At The Star, Jaylon Thompson helps outline Royals priorities for the offseason:

“The bullpen, I think, is clearly the one we have the most work to do,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said recently. “(It’s) followed by starting pitchers, getting the depth we need to get through a season.”

The Royals will also pursue adding a starter. The club intends to add depth alongside 2026 All-Star Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo and Noah Cameron. The trio is slated to be in the starting rotation with multiple guys in contention for the final spots.

Those in contention will include Daniel Lynch IV, Randy Dobnak and Tony Gonsolin ($2.5 million club option). The Royals also hope to get back Cole Ragans, Luinder Avila, Stephen Kolek, Ryan Bergert and Ben Kudrna — from various injuries — at some point during the 2027 campaign.

Pete Grathoff writes that Mike Sweeney fondly remembers Todd Benzinger, who passed away on Wednesday:

Royals Hall of Famer Mike Sweeney was heartbroken to learn of Benzinger’s passing.

“I’m saddened, you know, truly saddened by his loss,” Sweeney said in a phone interview. “He lived a life full of joy, though. Every room he walked in, I never met a teammate of his that didn’t love him.

“And I think as a major-league player, that’s the greatest compliment you can have. Not that you were a Gold Glove first baseman, or you couldn’t catch, or you could hit well. But it’s that he was a great teammate, and Todd Benzinger was certainly that.”

Ed note: Sorry guys, there aren’t any Royals Todd Benginzer pictures in the image archive so you get Mike Sweeney instead.

I’m not entirely sure what this press release means:

The Kansas City Royals announced Thursday the selection of Legends Global as the owner’s representative for the Royals’ new downtown ballpark in the heart of Kansas City…

“Legends is the best in the business with baseball stadium expertise and diligence that will help provide our fans the world-class experience they deserve,” Royals president of real estate and development Brooks Sherman said. “There is no precedent for a sports-anchored project of this size in any city’s downtown, and we’re thrilled to have Legends on our side to maximize what this project can do for Kansas City.”

…An expert in venue development and commercialization, Legends Global currently serves as owner’s representative on new venue projects in professional sports for the Tampa Bay Rays, the Dallas Mavericks, the recently opened Buffalo Bills’ Highmark Stadium, the multi-year renovation of the Toronto Blue Jays’ Rogers Centre, as well as the Starlight Theater in Kansas City and David Booth Memorial Stadium at the University of Kansas.

No MLB baseball highlights today, but how about an Arizona Fall League one?

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Blog Time? You Bet! And we have quite a few for October (bailing me out because I didn’t have much time to write an OT).

At Inside the Crown, David Lesky ($) continues his offseason journey through the Royals roster. This time, he looks at “the in-house options for the Royals pitching staff”:

LAST SEASON’S DEPTH – Randy Dobnak, Tony Gonsolin and Daniel Lynch IV

If Dobnak and Lynch are in the Opening Day rotation, this Royals team might lose 100 games. It’s hard not to appreciate what Dobnak did for the Royals for a few weeks in the second half of this past season, but he is not someone you can count on to be a core part of a rotation. The 7.15 ERA he put up in September with just 15 strikeouts in 22.2 innings was far more the real Dobnak based on location and stuff. I have no issue if he’s on the staff as a long reliever and if he’s around to make a spot start here and there, but he simply can’t be in the rotation if they’re going to talk about competing with a straight face.

Lynch had his moments as a starter, but was far more bad than good. He had a 6.53 ERA in 40 innings with 21 strikeouts and 14 walks. Even if you only look at his last six starts when he was throwing 70+ pitches, he had a 6.51 ERA in 27.2 innings with 13 strikeouts and nine walks. He’s a reliever. The Royals needed someone to make starts, and it was something he wanted to do, so he did it. That’s fine. And they learned that he didn’t figure out something in the bullpen that would allow him to return to the rotation. There’s value in that. But, like Dobnak, if Lynch is in the rotation, they’re toast already.

I’m not entirely sure that Gonsolin is different from Dobnak and Lynch other than the fact that he’s been a legitimate mid-rotation starter in the past. Though the last time that was true was 2022. He threw one game and gave a pretty different look with his splitter getting whiffs, but even so, he’s made just eight appearances since 2023. And they haven’t been good. I like that Gonsolin is reasonable depth, but they’re probably in trouble if they’re counting on him.

It’s Awards season at Royals Keep.

Kevin O’Brien crowned the best players for the Columbia Fireflies:

Pitcher of the Year: Michael Lombardi, RHP

A second-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Tulane, Lombardi made the transition to full-time pitching for the first time in his baseball career. The 22-year-old Green Wave product was a two-way player in college and only pitched 42 innings in his final season at Tulane in 2024.

Lombardi thrived after moving to full-time pitching.

He led all Fireflies pitchers with 124 strikeouts despite pitching only 88 innings. For context, Darwin Rodriguez, Jose Gutierrez, and Shane Van Dam all threw more innings than Lombardi, but they didn’t come close to the Tulane product’s strikeout total. In swing-and-miss, Lombardi was Columbia’s best pitcher. His 68th-percentile O-Swing%, 93rd-percentile K%, and 59th-percentile whiff% only confirmed that. In addition to leading the Fireflies, Lombardi led all the Carolina League in strikeouts, despite not hitting the 100-inning mark this season.

While up at the major league level, Yirsandy Rodriguez named the Royals pitcher of the year:

#1: Michael Wacha, RHP

This was the problem all the time: Wacha received an average of 3.36 runs of offensive support in his 32 starts, the lowest figure for a starter in the major leagues. It was the second consecutive year in which he had the lowest average offensive run support among starters. Then, when you see Wacha’s dominance and success as a rotation starter, I think you appreciate the effort and consistency even more, offering the opportunity to win almost every day. Among starters with at least 20 starts, only Yoshinobu Yamamoto (22/28, 78.6%), Chris Sale (19/27, 70.4%), Sonny Gray (20/29, 69.0%), and Cristopher Sanchez (22/33, 66.7%) surpassed Wacha (21/32, 65.6%) in quality start percentage. We can see a lot of run prevention and dominance numbers, but baseball is as complicated as it is simple, so often what teams need most is for their starters to be able to get a quality start.

And hitter:

#1: Bobby Witt Jr., SS

Season Stats: .281/.359/.441, 18 HR, 54 RBI, 10.6 BB%, 17.2 K%, .159 ISO, .320 BABIP, 119 wRC+, 9.3 BsR, 7.0 fWAR

Bobby was somewhat below the superstar level he showed in the previous two seasons. His slugging percentage fell below his .500 standard, and he finished with the lowest numbers of his career in home runs (18), RBI (54), and ISO (.159). Even so, he made a difference with his ability to contribute offensively, stay on base —he finished with the best walk rate of his career (10.6%)— and stand out thanks to his skill at running the bases. Even below several of his usual standards, that combination led him to record 7.0 fWAR and remain among the game’s elite.

There’s not much to discuss: Witt Jr. remains one of the most complete players in baseball. He finished second in the major leagues with 7.0 fWAR, trailing only the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong (10.6). In the American League, he finished among the 2026 leaders in stolen bases (second, 45), doubles (tied for sixth, 33), hits (ninth, 157), runs scored (ninth, 94), and batting average (tied for ninth, .281).

Blog Roundup:

• Matthew Swigonski at KOK: Grading the Royals’ 2026 bullpen exposes a major concern
• Also, Matthew Swigonski at KOK: Zion Rose’s Arizona Fall League surge gives Royals plenty to look forward to
• I know this is a week old, but it probably wasn’t linked to and was the end of this season’s project by Darin Watson over at U.L.‘s Toothpick: This Date In Royals History–1976 Edition: October 15 – The Royals return home, and tears are shed. And a thank you note to all of you

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The World Series starts tonight! I’m pretty excited about that. (I’m also quite annoyed that I have parental activities that will conflict with significant parts of the first two games.) How about you?

I’m excited for Brewers/Rays. We’re going to get a first-time winner! I’m good with whoever wins, but I have a slight lean in my rooting interest.

Depending on your definition, we’re going to get only the second small-market team to win a World Series in a long time (who was the other one?). I’d really like to get a good series and both of these teams seem capable of delivering on that promise.

I thought of ending on this note, but let’s get this bummer out of the way early. It would be really nice to have a great World Series before baseball gets all the bad headlines for all the wrong reasons as soon as the owners lock out the players. Just a reminder to everyone: this will be, once again, a lockout and not a strike. It’s the owners doing this, not the players. As Ronald Blum at AP reminds us: “the World Series could be Major League Baseball’s last games for a while”.

How about a World Series link dump for OT today?

Umpire assignments for the series come to us, courtesy of USA Today’s Mark Giannotto.

David Schoenfield of ESPN has a great article about some of the oddities and rarities from this World Series matchup. This might be my favorite article in this section.

Also at ESPN, Bradford Doolittle proclaims that the “Brewers, Rays [are] more different than you think”

Similarly (pun half-intended), Ben Clemens of Fangraphs ($) previews the series with the headline “The Same, but Also Different”.

Over at CBS Sports, Matt Snyder profiles emerging stars Junior Caminero and Jackson Chourio.

Snyder also draws the “three reasons why the Brewers will win the World Series” while Dayn Perry writes the companion piece of “three reasons why the Rays will win the World Series”.

Sean Leahy previews Game 1 for Yahoo.

Over at The Athletic ($), the Milwaukee Brewers are the overwhelming favorite in the staff picks.

This is also true at MLB.com.

Mike Petriello compares the team position-by-position.

Finally, Awful Announcing’s Drew Lerner says that the TV ratings may not be as bad as feared.

Let’s get to the games!

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I’m not entirely sure why I did this to myself, but I started a new playthough of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link for the NES. It’s a mixed bag, a Zelda in Metroidvania clothing, with a brutal difficulty curve. I still have bad memories of playing Death Mountain as a kid, but I did beat it on one set of lives this time around. I am grateful for internet maps and walkthroughs as my copies of Nintendo Power are a bit dogeared at this point.

If you want to watch someone tell me how wrong I am for more than an hour, here’s a video doing exactly that.

Or, if you’d rather, here’s an entire game playthrough:

Good morning, Purple Row!

Fifteen and a half years ago, the Rockies signed a young pitcher out of Venezuela. Just 16, Antonio Senzatela spent from 2011 to 2026 with the organization, working his way through the farm system and making his MLB debut in 2017.

He spent nine years with the Rockies, pitching in one game in the 2018 playoffs before experiencing his own highs and lows when Colorado was mostly low. He experienced a resurgence in the bullpen for the Rockies in the first half of 2026 before being dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers before the trade deadline. He didn’t put up as impressive numbers in Milwaukee as he did for the Rockies in the regular season (5.14 ERA vs. 3.61 ERA), but he’s done well.

His ERA is 0.00 in 1.2 innings over two appearances, having given up three hits, one unearned run and one walk with one strikeout. At age 31, Senzatela will be playing in his first World Series against the Rays. It’s hard to imagine Rockies fans not cheering him on.

Now, on to the news around the baseball world.

Rockies News & Links

Brewers’ 2026 trade deadline acquisitions are bucking years-long trend with postseason contributions | Reviewing the Brew

This is all about Antonio Senzatela and JoJo Romero and how they are the exceptions to the rule of new relievers to make a positive difference for the Brewers. This has a great quote from Senzatela from media day on Thursday: “It was always a dream to be [in the World Series]. It’s really nice being here with the Brewers,” Senzatela said. “It’s a nice organization, really nice people in the clubhouse. The fans are amazing, the city is great.”

Rockies growing scout department | Francys Romero

The Rockies are reportedly adding a member to their scouting department. Steve Barningham spent 23 years with the Mets before joining the Atlanta Braves in 2025. He will be reunited with Tommy Tanous, the Rockies assistant general manager of scouting and player development, who was with the Mets from 2011-2025 before joining Paul DePodesta & Co.

Sources: The Colorado Rockies will add Steve Barningham to their scouting department.

Barningham was most recently with the Atlanta Braves as an International and Pro Scout.

He previously served as the Mets’ International Scouting Director (2021-2024), playing a role in the…

— Francys Romero (@FrancysRomero) October 22, 2026

One World Series Player Who Would Be a Perfect Fit for the Rockies | Yahoo Sports

Last season, the Rockies veteran free agent signings of Michael Lorenzen and Jose Quintana didn’t work out so well. However, Tomoyuki Sugano pitched pretty well for a Colorado starter. Scott Roche thinks the Rockies should consider targeting another veteran pitcher who will become a free agent after the World Series ends and that’s former Dodger and current Brewer Dustin May.

Every MLB Team’s Best Postseason Walk-Off In History | Fox Sports

He touched the plate. That’s a fact, and that’s the Rockies best walk-off. When Jamey Carroll hit a sac fly and Matt Holliday won Game 163 with a slide into home that left his lip cut and bleeding, it was epic. Technically, it wasn’t a playoff game since 163s count as the regular season, but it does. It’s the playoffs And he touched the plate.

Some wonderful baseball moments highlight this list from David Ortiz in 2004 and Joe Carter in 1993 to Adolis Garcia in 2023 and Bobby Thomson’s Shot Heard Round the World in 1951. It’s fun to look it over.

Around Baseball

3 burning questions ahead of World Series Game 1 | MLB.com

The World Series begins tonight in Milwaukee. There will be plenty of clutch moments and historic plays, but Will Leitch thinks it will come down to Miz, the Rays hitting homers and the fanbase in Milwaukee cheering like it’s 1982.

Ranking top players in Brewers-Rays World Series |ESPN.com

The No. 1 pick is easy with Jacob Misiorowski. It’s a competitive list after, but the Brewers do have seven in the top 10. Former Rockies Ryan Vilade is No. 31 and Antonio Senatela is No. 38 out of 52.

MLB’s lockout is coming. Before it arrives, baseball insiders expect a free-agent frenzy | The Athletics ($)

Five days after the World Series ends, free agency begins. Considering that leaves a little less than one month before the expected lockout comes on Dec. 1, it’s enough time to make a lot of deals. And that’s what famed agent Scott Boras expects, especially considering many changes that come with less freedom are expected in the new collective bargaining agreement.

The Brewers’ playoff anthem is a high-pitched viral hit with players, fans and the library | The Athletic ($)

“Let’s play some baseball and get some home runs.” That’s the jam that is taking over Milwaukee. The Foenem hit has taken the town by storm, playing through the speakers in the Brewers clubhouse, in libraries, in sporting goods shops and more. Warning: it could get stuck in your head, and I am not sure it’s a good thing. It hits some high notes.

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Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Meet the Mets

Laura Albanese graded the Mets’ players, president of baseball operations, and manager, giving Carson Benge an A+, Andy Green an A, and David Stearns a D- in the process.

Around the National League East

The Good Phight wonders whether a new hitting coach and better use of data can help the Phillies.

Federal Baseball wonders if the Nationals will make any big moves before the lockout.

Around Major League Baseball

With the World Series between the Rays and Brewers set to begin tonight, Jayson Stark examines why baseball might not be as broken as some people like to say it is.

Nick Martinez will start Game 1 for the Rays, while Jacob Misiorowski gets the start for the Brews.

Brew Crew Ball and DRaysBay offered up their World Series previews.

Will Leitch writes about three burning questions ahead of Game 1.

Brewers catcher William Contreras wrote a piece about the Brewers’ season thus far in the Players’ Tribune.

This World Series features this season’s pitcher with the fastest fastball and the hitter with the fastest bat.

It also features six former Yankees and Mets.

Here’s the story of how the Rays wound up signing Jonathan Aranda back in 2015.

Andy McCullough writes that baseball insiders expect a free agent frenzy before the lockout begins.

This Date in Mets History

Game 2 of the Subway Series World Series was played on this date in the year 2000.

No matter who wins the 2026 World Series, one team will be getting their first championship rings.

But whether the Tampa Bay Rays or Milwaukee Brewers win the Fall Classic, bling continued to be a part of baseball this season.

The Rays, who have a penchant for pizzazz, beat the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series to punch their ticket to the World Series.

On their journey to the championship matchup, Milwaukee swept the Los Angeles Dodgers, who dominated the fashion game last postseason, in the National League Championship Series.

While the baseball world has been hesitant to embrace displays of personal expression like the bat flip or tilted caps, jewelry is the way that players have shown their style.

Ahead of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, here is a brief look at this season's jewelry for the two teams in the World Series and other sartorial highlights from the past:

Tampa Bay Rays jewelry for World Series

Van Cleef & Arpels continues to be a favorite jewelry brand among baseball players. On the Rays, Junior Caminero wears a long double-stranded Alhambra necklace featuring the brand's signature clovers.

The third baseman completes his look with a pair of dangly earrings that make his celebrations extra lively.

"TAMPAAA ... THIS IS FOR YOU" - Junior Caminero pic.twitter.com/yHx8y4xBoz

— MLB (@MLB) October 20, 2026

Caminero's Tampa Bay teammate, Yandy Díaz, has long been known to wear jewelry while playing.

In fact, back in 2019, he had a massive gold rope chain that went with him all the way to the American League Division Series. There was even a Twitter account dedicated to the shiny accessory.

This year, Díaz played with layers of gold chains around his neck. Two necklaces had large charms, one was a spider based on his nickname, "Arañita," and the other was his No. 2 in a scope.

Milwaukee Brewers World Series jewelry

For the Brewers, Jackson Chourio holds it down in the swag department. The outfielder wears a chunky gold interlocking chain that hangs just around his neck.

Milwaukee pitcher Trevor Megill also adds some flair to his game day look. He wears two simple gold chains that flow with his movements.

Los Angeles Dodgers 2025 World Series jewelry

Last season, the Dodgers stormed the fashion world with their accessory game. Fashion content creator Jack Savoie became the go-to expert in breaking down the drip.

Miguel Rojas wore blue jewelry from Van Cleef & Arpels' Alhambra collection en route to Los Angeles' World Series victory. He not only had a necklace with the blue charms, but also had matching earrings.

This year, Rojas continued to show off his style. At media day, he was a reporter for MLB Español and interviewed members of the Rays and Brewers as they got ready for their chance to hoist the Commissioner's Trophy.

The infielder wore huggie earrings in his ears and his monstrous World Series ring on his finger.

During the 2025 World Series, Rojas wasn't the only Dodgers player to catch the attention of style experts with his accessories. Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto dazzled in a sapphire tennis necklace.

Mookie Betts has also worn strings of necklaces throughout his career, including one with a charm of a baseball bat. His swagger was on full display during the championship series.

Joc Pederson's pearls at 2021 World Series

Joc Pederson's pearls put a stamp on MLB fashion in a major way for the 2021 World Series when he won the title with the Atlanta Braves. And it wasn't just a strand of small pearls. Per Sports Illustrated, compared to the average size 8-millimeter pearls, Pederson's were nearly double the size at 14 millimeters each.

The necklace, which was crafted by Happy Jewelers, created such a buzz that the Braves sold replicas for $5. After the season, the real one was sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

As for his inspiration for the fashion statement, Pederson said, "I just saw the pearls and I was, like, you know what? That looks cool."

Ken Griffey Jr., Deion Sanders influenced baseball fashion

There are several other players who have influenced baseball fashion through their accessories.

Back in the 2000s, Ken Griffey Jr. became known for wearing his baseball cap backwards, but added some flair to his uniform with diamond earrings and a silver chain.

Deion Sanders is among the most influential figures in all of sports fashion. He is responsible for the phrase, "Look good, feel good, play good," and, although he's primarily known for his swagger in the world of football, he wore large necklaces that helped baseball find its fly.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fly ball: A look at Rays and Brewers jewelry ahead of World Series

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

It’s time for the World Series. And for the 43rd consecutive year, the Orioles will not be participating. They don’t want to be greedy, you know. Those World Series spots are pretty coveted, and the O’s prefer to hang back for a few decades and let everyone else have a chance. It’s pretty generous when you think about it.

While the O’s rest on their three-championship laurels, another team is about to win its first. Either the Milwaukee Brewers, who have been around since 1970 (plus one season as the Seattle Pilots in 1969), or the Tampa Bay Rays, who came into existence in 1998, will add a long-awaited World Series title to their trophy case. That’s pretty neat! Again, both teams owe a debt of gratitude to the Orioles for graciously stepping aside — by playing terrible baseball — to give them this opportunity.

Game 1 is tonight at 8 PM on Fox. Do you have a rooting interest, Camden Chatters? I’m pulling for the Brewers, mainly because their fans have had twice as long of a wait as the Rays. Think of all the long-suffering Orioles fans, many of whom have never seen their favorite team win it all, and then add another 13 years to that. Let these folks experience some joy after all this time.

Whichever team ends up winning, this should be an exciting, hard-fought series (if not exactly a TV ratings bonanza). The 103-win Brewers and the 98-win Rays were the best teams in their respective leagues this season, and both play the kind of high-quality, crisp baseball that is unfamiliar to O’s fans. Each team has its share of young, homegrown stars — Jacob Misiorowski, Jackson Chourio, and Brice Turang for the Brewers; Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda for the Rays, among others — proving that it is actually possible to develop talent that can succeed at the major league level. Who knew?

Both these teams are fundamentally sound on defense and grind out great at-bats on offense, showing excellent plate discipline and delivering big hits when they need them. Their rosters are well-constructed and cohesive, and of course, the vibes in the dugout are off the charts. And both teams are succeeding without being particularly big spenders; according to Spotrac, the Brewers’ payroll of $146.2 million was just the 19th highest in the majors, and the Rays’ $95.6 million was 28th out of the 30 major league clubs. (The Orioles’ $167.0 million mark ranked 17th.)

The Brewers and Rays have proven — not just this year, but for many years running — that a team can be a perennial contender on a smaller payroll by making shrewd trades and canny, low-cost free agent signings, and by building a prospect-rich organization and doing an excellent job of developing them. It’s a formula that Mike Elias has tried — and mostly failed — to replicate with the Orioles these past eight seasons.

Maybe it’ll finally happen in 2027. Otherwise we’ll be looking at a 44th straight Orioles-less World Series at this time next year.

Links

A scout’s take: An O’s top 30 pitching prospect that can fly under the radar – Steve Melewski

I’m finding it hard to get hyped about Nestor German, but I am intrigued by a potential future Orioles team that includes German, (Ike) Irish, and (Drew) French. Let’s build an entire roster out of European demonyms.

Questions and answers with Orioles pitching prospect Patrick Reilly – BaltimoreBaseball.com

Patrick Reilly seems to have a good head on his shoulders. And, also importantly, a now-healthy arm attached to that shoulder.

Wondering about possible and unlikely returnees to Orioles in 2027 – School of Roch

Send ’em all packing. Pete Alonso can stay.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Three players in Orioles history were born on this day: outfielder Dylan Carlson (28), right-hander Kyle Gibson (39), and the late infielder Vern Stephens (b. 1920, d. 1968).

Nothing has really happened on Oct. 23 in Orioles history, but in Orioles-adjacent history, the Dodgers hired Davey Johnson as their manager on this day in 1998. The former O’s player and skipper landed his first managerial job since he abruptly resigned from the Orioles in November 1997, on the same day he was named AL Manager of the Year. Johnson would last just two years as the Dodgers’ manager — the same length as his Orioles tenure — and failed to make the playoffs either season.

As few as four, as many as seven. That’s how many games we’ve got left in 2026.

On to the links.

Phillies News

The Inquirer publishes the results of a fan survey. ($)

Catcher Payton Henry, who signed a minor league contract with the Phils in July, has opted for free agency.

MLB news

Nick Martinez will get the start for Tampa Bay.

Jacob Misiorowski makes batters cry. But sometimes he cries too.

BLEPH.

Free of charge for the discerning reader.

Happy birthday to Dylan Carlson, and a mighty host of others.

Today in baseball history, in 1935 – Gabby Hartnett is selected by the Baseball Writers Association of America as the National League MVP, with Dizzy Dean the runner-up, and 1984 – Rick Sutcliffe*, who was 16-1 for the Cubs after arriving from Cleveland two days before the June 15trading deadline, is a unanimous choice as National League Cy Young Award winner, and other stories as well.

Today in baseball history:

• 1910 – Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Jack Coombs wins his third game of the World Series, beating the Chicago Cubs, 7-2, as the Athletics take the championship in five games. Eddie Collins helps Coombs with three hits, including two doubles.
• 1945 – Branch Rickey announces the signing of Jackie Robinson and John Wright by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization to a contract with Triple-A Montreal of the International League for 1946.
• 1974 – The Cubs trade sweet-swinging Billy Williams, a fixture at Wrigley Field for 16 years, to the Oakland Athletics for second baseman Manny Trillo and pitchers Darold Knowles and Bob Locker.
• 1993 – In one of the most dramatic endings in World Series history, Joe Carter hits a three-run, ninth-inning home run off Mitch Williams for an 8-6 win and Toronto’s second straight World Championship. Paul Molitor, who hits .500 (12 for 24), is named Series MVP while Lenny Dykstra of the Phillies, who hit .348 with four home runs, did everything except pitch. Following the 2010 season, a panel of experts at the MLB Network will vote this game the 14th greatest of the past fifty years.
• 1996 – At Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, the Braves jump to a 6-0 lead, but the Yankees mount the biggest comeback in their long World Series history with a three-run home run by Jim Leyritz that ties the game in the eighth inning. After Bernie Williams is intentionally walked with runners on first and second base in the 10th, Steve Avery walks Wade Boggs to bring in the deciding run.
• 2005 – The Chicago White Sox crash two of the more dramatic home runs in recent World Series history to score a 7-6 victory against the Houston Astros and take a two-games-to-none lead in the Series. Paul Konerko, who hit 40 homers in the regular season, and Scott Podsednik, who hit none, provide the fireworks. Konerko, the ALCSMVP, hits a grand slam in the seventh inning to give the White Sox a 6-4 lead. After the Astros tie the score in the ninth against Chicago closerBobby Jenks, Podsednik smacks a 2-1 pitch from Houston closer Brad Lidge into the bleachers in right-center field to trigger a boisterous celebration.
• 2013 – The Red Sox jump on the Cardinals early, scoring five runs in the first two innings, to cruise to an 8-1 win in Game 1 of the World Series. Mike Napoli hits a bases-clearing double in the 1st and the Sox add two more runs in the second in spite of Carlos Beltran robbing David Ortiz of a grand slam with a great catch. Jon Lester pitches 7.1 scoreless innings for the win while Adam Wainwright takes the loss.
• 2015 – In a nail-biting Game 6 of the ALCS, the Royals defeat the Blue Jays, 4-3, to return to the World Series. After a 45-minute rain delay, Lorenzo Cain scores all the way from first base on a single by Eric Hosmer in the eighth for the winning run. Jose Bautista drives in all three Toronto runs with a pair of homers, but the Jays are undone by their inability to cash in runners in scoring position throughout the game. For the Royals, Ben Zobrist and Mike Moustakas, with the assistance of a fan, hit solo homers to give the Royals an early 2-0 lead.
• 2019 – The Cubs hire former C David Ross, one of the heroes of their conquest of a World Series title in 2016, to succeed Joe Maddon as the team’s manager.
• 2022 – The Phillies punch their ticket to the World Series with a 4-3 win over the Padres in Game 5 of the 2022 NLCS. San Diego takes advantage of three wild pitches by Seranthony Dominguez to score twice and take a 3-2 lead in rainy conditions in the sventh, but in the bottom of the eighth, NLCS MVPBryce Harper hits a two-run homer off Robert Suarez to put the Phils ahead to stay.
• 2022 – The Astros complete a sweep of the Yankees in the ALCS to return to the World Series for the fourth time in six years. The key plays in the 6-5 win are a three-run homer by ALCS MVPJeremy Peña off Nestor Cortes in the third, and a botched double play grounder by 2B Gleyber Torres that leads to two Houston runs in the seventh.
• 2023 – The Rangers jump all over the Astros in Game 7 of the ALCS, scoring three runs in the 1st and chasing Cristian Javier before the end of the inning, then adding four runs against J.P. France in the fourth, on their way to an 11-4 win. Adolis García, the winner of the ALCS MVP Award, hits two more homers and drives in five runs, finishing with 15 RBIs for the series. Jordan Montgomery wins in relief of Max Scherzer and, as in the 2019 World Series, the visiting team won each of the seven games. The win sends the Rangers to the World Series for the first time since 2011, and ensures that once again there will not be a repeat champion, something that has not happened since 2000.

Cubs Birthdays:Dylan Carlson. Also notable: Jim Bunning HOF.

Today in history:

• 1091 – Tornado (possible T8/F4) strikes the heart of London, killing two and demolishing the wooden London Bridge.
• 1731 – Library of manuscript collector Robert Cotton is badly damaged in a fire in London, lost are one of only two surviving copies of King John‘s Magna Carta (1215) and Asser’s biography of King Alfred.
• 1814 – One of the first modern plastic surgeries in the West is performed by Joseph Carpue on a soldier’s nose in England using Indian techniques.
• 1911 – First aerial reconnaissance mission is flown by an Italian pilot over Turkish lines during the Italo-Turkish War.
• 1921 – Green Bay Packers play 1st APFA (forerunner to NFL) game; beat Minneapolis Marines, 7-6 at Hagemeister Park, Green Bay, WI.
• 1923 – A US patent (No. 1471465) is issued to American inventor Sebastian Hinton for a playground climbing structure popularly known as “monkey bars.”
• 1933 – John Dillinger and his gang rob Central National Bank, in Greencastle, Indiana; they steal $75, 000.
• 1964 – Future undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier dominates German Hans Huber for an easy points win and the Olympic heavyweight gold medal in Tokyo.
• 2018 – The world’s oldest intact shipwreck, an ancient Greek vessel 2,400 years old, is found by archaeologists at the bottom of the Black Sea.

Today in music history:

• 1972 – “I’m Still in Love with You,” the fifth studio album by Al Green, is released (Billboard Album of the Year 1973).
• 1978 – Punk rock singer Sid Vicious attempts suicide while at Riker’s Detention Center in NYC.
• 1989 – George Harrison releases “Best of Dark Horse 1976-89” album.
• 2001 – Apple releases the iPod.
• 2006 – “Irreplaceable” single released by Beyonce (Billboard Song of the Year 2007).
• 2006 – My Chemical Romance releases their third studio album, “The Black Parade.”
• 2007 – Rounder Records releases “Raising Sand,” a collaborative album by American bluegrass singer Alison Krauss and British rock vocalist Robert Plant; tops the chart in Norway, peaks at No. 2 in US, UK, and Sweden.
• 2015 – Adele releases her single “Hello,” becomes the first song with more than a million downloads in its first week.
• 2020 – Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen‘s 20th studio album “Letter To You,” recorded with the E Street Band.

*pictured.