FIBA Hall of Famer and Puerto Rican basketball legend José ‘Piculin’ Ortiz has passed away at the age of 62. Ortiz was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Puerto Rican basketball history. He had been battling colorectal cancer since 2023, according to FIBA.
Throughout his career, Ortiz played college basketball for the Oregon State Beavers, averaging 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. His performance earned him the Pac-10 Player of the Year honors in 1987. That same year, he made history as the first Puerto Rican player ever selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, going 15th overall to the Utah Jazz. Ortiz went on to play two seasons in the NBA, averaging 2.9 points and 1.1 rebounds over 64 games.
Following his time in the NBA, Ortiz played professional basketball in Europe, with teams in Spain and Greece, before returning to Puerto Rico to continue his career.
Hoy Puerto Rico pierde más que un atleta. Pierde una leyenda.
Gracias por tantas alegrías y por representar nuestra bandera con orgullo.
Descansa en paz, José “Piculín” Ortiz Rijos. 🕊️ Nuestro “Concord”.
Ortiz was a pillar of the Puerto Rican National Team, representing his country in four Olympic Games (1988, 1992, 1996, and 2004) and competing in numerous FIBA World Championships and international tournaments. On August 30, 2019, Ortiz’s contributions were recognized with his induction into the FIBA Basketball Hall of Fame, honoring a career spanning two decades.
“Today Puerto Rico loses more than an athlete, it loses a legend,” Puerto Rico’s Basketball Federation told FIBA. “Thank you for all the joys, for representing our flag with pride and for taking the name of our island to the highest. Rest in peace, José “Piculin” Ortiz Rijos. Your legacy will live on every court, with every fan and with every generation that you inspire.”
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be under the microscope this season in the wake of their recent hiring of former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka.
Leafs CEO Keith Pelley on Monday, May 4, introduced Chayka as the team's new GM and Hall of Famer Mats Sundin as senior executive adviser of hockey operations. But at the news conference, Pelley faced questions about Chayka's past − after he abruptly resigned from his post in Phoenix just before the 2020 playoffs and later received a one-year suspension from the NHL for "conduct detrimental to the league and game."
In an exchange that later went viral on social media, Pelley responded to a Toronto Sun writer's pointed questioning of the Chayka hiring by responding simply, "We conducted due diligence, and it was a deep due diligence."
Steve Simmons goes at Keith Pelley for hiring John Chayka. This was something. pic.twitter.com/zSw8768sCQ
— World Hockey Report (@worldhockeyrpt) May 4, 2026
Pelley continued: "It was a thorough process. I've read all the reports, I've talked to numerous people; I won't reveal who I've talked to that were close to the process. I'm very happy with where we landed."
The 36-year-old Chayka became the NHL's youngest-ever GM when he was hired 10 years ago by the Coyotes.
Chayka will have the tall task of turning around a Maple Leafs team that went from first in the Atlantic division two seasons ago to last place this past season − when the Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
The hiring of franchise icon Sundin could help stem any immediate backlash in Toronto. An 18-year NHL veteran, Sundin served as Maple Leafs captain for 10 of his 13 seasons with the team. However, he has never held a front office position in the NHL.
Toronto's Stanley Cup title drought dates back to 1967.
Sep 30, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Raptors vice chairman and team president Masai Ujiri talks to the media during media day at Scotiabank Area. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks shocked the basketball world on Monday morning by hiring veteran executive Masai Ujiri as their new President of Basketball Operations and Alternate Governor. Ujiri enjoyed largely successful stints as the top decision maker with the Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors throughout the 2010s, winning both an Executive of the Year award and an NBA title during that time. He was let go by the Raptors in June of 2025.
Though Ujiri’s track record through 2019 is virtually bulletproof, the last few years of his Toronto tenure were tumultuous to say the least. After winning the 2019 title, the Raptors became imprisoned in mediocrity from 2020 to 2023 before finally embarking on a long-overdue rebuild. According to reporting around the organization, this was in large part due to a mandate from ownership group Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Chairman Ed Rogers had no interest in a rebuild so soon after winning the title, and Ujiri was prevented from hitting the reset button at an ideal time.
But even factoring in the troublesome Toronto ownership piece, Ujiri’s final six years in Toronto can’t be described as anything less than a failure. Is this guy cooked? Has the game passed him by? OR was Ujiri fed up with Toronto ownership, mentally checked out during the final years of his tenure, and desperate for a break and change of scenery? With these questions in mind, let’s take a hard look at all the major moves Ujiri made after winning the 2019 title. Through the good, the bad, and the neutral, we might be able to discern whether Ujiri can rediscover his fastball and build a winner around Cooper Flagg.
The Good
June 2021- Toronto selects Scottie Barnes fourth overall in the NBA Draft
This is by far the best move of Ujiri’s post-title tenure. Barnes has blossomed into a superstar for the Raptors, a top-15 player worth building a franchise around. And while it may seem like giving Ujiri credit for hitting on the fourth overall pick is a bit generous, Barnes wasn’t the consensus best player available when Toronto made their selection. After Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, and Evan Mobley were off the board, many assumed the Raptors would take Jalen Suggs with their pick. Others argued for guys like Jonathan Kuminga or Franz Wagner. At the time of the draft, The Ringer, The Athletic, and SB Nation had Barnes ranked fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively, on their big boards. This wasn’t a no-brainer pick at fourth overall, and Ujiri nailed it.
August 2021- Toronto signs & trades Kyle Lowry to Miami for Precious Achiuwa and Goran Dragic
You could argue that Toronto should have traded Lowry a year earlier, but Ujiri did well to avoid paying him a three-year mega contract while getting something in a sign-and-trade. Lowry was a franchise legend and had played an instrumental part in delivering their first title, so he had a lot of say in whether he stayed or went. When it became clear that his time as a Raptor was over, Ujiri worked with his preferred destination to facilitate a deal. And though Dragic infamously did not work out, Achiuwa did enough to establish himself as a rotation player in the league. Ujiri dodged a bullet by not paying Lowry, who declined dramatically in Miami. This should have launched the rebuild in earnest, but OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam were too young to trade and too good to bottom out.
June 2024- Toronto acquires Davion Mitchell, Jamal Shead, Sasha Vezenkov, and a 2025 2nd round draft pick from Sacramento for Jalen McDaniels
If you want to fleece someone, call the Sacramento Kings. This return was highway robbery for Jalen McDaniels, a player not to be confused with his much more talented brother. Sacramento made this trade to duck the luxury tax, and Ujiri smartly preyed on their desperation, snagging a good role player in Mitchell and a rookie flyer in Shead. The latter’s defensive prowess should allow him to maintain a rotation role in Toronto for a long time. This was a nice bit of business from Ujiri that went under the radar when it happened.
February 2025- Toronto acquires Brandon Ingram from New Orleans for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a 2026 1st round draft pick (from Indiana), and a 2031 2nd round draft pick
The last major deal of Ujiri’s Raptors stint was a blockbuster. And though it may be a controversial take, I think this was a good deal from a process and value standpoint. Ingram’s value was depressed at the time, and Ujiri saw an opportunity.
As I’ll detail later, the Raptors have had a tough time attracting free agents, and Ingram represented a chance for them to add an All-Star on the relatively cheap. They essentially gave up one first-round pick and some garbage. And look, here’s where it gets thorny— that pick is currently slotted as second in the 2026 NBA Draft. Now, it looks like Toronto paid a hefty price for Ingram. But a year ago, who could have foreseen Tyrese Haliburton tearing his Achilles in the NBA Finals, triggering a supertank gap year from Indiana, and exponentially inflating the value of their draft pick? I suppose that’s the danger in dealing those assets, but I think this was solid process by Ujiri. Ingram was fantastic for Toronto this season, making the All-Star team and helping them to the fifth seed before injuries ended his season.
The Bad
November 2020- Toronto drafts Malachi Flynn 29th overall over Desmond Bane
Ujiri has mostly nailed the draft throughout his career, and lots of people passed on Bane, but this one hurts. Flynn was a bad basketball player, and he wasn’t even the usual archetype Ujiri goes for. You would have hoped that he would have recognized Bane’s obvious talent instead. Making the wrong pick one slot before Bane went adds insult to injury.
March 2021- Toronto trades Norman Powell to Portland for Rodney Hood and Gary Trent Jr.
This was the first big blunder of Ujiri’s 2020s run. I understand the process here— Ujiri decided he didn’t want to pay Norman Powell entering his age-28 season and flipped him for a guy (Trent Jr.) of a similar archetype who’s nearly six years younger. Trent had a couple of good years in Toronto, but it’s clear that Toronto gave up on Powell too quickly. Paying him the modest $18 million AAV contract he got from the Clippers would have been a solid investment.
February 2022- Toronto trades Goran Dragic and a 2022 1st round draft pick to San Antonio for Thaddeus Young, Drew Eubanks, and a 2022 2nd round draft pick
While this trade wasn’t that consequential, it was bad process. Toronto was on a hot streak heading into the deadline and looking to bulk up for the playoffs, and Ujiri thought that Thaddeus Young was the guy to put them over the top. They dangled Dragic’s expiring contract and the 20th overall pick (essentially moving down 13 spots) to acquire the veteran forward. Young gave Toronto very little during his tenure, and Ujiri was wrong in believing he had more left in the tank. The pick they gave to San Antonio ended up being Malachi Branham, who stinks. But they missed the opportunity to draft Walker Kessler, Andrew Nembhard, Christian Braun, or Peyton Watson, all of whom would have been great additions for the future.
February 2023- Toronto acquires Jakob Poeltl from San Antonio for Khem Birch, a 2023 2nd round draft pick, a 2024 1st round draft pick, and a 2025 2nd round draft pick
Again, value-wise, this isn’t a bad deal. Poeltl was still a very good player at the time, and Toronto only gave up one significant pick for him. And the 2024 draft was horrible, so the eighth-overall pick they gave up (Rob Dillingham) doesn’t hurt that much. Ultimately, this trade was a failure because of what it represented in a timeline sense. Toronto was clearly staring a rebuild in the face, and trading a lottery pick for Poeltl, a good, not great center, didn’t make any sense. He didn’t make the team any better, and they had to rebuild the next year anyway.
July 2023- Toronto loses Fred VanVleet for nothing in free agency
VanVleet has opened up about his desire to leave Toronto before the 2023 offseason. The Raptors weren’t good that year, but they didn’t trade VanVleet at the deadline because Ujiri wanted to push for the playoffs. Maybe the offers weren’t great, but they likely could have gotten something. Instead, they finished .500, lost in the Play-In, and let a franchise legend walk for nothing.
December 2024- Toronto trades OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn to New York for R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 2nd round draft pick
There’s no way around it; this was a disastrous trade for Ujiri. He dealt Anunoby when his value was at its lowest in years and failed to get back a single first-round pick. Sure, Barrett has turned into a nice player for them, but the contract Ujiri gave Quickley after the deal basically negates that. After seeing the leap Anunoby took in New York, it’s painful to see just how little Toronto got back for his services.
July 2024- Toronto signs Immanuel Quickley to a 5-year, $162.5 million contract
This was just a crazy overpay by Ujiri. Quickley isn’t a bad player, but he’s a one-way guy who doesn’t guard at 6’2. Giving him $32.5 million per year never made sense because that’s a number you give someone if you anticipate a star leap on the way. Nothing about Quickley’s game made it seem like that was possible. A contract like this on the books for a non-star player (with injury issues) makes team building really difficult.
February 2025- Toronto trades Davion Mitchell to Miami in a five-team deal that nets them PJ Tucker and a second-round pick (Jimmy Butler trade)
2025 PJ Tucker was unquestionably cooked like the Christmas goose. Why did Ujiri feel like he had to force his way into the Jimmy Butler trade so he could give up a good role player for this guy? It was apparently just salary dumping Mitchell and getting a second-rounder in the process. After Ujiri was fired, they flipped that pick to the Warriors for Trayce Jackson-Davis, who stinks. I bet they wish they had Mitchell back, because they didn’t use that cap relief for anything.
The “Whatever”
Most of the transactions Ujiri made in the 2020s fall into this category. Here are some highlights:
Trading a first-rounder for Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji: This is one of the more “sure, why the hell not” deals in league history. Ujiri traded the 29th pick in a bad draft (Isaiah Collier) for two okay role players who played decently in Toronto, and Olynyk helped them get Ingram later. Perfectly adequate.
The Pascal Siakam Trade– Toronto got three picks for Siakam. One was used to acquire Olynyk and Agbaji. One was used on Ja’Kobe Walter in 2024 (19th overall). He’s fine! And one was used to trade for Brandon Ingram (2026). It’s not a great return for a star player, but given how long they waited to do the deal, this wasn’t bad value.
Selecting Gradey Dick 13th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft: Dick had a decent sophomore season before regressing in a big way this year. While he might not be very good, it’s not like the Raptors whiffed on a bunch of other players to take him. Sure, they could have drafted Keyonte George or Jaime Jaquez Jr., but that’s hardly a franchise-ruiner. And Dick is still just 22 years old with plenty of time to figure things out.
Every Single Free Agency Signing: The Raptors free agency history in the 2020s is hilarious. They could not get anyone to come to Canada. Here is a list of some marquee names they added:
Stanley Johnson
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Aron Baynes
Alex Len
Khem Birch
Svi Mykhailiuk
Otto Porter Jr.
Will Barton
Jalen McDaniels
Dennis Schroeder
Garrett Temple
Bruno Fernando
Ujiri just wasn’t interested in free agency. None of those guys got big deals, none of them were any good. It’s remarkable. At least we know he won’t be counting on Plan Powder!
Objectively, this is a pretty poor run for any executive. Most of the moves made during this time didn’t work out, and it’s fair to wonder if Ujiri’s philosophy is still congruent with winning basketball in today’s game. However, when you consider the context of the entire post-title Raptors ecosystem, I think it’s easy to take a glass-half-full approach toward Ujiri’s next chapter in Dallas. Here, he has complete control with new organization, one with a generational superstar tailor-made for Ujiri’s sensibilities. If this doesn’t re-energize him, he’s probably got nothing left.
Munetaka Murakami is the hero we need and deserve! | (Sean Haffey/Getty Images)
Winning is fun. For the first time in the 2026 season, the White Sox had a winning week. What started as an astonishing sweep of the Los Angeles Angels ended with a near sweep and series win in San Diego. Sunday’s loss capped a 5-1 week and saw the South Siders just two games below .500.
When your team wins five games in a week, there are only a few low lights to mention, but there are always some.
Dog Day Rain Delay
If you’re unfamiliar with the saying “April showers bring May flowers,” look no further than Monday’s game in Chicago. Fans of the Pale Hose braved the weather to bring their pooches to the park, only to be met with a three-hour rain delay. First pitch was finally tossed at 9:40 p.m. CDT, and the White Sox would not win the game until 12:34 a.m. CDT Tuesday. There are serious props to divvy out to those who stayed to see the end of the game. Here’s hoping there were endless beers for those fans.
Pitching’s Weakest Link
Anthony Kay has officially earned this title for the starting rotation. Kay pitched in two games this week, and while there was improvement between the two starts, there is still work to be done.
Monday’s rain delay might have been a long one but the lefty’s outing was quite short. Four innings of pitching resulted in four earned runs, two hit batters, two walks, and two strikeouts. Had the offense not kicked it into high gear, he would have earned the loss. Instead, he eked out a no-decision for the night and got to celebrate a comeback win with his teammates.
Kay also started in the series finale in San Diego on Sunday, giving up three runs (two earned), walking one, and striking out five. He was again in line to get the loss, but the White Sox tied the game in the seventh to take him off the hook. Two no-decisions in one week sure feels better than two losses.
Luisangel Acuña
To be fair, the offense was facing a well-rested Mason Miller in the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday. However, I can make no excuses for Acuña when the tying run is on second base with two outs, and you strike out on three pitches to end the game.
Fans can say the White Sox swept the Angels at home and took a series from the Padres in San Diego in 2026. If you had told them that in 2024, they probably would not have believed it. It has been a long road to get back to playing fun baseball again, and followers of the South Side team should be soaking in every last inch of it, no matter how brief it may be.
Monday’s Fun
After the aforementioned rain delay, the White Sox were down 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning. If viewers had not already turned the game off, they were in for a treat.
In the seventh inning, Tristan Peters, Andrew Benintendi, Munetaka Murakami, and Miguel Vargas all drove in runs. The outfielders did their damage the old-fashioned way — with a single and a double — while Murakami and Vargas went with their usual method this year: the long ball.
Every run of the seventh inning would count for something as relief pitching gave up two additional tallies to open the week with a final score of 8-7.
In the second game of the home set against the Angels, the South Siders were up against April’s AL Pitcher of the Month, José Soriano. The apparent ace entered the game with an ERA of 0.24 and had not surrendered a run since his start on April 6. After 25 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball, Colson Montgomery tagged one to right field in the second inning of the game to snap the streak.
On the home pitching side of things, Davis Martin continues to make himself known. He was one out shy of another quality start, going 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven, and allowing just one run. He ended the night with an ERA below 2.00.
Tuesday was the night Drew Romo officially made a name for himself. In the fourth inning, he too hit a home run off of Soriano. His first hit of the season would also be his first career home run. The switch-hitter decided to take his at-bat in the sixth inning from the right side of the plate and hit his second hit of the season. This one also exited the park.
There was an abundance of school-aged children at Wednesday’s series finale, given that it was Weather Day at the ballpark. They made their presence known with many screams captured by the on-field microphone.
Even though he earned a no-decision, Erik Fedde showed up for seven strong innings of baseball. He held Mike Trout’s Angels to just two runs, walked no one, and struck out six. Seranthony Domínguez earned his keep after recording the save in Tuesday’s game. The closer held this game at a 2-2 tie in the top of the tenth and even ended up with the win.
The contest was looking like it was going to be a tough 2-1 loss until the bottom of the ninth inning. Sam Antonacci hit his second triple of the season to drive in Peters to tie it up and push the contest into extras. In the 10th inning with the bases loaded, Montgomery played hero and walked off the game to complete the sweep.
Vibes were high when the White Sox arrived in San Diego. Mune treated some of his teammates to sushi during the off-day, and it appears a new handshake between him and Montgomery was born out of it.
The power of friendship is clearly what brought them to homering in the same game for the seventh time this season. They are the only pair to do so this season thus far. Murakami’s home run capped off a six-run second inning for the White Sox. His 13th dinger of the season allowed him to retake the MLB home run lead (as of 9:35 p.m. CDT May 4, Mune and Aaron Judge are now tied for the lead after hitting their 14th home runs).
The shortstop’s round-tripper did not occur until three innings later to extend the lead to 7-0. Long balls are always exciting, but the ninth home run of Montgomery’s season carried a little less pizazz than his counterpart’s 13th.
Scoring eight runs will win plenty of ballgames, but strong pitching is what keeps teams in them. Noah Schultz knew the task at hand and delivered one of his strongest outings thus far. The 22-year-old rookie struck out only two batters in his six innings of work, but he also allowed no runs, keeping the White Sox’s cushion at maximum comfort.
Shutouts on Saturdays
Sean Burke would like a word with Martin about the title for pitching staff ace. The righthander came out guns blazing in San Diego and fired six innings of no-run baseball, striking out six along the way. Burke has now gone 14 1/3 innings without allowing a run.
Domínguez yet again gets praise for achieving the save in this win as well.
The singular blemish to the week came on Sunday; however, there were still highlights in the close loss.
First and foremost, Romo homered for a third time in the week during the top of the third inning to give the Good Guys an early lead. As if that were not exciting enough, Derek Hill saw that the team was running out of time and hit a game-tying two-run bomb in the seventh inning.
The saddest little infield squibbler in the eighth brought home the go-ahead run, lifting the Padres and handing the White Sox their first loss of the week.
If you weren’t keeping track, pitching gave up only 17 runs last week. That is an average of less than three runs per game. On the flip side, the offense scored 32 runs. That comes out to just over five runs per game. Five runs scored per game > three given up per game = lots of wins this season. This equation, if repeated by the White Sox many weeks over, could result in a very fun rest of the season.
Other News and Notes
The big news during Sunday’s loss was that Chicago promoted Braden Montgomery from the Double-A Birmingham Barons to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. After 99 at-bats with the Barons, the outfield prospect is hitting .313 with five doubles, three triples, and six home runs. A promotion well deserved.
Also down on the farm, Hagen Smith was named the White Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April. He ended the month with a 2.20 ERA in Charlotte, striking out 21 batters in 16 1/3 innings pitched.
Austin Hays went on the injured list on May 4 with a calf strain. To add outfield depth to an already infield-heavy White Sox team, the front office signed Randal Grichuk to a one-year, $1.25 million deal. The former first-rounder was DFA’d by the Yankees on Friday after playing in 16 games and batting .194. He will fit right in with this outfield.
The momentum looks to continue on the West Coast with three more games against the Angels until the Good Guys can return home for a weekend series against the Mariners.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 26: A general view of the 2026 All Star Game logo prior to the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers on March 26, 2026 at Citizens Bamk Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As the calendar turns from spring to summer, the warmer temperatures bring us the highs and lows of America’s pastime. Majestic and plentiful homers, programs turned into makeshift fans, sweaty thighs stuck to plastic seats.
Everyone’s favorite time of year featuring our favorite sport wouldn’t be complete without being inundated with reminders to VOTE for our BOYS to make the ALL-STAR GAME (!!)
I have curated my online experience so meticulously, I fear I will not see a single thing about the 2026 All-Star Game. The mute list is thorough – the city, the ballpark, the team and its players, and most nicknames and variations of all of the above.
But of course, I want a huge contingent of Braves to be recognized. (Or do I? The 2023 curse might still be fresh in my mind.) Less than forty games into the young season, it’s way too early to be predicting who will be earning a nod to represent the A.
Except Drake Baldwin. We riot if the reigning ROY doesn’t get to add an All-Star honor to his resume.
There will be plenty of time to bitterly argue over who should win the fan voting based on merit and a deep understanding of stats. That’s a space in which my Battery Power colleagues shine. My lane and expertise is a little different, so I am far more interested in the question: what will the promotional voting campaign look like?
Braves Creative Director Insung Kim and team have undoubtedly already put pen to paper, if not already finalized, what this year’s aesthetics, graphics, and posting schedule will be. Maybe the only thing left to execute is production of their annual promo video for the campaign launch, where Peter Moylan has become their main muse and star. (However, with the introduction of BravesVision, it might be Wiley Ballard’s time to shine…)
Every year, a minimum of thirty-one creative and marketing teams (all clubs, plus MLB itself), have to sit down and decide which singular city trait to use for their All-Star campaign and pray that it’s a wholly original idea. The list on the whiteboard probably doesn’t change much from year to year. It’ll be something like:
Most famous food / drink
Historical or pop culture homage
Generic regional quirk
The first one has been the frontrunner the last few years. We all saw everyone and their mother doing coffee/barista campaigns for Seattle in 2023. It was a little disappointing, but not surprising, to see everyone resort to Legally Distinct Waffle House / diner theming and photoshoots when we hosted last year. I guess peaches and peanuts weren’t inspiring stuff.
Arlington’s cowboy hats and wild West stereotypes in ‘24 fall in the third bucket and thus were everywhere (but it doesn’t feel like it ever left Atlanta with the introduction of the “Braves Country” branding shortly thereafter).
I could be entirely wrong, but it seemed like everything across the org kicked up a notch after winning it all in 2021, and the budget increase for marketing showed. For Los Angeles in 2022, the Braves rolled out their “send our stars to Hollywood” campaign giving each player a feature film title and brief trailers for each. These graphics became real posters that were given to fans, the trailers played at local movie theaters… this one was fun and the fans seemed to react enthusiastically in turn. Not only was this a successful test run / proof-of-concept for the marketing team (2022’s six All-Star selections are the most for the Braves since 2011, when they had five players in attendance), it’s yet another case of how human originality and creativity can resonate with people, be valuable, and build a brand.
The Braves’ investment in creative concepting and campaign execution doesn’t go unnoticed and unappreciated by me! In the spirit of the list above, here are some ideas off the top of my head for 2026 in Philadelphia:
Weiss’s Water Ice
Pretty self-explanatory. Some examples:
Rainbow Acuña Jr.
Mango Matty O
Baldwin Blue Raspberry
Yaz-pricot
Butterscozzie Albies (woof, I know)
The Boxin’ Braves
The Rocky statue is there, but that’s pretty one-note on its own. I’m envisioning something similar to the Hollywood and Western campaigns where they give players a ring name or persona and different boxing poses in their respective posters.
Convenience store (à la Wawa)
This seems comparable to the Waffle House of it all. It must be of some significance to the city’s denizens if they changed the r/phillies subreddit to it during their losing streak earlier this season. There’s a hoagie angle here but I’m not brave and/or paid enough to try.
Honorable mention concepts I didn’t want to think through: American history, soft pretzels, being home of the First U.S. Mint for some coin-related imagery, perhaps.
In all seriousness, my best guess for the creative vision will probably be around Philadelphia being the Mural Capital of the World. If not done by the Braves, then it’s a contender for the league in general. It’s a way that pays homage to the city that’s very safe / not controversial or too pander-y. There’s immense potential for distinctive, stylized, and vibrant photo treatments and backdrops. And it could have nice tie-ins and activations throughout the city engaging with the existing walls and murals in the lead up to the game itself.
We’re a month out til all the All-Star festivities kick off in earnest. While you all brace yourselves, I’ll be waiting with bated breath to see what creative’s cooked up (and to see if I’m completely off the mark). Did I miss any extremely obvious ideas? Let us know in the comments.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have a lot of pending unrestricted free agents going into the summer, and Evgeni Malkin is by far their biggest.
Malkin has spent all 20 seasons of his NHL career with the Penguins and wants to make it 21. He has made it clear in numerous interviews that he wants to play next season and hopes to return to the only team that he has ever known. Several of his teammates, including captain Sidney Crosby, also want him back for next season.
“I mean, it’s tough. We’ll see what happens. We’ve played together for so long. I think it’s clear that I’d love to be playing with him for longer, so we’ll see what happens. I think it’s pretty obvious that I’d love to keep playing with him," Crosby said last week.
The big question is whether Penguins general manager/president Kyle Dubas wants him back. The two sides have spoken a bit about the situation this year, and according to The Athletic's Josh Yohe, Malkin's camp will reach out to Dubas this week to schedule a time to discuss Malkin's future.
Geno Malkin’s camp will be reaching out to Kyle Dubas this week to discuss when they’ll be sitting down to talk about Malkin’s future.
This report is the main reason why I'm writing this article, because it shouldn't be this hard. It should be a fairly easy decision to bring Malkin back after the season he just had, even if he's going to turn 40 this summer.
- Despite being injured at times, Malkin finished the year with 19 goals and 61 points in 56 games. It was his first point-per-game season since the 2022-23 season, when he finished with 27 goals and 83 points in 82 games. Malkin was also one of the Penguins' best forwards in the playoffs, racking up two goals and three points in six games.
He still had his legs in many of the Penguins' games and was versatile. He played center and wing during the season, though he played more of the latter in the second half of the regular season. He was also on the ice for over 50% of the expected goals, scoring chances, and high-danger chances at 5v5. He drove play when he was on the ice.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) skates up ice with the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
- Malkin also won't be blocking anybody this season. Sure, Avery Hayes, Rutger McGroarty, and even Ville Koivunen will be pushing for roster spots again in training camp, but I see them as bottom-six players right now. Malkin is a top-six staple and was a great fit on the second line with Tommy Novak and Egor Chinakhov. He had great chemistry with both players, especially Chinakhov. The two read off one another so well.
- As expected, the free-agent class for this year is very thin, and there's nobody in that class who can come close to replacing Malkin's production. The best free-agent forward available is Alex Tuch, and he's going to get a lot of term and money if he doesn't return to Buffalo. It won't be from Pittsburgh.
Outside of Tuch, there's not much there, and a lot of the middling free agents are likely to be overpaid. The only thing I expect from the Penguins in free agency again this year is that they'll look for bargain contracts. They've done it in each of the past two offseasons.
- The contract should take about five minutes to complete. Malkin has said that he wants to return for one more season, and I'd bet he would take a little bit of a discount, even though the Penguins have a ton of salary cap space. A one-year deal worth around $5-5.5 million with a full no-move clause should do the trick. Heck, if the Penguins want to bring him back at his salary from last season ($6.1 million), that would work too.
At the end of the day, this comes down to what Dubas wants since he's in charge of the team. He's been on quite the heater with his roster decisions over the last 18 months and has the chance to continue it if he brings Malkin back for one more year. It makes too much sense.
May 1, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) reaches first on a single against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Shohei Ohtani has won the past two National League MVP awards, and his two-way production as a pitcher and a hitter give him a leg up on the competition in the race for what could be his third.
FanDuel’s odds for NL MVP show Ohtani (-370) as the easy favorite to repeat amidst an emerging field of rising stars. Ohtani’s striking out 10 batters per 9 innings and posting a sub-1 WHIP. He’s still an excellent hitter who’s drawn the most intentional walks, but he’s slugging just .454 and working through a genuine slump, going hitless through four straight games for the first time in his career.
Even a small dimming of Ohtani’s star might contribute to voter fatigue as members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) look to reward more of the game’s incredible talents. Despite the long odds of overtaking the dual-threat Ohtani, there are a few early candidates who could see their stocks rise significantly with another impressive month of production.
Corbin Carroll (+1700) finished tied for sixth in NL MVP voting last season, and he’s returning from a broken hamate bone by drawing more walks and legging out extra-base hits at an historic clip.
Matt Olson (+1700) is leading the league in WAR after the first month, mashing 11 HRs and pushing across a league-leading 31 RBI while slashing .299/.380/.650.
Elly De La Cruz (+2200) is already in his third season in the pros at just 24 years old. After playing through a quad strain for much of last season, he’s back on pace for a potential 40/40 season, and just a fraction behind the league lead in WAR.
Ronald Acuna Jr (+2200) was the most recent non-Ohtani recipient of NL MVP, and he’s produced MVP-caliber numbers whenever he’s healthy. His health is another big reason for the Atlanta Braves’ league-leading win total, but he’ll need to bounce back quickly from a recent stint on the IL.
Juan Soto (+3000) – finished third in NL MVP voting last year, and he’s starting to get healthy for a Mets lineup that’s desperate for a star to step up. His first game back in the lineup marked the end of a 12-game losing streak.
James Wood (+4000) has a massive frame and a short swing that blasts through contact. He strikes out a fair amount, but he’s also walking more this season (19.9% walk rate leads NL), and has made a few highlightplays in right field.
Drake Baldwin (+5000) won the 2025 Rookie of the Year award, and if the left handed-hitting catcher continues on his pace to leap past last year’s 19 HRs, he could emerge as Atlanta’s brightest star. Jordan Walker (+6000) is stealing more bases and he’s already exceeded last season’s HR total, showing the 23-year-old might be getting comfortable in his 6’6”, 250 lb. frame.
The new world champion is the fourth consecutive first-time winner and the UK game faces a challenge to keep up with investment in Asia
Perhaps of all the noise emanating from Wu Yize’s historic victory in the World Snooker Championship final on Monday evening, it was 12 simple words from the godfather of Chinese snooker that meant the most.
For the second successive year, China has a world champion in the sport the nation has taken to its heart, with Wu emulating Zhao Xintong’s win 12 months earlier by defeating Shaun Murphy in one of the great finals. But perhaps none of it would be possible without Ding Junhui laying the groundwork over the last 20 years.
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Lakers Game 1 computer picks
Luke Kennard Over 1.5 threes (+145)
Projection: 2.02 threes
This is a five-star play according to our model, providing a whopping 26.08% EV edge. Luke Kennard has slowed down since his first few games against Houston, but we all know how good a shooter he is.
Two threes is not asking for much, and it's a great play at this price.
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LeBron James Over 19.5 points (-145)
Projection: 22.63 points
LeBron James refuses to age, averaging 23.2 points per game in the Los Angeles Lakers' series win over the Rockets. Twenty points is a line Bron crossed in four of six games in Round 1, and with still no Luka, the King will need to wear the crown on offense.
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Deandre Ayton Over 9.5 points (-120)
Projection: 11.53 points
Deandre Ayton may not be the guy, but he certainly did his part in helping the Lakers advance. The big man averaged 11.8 ppg on 60% shooting vs. Houston, and he's the best option L.A. has to keep up with the Oklahoma City Thunder's size.
He might put up the quietest 10 points you'll ever see, but it'll cash all the same.
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Thunder Game 1 computer picks
Ajay Mitchell Under 3.5 rebounds (+115)
Projection: 3.31 rebounds
Our model sees a 20.01% EV edge on this bet. Ajay Mitchell cruised by this line in all three games vs. Phoenix, but the Lakers will provide more of a fight on the glass. There are only so many boards to go around, and OKC might be up so big in the fourth that Mitchell's playing time could be cut.
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Luguentz Dort Over 7.5 points (-112)
Projection: 8.15 points
Lu Dort is an effective 3-and-D option for the Thunder, and he eclipsed this points line in three of four against Phoenix. The Lakers will have their hands full with SGA and Chet, which will leave Dort wide open for makable threes.
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Alex Caruso Over 1.5 assists (-145)
Projection: 2.62 assists
Alex Caruso knows how to create for his teammates, and he'll be asked to do more against L.A. than he was in Round 1. Averaging over 20 minutes per game, Caruso will create enough shots for his teammates to collect two dimes.
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How to watch Lakers vs Thunder Game 1
Location
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock/NBC
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Yohendrick Pinango is off to an amazing start to his MLB career, and I’m expecting the Toronto Blue Jays rookie to continue swinging a hot bat tonight against Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen.
Read on to see why with my Blue Jays vs. Rays predictions and MLB Picks on Tuesday, May 5.
Blue Jays vs Rays predictions
Blue Jays vs Rays best bet: Yohendrick Piango Over 0.5 hits (-145)
Yohendrick Pinango has been a delight since being called up from Triple-A.
The Toronto Blue Jays’ rookie outfielder has seven hits in his last three contests, raising his batting average to .500 over seven games.
He’s gone 5-2 to the Over on his hits market, and has cashed in three straight games.
Pinango’s early results suggest he’s got a pretty good matchup tonight with Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a three-pitch starter who deploys a cutter, sinker, and four-seamer.
Though it's a small sample size, Toronto’s rookie owns a .600 batting average with a .475 xBA against the trio of pitches Rasmussen uses. He's also batted leadoff in the last two games, giving him more opportunities at the dish.
COVERS INTEL: While his 5.3% strikeout rate is unsustainable, Pinango has never showcased much swing-and-miss, with K-rates ranging between 19-24% in Double-A and up since 2024.
Blue Jays vs Rays same-game parlay (SGP)
I’ll continue to bet on the birds and take Kazuma Okamoto to record a hit. The Jays slugger is on a heater, with at least one hit in four straight, recording seven total in that stretch.
For the final leg of the SGP, I’ll take Kevin Gausman to go Over 17.5 outs. The Blue Jays ace owns a .96 WHIP and has seen his pitch count increase game by game. He should be in line to throw up to 100 pitches if he’s dealing.
Additionally, Gausman is averaging 18 outs over his last three starts, and has finished the sixth in four of his seven appearances.
Blue Jays vs Rays SGP
Yohendrick Pinango Over 0.5 hits
Kazuma Okamoto Over 0.5 hits
Kevin Gausman Over 17.5 outs
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Blue Jays vs Rays home run pick: Daulton Varsho (+510)
I’m only betting a half unit on this one.
Rasmussen doesn’t give up a lot of hard contact, but he has been a little homer-prone in 2026, allowing five long balls in just over 30 innings (1.47 HR/9).
However, Daulton Varsho has a good chance to go hard tonight.
He’s got a lot of pop in his bat and has a .611 SLG rate against the sinker, which is one of Rasmussen's go-to pitches. Also, four of the five home runs Rasmussen has allowed have come off left-handed bats.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 13-21, -4.5 units
SGPs: 6-28, -3.5 units
HR picks: 8-25, +10.65 units
Blue Jays vs Rays odds
Moneyline: Toronto +110 | Tampa Bay -130
Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-190) | Tampa Bay -1.5 (+160)
Over/Under: Over 7 (-110) | Under 7 (-110)
Blue Jays vs Rays trend
The Toronto Blue Jays have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Under in 25 of their last 35 games (+14.90 Units / 35% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Rays.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Rays and game info
Location
Tropicana Field, Tampa, FL
Date
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
Rays.TV, SN1
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Kevin Gausman (2-2, 3.10 ERA)
Rays starting pitcher
Drew Rasmussen (2-1, 2.64 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Rays latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Rays weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Apr 14, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Zach McKinstry (39) celebrates after scoring in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
This is going to be a grab bag of news items on the Tigers for Tuesday. Manager A.J. Hinch was on MLB Radio on Tuesday morning. He confirmed that infielder Zach McKinstry will return from the injured list against the Boston Red Sox tonight. McKinstry was banged up in a pair of collisions in a series against the Kansas City Royals in mid-April, and went on the injured list with hip and abdominal inflammation after colliding with Jac Caglione as he tried to field a ground ball.
Hinch also mentioned that Gleyber Torres is still day-to-day with tightness on the left side of his torso, presumably a mild oblique strain. At the moment Torres is still expected to avoid an injured list stint, but isn’t ready to play either. Torres last played on Saturday.
The Tigers infield depth is under some stress as a result, with Javier Báez on the injured list with an ankle injury. The club picked up veteran infielder Paul deJong on a minor league deal on Tuesday. DeJong played for the Washington Nationals in 2025, and still played a bit of shortstop with them, though third base was his most played position. He hit .228/.269/.373 with six homers and four stolen bases in 208 plate appearances. He will be assigned to Triple-A Toledo.
Finally, in a shocker, Toledo Mud Hens manager Gabe Alvarez, a rising star on the farm system who managed the Double-A Erie SeaWolves to back-to-back Eastern League Championships in 2023 and 2024, has been fired. There are no further details, as the Tigers simply announced that his contract was terminated for a violation of club policy. All we know is that hitting coach Mike Hessman has taken over as interim manager. That’s a tough one as Alvarez has played a role shepherding several of the club’s top prospects to the major leagues, and was thought to have the potential to manage in the major leagues or move into player development in the front office.
Tigers announced they have terminated the contract of Triple-A manager Gabe Alvarez due to a violation of club policy.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, ranked first in the NL West with a 22-13 record, face the Houston Astros, who are fourth in the AL West with a 14-22 record. Starting pitchers are Shohei Ohtani for the Dodgers, with a 0.60 ERA, and Peter Lambert for the Astros, with a 3.52 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Houston Astros
Date: Tuesday, May 5
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET / 5:10 p.m. PT
Where: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV Channels: TBS, Space City Home Network, Space City Home Network (Sp), SportsNet LA
Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) watches the ball after batting a foul ball against Texas Rangers during the fourth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, May 2, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Two rookies are off to fast starts in the American League with both Munetaka Murakami and Kevin McGonigle making an early splash.
It’s no surprise the duo finds themselves atop FanDuel’s American League Rookie of the Year 2026 market through the first month of the season. Only two of the last 14 American League Rookie of the Year winners were full-time pitchers, giving a sizable recency advantage to rookie hitters in the voting.
Chicago White Sox slugging sensation Munetaka Murakami (+145) is the current favorite for AL Rookie of the Year. Tied for the league lead in home runs (14 in 35 games) with Aaron Judge, Murakami is tied for fifth in baseball in RBI (28) and ninth in OPS (.961).
The Japanese first baseman is off to a highlight-reel start with numerous towering home runs and a star quality the White Sox lacked in recent seasons. Murakami’s only downside is a high strikeout rate with 50 in his first 35 games.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (+155) stays in the mix with Murakami after claiming AL Rookie of the Month for March/April. A four-hit performance on Opening Day set the tone for the 21-year-old’s fast start, which included signing an eight-year, $150 million extension just weeks into the start of his Major League career.
McGonigle is 16th in baseball with a .315 batting average to go along with two home runs, 16 RBI and a notable 2.2 WAR. Although Murakami is deservedly grabbing early headlines for his power, McGonigle has been the most polished rookie at the start of the season.
After a rapid decline in odds from the top two contenders, Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (+1000) and Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (+1200) find themselves firmly in the next tier. Both players find themselves in the midst of recent hot streaks.
DeLauter went 8-for-11 during Cleveland’s latest three-game series against the Athletics, giving him a team-leading .304 batting average, 21 RBI and .946 OPS. In the midst of an eight-game hitting streak and 12 straight games on base, DeLauter is recovering nicely from a small slump in mid-April and could be a sleeper candidate with continued production.
Okamoto has six of his nine home runs in the last 15 days, finding his stride by hitting mammoth home runs and climbing Toronto’s batting order. Although behind in offensive numbers compared to his rookie counterparts, Okamoto has the power and defensive acumen to quickly climb the odds if the hot streak sustains.
While he didn’t get that much coverage in the first round, Montreal Canadiens’ blueliner Lane Hutson was key in the Habs’ win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old blueliner averaged over 27 minutes of ice time over the seven games, picked up six points, two goals and an assist and became the fastest Canadiens defenseman to reach the 10-point mark in the playoffs. He took 14 shots on net and had a 14.3% shooting percentage, and added 13 blocks and six hits.
On Monday, Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin spoke about the Habs’ defenseman in these terms:
It’s awesome to see [what Lane Hutson’s doing]. He can play hockey on both ends. He’s a small guy, but he finds a way to have good numbers. Offensively, he can create from nothing, which is pretty cool to see. I’ve seen lately that he has a good shot, too.
It’s hard to argue with his assessment. Whichever way you look at it, the Canadiens blueline completely changed when Hutson arrived. His speed, mobility, and elusiveness have enabled him to succeed in the NHL despite his small stature. Whether it’s in the regular season or in the playoffs, he plays consistently at the highest level, and he’s always on the opponent’s radar.
As for Dahlin, he’s been a big part of his team’s success as well, putting up four points in six games, taking 21 shots on goal, landing 10 hits and blocking six shots. The 6-foot-3-and-204-pound defenseman is a finalist for the Bill Masterton Trophy this season. He went through plenty of adversity as his fiancée was struck with heart failure last Summer and had to be hospitalized in France, where the couple was on holiday. She stayed in the hospital for months, needed a heart transplant, and it was later revealed that she had lost the couple’s unborn child. She finally joined Dahlin in Buffalo in March, when she was deemed healthy enough to make the trip.
In the regular season, Dahlin had three points in four games against the Canadiens and made the headlines when he expressed his frustration with Habs fans taking over the Sabres’ building, making it feel like they were playing on the road:
I really, really appreciate the fans that came out, but I don’t want to see that many red in the future.
-
Buffalo is about six and a half hours away from Montreal by car, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Canadiens fans make the trip, especially since the Sabres captain expressed his frustration earlier this season. However, with the team having been excluded from the playoffs for 14 years, local fans are all in on this postseason, and the building has been one of the loudest in the first round.
NEW YORK - JUNE 24, 2006: Former outfielder Bob Cerv of the New York Yankees is introduced during Old Timers Day ceremonies on June 24, 2006 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. (Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The 1950s were a hugely successful stretch for the Yankees organization. Although the rosters were often headlined by future Hall of Fame members and generational greats, they were rosters full of talented players, a necessity for winning multiple World Series. Among the players with smaller roles was Bob Cerv, who had limited playing time in pinstripes, but would later prove himself as a talented player in his own right.
Although his most significant mark may have been made with other clubs, Cerv was a legitimate big league bat for much of his 12 years in The Show, even if it didn’t always come with New York. Either way, the outfielder filled a role on the successful Yankees teams of the early 1950s, one of the franchise’s most impressive runs of dominance.
Bob Cerv Born: May 5, 1925 (Weston, NE) Died: April 6, 2017 (Blair, NE) Yankees Tenure: 1951-56, 1960, 1961-62
Born in Nebraska in 1925, Robert Henry Cerv played baseball in college as a Cornhusker and fought in World War II, before eventually signing with the Yankees prior to the 1950 season. A year later, at the age of 26, Cerv would make his Major League debut with New York. The big right-hander was called up in August of 1951, kicking off just a cup of coffee with the club. Although this was more in the style of a late-season call-up, the part-time role he had in ‘51 became the norm for Cerv for much of his Yankee career.
After just 12 games and 33 plate appearances in that debut season, Cerv combined for barely over 100 combined plate appearances over the next two seasons with the Yankees. The results were not particularly convincing, but enough to keep him around going into the 1954 season, when he would really begin to prove himself.
That ‘54 campaign kicked off a really good run for Cerv, though it notably took place in a limited role, as he spent much of his time on the field in a part-time capacity and as a pinch-hitter. That being said, for the final three years of his first stretch with New York, Cerv was an All-Star level hitter, who likely would have earned himself a lot more time in the modern game. He had a 121 OPS + in ‘54 across 112 plate appearances, and would only come to improve on that number. In the following season, he posted a terrific .341/.411/.541 slash line and was worth 1.2 bWAR in less than 100 plate appearances. And in 1956, he was just as good, in a then career-high 155 plate appearances. He was also a postseason contributor during that impressive run, which included a home run in their losing 1955 Fall Classic, as well a 1-for-1 line in the victorious ‘56 Series, both against the Dodgers.
Shortly after that World Series win, Cerv’s services were purchased by the Kansas City Athletics. It was clear that the A’s planned on giving Cerv a more substantial shot, and although the experiment was disappointing in 1957, the veteran turned in a massive career-year in the following season. In that 1958 season, Cerv was a star, exploding for 38 home runs, and hitting to the tune of a near-MVP-level 159 OPS+. Reasonably so, he was rewarded with his first and only All-Star selection, and finished fourth in MVP voting that season — not too bad for a former part-timer relegated to pinch-hitting duty.
The powerful outfielder had a couple of good seasons left in him as he entered his mid-30s, including another with KC in ‘59, and a season split between teams in 1960. Despite the post-World Series departure, Cerv’s time in pinstripes was also far from done. In 1960, he was traded back to the Bombers and played 87 solid games with them that season, before being selected by the Angels in the expansion draft that winter.
He returned to the club once again via trade in 1961 for 51 solid games with the Yankees, and would spend the beginning of the ‘62 season with the club as well. By this point, Cerv was entering his late-30s, and was once again largely occupying a part-time role. He wrapped up his big league career in 1962, with his final time coming with Houston in the middle of that season.
After a dozen seasons, Bob Cerv’s big-league career was over, and though his role was limited for much of it, he was able to briefly reach significant heights. Born on this day 101 years ago, he lived in his native Nebraska into his 90s, before passing in 2017. Like many players featured in this series, today marks a good opportunity to look back on an interesting and at times very good career in Yankees history — and one that got to be celebrated at several futures Old-Timers’ Days. Happy birthday, Bob.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
Lakers
Thunder
COVERS INTEL: While his 5.3% strikeout rate is unsustainable, Pinango has never showcased much swing-and-miss, 
