major league baseball

SOURCE SPORTS: MLB To Commemorate Childhood Cancer Awareness Month This Sunday

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For the ninth year in a row, all 30 Major League Baseball teams will raise awareness for childhood cancer in all ballparks during all games on Sunday.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and MLB Together continues its community-based demonstrations of support for the cancer awareness among children, including outreach to local hospitals treating childhood patients.

According to the organization, all on-field personnel, including players, managers, coaches, and umpires will wear gold ribbon decals and wristbands during all games. Additionally, commemorative base jewels and line up cards will be featured on the day.

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Club activations may include youth participation in pregame ceremonies, visits from players, mascots and other special recognitions. Nonprofit partners for Clubs may include partnering with local hospital or organizations focused on cancer among children such as Stand Up To Cancer, American Cancer Society, and Starlight Children’s Foundation.

As an extension of MLB’s relationship with Starlight Children’s Foundation, all 30 Clubs will be receiving either a Nintendo Switch Handheld or a Virtual Reality headset, which will be donated to a local children’s hospital, hospital pediatric cancer care unit or a pediatric cancer nonprofit organization. To learn more, visit www.mlbtogether.com/childhood-cancer-awareness-day and www.starlight.org/mlb.

This year, approximately 10,000 children under the age of 15 are expected to receive a cancer diagnosis in the United States. Across all demographics, this disease is the second-leading cause of death by disease in children ages 1-14. MLB, alongside other committed community leaders in this cause, are dedicated to lessening the statistics of cancer as a disease affecting young people.

Some of the most common types of childhood cancer include leukemia, brain tumors, central nervous system tumors, and malignant epithelial neoplasms and lymphomas. Over the past 50 years, cancer researchers have helped to develop treatments that have greatly changed the lives of patients with a pediatric cancer diagnosis. The five year survival rate for childhood cancer is now 85% (compared to 58% in the mid-1970’s).

The post SOURCE SPORTS: MLB To Commemorate Childhood Cancer Awareness Month This Sunday first appeared on The Source.

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SOURCE SPORTS EXCLUSIVE: Why Rickwood Field Will Be The Epicenter Of Celebrating The Life Of Willie Mays

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The best way non-baseball fans can understand is to describe him as the “Michael Jordan of Baseball” on the field, but off the diamond, his personality rivaled his performance. This is just a glimpse into why the commemoration of the Negro Leagues by Major League Baseball at the legendary Rickwood Field will be a three-day celebration of the life of baseball legend Willie Mays.

Not only is Rickwood Field one of the premiere stadiums of the Negro Leagues, where Mays began his professional baseball career as a member of the Birmingham Black Barons, but Birmingham, Alabama is also the birthplace of Mays, who’s commonly known among baseball enthusiasts as the “Say Hey Kid”. There will be an inaugural Juneteenth event that proceeds the big game between Mays’ MLB alma mater San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals. Wednesday’s “Birmingham Barnstorm” Fam Jam Celebrity Softball Game is a face-off between Derek Jeter’s “Hammers” honoring the late home run king Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds Jr.’s “Sey Heys”, who are playing in the name of Bonds’ godfather, who is none other than, you guessed it, Willie Mays. Bonds’ who is currently Major League’s asterisked all time home run leader, has always told intimate stores of his late godfather and because of their close relationship, this could be the reason that Bonds may not be able to serve as the Sey Heys’ team captain today.

The main attraction will, of course, be tomorrow’s game between the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals at the historic Birmingham field and to properly recognize the contributions of the Negro Leagues to what we know today as Major League Baseball, the two MLB teams will be wearing replicas of the Negro League uniforms. The Giants will be playing as the “SeaLions”, which was a West Coast Negro League team based in San Francisco in 1946. West Virginia-born Marcenia Lyle Stone aka Toni Stone, began playing for the Sea Lions in 1949, becoming the first female to ever play in the Negro Leagues.

The St. Louis Cards will be donning “St. Louis Stars” uniforms, repping for the Negro National League’s three-time champions, the St. Louis Stars. Playing from 1922-1931, the Stars’ roster included several Negro League Hall Of Famers including Willie Wells, James Thomas Bell aka “Cool Papa Bell”, Mule Nettles and others.

As described by MLB.com., “fans will witness another kind of history as stars of entertainment, sports and baseball descend on Birmingham” as the celebrity softball game, which will include notables such as Karen Civil, DC Young Fly, Terrell Owens, Omari Hardwick and a host of MLB legends including former Phillies star Jimmy Rollins, the Yankees’ CC Sabathia and Alex Rodriguez, “Big Papi” David Ortiz, Adam Jones and countless others. The game will conclude with a feature performance by ATL super producer Metro Boomin, who will definitely bring out the crowds who aren’t necessarily baseball fans.

Arguably the best all around player in baseball, the Birmingham-born “King of the Diamond” will definitely be honored in regal baseball fashion at Rickwood. The Negro League Baseball Museum will notably recognize Mr. Mays in all of the ceremonies, as the President of the NLBM Bob Kendrick gave this statement about the passing of Mays.

“All of us at the Negro League Baseball Museum are devastated by the news of the passing of the great Willie Mays. Willie so beautifully represented the heart and soul of everything that made the Negro Leagues special on the road to becoming a Hall of Famer and in the hearts and minds of many, the greatest Major Leaguer of all time. While our hearts are heavy, we’ll remember and celebrate him for the unbridled joy he brought to the game! We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Mays family and his legion of fans worldwide.’”

The Birmingham Barnstorm celebrity softball game wil begin tonight at 7PM EST while the Negro League Tribute will be held tomorrow(June 20) AT 6:15PM EST and can be seen on FOX Sports.

MLB is extending the Rickwood Game “Beyond the Ballpark” to the Birmingham community at four local bars and restaurants on Thursday, June 20. The official “Beyond the Ballpark” watch parties start at 5 p.m. CT at the following locations:

Continental Drift
2201 7th Ave S
Birmingham, AL 35233
RSVP HERE

Denim on 7th
2808 7th Ave S #105
Birmingham, AL 35233
RSVP HERE

Uptown Jazz Lounge
2250-B 9th Ave N
Birmingham, AL 35203
RSVP HERE

SLEEK Sports Bar
1005 20th St S
Birmingham, AL 35205
RSVP HERE

The post SOURCE SPORTS EXCLUSIVE: Why Rickwood Field Will Be The Epicenter Of Celebrating The Life Of Willie Mays first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS EXCLUSIVE: Why Rickwood Field Will Be The Epicenter Of Celebrating The Life Of Willie Mays appeared first on The Source.

Willie Mays Receives Numerous Touching Tributes Following His Passing

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Willie Mays was one of the most legendary players in the history of Major League Baseball. Overall, he broke records and captured the attention of fans while in the Negro Leagues, and eventually went to Major League Baseball where he played for the San Francisco Giants. It was here where he broke even more records. Having won the Golden Glove award 12 times, there is no doubt that Mays was one of if not the best outfielder in the sport’s history. On Tuesday, it was revealed that he passed away at the age of 93.

Subsequently, numerous tributes came in for the baseball legend. Former President Barack Obama said “Willie Mays wasn’t just a singular athlete, blessed with an unmatched combination of grace, skill and power. He was also a wonderfully warm and generous person – and an inspiration to an entire generation.” Moreover, Major League Baseball commissioner Robert Manfred made sure to give some touching remarks on Mays’ legacy.

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Willie Mays Accomplished Everything

“All of Major League Baseball is in mourning today as we are gathered at the very ballpark where a career and a legacy like no other began,” Commissioner Rob Manfred explained “Willie Mays took his all-around brilliance from the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League to the historic Giants franchise. From coast to coast in New York and San Francisco, Willie inspired generations of players and fans as the game grew and truly earned its place as our National Pastime.”

Tributes Pour In

Mays’ passing is a huge loss for the baseball world. He was an athlete who transcended the sport, and he inspired many to pursue the game of baseball. Hopefully, Major League Baseball does everything in its power to keep Mays’ legacy alive. Every young player should be educated on Mays, his impact, and what he means to the sport. Let us know some of your favorite Willie Mays plays, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

Read More: Willie Mays Net Worth 2024: What Is The MLB Baseball Icon Worth?

[Via]

The post Willie Mays Receives Numerous Touching Tributes Following His Passing appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

SOURCE SPORTS: [WATCH] Fan Tased, Arrested For Running On Field, Doing Backflip During Guardians vs. Reds Game

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Last night, when the Cleveland Guardians hosted the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Ohio, an overzealous fan took his excitement onto the field, only to be tased and arrested in front of the entire stadium at the Great American Ball Park in Ohio during the ninth inning of game.

19-year-old William Hendon was arrested and charged with a felony criminal trespass charge and a misdemeanor obstructing official business charge and booked into the Hamilton County Jail. Hendon jumped into the outfield and sprinted from officers, even doing a backflip before being tased and hauled away by arresting officers.

The man “did knowingly run onto the Reds playing field during the game without permission to do so,” an officer wrote in a criminal complaint. Another document accused Hendon of impeding an officer’s lawful duties with purpose as he tried to run from the officer who was behind him.

Hendon is scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday morning(June 12).

Meanwhile, Josh Naylor hit his 17th home run, securing the Guardians’ 5-3 victory over the Reds.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: [WATCH] Fan Tased, Arrested For Running On Field, Doing Backflip During Guardians vs. Reds Game first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: [WATCH] Fan Tased, Arrested For Running On Field, Doing Backflip During Guardians vs. Reds Game appeared first on The Source.

SOURCE SPORTS: Shohei Ohtani’s Former Interpreter Pleads Guilty To Federal Charges

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It has just been reported that Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, has plead guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of tax fraud for reportedly stealing money from Ohtani’s bank account to pay off his large gambling debts.

Mizuhara appeared in a Santa Ana, California court yesterday to plead guilty to the charges pending, which are both federal offenses. Wearing a suit jacket and a white shirt, the 39-year-old bilingual swindler told a judge he used funds from an Ohtani bank account to help clear himself of a major gambling debt he had accumulated.

Even though the news of the plea has just been released, Mizuhara and prosecutors had reached a plea agreement in this case last month.

Mizuhara could possibly receive up to 33 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for late October.

The Dodgers released a statement in regards to the court proceedings, which can be seen below.

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SOURCE SPORTS: SD Padres’ Tucupita Marcano Could Face Lifetime Ban From Baseball Over Gambling Scandal

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Several reports have confirmed that there is yet another scandal involving gambling in baseball; this time it is San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano, who is accused of betting on his former team’s games, which violates Major League Baseball’s gambling policy.

Marcano, who made his major league debut in 2021, is currently under investigation for reportedly gambling on Pittsburgh Pirates games back in 2023 when he was on the team’s IL. The 24-year-old is currently on the Padres roster, but has not played a game rfor San Diego in 2024 due to a torn ACL.

MLB and the MLB Players Association have yet to comment on the allegations, but both sides are ironing out details about the potential punishment, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Marcano can be banned from baseball for life for his violation and The Wall Street Journal has reported that at least four other major league baseball players could be penalized for betting on MLB games while they were in the minor leagues.

All of this comes at the tail end of the investigation of Ippei Mizuhara, the interpreter who admitted to stealing millions from L.A. Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani, in order to pay off his illegal gambling debts.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: SD Padres’ Tucupita Marcano Could Face Lifetime Ban From Baseball Over Gambling Scandal first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: SD Padres’ Tucupita Marcano Could Face Lifetime Ban From Baseball Over Gambling Scandal appeared first on The Source.

SOURCE SPORTS: Negro Leagues Statistics Officially Integrated Into MLB Database; Josh Gibson Becomes New MLB Leader In Three Batting Categories

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The history of baseball has changed forever after today(May 29), when the the decision was made by Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred that statistics from the Negro Leagues will now be integrated into the MLB database, changing the record holders of several major categories, with Negro Leaguer Josh Gibson becoming the new all-time MLB leader in three major categories.

The records of more than 2,300 Negro League baseball players were incorporated into Major League Baseball’s database, creating major shifts in longstanding records of professional baseball. One of the most obvious, yet controversial changes caused by the database update is Josh Gibson becoming the new career and season batting average leader over Ty Cobb, with Cobb ending his career at a stellar .367, but Gibson all-time batting average edged Cobb with .372. Gibson also became the career leader in slugging percentage (.718) and OPS (1.177), moving ahead of Babe Ruth (.690 and 1.164).

“This initiative is focused on ensuring that future generations of fans have access to the statistics and milestones of all those who made the Negro Leagues possible,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Their accomplishments on the field will be a gateway to broader learning about this triumph in American history and the path that led to Jackie Robinson’s 1947 Dodger debut.”

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A baseball records “special committee” made a decision in 1969 to recognize six major leagues dating back to 1876: the National (which launched in 1876), the American (1901), the American Association (1882-1891), Union Association (1884), Players’ League (1890), and Federal League (1914-1915). It excluded the National Association (1871-75), citing an “erratic schedule and procedures.”

Major League Baseball announced during the pandemic (December 2020) that the organization would be “correcting a longtime oversight” and include the records of the Negro Leagues, dating back to its inception in 1920 by the “Father of Black baseball” Andrew “Rube” Foster.

John Thorn, MLB’s official historian, hold position as chairman to a 17-person committee that includes Negro Leagues experts and statisticians. Thorn estimated that 72% of Negro Leagues records from 1920-1948 are included, with additional research that might lead to future stat changes. Thorn said a four-homer game by Gibson in 1938 and a home run by Mays in August 1948 could not be included because complete game accounts have not been found.

An updated version of MLB’s database will become public before the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants play a tribute game to the Negro Leagues on June 20 at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

Gibson jumped to leader in season slugging percentage as well, dropping Barry Bonds .863 record in 2001 to fifth, trailing Mules Suttles .877 in 1926, Gibson’s .871 in 1943 and Chralie “Chino” Smith’s .870 in 1929. Bonds’ prior OPS record of 1.421 in 2004 dropped to third behind Gibson’s 1.474 in 1937 and 1.435 in 1943.

Willie Mays gained 10 hits from the 1948 Birmingham Black Barons, increasing his total to 3,293. Minnie Minoso surpassed 2,000 hits, credited with 150 for the New York Cubans from 1946-1948 that boosted his total to 2,113. Jackie Robinson, who broke MLB’s color barrier with the 1947 Dodgers, was credited with 49 hits with the 1945 Kansas City Monarchs that increased his total to 1,567.

For those on the mound, the great Leroy “Satchel” Paige gained 28 wins that raised his total to 125. For those in the baseball know, Paige pitched his last professional game in 1966, just two weeks shy of his 60th birthday.

Bob Kendrick, the President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which is in Kansas City, made a statement about the statistics update, saying, “Thanks to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred for his embracing of the importance of the Negro Leagues and an incredible team of historians and researchers who have dedicated themselves to pull this groundbreaking data together. This is a major milestone in baseball history.”

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Negro Leagues Statistics Officially Integrated Into MLB Database; Josh Gibson Becomes New MLB Leader In Three Batting Categories first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Negro Leagues Statistics Officially Integrated Into MLB Database; Josh Gibson Becomes New MLB Leader In Three Batting Categories appeared first on The Source.

SOURCE SPORTS: Former HBCU Baseballer Brandon Rembert Hopes To Inspire Others With Career In MLB

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Brandon Rembert, born and raised in Pensacola, FL, is a former standout college baseball player for HBCU Alcorn State University.  Located in Lorman, Mississippi, Alcorn State was the college home to noteworthy individuals such as the late former NFL quarterback Steve McNair and the late Academy Award-nominated actor Michal Clarke Duncan.  Brandon Rembert has hopes to humbly add his name to the list of notable Alcorn alumnus that have brought notoriety and honor to the university, but by way of a professional baseball career. However, his career won’t be on the baseball diamond as an athlete as some might assume, but actually on the other side of the industry.

Rembert has served the last 2 years as a Minor League Baseball Operations Assistant for the Pittsburgh Pirates Organization of Major League Baseball, working in the Coaching and Player Development department. His first year with the organization was spent in the Dominican Republic at the Pirates’ Dominican Academy and his second working with the Pirates’ low-A affiliate in Bradenton, FL. Brandon got his big break with the Pirates in February of 2022, after a college baseball career that was filled with twists and turns. Rembert previously yearned for a career in professional baseball as an athlete, but a series of events set him onto a different pathway into professional baseball. Rembert was fortunate enough to have a taste of athletic success, being named to the Pre-season All-Conference 1st Team in 2020 and 2021, while also being named a top 10 HBCU MLB Draft Prospect by Black College Nines.

Rembert had big dreams of playing at the next level and felt like those goals were finally within reach, that is until he suffered a significant injury in the pre-season of 2021, which sidelined him for most of his final baseball season. His dream of being in professional baseball was resurrected when the Pittsburgh Pirates came knocking at Rembert’s door in 2022 and offered him a job.

Now, finishing up his second season with the Pirates, Brandon Rembert hopes to be of encouragement to others that one’s route to their dream may not always look how they drew it up to be, but will work out if they stay the course. He also wants to serve as inspiration to other HBCU students and African Americans that want to work within the professional sports industry as well. Rembert wants his journey to be a spark plug for others to see that they are ultimately capable of achieving their dreams, whatever they may be. He wants individuals to know that people from any school, background, or ethnicity can see their dreams come to fruition if they put in the work. Rembert will now be transitioning into the Amateur Scouting Department as a Development Scout and hopes to continue his climb within professional baseball. He hopes to set the standard of what an HBCU grad can ultimately achieve.

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[WATCH] SOURCE SPORTS: MLB MVP Albert Pujols And Braves Star Ronald Acuña Jr. Sit Down For Hispanic Heritage Month

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Three-time National League MVP and MLB Network analyst Albert Pujols sits down with Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. to discuss in Spanish leaving a legacy for the next generation, being unapologetically true to yourself on the field and more.

MLB Network will celebrate the history of each country’s best players through special montages and highlight a special moment in history everyday from September 15 – October 15 featuring a Latino baseball figure. In addition to its extensive studio coverage, MLB Network will exclusively air the entire 2023 National League Division Series and National League Championship Series in Spanish this Postseason.

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The post [WATCH] SOURCE SPORTS: MLB MVP Albert Pujols And Braves Star Ronald Acuña Jr. Sit Down For Hispanic Heritage Month appeared first on The Source.

SOURCE SPORTS: 50 Cent Shows Off Custom World Series Ring Given to Him By The Houston Astros

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Hip Hop tycoon 50 Cent flaunted a nice, icy gift to his almost 30 million followers on Instagram that not many people other than actual baseball players get to wear; an authentic 2022 World Series ring courtesy of the Houston Astros.

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50 captioned the post, which featured several images of the diamond encrusted ring, “👀Bro why the ASTROS gave me a official world championship ring today. I didn’t know what to say, I was bugging out 😳what’s cooler then that🤷🏽‍♂️ H town love.” 

50 also received a custom made G-Unit glove from the team, which he also posted, captioning, “This is how I watch the ASTROS Game, but I done fvcked around threw the worst first pitch of the MLB LOL,” referencing his 2014 Citi Field viral first pitch for the Mets.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: 50 Cent Shows Off Custom World Series Ring Given to Him By The Houston Astros first appeared on The Source.

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