Category: Sports News

“Shorty you’re my Angel, you’re my darling Angel”

No doubt somewhere in the Bronx or Tampa, Matt Blake is quietly singing Shaggy’s popular refrain to himself while watching video. YES Network’s Jack Curry reported that the Yankees landed Angel Chivilli, a right-handed reliever, from the Colorado Rockies, sending Triple-A first baseman T.J. Rumfield in return to Denver. The Yankees have since confirmed the trade, with the team designating recent waiver claim outfielder Michael Siani for assignment as the corresponding 40-man roster move. Rumfield had been with the organization since being traded from the Phillies in December 2021 for Nick Nelson, but he had topped out at Scranton and Ben Rice firmly passed him on the first base depth chart.

Immediately looking at Chivilli, the 23-year-old has yet to post positive value in The Show since coming up in June 2024. He notched a 7.06 ERA and 6.03 FIP last year in 43 appearances, “good” for a -0.7 fWAR. That’s not MLB-caliber!

Still, you can kind of figure out the play here. Chivilli will sit 97 mph with his four-seam fastball, and that will play in any bullpen if you can command it. While he did manage a ground-ball rate over 50 percent last year, which is good, command of that fastball needs to be one of the first things for pitching coach Matt Blake to work on:

You can’t throw fastballs there no matter what ballpark you play in, but 97 on the black becomes quite nasty. Fixing that fastball location is job no. 1, and probably the overall key to making Chivilli a real weapon.

Job no. 2 though might actually be a little easier. One of the problems with pitching at Coors Field is the thin air reduces the amount that pitches break, and Chivilli throws a real hard slider at 90 mph and notched a 42-percent whiff rate on his changeup last year.

Simply moving closer to sea level should help those pitches break more, and all of a sudden the Yankees have a 24-year-old with multiple secondary offerings.

None of this is destiny, the work needs to get done, and even then young pitchers shatter all the time. Still, you can see why Angel Chivilli is a tempting project for a pitching lab that’s seen as much success as Blake’s has, and he immediately becomes one of the more intriguing players to watch in spring training with spots in the big-league bullpen seemingly available.

There are a few things, perhaps two things, so potent in their nostalgia that I feel discomforted by them. I can’t quite pin down the emotion. Or emotions. And I don’t know that I can explain it, either. Perhaps what is so uncomfortable to me about them is the contradictory nature of the sensation. Bittersweet, brimming with memories and emotions, but empty. So vivid in the mind, but not in the world. It’s one of the most unique feelings I’ve ever felt. I still don’t quite know if I like it or not. 

One of these antecedents, if you will, is Pokémon. Particularly, the original anime. That was, perhaps, my very first hyperfixation, which in hindsight makes it unsurprising that I allegedly learned how to read by playing Pokémon Blue. Watching the original anime always makes me flashback to childhood, and gives me that ineffable feeling I’m struggling to describe. And that other thing, or antecedent? It’s, of course, the Mariners.

Yesterday, the Mariners announced that their longtime radio voice, Rick Rizzs, would be retiring following the 2026 season. It’ll mark his 41st year with the Mariners, and the 50th season for the franchise. That means that 82% of the Mariners’ existence has been commentated by Rizzs, and that he’s done the same for 100% of my life. The Mariners quoted Rizzs as saying, “Calling Mariners has been the highlight of my life.” Little does he know, it’s been the highlight of mine, too. 

Given what I’m piecing together, I figure that the beginning of my sports consciousness was around 2000. As far as timing goes, it doesn’t hurt to spawn in for a playoff season, and one season before what is the first- or second-best single season of all-time. My first memory at then-Safeco Field is being up in the nosebleeds when Alex Rodriguez got a concussion and sprained his knee trying to break up a double play where, ironically enough, Joey Cora kneed him in the face jumping over him. I figure that Rizzs was somewhere right below me, calling the game from the booth. 

Most of my early memories are sports-related – many of which occur in the context of my living room. And almost all of them include my dad. When I first started writing for Lookout Landing, Matthew Roberson had me on the podcast, and one of the things I told him was that my single-favorite memory (really, a collection of memories) from my childhood was a near-daily ritual with my dad. One in which he would get home from his job after making the long commute to and from work, where he would toil for 10 or 12 hours as a welder. He’d get home and plop onto the couch, and I’d wrench off his heavy work boots. We’d turn on the Mariners game, and he’d scratch my back until he’d inevitably fall asleep, which, unless John Halama was pitching, usually wasn’t before the exit of a Mariners starting pitcher. In the background would be the reliable cadence of Rizzs, or Dave Niehaus.

My dad and I would pile into his 1990-something gold Toyota 4Runner on brisk autumn mornings on my way to preschool. I remember the way that he would masterfully balance a full mug of piping hot coffee while managing to juggle between the steering wheel and shifter. As steam billowed from his mug, the smell of hazelnut Coffee mate creamer and the sound of Seattle talk radio would both permeate the cold air of the 4Runner. There would inevitably be a soundbite from one of Rizzs’ signature calls from the previous night, in which he was likely borrowing a Niehausism, or using one of his own catchphrases. At night, on the way home from family events or working at our family shop, I remember the slow crawls from Georgetown in my dad’s Toyota T100. There was always the red hue of brake lights filling up the car, and the crackle of Rizzs’ steady, familiar voice over the radio, hissing in tunnels and under bridges.

I suppose it wasn’t until writing this that I realized that my fondness for the Mariners is, of course, intertwined with Rick Rizzs, but also with my dad. Some of the fondest memories of my life have been spent at the ballpark, on my couch, and in the 4Runner or T100. All with my dad, and most, or all of them, with Rizzs. There’s a beginning and an end to everything. You only notice the best and worst of them, and Rizzs’ retirement represents the end of something really special. It makes me think about mortality, and the impermanence of everything. Therein lies the contradiction, and what this ineffable, nostalgic feeling derives from: cherishing all of the good moments and memories, while also mourning them, and also the ones that won’t come, after 2026. 

During the pandemic, I wrote about Félix Hernández and grief. I reflected on how Félix and I had both changed quite a bit over the years. Things continue to change. After the biggest year-to-year jump on a Hall of Fame ballot of all time, now it seems like a matter of when, not if, he’ll be in the Hall.

For Rizzs, I figure we ought to have the same sort of conversation. There’s no Hall of Fame for announcers. The highest honor a baseball announcer can receive is the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award, given to broadcasters for their “major contributions to baseball.” The list of Ford C. Frick Award recipients could probably double as a list of the greatest MLB announcers of all time. Our beloved Dave Niehaus won it in 2008, and fellow GOATs Vin Scully and Bob Uecker are on the list too, though, if you ask me, its merits are certainly watered down by the likes of Hawk Harrelson – and, as of a month ago, literally Joe Buck – receiving the award. I digress.

In many ways, the Mariners are one of the most unfortunate sports franchises of all time. But with Rizzs and Niehaus, we were spoiled with two people who could make the most fucked up of rosters not only watchable, and not only enjoyable, but cherishable. And for the entirety of their careers, that they did. We never got to give a proper goodbye to Dave, because he passed away at the age of 75, in between seasons he was meant to commentate full-time. At the age of 72, after 51 years of calling professional baseball, and 40 years with the Mariners, we have the opportunity to do what I would say we never got to do with Dave. Rizzs can get his farewell tour, and we can give him his flowers. And though we’ll miss him, he can enjoy the rest of his storied life with his family, rather than prepping meticulously for games and spending two to three hours a day creating the most vivid imagery of a baseball game that even the dullest of minds can conjure. 

If we’re to consider Rizzs’ major contributions to MLB, they are many. He, of course, can be considered on his own merits, but no one has continued the legacy of Dave Niehaus more than Rizzs. Every grand slam, and many home runs, have become an homage from Rizzs to Niehaus, but with his own flair and, of course, with his own catchphrases of his own. 

There’s also that, as the longest-tenured broadcaster in franchise history, Rizzs has truly, genuinely become the voice of the Mariners. I suppose in some ways, what I’m writing now isn’t different from what I wrote about Félix. Félix had been part of my life since I was in fourth grade. But Rizzs has been part of my life before I even knew he was. Perhaps in part because of Niehaus’ greatness, and in part because of the Mariners’ badness, Rizzs has sparsely been able to shine under the bright lights that we know he’s capable of. Luckily, this recent crop of rosters has lent itself to more playoff-caliber baseball, and that’s meant more opportunities for Rizzs to shine, and an environment much more suitable for him to leave on: on top. 

To Rick Rizzs: I know I speak for all of Seattle Mariners fans when I say that you, along with many others, have made our fandom. Know that you’ve made us, and your good friend Dave, very, very proud, and we’re excited for you to make the most of your final season, and to have more of your cherished time spent with your grandkids. Congratulations on retiring on such a high note, and thanks for everything. Thanks for being the sound of my childhood. 

The Dodgers’ two biggest needs this offseason were bullpen help and outfield production, and they went and signed the two best free agents at those positions in Edwin Díazand Kyle Tucker, each contract setting records for average annual value.

With Tucker the lineup looks much deeper, and can be considered stacked even for a Dodgers team that has finished first or second in the National League in both runs scored and wRC+ in each of the last eight seasons.

But after signing Tucker, what moves remain for the Dodgers, with pitchers and catchers having their first workout at Camelback Ranch on February 13?

“There’s some things, but I think in terms of more seismic changes, It feels pretty well set,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said at Tucker’s introductory press conference last week. “There are still a few things we’re kicking around, and conversations that have been going for a bit that we’re going to continue to look at, try to enhance and build up depth.”

Let’s take a look at the current roster to see where some of those depth needs might arise.

Position players

Lineup locks (9): Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, Tommy Edman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker

Bench locks (3): Miguel Rojas, Andy Ibáñez, Dalton Rushing

Depth with options (4): LF/RF Alex Call, 2B/SS/CF Hyeseong Kim, SS/3B/2B Alex Freeland, LF/RF/1B Ryan Ward

The caveat here is we aren’t yet sure of Tommy Edman’s readiness at the start of the season after his November right ankle surgery. There’s room for one more position player on the active roster, and someone who can play the outfield will almost certainly fill that spot. Alex Call is probably the in-house favorite at the moment, but there’s always room for yet another reunion with Kiké Hernández, who is coming off left elbow surgery of his own.

Pitchers

Rotation locks (5+1): Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Emmet Sheehan, Roki Sasaki

Bullpen locks & can’t be sent down (6): Edwin Díaz, Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, Anthony Banda, Brusdar Graterol

Injured list (1): Brock Stewart

Starting depth (5): Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Ben Casparius, Justin Wrobleski, Landon Knack

Right-handed reliever depth (5): Will Klein, Edgardo Henriquez, Kyle Hurt, Bobby Miller, Paul Gervase

Left-handed reliever depth (2): Jack Dreyer, Ronan Kopp

Graterol had shoulder surgery after the 2024 season and did not pitch in 2025, so his readiness for the start of 2026 is at least somewhat in question, though he’s expected to be ready to go at the start of spring training. The Dodgers will have at least two and maybe three active roster spots to fill on the pitching side.

Gavin Stone and River Ryan are intriguing rotation options after coming off major surgeries and not pitching at all last year.

Ben Casparius and Justin Wrobleski have gotten extended roster runs in hybrid roles. Jack Dreyer was active for all of last season. With Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, and Anthony Banda, the Dodgers already have three left-handers in the bullpen. Do they add another for a half-southpaw pen?

The point here is, at the moment, the Dodgers have functional depth, with so many pitchers who could be optioned if needed, and two potential roster spots that can used for swapping as needed. Adding another reliever wouldn’t be much of a surprise, even if it limits that depth somewhat.

In somewhat the same mold as a Kiké Hernández return, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if the Dodgers find a way to bring back Evan Phillips, who will miss the first half or so of this season after Tommy John surgery last June. But that would be more for later in the season, and wouldn’t necessarily preclude adding another reliever as well.

By the mid-to-late-2000s, it was readily apparent the dynasty years were over. The Yankees hadn’t reached a World Series since 2003. Perhaps worse, they’d allowed the Red Sox to break The Curse, with one of sport’s wildest combacks in the ALCS That Shall Not Be Talked About. Despite those setbacks, however, the Yankees continued to keep winning, at least in the regular season.

Until 2008. That season, the unfathomable happened. The Bronx Bombers won a paltry 89 games, and unlike their 87-win 2000, that was was only good for third in the American League East behind Boston and Tampa Bay. And it wasn’t close. New York lagged eight games behind the Rays for the division and six behind Boston for the wild card. It was the first time the club missed the playoffs since 1993, as the lights were turned out at the old Yankee Stadium not in playoff glory but September irrelevance.

Clearly, changes needed made. And so we got the 2008 offseason, which saw the Yankees sign a flame-throwing right-hander coming off an 18-win season for the Blue Jays, a Hall of Very Good first baseman, and, most importantly, the unquestioned ace and crown jewel of the 2008 free agent crop: Carsten Charles Sabathia.

CC Sabathia
Signing Date: December 10, 2008
Contract: 7 years, $161 million

Much of CC’s story is well-known to PSA readers who followed his playing career and who read Andrés Chávez’s write-up of the Sabathia signing as part of PSA’s 25 Smartest Moves of the Past 25 Years series in 2022. But let’s play the hits of his pre-Yankees days anyway.

Selected by Cleveland as a southpaw out of Vallejo High School in California, Sabathia was the 20th overall pick of the 1998 MLB Draft. Debuting just three years later at age 20, CC promptly carved through the American League, winning 17 games and allowing the fewest hits per nine inning of any qualified pitcher in the league. For his efforts, he was rewarded with a second-place finish in AL Rookie of the Year voting, behind Japanese phenom, future Yankee teammate, and fellow Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki.

Fast-forward several years to 2008, with Sabathia set to enter free agency after the season, fresh off winning the 2007 AL Cy Young Award. In early July, the Milwaukee Brewers, determined to go do what they could to snap their 26-year playoff drought, set their eyes on the towering southpaw. In short order, they got him. Once in Milwaukee, Sabathia put together one of the great stretch runs in recent memory.

CC made 10 starts for the Brewers through late August. Five of them were complete games. In late September, he went to another level. His final three starts were all on three days’ rest, making his agency sweat by sticking his left arm out for the Brew Crew. The last of those outings, in Game 162, was another complete game, to get Milwaukee to October. CC spent the entire second half of the season aura farming, long before we’d ever heard the term.

Once the season ended, Sabathia entered free agency, fresh off his torrid second-half performance for Milwaukee. As free agency progressed, it did not look overly likely Sabathia would don pinstripes as talks between the two sides stalled.

Fast-forward again, this time to the Winter Meetings. A pair of meetings early on laid the groundwork for what ended up being the decisive moment. On Tuesday, December 9th, general manager Brian Cashman’s phone buzzed. On the other end, Sabathia’s camp was inviting him to California. In short order, Cashman was on a plane and headed to Oakland, with ownership’s approval to spend big bucks on the big lefty.

On Wednesday, December 10th, Sabathia and Yankees finalized what was the largest free agenct contract ever given to a pitcher at the time: 7 years and $161 million. To get the deal done, Cashman had to overcome serious qualms on Sabathia’s part.

First, CC was eyeing the Dodgers or Angels in free agency, which made sense considering his California home. Second, and perhaps more worrying, he was concered about the Yankees’ culture, specifically the clubhouse and the Derek Jeter-Alex Rodriguez divide. “We had a reputation for not being together. We had a reputation of fighting each other, and that was a big concern there,” Cashman recounted after the 2009 World Series.

Cashman leaned into Sabathia’s worry. Cashman admitted the clubhouse was broken and that a major reason the club wanted to invest in Sabathia was for his leadership skills, in the hope he could heal the Yankees. CC’s wife Amber helped pitch the Yankees to him, and Sabathia quickly decided to embrace the challenge. “I had been a big part of why the Cleveland clubhouse was fun, and why we won, even if I didn’t want to take credit,” Sabathia recalled in his autobiography. “I was ready for the free-agency uncertainty to be over. Right there, I decided to sign with the Yankees.”

A week later, the Yankees introduced Sabathia, alongside fellow newcomer A.J. Burnett.

The return on investment was almost immediate. Although Sabathia got shelled on Opening Day, he quickly recovered and when the regular season ended, he’d paced the Junior Circuit with 19 wins as the Yanks won 103 contests and stormed back into October.

CC took the ball for Game 1 of the ALDS against Minnesota. Over 6.2 innings, he allowed two runs, one earned, as the Yanks won 7-2 en route to sweeping the Twins. The 2000s playoff nemesis Angels loomed in the ALCS. Running a three-man rotation of Sabathia, Burnett, and the venerable Andy Pettitte, the Yanks gave CC the ball for Games 1 and 4. New opponent, same results. Two more wins for Sabathia earned him ALCS MVP honors, and the Yanks vanquished the Halos in six to return to the World Series for the first time since losing to the Marlins in 2003.

Facing the Philadelphia Phillies, the Yanks again handed the ball to CC for the series opener. As usual, he held up his end of the bargain. Seven innings of two-run ball will generally get the job done. Just not on a night when Cliff Lee threw a one-run complete game. CC’s former teammate absolutely dominated and the Phils were out to a 1-0 series lead.

Three days later, with the Yankees leading the series 2-1 after taking Games 2 and 3, Sabathia took the ball and again held down his playoff opponent. This time, 6.2 innings of three-run ball was enough to leave with the lead. The Phils battled back to knot the score at 4-4, but A-Rod delivered one of the biggest hits of his career in the top of the ninth to score two and New York held on, leaving them one win short of baseball immortality. After losing Game 5, New York clinched their 27th and most recent championship with a Game 6 victory.

Game 4 of the 2009 World Series was the last time CC ever pitched in the Fall Classic. But he was everything the Yankees could have hoped for, and more, in 2009. One year after missing the playoffs the Bronx Bombers were back on top of the baseball world.

On and off the field, CC was indispensable, shutting down opponents while making three consecutive All-Star teams from 2010-12 and functioning as a clear clubhouse leader. That included setting an example for self-care. On the eve of the 2015 postseason, he stepped away from the Yankees to address his issues with alcoholism that were threatening to ruin his life. Sabathia got cleaned up, began a mid-career resurgence upon returning to the team in 2016, and last October, he celebrated 10 years of sobriety.

Sabathia was prepared to exercise an opt-out in that original contract following the 2011 campaign as a negotiating tactic, but the the Yankees were able to avoid it by tacking on an extra year and $30 million. He would later re-sign two more one-year deals to finish with 10 seasons in New York, retiring with 251 career wins (134 of them in pinstripes, 10th on the franchise leaderboard), 3,093 strikeouts, and a place as one of the all-time great Yankees. A year ago, on January 21, 2025, Sabathia sailed into Cooperstown on the first ballot, appearing on 86.8 percent of the ballots and wearing a Yankees cap on his plaque. He entered the Hall with Ichiro, who also debuted in 2001.

2009 alone was enough to put Sabathia on this list. Everything else was gravy.

References

CC Sabathia. Baseball-Reference.

Chavez, Andrés.“25 Smartest Moves of the Past 25 Years: CC Sabathia signed.” Pinstripe Alley. February 2, 2022.

Hoch, Bryan. “How the Yanks landed CC, 13 years ago.” MLB. December 15, 2021.

Kepner, Tyler. “How CC Sabathia’s 2008 Milwaukee summer smoothed a path to Cooperstown.” The Athletic. July 7, 2025.

O’Connor, Ian. “CC Sabathia’s biggest Yankees win was healing the Derek Jeter-Alex Rodriguez divide.” The Athletic. July 27, 2025.

“Sources: Yanks, Sabathia agree to deal.” ESPN. December 10, 2008.

See more of the “50 Most Notable Yankees Free Agent Signings in 50 Years” series here.

Fifth in the series. Today we look at the Cubs’ new third baseman.

Alex Bregman should need no introduction. The Cubs wanted to sign him last year but were unable to close the deal. They made up for it this year, signing the free agent to a massive five-year, $175 million contract.

Bregman has won two World Sries championships with the Houston Astros and wears No. 3 with the Cubs, saying that he chose the number because he wants to win a third one. Bregman didn’t sign with the Cubs to get a haircut, to paraphrase a famous former Cub.

He’s well-known for his leadership skills and says he lives for his family and to win baseball games. It already looks like he’s found a comfort zone with the team and his responsibilities, and he’s been seen around town — notably at a Blackhawks game where he wore a red jersey with his number and name on it.

Bregman may not be up to his 2018-19 peak, where he amassed 7.6 and 8.9 bWAR seasons, but he can be penciled in for somewhere around 30 HR/100 RBI/100 walks if he plays a full season. His lifetime slash of .272/.365/.481, with his four MVP nominations and three All-Star Game appearances, speak to his excellence. He also has a Gold Glove from his 2024 season in Houston and a Silver Slugger from his superlative 2019 campaign.

He is perhaps a step below former teammate Kyle Tucker as far as offensive production, but his defense, leadership, and more outgoing personality should serve him well in his Chicago tenure. He is also well-aware of how the power alleys at Wrigley work, and will be aiming at that left-center zone with regularity.

He is also social-media savvy, with his own YouTube Channel and activity on Instagram, and gives good interview.

Last year’s third baseman, Matt Shaw, is penciled in as a utility man and will back up Bregman and Nico Hoerner, and probably log some time in the outfield. Bregman will likely mentor Shaw some, but his primary job is to eye those fences, looking for the jewelry.

Fangraphs’ 2025 spray chart shows that Bregman hits the ball from line to line, and, as a right-handed hitter, favors the left side of the park — his home runs are mostly from center-left, which is ideal.

This should be fun. He’ll hit 2,3,or 4, depending on who’s pitching, leading off, etc. I’ve seen the Cubs ranked as high as #2 in the NL Power Rankings — they’re definitely a contending team, and Bregman’s work will go a long way toward determining how that goes.

Organized professional baseball has been played in Kansas City since 1884, when the Kansas City Unions of the Union Association took the field.  Despite this long history, the city has been light in witnessing baseball milestones. 

Organized professional baseball has been played in Kansas City since 1884, when the Kansas City Unions of the Union Association took the field. Despite this long history, the city has been light on witnessing baseball milestones.

Not a single pitcher for the Kansas City Athletics threw a no-hitter at Municipal Stadium. The first two no-hitters in Royals history were thrown on the road. Neither franchise has had—or ever will have—a 300-game winner. The closest Kansas City came was Gaylord Perry, who pitched the final 14 games of his career here. George Brett remains the only Royal to eclipse 3,000 hits, and he recorded the milestone hit on the road—then promptly got picked off first base. The city has never had a 500-career home run hitter, save for Harmon Killebrew’s final 106 career games in 1975.

Of the notable milestones reached in Kansas City ballparks, one of the first occurred on June 26, 1947, when Carl DeRose—once the Yankees’ top pitching prospect—begged his manager for one more start. DeRose, a Milaca, Minnesota native, made his debut with the Amsterdam Rug Makers, the Yankees’ Class A affiliate, in 1942 and, at age 19, promptly went 19–6. Armed with what was described as a heavy fastball, DeRose was labeled the next Bob Feller.

World War II interrupted his ascension, costing him the next three years to military service. While pitching for a military team, DeRose threw a three-hit complete-game victory over Satchel Paige’s All-Star team. He appeared poised to make his Yankees debut, but a broken knuckle sent him to the Kansas City Blues for the 1946 season. DeRose went 12–6 and seemed ready for his breakthrough, but the baseball gods had other ideas.

He injured his shoulder on a cold, snowy day in Denver and was never the same. Experimental surgery loomed—the only chance to save his once-promising career. Thus, on that June evening in 1947 against the Minneapolis Millers, DeRose begged his manager for one last game. He gutted his way through nine innings, often with tears of pain streaming down his cheeks. Twenty-seven batters up, twenty-seven batters down. Carl DeRose, missing his once-prodigious fastball, threw the first nine-inning perfect game in American Association history at Municipal Stadium.

DeRose spent a couple more seasons bouncing around the Yankees’ minor league system before leaving the game after the 1950 season at age 27. He later played independent league ball in Iowa and Minnesota but never got the opportunity to toe a major league rubber.

On July 11, 1960, local fans—30,619 of them—got to see the game’s biggest stars when the Major League All-Star Game was played at Municipal Stadium. The contest featured 18 future Hall of Famers and was won by the National League, 5–3. The NL stars wasted no time. Willie Mays led off the game with a triple down the right-field line and scored on a Bob Skinner single. With two outs, Ernie Banks smashed a two-run home run. In the second inning, Del Crandall added another long ball to make it 4–0.

The Junior Circuit got on the board in the sixth inning and made it respectable in the eighth when Al Kaline cranked a two-run homer. Bud Daley was the only member of the Athletics selected and entered to a rousing ovation to pitch the ninth inning. He struck out Vada Pinson and Orlando Cepeda, and retired Roberto Clemente on a lineout. Daley later called the appearance the greatest thrill of his career. The game was also notable as the final All-Star Game for Ted Williams and the first for Clemente and Brooks Robinson.

On August 27, 1962, Municipal Stadium hosted the 36th—and final—Negro League East-West All-Star Game, a 5–2 victory for the West. It was the only Negro League All-Star Game hosted by Kansas City, which is notable given that the Negro Leagues were formed just a few blocks north of the stadium at the Paseo YMCA. Willie Hardwick of the Kansas City Monarchs homered in the second inning to spark the West. The East squad struggled defensively, committing five errors that led to four unearned runs. Another Monarch, pitcher Sherm Cottingham, earned the win. During the fifth inning, former Monarch Jackie Robinson was honored with a key to the city, and Satchel Paige and several other former Monarchs were also introduced.

On July 13, 1963, Early Wynn of the Cleveland Indians pitched five innings against the Kansas City Athletics to secure his 300th career victory in a 7–4 win. At 43, Wynn was the oldest player in the majors and became just the 14th pitcher to reach the milestone. He made his major league debut in 1939 as a 19-year-old with the Washington Senators and missed the entire 1945 season due to military service. His best years came with Cleveland, where he won at least 20 games in four different seasons. Wynn spent five seasons late in his career with the Chicago White Sox before returning to the Indians for the sole purpose of winning game No. 300. The victory against Kansas City proved to be the final win of his career, leaving him with a 300–244 record and a 3.54 ERA. That Athletics roster included an 18-year-old Tony La Russa, who appeared as a pinch runner. Future Royal Moe Drabowsky took the loss for Kansas City.

In a desperate attempt to boost attendance, Athletics owner Charlie O. Finley declared September 8, 1965, “Campy Campaneris Night.” The promotion centered on Campaneris playing all nine positions against the Los Angeles Angels. The stunt drew 21,576 fans to Municipal Stadium, and the 23-year-old Campaneris delivered a memorable performance. He started at shortstop before moving, in order, to second base, third base, left field, center field, right field, first base, pitcher, and finally catcher.

Things grew heated in the ninth inning when future Royal Ed Kirkpatrick led off with a single. Kirkpatrick promptly stole second, moved to third, and then attempted to steal home. Campaneris caught the pitch from another future Royal, Aurelio Monteagudo, and applied the tag as Kirkpatrick barreled into him in an effort to dislodge the ball. Campaneris held on for the final out and appeared ready to brawl before being restrained by José Cardenal, who also happened to be his cousin. Campaneris was removed from the game and taken to St. Luke’s Hospital with a shoulder injury. The Angels won, 5–3.

Next week, we’ll look at milestones achieved at Royals/Kauffman Stadium.