Reggie Jackson Passes Mickey Mantle

On May 14, 1986, Reggie Jackson hit career home run number 537, passing Mickey Mantle into sixth place all time in most career home runs.

Reggie Jackson with the California Angels.

Jackson would finish his career with a .262 batting average, 2,584 hits and 1,702 RBI’s to go along with his 563 career home runs.

Jackson’s career included several other special moments including winning five World Series Championships, three with the Oakland Athletics including three consecutive from 1972-1974 and two more with the Yankees in 1977 and 1978.

Reggie Jackson with the New York Yankees.

He was named the World Series MVP in 1973 and 1977.

Jackson was named the 1973 American League MVP, and in 1977 he earned the Babe Ruth award, for the most home runs hit in all of baseball.

Jackson also earned two Silver Slugger awards in 1980 and 1982.  He was also a 14-time All-Star in his 21-year career.

Reggie Jackson with the Oakland A's.

In 1993 Reggie "Mr. October" Jackson was voted into Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame with 93.6 percent of the vote. It was the first time he appeared on the ballot. 

The Oakland Athletics have retired Jackson's no. 9 jersey and the Yankees did the same with his no. 44 jersey.

San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds Sets MLB Record

On May 4, 2002, Barry Bonds hits his 400th home run as a San Francisco Giant, leading his team to a 3-0 win over Cincinnati. Bonds is the first player to hit 400 homers for one team and 100 with another (Pittsburgh Pirates). Bonds would finish his career as Major League Baseball's All-Time home run leader with 762 home runs.

Barry Bonds hitting his 400th home run as a San Francisco Giant.

 It took Bonds 21 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants to Break Aaron’s record of 756 home runs, which stood for 33 years. Bonds would finish his career and is still the all-time leader in MLB history for most career home runs. Part of Bonds’ success came from the fact that he is the All-Time leader with consecutive seasons of 30 or more home runs, in which he has 13, from 1992-2004.

Bonds also leads the MLB in home runs in a single season with 73, career walks with 2,558 and career intentional walks with 688.

Bonds was also a seven time National League MVP. His seven MVP awards are four more than the next player. 

In the American League, former Yankee slugger Joe DiMaggio earned three MVP’s. Two of DiMaggio’s teammates also earned three MVP’s, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle. Current Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez also has three MVP’s.

In the National League, St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial earned three MVP awards in his career. Former Brooklyn Dodger Roy Campanella earned three MVP’s. Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt and another former Cardinal in Albert Pujols also earned three MVP awards.

On top of being on of the most decorated hitters of all time, Bonds also was an outstanding outfielder in his younger years as he racked up eight Gold Glove awards from 1990-1998. As of 2009, Bonds was the Left Fielder to win a Gold Glove in the National League.

He is also tied with his father Bobby for the most seasons of 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases with five. Bonds would continue his terror on the base paths throughout his career and managed to become the only member of the 400/400 club, hitting over 400 home runs and stealing over 400 bags. He would then further himself from the rest of baseball when he entered the 500/500 club in 2004 when he swiped his 500^th stolen base.

Bonds’ was also just a season shy from joining the elusive 3,000 hit club, as he finished his career with 2,935 hits.

Bonds’ stats indicate he should have been a first ballot Hall of Famer into Cooperstown, however, with the steroid issues and Balco perjury scandals it is unlikely that Bonds will be nominated into Cooperstown ever

New York Yankees Mickey Mantle Retires

On March 1, 1969, New York Yankee great, Mickey Mantle announces his retirement from baseball. Mantle was the greatest sluggers in Major League history.

New York Yankees outfielder Mickey Mantle.

Mantle retired with 536 home runs, the third most all time behind Babe Ruth and Willie Mays at the time of his retirement, now Mantle is 16^th, behind Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Ruth, Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Jim Thome, Frank Robinson, Mark McGwire, Harmon Killebrew, Rafael Palmiero, Reggie Jackson, Manny Ramirez and Mike Schmidt.

Mantle also earned three MVP awards while playing and won the AL Triple Crown in 1956, a season in which he batted .353 with 52 home runs and 130 RBIs.

Mantle still holds the record for most home runs in the World Series with 18, most RBIs with 40, most runs with 42, walks with 43, extra-base hits with 26 and total bases with 123.

Mantle also is the career leader in walk-off home runs with a combined 13 in his career, 12 in regular season and one in the post-season play.

Berra Wins MVP

On Nov. 8, 1951, Yogi Berra of the New York Yankees picked up his first MVP award. 

Berra hit .294 that season and hit 27 home runs. Berra was an All-Star catcher 18 times, every year from 1948 through 1962. 

There were two All-Star games in 1959, 1960, and 1961, in which Berra was a selected to be a part of both.

He would also in the MVP award in 1954 and 1955.

His three MVP awards are tied second All-Time with Philadelphia Athletics great Jimmie Foxx, St. Louis Cardinals great Stan Musial, former New York Yankee teammate and Martinez native Joe DiMaggio, another former teammate and Yankee great Mickey Mantle, Brooklyn Dodgers catcher great Roy Campanella, former Philadelphia Phillies great Mike Schmidt, former St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols and current New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez. 

The three MVP awards won by Berra are only behind Barry Bonds, who has seven, and won four straight from 2001 to 2004.

Berra was part of the Yankees from 1946 to 1963 as a player; in 1963 he was a player and coach for the Bronx Bombers. In 1964 he served his first term as manager for the team. 

After managing the team for one year he would jump back into coaching from 1976 to 1983. He would take his second stint as manager in 1984 through 1985. 

During his time with the Yankees, Berra helped the elder New York franchise to 13 World Championships as a player, manager and coach in 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1977 and 1978.

Berra would also play, coach and manager for the other New York team, the Mets. He would help the New York “Miracle” Mets to a World Series title in 1969.

Berra would have his no. 8 jersey retired by the Yankees on July 22, 1972 and would be inducted into Cooperstown Baseballs Hall of Fame in 1972, with 85.61 percent of the vote. It was the first time he was on the ballot.

Since his time from baseball, Berra has written several books including:

Yogi: It Ain't Over (1989). The Yogi Book: 'I Really Didn't Say Everything I Said' (1998). When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It! Inspiration and Wisdom from One of Baseball's Greatest Heroes (2001). What Time Is It? You Mean Now?: Advice for Life from the Zennest Master of Them All (2002). Ten Rings: My Championship Seasons (2003). Let's Go, Yankees! (2006). You Can Observe a Lot by Watching (2011).

Ford Breaks A Yankee Record

On Oct. 3, 1965 New York Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford notches win 232 to become the Yankees winningest pitcher in franchise history, surpassing Red Ruffing who had 231 wins in his career with the Yankees.

Ford would end his career with 236 wins, which is still the highest total for any pitcher in franchise history. Current Yankee Andy Pettite has 211 wins sporting the classic pin stripe uniform, which is good enough for third all-time in franchise history, behind only Ford and Ruffing.

Ford had a great career which lasted 16-seasons and saw him with the Yankees from start to finish.
He began his Major League Baseball career on July 1, 1950, with the Yankees and made a spectacular debut, winning his first nine decisions before losing a game in relief. Ford received a handful of lower-ballot Most Valuable Player votes despite throwing just 112 innings, and was voted the AL Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News. (Walt Dropo was the Rookie of Year choice of the BBWAA.)

During the Korean War, in 1951 and 1952 Ford served in the Army. He rejoined the Yankees for the 1953 season, and the Yankee "Big Three" pitching staff became a "Big Four," as Ford joined Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi and Eddie Lopat.

Eventually Ford went from the No. 4 pitcher on a great staff to the universally acclaimed No. 1 pitcher of the Yankees. He became known as the "Chairman of the Board" for his ability to remain calm and in command during high-pressure situations. He was also known as "Slick," a nickname given to him, Billy Martin and Mickey Mantle by manager Casey Stengel, who called them Whiskey Slicks.

Ford would rack up plenty of awards in his career including being named an All-Star 10-times, with four consecutive appearances from 1958-1961. He was a Cy Young Award winner in 1961, as well the Babe Ruth Award Winner, and World Series MVP in part of the six World Series titles Ford won as a member of the Yankees.

Ford would finish his career with 498 games under his belt, with 438 starts, totaling 236 wins and 106 losses with 10 saves, with a 2.75 lifetime ERA in 3,170.1 innings pitched. Ford totaled 1,956 strikeouts, while only allowing 1,086 walks, for an almost two-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Over his career Ford also threw an amazing 156 complete games, with 45 shutouts.

Ford led the league in wins three times, with his highest single season total of wins coming in 1961 with 25. He also led the league in games started and innings pitched twice, in 1961 and 1963. With his highest single season totals of his career coming in 1961 for both with 39 and 283 respectively. Ford also led the league in shutouts twice, with his highest single season total of seven coming in 1958. Ford led the league in complete games once, with his highest single season total coming in 1955 and 1956, although in 1956 he did not lead the league in complete games.

The Yankees retired Ford’s iconic No. 16 jersey on Aug. 3, 1974. That same year he was inducted into the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame with 77.81 percent of the vote on the second ballot on which he appeared.