfect innings during their next trip to the mound. Vander Meer’s pair might indeed turn out to be “unbreakable,” or as close to that term as possible, and it calls to mind a handful of other records that are collecting dust as years go by.

Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hit streak is one of the most famous “unbreakable” records, but his .357 average in 1941 suggests that -- with all the right circumstanc-

es in play -- a high-average, low-walk hitter could someday approach “Joltin’ Joe.” How that player would handle the media scrutiny as he approaches the mythical “56” is another story, of course.

With Vander Meer and DiMaggio in mind, here are a handful of other modern records that seem “unbreakable.” Some of them you’ll know right away; others may surprise you.

The records you likely know

1. Nolan Ryan’s 5,714 strikeouts and 2,795 walks

Even with today’s ever-escalating strikeout climate, it’s hard to imagine anyone pitching with both the ferocity and dizzying longevity needed to catch Ryan. The Ryan Express’ desire to strike out every hitter had its trade-off, producing a walk record also unlikely to be equaled. But we’ll likely never see another pitcher quite like him, in either regard.

2. Rickey Henderson’s 1406 career steals and 130 steals in 1982

Baseball is a cyclical game, but right now, it’s hard to imagine the stolen base being featured again like it was in Henderson’s heyday. The last player to attempt 130 steals in a season was Vince Coleman in 1985, and 34-year-old Dee Strange-Gordon was the active steals leader through the 2022 season with just 336.

3. Cal Ripken Jr.’s 2,632 straight games played

Plenty has been written about the streak of the “Iron Man,” who not only matched Lou Gehrig’s once-unbreakable mark, but kept on playing for another three straight seasons. Ripken survived several close calls, including a severely twisted right knee in 1993, ankle injuries in ‘85 and ‘92 and the ‘96 All-Star Game, when reliever Roberto Hernandez slipped and broke Ripken’s nose during a photo shoot for the AL squad (and that didn’t even stop Ripken from playing in the Midsummer Classic). The longest streak recorded by any player since is Miguel Tejada’s 1,152 games from 2000-07 -- not even half of Ripken’s total. Ripken’s streak is also more than double the NL record of 1,207 games by Steve Garvey from 1975-83.

4. Ichiro’s 262 hits in 2004

Few players have thrilled fans in as many different ways as Ichiro, and that included his impeccable bat control and timing at the plate. Breaking Ichiro’s single-season hit mark would require an uncommon combination of consistency, opportunities and the ability to make contact -- an increasing rarity in the modern game. Plus, Ichiro logged 704 at-bats in that magical 2004 season, one of only four players to cross the 700 at-bat plateau in a single campaign. So to break this record, you’d have to hit .373 and log more

5. Babe Ruth’s 177 runs scored in 1921

Like Wilson’s RBI mark, Ruth got a good bit of help from a lineup that collectively hit .300 and averaged 6.2 runs. But don’t shortchange the 353 times that “The Bambino” reached base, which still stands as the fifth-highest single-year total in modern history. Hitting 59 homers will go a long way, too, of course. Even at his peak, Bonds never scored 150 times in a season; Jeff Bagwell (152 runs in 2000) is the most recent player to crack 150, and he was the first since Ted Williams in 1949.

6. Hank Aaron’s 6,856 career total bases

Bonds may have eclipsed Aaron as the Home Run King, but no one comes close to “Hammerin’ Hank” in this measure of metronomic power. Stan Musial still stands closest to Aaron with 6,134 total bases, while Miguel Cabrera -- the new active leader with Pujols retired -- is more than 1,600 behind.

Flippin’ Bats / april-MAy 2024

Q & A with The Ryan Express

By: Barry Faulkner

Few athletes can say they captured the imagination of their generation. Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. not only played before two generations, the legacy left by his pitching dominance will resonate with baseball fans for as long as the game is played.

Ryan began his 27-season Major League career with the New York Mets, but became a star as a member of the then-California Angels, for whom he played eight seasons from 1972-79.

The Texas native went on to pitch nine seasons for the Houston Astros and five more for the Texas Rangers, setting career records for strikeouts (5,714) and no-hitters (seven).

Utilizing a fastball that was often clocked at 100 mph, as well as a wicked curveball, Ryan also threw 12 one-hitters, 18 two-hitters and 61 shutouts. The eight-time AllStar’s 383 strikeouts for the Angels in 1973 is the Major League single-season record. He finished with a record of 324-292 and a career earned-run average of 3.19. He has owned or shared 53 Major League records.

Ryan, who turns 61 on Jan. 31, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999, his first year of eligibility. Now living in Austin Texas, he is a special assistant to the Astros general manager and he owns two

Ryan, who turns 61 on Jan. 31, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999, his first year of eligibility. Now living in Austin Texas, he is a special assistant to the Astros general manager and he owns two minor league teams. The Corpus Christi Hooks compete in the AA Texas League and the Round Rock Express, named after his familiar nickname “The Ryan Express,” play in the AAA Pacific Coast League. They are both Astros affiliates.

He is also owner and chairman of Express Bank of Texas and owns a restaurant in Three Rivers, Texas.

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Ryan celebrated his 40th anniversary with wife Ruth last summer, and his sons, Reid and Reese, both former minor league pitchers, now share ownership duties with the Round Rock Express. hers, now share ownership duties with the Round Rock Express. He also has a daughter, Wendy, and five grandchildren.

Ryan will be the featured speaker Wednesday night at the Hot Stove League series held at the Cannery restaurant in Newport Beach.

He spoke by phone last week from his office in Texas.

Q What is your most special baseball memory?

A

Oh, you know, there’s not just one, because of the length of my career and all the things that happened. I would say one is being on a world championship team and another would be the 7th no-hitter.

QWhat is your fondest memory of being a California Angel?

A I kind of look at the California Angels as the foundation of my career. I got to pitch a lot of innings and was able to pitch four no-hitters. When I think back on those days, they are very fond to me, even though we didn’t have very good ballclubs.

Q How big a percentage does natural ability play in the development of a star athlete?

A I think natural ability in youth overrides a lot of things that [pitchers] may do that are not mechanically sound. But, for the all-star-type athlete, natural ability and intelligence and dedication are all things that it takes.

Q Who is your all-time favorite baseball player?

A I would venture to say, as a pitcher, it would be Sandy Koufax. And, as a position player, Henry Aaron. I would also say Willie Mays was the most gifted athlete I ever saw play baseball.

Q How many people have you met over the years who were named after you [either Nolan or Ryan]?

A I have no idea. But, when I go around the country, it seems to be quite a few.

Q What is your favorite baseball movie?

A Major League,because of the humor of it.

Q What is the primary thread that exists between success in athletics and success in business?

A I think you have to have dedication, work ethic, and be able to focus. It doesn’t matter if it’s in business or athletics, those are traits you have to have to be successful, day-in and day-out.

Q What is your take on the steroids era and what would you do about the statistics posted by those known to have taken steroids?

A Well, I don’t see how baseball can do anything about it. They ignored the problem when it was developing and, now that it has been allowed to happen, I think we just have to accept it and move on.

Flippin’ Bats / april-MAy 2024

How To Break In a Ball Glove Fast

Every baseball and softball glove tells the story of the player using it on the field. The more it’s used, the better the glove can become as it molds to a player’s hand. Gloves suffer through every practice, catch session, and game so that players have one that’s all their own.

No matter if you’re a complete beginner or you’re batting in the professional league, every player must break in their glove in order to leverage their fullest potential for all seven innings.

The Best Way To Break In a Baseball or Softball Glove

If it’s good enough for glove guru Shigeaki Aso, it’s good enough for us! This method of breaking in gloves requires minimal tools. We believe this is the best way because you’re in full control of how much pressure you apply as well as how much you stretch out the glove laces.

Other methods may be easier, but using this way to break in your ball glove can help you make it all your own. For this step-by-step guide to breaking in your glove, you’ll need to do the following:

Step 1: Gather the Right Tools & Supplies

Start by assembling the right tools safe to use for your new glove. For this step, we’ve compiled this brief list of helpful items that will assist in making it as simple and effective as possible to breaking gloves in:

• Warm water (not hot or boiling)

• Container to pour it

• Elbow grease

• Glove mallet

• A clean surface (or a towel if you do this on the ground)

Step 2: Saturate the Pocket With Water

Place the glove on a clean surface or towel if you plan to break in your glove at the field. Make sure the water isn’t able to enter the finger stalls.

Water allows you to stretch the material of your glove easily. You’ll be able to shape the glove however you like. Start by pouring the water conservatively, and add a little more as you need to shape the glove.

Step 3: Squeeze & Slide the Glove to Deepen the Pocket

With the glove back facing your chest, grasp each side of the heel (or the base of it where you stick your hand in). Squeeze tightly, and slide the glove back and forth with both hands moving in opposite directions back and forth. april-MAy 2024 / Flippin’ Bats

Step 4: Stretch Out the Webbing

Next, you’ll want to firmly grab the glove at both ends at the top — with one hand on the thumb stall and the other hand grasping the pinky finger stall. Stretch the webbing. Doing so will extend the webbing as well as expand the finger stalls.

The glove may shrink a little as the glove dries. Mind how much force you use during this step. Use more if you prefer a looser top lace, and use less if you want to retain its original structure.

Step 5: Loosen the Webbing’s Toop Laces

Take the glove in both hands. Shape the webbing into an ‘Z’ form and apply firm pressure as you squeeze for at least seven seconds. This step helps your glove to not feel stiff when you open and close it.

Step 6: Deepen the Pocket

Turn the glove palm side up. Make sure it’s open. Grab your mallet, and use it to deepen the pocket to the depth you prefer.

Don’t know how deep your glove should be? Read our softball glove sizing guide to learn the right depth for your exact position.

Step 7: Pound in the Glove’s Break Points

• Fold the glove closed.

• Turn the thumb stall up to where it’s facing you.

• Once again, grab the mallet and beat the glove on the outside of the heel beginning with the thumb side and following up with the pinky side when you’re satisfied with the softness of the glove.

• Doing this helps improve how quickly you can open and close the glove in practice or in the game.

Step 8: Play Catch!

Monumental Differences Between Today’s Baseball Players and Those of Past

By: Rick Weiner

You’ve heard the saying, “the more things change, the more they stay the same?”

That doesn’t apply here. While baseball has stood firm on many of its longstanding traditions and the game is played the same way today as it was back in the 1920s—pitcher throws ball, batter hits ball, fielder catches ball—today’s MLB would look foreign to some of the legends of the game.

Finances, genetics and technology, to name a few, have changed things.They have changed the men who play the game.

To quote Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, “It’s Evolution, Baby!”

Well, sort of. Performance enhancing drugs, steroids and the like have certainly led to monumental changes in the performance of some players, but they play only a small part when looking at the monumental differences between today’s stars and those of yesteryear.

Let’s take a look at the biggest differences between then and now.

It’s a Year-Round Job

Can you imagine buying a used car from Brandon Phillips? How about going to buy a Christmas Tree from Miguel Cabrera? Insurance from Derek Jeter? Need a suit for your buddy’s wedding? Your salesman, Clayton Kershaw, would be happy to help you pick out something that’s stylish yet tasteful.

For as absurd as the above scenarios sound, it was a way of life for major league players of years past, who weren’t making the kind of money that even borderline major league players pull down in a season today. In 2012, the average major league salary was just over $3.2 million, with the minimum salary sitting at nearly a half-million dollars, $480,000 per season, according to ESPN.

Making that sort of money allows today’s player to make baseball a year-round job, training and working out during the offseason. Without question, the ability to train year-round has something to do with the increased size and strength of today’s player as

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compared to those who came before them— but it demands that some questions be asked that simply can never be answered.

How much better would Stan Musial have been if he didn’t need to sell Christmas trees during his time off? What about Roy Campanella, the Hall of Fame backstop for the Brooklyn Dodgers?

How good could he have been—and how much better would the Dodgers pitching staff have been as a result—if Campanella could have worked with those pitchers during the winter instead of running his liquor store in Harlem?

In 1966, 20-year-old Jim Palmer helped lead the Baltimore Orioles to a World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Less than a month later, Palmer was back at work—folding clothes, not firing fastballs, as he told

Andrew Keh of the New York Times:

Would Palmer, who went on to win three American League Cy Young Awards and be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, have been better had he been able to focus on pitching instead of clothing in the offseason?

“I was the youngest player to ever throw a shutout in a World Series. Next thing I know, I am selling men’s clothes at Hamburgers.”

How would today’s major league player handle having to work a “regular job” as well as their high-profile one—and more importantly, how would that impact their production on the field?

Players Have Gotten Bigger, Stronger and Faster

This will come as no shock to anyone, but over the past 50 years or so, the average American male between the ages of 20 and 39 has gotten larger, something that the Centers for Disease Control made note of in a study published back in 2004.

Granted, this study is nearly a decade old and only includes male citizens of the United States, but it reaffirms two things: people are getting bigger, and professional athletes—baseball players included—are not your average American male.

According to ESPN, your average major league player on a roster in 2013 stands 6’1” tall and weighs 207 pounds. Two teams, the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins, have rosters with averages that hit those two numbers exactly. So I decided to take a look at the average size of players on the Indians over the past 100 years or so to see whether the trend shown in the CDC report translated to baseball as well. It does.

There are, of course, a number of reasons for the increased size.A more diverse player pool to choose from, improved training techniques, performance enhancing drugs, nutrition and genetic makeup all play a part in explaining the difference in size between the Cleveland teams of yesteryear and the team we see taking the field for exhibition games now.

Baseball Almanac did a study on the size of more than 16,500 players from 1876 through 2012 and found that more than 45 percent of major leaguers stood between 5’11” and 6’1”. Weight-wise, more than 58 percent of

major leaguers weighed between 170 and 199 pounds.

While today’s ballplayer stands about as tall as those who came before them, they are much heavier—and with that weight difference being in the form of muscle mass and not fat, that changes things drastically.

Flippin’ Bats / april-MAy 2024

10 Bucket List Destinations for Baseball Fans

By: Ryan Reed

Pay homage to the people and places that made the game great.

duction ceremony where players who have been voted in are honored for their achievements.

Monument Park, Bronx, N.Y.

Throughout history, some of the game’s greatest players have worn the famous pinstripes of the New York Yankees. From Babe Ruth to Yogi Berra, the greatest Bronx Bombers are enshrined just beyond the center field fences at the new Yankee Stadium.

Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, N.Y.

The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, is where the legends of the game are enshrined and a must-visit for any baseball fan. Inside the museum, visitors can view items such as the earliest known baseball jersey, Babe Ruth’s 60th home run bat and the ball Cy Young used during his 500th win. A special time to visit is during the annual in-

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Kansas City, Missouri

In the early 20th century, African-Americans were banned from playing professional baseball with whites, so they created their own teams and leagues across the country instead. The leagues, which operated from the 1920s to the early 1960s, featured many star players who are household names today, including Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, highlights the rich history of African-American baseball with interactive exhibits and hundreds of photographs from the era.

Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, Louisville, Kentucky

You can’t miss the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory in Kentucky, just look for the World’s Biggest Bat leaning against the side of a building. Once inside, guests can go on a tour of the factory and see how the bats are crafted and view historic game-used bats from Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth and others.

Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, Louisville, Kentucky

As the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball (opened in 1912), Fenway Park is a must-visit for any baseball fan even if you’re not a fan of the hometown Boston Red Sox. The park is packed with history and charm that newer ballparks just can’t compete with. Whether its the Big Green Monster in left field,

april-MAy 2024 / Flippin’ Bats

Pesky’s Pole in right or the rendition of “Sweet Caroline” played during the eighth inning, Fenway Park is a oneof-a-kind experience not to be missed.

Field of Dreams, Dyersville, Iowa

If you’ve ever wondered if you can visit the actual field from the film “Field of Dreams” the answer is “yes.” In Dyersville, Iowa, baseball fans can play catch on the field Ray Kinsella built after hearing a voice whisper, “If you build it, he will come.” The farmhouse, corn in center field and stands where the Kinsella family watched Shoeless Joe Jackson and others play ball remain as they did in the movie.

In the early 20th century, African-Americans were banned from playing professional baseball with whites, so they created their own teams and leagues across the country instead. The leagues, which operated from the 1920s to the early 1960s, featured many star players who are household names today, including Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City,

Howard J. Lamade Stadium, Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Howard J. Lamade Stadium is where baseball returns to its roots. Every summer, teams from across the world ascend on Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to take part in the Little League World Series. The stadium was built in 1959 and holds 40,000 people with many sitting on the hill beyond the center-field wall.

The story of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier begins in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1946. Robinson played for the Montreal Royals, the top minor league team of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the two played an exhibition at City Island Ballpark. The game was the first in which an African American played with whites in an organized game of professional baseball since the late 19th century. The city renamed the park Jackie Robinson Ballpark in 1990 and created a museum for the baseball icon within its gates.

Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

When it comes to ballparks, there are few as iconic as Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. With its famous ivy-covered walls and retro scoreboard, the “Friendly Confines” as it’s known, was built in 1914, making it the second oldest park in the majors. The home of the Chicago Cubs has played host to many historic moments like Babe Ruth’s “called shot” and Pete Rose’s 4,191 hit. In 2016, the Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians to win their first World Series since 1908.

Bobblehead Museum, Miami, Florida

Jackie Robinson Ballpark

ranking the 10 best MLB stadiums for food

Batter up for the best bites

While peanuts, Cracker Jacks, and hot dogs remain game day staples at ballparks across the country, fans these days are treated to a whole range of creative culinary offerings. These 10 stadiums — selected by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best for food — serve up some of the tastiest bites in baseball.

No. 10: Globe Life Field - Arlington, Texas

Celebrating the flavors of the Lone Star State, fans watching a Rangers game at Globe Life Field in Arlington can savor classic Texas favorites like brisket and ribs. Tex-Mex specialties like loaded nachos are also highlighted. With a focus on bold flavors, generous portions, and a nod to Texas cuisine, fans enjoy a memorable dining experience that reflects the vibrant food culture of the region.

No. 9: Great American Ball ParkCincinnati, Ohio

When eating at Great American Ball Park, you can enjoy routine hot dogs and nachos or go for something more interesting. Try the Cheeseburger Frybox topped with nacho cheese, iceberg lettuce, grilled onions, pickles, and Thousand Island dressing. Or consider the Redlegs Soft Serve, vanilla ice cream flavored with fruit punch Kool-Aid and served in a mini Cincinnati Reds helmet.

No. 8: Guaranteed Rate FieldChicago, Illinois

Fans at Guaranteed Rate Field can sample some tried-and-true favorites while catching the Chicago White Sox in action. For instance, the Triple Play BBQ Sandwich features Vienna Beef smoked brisket, barbecue pulled pork, jalapeño cheddar sausage, and sweet pickles on a Kaiser

roll. You also can’t go wrong with classic Italian beef sandwiches from Buona Beef or deep-dish pizza from Beggars Pizza Pub.

No. 7: Petco Park - San Diego, California

At Petco Park, you can sample the extraordinary instead of the ordinary. For example, skip the traditional hot dog, and opt for a Tijuana-style El Xolito bacon-wrapped hot dog at Barrio Dogg. Instead of popcorn, grab the Mexican-style grilled corn with fuego sauce, cotija cheese, Tajin, and lime crema at Elote Mexican Street Corn.

No. 6: Progressive FieldCleveland, Ohio

With a wide array of food options to satisfy fans’ cravings, Cleveland’s Progressive Field goes beyond standard ballpark fare, showcasing local flavors and regional favorites. That means foods like gourmet sausages, pierogies, and loaded nachos. The dish that has become synonymous with the ballpark is the Slider Dog, topped with Froot Loops, bacon, and pimento mac and cheese.

No. 5: Citizens Bank ParkPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania

With an emphasis on iconic Philadelphia flavors and local culinary traditions, Citizens Bank Park showcases the city’s most beloved dishes. Phillies fans can enjoy classic favorites such as cheesesteaks and soft pretzels, as well as gourmet burgers, specialty sausages, loaded fries, and local craft beers. Local favorites include Chickie’s & Pete’s Crabfries, Manco & Manco boardwalk-style pizza, and Federal Donuts (don’t miss the fried chicken).

No. 4: Nationals ParkWashington, D.C.

When chowing down at Nationals Park, fans can enjoy classic ballpark favorites like hot dogs, burgers, and popcorn, as well as specialty items that reflect the local food scene. The stadium showcases D.C.’s culinary heritage with options such as half-smoke sausages and Chesapeake crab cakes.

No. 3: Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Baltimore, Maryland

Oriole Park at Camden Yards celebrates the local food scene. Fans enjoy classic Baltimore and ballpark favorites like pit beef sandwiches, gourmet hot dogs, and loaded fries. However, the beloved Baltimore specialty that’s become the fan favorite is the crab cake, which can also be enjoyed in egg roll form.

No. 2: American Family FieldMilwaukee, Wisconsin

At American Family Field in Milwaukee, you can sample a number of Wisconsin foods at J. Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard, including beer cheese soup, Chippewa Falls cheese curds, and Leinie’s beer-battered walleye. There’s also a taco bar in the Club level, and on Fridays, fans can enjoy a Wisconsin favorite: the fish fry.

No. 1: Citi Field - Queens, New York

Mets fans are known to indulge in Citi Field’s signature food item, the Bases Loaded BBQ Burger from Shake Shack, a beloved New York City institution. In addition to this juicy and flavorful masterpiece, fans can choose from a variety of stadium food options that represent the city’s culinary identity. From classic New Yorkstyle hot dogs and soft pretzels to local delicacies like pastrami sandwiches, cheesesteaks, and loaded nachos, the food options cater to a wide range of tastes. Flippin’ Bats / april-MAy 2024

Yankees pitcher Fritz Peterson, infamous for trading wives with a teammate, dies at 82

By: Ian Casselberry

New York Yankees pitchers Mike Kekich, left, and Fritz Peterson, right, have their arms full of kids after they showed up at the spring training camp at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Feb. 28, 1972. Kekich holds crying son Jim and daughter Regan, and Peterson holds his son Eric.

april-MAy 2024 / Flippin’ Bats

Former New York Yankees left-hander Fritz Peterson died, the team announced on Friday. He was 82 years old.

Peterson pitched nine seasons for the Yankees from 1966 through 1974, notching a 20-win season in 1970, when he was also named to the American League All-Star team. He also pitched for Cleveland and the Texas Rangers during his career. Altogether, Peterson compiled a 3.30 ERA and 133–131 record, throwing over 2,200 innings.

Control was Peterson’s best trait as a pitcher. He had a career walk rate of 1.7 per nine innings and averaged the lowest walks per nine in the AL for a five-season stretch from 1968 through 1972.

However, Peterson is perhaps best known for more infamous reasons. During spring training of 1973, he and teammate Mike Kekich revealed that they had traded families and homes. Kekich’s wife and two daughters moved in with Peterson, while Peterson’s wife and two sons lived with Kekich.

“It wasn’t a wife swap. It was a life swap,” Kekich said in an interview, via The New York Times. “We’re not saying we’re right and everyone else who thinks we’re wrong are wrong. It’s just the way we felt.”

Peterson and Susanne Kekich went on to get married in 1974, and stayed together until his death. However, Mike Kekich and Marilyn Peterson ended their relationship shortly after the trade became public. Kekich was traded to Cleveland later that season.

In 2010, actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon intended to develop the wife swap story into a feature film. Director Jay Roach (Meet the Parents) was hired for the project with David Mandel (Veep, Seinfeld) set to write the screenplay.

As of 2015, the film was still in the works, though Kekich threatened to sue if it went forward. However, once schedules prevented Affleck and Damon from being able to star in the film, it appears to have fallen through.

“The Yankees are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Fritz Peterson, who was a formidable pitcher and affable presence throughout his nine years in pinstripes,” the team said in a statement.

“A known prankster and well-liked among his teammates and coaches, Peterson had an outgoing personality and inquisitive nature that brought lightheartedness to the clubhouse on a regular basis and belied his prowess on the mound — most notably his impeccable control, which was among the best in the Majors.”

Granted, this study is nearly a decade old and only includes male citizens of the United States, but it reaffirms two things: people are getting bigger, and professional athletes—baseball players included—are not your average American male.

According to ESPN, your average major league player on a roster in 2013 stands 6’1” tall and weighs 207 pounds. Two teams, the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins, have rosters with averages that hit those two numbers exactly. So I decided to take a look at the average size of players on the Indians over the past 100 years or so to see whether the trend shown in the CDC report translated to baseball as well. It does.

There are, of course, a number of reasons for the increased size.A more diverse player pool to choose from, improved training techniques, performance enhancing drugs, nutrition and genetic makeup all play a part in explaining the difference in size between the

New York Yankee pitchers Fritz Peterson, front, and Mike Kekich sit on a schooner’s bowsprit with their wives, Marilyn Peterson, left, and Susanne Kekich, Aug. 28, 1972, on the Long Island Sound in New York

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