Babe Ruth Yankees jersey sells for record $5.64 million
Babe Ruth is still producing eye-popping numbers 84 years after his baseball career ended. A Yankees jersey said to have been worn by him during the team’s “Murderers’ Row” period of the late 1920s fetched $5.64 million at an auction over the weekend. That set a record, by more than...
Fan takes in baseball game while enjoying tub of mayonnaise
File this one under … huh? A fan took in a Memphis Redbirds minor league baseball game this weekend while enjoying a tub of mayonnaise. Mayo. Out of the jar. Alone. Cameras captured the man at various times during the game eating the mayonnaise and the Redbirds’ Twitter account posted...
John Steigerwald: Home runs can no longer save baseballVideo
“Chicks dig the long ball.” That was the message delivered in a 1998 Nike commercial. It was the answer given by two skinny pitchers, who were asked why they were training so hard. Mark McGwire, who was on his way to 70 home runs that year and looked like an...
Slugger Edwin Encarnacion to join Yankees on Monday
CHICAGO — Edwin Encarnacion will find himself in a familiar spot after he joins the New York Yankees on Monday. Manager Aaron Boone plans to use the AL home run leader as his team’s primary designated hitter once the 36-year-old slugger arrives. The AL East leaders acquired Encarnacion and cash...
Quick work, luck saved David Ortiz, surgeons say in 1st interview
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The assassin’s point-blank gunshot pierced the right side of David Ortiz’s back, tore through his liver and intestines and exited just to the right of his navel, still traveling fast enough to lodge in a companion’s thigh. “Please don’t let me die,” Ortiz pleaded again...
Detroit Tigers select Pitt product, Norwin grad Connor Perry in 28th round
A couple of major league teams called during Day 2 of the MLB Draft, but they decided to pass on Connor Perry. More calls came during Day 3. Still, nothing. Perry’s nerves were tested, but during the 28th round, he got a call from the Detroit Tigers. The conversation went...
6 suspects, including gunman, arrested in David Ortiz shooting; 1 suspect wanted in Reading
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — An alleged gunman and five accomplices have been detained in the shooting of former Red Sox superstar David Ortiz, Dominican officials said Wednesday, while providing no information about why a group of young men would try to kill their country’s most beloved sports hero. Four...
Five suspects detained in shooting of former Red Sox star David Ortiz
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — An alleged gunman and five accomplices were detained in the shooting of former Red Sox superstar David Ortiz, Dominican officials said Wednesday, while providing no information about why a group of young men would try to kill their country’s most beloved sports hero. Four other...
David Ortiz undergoes more surgery in Boston after shooting
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is recovering in Boston from a two-hour exploratory surgery after being shot at a bar in his native Dominican Republic. Ortiz spokesman Leo López told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Ortiz is expected to stay in intensive care...
Ex-Red Sox slugger David Ortiz flown to Boston after being shot in a bar
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — David Ortiz was flown to Boston for more medical care Monday after the former Red Sox slugger was ambushed by a gunman at a bar in his native Dominican Republic, authorities said. The 43-year-old was in stable condition in intensive care at a Santo Domingo...
First Call: MLB world offers prayers for David Ortiz; A.J. Green wants to stay with Bengals
In Monday’s “First Call,” an update on David Ortiz’s health after he was shot over the weekend. A.J. Green wants to remain a Bengal. Tensions rise in the N.L. West. Praying for Papi Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez reached out to former teammate David Ortiz on Sunday night after Ortiz...
Ex-Red Sox slugger David Ortiz shot at Dominican bar, recovering after surgeryVideo
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was hospitalized Monday following surgery for a gunshot wound after being ambushed by a man in a bar in his native Dominican Republic, authorities said. Dominican National Police Director Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte said Ortiz was at the...
Craig Kimbrel on Cubs: ‘I’m happy where I am’
CHICAGO — After missing more than one-third of a season while waiting for the right offer, Craig Kimbrel found a home with the Chicago Cubs. “Am I disappointed at where I am? No. not all at all. I’m very happy where I am,” Kimbrel said Friday after the Cubs finalized...
Cubs reach $43M deal with free-agent closer Craig KimbrelVideo
CHICAGO — At the start of spring training, when Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said he had no money to spend, Pedro Strop was asked if the Cubs could use free agent Craig Kimbrel in the bullpen. “I’m never going to say we don’t need a guy like that,” Strop replied....
Sons of former MLB players highlight Day 2 of draft
NEW YORK — Grant McCray will get a chance to leave his mark on professional baseball, but he’ll have a tough time making one as dramatic as his famous father. The Florida high school outfielder, drafted in the third round by San Francisco on Tuesday, is the son of former...
MLB’s Rob Manfred doesn’t expect protective nets to change in season
SEATTLE — MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he does not expect teams to make changes to the protective netting around ballparks during the season, although he expects conversations to continue about whether netting should be extended. Manfred’s comments Tuesday came less than a week after a young child was struck...
Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen out for season with torn ACLVideo
SAN DIEGO — Andrew McCutchen tore his ACL in a rundown and will miss the rest of the season, causing the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies to again reshuffle their outfield. McCutchen hurt his left knee during Monday night’s game against San Diego and an MRI revealed the injury. “It’s not...
Mets fans have message for Tom Brady: ‘There’s only one Tom Terrific’
The lesson for the day – if Tom Brady decides to listen – is simply this: “Don’t mess with angry Mets fans.” Brady has raised the ire of rightfully outraged New Yorkers who can’t believe what they’re hearing: The New England Patriots quarterback, who has won six Super Bowls, wants...
‘Pray for me’: Phillies’ Andrew McCutchen suffers knee injury
Former Pirates MVP Andrew McCutchen hurt his knee on a strange play in San Diego Monday. The Phillies center fielder appeared to twist his knee during this odd rundown. Andrew McCutchen has exited today's game with an injury and had to be helped off the field. pic.twitter.com/bAy1yQ85uH— NBC Sports Philadelphia...
Orioles draft Oregon State catcher Rutschman with No. 1 pick
SECAUCUS, N.J. — The Baltimore Orioles selected Oregon State switch-hitting catcher Adley Rutschman with the No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft. The announcement Monday night at MLB Network studios marked the second time the Orioles have led off the draft and first since they took LSU pitcher Ben McDonald...
Mark Madden: More MLB netting a good idea, but so is common sense
Rory McIlroy drilled a spectator in the head with a tee shot in the PGA’s Memorial Tournament on Friday. Perhaps golf should border the fairways with protective netting. The subject of more protective netting became sadly relevant last Wednesday when a foul ball hit by the Chicago Cubs’ Albert Almora...
Oregon State’s Rutschman, WVU’s Manoah among top MLB Draft prospects
NEW YORK — Adley Rutschman has been a powerful presence at the plate and a formidable force behind it for Oregon State. That tantalizing combination could make the switch-hitting catcher the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft on Monday night. Baltimore leads things off for the second time...
John Steigerwald: Cubs’ Albert Almora Jr. not to blame for girl’s injury
Somebody owes Albert Almora Jr. an apology. Almora is the Chicago Cubs outfielder whose line drive struck a 4-year-old girl Wednesday night in Houston. His emotional reaction received almost as much attention as the little girl being carried up the aisle by her father. Almora Jr. seemed to be blaming...
MLB attendance down another 1.4%, 4th straight drop
NEW YORK — The Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins drew 12,653 on Wednesday night — combined. Baltimore, Cincinnati, Minnesota and Tampa Bay set stadium lows this year. Kansas City had its smallest home crowd since 2011 and Toronto and San Francisco since 2010. The Marlins’ average attendance is less...
MLB to keep monitoring netting issue after child is hitVideo
HOUSTON — Major League Baseball said Thursday it will keep examining its policy on protective netting at stadiums a day after a young fan was struck by a foul ball and hospitalized. The girl was hit during Wednesday night’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros, an incident MLB...