Nevada Day is getting a little extra gold, silver and hockey this year. The Vegas Golden Knights are turning Friday’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils into a full-on celebration of the Silver State, with specialty merchandise, signed jerseys up for auction and plenty of reasons for fans to show up in white.
The Golden Knights announced Tuesday, Oct. 28, their plans for the annual Nevada Day game, set for 3 p.m. PT Friday, Oct. 30, at T-Mobile Arena. The game, presented by Travel Nevada, honors the state’s admission to the Union on Oct. 31, 1864. Vegas will take the ice in its white jerseys, and fans are encouraged to match the look by wearing white to the game.
There will be more than hockey happening around the arena, too.
Fans heading to Paramount+ Plaza will get the first chance to shop the latest Golden Knights x VANS collection, with sales beginning at 10 a.m. PT. Additional co-branded VGK x VANS merchandise by Violent Gentleman will also be available.
For fans looking to take home something a little more exclusive, specialty signed Nevada Day jerseys will be up for auction. Bidding opens at 1:45 p.m. PT on Friday and closes at 5 p.m. PT. Fans can register and place bids at VGKNevadaDay.givesmart.com or by texting VGKNevadaDay to 76278.
Want a closer look before placing a bid? The jerseys will be on display along the concourse near sections 11 and 12. Proceeds will benefit the VGK Foundation and support its ongoing programming with the Clark County School District.
Nevada Day merchandise won't stop at the arena, either. T-shirts, pucks and other commemorative items will be available for purchase at The Arsenal at City National Arena.
Travel Nevada has already helped kick off the celebration with its "Ultimate Hockey Experience" sweepstakes. One lucky winner and three friends scored tickets to Friday's game, official Golden Knights jerseys, premium transportation to and from T-Mobile Arena and an exclusive opportunity to attend the postgame press conference.
With a holiday crowd, fresh merchandise and some one-of-a-kind jerseys up for grabs, Friday's game is shaping up to be more than just another afternoon at the rink. And with the Devils coming to town, the Golden Knights will have a chance to give Nevada fans one more reason to celebrate.
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 14: Will Wade head coach of the LSU Tigers reacts a an exhibition game against the UCF Knights at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on October 14, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Someone really should approach Will Wade and LSU about starting a reality show. Look at what’s gone on there just this week:
First, the Reese Alston recruitment. Alston’s father, former NBA star Rafer, absolutely slammed Wade a few days ago for the recruitment of his son, saying this: “I’m disgusted by how this whole process has played out. Will Wade has operated in a disgusting manner. He is a sleazeball of an individual. I know there was a back alley deal involving PUMA, in which money was accepted without my authorization.”
Wade allegedly cut a deal with Reese’s mother, who presumably will be signing the grant-in-aid, given Rafer’s disgust with Wade.
Then there’s the RJ Luis situation, which, at this point, is pure comedy.
Wade, pushing the limits as always, recruited RJ Luis for a fifth season, despite Luis’s brief NBA dalliance, during which he signed more than one contract.
This was part of why the SEC got angry enough at LSU to threaten to kick them out of the conference.
Now, Luis’s attorney, Tony Clayton Jr,. having won a temporary restraining order that will allow his client to play, and that also prevents the SEC from punishing LSU for now, are taking it a step further: if Wade doesn’t roster Luis and then play him, Clayton will take him to court and ask the judge to hold him in constructive contempt.
In Louisiana, the penalties for that are $1,000 dollars, which is trivial, and up to 6 months in jail, which is anything but.
Clayton said this about Wade: “I’m telling you we’re going to use the long arm of the law to force Will Wade to play him because I’m not going to allow these folks to play musical chairs. We would bring in Coach Wade and move to hold him in constructive contempt. I would not advise anyone to be in contempt of court. This judge is real.”
In case you missed it, Clayton is telling Wade he has to actually play Luis. So what happens if Wade puts him in for 30 seconds? Will that suffice? Or will Clayton demand a certain number of minutes? Is he now a functional member of the coaching staff?
Just as a side note, Clayton, who clearly has a bit of flair, compared SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey to North Korean strong man Kim Jong Un.
Wade is now having to balance the SEC’s very real threats vs. potential jail time.
Not surprisingly, Wade is not sticking his neck out in public, and refused to comment on Luis’s eligibility.
At the end of the day, we wonder about a couple of things: first, what exactly happened between Wade and Reese Alston’s mother. When the transfer portal and paying players came to pass, we said that we didn’t know how, but that members of the Situational Ethics Conference would find new ways to cheat. It won’t surprise us in the slightest if Wade leads the way on that.
And second, what must the braintrust at NC State be thinking? They were angry when Wade abandoned Raleigh to return to LSU. At this point, though, they must be breathing a sigh of relief that the Music Man, predictably, skipped town and took his chaotic show to Baton Rouge.
The Buffalo Sabres did not remedy the offensive gap created by the departures of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram last summer. The club was minus 44 goals from last season, and appeared to be relying on the internal development of youngsters Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Konsta Helenius, and Jiri Kulich to make up the difference.
Early returns have proven that to be a miscalculation by GM Jarmo Kekalainen, as these four forwards have combined for just six goals, and before their breakout 7-6 win in Anaheim on Thursday, the Sabres were averaging 2.75 goals per game and were 25th in scoring. ,are moving forward with goalie Connor Hellebuyck now with the New Jersey Devils, but details continue to filter out as to what the club offered to acquire the 33-year-old Hart and Vezina Trophy winner before the NHL Draft last June.
Owen Power has become an offensive threat this season for the Sabres.
According to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, Kekalainen is looking to add some scoring help, but unless Buffalo is looking for a temporary solution, such as a scorer on an expiring contract, it will likely cost the Sabres one of their top prospects. Timing could be an issue for Kekalainen, since teams who may be sellers at the deadline, like the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames or Chicago Blackhawks, are probably not ready to move players until they get overpaid or the calendar is closer to the trade deadline.
The cost for the Sabres on a rental with an expiring contract would likely be a high draft pick, but if Kekalainen is looking for a forward with term, such as Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust, it could cost Buffalo a pick and an excellent prospect, such as 2025 first rounder Radim Mrtka, or NCAA prospects Adam Kleber or Brodie Ziemer.
If Buffalo is looking for a scorer with significant term remaining, such as Vancouver's Brock Boeser, it could cost them a forward like Doan, Benson, or Ostlund, who are younger and also signed to long-term deals, or Helenius, who is 20 years old and in the first year of his entry-level contract.
The need for a move will depend on where the Sabres are in the standings come the end of November, when clubs begin to take stock of where they are.
The Florida Panthers gave us a sneak preview at their Hometown Remix uniforms on Friday.
When the Panthers took the ice for their morning skate at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, the Cats were wearing equipment to go with the soon-to-be-released specialty uniforms.
That includes the goaltenders, who had pads and gloves showing off the pink, dark blue and gold colorway that the new uniforms will feature.
Even the goalie masks were specially painted, with Jacob Markstrom featuring some hot pink popping off the cage and Akira Schmid prominently featuring the Hometown Remix logo on the crown.
As for the players, their new colored gear consisted of dark blue gloves, pants and helmets with gold numbers and lettering.
The Panthers are going to officially release the Hometown Remix gear on Monday at 9:54 a.m. at Pantherland in Fort Lauderdale and Coral Springs, as well as on their official website.
Later that evening, Florida will debut their Hometown Remix uniforms when they host the Detroit Red Wings at Amerant Bank Arena.
They’ll also wear the flashy uniforms the following home game, Wednesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The eight additional games that Florida will feature the Hometown Remix gear will be on Nov. 26 vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dec. 19 vs. the Calgary Flames, Dec. 26 vs. Tampa Bay, Jan. 2 vs. the Montreal Canadiens, Jan. 16 vs. the Vegas Golden Knights, Feb. 13 vs. the Dallas Stars, March 6 vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs and March 27 vs the Philadelphia Flyers.
You can check out footage of Florida wearing the Hometown Remix gear during Friday’s morning skate in the video below:
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 22: Clint Hurdle #55 of the Colorado Rockies waves to the crowd after a tribute to his time as the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates during the game at PNC Park on August 22, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Early Friday morning, Clint Hurdle announced that he is leaving the Colorado Rockies organization after more than 20 years of service.
To all my Friends, Rockies fans, current and past Players, members of the entire Colorado Rockies Organization top to bottom,
I would like to extend my appreciation and love for being part of an incredible journey for over 20 years.
Hurdle, 69, first joined the organization in 1994 as a minor league hitting instructor and was promoted to major league hitting coach in 1997, where he served until his promotion to manager in 2002.
Hurdle is perhaps best known as the manager of the 2007 Rocktober run that saw the Rockies win 13 of their last 14 games to force Game 163 (and definitely saw Matt Holliday touch home plate) on their way to eventually making their first, and so far only, World Series appearance in franchise history.
After a poor start to the 2009 season, Hurdle was fired in May and went on to join MLB Network as a studio analyst before joining the Texas Rangers organization as a hitting coach for the 2010 season. He got back into managing the following season, and served as the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2011-2019.
After retiring from coaching, Hurdle came out of retirement to rejoin the Rockies as a special assistant to the general manager in 2021, where he served until he was named interim hitting coach on April 17, 2025 and then was subsequently named bench coach on May 11 after Bud Black and Mike Redmond were fired.
Hurdle said, “With my last day being October 31, 2026….just know that I am not retiring…but rather recalculating my journey personally and professionally.”
Shortly after Hurdle’s announcement, the Rockies thanked Hurdle for his work:
Clint, thank you for everything you have done in your 20+ years with the organization! Your impact on the Rockies has been immeasurable and will be felt for years to come. https://t.co/ejmdiEsW7Kpic.twitter.com/QrmkDduMf6
Before Pete Fatse can try to improve the Phillies’ offense, he has to understand it.
The team’s new hitting coach has been on the job less than a week. There’s a lot to take in.
“I’m kind of drinking through a fire hose right now with information,” he said during an introductory Zoom session with reporters Friday.
Fatse was Boston’s hitting coach from 2022 until being let go in April as part of a major staff purge that included manager Alex Cora. He won’t have to dig too deep to see some of the Phillies’ issues.
The team’s offense declined across the board in 2026. It went from eighth in the majors in runs per game (4.80) in 2025 to 19th (4.40), from third in batting average (.258) to 21st (.240) and fourth in on-base percentage (.328) to 23rd (.312). The Phils plummeted from fourth in OPS (.759) to 22nd (.707).
There are many ways to evaluate an offense and Fatse can dig deep into the granular. In the big picture, he’ll work toward raising that OPS.
“It’s a simple concept,” he said. “Teams that are putting themselves on base will be in position to score more.”
Poor plate discipline was at the root of many of the Phillies’ offensive woes in 2026. Phillies hitters ranked 27th in the majors with a 32.6 chase percentage. They got themselves out a lot.
Hitting coaches are positive thinkers.
Where most people see a problem with the Phillies’ plate discipline, Fatse sees …
“An opportunity, for sure,” he said. “It’s one of the things throughout my career that I’ve always paid attention to.
“Every offense is subject to what you swing at, especially before two strikes. How do you prioritize what parts of the zone you want to attack and having a game plan for that while ultimately being agile when the game tells you something else is needed.
“So, it’s working through that thought process. We work through different ways to practice it and train it. Sometimes, it’s a mindset, an execution thing. Ultimately, you start to figure out where different players are because it is so individual at times. You (learn) what messaging is best suited for each guy.”
Fatse, 39, replaces Kevin Long.
Trea Turner will be one of Fatse’s biggest projects. On the night the Phillies’ short postseason run ended in Atlanta, Turner raised his hand and said he was the reason for the team’s overall decline in offense.
Turner won the National League batting title at .304 in 2025. He hit .242 in 2026 and led the majors in outs made. His chase rate was 34.6 percent. His OPS plummeted from .812 to .675. His strikeout rate went from 16.7 percent to 21 percent.
Turner’s defense at shortstop was also poor in 2026 and he must improve it – quickly – or face a position change in 2027. In addition to changing hitting coaches for 2027, the Phillies will have a new infield coach as Carlos Mendoza replaces Bobby Dickerson.
Fatse has already communicated with Turner via text. A personal meeting could come in November, before baseball’s expected lockout.
“Trea is a tremendous, dynamic talent,” Fatse said. “Getting to understand his priorities and building off his strengths is important to me.”
Relationships in general are important to Fatse. They are to all coaches. Without a strong two-way relationship between a player and a coach, messages and lessons go undelivered. Before becoming Boston’s top hitting coach, Fatse was an assistant with the Red Sox. He overlapped with Kyle Schwarber when the slugger was in Boston in 2021. Fatse plans to communicate with all Phillies hitters in the weeks to come.
“You have to earn trust,” he said. “You have to understand why players do what they do. You can study video. You can dive into advanced analytical information and paint a picture, but ‘the why’ is most important to me as a coach. You have to understand and appreciate why someone does things before you can jump in and make an assumption. Hitting is always a collaboration with the player.”
Fatse played minor-league ball in the Milwaukee organization. Like most hitting coaches of this era, he has a strong understanding of analytics and the use of data. Before hiring Fatse, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said he was looking for someone who could use contemporary analytics and communicate the information efficiently to players.
After being let go by Boston in April, Fatse worked as a consultant with Tampa Bay’s analytics/hitting group. The Rays lost to Milwaukee in the World Series. As an opponent, Fatse was quite impressed with the Brewers’ offensive “tenacity and the way they grinded at-bats.”
The goal is to bring some of that to the Phillies. Time will tell if it happens.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 03: Head coach Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks on against the Montréal Canadiens at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
It should have been a storybook night for Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel.
In his most recent game, at Utah, it ended with him being robbed on a last-second shot that would have tied the game and sent it to overtime. Then he had a medical episode that resulted in him spending what were almost certainly a couple of stressful days in a Utah hospital, then missing two games in a row.
He returned on Thursday night, against Utah, and helped jumpstart a sluggish Penguins offense with a goal and an assist.
The goal, with 20 seconds to play in regulation, should have been the game-winner.
It seemed almost impossible to believe that they could give up a tying goal, with a neutral zone face-off, and only 20 seconds to play.
But these are the Penguins, and surrendering baffling, unacceptable goals in the closing seconds is kind of their thing. And then they did. And then they could not control the puck in overtime, taking part in a four-minute comedy of errors that eventually ended with Mikhail Sergachev’s game-winning goal.
It was a point against a contender, but it should have been more.
There are a few things that should be incredibly frustrating about that result for the Penguins.
The obvious is, well, that it happened.
The second is that it was an opportunity for them to do something they have not done anywhere enough of this season and actually won a game in regulation. They have now played 13 games, and even though they have five wins, only two of them have come in regulation. That was a chance to secure a regulation win, against one of the better teams in the league, and they squandered it. There are only four other teams in the league that don’t have at least three regulation wins at this point: San Jose, Columbus, Los Angeles and Vancouver. It’s not the type of company you want to be keeping.
The third is that it is a continuation of their inability to close out games. It is already the third time this season they have allowed a team to tie a game in the final minute, with the other two coming against the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens. They were able to salvage the first two with wins in overtime/shootout, but could not do the same Thursday.
It’s a rough look for everybody involved that it keeps happening this frequently.
But it is an especially rough look for the coaching staff, especially given some of the deployment decisions.
In all three instances it was the fourth line on the ice, but with Sidney Crosby inserted in on the first two occasions (yesterday Lizotte maintained his spot). Declan Carlile has been on the ice for two of them.
What makes Thursday’s so baffling is that they could have, in theory, put any player and defense pairing on the ice that they wanted. Utah argued the go-ahead goal for more than a minute. There was a delay while the play was reviewed. Then Utah called a timeout. Everybody was rested. Everybody was fresh. The entire bench was at your disposal. Muse responded by sending out a defense pairing of Carlile and Kaedan Korczak, a pairing that had only played two minutes together on Thursday. And then Carlile committed about every possible mistake imaginable in trying to secure the lead. When the puck was pinned against the wall, he dug it free. He lost his man. He then let his man have a free whack at the puck in front of the crease.
At that point, just tackle him. Who cares if you commit a penalty. There are three seconds left.
Leave the puck pinned against the wall.
Do anything other than what you did.
A few other quick Penguins thoughts….
1. If we get to game 20 and Crosby still looks like this, you have to start having a discussion about where his season is going to go, and by extension, where the Penguins season is going to go. He has seven points in 13 games. The only other time in his career that he’s had less than 11 points through 13 games was the start of the second Mike Johnston year, and we all know how bad that was (for everybody, not just Crosby). He’s had some slow starts in recent years, but never this slow, and honestly, never this bad. And that’s not an inappropriate word to use. He’s been bad. Something just looks … wrong. His line is consistently one of their worst ones every night, and it has been getting buried defensively more than any other. We are far enough into the season that you should be paying attention to it. Maybe not fully worried. But certainly paying attention. They are getting solid play from every other line at times. Maybe not as consistently as you would like in some cases, but a lot of solid play. They are not getting anything from his line. Certainly not enough. You can make the argument that he would have a few more assists if Rickard Rakell had some better finishing early on, and that’s certainly true, but the lack of chances from him and just how pedestrian he looks are eye-opening.
2. I am trying to be generous with Andrei Kuzmenko given, *gestures hands* what he went through before the season */gesture hands*, but it’s not working right now. If there’s somebody that is going to come out for a healthy Elmer Soderblom, or to get an Avery Hayes or Rutger McGroarty back in the lineup, or Justin Brazeau when he returns, that is pretty obviously the guy at this point.
3. I think you have to sit Carlile for a game or two. I liked the signing and the mindset behind it. I liked the gamble. I am certainly not giving up on it. But right now he is struggling a bit and I don’t love some of the decision-making. The end of Thursday’s game was shocking.
4. I am not overly concerned about the lack of playing time for Sergei Murashov at this point. He needs to play. He will play. I don’t think it’s damaging his development to sit for a bit here while Arturs Silovs played well. Especially given the way his past two starts went. Sometimes a reset and a chance to watch is helpful.
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 24: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors arrives to the arena before the game against the Phoenix Suns on October 24, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NBA and Take-Two’s Rookie Dinner series dropped their latest which happens to feature the story of the moment: Yaxel Lendeborg. Oakland’s own Drew Gooden and San Jose’s Aaron Gordon break bread with the new sensation at Berkeley’s Everett and Jones.
Yaxel talks about his mom’s cancer being a motivator for his involvement in donating and raising the profile of cancer fundraisers and research.
Among the bits of wisdom Gooden and Gordon impart:
Rookies aren’t hazed the way they used to be
It’s hard to replicate the one for all, all for one, sacrifice your numbers to win nature of college in the pros
The pro game is a lot more zero sum
“Don’t get bip’d… and don’t bap.”
“Just stay with it. There are some freaks in this league. Real monsters in this league. This sh*t will humble you.”
“The more you give out, the more that comes back around.”
“You don’t want to take work home with you.” — meditation, reading… maybe go down to Half Moon Bay.
Yaxel’s most notable reactions:
Hearing about how rookies used to be hazed
Hearing about AAU
Learning the definitions of “bip’d” and “bap’d.”
Aaron Gordon praising his game.
Then, Mistah F.A.B. drops by to join the chorus, confirming the bip-bap lesson but also dapping up the rookie. He, Gordon, and Gooden were all impressed by his real work experience, too, and think that’s what’ll make him a success in the league.
Mistah F.A.B. also advised him on how to help out with the community: “Just be authentic. Don’t even come in with the cameras.” This is great advice. Then he calls Too $hort for some more advice. So, if you’re a $hort completist, check out this video, because it’s canon. So, Mistah F.A.B., Too $hort, Drew Gooden, Aaron Gordon: this is a group of people who’ve forgotten more about the Bay than a lot of Northern Californians learn in a lifetime.
Yaxel then poses a question: “How did you deal with your success and your fame? Stay humble, stay who you are and, like, still be able to remain the same to your friends and those around you?” Some of the advice he gets back:
It’s very materialistic in the NBA in those early days. Just take care of your family.
“A pure heart is all that matters… when you come from certain humble beginnings, man, only time I’m going back there is if I’m coming to help.”
The biggest thing I learned is that he grew up a baseball guy, which just goes to show why I like him so much. He also communicated how much he did not want to follow in his mom’s footsteps doing manual labor. He feels as genuine and down to earth here as he has in other public appearances.
But beyond this video, the podcast and online chatter, I’ve also learned that his popularity is spreading quickly IRL. Two nights ago, I was seated for a screening for the limited release of a restoration of the 1971 Ken Russell film The Devils and in the theater — there were maybe 25-30 people in attendance — somebody came in wearing a Lendeborg Warriors jersey. 376 miles away from Chase Center and he’s making an impression beyond talking trash about Luka Dončić.
Trent Thornton is almost the definition of “fungible reliever.”
After a few middling years in Toronto, Thornton wound up traded to the Mariners near the deadline in 2023. There, he produced a very good second half and another solid year in 2024 before suffering an Achilles injury in 2025, which had him miss the last two months of that season.
He left the Mariners as a free agent after the 2025 season and the Cubs signed him last offseason to a one-year, $1 million deal. He was still rehabbing from the Achilles injury as the 2026 season began, so his first MLB appearance for the Cubs wasn’t until early May.
And that was when he began to put up solid outing after solid outing. Every now and then he’d have a clunker, but in 41 appearances through Aug. 26, Thornton posted a 2.32 ERA and 1.055 WHIP, with only four home runs allowed in 42.2 innings.
Then came a disastrous game Aug. 28 against the Reds, in which he gave up five runs and coughed up a lead. Two home runs were hit off him while he recorded only two outs.
Overall, Thornton’s numbers were a little bit better than he pitched in Seattle in 2024: 3.35 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 0.7 bWAR. He didn’t strike out many — just a 15.8 percent K rate.
That might be the reason to pass on keeping Thornton. As we all know, the Cubs bullpen needs guys who can throw 98+, like so many other teams have, and Thornton, who turned 33 in September, isn’t likely to be that guy. He wouldn’t be expensive; with that $1 million deal for 2025, it probably wouldn’t cost that much more to keep him. But I think I’d pass.
That concludes this series on the 17 Cubs who are either free agents or who have various forms of options for 2027. Next week I’ll begin a series on free agents the team should be interested in.
NEW YORK - CIRCA 1977: Mickey Rivers #17 of the New York Yankees runs the bases during an Major League Baseball game circa 1977 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Rivers played for the Yankees from 1976-79. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Decades before Yankees fan favorites like Bernie Williams and Brett Gardner patrolled center field, the team featured another player who could really move: Mickey Rivers. He only played three and a half seasons with the Yankees, but “Mick the Quick” instantly became a fan favorite for his solid production as the leadoff hitter for three American League pennant-winning squads and two World Series champions.
John Milton “Mickey” Rivers Born: October 30, 1948 (Miami, FL) Yankees Tenure: 1976-79
Somewhat amusingly, Rivers actually got the nickname “Mickey” for his resemblance to his Aunt Mickey. He developed incredible speed in his youth with the Northwestern High School Bulls in Miami, lettering in baseball, track, football, and basketball before graduating from there in ‘67. Rivers moved on to Miami Dade College for a couple seasons, coincidentally playing alongside future Yankees teammate Bucky Dent. He became one of the finest Junior College players in history, later being named in 1999 to the National Junior College All-Century Team and the Florida Community College All-Time team.
Major League Baseball did multiple drafts per year at this time, and Rivers was drafted out of college four separate times from January of ’68 through June of ’69 by the White Sox, Mets, Senators, and ultimately, the Braves. Rivers held out long enough to play for the team closest to home, but it would not last. After hitting .307/.464/.511 with 31 steals in 67 games on the Pioneer League’s Magic Valley Cowboys, Rivers was traded for the first of three times in his career. Atlanta sought pitching help down the stretch as they sought to clinch their first division title since the move from Milwaukee in ’66, so the 20-year-old was off to Anaheim and the California Angels along with pitching prospect Clint Compton in a September 8th deal for veteran knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm and Bob Priddy.
Rivers spent the offseason with the Puerto Rican Winter League’s Santurce Crabbers, then jumped to Double-A El Paso at the start of the ‘70 season. He dominated the Texas League with a .343/.426/.537 triple slash, impressing the Angels enough to earn a promotion by the end of the season to the majors at age 21. Rivers split parts of the next three seasons between Salt Lake City and the Angels, clearly outclassing his peers in Triple-A, but never impressing any of the three managers to skipper the Angels from ‘71-‘73. In the final month of ‘73 though, he hit .349/.391/.457 in 141 plate appearances with eight stolen bases in 30 games. Manager Bobby Winkles’ eyes were finally opened to Rivers, and he spent all of ‘74 in the majors.
Across his first two full seasons, Rivers hit .285/.335/.373 with a 109 OPS+ and 6.8 rWAR. However, the leadoff hitter’s breakneck speed is what really made him stand out–he led the AL in triples with 11 in 118 games in ‘74, then led the majors in triple with 13 in ‘75. He finished sixth in the AL in steals in ‘74 with 30 before far surpassing that with a league-high and career-high 70 in ‘75 — still the Halos’ all-time record. Outside of Bert Campaneris and Luis Aparicio, the stolen base had become a lost art in the AL since the end of the Deadball Era; Rivers was only the second AL player to notch 70 steals in a 60-year stretch dating back to Ty Cobb’s 96 in 1915.
#17 put up 70!
Angels outfielder Mickey Rivers set the club’s single-season record for stolen bases in 1975. #BHMpic.twitter.com/TNEC1N8oPa
Yankees team president and general manager Gabe Paul had a team that contended in ’75, but could not catch up to the division-winning Red Sox. Thanks to assistant and future Hall of Fame GM Pat Gillick, Paul was able to turn the overachievers on his ’75 squad into multiple players through trades. On December 11th, he pulled off two trades that would make a huge impact on Billy Martin’s team. Starter Doc Medich was sent to the Pirates for pitchers Ken Brett and Dock Ellis in addition to unheralded second baseman Willie Randolph, and 30/30 outfielder Bobby Bonds was dealt to the Angels for Rivers and starter Ed Figueroa. Bonds impressed the Yankees in his only season with them following the controversial Bobby Murcer-for-Bobby Bonds deal, but management expressed concerns over Bonds’ alcoholism. Thus, the Yankees had their third All-Star-caliber center fielder in three years.
Rivers had actually never been named to the Midsummer Classic before, but a strong .310/.322/.448 first half with 20 doubles and 25 stolen bases earned him the only All-Star selection of his career. He proved to be the igniter the Yankees needed at the top of the batting order that year, and while he did not steal nearly as many bases as he did in ‘75, his 43 steals in 50 attempts led to a league-best 86-percent stolen base rate. Rivers also played better defense than he ever had before in his career, leading to a 6.3 rWAR season in total (fifth in the AL). He finished third in AL MVP voting for his outstanding efforts and the Yankees won the AL East to clinch their first playoff berth in 12 years. The Yankees actually voted Rivers team MVP over his teammate and captain, Thurman Munson, despite the fact that the latter was the winner of the AL MVP. The long wait plagued by horrid baseball in wake of the Stengel/Houk dynasty years was over.
The Yankees faced the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS, who were making the first playoff appearance in franchise history. Rivers had a multi-hit game in the opener, and both times, the Yankees’ offense brought him home; they won 4-1. The Royals cooled him off in the next three games, holding him to two singles and a walk in 14 plate appearances, helping them knot the series and bring it to a decisive Game 5. Rivers came up big in this must-win game, going 4-for-5 with a triple with three runs scored out of the Yankees’ seven. When cleanup hitter Chris Chambliss’ solo homer off Mark Littell sailed over the wall in the bottom of the ninth, bedlam erupted. The Yankees were going to the World Series and Rivers was off to his first Fall Classic.
The World Series was a huge letdown from the exciting ALCS. The Cincinnati Reds’ dominant “Big Red Machine” destroyed the Yankees in a four-game sweep. The fact that Reds pitchers limited Rivers to just a trio of hits in 18 plate appearances was crucial to their victory. During this time, Rivers’ off-the-field problems really started to crop up. He would gamble away his paycheck almost immediately after receiving it, and his wife Mary even requested that George Steinbrenner mail his checks directly to her. In the middle of the World Series, she took her wrath out on Rivers in the Yankees’ parking lot, where she literally played bumper cars. It was a terrible distraction to the team and drove Steinbrenner nuts.
On the plus side, Rivers had a season nearly as great as his ’76 in ’77, accompanied by another stellar performance in the ALCS against Kansas City. He pummeled Royals pitching for nine hits and a .391 average as the Yankees proceeded to their second consecutive World Series.
Rivers slumped again to a .222/.222/.296 triple slash against the Dodgers, but he did have a defensive highlight in throwing Steve Garvey out at the plate in the opener. The Yankees prevailed to win it all behind World Series MVP Reggie Jackson. Rivers and Jackson had an interesting dynamic together. Jackson told reporters one time that Rivers should learn how to read and write, to which Rivers replied, “You’d better stop readin’ and writing’ and start hittin’!” On another occasion, Jackson told reporters that he had an IQ of 160, and Rivers quipped back, “Out of what, a thousand?”
Rivers slumped to slightly below league average offensively in ‘78, especially struggling as the Yankees fell 14.5 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East. In the second half though, he recovered with an improved .270/.309/.410 triple slash, featuring 19 doubles and 15 steals. He was even better in the playoffs when the Yankees passed the Red Sox to capture the AL East in a one-game playoff. Rivers had his finest overall postseason to date, batting .379/.419/.379 in nine games, finally complementing another superb ALCS (.455/.538/.455 in four games) with a solid World Series against the Dodgers. Rivers was a champion for the second time in his career.
Rivers was off to another mediocre start in ’79 (98 OPS+), and on August 1st, the Yankees dealt away their embattled center fielder to the Texas Rangers in an eight-player deal to reacquire Oscar Gamble. He was still a decent player, but the Yankees had grown tired of his off-the-field problems, and they longed to bring Rivers’ former teammate Gamble back after letting him go following his ’76 season. The deal worked out for both teams, as Gamble played five and a half more years in New York with a 143 OPS+ (albeit somewhat part-time), and Rivers set the Rangers’ single-season record for hits in 1980 with 210, a mark that lasted for 35 years until Michael Young broke it with 221 in 2005. Texas baseball writers selected him as the Rangers’ Player of the Year in ’80.
Rivers hit .303/.327/.397 over the next five and a half seasons with the Rangers, but his caliber of play precipitously fell after his age-32 season in ‘81. His amusing line about season goals of “hitting .300, scoring 100 runs, and staying injury-prone,” was only 33 percent fulfilled … by the last “goal.” His speed declined, as he only stole 48 bases throughout his Texas career, and he played only 115 games from ‘82-‘83. After a modest comeback to a 93 OPS+ in 102 games in ‘84, he called it quits at age 35. Rivers retired as a .295/.327/.397 hitting in 1,468 games over 15 seasons with 267 stolen bases and 32.3 rWAR to his name.
Since retiring, Rivers returned home to Florida, where he brought his interest of racehorses to a healthier state, preferring to raise them rather than gamble away his earnings on them. He’s been a constant presence at Old Timers’ Day since ‘88 (when he amusingly only 39), and he was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in ‘95. Bill James ranked Rivers the 59th-greatest center fielder in MLB history in his 2002 Historical Baseball Abstract. We placed him 92nd on our most recent edition of the top Yankees in franchise history.
Rivers had quite the up-and-down Yankees tenure, but throughout it all, he was a crucial addition to the Yankees’ lineup. Without their sparkplug, it’s unclear whether or not the Yankees could have reached the great heights as back-to-back champions in the late-‘70s.
Here’s hoping that the 1978 champion “Mick the Quick” has an appropriately wonderful 78th birthday!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
Jul 28, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering (50) talks with pitching coach Caleb Cotham (65) against the Miami Marlins in the eighth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
There is an argument that Orion Kerkering was considered a pillar of the team’s future when he arrived in the major leagues. His electric stuff and how it messed with hitters had a deserved reputation that preceded that arrival. You probably remember his debut with the team, how emotional his father was, how feeble he made some Mets hitters look.
Amazing how one play can lead to a meltdown that can lead to open questions about the player and his future with the organization.
The crazy thing about Kerkering? It’s all still there for him to be a really good reliever in the major leagues. He’s still got some peripherals stuff that is great – he doesn’t allow much hard contact, teams don’t really barrel him up often, his fastball still has some giddy-up on it.
The building blocks are still there for him to be more effective.
What went wrong
He just completely fell apart.
There was hope that he had put away his colossal error in the 2025 NLDS behind him and for the start of the season, it looked like he did. On July 28, he had an ERA below three (2.61) and was still striking out more batters than walking them. He had only given up three home runs in 41 1/3 innings to that point, so he was still counted on as a reliable bullpen arm for the Phillies. Then he gave up four runs in 2/3 of an inning on July 31 and the bottom dropped out. Over the next 16 2/3 innings, Kerkering allowed 23 runs, two home runs and saw his walk rate jump.
He just stopped throwing strikes.
Final grade: F
It’s kind of hard to comprehend how much Kerkering dropped off in 2026. The best way to look at it is through the situations he was used in. As you can see from above, Kerkering appeared in 62 games. In the first 58, the average leverage index for his appearances (aLI) was 1.31. The team had enough trust in him that they were putting him into fairly substantial parts of the game. In his final four appearances in the big leagues (granted, a HUGE difference in sample size), the same number was 0.38. They simply did not think he was trustworthy enough to put him into spots where they needed outs. That’s due to the ineffectiveness he showed when actually on the mound.
That gives him a failing grade for the year. When the team had bullpen issues and needed someone to step up and take a critical role behind Jhoan Duran, Kerkering crumbled. They didn’t even think enough of him to keep him in low leverage spots. He simply had to go.
It’s a continuation from the end of 2025 where he probably never should have been with the Phillies in the first place. Instead, the team lingered with him far too long and it cost them games.
The Knicks star plays a detective in a new "Law & Order SVU" trailer that released on Friday.
Jalen Brunson, NBA champ and, officially, actor.
The Knicks guard plays a detective in a new “Law & Order SVU” trailer that released on Friday.
Brunson appears opposite the show’s megastar, Mariska Hargitay, who plays Captain Olivia Benson in the long-running NBC police drama.
Mariska Hargitay, left, and Stephanie March take a break from filming scenes on the set of “Law and Order: SVU” in New York, Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Jose Perez / BACKGRID
The pair are close friends and the actress is a diehard Knicks fan, as well as a staple on Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden.
“Detective Madison,” Benson says in the trailer.
“Hey captain,” Madison, portrayed by Brunson, wearing a detective badge around his neck responds with a smile.
Episode 5 of Season 28 centers around an assault of a wedding guest at the reception.
“Benson and the squad uncover a secret that changes the course of the investigation; [DA Sonny] Carisi’s pursuit of justice becomes increasingly complicated when key witnesses refuse to cooperate,” the episode description reads.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks celebrates a three-point basket against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Getty ImagesNew York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson speaks with Mariska Hargitay at the Roommates Show Block Party live podcast, Thursday, September 24, 2026, in New York. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Both Brunson and Hargitay teased his cameo on multiple occasions after the Knicks beat the Spurs in the NBA Finals to secure their first championship in 53 years.
Margitay first revealed their plan to have Brunson on “Law & Order SVU” during an appearance on the “Today Show” in August.
The Emmy-winning actress was a guest star on the “Roommates Show” live show — the weekly podcast hosted by Brunson and Knicks teammate Josh Hart — when the Knicks stars took the show experience to Randall’s Island Park in New York in September.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, center, rides a parade float with Mariska Hargitay and his father Rick in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post
Hargitay was also on the Knicks’ championship bus during their victory parade in New York on June 18.
The “Law & Order SVU” episode with Brunson, entitled “Forsaken,” with Brunson will air on Nov. 5 at 9 p.m. on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
Larkin appeared to be public enemy number one during the home opener, when he sat on the bench undressed as the team introduced its lineup and the Detroit crowd rained boos down on the former captain.
It made sense, based on what Friedman said, as Larkin returned to the lineup on October 6, scoring a goal and adding an assist in a win over the Ottawa Senators. He played the way a captain should, with heart, sticking up for teammates and acting as the team's motor, with minutes on both special teams units.
He earned some respect back, to the point where the crowd offered more cheers than boos when he came back out as the game's first star. However, that has all changed as just ten games into his season, as Larkin appears to have lost everything he gained.
On Thursday, Larkin's agent announced that the 30-year-old would not play another game for the Red Wings, citing how long the process of finding a trade has taken. Interim GM Shawn Horcoff promptly suspended Larkin without pay.
Parts of the hockey world had fun at the expense of former Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, counting the money he lost while serving his own suspension. Now fans have turned their attention to Larkin, creating a website called "Larkin's Losses" that tracks how much money he is losing.
On Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit fans made their feelings clear with colorful chants aimed at Larkin, even though he was not in the lineup.
As in the Hellebuyck situation, the Red Wings could take their time and wait for the best offer to appear. The longer Larkin sits out, the more his value as a player could fall, and the harder a return to game action becomes.
Trade talks reportedly picked up on Thursday with the Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes, who are all on Larkin's trade list, reaching out and expressing interest. Others not on the list, including the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues, have reportedly expressed interest if he eventually adds them.
Teams on his list that are reportedly not interested, or that once were but no longer are, include the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Mammoth and the Washington Capitals.
It appears to be an unfortunate end to the Dylan Larkin saga as it appeared to be potentially ending on a positive note with his return to the lineup, however he quickly soured his stance with Red Wings fans once again and will make for a memorable night when he makes his eventual return to Little Caesars Arena.
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Alex Newhook is beginning to find his offensive rhythm in Montreal, and Thursday night offered another glimpse of what the former Colorado Avalanche first-round pick can bring.
The Canadiens forward scored twice in a 5-2 win over the Dallas Stars, continuing a productive start to the season as he looks to build on last year's encouraging postseason.
Newhook opened the scoring late in the first period with an impressive individual effort. After taking a long stretch pass from Noah Dobson, he carried the puck into the Dallas zone, worked his way around defenseman Thomas Harley and beat Jake Oettinger with a backhand shot. Just 27 seconds later, Cole Caufield scored to put Montreal up 3-1.
Newhook added his second goal early in the second period, taking advantage of a fortunate bounce that left the puck sitting beside the Dallas net. It marked the ninth multi-goal game of his NHL career and capped a productive night for the Canadiens forward, who has quietly put together a solid start to the season.
Injuries made it difficult for Newhook to build any momentum last year. He played just 42 games, missing 40, but still finished with 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points. He nearly matched his total from the 2023-24 season, when he recorded 26 points in 82 games.
His scoring rate last season suggested there was room for more. Had he stayed healthy, Newhook could have been in line for the best offensive season of his career. Instead, he had to settle for a shortened campaign before making up some ground in the playoffs.
Newhook was particularly productive during Montreal's postseason run, scoring seven goals and adding three assists in 19 games. Those 10 points marked the best playoff production of his NHL career. He also has a Stanley Cup on his résumé, having won with Colorado in 2022, although his role with the Avalanche was much smaller at the time. He recorded four assists in 12 games during that championship run.
Now in his fourth season with Montreal, Newhook is starting to put together some encouraging offensive numbers. Through 13 games, he has three goals and three assists for six points. That's a pace of 19 goals and 19 assists over an 84-game season, which would put him on track for 38 points.
There's still a long way to go, but Newhook has given Montreal some production to work with early in the season. Staying healthy will be a big part of what comes next. If he can manage that, there's a chance he finally puts together the kind of full season that has been difficult to come by in his young NHL career.
