In a blistering new memoir titled &#8220;Moments,&#8221; former Oakland Athletics owner Lew Wolff has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7217540/2026/04/22/athletics-owner-lew-wolff-giants-bay-area-move/">broken his silence</a> on the franchise’s painful departure from the Bay Area. The 90-year-old real estate developer, who served as the team’s public face from 2005 to 2015, points the finger directly at the San Francisco Giants, saying the team’s move is &#8220;100 percent due to the nasty, shameful, and continuing opposition of the Giants.”
Wolff’s central thesis is that the Athletics’ relocation—currently in a transitional phase in Sacramento before a planned move to Las Vegas in 2028—was caused by the Giants&#8217; refusal to relinquish territorial rights to Santa Clara County. Wolff argues that the Giants’ iron grip on San Jose, the Bay Area’s most populous city, stripped the A’s of the leverage needed to secure a viable future in Northern California.
The roots of the animosity date back to 1990, when the A’s—then under the benevolent ownership of the Haas family—granted the Giants the rights to Santa Clara County to help them avoid a move out of state. Wolff contends these rights were conditional on the Giants actually moving to San Jose. When the Giants instead built Oracle Park in San Francisco, Wolff argues the territory should have reverted to shared status.
“The Giants’ position really, really messed us up in trying to even negotiate with Oakland,” Wolff told The Athletic. He described the subsequent MLB blue-ribbon panel, which spent years studying the issue without resolution, as a “cruel joke,” adding, “What I did not realize was that the amazing individuals comprising MLB … attract, employ or have around deceitful and dangerous sycophants. Not all, but some. And these sycophants assassinated the A’s!”
Giants chairman Greg Johnson has countered these claims, stating his responsibility is to protect his organization&#8217;s strength, noting that San Jose represents a massive portion of the Giants&#8217; fan base and revenue.
The current acrimony is the latest chapter in the history of one of baseball’s most nomadic yet storied franchises. Founded in 1901 as a charter member of the American League in Philadelphia, the Athletics were the original AL dynasty. Under legendary manager Connie Mack, who led the team for 50 years, the &#8220;A’s&#8221; won five World Series titles and adopted the &#8220;White Elephant&#8221; as a defiant logo after Giants manager John McGraw dismissed them as a &#8220;useless possession.&#8221;
In 1955, the team moved to Kansas City, an era largely remembered for owner Charlie Finley’s eccentric innovations—such as Kelly Green uniforms and a mule mascot—and a frustrating reputation as a &#8220;farm team&#8221; for the New York Yankees.
The 1968 move to Oakland sparked a modern renaissance. The &#8220;Swingin&#8217; A&#8217;s&#8221; of the 1970s won three consecutive World Series, followed by the &#8220;Bash Brothers&#8221; era of the late 80s and the &#8220;Moneyball&#8221; revolution of the early 2000s.
Yet despite winning nine World Series titles across three cities—trailing only the Yankees and Cardinals—the franchise has been plagued by stadium instability for decades.
Wolff’s memoir serves as a defense of his partner and current owner John Fisher, who has faced intense vilification from the Oakland faithful. While fans like Oakland 68’s president Jorge Leon blame ownership for &#8220;constant rebuilds&#8221; and a lack of investment, Wolff insists that &#8220;apathy&#8221; from local government and the Giants&#8217; &#8220;nasty opposition&#8221; left the club with no choice but to leave.
As the A&#8217;s play out their temporary residency in Sacramento, the wounds in Oakland remain deep. For a franchise born in Philadelphia and forged in the East Bay, the move to the desert represents the end of a 57-year Northern California legacy—one that Wolff insists was sabotaged by the neighbors across the bridge.

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‘SHAMEFUL’: Former A’s Owner Blasts Giants For Departure From Bay Area In New Memoir

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Oakland Athletics

San Francisco Giants

Sports

U.S.

It might be a coincidence — or it might not.
The New York Mets are on an 11 game skid since New York mayor Zohran Mamdani hugged the team’s mascot.
An apology seems to be in order.
Forget the Red Sox&#8217; long-dead &#8220;Curse of the Bambino&#8221;—New York has a new, much more bureaucratically efficient disaster: The Mamdani Curse. On April 9, Mayor Zohran Mamdani stepped onto the field and wrapped his arms around Mrs. Met. Since that cold-blooded act of political affection, the Mets have gone 0-11. It’s as if the Mayor’s touch carried the same administrative efficiency he brings to City Hall, successfully grinding a <a href="https://www.wfmd.com/2026/04/18/new-york-mets-500-million-team-has-lost-10-games-in-a-row-after-zohran-mamdani-meeting/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">$507 million engine of hope</a> into a stationary pile of expensive scrap metal.
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The New York Mets haven&#8217;t won a game since Mr &amp; Mrs Met hugged Zohran Mamdani <a href="https://t.co/VI0zqnoHRt">pic.twitter.com/VI0zqnoHRt</a>
— Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) <a href="https://twitter.com/thehoffather/status/2044420722240729143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Statistically, Mamdani is the most effective defensive player in Major League Baseball history. Since he made contact with the mascot, the Mets have scored a pathetic 1.8 runs per game. He has managed to do what no opposing pitcher could: he neutralized Francisco Lindor, turned Bo Bichette’s bat into a decorative toothpick, and sent the team’s playoff odds off a cliff, plummeting from a confident 89% to an almost certainly too hopefuly 47%.
While the mayor might be used to managing deficits, this 11-game skid is a masterclass in bankruptcy. It takes a special kind of political talent to walk into a stadium and accidentally lobby for a 100% tax on hits, runs, and basic competence. Watching the Mets right now is like watching a city council meeting on a Tuesday morning: long, painful, and ending with everyone wondering where all the money went.
Even when the team tries to fight back, the &#8220;Mamdani Curse&#8221; lingers like a bad zoning law. Against the Cubs, the Mets <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/04/19/sports/mets-drop-11th-straight-in-nightmare-extra-inning-loss-to-cubs/">managed to go</a> 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. They aren&#8217;t just losing; they are failing with the kind of bureaucratic precision that suggests they’ve been ordered to stay in last place by the mayor&#8217;s office.
At this point, an apology may not be enough. For the sake of the city, the mayor needs to be banned from within 500 feet of Citi Field, and Mrs. Met needs to be dipped in holy water.
If Mamdani decides to hug the Statue of Liberty next, New Yorkers should expect the torch to go out and the harbor to freeze over by sunset.
The Mets have 27 outs to work with every game, and thanks to the mayor, they are treating every single one of them like a campaign promise: discarded, forgotten, and leaving the public in tears.

Arizona Diamondbacks v New York Mets

One Moment… Then Disaster. See The Streak Everyone’s Talking About

Baseball

New York

New York Mets

Zohran Mamdani

A truly heartwarming moment at a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game reminded Americans why baseball has always been America’s game, no matter the numbers.
Jake Mangum of the Pirates saw a young girl in the outfield bleachers wearing his jersey, and tossed the ball into the upper deck where her older brother caught it with his mitt. The young boy then turned and handed it to his sister, hugging her as he did so. Their father, behind them, was as excited as they were.
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Jake Mangum threw this baseball to a young fan &#8230;
The moment that unfolded after will melt your heart 🥹❤️ <a href="https://t.co/ppJSZz3moj">pic.twitter.com/ppJSZz3moj</a>
&mdash; MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/2045953764792701310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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My neice and nephew!!! And he DID make their day!!
&mdash; betsyburgh (@betsy_burgh) <a href="https://twitter.com/betsy_burgh/status/2045968583818195083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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I can confirm!!!! Their dad…..my brother!
&mdash; betsyburgh (@betsy_burgh) <a href="https://twitter.com/betsy_burgh/status/2046029558730621339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
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After the game, an interviewer asked Mangum, “You also created a core memory for a brother-sister duo, it looked like, in the stands, throwing them a ball. As a big brother yourself, what was that moment like?”
“It was cool. Watching the dad’s reaction to their kids catching the ball was really cool. That’s what it’s all about,” he answered.
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Jake creating core memories at the ballpark. 🥹 <a href="https://t.co/8sXwRmfKcB">pic.twitter.com/8sXwRmfKcB</a>
&mdash; Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pirates/status/2045963773706404319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Mangum’s family also has a love and excitement about baseball; his beloved grandparents saved the tickets from his first high school game, on which they wrote, &#8220;On the way to the big league.” His mother framed them and saved them for him.
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When Jake Mangum played his first high school game, his grandparents saved their tickets &amp; wrote &quot;On the way to the big league&quot; on them ✏️🎟️
His mom was able to frame and gift them to Jake following his debut: &quot;If anyone knows my mom, she keeps a lot of stuff.&quot; 😆🥹… <a href="https://t.co/sjUyzmR1I3">pic.twitter.com/sjUyzmR1I3</a>
&mdash; SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNPittsburgh/status/2043809034164113795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
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As New York University president John Sexton wrote in his best-selling book, “Baseball As A Road To God,” “In an age of gigabytes and picoseconds, we tend to live too quickly and to miss much that we might see. Baseball as it turns out, can help us develop the capacity to see through to another, scared space.”
“I don&#8217;t have to tell you that the one constant through all the years has been baseball,” W.P. Kinsella wrote in “Shoeless Joe,” later filmed as &#8220;Field of Dreams.&#8221; “America has been erased like a blackboard, only to be rebuilt and then erased again. But baseball has marked time while America has rolled by like a procession of steamrollers.”
Famed Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda noted, “There are only two seasons—winter and baseball. And when baseball comes, families come together.”
The Chicago Cubs&#8217; beloved Hall-of-Famer Ernie Banks enthused, “The only thing better than baseball is sharing it with someone you love.”
&#8220;Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too,” Yankees legend Yogi Berra declared.
As legendary Hall-of-Famer Rogers Hornsby noted, &#8220;People ask me what I do in winter when there&#8217;s no baseball. I&#8217;ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.&#8221;

MLB: APR 08 Padres at Pirates

WATCH: Heartwarming Moment With Pirates Player And Kids Reminds Us Baseball Is Still America’s Game

family

The baseball world is reeling from the sudden loss of a true cornerstone. Garret Anderson, the left-handed maestro of the Anaheim outfield whose quiet dignity and lethal bat defined the most successful era in Angels history, passed away Friday at the age of 53. The club confirmed the news, plunging the organization and its fanbase into a state of mourning for a man whose professionalism was as consistent as his line-drive swing.
&#8220;The Angels organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” Angels owner Arte Moreno <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/garret-anderson-dies">stated</a>. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship.&#8221;
To honor their all-time leader in nearly every major offensive category, the Angels will wear a memorial patch for the remainder of the season.
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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Angels Hall of Famer Garret Anderson. 
Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to… <a href="https://t.co/RyF5qa7OPE">pic.twitter.com/RyF5qa7OPE</a>
&mdash; Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) <a href="https://twitter.com/Angels/status/2045169256971870685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Anderson’s journey from a fourth-round pick out of Granada Hills Kennedy High in 1990 to a franchise deity was marked by a &#8220;calmness&#8221; that bordered on the supernatural. While other stars craved the spotlight, Anderson was content to &#8220;just hit.&#8221;
And the sheer volume of that hitting remains staggering. By the time he retired in 2011, he had amassed 2,529 career hits and 1,365 RBIs over 17 seasons. Within the Angels organization alone, he remains the undisputed king of longevity and production, holding franchise records for games played (2,013), at-bats (7,989), runs scored (1,024), extra-base hits (796), and total bases (3,743).
He first burst onto the scene in 1995, finishing as the AL Rookie of the Year runner-up after slashing .321/.352/.505. Early in his career, teammates compared his fluid mobility to Ken Griffey Jr., though Anderson characteristically brushed off the praise, preferring to focus on the blue-collar aspects of the game. He would go on to record seven seasons with a batting average over .300, finishing his career with a lifetime .293 mark.
His apex came in the early 2000s when he evolved into one of the premier doubles hitters in the history of the American League. In 2002, he led the Major Leagues with 56 doubles, and he followed that up in 2003 by leading the AL again with 49. During that legendary 2003 campaign, he achieved a rare feat, joining Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. as the only players to win the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game MVP in the same season.
Yet, for all the regular-season accolades — including a historic 10-RBI game against the Yankees in 2007 where he became one of only 16 players in MLB history to reach that plateau — Anderson’s legacy is forever tethered to Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. After facing minor criticism for a defensive lapse earlier in the series, Anderson silenced the detractors when the stakes were highest. With the bases loaded in the third inning, he lined a three-run double into the right-field corner. Those three runs provided the margin in a 4-1 victory, delivering the Angels their only World Series title to date.
Anderson finished his career with 287 home runs and 489 doubles in an Angels uniform, totals that sit second and first in club history, respectively. Upon his induction into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2016, he reflected on a career he viewed as a &#8220;privilege.&#8221; He remained a private man, often retreating to the quiet company of his family — his wife Teresa and their three children — while others chased the raucous celebrations of fame.
Today, that quiet has turned into a profound silence across the Big A, as fans remember the man who didn&#8217;t need to shout to be a giant.
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Garret Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels and finished as one of the all-time greats in franchise history, has died at the age of 53.

The ‘Stoic Icon’ Of Anaheim: Angels Legend Garret Anderson Passes Away At 53

Death

The smell of cracker jacks fills the air and the sound of bats cracking can be heard all across the United States, because it is Opening Day for America&#8217;s Pastime. Major League Baseball is kicking off the season in patriotic fashion with a league-wide campaign to celebrate 250 years of the United States.
All season, the Major League Baseball will recognize this milestone by accumulating 250,000 collective volunteer hours in 2026 across all 30 MLB clubs and other extensions of the league as part of the &#8220;MLB Together&#8221; initiative.
MLB is a partner of America250, the official nonpartisan organization established by Congress to lead the nation’s 250th anniversary commemoration.
&#8220;MLB Together represents the very best of what our sport means to our fans and our communities,&#8221; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. &#8220;Baseball’s ability to bring people together through common values and causes has placed the game in a unique stature within our culture. We look forward to working with our Clubs, partners, and fans in making meaningful changes in our society through the MLB Together platform.&#8221;
250,000 hours is a challenge, but former players got a start earlier in March by participating in a beach cleanup in Miami ahead of the World Baseball Classic final. Volunteers joined players — including Michael Bourn and Scott Kazmir — removed debris and trash from the shoreline of Miami Beach.
It&#8217;s fitting that baseball is playing a role in celebrating America&#8217;s 250th birthday since the sport has been part of the nation&#8217;s culture since the 1800s. In addition to logging the 250,000 volunteer hours across the league, teams will display a &#8220;USA 250&#8221; on their jerseys through the July 4th games — and during the MLB All-Star Game, which takes place in America&#8217;s birthplace, Philadelphia.
The midsummer event returns to Philly, where the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago. This year&#8217;s game is the first time Citizens Bank Park will host the event since opening in 2004. The game has been held in Philadelphia four times in the past, one of which was held at Veterans Stadium for the nation&#8217;s Bicentennial in 1976.
Opening Day 2026 features some powerhouse pitching matchups with Pirates ace Paul Skenes facing off against Mets slinger Freddy Peralta.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-proudest-ive-ever-been-wearing-a-jersey-is-the-usa-jersey-paul-skenes-is-americas-ace">&#8216;The Proudest I’ve Ever Been Wearing A Jersey Is The USA Jersey&#8217;: Paul Skenes Is America’s Ace</a>
Other Thursday games to watch include the World Champion Dodgers beginning their journey toward a three-peat when they take on the Diamondbacks. The Mariners and Guardians compete in a battle of the 2025 division winners in Seattle.
The 162-game season leaves little time for players to have free time, but the MLB&#8217;s commitment to celebrating America will be felt every time players and coaches log their volunteer hours to hit the overall volunteer goal.
Fans can get involved too by <a href="https://www.mlb.com/mlb-together/america-250">signing up</a> to volunteer alongside their favorite players.

Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Opening Day 2026 Kicks Off A Patriotic Season For America’s Pastime

America250

News

Team USA is heading to the finals of the World Baseball Classic after a gritty win over a stacked Dominican Republic squad Sunday, and Paul Skenes couldn&#8217;t be happier leading the charge for his country in what he calls his &#8220;proudest&#8221; moment.
&#8220;The proudest I’ve ever been wearing a jersey is the USA jersey,&#8221; Skenes told <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/paul-skenes-talks-representing-usa-rare-interview-a-rod-its-different-level">Alex Rodriguez</a> in a sit-down interview ahead of the win over the DR. &#8220;You’re playing for a whole lot more. It’s great to play for a city, great to play for Pittsburgh in the regular season, but playing for your country, it’s a different level.&#8221;
Skenes is arguably a generational baseball talent, and while he shines on the diamond, he&#8217;s never shied away from his love of country.
The Pittsburgh Pirates ace once thought he would be flying fighter jets in the United States Air Force. The Cy Young winner, an award for the best MLB pitcher, was fresh out of high school when he took an oath to put his life on the line for our country. Even after Skenes was the overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the MLB Rookie of the Year, and already a Cy Young award winner, he says taking that military oath is still &#8220;one of the highlights&#8221; of his life.
&#8220;I got the chills reciting that pledge just from how proud I am of this country,&#8221; Skenes penned in a letter published by <a href="https://www.theplayerstribune.com/paul-skenes-mlb-baseball-pittsburgh-pirates-wbc-usa">The Players&#8217; Tribune</a> ahead of the international baseball tournament. &#8220;I’m actually getting chills right now remembering back to that time. Because when you love something so much that you’re willing to lay down your life for it? It’s pretty meaningful stuff.&#8221;
He played the first two years of his college career at the Air Force Academy before transferring to LSU, where he won a National Championship. But during his time wearing both an Air Force serviceman uniform and baseball uniform, Skenes said he developed the skills that have made him into the pitcher and person he is today.
&#8220;I truly believe that regardless of what you’re doing, if you want to accomplish great things and be the best version of yourself, you’re going to have to work extremely hard — be disciplined, focused,&#8221; Skenes said. &#8220;I’m pretty sure that if I hadn’t put in that time at the Academy, I probably would&#8217;ve spent a lot more time in the minors than I did. So I’m incredibly grateful.&#8221;
His military background is why playing on Team USA is such an honor.
&#8220;I was never deployed myself, but I know how much pride those individuals take in wearing that uniform with your name on the right side of your chest and the U.S. Air Force or Army lettering on the left side … because that’s what you put over your heart,&#8221; Skenes said, adding that the players putting on the red, white, and blue aren&#8217;t doing it for the fame or money, but to simply represent their country.
&#8220;Our team, we’re not cadets or anything like that. (These hairstyles would never fly). But everyone on this team … we all understand that when you put on those colors, you’re not just playing baseball, you’re representing something deeper,&#8221; Skenes said. &#8220;When you’re watching us in this tournament, we hope you feel that too.&#8221;
Skenes set the all-time record for most strikeouts at seven by a Team USA pitcher at the World Baseball Classic in his first appearance in the tourney. In the biggest test of the WBC, Skenes went 4.1 innings and gave up one run, a first-inning homer to Junior Caminero. Skenes got two strikeouts in the win over the previously undefeated Team DR filled with MLB all-stars including Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Skenes, aside from his Players&#8217; Tribune letter, is a man of few words — still after Sunday&#8217;s win, Skenes explained the significance of the semi-final victory, calling the Team DR lineup &#8220;the toughest lineup&#8221; he&#8217;s ever faced.
Now Team USA awaits the winner of Monday&#8217;s semifinal between Venezuela and Italy before taking the field one last time on Tuesday in the WBC Final.
Team USA entered the tournament as the favorites to bring home the hardware, and entering the finals, Skenes&#8217; mindset isn&#8217;t focused on adding another trophy to his case — but winning to honor the real heroes of the United States.
&#8220;Our servicemen and women don’t have the luxury of losing, it’s not really an option for them,&#8221; Skenes said. &#8220;We’re not going to war, but [this] is what we do in America: we fight and we win. That’s our responsibility.&#8221;

Credit: Daily Wire Staff/Kelly Gavin/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images

‘The Proudest I’ve Ever Been Wearing A Jersey Is The USA Jersey’: Paul Skenes Is America’s Ace

Team USA

U.S. Military

World Baseball Classic

Former MLB All-Star and longtime New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira has won the Republican primary in Texas’ 21st Congressional District, vaulting from the batter&#8217;s box to the ballot box and setting up one of the cycle’s most interesting stories.
Teixeira, who spent five seasons with the Texas Rangers before becoming a central piece of the Yankees’ last World Series championship run 16 years ago, leaned heavily into his biography throughout the primary. Campaigning as a political outsider with executive experience from his post-playing business ventures, he emphasized fiscal discipline, border security, and what he described as a need to restore competitive accountability to Washington.
On <a href="https://teixeiraforcongress.com/issues/">policy</a>, Teixeira has aligned himself with mainstream Republican priorities. He has called for extending the Trump-era tax cuts, reducing federal spending, and reining in what he characterizes as regulatory overreach on small businesses. 
In a district that stretches from parts of Austin to the Hill Country and into San Antonio’s northern suburbs, he has also made border enforcement a central plank, backing increased funding for border patrol personnel and physical barriers, and <a href="https://x.com/teixeiramark25/status/2009364216604655769">saying</a> “I stand with ICE” after the shooting of anti-ICE activist Renee Good. 
Teixeira has struck a familiar tone on energy, supporting expanded domestic oil and gas production, while criticizing the Biden administration. On social issues, he has framed himself as a cultural conservative, backing parental rights in education and restrictions on late-term abortion, positions that helped consolidate GOP primary voters.
The seat was vacated by Chip Roy, who decided to run for Texas Attorney General in 2026.
He will face the Democratic nominee Kristin Hook, who was a policy fellow for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in November. Hook was the Democratic nominee in 2024 as well, before <a href="https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/results/texas/us-house-district-21">losing </a>to the incumbent Roy by 25 points. 
The 21st District was once safely Republican but has trended closer amid demographic shifts and suburban realignment. While Republicans retain a structural advantage, Democrats have invested heavily here in past cycles, and national groups are expected to monitor the race closely.
Teixeira enters the general election with strong name recognition, a useful commodity for a first-time candidate, and the ability to self-fund or tap into national donor networks cultivated during his playing career in New York and Texas. That celebrity factor could cut both ways: it energizes casual voters but invites scrutiny about policy depth and political durability. 
Still, if his primary victory is any indication, Republican voters are willing to give the former slugger a shot at November glory for the first time in many years.

Former Yankees Star Mark Teixeira Steps Up To The Plate And Wins GOP Primary

Congress

Mark Teixeira

New York Yankees

Texas

Darryl Strawberry’s life has long read like a Major League Baseball box score gone off the rails — stunning highs, crushing lows, and a late-inning redemption that feels like it was scripted for the silver screen. On one hand, there’s the young phenom who burst onto the scene in 1983, the National League Rookie of the Year, whose bat and charisma made him an eight-time All-Star and a cornerstone of the New York Mets’ power-hitting lineup. Over 17 seasons, Strawberry amassed 335 home runs, more than 1,000 RBI, and 221 stolen bases. For fans, he was the epitome of the Mets’ magic. Off the field, however, life had other plans.
Strawberry’s post-baseball years were a litany of troubles. In 1995, he pleaded guilty to a felony count of tax evasion, failing to report $350,000 in income from memorabilia, personal appearances, and autographs. Legal and financial repercussions followed. In 1998, colon cancer struck, requiring surgery and chemotherapy. By the next year, he faced more legal trouble — pleading no contest to cocaine possession and soliciting a prostitute, and enduring probation violations that included arrests on his 40th birthday. He ultimately served 11 months in the Florida state prison system and was finally released in 2003.
But there was a pivot — a spiritual turning point that would redefine the man behind the stats. Strawberry encountered Jesus Christ in 1991, but it took years for his faith to anchor him. A key figure in his journey was Tracy, a born-again Christian who had her own battles with addiction. Together, they found a shared path to sobriety and purpose. Their partnership evolved into Strawberry Ministries, a ministry dedicated to helping addicts, teens, and communities find hope through faith. He describes it simply: “This experience has deepened my faith and commitment to working for His kingdom as a true follower of Jesus Christ.”
The latest chapter arrived in a phone call from the White House. President Donald Trump personally called Strawberry to announce a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pardon-strawberry-mets-drugs-tax-evasion-cf64f71f89461b61c1424daf7e5c2dd9">full pardon </a>for his past tax and drug offenses, citing his post-career sobriety and Christian ministry. Strawberry shared the moment on Instagram, describing the surreal conversation: sitting at home caring for his wife, half-asleep, and suddenly hearing Trump’s voice praising his baseball career and granting him a full pardon. “Overwhelmed with gratitude,” Strawberry wrote, “thanking God for setting me free from my past, helping me become a better Man, Husband and Father.”
Last year, at 62, Strawberry continued to face life’s hurdles. He <a href="https://cbn.com/news/health/baseball-star-darryl-strawberry-points-gods-amazing-grace-after-surviving-heart-attack?utm_source=chatgpt.com">suffered a heart attack,</a> yet emerged with his faith intact, praising God for another chance at life. The Mets, too, have honored him: Strawberry is one of 10 former Mets to have his number retired by the team. The others include legendary Yankees manager Casey Stengel, who became the Mets’ first manager; former manager Gil Hodges, who led the “Amazin’ Mets” to their first World Series title in 1969; Willie Mays; Tom Seaver; Jerry Koosman; Mike Piazza; Keith Hernandez; Dwight Gooden; and David Wright.
Darryl Strawberry’s story is a testament to resilience, redemption, and the transformative power of faith.

New York Mets v Los Angeles Dodgers

Trump Pardons MLB Legend Darryl Strawberry, Whose Christian Faith Turned His Life Around

Celebrities

Darryl Strawberry

Donald Trump

Executive

Major League Baseball

Pardon

Federal prosecutors have charged two pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians on counts related to a Major League Baseball (MLB) gambling scheme.
Prosecutors unsealed an indictment against Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz on Sunday. The charging document alleges that the two professional athletes committed fraud, conspiracy, and bribery while collecting on bets and receiving kickbacks for their on-field performances.
“We are aware of the recent law enforcement action,” the Guardians told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/09/sport/baseball-mlb-guardians-emmanuel-clase-luis-ortiz">CNN</a>. “We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.”
Clase and Ortiz have been on paid leave from the MLB since July, when the league began investigating allegations related to the illegal gambling scheme. If found guilty, the two pitchers face a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/09/cleveland-guardians-pitchers-indicted-gambling.html">CNBC</a>.
“Professional athletes … hold a position of trust — not only with their teammates and their professional leagues, but with fans who believe in fair play,” Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/two-current-major-league-baseball-players-charged-sports-betting-and-money-laundering">statement</a>. “As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches. In doing so, the defendants deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services. They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed. And they betrayed America’s pastime.”
An attorney for Ortiz has maintained that his client is innocent of the charges.
“There is no credible evidence Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning. Luis looks forward to fighting these charges in court. The government’s case is weak and circumstantial. He will defend himself, and he will be (sic) prevail,” attorney Chris Georgali told CNBC.
The scheme traces back to 2023 when Clase agreed to work with “corrupt sports bettors” who would place wagers on the type and speed of Clase’s pitches. Clase would coordinate with the bettors on the pitch he would throw. In many cases, Clase’s pitches would hit “in the dirt, well outside the strike zone” to satisfy the wager, according to the Department of Justice.
Ortiz joined the scheme around June 2025 after he was traded to the Guardians in December 2024, according to prosecutors.
“Together with Clase, Ortiz agreed in advance to throw balls (instead of strikes) on pitches in two games in exchange for bribes and kickbacks. Before an MLB game on June 15, 2025, Ortiz agreed with his co-conspirators to throw a ball on a particular pitch in exchange for bribes. The bettors agreed to pay Ortiz a $5,000 bribe for throwing the rigged pitch and Clase a $5,000 bribe for arranging the rigged pitch,” the Justice Department press release states.
Clase is a three-time All-Star and two-time Reliever of the Year who has made more than $12 million over the course of his professional baseball career. He was set to make $6.4 million more in 2026, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46906636/guardians-emmanuel-clase-luis-ortiz-indicted-pitch-rigging">ESPN</a>.

Emmanuel Clase

‘Betrayed America’s Pastime’: MLB Pitchers Indicted In Betting Scam

‘Betrayed America’s Pastime’: MLB Pitchers Indicted In Rigged Sports Betting Scheme

Cleveland Guardians

Courts

gambling

Three strikes and you&#8217;re out! Maybe not so fast anymore after Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that it will roll out a new rule allowing players to appeal to robot umpires to overturn pitches they think were incorrectly called by human umpires.
The new rule will take effect for the entire 2026 MLB season and will give each team two opportunities to challenge whether a pitch was correctly ruled a strike or ball. The pitch will then be assessed through a complex automated camera system to judge whether the human umpire was correct.
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BREAKING: Major League Baseball will use the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) during the entire 2026 season
ABS CHALLENGE RULES:
&#8211; Each team will get two challenges and can keep them if they&#8217;re successful
&#8211; Challenges can only be initiated by a pitcher, catcher, or… <a href="https://t.co/xHkRIbHrRx">pic.twitter.com/xHkRIbHrRx</a>
— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1970546182893248800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The rule to bring the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System to the MLB was approved Tuesday by the MLB’s Joint Competition Committee. The system had previously been used in the Minor Leagues, as well as during MLB spring training and the All-Star Game.
The new rules will allow two appeals per game for each team to challenge a pitch call. Challenges must be initiated by a pitcher, batter, or catcher right after the pitch. To challenge, the pitcher will tap his hat or helmet to let the umpire know. According to the MLB, “no help from the dugout or other players on the field is allowed.”
If a game goes into extra innings, each team will get one challenge per inning if it used up its challenges in regulation.
“Throughout this process we have worked on deploying the system in a way that’s acceptable to players. The strong preference from players for the Challenge format over using the technology to call every pitch was a key factor in determining the system we are announcing today,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said.
The MLB said that the system was “powered by T-Mobile 5G network&#8221; and &#8220;uses cameras set up around the perimeter of the field to track the location of each pitch and a graphic on the scoreboard shows the result of the challenge.”
&#8220;We’ve accomplished a lot through our longstanding partnership with MLB, and the rollout of ABS — powered by T-Mobile 5G — is one of our most exciting milestones yet,” said Mike Katz, the president of marketing, strategy and products at T-Mobile. “It’s a powerful example of how we’re using our technology to help MLB innovate, while preserving the character of the game we love.&#8221;

MLB: SEP 18 Giants at Dodgers

Major League Baseball Makes Final Decision On Robot Umpires

Former three-time All-Star first-baseman Mark Teixeira, one of the most powerful switch-hitters in MLB history who played 14 years in Major League Baseball with the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, and the New York Yankees while amassing a whopping 409 home runs, announced he would run for the GOP seat vacated in Texas’ 21st Congressional District by Rep. Chip Roy.
Roy announced on August 21 he would run for attorney general of Texas.
“Big news: I’m ready to go!” Teixeira wrote on X. “As a lifelong conservative who loves this country, I’m running for Congress to fight for the principles that make Texas and America great. It takes teamwork to win – I’m ready to help defend President Trump’s America First agenda, Texas families, and individual liberty.”
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Big news: I’m ready to go! 
As a lifelong conservative who loves this country, I’m running for Congress to fight for the principles that make Texas and America great. 
It takes teamwork to win – I’m ready to help defend President Trump’s America First agenda, Texas families,… <a href="https://t.co/bVb6j9qP6i">pic.twitter.com/bVb6j9qP6i</a>
&mdash; Mark Teixeira (@teixeiramark25) <a href="https://twitter.com/teixeiramark25/status/1961080787584897174?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Teixeira was twice a finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award, presented annually by Major League Baseball to a player who best embodies the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, and philanthropy on and off the field. He has served on the board of directors of DREAM, which uses sports and academic programs to help inner-city youth recognize their potential.
Teixeira has worked with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative-leaning think tank that has pushed for school vouchers, property tax caps, restrictions on state contracts with ESG-compliant businesses, and prison reforms. The organization has been <a href="https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/texas-public-policy-foundation-20054168.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com">described</a> as the “most influential conservative think tank in the state.”
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=summer&amp;utm_content=editorialsummersale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">End of Summer Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
“I am a Christian conservative, God-loving man who understood where the Northeast was going and didn’t want to raise teenagers there,” Teixeira, who moved from Grenich, Connecticut, back to Texas, said in an interview. “I loved our community in Grenich, Connecticut, great place for young kids; I wouldn’t want my kids to be teenagers, to be in high school and be in college in that area. The values that we teach at home were not being taught there, so coming back here, and having the no state income tax as a bonus. But it really was more about raising my family in a place where you can go to church and be proud of it. You can vote Republican and be proud of it. You can have conservative values and be proud of hanging a flag in your front yard or supporting police officers, supporting the military.”
“And that’s what we’ve got here, and it’s great to be back in Texas,” he concluded.
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Texas Rangers v New York Yankees

Former Yankee And 3-Time MLB All-Star Running For Chip Roy’s Texas Seat

Chip Roy

Elections

Politics

Texas Rangers

Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, whose combination of power and scintillating defense led the Chicago Cubs to their first-post-season appearance in 38 years in 1984, died Monday at the age of 65.
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With great sadness, we share that Ryne Sandberg has passed away today. <a href="https://t.co/LJJ0jGqSy5">pic.twitter.com/LJJ0jGqSy5</a>
&mdash; Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1950004404104425975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Ryne Sandberg. Second to None. <a href="https://t.co/jR0FCCiXwD">pic.twitter.com/jR0FCCiXwD</a>
&mdash; Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1950187053146341691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&quot;The last couple of days, he wanted to speak to me, Andre [Dawson] and Mark Grace. He told us that he loved us and he loved all you <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cubs</a> fans too. Go Cubs.&quot;
An emotional Shawon Dunston speaks on the impact his legendary double play partner, Ryne Sandberg, made on him. <a href="https://t.co/OiHCJpAEcD">pic.twitter.com/OiHCJpAEcD</a>
&mdash; MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1950245687561769133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
Sandberg, the father of five children and eleven grandchildren, had been fighting metastatic prostate cancer, which he announced in January 2024 before he went into remission in August, then revealed the cancer had spread and returned last December.
“The support has been tremendously overwhelming right from the first week, and it’s continued throughout,” he told the Chicago Tribune last year. “It’s just been incredible and I think that’s been as much medicine to me as anything really.”
“While I am continuing to fight, I’m looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends,” he wrote on July 16. “I haven’t been to Wrigley Field as much as I hoped in the first half but I’m watching every game and am excited to see Wrigley rocking like 1984!”
Sandberg, who won nine Gold Gloves, and made the All-Star team in ten consecutive seasons, won the national League’s MVP award in 1984, when he batted .314 with 19 home runs, 36 doubles, 19 triples, 84 RBIs, 114 runs and 32 stolen bases. On June 23, 2024, the Cubs unveiled a statue of Sandberg to mark the 40th anniversary of “The Sandberg Game,” when he slugged game-tying home runs in the ninth and 10th innings off St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame reliever Bruce Sutter in an 11-inning Cubs win at Wrigley Field.
“Some of the things I wanted on the statue was being on the balls of the feet, being ready for every single pitch,” Sandberg told reporters when the statue was unveiled. “My defense was very important for me. For me, it was ‘Bring your glove every single day.’ You might go into some hitting slumps, but as far as defense goes, as long as I did my pregame work, I wanted to play defense every day for the pitcher, for everybody on the field.”
“In 16 seasons, Sandberg hit .285 with 282 home runs and 1,061 RBIs in 2,164 games. His 68.1 wins above replacement rank third in Cubs history behind Cap Anson (84.8) and Ron Santo (72.2),” the <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/28/ryne-sandberg-chicago-cubs-dies/?lctg=B4845491D5F64499A4E4B513EB&amp;utm_email=B4845491D5F64499A4E4B513EB&amp;utm_source=listrak&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.chicagotribune.com%2f2025%2f07%2f28%2fryne-sandberg-chicago-cubs-dies%2f&amp;utm_campaign=trib-chicago_tribune-breaking_news_sports-nl&amp;utm_content=alert">Chicago Tribune</a> noted. “Sandberg hit 25 home runs or more six times, including a career-high 40 in 1990, and had back-to-back 100-RBI seasons in ’90 and ’91. His 344 steals rank fourth on the Cubs’ all-time list.”
Growing up in Spokane, Washington, Sandberg was All-State in basketball and named to Parade Magazine’s Prep All-America Football Team, receiving scholarship offers from Nebraska and Oklahoma.
“I never thought it was a mistake to decide on baseball instead of football and college,” he recalled. “But I thought it was going to be a long, hard road. They say the odds are that only one or two guys in A-ball will ever make it to the big leagues.”
In mid-season 1994, hitting only .238 and in the middle of a terrible slump, he temporarily retired. “I am not the type of person who leaves my game at the ballpark feeling comfortable that my future is set regardless of my performance,” he admitted. “And I’m certainly not the type of person who can ask the Cubs organization and Chicago Cubs fans to pay my salary when I am not happy with my mental approach and performance.” He returned for the 1996 and 1997 seasons.

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