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all smiles Phillies sparkplug has plenty of reasons to love his job Plus: ® Leadoff Big League managers fondly recall their Little League days legend Sue Enquist has some advice for Little Leaguers Introducing the Under Armour ®

2011 Major League Executive Vice President, Business Timothy J. Brosnan 6 Around the Horn Page 10 Properties News from Little League to the Senior Vice President, Consumer Products Howard Smith Major Leagues. Vice President, Publishing Donald S. Hintze Editorial Director Mike McCormick 10 Flyin’ High Publications Art Director Faith M. Rittenberg Phillies center fielder Shane Senior Production Claire Walsh Victorino has no trouble keeping Associate Editor Jon Schwartz a smile on his face because he’s Account Executive, Publishing Chris Rodday doing what he loves best. Associate Art Director Melanie Finnern Senior Publishing Coordinator Anamika Panchoo 16 Playing the Game: Project Assistant Editors Allison Duffy, Chris Greenberg, Jake Schwartzstein Editorial Interns Nicholas Carroll, Bill San Antonio Tips on hitting.

Major League Baseball Photos 18 The World’s Stage Director Rich Pilling Kids of all ages and from all Photo Editor Jessica Foster walks of life competed in front 36 Playing the Game: Photos Assistant Kasey Ciborowski of a global audience during the 2010 and Tips on in the . A special thank you to Major League Baseball Corporate Softball World . Sales and Marketing and Major League Baseball 38 Combination Coaching Licensing for advertising sales support. 26 ARMageddon Little League Baseball Camp and The Giants’ pitching staff the team up to For Major League Baseball info, visit: MLB.com annihilated the opposition to win expand education and training the world title in 2010. benefits for kids. 30 Lending a Helping Hand 43 Little League Makes Understanding how fortunate they the Man(ager) are, Major Leaguers leap at the Many Big League managers were chance to improve communities Little League Baseball and Softball shaped by moments in Little 539 U.S. Route 15 Highway both at and abroad. League that stick with them to P.O. Box 3485 this day. Williamsport, PA 17701-0485 (570) 326-1921 47 Prepare, Love, Honor the Game Chairman: Dennis Lewin College softball coaching legend President & CEO: Stephen D. Keener and Little League enthusiast Sue Chief Financial Officer: David B. Houseknecht Enquist has a message for success. Corporate Secretary: Joseph W. Losch Vice President of Operations: Patrick W. Wilson 49 Playing the Game: Treasurer: Melissa Singer Vice President of Communications: Lance Van Auken Danielle Lawrie Senior Marketing Executive: Elizabeth DiLullo Brown Tips on becoming a more Director of Public Relations: Scott Rosenberg Page 30 complete player. Director of Publicity: Chris Downs 51 Boys of Summer For Little League info, visit: www.LittleLeague.org Diamond stars look back.

If you have any questions or comments regarding 53 Fun and Games material in this publication, please send letters to: Test your baseball knowledge Attention: Editor, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, 245 Park with these challenging puzzles. Avenue, 29th Floor, , NY 10167 56 © 2011 Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. A final snapshot from the 2010 Reproduction in whole or in part without written Little League . permission is prohibited. Printed in the USA. Cover Photograph by ryan weber/Radiant Photography for mlb photos

Power Up with Kellogg’s Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes reminds every player that to perform at their best, they need to “Power Up” with a healthy breakfast. When powering up at the start of every day, Little Leaguers are giving their bodies the energy they need so they can be at their best — whether it’s at practice or the Little League World Series. At the 2010 Little League Baseball World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes hosted a “Power Up” breakfast for 300 hardworking Little League World Series coaches and players to start their day off right. The World Series teams were served a tos o h p balanced breakfast with a variety of hot and m / g cold foods, including Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, n

pilli LB milk and “Power Up” toppings like berries, bananas, apples, nuts and granola. Of course, “Tony the Tiger” was there to Show Off Your Skills share in the excitement of being at the Little Kids have the opportunity to play their way into a Major League League World Series and posed for photos Ballpark this spring by participating in Major League Baseball , with coaches and players. & , the free official skills competition of MLB. Local competitions are being scheduled across North America for the spring. Local winners in the three skills — pitching to a target, a timed run from second base to home, and hitting for distance and accuracy — can advance to sectional competitions in their region. Top sectional players move on to the Team Championships, which are hosted by each of the 30 Major League clubs. The Team Championship participants will show their skills on a Big League field and take part in an on-field ceremony! And those winners will advance to theN ational Finals at the 2011 All-Star Game in Phoenix for a once-in-a-lifetime chance! Communities are scheduling their PHR competitions now, and by mid-March, the official website — MLB.com/phr — will have a listing of contests scheduled in each state, so you can find the one closest to you. Attention Coaches and Administrators: To ensure that your league, teams and players have a chance to participate, visit MLB.com/phr to register to host a free PHR Local Competition in your area. Sign up today! Golden The annual SUBWAY® Baseball Little League In the Palm of Your Hand DeSIGNS Tour and online auction raised With new applications for your phone or iPad, Little League is making it more than $10,000 for the Little League easier than ever to keep up with all the exciting action. Urban Initiative the past two years. It “Little League Baseball and Softball Scorekeeper” keeps stats and pitch featured more than 40 baseballs designed counts for coaches while beaming live action to the Internet and phones. by Urban Initiative Little Leaguers and “Little League Live Game Viewer” lets parents and fans follow the signed by celebrities and athletes, including stream of live play-by-play action generated by the Scorekeeper app. Major Leaguers CC Sabathia and Ryan “Little League Rulebooks 2011” provides Little League rules and is easy Howard and NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. to navigate, with search, table of The 2010 Baseball DeSIGNS virtual contents and bookmarks. tour was on display at SubwayKids.com Finally, “Little League Card and on the Official SUBWAY Facebook Maker 2011” lets you make your page. The balls visited the national Little own personal baseball cards! League Baseball Appreciation Game in Los These applications will Angeles, and their tour ended at the Little be available this spring. League World Series in South Williamsport, Go to LittleLeague.org for Pa., before they were auctioned off online. downloading information. 7

By Todd Zolecki

flyin’Shane

Phillies center fielder has no trouble keeping At that It Victorino a smile doingon his what face hebecause loves best.he’s timately, yeah, as a HIGHWhat do you remember about your LittleUl League days? It was the foundation of the game of baseball. ning to play the game the rightthink wayhe had and a big age, our said it wasn’t about winningI or losing. Kukua. was about lear understanding the game of baseball. play baseball today. competitor you want toI win. But wins and losses weren’t hane Victorino is a lucky man — everything to our coach, John Almost every player and he knows it. influence on the way might be why he always seems to be It He has a great What positions did you play?League or whatever, smiling andt mightjoking be with why his he always seems Little I I was a shortstopLeagues, and if .you ask them what they in the Big Phillies teammates. played in high school, say a primary position like or pitcher. to be running at full speed on the field. NL Because, growing up, they were probably the job, and he seems to want to savornown every as the moment L“Flyin’as Vegas his K tar best or one of the better players on their team. while he still has the opportunity to play pro baseball.All-S His energy and attitude have made him one of How important have those Hawaiian teams e has been an the most popular Phillies. H been that have been playing in the Little eries. Not only for the kids, but for awaiian,” Victorino — whoS has made League World SeriesI tthe lets last even few younger years? H . offseason home — has helped the Phillies win two It’s a big deal. League World the state of Photos pennants and a World ttle B Hawaii, where he got hisLi start playing kids realize that they have an opportunity and has won three straight Gold Gloves. Being from He talked recently about

hy for ML eague, Victorino has also inspired kids from his

p L Little home state, from which two recent Series champsLeague have experience, emerged. what he enjoys most about Little Leaguer and his interests off the field:

adiant Photogra his R being a Big weber/ 11 Victorino, who always roots for What advice would Hawaii’s Little League teams, you give to kids reminds kids to have fun. learning the game? At this age, they’re a in baseball. Guys like myself, Kurt Suzuki, my few years away from cousin — more and more kids from Hawaii are figuring what they’ve getting to the Big League level. Kids see that. There’s hope. It’s got to do. Your talents not, ‘I want to be a Big Leaguer, but who do I look up to?’ Now are going to take over. You’ve just got to play the game. Don’t they know there’s a chance. Growing up in Hawaii, I watched get caught up in the hoopla of trying to do this and trying guys like and Benny Agbayani. But they were to do that. Have fun. Ultimately, for a kid, I think that’s so from Oahu. The exposure there was much better because it important. Sometimes you get caught up in doing everything was the main island. Growing up in Maui, I really didn’t have correctly that you really forget about the fun of baseball. anybody to look up to. These Little League kids are important. We won in 2005 and 2008, and went back again in 2010. What is the best part of being in the Big Leagues? There are so many positives. Today, I’m in a good position financially, which has allowed me to start my foundation. It all correlates to the game of baseball. Without baseball “Without baseball I wouldn’t I wouldn’t be where I am today off the field. The game of be where I am today off the baseball teaches me about life and working as a team. You take that off the field and it helps you work with your family. field. The game of baseball Our team is like a family. We’re almost like brothers. That’s otos (2) otos h p

teaches me about life and what has made our team so fun. We’re always pulling for b working as a team.” each other. We have one goal, which is being the best team o we possibly can be. f ster/ml 12 What do you wish people knew about your job? People understand how difficult and how pressure- packed our job can be, but they also understand how fun it is. The biggest thing for me is when I see parents or family members and they say they tell their son or nephew or sibling to watch the way I play the game. To me that’s just so much more important than coming up and saying, ‘Congrats on being world champs,’ or ‘Congrats on being an All-Star.’ It’s, ‘I tell my kids to watch how you play the game.’ To me that’s far more touching. The switch-hitting Why did you start The Shane Victorino Foundation? Victorino has What can you tell us about it? helped the Phillies My parents are very involved in the community, and I capture two NL always told myself that if I got into a situation in a city pennants. like Philly with some long-term stability, I would start my own foundation. Philly reminds me of home: hard-working, blue collar. I wanted to help kids, too. Whether it’s Hawaii, face with shaving cream pies after walk-off wins. How Philly or Vegas, I wanted to give back to kids and make an did you get that role? impression on them. Philly has been great. We’re helping the I did it one time and the next time guys said, “You’ve got to Boys & Girls Club there. Anytime you can make an impact on do it! You’ve got to do it!” It just became one of those things kids, that’s what it’s about. I got stuck with.

What’s the best way for a fan to get an autograph? Anything you like to do when you go back to Hawaii to The best way is simply being polite. Try to get guys before visit family and friends? practice or before the game. Our guys are pretty I go home every offseason for a couple weeks. I have my good about signing autographs. I think the worst way is charity golf tournament there, which is an annual thing. I think to just scream the player’s name over and over and over. that, going back home, it’s most important to see my family. I Sometimes players are trying to lock themselves into the get to see them in Philly during the season, and they’ll come game. Of course, I did those to Vegas in the offseason. But things when I was a kid. But, the most important thing is just now that I’m a player, I think Pure Gold seeing everybody. being overly aggressive is In 2010, Shane Victorino won his third Gold Glove worse than being polite. Award in a row. Below are other active Major How much are you looking Leaguers who have won three or more consecutive forward to the 2011 season, Gold Gloves. You’re a pretty upbeat guy. with everybody in Philly hyped How do you stay so positive Consecutive about , , over a six-month season? Player Pos. Gold Gloves Years and ? It’s understanding how lucky I OF 10 1998–2007 Are you excited? am and how fortunate I am. And Oh, absolutely. How can we Ivan Rodriguez C 10 1992–2001 being grounded from where I not be? We understand how was born and raised. So when I OF 10 2001–10 good this pitching staff can go out there and play the game, OF 9 2001–09 be if everybody stays healthy. I enjoy what I do. There are a SS 9 1993–2001 We’re a team with a lot of lot of frustrations. Anytime you expectations. Charlie [Manuel] 3B 6 2001–06 fail more than you succeed you uses the word complacency. get frustrated — that’s a given. 3B 5 2000–04 Are we going to be complacent? But I think you turn that into Carlos Beltran OF 3 2006–08 Deep down inside I don’t think a positive. You keep working Luis Castillo 2B 3 2003–05 that would ever happen with hard at being the best player us. I think Charlie knows us. He SS 3 2004–06 you can be. But you realize how knows when he needs to kick fortunate you are. You get to C 3 2008–10 us and wake us up. He makes play 162 games a year. C 3 2008–10 the ship run. u otos h p b SS 3 2007–09 / g You’re the guy on the team Todd Zolecki covers the Phillies

i OF 3 2004–06 p llin whoml hits teammates in the for MLB.com. 13 THE 16 Albert Pujols on Hitting There’s not much new anyone can say about Albert Pujols. The slugger has been baseball’s best hitter over contact and power to hit more than 400 homers while the past decade, using an astounding combination of also maintaining a .331 batting average, tops among active players. If there’s anyone qualified to give hitting advice, it’s Prince Albert, and he’s willing to help: Reach for the Sky I M and back. too much movement. the bat. in, and there’s a lot more movement and opportunity for .with, you’ve got to move it up and back as the pitch comes U Stay Inside T out and extend off balance. your hands — and the barrel — in. y stance is one of the big things cutting down, in a “chopping” fashion). uppercut swing. I with more of a downward swing, because you’ll hit grounders. ltimately, though, you have to go with what’s comfortable. he idea is to stay “inside the ball,” meaning you want to keep I Keep Your Balance nside the ball — that’s where your power comes from. 60–40. almost in a squatting position. on your back leg and 40 percent on your front. t’s all about balance. your power from your legs. power comes from your legs. head starts to come through the hitting zone. leg is bent just a bit and, very importantly, my back leg is dug in and shaped like an “ B T his way, asically, you want to have 60 percent of your weight I decided to hold the bat high, and my elbow high B ut you also shouldn’t cut down too much, I ’m in a position to come forward without I f the elbow isn’t cocked high to begin Y ou want to have a strong base — I take the bottom half here (slightly S ame thing in baseball. L A L I .” focus on, starting with where s ike a boxer, you need to get Y u I finish a swing, the bat ou don’t want to reach Y ou don’t want an N I get my base ow my front Y our

Grieshop/mlb photos; illustration by lawrence christmas The World’s Stage Kids of all ages and from all walks of life competed in front of a global audience during the 2010 Little League Baseball and Softball World Series.

18 The World’s

pilling/mlb photos St age I and wassure theywouldbounceback. Yoshii saidhewasproud ofhisplayers diappointment, althoughManagerBrian won, soIamhappy.” he said.“Butthebigpicture istheteam runs itneeded. the sixthtogiveJapanallinsurance He lateraddedatwo-runhomerunin run withasingleinthefourthinning. Tomori, whodrove inJapan’s second a balanceofconfidenceandgrace. aggressiveness andtimelyhitting, thrived withpitchinganddefense, champions since2004,Japan players. “They’re verytough.” Manager ShingoAriyasusaidofhis won itallsince2003. marked thefirsttimeaJapaneseteam in theworldchampionshipgame,it League —4-1infront of 29,812 people Champion — Hawaii’s Waipio Little League defeated the West Region When Japan’s Edogawa Minami Little (ages 11–12) — South Williamsport, Pa. LITTLE LEAGUEBASEBALL Baseball 101 so many great moments. on the 2010 tournaments that provided of Little League action, let’s look back anxiously await another exciting summer international pastime, as well. While we not only the American pastime but the further demonstrating that baseball is outside the continental , of the championship teams came from boys and girls divisions combined, five Hawaii, obviously, feltsome “There were goodand badparts,” The teamgotaboostfrom Konan Becoming thefirstInternational “They don’t giveup,”Japan continued to grow. In the eight and abroad, as its global appeal captivated audiences in America League World Series once again n its 64th year, last summer’s Little 19 Fountain of Youth

For ESPN announcer , working the Little League World Series each year is the natural culmination of a life in baseball that began 40 years ago on the Little League fields of Cherry Hill, N.J. Starting this Aug. 18, Hershiser will again call the action for youth baseball’s marquee event, along with two other accomplished ex-players: , a two-time Olympic softball gold medalist, and Nomar Garciaparra, a two-time AL batting champ. “It’s a part of the Big League dream,” Hershiser says of the Little League World Series. “I grew up with it and always watched it on TV.” For these adult athletes, two weeks in South Williamsport reminds them of a time in their own lives when baseball wasn’t yet a business, but more a fun diversion. “If they were booting the ball all over the place, it wouldn’t be fun to watch,” Hershiser says. “But they’re good. They’re cute as can be, they’re untarnished and they’re out here showing what they can do. The kids are just out there playing A well-rounded Japan team and enjoying themselves, and I think brought a world title home for that’s the appeal to the viewer.” the first time since 2003. During Hershiser’s own Little League days, his dad served as district administrator and his mom ran the “I’m ready to go back home,” he concession stand. “We ate lots of said. “But I love it here. There are no hot dogs and popsicles,” he says. losers that come here.” Hershiser’s father was so dedicated that at one point, after recognizing Orel’s Back to Back potential, he even hired Bucky Brandon, LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL a former Red Sox and Phillies pitcher, Hershiser (ages 11–12) — Portland, Ore. to tutor his son in the art of pitching. One of just two World Series to feature That effort paid off some 18 years later, a pair of continental U.S. teams in the in 1988, when Hershiser won virtually every award a player can win, final, Warner Robins American Little from World Series MVP to ’s Sportsman of the Year. League (Ga.) defeated Burbank Little But perhaps the most special award of ’88 was given to Hershiser’s League (Calif.), 8-6, in the championship mom and dad, who were named Little League Parents of the Year. game of the Portland tournament to Orel’s team never did make it to Williamsport, but the last game repeat as World Series champions. of his Little League career still provided an indelible memory. “Our “It was a competitive game,” said team got knocked out at the district tournament, and I came up for Sara Thompson, Little League Softball what I knew would probably be my last at-bat in Little League,” he Manager for Little League International. says. “I told myself I was going to hit a , and I did.” As it “The West never gave up, even though turned out, that was one of the final round-trippers of Hershiser’s they were behind.” life. He would go homerless throughout his 22-year pro career. Warner Robins went a perfect 10-0 Even today, Hershiser ranks that Little League blast among the through regional play and World Series best memories of his baseball life, and that’s why he looks forward action, and pitcher Avery Lamb pitched to Williamsport each August, when a new generation of kids will in seven of those contests, compiling be busy creating similar memories. “Your whole childhood is an four complete games. But it was accumulation of things that make you grow,” he says. “These are teammate Hayley Tierce who earned the big moments, playing against maybe a team from a country you’ve

six-hit, complete-game win in the final. never come in contact with. It’s a lot of fun.” —Eric Enders pilling/mlb photos (top); little league baseball (japan team photo); B evilaqua/ ESPN 20 International Dominance JUNIOR LEAGUE Baseball (ages 13–14) — Taylor, Mich. The Asia-Pacific champs from City, Chinese Taipei, took home the Junior League Baseball World Series title with a 9-1 win over Tyler, . Chinese Taipei (6-0) thrashed its opponents throughout the tourney, outscoring them, 57-11. Tzu Wei Lin tossed a in the final, allowing three hits while striking out 10. He also helped himself at the plate with three RBI. “Chinese Taipei is probably the most dominant team we’ve ever had [in 30 years],” said Tournament Director Greg Bzura. Walk (Off) This Way JUNIOR LEAGUE SOFTBALL (ages 13–14) — Kirkland, Wash. won both Big ASOFEM Little League from Maunabo, League Baseball (above) and Puerto Rico, earned a 4-3 victory over Junior League Softball titles. West Tampa Little League to repeat as champions in the 2010 Junior League Softball World Series. Island Fever Aruba’s Shawn Duinkerk tossed a The Latin American champions SENIOR LEAGUE BASEBALL complete-game victory for the Latin scored in the bottom of the seventh (ages 15–16) — Bangor, Maine American squad, allowing just five hits. to edge the U.S. team, which had just The Senior League Baseball World The tournament was another tied the game in the top half of the final Series celebrated its 50th anniversary success for Bangor, which saw its own frame. Michelle Rivera was the winning this year as Aruba South Little League of squad in the title game for the first time. pitcher for Puerto Rico. San Nicolas, Aruba, took the 2010 title, “Having the host team advance “The championship was excellent,” defeating host team Bangor East/West further than it ever had produced a said Tournament Director John Chadwick. Side Little League, 8-1. lot of excitement in the town,” said “You couldn’t ask for better.” Tournament Director Mike Brooker. Indeed, 1,900 fans attended the host’s semifinal match, and about 3,000 came out for the title game. Made in America SENIOR LEAGUE SOFTBALL (ages 15–16) — Lower Sussex, Del. Northside Suburban Little League of San Antonio topped East Region winner Haverstraw, N.Y., 3-1, in the championship game. It was the second of just two all-continental-U.S. title Warner Robins games among the eight divisions. took the Little “We had a good bunch of girls this League Softball year,” said Tournament Director Martin title for the second Donovan. “There were some close straight year. games. It was very competitive.” The KMC American Little League from Germany’s Ramstein Air Base

sent its first team to a World Series little league baseball (3) 15 twice as nice

Repeating as Little League Softball World Series champions has been sweet as a Georgia peach for Warner Robins (Ga.) American Little League. Warner Robins, located in the center of the Peach State, is known as “The International City” because many residents come from around the world to work at nearby Robins Air Force Base. In the last two years, though, this community of nearly 50,000 has gained global recognition for Little League “Going back-to-back elevated our program, and has Softball as the home of the two-time defending champs. highlighted Little League Softball overall,” Mr. Winner said. “We’ve done well, but we are not a powerhouse Roger Stella, manager of the world champs, has been program,” said Scott Winner, Vice President of the a volunteer coach in the league for many years. His wife, Warner Robins American Little League Softball Program. Stacy, has also volunteered. In fact, Stacy managed a “These are just local kids who have done very well. softball team in the league’s coach-pitch softball division. Two years ago, the Warner Robins American Little The Stellas’ daughter, Sierra, was a member of both world League Softball team won the , making title teams, helping make Little League a family activity. Warner Robins the only Little League to have won both In two seasons of Little League Softball World Series a Little League Baseball and Little League Softball world competition, Roger’s WRALL squads went 11-0 with six championship. The WRALL Little League Baseball team shutouts, and outscored the opposition, 77-15. won the World Series in 2007 and made a return trip to “We’re fortunate that our league has good volunteers, Williamsport in 2009. the caliber of the players is great and they’re good kids,” Last year, the Warner Robins American Little League Winner said. “As a league, we are proud of our success, but Softball team defended its 2009 title by defeating providing for the children in Warner Robins and growing Burbank (Calif.) Little League in Portland, Ore. our program are always our goals.” —Chris Downs

in 2010 when the Senior League team District 1), but there also was a second in a row, the tournament maintained a went to Lower Sussex as the EMEA squad from — a team local feel. (Europe, Middle East and Africa) squad. from District 7 made it all the way Grand Rapids, Mich., the Central to Easley as the Southeast Region Region Champions, defeated the The Big Easley Champion. The two local teams helped Philippines, 14-4, to win the World Series BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL increase community involvement in the in their home state. More than 4,000 (ages 17–18) — Easley, S.C. tournament, which had a title sponsor — fans showed up in Kalamazoo — the Easley has hosted 10 Big League Baptist Easley Hospital — for the first 30th year that Derek Jeter’s hometown, Baseball World Series, and according time in its history. located an hour from Grand Rapids, to Tournament Director Jon Humphries, “The community embraced it a little has hosted a World Series — for the last year’s was one of the best. more,” Humphries said. “They had a final, which was played in primetime on After a and concert great time out there.” ESPN2 for the second straight year. that is custom at the tournament, Puerto “That really brings the crowd out,” Rico won the title, defeating Thousand Front and Central Vanderberg said. u Oaks, Calif., 3-2, in a tense contest. BIG LEAGUE SOFTBALL “It was excellent,” Humphries said. (ages 17–18) — Kalamazoo, Mich. Stories compiled by Little League World “We had the best teams playing that day.” Although an international team reached Series special correspondents Teddy The Big League World Series the Big League Softball World Series Cahill, Mark Rogoff, Mark Price and

included a host team (South Carolina Championship Game for the third year Allie Weinberger. little league baseball 24 What does a pitcher ARMageddonto a team? mean baseball, hisIn job the was early to days deliver of The Giants’ pitching the ball underhand exactly where the hitter asked for it. staff annihilated the ’ hitters could T opposition to win the only wish that it was 1845 all overhe again during the 2010 World pitching posted a sizzling 2.45 ERA in the Fall Classic, and world title in 2010. S brought the city of San Franciscoeries. its T first-everhe Giants’ terrificWorld Series starting title. fans have called the past five decades torture and the 2010 season was, in a way, just like that past, full of fits and starts. This club, with , , and others, was blessed with some of the finest pitching around, yet too often it seemed that if it wasn’t a shutout, it wasn’t enough. But then things started clicking late in the season. With a cast of inspiring characters, fans who cheered wildly and even wore fake and long wigs, the Giants came through when it mattered most. At long last, all was right in the City by the Bay. “It sounds ridiculous,” Brian Wilson said after the clinch, unable to comprehend this combination of “ and “world champions.” “ “They wanted to win itA fornd you as bad as Stheyan Francisco wanted to Giants” win it for themselves,” ManagerI love Bruce every Bochy minute told ofthe it.” no- longer-tortured masses from the steps of City Hall during the championship party. Here’s how they did it: pilling/mlb photos (2) 28 petersen/mlb photos (lincecum); pilling/mlb photos like thatkindof stuff.” outcasts. and misfits for much So 2010. in thing Manager BrianSabeanwonthe whole of playersassembledbyGeneral beat thePadres downthestretch.” the Braves,andtheyweren’t goingto were goingtohavebattlebeat going tobeat’em,andearlierthey to beat’em,thentheRangerswere get itdone—thePhillieswere going clubhouse thoughtthattheycould J.T. Snow. “Nobodyoutsideofthis said formerGiantsfirstbaseman Game 4oftheFallClassic. be thegame-winninghomerunin teammates andlaunchingwhatwould Giants intheoffseason, entertaining performance in2009,joinedthe Giants are shorttheirNLCS MVP. pickup inAugust,withoutwhomthe clinch theNLWest title. and tworunsscored tohelp hisclub Burrell hit.364withtwodoubles the Giants’final regular-season series, at homewithoutaBigLeaguejob.In castoffs. Thelongshots. They were theunderdogs. The The LandofMisfitBoys Series —SanFrancisco’s staff controlled alloftheaction. youngest player, atage21,tothrow eightshutoutWorld rookie —thesecond- left-handerMadisonBumgarner Lincecum, thesteadyMattCain,JonathanSanchezand Wilson. “Other teams didn’t want to face our pitching.” head in Games 1 and 5. of the Giants and Cliff Lee of the Rangers went head-to- continued into the Fall Classic, where aces Tim Lincecum Hardly. It was, after all, the “Year of the Pitcher,” which entire Series, which included two shutouts. Surprising? staff surrendered just 12 runs over the course of the the Major Leagues, the ’ pitching finishing the regular season with the lowest team ERA in , there were 27 scoreless frames. After Of the 45 innings played in the five games during the MeUp Start “Keep sayingit,” saidRoss.“We But somehow, thispatchwork “This teamisacastofcharacters,” , shunnedafterapoor Then there’s CodyRoss,awaiver For 14daysinMay, PatBurrell sat Were isthekeyword. “To gethere, youneedtohavegreat pitching,”saidRangerssluggerMichaelYoung. “TheGiantsdefinitelyhavethat.” And forgoodreason. Ledbytwo-gamewinner “Starting pitchingsetthetempo,”saidcloserBrian wigs. Andtheget-upswouldn’t have also donnedTimLincecum–inspired beards andmohawks.AT&T Parkfans shopkeepers stockeduponfake Wilson said. dressing upasmyselfinthis city,” teammates and fans to follow suit. black, closer Brian Wilson inspired an artificial hue of shoe-polish on a little bit of black magic. Dyeing his it’s no wonder that some players relied In a Series coinciding with Halloween, Sideshow

Drive, Determina C calling. S for all of the Giants’ opponents throughout the 2010 postseason.

.294 with a of .686, and collected 15 hits, highlighted Fittingly, SanFrancisco “I don’t thinkI’dhaveaproblem by five homers in 51 at-bats during the Giants’ title run.

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e hit 00 Understanding how fortunate they are, Major Leaguers leap at the chance to improve communities both at home and abroad.

30 he Brewers’ Rickie Weeks Award. Clemente, a Hall of Famer for the Pirates, was flying showed up at a Boys & Girls Club in one emergency supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua when of ’s poorest neighborhoods. his plane crashed on New Year’s Eve, 1972, killing him and the The Twins’ appeared other four people on board. He was 38 years old. at a kids’ in his wife’s tiny In 2010, the Clemente Award went to Boston’s Tim Minnesota hometown. The Marlins’ John Wakefield for his years of efforts with “Pitching in for Kids,” Baker traveled to the middle of a war zone in Iraq. an organization that provides grants to improve the lives of These three Big Leaguers travel seven months a year to kids in New England, and with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. play baseball before cheering crowds. But they all say the Wakefield was chosen from 30 club finalists for the award. “The most important trips they’ve ever taken were the extra ones, clubs have quite a task picking only one player to nominate the trips they didn’t need to make, the trips that helped others. because there’s so much charitable participation,” says Tom “Sometimes we feel like we’re the elite because we’re Brasuell, MLB’s vice president of community affairs. athletes,” Baker says. “And in reality, all we really do is hit a Weeks, Morneau and Baker are just three examples of MLB ball with a stick and chase it players helping out, and they’re all quick to say that one of their around. We’re not solving teammates deserves more credit, or that the spotlight should the world’s problems. be on those who inspired them in the first place. Weeks points As my wife and I start to his mom, Valeria, who taught the never to a family, I have tried to forget his roots. He follows that lesson by funding a scholarship take it upon myself through his mother’s church in Orlando, Fla. Weeks has also to act like an adult, arranged for the “Rickie Van” to be donated to the Don and and when I think of Sallie Davis chapter of Milwaukee’s Boys & Girls Club. “We’re adults, I think of my the main club on the south side of the city,” says chapter sports parents and in-laws director Brett Gullicksrud. “Lots of teams at schools in the and grandparents, and area have no way to travel for games, so with the van, we can how they live their lives organize leagues in flag football, and baseball and in service to their families.” pick up the teams and bring them here to play. We also reward Major League Baseball kids for sticking with the team, showing up for practice, not recognizes that kind of quitting. We’ll take them for a pizza party at a restaurant they Gross/Getty Ima g es (weeks); jacobsohn/ etty i ma (morneau); benc/ g etty i ma es contribution to families normally wouldn’t get to visit. The Rickie Van has been huge.” and communities each year with Morneau, the Twins’ All-star , the Roberto has been contributing in two countries. For years, he has been Clemente donating equipment to the youth league in , British

From left: Weeks, Morneau and Baker are just three of the many players who take care of their communities.

By Chris Smith

31 Columbia, where he grew up. Recently he Home Run Derby trophy he had just won. were displaced from their homes, and noticed that his boyhood field could use “He wasn’t showing off,” Erickson says. everything was falling down. The only some flair. “If kids are saying, ‘We play on “He was just having a ball with the kids.” positive was that it opened my eyes.” the worst field in the league,’ then they Baker wants to make sure there will don’t have pride in it,” Morneau says. “I Baker, a for the be more good results. He has helped remember, as a kid, we’d ride our bikes Marlins, might not be a household name, raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to the field and it was always exciting.” but he has done big things around the to build a new community, Inspiration So up went a new . The field world. In January 2010, Baker, teammate Village, in northern Haiti, and has lent his got a new name, too. “When I was a kid and several Marlins support to two groups that are providing we played at Field,” he says, officials flew to Kuwait, where the players key supplies during the recovery: Food recalling the former All-Star and fellow signed autographs for Little Leaguers. for the Poor and Helping Hands for a Canadian. “I never imagined my name Then they headed into southern Iraq to Sustainable Haiti. “The next project is would be on a field. It’s cool.” visit American soldiers. “It was strange,” water filtration,” Baker says. “I’m no But it isn’t something Morneau will get Baker says. “We were telling these scientist, but maybe I can help out.” carried away with. When he gave money people, ‘Thank you,’ because they The desire to help is a powerful force, to rebuild the field in Winthrop, Minn., put their lives on the line, and they’re no matter where it is deployed and where he mandated that the facility couldn’t telling us, ‘Thank you,’ for visiting. The it starts. Baker says it was only after his be named after him. “He didn’t want the stakes are much different for soldiers trips that he realized why he wanted to attention — he wanted it to be about and ballplayers, but the camaraderie go. “My grandfather worked at the phone

“Sometimes we feel like we’re the elite because we’re athletes. And in reality, all we really do is hit a ball with a stick and chase it around. We’re not solving the world’s problems.” — the kids,” says Mark Erickson, the city is similar. We met some guys on the company for 50 years, and he’d get off administrator. “Justin kind of adopted border of Iraq and Iran who had been work Friday night and drive from Oakland the Little League teams in Winthrop patrolling for like 220 days, and they ate to Riverside to watch one son pitch in a before he married Krista, who grew up bologna sandwiches every day. So I told college game, then drive to New Mexico, here. But the field was terrible. One day them about when I was in A-ball and where his other son was in the Air Force, I got a call from the Twins Foundation our clubhouse guy would cut up three to watch him play softball, and be back telling us that Justin donated $5,000 to strawberries and put them on the table, at work Monday morning,” Baker says. rebuild the field, and that the foundation and that was our postgame spread.” “He was and is the kind of person who was matching it with $5,000. So the city It was harder to find laughs on his was always present when something matched it with another $10,000, and next goodwill trip. Baker spent much was taking place with one of his children we installed aluminum benches, new of the 2010 season on the DL with an or grandchildren, and it meant so much. fences, redid everything. At the end of elbow injury and used some of his free When I had the chance to go to Iraq the season Justin sent another $7,000. It time to visit Haiti, six months after an and Kuwait and Haiti, I realized that a lot was a godsend. Now we use it for Little earthquake devastated the island nation. of times it’s not how much money you Leaguers, adult softball, a 4H league, “It was the most disturbing thing I’d give or the publicity you gain from these church leagues. This year we’ll host a ever seen,” Baker says. “Poverty like I things. It’s showing up on a human level high school tournament.” couldn’t believe. Kids with no pants living and being in someone else’s presence An even bigger thrill for Winthrop, an in garbage. Dirty water, no sanitation, that makes the difference.” u agricultural town of 1,500 people, came no electricity. And that was in an area the day after the 2008 All-Star Game, unaffected by the quake. Then we went Chris Smith is a contributing editor to when Morneau dropped in with the to Port-au-Prince, where 2 million people New York magazine. 33

E E TH

Jason Bay on Defense in the Outfield

Ever since his 2004 NL Rookie of the Year campaign, Jason Bay has been one of the Majors’ premier , making three All-Star teams. The Canada native — who played in the 1990 Little League World Series for Trail Little League from Vancouver, — is looking to have a bounce-back season in his second season with the Mets. As he prepares for another year playing in the expansive outfield, Bay has some advice for you on improving your outfield defense:

Aim for the Top When you’re watching a fly ball, you should always watch the top of the baseball because if you watch the bottom of the ball, you might get a little underneath it and then it can start floating behind you and end up sailing over your head. If you’re looking at the top, you’re always going to be behind it.

Stay Cool At some point you have to be able to take your eye off the ball. You don’t want to just put your head down and sprint 15 yards, but you cover a lot more ground when you’re not looking at the ball. A lot of people will advise you to turn, take three or four steps and then take a peek and find the ball again. Even if it’s in batting practice, try to look at it, then take your eye off it, and then find it again, so you can get more comfortable. A lot of people tend to panic when they don’t know where the ball is. You have to be comfortable knowing where it might be.

Use Your Teammates More often than not you’re not going to get a chance to throw somebody out directly. It happens every now and again, but the smart play is to hit your cut-off man. People say the moment the ball leaves your hand, as an outfielder, your job is done. But if you don’t hit the cut-off man, you aren’t letting the dotheir jobs. u pilling/mlb photos; illustration by lawrence christmas 36 Combinat Little League Baseball Camp and the Baseball Factory team up to expand ts for kids. education and training benefi By Chris Downs

hen the school year ends, baseball season is already in full swing for most Little Leaguers. To cap the regular season and start their summer off right, Little League International is enhancing its Little League Baseball Camp program through its partnership with the Baseball Factory. “The Baseball Factory is proud to work with Little League Baseball to enhance their summer camp experience in 2011,” says Jeff Brazier, the senior director of youth baseball and softball for the Baseball Factory, the offi cial and exclusive player development partner of Little League Baseball and Softball. “Our staff of former pro players, former college coaches and college players will provide an opportunity for all of the attendees at the Little League Summer Camp to receive a detailed assessment of their skills.” At Little League International in South Williamsport, Pa., and Green Acres in Hillsgrove, Pa., the 2011 Little League Baseball Camp will again provide superb instruction and fun for campers. But, along with the chance to improve their skills and play on the Little League World Series fi elds, campers will now be assessed and evaluated by instructors from the Baseball Factory, which fans can learn more about by logging onto baseballfactory.com or by following it on Facebook, and YouTube. “We are very pleased to have the Baseball Factory as part

of Little League Baseball Camp,” says Jamie Joy, Little League COURTESY BASEBALL FACTORY (2) 38

BASEBALL FACTORY_final.spec 38 2/11/11 10:43 AM ationCOACHING

BASEBALL FACTORY_final.spec 39 2/11/11 10:43 AM

Baker

Little League Makes the (ager) — or Joey back then — figuredMan that one of his best memories. Maddon still sees his childhood in he might as well be honest. He was 9 years old, playing black and white clips, convinced his experiences on a Little shortstop for a West Hazleton, Pa., Little League team. By League field helped shape who he is and how he does his job his , he had already committed today as manager of the . four errors when a groundball with bad Many Big League “Where I grew up and how I grew up, it intentions rolled his way. was nothing but the best,” Maddon says. Make that five errors. managers were “I don’t think I ever had a bad day. Those “So the coach, Ernie Valente, talks shaped by moments memories are special.” to me after the . He was very Maddon is among several Big League intimidating — a prominent school teacher, in Little League that bosses whose baseball careers began in an icon,” Maddon says as he drives the stick with them to earnest on Little League diamonds. Their streets of Hazleton. “He asked, ‘Should this day. lives are different now, dictated by big you have caught the ball?’ He had his business, and their performance defined sunken eyes, big nose and 50-year-old bad By Troy E. Renck by results, not development. es g breath. I said, ‘Yes, I should have.’ He said, Yet, there are moments on summer ‘No, it took a bad hop.’ That was nice of him.” nights that reconnect them to their Little League experience. There is something about Little League, especially back For some, they are humorous — like melting ice cream and

Lyons/Getty Ima Lyons/Getty in the early 1960s, where a man can recall his worst game as protective cups. For others, they are serious — the execution 43 of fundamentals that “I remember learning became ingrained when how to get ready to play. they slipped on their very And not just the day of the first glove. game, but the night before, Orioles Manager Buck learning to get your rest,” Showalter settles on a Girardi recalls. memory from the late 1960s Cardinals Manager Tony that seems straight out of La Russa falls back on a Disney movie. Showalter, fundamentals when asked or ‘Nat’, as friends called about his earliest playing him, was part of the thriving days in the Tampa, Fla., Little League program in area. He was lucky enough Century, Fla. He took the to have a coach provide the game seriously even then, proper foundation. his love and knowledge “I learned the real basics, of the sport imbedded by the proper fielding and hours of conversation with hitting position,” La Russa his father Nathaniel, the says. “He didn’t overdo it. local principal and high Give you a little of what you school coach. need and go play.” The Showalters lived near the baseball field — in fact, Equipment is crucial it was practically in their for participation. It starts backyard. So after doing with the glove. Maddon some lawn work one day Maddon couldn’t afford a big-label late in Showalter’s Little glove growing up, but League career, Dad walked would wander into a local a few feet and put a lawn sporting goods store and chair down behind the “Where I grew up and how try them on. center-field fence to peek I grew up, it was nothing but “I can still smell the over and watch his son. leather in that shop. I just What happened next is the best. I don’t think I ever had wanted to hold the gloves,” impossible to make up. Maddon says. “I hit my first home run. a bad day. Those memories Texas Rangers Manager And my dad caught it,” are special.” —Joe Maddon can relate. recalls Showalter, providing An coach by details as if he was still in who prides himself on the midst of his home run trot around the bases. “He told my teaching defense, Washington can still recall his first new mitt. sister to run back to the house to get another ball to throw “My dad bought me my first glove that was actually back so he could keep that one.” my own around the age of 12 — that’s my best memory,” Showalter still has that ball on his desk. Washington says. “I had to borrow before then.’’ Seattle’s smiles when asked about Little While participating in Riverside ’s Little League. There was no favorite home run — only humor. League program at Patterson Park, Reds Manager “The first practice I showed up to, I was a little chubby and realized that the staples of the game go beyond the box score. the coach told me I needed to be a catcher,” Wedge said. “I “I played for my dad (Johnnie B. Baker Sr.),” Baker recalls. loved the position. But after practice, I told my mom that my “One year, he cut me for having a bad attitude and made me coach said we had to go get a cup. I thought it was something play for another team.” I could drink from. Little did I know …” For Baker, the discipline left an impression. It also created a The pressure of baseball now is easy to identify for the positive experience going forward. managers. Their jobs depend on the success of their team. “I still have many of the friends I made while playing Little But they still remember when that wasn’t always the case. League,” Baker says. “When I played Little League, it was a Norman Rockwell What Yankees skipper gleaned from Little painting — with the coach who has his arm around the kid,”

League was the importance of preparation. Yes, he loved Pirates Manager says. “I couldn’t wait to get out of otos h

when his parents stopped at the Dairy Queen in East Peoria, school and go play.” u P LB M

Ill., after games. But the ice cream tasted better when he son/ rl played well. Troy E. Renck is the national baseball writer for The Denver Post. Ca 44 College softball coaching legend and Little League enthusiast Sue Enquist Prepare, has a message for success. Love, By Chris Downs Honor the Game

Sue Enquist has won more collegiate national the first girl in California to play high school baseball, and she championships as a coach (10) than anyone in softball credits the distinction of playing both sports for getting the history. She was UCLA’s first softball All-American, National attention of UCLA scouts. Champion and Hall of Famer, but her love of the game all Turning exclusively to softball in college, she immediately began with Little League. stood out. In four years, she hit .401 and was a key player on Introduced to baseball by her brother, Bill, and practicing — the Bruins’ first national championship team in 1978, the year if not playing — in the San Clemente (Calif.) Optimist Little she graduated with a kinesiology degree. During her tenure League, Enquist embraced the competition and camaraderie as a player and coach at UCLA, Enquist tallied 1,314 wins. of baseball and, later, softball. “One of my greatest coaching influences was UCLA “I was the official shagger for all the foul balls at batting basketball coach John Wooden,” Enquist says. “Each week practice,” says Enquist, who in the late 1960s was not allowed during the season, our softball team would break down another to play Little League due to rules limiting it to boys. “My Little part of his Pyramid for Success.” League coach was the late John Springman. His son, Bill, In 2006, Enquist — the first person in NCAA softball played on the team and now works history to win a national for the . I would not championship as both a head be the coach and former player I am coach and a player — concluded today if not for the Springmans and her 18th and final season as my brother, who laid my UCLA’s head softball coach. It was foundation for the love of Enquist won her 27th year on the coaching staff. the game.” 1,314 games In nearly two decades at the helm In 1968, Coach at UCLA. of the Bruins, she went 887-175-1, Springman allowed an making her college softball’s most 11-year-old Enquist to take some successful coach. Enquist credits swings after her brother’s practices much of this to Little League. as a reward for chasing down balls “I wasn’t the biggest, fastest or for 90 minutes in the summer heat. smartest,” Enquist says, “but I still “I even got a trophy at the learned through Little League that annual banquet,” Enquist says. I have no limits. My brother was “I’ve kept it for all these years 11 months older than me, and he because it meant so much to constantly challenged me to go for me. It’s a joy to recognize Little it. At the end of the day, you were League because it set a standard judged on how well you prepared, of excellence for me as a person, not just by how you executed. athlete and teammate.” “Softball asks that you master Enquist honed her baseball and the game’s fundamentals, give softball skills through her teenage 100 percent effort and a positive years and even played junior varsity attitude,” she adds. “Players must baseball at San Clemente High learn that the team comes first and School for one of her mentors, we are all playing for something

Courtesy Litt l e League I nternationa Coach Joe Cludy. She is considered bigger than ourselves: the team.” u 47

E E TH

Danielle Lawrie on Becoming a More Complete Player

In 2010, Danielle Lawrie became the first athlete to win two National Player of the Year awards, finishing her senior season with a 40-5 record and 495 in 302.1 innings for the Huskies. She credits that success to her athletic upbringing and attention to detail, acknowledging that success on the field doesn’t come overnight. Here’s her advice on how you can become a more complete player:

Start in the Offseason A lot of people don’t like to go out and run and exercise, but there’s a reason people do it: to get better. Every day you have to try to get better. As you get older, conditioning and lifting weights — when you’re not used to it — can be hard, hard work. But if you push yourself when you’re younger, it really sets you up for when you get old enough to train more seriously.

Day In, Day Out You can get better by playing other sports. Ever since I was six years old, my dad would take me to go train down at the local track and field facility almost every day. He would also take me to an open gym, and s

a we would go in and play basketball and get our blood pumping, and I m t s think that was important. You can’t teach someone at the age of 17 to be hri c e competitive, so it has to start early. Obviously, there’s a limit, but you’ve nc got to be pushed to the limit sometimes to get better as an athlete. awre l by n n Be a Bookworm tratio s u

ll Utilize your resources. Go read stuff on pitching and hitting. It’s like doing a i n; n; research paper in which you’re going to get facts from all different sources. gto n hi

s You’re not going to use just one source; you might like Person A’s advice a f W f

o more than Person B’s, but maybe you can still find something in the

ity s second person’s advice that helps you. That’s the cool thing about playing er v i a sport. There’s not one way to skin a cat, and there’s not one way to hit, Un y s and there’s not one way to throw or field. Research the game and get ourte

c better at every opportunity you can. u 49 Troy Tulowitzki Shortstop I played a lot of WiffleB all with my friends. We would talk about playing in the Little League World Series all the time. When I was 12 years old, we were one game away from going to Williamsport — we even played on TV. I manned shortstop and pitched sometimes, but I didn’t pitch the game that was on TV. I was at short Pitcher during that one and I was awful. I Padres remember striking out and going As a kid, I would pretend I back to the pretty upset. was trying to hit a home run We lost and it was pretty tough to take. But I kept track of the team to win Game 7 of the World that beat us in the tournament, Series, or robbing a home and to this day, I still watch the run or pitching in the big tournament every year. I almost game. Growing up watching played in it, and it was my dream. the Angels, Padres, Red Sox and Cubs on TV, I just loved the game. My parents said that I was the only one out of their four kids who could go to the ballpark and not ask for a thing. I didn’t want popcorn. I just wanted to watch the game, ever since I When I was a kid … started playing when I was 5. I looked up to , , and then as I was getting older, it was Troy Percival and . And I always imitated with everything. Brian Wilson Pitcher San Francisco Giants Torii Hunter Outfield I looked up to Nolan Ryan and Robb I loved when Nen — not because I was growing up. I was from he was a Giant, but Arkansas, so we didn’t have because he threw a local professional team. absolute cheese. But WGN was broadcasting He was really fun to watch. Same thing with games everywhere. Nolan. He gets up there, you take a massive So the Cubs were the only hack off him, he’s going to send you a ballclub that we watched — message with the next pitch. those guys and the Braves. I admired Ryan’s work ethic. Not that I Dawson, when he hit 49 home runs that one year with the got to play with the guy, obviously, but you Cubs, and he had the curl and would hear about how hard he worked. It’s that stiff front leg … I watched just nice to hear about guys going the extra every Cubs game, and if I had a mile to get strong. Regardless of what people game that night, I’d go out and hit think about how you develop velocity, or just like him. Stiff front leg, and I had the curl. Everything like what makes people throw harder than other that. He was one of my favorite players ever.

williamson/mlb photos (tulowitzki); (tulowitzki); photos williamson/mlb photos vesely/mlb hunter); (bell, photos pilling/mlb people, I think it has to do with hard work. 51 scrambled

Can you unscramble the names of these Hall of Famers who played Little League Baseball? Read the hint if you need help.

1. DWEA GOSGB This longtime Red Sox won a World Series with the in 1996. Word Search — — — — — — — — — Below are players who switched teams this offseason. Their last names can be found in all directions: 2. GREGOE RTETB This legend made up, down, backward, forward and diagonally. a run at a .400 batting average in 1980, See how many you can spot! when he finished with a .390 mark. — — — — — — B A L O G T W S K N E J — — — — — 3. TVESE NRLOCAT Z C E X A K Y D M H F K Won four Awards and was a member of the 1980 Phillies team that U M R O T J U L E E G A won the World Series. — — — — — P E N A Z L M O N P O M — — — — — — —

J P O E W U K N U V A Z 4. LIRLEO RNFGIES This pitcher won the AL Cy Young and A H P M E F E Y M E E V MVP awards with the Brewers in 1981. — — — — — — M B A D R R O E M L X T — — — — — — —

V U M B T H U R A V L Z 5. LCA NKIRPE RJ This Orioles’ Iron Man broke D A K Y H L Y Z D Z O G ’s consecutive games played streak in 1995. K M A R T I N D U L Y J — — — X R P O A O U M N H U R — — — — — — — — 6. KMEI MHSDCTI Z J L T G R E I N K E B The MVP of the . — — — — — — — — — — — (Zack) GREINKE (Jayson) WERTH 7. LCRA IMEKRSZYATS (Cliff) LEE (Mark) REYNOLDS The last hitter to win the Crown (Carlos) PENA (Bobby) JENKS (league leader in home runs, RBI and batting average). (Adrian) GONZALEZ (Adam) DUNN — — — — (Carl) CRAWFORD (Russell) MARTIN crawford — — — — — — — — — — — loo/Red sox/mlb photos 53 Mix ’n’ Match

Match the stat with the player who ranks first in that category among active Big Leaguers.

1. Batting Average A) 2. Games Played B) 3. Runs Scored C) Omar Vizquel 4. Hits D) 5. Doubles E) Albert Pujols 6. Triples F) Ivan Rodriguez 7. Walks G) Juan Pierre 8. Stolen Bases H) Jason Kendall 9. Extra-base Hits I) Derek Jeter 10. J)

where am I from? Match the player’s home state or country with its capital.

1. A. Olympia () states 2. Tim Lincecum B. Nashville (Washington) C. 3.

(California) D. Raleigh 4. (Tennessee) 5. Shane Victorino E. Sacramento (Hawaii) jeter

6. Jason Bay (Canada) F. Sydney

7. G; 8. F; 9. J; 10. H 10. J; 9. F; 8. G; 7.

J T R I K B E K N I E R G T L J Z

7. (Cuba) I; 6. C; 5. B; 4. E; 3. A; 2. D; 1.

R O O M H R U H N M U O A O P R X

m o r F m ’ I ere

G. Havana Wh

8. (Australia) J Y L U D N I T R A M K

7. J; 8. G; 9. D; 10. H H 10. D; 9. G; 8. J; 7. an

countries G O Z D Z Y L H Y K A D

U B H R V Z L V A R U H T B M U V

9. Felix Hernandez H. Santo Domingo B; 6. F; 5. I; 4. A; 3. C; 2. E; 1. Wo rd S earc h

B D R E L T X L M E O R R D A B M

h c t a M n’ Mix ‘ Mix sw

(Venezuela) V E E M Y E F E M P H A Schmidt; 7. Carl 7. Schmidt;

I. Ottawa Z A V U N K U W E O P J

Fingers; 5. Cal Ripken Jr.; 6. Mike Mike 6. Jr.; Ripken Cal 5. Fingers; E A L O P M O P N O M L Z A N E P

10. Ubaldo Jimenez er

M O J L E A G E E L U J T O R M U Brett; 3. ; 4. Rollie Rollie 4. Carlton; Steve 3. Brett;

C X K D H K F H M D Y K A X E C Z

() J. Caracas George 2. Boggs; Wade 1.

A O T S N J E N K S W T G O L A B

s SCRAMBLED

pilling/mlb photos 54