Multiple sources across the web are reporting that former New York Yankees, Montreal Expos, and Texas Rangers pitcher Hideki Irabu was found hung in an apparent suicide earlier today. He was 42. Irabu who was originally purchased by the Padres from the Chiba Lotte Mariners of Japan’s Pacific Coast League refused sign with San Diego and was traded to the New York Yankees where he began his big league career in 1997. Irabu underachieved for most of his career in the states with his best year coming in 1998 when he went 13-9 with a 4.06 ERA for the Yankees. He finished his career going 5-15 over three seasons with the Expos and Rangers before going back to Japan to finish out his career. In 2009 Irabu came back to the states signing with the Long Beach Armada of the Golden League. You can watch his welcoming press conference below. Baseball card collectors will remember the 1997 Hideki Irabu Bowman Chrome Rookie being one of the most sought after rookie cards of the 1990’s when Irabu first hit the major leagues.
Ask any professional baseball player and they will tell you they dream of playing in the Major Leagues one day. For the players in the Independent Pecos League in Southern New Mexico, what the players go through in pursuit of those dreams is pretty amazing. On perhaps the furthest fringes of professional baseball players in the Pecos League deal with small crowds, $100 a week, and even tarantula delays. Amazing read on the sacrifices independent league players make in pursuit of their dreams.
Jason Bristol, a must follow on twitter @JasonBristol, sits down with former Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect & Miami Hurricanes quarterback Kenny Kelly who talks about his full on crash into a concrete wall during an Independent Atlantic League game against the York Revolution. The crash seen in the video below is incredibly violent. Kelly was taken by ambulance from the field following the collision. Kelly, who plays for the Road Warriors sits down with Bristol and talks about that night, his comeback from the injury, and being thankful to not be more seriously hurt.
This is something straight out of the movie Major League. Qumar Zaman, who was the Lake County Fielders radio man, quits on air during a broadcast, and then cuts a WWE like promo against the team ownership. This one will go down as a YouTube classic for years to come. Listen to the broadcast below, and then read this Q&A with Zaman done in the aftermath of his departure by the folks at HallOfVeryGood.com
A must read piece by Amy Brittain of the New Jersey Star Ledger provides an in-depth look at the storied Newark Bears independent league franchise that is trying to be taken off of life support by it’s new owners Doug Spiel and Danielle Dronet who hope to turn the franchise and their own family lives into a reality show. The article also looks into the behind the scenes turmoil the organization has faced in the last couple of years which looks like a reality show in and of itself. Like I said it is a must read piece.
Came across this outstanding comedy piece by National Post columnist Bruce Arthur. He takes Jose Canseco’s recent tweets, couples it with his stint as a player/manager for the Yuma Scorpions and creates a sitcom script. Well worth the read.
Pitcher Kris Honel has gone on quite the journey since being selected as the 16th overall pick in the 2001 draft by his hometown Chicago White Sox. The 27 year old who is still hanging on in the Independent Golden League talks in depth about the long winding road his career has taken including his battle back from Tommy John surgery, his brief retirement, and his current journey through the Indy Leagues.
The Herald News in Chicago recently sent sports writer Tim O’Brien to join the Joliet Slammers independent league ballclub for a day. In this story, O’Brian chronicles joining the Slammers for batting practice, his clubhouse experience, and watching the game from the dugout.