as Page 1596 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Heartland Little League, All Knotted Up
Midwestern Little League is effing intense, you guys....

O.C.P. Now Stands For 'Opening Crap Pitch'
RoboCop threw out the ceremonial first pitch in Detroit today, and it was only marginally better than his latest movie. His appearance was supposed to coincide with an unveiling of the long-dreamt-of statue everyone wants to see planted in old Detroit, but alas, that didn't really come off, either. ...

50 Cent Says His First Pitch Was Awful Because He Jerked It Too Much
Remember when 50 Cent unleashed this atrocity of a ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field? He finally got around to explaining himself during a Reddit AMA he did today. ...

How Josh Donaldson Became One Of The Best Players In Baseball
If I asked you to name the player who has accumulated the second-most WAR over the last calendar year, you'd probably flip a coin in your head to decide between Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera. Or maybe you'd get a little creative, and name Yasiel Puig or Andrew McCutchen. One guy who probably wouldn'...

Playing For Keeps
Ah, yet another sure shot from our pals over at Longform. Dig this excerpt from David Halberstam's book about MJ, Playing For Keeps:...

A Major League Pitcher's Guide To Baseball's Bullshit Unwritten Rules
I was feet-up in my basement playing PlayStation when I heard about Tim Kurkjian's piece over at ESPN on "The Unwritten Canon, Revealed," claiming to be an all-access pass to baseball's exhaustive list of unwritten rules. Finally, I think to myself, someone figured it all out. And who better than Ku...

Which Two States Combined Would Make The Best Power State?
Time for your letters:...

There Is An "I" In Team
Over at Good, dig into the latest from the most-talented Bethlehem Shoals:...

What Happens When A Soccer Team Finds Out It Has Super Ugly New Uniforms
Fucking with people is funny all on its own—like here with this sure-it's-an-ad-but-whatever video showing terrible new kits to the Ajax squad—but there's something extra that happens when you mess with the young, rich and powerful. You find out that, you know, you can't really fuck with professiona...

Justin Masterson Pitched An Immaculate Inning
During the fourth inning of last night's game between the Red Sox and Indians, Justin Masterson did something that is pretty damn incredible: he struck out the side on just nine pitches. It was as perfect an inning as a pitcher can possibly have....

This Is Not How You Motivate A Player
Bogdan Bogdanović, a Serbian shooting guard predicted to go in the second round of this year's NBA draft, ran afoul of his coach during a crucial game yesterday. But worry not: His coach insists it was an educational choke....

The Astros Just Changed The Game For Big Prospects In Small Markets
Today, the Astros signed prospect Jon Singleton to a big contract extension before he's played a game in the majors. It's a bit of baseball history, but more than that, it's an undeniably great move for Houston, and a look at the future of how small market teams will attempt to stay competitive....

The Birdman's Vengeful Ghost
Fine piece of reporting from Flinder Boyd:...

Japanese Pitcher Throws An Insane Eephus Pitch
This is Kazuhito Tadano, a pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of the Japanese Pacific League, uncorking what is likely the purest eephus pitch you will ever see. ...

We've Been Friends Long Enough You'll Understand
Head on over to SB Nation and check out Cee Angi's story on Vin Scully:...

Shaq: The Next Superstar
From our pal Charlie Pierce, check out this 1992 profile of Shaquille O'Neal:...

The Nationals And Rangers Both Challenged The Same Play
A little bit of baseball replay history, and an old-fashioned inexplicable Ron Washington decision, all on a simple stolen base attempt....

Prince At The French Open With A Scepter
Prince was at the French Open yesterday, and he brought a scepter. So here are a bunch of pictures of Prince, who was at the French Open with a scepter....

U.C. Irvine Harshes Baseball Superfan's Mellow
Keith Franklin, better known as "Superfan," is a 49-year-old die-hard fan of the U.C. Irvine Anteaters who's just been banned by the team he loves. Franklin, who sounds a little bit like the Ultimate Warrior of baseball fans, was a steady presence at 'eaters games until this February when he ran on ...