As the Orioles make a major splash by locking up one of their young hitters long-term, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:
1. Sandberg memorial today at Wrigley:
Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg passed away last month at the age of 65 following a battle with cancer, and Cubs fans will have the opportunity to mourn and remember the 1984 NL MVP today. As noted by Selena Kuznikov of the Chicago Sun Times, there will be a free-to-attend memorial for Sandberg at Gallagher Way outside of Wrigley Field from 9:30am until noon local time. That memorial will feature Sandberg’s funeral service streamed to the jumbo screen overlooking Gallagher Way. Attendees may leave tributes to Sandberg at his statue on Gallagher Way, and those who want to participate but won’t be able to make it to Wrigley this morning can watch the service on WGN and stream it online via the Marquee Sports Network app.
2. Celebration of Mr. Baseball’s life:
Bob Uecker was a catcher in parts of six MLB seasons who went on to have a legendary broadcasting career where he spent 54 years as the voice of the Brewers. The Hall of Famer passed back in January at the age of 90 following a battle with cancer, but the Brewers’ series finale against the Giants on Sunday will serve as an opportunity for fans in Milwaukee to mourn their longtime broadcaster and celebrate his storied life and career. As discussed by MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy back in April, Bob Costas will host a pregame program honoring Uecker, and there will be features during breaks in the game on the stadium scoreboard highlighting Uecker’s history. First pitch of Sunday’s game is scheduled for 1:10pm local time, and the pregame program celebrating Uecker will occur before that.
3. Rangers to unveil Beltre statue:
Longtime Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre was part of last year’s Hall of Fame class, and (as noted by NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, among other outlets) he’ll be celebrated by the club with a statue outside of Globe Life Field prior to today’s game against the Guardians. The dedication is open to the public, and fans interested in attending will be able to access the stadium’s parking lots starting at 2pm local time later today. A two-time Silver Slugger, three-time All-Star, and four-time Gold Glover across his eight years with Texas, Beltre hit .304/.357/.509 with 199 homers in 1,098 games as a Ranger. First pitch for tonight’s game is at 7:05pm ET, and the first 20,000 ticketed fans in attendance for the game will receive a miniature replica of the Beltre statue.
Sandberg and Uecker. Two greats for different reasons but both will be sorely missed.
Reds… Ryno was probably the best all around 2b in my time and if not, close runner up to Joe M…
I am partial to Joe but I also might be biased since he was my dad’s favorite player.
Absolutely… one of those were you don’t mind getting the second choice…
Joe Morgan is easily the best second baseman of all time, despite being somewhat underrated while he was playing.
Hank, again I’m not crying with either… no doubt Joe was phenomenal, could do everything, but easily?? Maybe over others but he is NOT head and shoulders above Sandburg, hitting they were meant to do different things also take into account who they had around them…. You are probably correct JM is best ALL AROUND 2b but not easily over Sandburg…
Well, there’s also Rogers Horsby.
Love me some Mr. Baseball. Really enjoyed him in the movies.
Juuusst a bit outside…
York, in Chicago we had some of the best, Jack Brickhouse, Harry etc but I don’t think anyone loved announcing baseball games more than Mr Baseball!!! A true legend!!!
A somber post – sad Friday
@Dumpster Divin Theo
Thoughts and prayers…
Wasn’t Beltre famous for not wanting to be touched on the head?
He was. He would get the expression of someone ready to commit murder whenever a teammate(s) would do it as a joke. They knew he hated it and did it to him pretty regularly wherever he played.
Elvis Andrus the primary prankster. Kinda like Howie Mandell and the weird thing about noone touching his hands
Supposedly, Mandell has pretty bad OCD and he’s not keen on contact, even hugs. At least that’s what I remember him talking about on some program when I was a kid. Seems like haphephobia honestly.
“Just a bit high…”
outside. He tried the corner and missed.
Ryno was a fixture at Cubs games and at spring training. The greatest 2nd baseman ever IMO. Sure, Honus Wagner was a much better hitter (tho in a different time when pitchers were a shell of what they were when Sandberg played). Morgan was clutch. Alomar may have been his equal defensively. But all-around, power, stolen bases (50 one year), defense,. RIP you will be missed.
@rememberthecoop
Wagner played short.
Walter Johnson threw more strikeouts than Ryno and Rickey Henderson had a few more steals
Eddie Collins was a good 2nd Baseman
Morgan was better and it’s not that close. He’s very underrated, largely because back when he played drawing 100 walks a year wasn’t considered that important like it is today. Plus, he played alongside Pete Rose, who wasn’t as good as Morgan, but was considered better because people were obsessed with batting average in those days
time to rewatch norm macdonald telling uecker stories to letterman
Do you know who that is? That’s John Fogerty, the famous rock singer. I’ll have him come up to the booth and sing for ya!!!!
What did John Fogerty say to the airline ticketing agent?
“Put me in coach.”
you probable think of him as some crazy f-er who bites the head off of chickens but he can get it out of the sand trap like nobody’s f-ing business!
Statues are hardly ever erected to honor living people, so the Rangers unveiling of one of Beltre at age 46 comes off as at least a little creepy.
Statues of living players is hardly a new thing. American family field in Milwaukee has Robin Yount, Hank aaron and Bob uecker, all built before the latter 2 passed. I know Cincinnati has ones that were built of players who were alive when they were put up. I’m willing to bet several other stadiums do as well.
Yes I know it’s becoming more common, but it still seems creepy to me as traditionally statues are posthumous memorials. If the person is still living (and in their 40s no less!) this comes off less as an honor and more as pure marketing.
Not as creepy as Pete Hegseth re-erecting Confederate General Civil War statues.
It’s a contest?
Everything is a contest, a race to the finish line, as we wait for the Apocalypse to consume us all.
In that case, I will give you a head start.
FWIW, we’re all in this together. Dodgers fans and Mariners fans. We will see how it all shakes out.
The Michael Jordan statue that started the trend has been around for over 30 years. A lot of Cubs and Sox players have had statues made of them for the ballparks in Chicago.
In Stl all the cards mlb hof’ers after Musial had statues before they passed outside the stadium.
They all passed outside the stadium? Consider that a warning to others!
They passed outside the stadium? Ewww, Stl must be stinky
The Beltre replica statue giveaway is tomorrow.
Bobblehead statue
No, just a replica. Not a bobblehead.
Mr.Baseball appeared on the Johnny Carson show so often that he was considered a regular. I loved every appearance and will always miss his stories. Absolute legend.
Yeah considering Carson has been off the air like 50 years now no Charo stories either Gucci coochie
Beltre is one of the most underrated players in recent memory but a statue with the Rangers? lol
Not sure underrated is the right word, as he was deservedly a first-ballot pick for the HoF. But he was certainly under appreciated — at least by the Dodgers. Letting him walk rates as one of their stupidest moves of the last 20+ years. But that was during the Fox ownership, when stupid ruled.
The Dodgers never knew what to do with Beltre. I remember them hitting him leadoff at one point.
But I can understand why they let him walk. He hit almost 50 homers in a contract year after never hitting 25 homers in a single season before and he didn’t exactly tear it up in Seattle.
Well, that was their fault. He didn’t hit great in Seattle but he was still gold gloving it at 3B and became a true impact player in Texas. About the only player I can remember being better at 3B year after year was Brooks Robinson.
Who else are the Rangers going to statue tho Pete O Brien? Rick Honeycutt? Not exactly a hall of legends
Pete Incaviglia???
Don’t touch Beltre’s statue on the head
Bob Costas is a terrible choice for that. You couldn’t ask for a more self centered, completely boring, blowhard individual, to host an otherwise special occasion, for a man who was beloved by everyone. His act was tired in the 90’s, and he is without question, one of the worst people to listen to call a baseball game. I mean, if Joe Buck is more tolerable, than you are truly awful.
Nah, Costas is pretty widely respected. It’s just the pretentious circle jerk on the internet that dislikes him, because they don’t like anyone who isn’t part of their team’s broadcast.
Sour much? What a way to ruin a reverent thread. Costas was one of the greats in his era. Who would you prefer – the creepy ghost of Harry Caray who was a drunk abusive tottering shell of himself in those same 90s you speak of? Did Costas steal your girl at Riverdale high? Kick your dog?