The Baseball Zealot

Another local note:  A collaboration billed as “Pioneering Latinos: Building a Legacy on and Beyond the Playing Field is coming up soon here at the University of Illinois.  It’s generating some real interest among baseball fans and Latino activists alike. 

Events will span a couple days… January 19-20 and will include a movie showing of Roberto Clemente, a lunchtime speaker plus a nightly “fireside chat” with former Sox player Minnie Minoso

It will feature some other big names, too.  Besides Minoso, 2008 Rays’ Minor League Player of the Year Fernando Perez is speaking  Perez is now with the Cubs’ organization.  Bernardo Ruiz who directed the film, Roberto Clemente will also speak. 

For more information, browse to the University of Illinois Latina/Latino Studies web site where they have more details. 

Zealot friend and U of I professor, Adrian Burgos will be facilitating the event and was key in putting this all together. 

All events are free to the public.

Posted in: Baseball History by The Baseball Zealot
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The Sporting News has announced the winners of the 2009 Rookie of the Year Gordon Beckham of the White Sox and J.A. Happ of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Beckham was called to Chicago on June 4th, playing thirdbase everyday, he ended up batting .270 with 28 doubles, 14 home runs, and 63 RBIs, in 103 games.  The most remarkable thing was that Gordon  was a SS at the University of Georgia last year when he hit more homers than anyone in NCAA Division I.  So he was learning a new position in the big leagues, and learn it he did, I predict several Gold Gloves in his future.  Other White Sox Rookies of the Year are 1951 Minnie Minoso, 1956 Luis Aparicio, 1963 Pete Ward & Gary Peters, 1966 Tommie Agee, 1969 Carlos May, 1983 Ron Kittle, and 1985 Ozzie Guillen.

Happ was 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA for Philadelphia, appearing out of the bullpen until late May when the young lefthander moved into the rotation.  I remember seeing his changeup in spring training in Clearwater, FL, and thinking how much he reminded me of Phillies ace Cole Hamels.  He pitched two shutouts, while striking out 119 batters in 166 innings.  Other Phillies Rookies of the Year are 1946 Del Ennis, 1948 Richie Ashburn, 1957 Jack Sanford, 1964 Dick Allen, 1980 Lonnie Smith, 1984 Juan Samuel, 1997 Scott Rolen, and 2005 Ryan Howard.

Posted in: Awards by Teddy Ballgame
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