Happy Anniversary, Jimmy Qualls

Jimmy Qualls had 31 hits during a largely unforgettable major league career that touched parts of three seasons and three teams - the Cubs, Expos and White Sox. But one of those hits is the reason Qualls is long remembered by Mets fans and baseball historians.

It was the one-out, ninth inning single to left-center field July 9, 1969 off Tom Seaver that ended Tom Terrific's perfect game.

The Mets won 4-0.

No Met pitcher has ever thrown as much as a no-hitter. It wasn't until after Seaver was traded to the Reds when he finally threw a no-hitter.

Mets fans still curse the name Jimmy Qualls, even though Seaver beat the Cubs 4-0 that night and the Mets eventually overcame the Cubs to win the division, the Braves for the pennant and the Orioles for the World Series.

Here are links to a pair of stories on the Seaver-Qualls throw down at Shea Stadium 40 years ago tonight ...

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2008/04/27/a9b_qualls_0427.html

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/michael_bamberger/07/08/seaver.tribute/?eref=T1

Stealing home: More exciting than a triple?

I think most agree that a triple is the most exciting play in baseball. I know Carl Crawford does not agree.

The Rays left fielder told me once the home run is the most exciting play. I guess if you're hitting them they are exciting.

But for those of us who can only watch, the foot race between the batter and the outfielders with third base as the finish line is pretty darn exciting.

Then B.J. Upton steals home Wednesday night, and I think, "Hmmmm."

Watching a guy steal home is pretty darn exciting, too.

Crawford did it a few years back against the Red Sox. That was a straight steal.

Upton didn't break for the plate until Toronto pitcher Brian Tallet threw over to first base in the first inning and easily beat Kevin Millar's throw home. That was considered a straight steal, too, meaning the runner from third didn't score on the front end of a double-steal.

Steals of home happen so quick you almost miss them.

Runner on third breaks. Pitcher throws home. The slide. The late tag.

Safe.

What?

It was Upton's third career steal of home plate, tying him with Torii Hunter, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield and Omar Vizquel for the most in the majors among active players.

You think stealing second is a dying art, how about stealing home?

Ty Cobb did it 54 times during his career. He also holds the record for a single season with eight, which he set in 1912.

The record for most steals of home plate in one game is two, shared by 11 players. The last to do it was Cleveland's Vic Powers in 1958.

Here is a link to Baseball Almanac's Web page on the topic ...

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_stbah.shtml

Here's a link to an MLB.com story on Upton's steal Wednesday complete with video ...

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090708&content_id=5770786&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

The tale of two shirts

Say this about the Rays All-Star promotions: The T-shirts have gotten better.

The one on the bottom was going to be used to push Carl Crawford for the "Final Vote" in 2005, but the left fielder wasn't among the five finalists, so the campaign was scrapped.

The one on top is currently in use in the "Vote 'Los" campaign to push Carlos Pena for the "Final Vote."

Notice the use of the St. Louis Arch, the St. Louis skyline, an actually head shot of Pena and the way Pena's head is used for the letter "O."

"I'm very happy with it. I think I look somewhat handsome," Pena said before Tuesday's game with the visiting Blue Jays.

Crawford wasn't even aware of a campaign back in 2005.

"No way," he said before Tuesday's game. "They made T-shirts? No way."

Longo, CC, Bartlett, Zobrist are All-Stars

Led by Evan Longoria, who was the fan’s choice to start at third base for the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays will send a franchise-high four players to the All-Star Game on July 14 in St. Louis.

Joining Longoria are shortstop Jason Bartlett, left fielder Carl Crawford and second baseman Ben Zobrist.

"I think it shows a lot about the steps that the team has taken, as far as the fan’s eye, and it’s definitely a huge honor, obviously with the caliber of third basemen there are in the American League, to be the leading vote getter is just a tremendous honor," Longoria told reporters Sunday afternoon in Arlington, TX.

The defending American League champions will be well represented at the All-Star Game. Rays manager Joe Maddon will manage the American League squad with the help of his entire coaching staff.

Longoria is an All-Star for a second straight year, having won the American League "Final Vote" by a record nine million last July during his rookie season. He was one of a then team record three Rays to attend an All-Star Game, joining pitcher Scott Kazmir and catcher Dioner Navarro.

Longoria is the second player in team history to be voted a starter by the fans. Jose Canseco was voted in as the designated hitter in 1999 but missed the game because of back surgery.

Crawford, who leads the major leagues in stolen bases with 40 and is third in the majors with 104 hits, will attend a franchise-record third All-Star Game. He was a reserve in 2004 and 2007, homering for his only All-Star Game hit in the American League’s win in 2007 at San Francisco.

Bartlett and Zobrist are making their first trips to the All-Star Game.

Bartlett, the top-hitting shortstop in the majors, finished second to Derek Jeter of the Yankees in the fan voting.

Zobrist is the surprise of the quartet, having begun the season as the Rays super utility player. The versatile Zobrist has started at six different positions — second base, shortstop, third base and all three outfield sports — but has settled in as the Rays every-day second baseman after Akinori Iwamura injured his knee on May 24.

"I think it is all well deserved obviously," Maddon said. "I’m in agreement with all the people that were voted in and I felt, I’m looking at everybody else that was available or eligible and I just felt that Zobrist’s numbers stacked up really well. And you have to be careful, you want to be fair to everybody else but then you cannot be unfair to your own group at the same time. I just looked at the whole thing and I felt Ben definitely belonged on the team also."

Zobrist leads the American League in slugging percentage and OPS. With a career-high 16 home runs through 82 games, he is on pace to hit more than 30 this season.

"I’m really excited to see Zobrist go," Longoria said. "I definitely think he deserved it. He didn’t get the at-bats he needed at the beginning of the year, but you saw when he got the at bats his abilities."

"The luckiest man ... "

Lou Gehrig's famous farewell speech at Yankee Stadium, delivered 70 years ago today, will be remembered across major league ballparks this afternoon and evening as MLB helps promote awareness for ALS, which is known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease."

Baseball will also give Gehrig another day in the sun, which is great. To most fans, Gehrig is a name from the past, linked more to his record for consecutive games, since broken by Cal Ripken Jr., than anything else.

Gehrig was one of the best to ever play the game. Still, it is his death that keeps his memory alive.

Fans have come to poke fun at the famous line, adding their own echoes ... "Today (today), I consider myself (consider myself), the luckiest man (man) on the face of the earth (on the face of the earth.)"

I've heard grooms say this at their wedding. I was going to, but those plans were nixed.

You'll find it during a scene of "Sleepless in Seattle."

Anyway, the thing is, Gehrig didn't know he was dying. That bit of news was kept from him. So the scene in "Pride of the Yankees," where Lou asks the doctor, "Is it three strikes, Doc?" Great line. Never happened.

Still, "Pride of the Yankees" is one of the best baseball movies ever.

Lou is my all-time favorite Yankee, more so than Babe Ruth. Lou had one of the greatest careers in baseball history and was happy to play in the shadow of Ruth.

He set the the record for consecutive games played, because that's what did during his era: You played every day.

And, of course, he died a hero's death.

I just bought a figurine a few weeks ago of Lou, hat in hand, standing at the microphone while he delivers his farewell speech. It will have a prominent display in my den as soon as I clean out my den.

Here is a link to the Lou Gehrig web site: http://www.lougehrig.com/

Here is a link to a clip of his speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4msaZTJrTA

Here is a link to Gary Cooper in "Pride of the Yankees:" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbNrCxqxzgo

Here is Lou's speech ...

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth.

I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans. Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day?

Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy?

Sure, I'm lucky. When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift - that's something.

When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies - that's something.

When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter - that's something.

When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body - it's a blessing.

When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that's the finest I know.

So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."

Rays trade for Triple A pitcher

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired right-handed relief pitcher John Meloan from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Winston Abreu.

Meloan (ma-LONE) has been added to the Rays 40-man roster, bringing the roster to its full capacity. He will report to Durham (AAA). Meloan, who turns 25 on July 11, has spent the entire 2009 season with Columbus (AAA). He went 0-0 for the Clippers with a 5.52 ERA (44.0-IP, 52-H, 27-ER, 17-BB, 37-SO) in 25 appearances (two starts). He has pitched a total of seven games in the major leagues, appearing in two games for the Indians in 2008 and five games in 2007 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Over parts of five minor league seasons, he is 15-16 with 22 saves, a 3.75 ERA (321.1-IP, 134-ER) and 384 strikeouts, an average of 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

Meloan was acquired by the Indians on July 26, 2008 from the Dodgers along with catcher Carlos Santana in exchange for infielder Casey Blake. In 2007 he was named a Southern League All-Star and Double-A Reliever of the Year by MinorLeagueBaseball.com. He was selected by the Dodgers in the fifth round of the 2005 June Draft out of the University of Arizona.

Abreu, 32, was designated for assignment on June 27 after making two appearances for the Rays. The Rays selected him from Durham on June 14 after he compiled a 3-0 record, 10 saves and a 1.41 ERA (32.0-IP, 14-H, 5-R/ER, 10-BB, 49-SO) for the Bulls. Abreu was a non-roster invite this spring for the Rays.

Rays No. 1 ... in affordability

ESPN the Magazine ranked all the professional sports and found the Rays 16th in their ultimate standings.

The affordability of attending a game at the Trop carried the Rays, who improved from 75th last year.

I would question the rank of the coaching, which is 25th. After what Joe Maddon and his staff did with that team last year, I would say they deserve to be in the top-5.

Here is ESPN's run down. For more, here is a link to ESPN the Magazine ...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=4289812

Last Year's Rank: 75
Title Track: 35
Ownership: 48
Coaching: 25
Players: 23
Fan Relations: 19
Affordability: 1
Stadium Experience: 106

Bang for the Buck: 21
What do you get when you charge fans the fourth-cheapest admission ($18.35) in MLB to see the defending AL Champs? A 59-slot bump in the Standings. Even with a 24.3% hike in the average fan cost per season ($2,962.35), the Rays are still the most gently priced team among the Big Four sports, thanks, in part, to free parking and programs.

But even young superstars Evan Longoria and David Price can't fill the seats at Tropicana Field. The club averaged just 22,259 fans during its 2008 World Series run and is drawing only slightly better this season. Sparse crowds are a big part of the reason fans rank the Trop's Stadium Experience so low. And plans to build a new $450 million ballpark on the waterfront in downtown St. Pete are off the table (the team is looking for alternative sites), while developers court needed public support.

Until then, don't think of the Trop as half-empty. Think of it as half-full.