Phillies pushing hard for 1st playoff berth since 2011
PHILADELPHIA — Bob Boone waved to the Phillies crowd that accentuated the “Booooo” in his name in honor of the Gold Glove-winning catcher that caught the last out of the 1980 World Series. He was an All-Star, a defensive whiz in Philly, a revered member of that championship season who,...
Brewers tumble out of 1st in division after trading Hader
MILWAUKEE — In the week since trading four-time All-Star closer Josh Hader, virtually nothing has gone right for the Milwaukee Brewers. They owned a three-game lead in the NL Central when they sent Hader to the San Diego Padres, but have gone 1-5 since and trail the streaking St. Louis...
Twins’ Kirilloff to have season-ending wrist surgeryVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Twins outfielder and Plum grad Alex Kirilloff will undergo season-ending surgery on his right wrist, the team announced Sunday. Kirilloff, a 2016 first-round draft pick, will travel with Minnesota on its road trip to Los Angeles and undergo ulnar shortening surgery on Tuesday. “Any time you’re talking...
Rose dismisses sexual misconduct questions at Phillies feteVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Pete Rose dismissed questions Sunday about his first appearance on the field in Philadelphia since the franchise scrapped 2017 plans to honor him because of a woman’s claim she had a sexual relationship with baseball’s hit king when she was a minor. “It was 55 years ago, babe,”...
London Calling: Cubs-Cardinals set for London in June 2023
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball plans to return to London next year for the first time since 2019. The league announced Thursday that the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs will play a two-game series on June 24-25, 2023, at London Stadium. The NL Central rivals were supposed to...
First Call: Steelers floated as trade partner for Bears’ tackle; Steel Curtain snubbed on ESPN list; Josh Bell’s Padres debut
In Thursday’s “First Call,” members of the Steel Curtain have been snubbed by ESPN. The Steelers are being connected to an offensive tackle who is potentially getting traded. Ex-Pirate Josh Bell played his first game with his new team. And Gerrit Cole suffers through an unbelievable first inning in Yankee...
A look at buyers and sellers from busy MLB trade deadline
This is quite a time to be a season ticket holder for the San Diego Padres. Great weather, a jewel of a ballpark — and perhaps the most exciting lineup in baseball for the near future. The Padres landed the biggest prize of this year’s trade deadline — and maybe...
First Call: ESPN calls a former Steeler the best ever at his position; Jose Quintana debut date for Cardinals
Wednesday’s “First Call” has an honor for a legendary former Pittsburgh Steeler. We know when Jose Quintana is making his St. Louis Cardinals debut. Jameson Taillon had a rough outing for the Yankees. And what will James Washington’s injury mean for the Cowboys? The GOAT at center ESPN.com revealed a...
Legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully dies at 94Video
LOS ANGELES — Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully, whose dulcet tones provided the soundtrack of summer while entertaining and informing Dodgers fans in Brooklyn and Los Angeles for 67 years, died Tuesday night, the team said. He was 94. Scully died at his home in the Hidden Hills section...
MLB trade recap: Juan Soto, Josh Bell to Padres; Twins, Phillies add
CHICAGO — Juan Soto is joining Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. in San Diego. Jorge Lopez, Michael Fulmer and Tyler Mahle are going to Minnesota. Noah Syndergaard, David Robertson and Brandon Marsh are heading to Philadelphia and Joey Gallo is looking for a fresh start with the Los Angeles...
Washington sends star outfielder Juan Soto, Josh Bell to San Diego for package of prospects
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres acquired superstar outfielder Juan Soto from the Washington Nationals on Tuesday in one of baseball’s biggest deals at the trade deadline, vaulting their postseason chances by adding one of the game’s best young hitters. The Padres also obtained first baseman Josh Bell while...
First Call: Steelers work out Maulers QB; ex-Steeler suffers long-term foot injury; Josh Bell traded with Juan Soto
The Steelers may have an interest in a former Pittsburgh Mauler. An ex-Steeler suffers a significant injury setback in Dallas. Another one is heading to Arizona. Ex-Pirate Josh Bell was traded. And a former Robert Morris hockey player is on the move. All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.” Pittsburgh(ish) connection...
Brewers trade All-Star closer Josh Hader to PadresVideo
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres acquired All-Star closer Josh Hader from the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday in exchange for recently benched closer Taylor Rogers and three other players in a blockbuster deal between NL playoff contenders. The NL Central-leading Brewers shipped one of the game’s top relievers to...
Luis Castillo traded to Mariners by Reds for 4 prospects
HOUSTON — The Seattle Mariners acquired the top starting pitcher on the trade market Friday night, getting All-Star Luis Castillo from the payroll-paring Cincinnati Reds for four minor league prospects. Cincinnati obtained infielders Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo, and right-handers Levi Stoudt and Andrew Moore. Marte was the Mariners’ top-rated...
All-Star Andrew Benintendi won’t say whether will get vaccinated with YanksVideo
NEW YORK — Andrew Benintendi wouldn’t say whether he will get vaccinated for covid-19 now that he’s with the first-place New York Yankees rather than the last-place Kansas City Royals. A day after New York acquired the 28-year-old All-Star from the Royals for three minor-league pitchers, Benintendi was hitting leadoff...
Nationals’ Josh Bell among top trade targets with deadline approachingVideo
WASHINGTON — Dave Martinez writes Josh Bell’s name on the Washington Nationals lineup card virtually every single game this season and plans to keep doing so. “I look at it like that every day until something else happens,” Martinez said. Something could happen to change that very soon. While Juan...
Angels’ Mike Trout sidelined at least another week with back issuesVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mike Trout will go at least another week without doing any baseball activity because of his ailing back, Los Angeles Angels trainer Mike Frostad said Wednesday. There a chance the injury could affect the three-time AL MVP in some capacity for the rest of his career,...
No. 1 pick Jackson Holliday gets $8.19 million bonus from OriolesVideo
BALTIMORE — Jackson Holliday slipped on a Baltimore Orioles jersey, jammed the team’s cap over his long, sandy blond hair and grinned broadly as the cameramen clicked away. And boy, did he have reason to smile. The 18-year-old high schooler and No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 amateur draft...
Jackie Robinson Museum opens after 14 years of planning
NEW YORK — Long dreamed about and in development for longer than the big league career of the man it honors, the Jackie Robinson Museum opened Tuesday in Manhattan with a gala ceremony attended by the widow of the barrier-breaking ballplayer and two of his children. Rachel Robinson, who turned...
U mad, bro?: Quarterback concerns; stadium name-change anger; RB depth; Pirates draft discord
We’ve had a week off from “U mad, bro?” because I was on vacation. As a result, we’ve got a ton of angst built up. So I thought it would be best to release a bit of the building pressure on my inbox and my Twitter mentions before they pop....
First Call: Some ex-Steelers may be checking out new teams; Pirates pitching prospect heating up
Tuesday’s “First Call” looks at some former Pittsburgh Steelers in new places. An AFC North division rival is dealing with a franchise-tag problem. A top-notch Pirates prospect is in a groove. And the Pirates have a tough challenge in Chicago. Ex-Steelers on the move Some former Steelers are trying to...
Rare 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card going up for auction
NEW YORK — A decades-old, mint condition Mickey Mantle baseball card could break a record at auction. The collector’s item from 1952 features one of baseball’s most celebrated and charismatic legends, and is widely regarded as one of just a handful in near-perfect condition. It’s estimated the final cost of...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell’s boxing match on hold; new head coaching job for Hines Ward; Daniel Vogelbach’s Mets debut
Monday’s “First Call” relays some unfortunate news about Le’Veon Bell’s boxing match. Two former Pittsburgh Steelers are getting jobs in the coaching world. The Pirates are getting the Chicago Cubs while they are hot. And Daniel Vogelbach makes his first start as a New York Met against another former Pirate....
Big Papi a big hit at Baseball Hall of Fame inductionVideo
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — David Ortiz promised to speak from the heart. As usual, Big Papi delivered. His megawatt smile tinged with a tad of emotion, the former Boston Red Sox slugger was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday — after his daughter Alexandra sang the national anthiem...
Vogelbach reunites with Lindor on Mets, who add PerezVideo
NEW YORK — Daniel Vogelbach was happy to be leaping up the standings and to reunite with Francisco Lindor, his travel teammate during high school days in Florida. “Just as good as he is now as he was back then,” Vogelbach said of Lindor on Saturday, a day after the...