centerfield maz

June 24, 2007: A beautiful Sunday afternoon brought a crowd of over 50,000 to Shea for an inter-league game between the Mets & A’s. This weekend series marked the 1st time the A’s had returned to Shea since the 1973 World Series, 34 years ago. Willie Randolph’s Mets were in 1st place with a three game lead, and all was good as the Mets rode off with a 10-2 victory. John Maine got his 8th win of the year, going 7 innings allowing two runs on five hits & striking out six Athletics. His ERA was 2.87 with an 8-4 record as he made a good case for the All Star team. Guillermo Mota & Scott Schoeneweis pitched the 8th & 9th innings, not allowing any hits. Jose Reyes lead off the game in exciting fashion as he doubled to right and scored on Jack Custs throwing error. John Maine drove in the 2nd run with a sac fly. In the 3rd, Damion Easley hit a two run double scoring David Wright & Paul Loduca. Jose Reyes singled off Joe Kennedy in the 4th driving in Carlos Gomez, putting...

NY Giants broadcaster Russ Hodges made the legendary call for the baseballs most famous home run. Bobby Thomson’s “shot heard round the world” in the bottom of the 9th inning of the 1951 NL Playoff at the Polo Grounds. “Hartung down the line at third, not taking any chances. Lockman without too big of a lead at second, but he'll be running like the wind if Thomson hits one. Branca throws. There's a long drive. It's gonna be, I believe -- The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck of the left-field stands! The Giants win the pennant! And they're going crazy! They're going crazy! Oh-ho!” Legend has it, the only reason the broadcast exists is because a Dodger fan began recording the last inning to hear the Giants announcer Ho dges, "cry" after the last Giants lost. Hodges said the next day the fan called him and said “you have to have this tape” and mai...

These days as Mike Piazza awaits his induction into Cooperstown, he is serving as an Ambassador to baseball, promoting the game in Italy. Piazza being of Italian heritage played on the 2006 Italian National Team in the World Baseball Classic. This past March he was their hitting instructor. Recently he was holding clinics in Tuscany o n hitting. Also coaching the players as they prepare for competition in The European Champion Cup & the World Baseball Cup. Italy has improved greatly in world baseball competition, most notably their victory over the heavily favored Team Canada in the WBC. Alexi Maestri is the first Italian player to sign with an MLB club, the Cubs. He currently pitches for the Tennessee Smokies but suffered a huge set back as a shoulder injury shut him down for the rest of the year. Alex Liddi is one of the top prospects in the Mariners system, a thi rd baseman who is only 18 years old. He is expected to get up to the major league level in 2012. Alot of hope on Euop...