Every day, until baseball returns, Tim Kurkjian will use the day on the calendar to tell a story (or two ... or three) as only he can.
March 26: How do you spell Rob Zastryzny again?
Wait, this guy has a last name with with two "Z's" and two "Y's"? Meet lefty Rob Zastryzny.
With March 27 being the anniversary of a 1989 story Sports Illustrated wrote about Pete Rose's gambling, Tim Kurkjian tells the story of when Rose put on an impressive display at a batting cage after getting out of prison.
March 27: Straight from prison, Pete Rose proved he could still hit
His son came and picked him up. They went straight to the batting cage, where the Hit King reminded everyone he still had it.
With March 28 being the birthday of Tim Kurkjian's mother, Joy, he recalls the time when she almost cost his brother a home run in a game.
March 28: Joy Kurkjian's birthday, and how she almost cost her son a homer
Joy Kurkjian turns 96 years old. She went to every game her sons played. She almost turned one of her kid's homers into a double.
In honor of March 29, Tim Kurkjian tells stories of Cy Young on the anniversary of his birth and Rusty Staub on the anniversary of his death.
March 29: Of Cy Young, Big Klu and Le Grande Orange
How good was Cy Young? Well, the award is named after him. But maybe you didn't know that Ted Kluszewski cut off the sleeves of his uniform or Rusty Staub was such a good cook he took pots and pans on road trips.
Dwight Gooden retired on March 30, 2001, and that reminds Tim Kurkjian of a humorous story related to Gooden and Roger Clemens.
March 30: That time Dwight Gooden taught Roger Clemens it's OK to throw hard
Dwight Gooden, when he arrived in the majors, was scary good. So good, in fact, that when Roger Clemens got in the batter's box against him, Clemens learned something important about pitching.
March 31 is the anniversary of Michael Jordan signing with the Birmingham Barons, which prompts Tim Kurkjian to recount MJ's friendship with Terry Francona.
March 31: When Michael Jordan went to the minors and cheated at Yahtzee
Michael Jordan tried his hand at baseball. He wasn't the best player, but he was still the most competitive -- going so far as to find creative ways to take manager Terry Francona's money.
With April 2 being the anniversary of Ichiro Suzuki's 2001 major debut, Tim Kurkjian reflects on the significance of the event.
April 1: How Phil Niekro tossed his brother aside in his 300th win
The idea was for Phil Niekro and his brother, Joe, to both pitch on the day Phil was going to win his 300th game. But once Phil had a chance to make history, he scrapped the plan.
On April 3, 1966, the Mets signed Tom Seaver, and that reminds Tim Kurkjian of a Seaver story that involves Dick Schaap and Muhammad Ali.
April 2: Ichiro's love of hamburgers, math and his bats
Ichiro Suzuki enjoyed one of America's staple meals. He could figure out an equation in seconds. And he never, ever threw his bat -- ever.
Tim Kurkjian celebrates Adrian Beltre's birthday by sharing some of his favorite stories about the third baseman.
April 3: Muhammad Ali didn't know Tom Seaver was a pitcher
Tom Seaver was undeniably the best New York Mets player ever. Yet, Muhammad Ali thought he worked for a newspaper when the two met.
On April 10, the New York Highlanders became the New York Yankees, and Tim Kurkjian marks the occasion by recapping the Yankees' success and legacy over the years.
April 4: The legend of Tuffy Rhodes
On Opening Day 1994, he hit three homers, prompting a teammate to drive home that night thinking "This guy might be better than Strawberry or Bonds." It was part of a weird run on Opening Day three-homer games.
As May 21 is Kent Hrbek's birthday, Tim Kurkjian tells his favorite stories about the Twins legend.
April 5: The wit and wisdom of the Earl Weaver Way
The Hall of Fame manager never understood why anyone would bunt. He had no use for players on the DL. And he had a suggestion for one of his players who was thinking of becoming a minister.
Tim Kurkjian details how history was made on April 13, 1980 when Dan Quisenberry pitched to Jamie Quirk.
April 6: 'Never forget, it was Roberto Clemente throwing'
Plays that should have never been close were turned into outs when Roberto Clemente, in right field, had the ball in his hands a runner trying to take an extra base in his sights.
On April 16, 1929, the Yankees became the first team to wear numbers on their uniforms, which causes Tim Kurkjian to comes up with his own numbers game.
April 7: Adrian Beltre was so confident, he didn't wear a cup
Playing third base in the majors and not wearing a cup seems like a bad idea. But Adrian Beltre, a future Hall of Famer, believed his defense was good enough to save him.
On April 18, 1950, former president Harry S. Truman used both of his hands to throw out first pitches, prompting Tim Kurkjian to recall other stories of baseball ambidexterity.
April 8: Hank Aaron passed Babe Ruth -- and he cried
The Braves' relievers held a lottery for the best spot in the bullpen where the homer might land. When Tom House caught the ball, he ran it to home plate to give to Aaron. He saw something he'd never seen before.
Henry Chadwick died on April 20, 1908, and his creation of the baseball box score causes Tim Kurkjian to reflect on his love of box scores.
April 9: With a bow or a broken bat, Bo Jackson did things nobody had ever seen
Bo Jackson ran up a wall. He homered in his first at-bat after hip replacement surgery. Those are just a few of the stories that make up the legend of Bo.
On the anniversary of Brady Anderson hitting a leadoff home run for a fourth consecutive game, Tim Kurkjian shares some stories about the former Orioles OF.
April 10: How the Evil Empire was born
Once upon a time, they were the New York Highlanders. Then, in 1913, they became the New York Yankees. What has happened since has made them the most loved and hated franchise in the history of sports.
In honor of Terry Francona's birthday, Tim Kurkjian tells his favorite stories about the skipper.
April 11: Sam Fuld just kept on running
The game was a blowout. He just needed a single for the cycle. He had it -- until he kept going to second.
Tim Kurkjian tells the story of how at dinner he pressed Orioles manager Frank Robinson into giving the details behind his phone call with the President of the United States.
April 12: When Herbie The Love Bug and the Minnesota Twins got a new home
Hrbek was beloved at the Metrodome. Just because he was retired and the Twins moved to Target Field, people in Minnesota didn't stop loving a guy who carried around tape recordings of fart sounds.
Tim Kurkjian reminisces about Bruce Bochy's abnormally large helmet on the anniversary of his first win as a manager.
April 13: Asking the right Q's of pitchers and catchers
There was Quisenberry to Quirk. Then there was Q to Z and Z to Q, then Black and Decker and Abbott and Castillo. You can have a lot of fun when looking at batterymates.
On April 29, 2015, a White Sox-Orioles game was played with no fans, and Tim Kurkjian remembers the unusual circumstances of that day.
April 14: Nolan Ryan threw hard -- in his prime and in his 60s
One time, Nolan Ryan struck out the first batter of the game on three pitches. Ralph Garr walked back to the dugout and told his teammates, "This game is over."
Lou Gehrig's consecutive games streak ended on May 2, 1939, which prompts Tim Kurkjian to reflect on Gehrig's legacy.
April 15: When Jackie Robinson changed baseball, and a country
Jackie Robinson was the first black player in the majors. It was a significant moment in American history, and it wasn't easy. "I don't know how Jackie did it,'' Dodgers pitcher Rex Barney said. "... He's the strongest man I've ever seen."
On May 3, 1986, Don Mattingly tied the MLB record with three sacrifice flies in a game, which causes Tim Kurkjian to break down several notable sac fly stats.
April 16: From Ozzie to Orel: The greatest numbers from 1 to 55 in baseball history
Sure, you might not agree, but it's a fun debate to look at each number and see what name is the best.
On the anniversary of Craig Counsell being hired as Brewers manager, Tim Kurkjian tells his favorite stories about the skipper and former player.
April 17: You never, ever try to embarrass Frank Robinson
Someone tried to strike him out on three pitches on his day. Someone else knocked him down with a pitch in an Old-Timers' game. Frank Robinson, ever the competitor, took care of it.
Tim Kurkjian explains why Carlos May and other baseball players specifically picked their jersey numbers.
Babe Ruth threw and hit lefty, but ate and wrote right-handed. Craig Biggio and Brooks Robinson did it the other way. And don't even try to figure out Mark Mulder: "I'm completely screwed up."
On the anniversary of Jim Tobin's death, Tim Kurkjian tells stories of impressive hitting feats by Tobin and other pitchers in major league history.
April 19: An ode to baseball's voices of summer
They are the ones who call the games, who make up the sound of baseball -- from Russ Hodges and Vin Scully to Ernie Harwell and Jon Miller. Those are the voices that have long brought baseball to life.
Tim Kurkjian takes a look at the grand slam on the anniversary of the date when six of them were hit in one day.
April 20: The magic of box scores and how an obsession was born
In baseball, the numbers tell a story. Always have. You just need to look at a box score. Every box score. Every day. You won't believe what you'll find.
On the anniversary of his visit to the White House, Tim Kurkjian recalls baseball players with presidential names and President George W. Bush's first pitch at the 2001 World Series.
April 21: Brady Anderson hit homers and raced people shirtless in the parking
He wasn't quite the one-year wonder everyone thinks he is. But what made him truly memorable were some of the wild things he said and did.
Tim Kurkjian reflects on crazy baseball coincidences over the years, including May 27, 1968 being the birthday for both Frank Thomas and Jeff Bagwell.
April 22: World Series, scooter rides and an $89 suit: The tales of Terry Francona
Terry Francona is a certain Hall of Famer. He's also one of the funniest people in baseball. After all, he once threw a suit in a trash can and suggested it was a good time to make s'mores at Disney.
Tim Kurkjian takes a look at the triple on the anniversary of the Blue Jays hitting three consecutive triples in 2011.
April 23: It was impossible -- in real life and the movies -- to hit a Hoyt Wilhelm knuckleball
Hoyt Wilhem proved for years that a knuckleball is impossible to hit, catch or call. In the movies, actors and directors learned the same thing.
Tim Kurkjian reflects on the joy Don Zimmer brought to baseball on the anniversary of his passing.
April 24: How did he do that? Omar Vizquel reveals his 'magic' trick
Omar Vizquel made playing shortstop look so easy. The magician explains how he made it look so effortless.
In honor of Eddie Gaedel's birthday, Tim Kurkjian recalls several stories about shorter players in baseball history.
April 25: The Orioles' record losing streak, a night out and a call from the president
The 1988 Orioles were historically bad. It got so ugly, then-President Ronald Reagan even called then-Baltimore manager Frank Robinson to offer some support. His response: "Mr. President, you got no idea what I'm going through."
Tim Kurkjian goes in depth on the different ways MLB scouts will find players, including crawling under the bleachers and climbing orange trees.
April 26: Why trying to defend Wade Boggs was pretty much impossible
Wade Boggs knew how to use all fields. So much so that perhaps the best plan anyone ever came up with was to line up eight guys behind the pitcher and have them scatter as soon as the ball was released. They didn't do that, but they should have.
On the anniversary of Jack Clark striking out nine times over two games, Tim Kurkjian looks at slumps and how they affect hitters.
April 27: Bruce Bochy has a sense of humor, and a big head
Sure, he could manage. After all, he was three World Series rings. But he also had self-deprecating humor and a head so big he had to travel with his own helmet.
Tim Kurkjian reflects back on Giants Infielder Mike Benjamin setting a MLB record for most hits in three consecutive games.
April 28: 'That's the guy!' The arrival of Albert Pujols
In 2001, nobody expected Albert Pujols to become Albert Pujols. But it didn't take long to realize something special was happening in St. Louis.
Tim Kurkjian shines the spotlight on Astros manager Dusty Baker who celebrates his birthday on June 15.
April 29: When baseball played without fans in Baltimore
In 2015, Oriole Park was quiet. No fans. You could hear every sound on one of the most surreal days in baseball.
Tim Kurkjian breaks down the different name quirks that have happened throughout baseball, including one involving Elvis Presley.
April 30: How Bob Feller made Ted Williams start preparing for him three days early
Most times, Ted Williams started getting ready the night before. With Feller, who threw three no-hitters, struck out 17 when he was 17 years old, even the greatest hitter ever knew he had his hands full.
On the anniversary of Bobby Cox becoming the manager of the Braves, Tim Kurkjian reflects on his marvelous career and unique style, including wearing metal spikes.
May 1: 'I am the greatest of all time' and the speech Rickey Henderson was supposed to read
Rickey Henderson and Lou Brock worked on a speech for when Rickey broke Brock's all-time steal record. He had it in his pocket. Instead, Rickey decided to write his own on the fly. That's how "Today, I am the greatest of all time" came out.
Tim Kurkjian recalls some great stories about walk-off home runs, including Dodgers rookies hitting them for three games in a row.
May 2: Lou Gehrig was so much more than The Streak
He is most remembered for The Streak and the "Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth" speech he gave at Yankee Stadium. He was a force on the field. Just look at the numbers.
May 3: The history of the sacrifice fly is fascinating (No, really, it is)
The sacrifice is way more interesting than you think. We promise. Let Tim Kurkjian explain.
May 4: A bat boy, a writer and 'Rudy' with talent: The life of Craig Counsell
He didn't really look like a Major Leaguer. He was mistaken for a lot of things, but Craig Counsell had a strong career as a player and now a manager.
May 5: Mike Piazza turned a favor for his dad into a Hall of Fame career
His father was friends with Tommy Lasorda. That's how Mike Piazza got drafted -- in the 62nd round. But with hand strength, work and a home run no one will ever forget, he vaulted himself into baseball history.
May 6: 'We all knew Willie would make that catch. It's wasn't that hard. He's Willie Mays'
The argument can be made that Willie Mays was the greatest player of all time. Look at the numbers. And listen to his opponents, who had a hard time beating him and an even harder time believing he wouldn't make the impossible look easy.
May 7: The day Bartolo Colon went deep
Don't let Big Sexy's body fool you. He was athletic. He could also hit. And in 2016, he proved what his teammates already knew from watching batting practice: He had power.
May 8: When Kirby Puckett learned to do it all
Once Kirby Puckett figured out he couldn't just hit, but could also hit for power, a Hall of Fame career was born.
May 9: Tony Gwynn's bat was his magic wand
Let's keep this simple: Tony Gwynn could hit. "Some hitters use bats as more of a battering ram," one former teammate said. "Tony used his bats more as a paintbrush."
May 10: The odd, unbelievable, can't-live-without-them superstitions of baseball players
Must have certain flavor of gum. Have to stand in same spot in the shower. Need to clean spikes at exact time. And, please, don't even think about throwing an odd number in the mix.
May 11: Against Kerry Wood, hitters 'had no chance'
Everyone remembers the 20-strikeout game. What about the one that followed? That would be 13 strikeouts and no walks. Consecutive starts, 33 strikeouts, one walk. Those poor hitters.
May 12: The time Yogi Berra threw his cigarettes at George Steinbrenner
Sure, he mangled the language and was painted as a cartoon character. But he won 10 rings as a player. So he was tougher than you think. And he wasn't afraid to take on The Boss.
May 13: Stan Musial and a called shot to end an All-Star Game
He is perhaps the most underrated superstar in baseball history. And in one of his 24 All-Star Game appearances, he'd seen enough. So he decided to end it.
May 14: Everywhere you look in baseball history, there's Walter Johnson
When you go through baseball history day by day, you see the name Walter Johnson a lot. There's a reason for that.
May 15: George Brett could hit, with a bat or a putter
We know George Brett could hit. But with a golf club? On a green, with a ball travelling at him? The story seems impossible, except it's real.
May 16: Why Jim Palmer wasn't afraid to walk someone with the bases loaded
Jim Palmer wasn't short on confidence. He knew how to get people out. Sometimes, he went to measures not many others would to get the job done.
May 17: Why baseball players wear the numbers they wear
Sometimes it's about date of birth or height, a slight or a tribute. There's usually a reason why a player has a certain number. Here's some great explanation behind those digits.
May 18: How Brooks Robinson earned the nickname 'Human Vacuum Cleaner'
Nothing got by Brooks Robinson, which explains why he retired with 16 Gold Gloves and is arguably the greatest defensive third baseman of all time.
May 19: Two homers and a no-hitter, and other tales of pitchers who actually hit
There have been days when pitchers won games and hit walk-off homers, and seasons when they hit better than .300. Last year, Michael Lorenzen did something only Babe Ruth had done.
May 20: Roger Clemens was a power pitcher, from start to finish
The tales of his competitiveness are legendary; Roger Clemens did not like to lose. So he worked out early and late, on days before he pitched and immediately after.
May 21: Welcome to the wild, unpredictable world of grand slams
The Red Sox had at least one grand slam for 63 straight years. Don Mattingly once had six in a year, and they were the only six he had in his career. The Orioles hit two in a game -- and lost. Go figure.
May 22: From (Ron) Washington to (Jermaine) Van Buren, baseball's presidential name game
Tim Kurkjian admits he cannot name all the presidents. But he can certainly come up with a baseball roster with names worthy of the White House.
May 23: Buck Showalter sees things nobody else can see
He said he knew he had something special in Derek Jeter because Jeter still hadn't shaved. He didn't want players who had bright blue eyes because they couldn't see well in the sun. And he once took out Harold Reynolds with a slide -- while in a suit.
May 24: Tales of just how much John Smoltz hated to lose
And not just at baseball. But also at golf. Or HORSE. Or pingpong. Or ... you get the idea. He hated to lose. And since he was so good at everything, he rarely did.
May 25: Babe Ruth hit more home runs than entire teams
Babe Ruth could do so much. He was a great pitcher, but he'll be remembered for the home run. And when you really dig into the totals, it's still mind-blowing a century later.
May 26: Harvey Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings and lost
Harvey Haddix was perfect through 12. But a 13th inning was needed. It was then, he lost the perfect game, the no-hitter, the shutout and the game.
May 27: Shared birthdays, identical numbers and other big baseball coincidences you won't believe
Frank Thomas and Jeff Bagwell were both MVPs in '94. They were born on the same day. Dennis Eckersley picked off Kenny Williams in 1987 and didn't have another for four years -- when he got Williams again. Joe Niekro had one homer -- off his brother.
May 28: There was Mariano Rivera, and there was everybody else
Mariano Rivera was the greatest closer ever. The gap between him and the second-best closer isn't even close. And to think, the Yankees weren't really sure what to do with him when they first got him.
May 29: The day Mike Schmidt realized it was time to go
The season wasn't two months old. But Mike Schmidt had standards. And he wasn't meeting them. So he decided to walk away.
May 30: Cal Ripken, the birth of The Streak and the toughness it took to keep it going
Cal Ripken played and played, through pain that would have forced others to stop. Why? Because that is what his father taught him.
May 31: How Tippy Martinez once picked off the side
It was extra innings. A catcher who had never caught was behind the plate. Martinez needed to find a way to get out of the inning. So he picked off one runner, then another, then another. Side retired.
June 1: The hard-to-believe history of the triple
It's not just fast guys who have triples. After all, Derek Jeter went 683 at-bats without one in 2012. Jim Golden, a pitcher, once had two in a game. In 2011, the Blue Jays did it three consecutive at-bats.
June 2: The legendary reach of Randy Johnson
One veteran coach explained Randy Johnson like this: "He is so tall,'' veteran coach Rich Donnelly once said, "he doesn't have a pickoff move to second, he just reaches out and touches the runner.''
June 3: 'Well, God gave me that': How Pedro Martinez was so small but threw so hard
How good was Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000? His combined ERA for those two seasons was 1.90. The league average was 4.90. At one point, he might have had the best fastball, curve and changeup in baseball at the same time.
June 4: All the reasons everyone loved Don Zimmer
He might not have looked the part, with that moon face, but Don Zimmer was a baseball genius. And he was revered every step of the way, for his smarts, his toughness and his humor.
June 5: Chipper Jones just looked like someone who was going to be special
His first manager Bobby Cox knew it the first time he met Chipper Jones. "Sometimes you can just tell by a guy's face,'' Cox said. "Great face.'' What came next was a Hall of Fame career.
June 6: Trevor Hoffman was a failed shortstop but a Hall of Fame closer
Trevor Hoffman couldn't hit. And he wasn't going to beat out Barry Larkin for the shortstop job with the Reds. So he became a pitcher. It worked out pretty well.
June 7: Bryce Harper made a future major leaguer cry when they were kids
On this day 10 years ago, Bryce Harper was drafted. But long before he arrived in the majors, he was doing things nobody had ever before. From tape-measure homers to making future major leaguers cry, Harper announced he was different.
June 8: An ode to baseball's little guys
From Dustin Pedroia to Tim Lincecum, Yogi Berra to Hack Wilson, baseball is loaded with little guys who can play, even if they occasionally are mistaken for jockeys.
June 9: Two Bobos, eight walks and a spot start: The wild history of the no-hitter
No-hitters can come out of, well, nowhere -- from pitchers who had never thrown a complete game (before or after). From a guy making a random, unexpected start. From a guy who can't throw a strike but also can't give up a hit.
Finding a gem in the MLB draft isn't easy. And for the scouts charged with finding the right player, well, it can be hazardous.
June 11: The time Ted Williams blew off Joe DiMaggio to talk to Paul Molitor
Why would Ted Williams do that? He wanted to talk to Paul Molitor about hitting because, well, Paul Molitor knew how to hit.
June 12: Justin Verlander can't explain it, he just always has to be first
In baseball, or golf, or walking down the street. It doesn't matter to Justin Verlander. He has to win.
June 13: 'Have you ever considered batting right-handed?' Explaining why hitting is so hard
There have been times Hall of Famers have wondered if they'd ever get another hit. Why? It's not easy. Listen to some of these tales from hitters who lay awake at night trying to figure it out.
June 14: For three games, nobody on the planet was better than Mike Benjamin
We know, right now you're saying ... who? Well, in 1995, Mike Benjamin had a three-day stretch nobody else in baseball -- not Ted Williams nor Ichiro -- has ever had.
June 15: Wine, solar energy and a joint with Jimi Hendrix: The interesting life of Dusty Baker
Dusty Baker isn't simply a retired baseball player and manager. And he was, and is, good at both. But there is so much more to the most interesting man in baseball.
June 16: Newman and Kramer, Bush and League: The great name combinations in baseball history
Oh, but that's not all. There was Black and Decker, Ray and Romano, Nova and Cain and so many more. Only in baseball can you go down this kind of rabbit hole of names.
June 17: 'Pop, I just saw Ted Williams hit'
That's how special it was to see Ted Williams at the plate or in the batting cage. You picked up the phone and called someone.
June 18: Why it's so hard to hit for the cycle
Most of the time it is a triple that stands in the way of a cycle. But some of the names on the list of players who have hit for the cycle -- and those that are missing -- will surprise you.
June 19: Why everyone flipped over Ozzie Smith's defense
The nickname fit: He was the Wizard of Oz, an artist at shortstop. He was so good his teammates admit they took those did-he-just-do-that moments for granted.
June 20: The sweet, sweet swing of Ken Griffey Jr.
It was flawless. At 18, when Griffey was taking batting practice at the Kingdome, major leaguers stood and watched. One said: "I've never seen anything like it."
June 21: Under no circumstances did you ever mess with Bob Gibson
Opposing hitters were afraid of Bob Gibson. Asked to name the five best pitchers he ever faced, Doug Rader put it this way: "That's easy," he said. "Bob Gibson in 1968, Bob Gibson in 1969, Bob Gibson in 1970, Bob Gibson in 1971 and Bob Gibson in 1972.''
June 22: Why it matters that Bobby Cox wore metal spikes his entire managerial career
Like Bear Bryant's fedora or Bill Belichick's hoodie, the metal spikes were Bobby Cox's signature. But there was more to it than simply having a trademark.
Dennis Eckersley served up one of the most famous of all time, to Kirk Gibson in the 1988 World Series. There are other big ones, and some lesser-known ones, that dot baseball history.
June 24: 'That's impossible. No one could be that good.' Joe DiMaggio was that good
The numbers, beyond just the legendary 56-game hitting streak, are staggering. Joe DiMaggio hit for power and average and, it seemed, never, ever struck out.
June 25: Locked in bathrooms, sharing gloves and other strange moments in baseball history
A player once got locked in a dugout bathroom. A ball got lodged in a pitcher's glove and he had to throw the entire glove to first base. Two center fielders on two different teams shared a glove for an entire series. Yes, baseball can be strange.
June 26: How Derek Jeter became Derek Jeter
Former player and current Yankees manager Aaron Boone made it simple when framing Derek Jeter. "I thought he was a great player when I played against him,'' he said. "Then I played next to him, and he was even better than I thought.''
June 27: How Orel Hershiser's scoreless streak nearly ended 16 innings earlier
It could have been over after 43 innings. Something similar happened to the guy, Don Drysdale, whose record Hershiser broke. They were bailed out by an umpire.
June 28: Baseball players' irrational love of their gloves
Players love their gloves. They protect them. They don't allow anyone near them. If they misbehave, they punish them. Here are some of the tales of baseball players and their most prized possession -- their gloves.
June 29: Black-and-blue marks, nausea and all the other fun parts of being hit by a pitch
How bad is it to be hit by a pitch in the majors? Let Mark Reynolds explain: "When you see a guy bending over at home plate [after being hit], he is making sure everything is still there.''
June 30: 'Trying to hit Sandy Koufax was like drinking coffee with a fork'
His career was short, but it was dominant. "No one," Frank Robinson said, "could hit that man."
July 1: All the strange things that happen when position players pitch
Usually when a position player takes the mound it's because something weird has already happened. Then he pitches and things get even weirder.
July 2: When Major League Baseball turns into a family get-together
Baseball connects generations. The Griffeys hit back-to-back homers. The Bonds hit more than 1,000 home runs. The Biggios hit for the cycle. The Boones ... well, the whole family, it seems, played in the majors.
It has been 100 days since what was supposed to be Opening Day. A lot has happened since then, most of it bad, most of it damaging to the sport. Here are 100 reasons to remind you why you loved it in the first place.