Yawkey Baseball Dream Race 2007!

The long hot summer of 2007 has just gotten hotter. Never before in the long history of the Yawkey Baseball League have so many teams offered enough talent to make a run for the Post Season with just three days left. It has been fun, frustrating and exhilarating for the teams struggling to make a GO for 8 play off spots.

Also, the Tarpey Conference Championship race has four teams at or near the top of the pack. Al Thomas, West Roxbury, McKay Club are tied at 36 Points. South Boston has 34 and South End has 34 with a chance at the title and playoffs.

Here are the standings in the race for a Play off Spot in the YBL:

#1 - SOMERVILLE: 28-5-1 WITH 57 POINTS. Alibrandis has completed their regular season and rest awaiting an opponent.

#2 - REVERE: 25-8-0 WITH 50 POINTS. Revere has one more game to complete their season.

#3 - AL THOMAS: 18-13-0 36 POINTS. The A's are tied in points with two other teams and keep the #3 seed for today. They have 3 more contests and anything can happen here.

#4 - MEDFORD: 20-11-0 40 POINTS. The Mad Dogs got mad after an awful start. They have climbed the ladder to overtake the Brewers in a tight race for #4 - #5. Mad Dogs have 3 games left to play.

#5 - BRIGHTON BREWERS: 20-11-0 40 POINTS. the brew Crew have lost a few the last couple weeks BUT they are solid and have made the play offs. Brewers have 3 games left.

#6 - EAST BOSTON: 19-13-1 39 POINTS. Blue Fish have had a great 2nd half. They are solid in the play offs now with a completed regular season schedule.

#7 - WEST ROXBURY: 18-14-0 36 POINTS. Devils are in a war with Al Thomas, McKay club and South Boston for the Tarpey Conference and a play off spot. They have 2 huge games left.

#8 - MCKAY CLUB: 18-15-0 36 POINTS. Beacons have shot themselves in the foot all year long. BUT, they are completing their season strong. They MUST beat Brookline tomorrow in order to clinch a tie for a spot.

On The Cusp:

SOUTH BOSTON: 17-15-0 34 POINTS. Saints have 2 games remaining. They could be in or out and or win a Conference Championship. Go figure!

SOUTH END: 16-15-2 34 POINTS. Astros have 1 game remaining and seem out of the race at this point.

MALDEN 16-15-1 33 POINTS. Bull Dogs have had a huge first year. They have 2 big games left.

Cedar Grove (Little League) Mayor's cup Champs for 2007!

On July 22 Cedar Grove became the Mayor's Cup Baseball 10 year-old division champions. Back Row (left to right), Joe Cloherty, Coach Sean O'Sullivan, Coach Matt Sweeney, Coach Vince Lakes and Mike Devlin. Bottom Row: Sam Gartley, Vince Lakes Jr., Peter Cahill, Peter Honzik, Pat Pugliese, Ronan O'Toole, James Doherty, Ryan Sweeney, Jake McEachern, Pat Murray. Not pictured: Jack O'Sullivan, Jake Ryan and Matt Darling. Photo: Lauren Patrick

Yawkey League Hall of Famer, Sean O'Sullivan piloted his Cedar grove Little League team to the Mayor's Cup Championship. This Dorchester native has continued to share his baseball knowledge with the youth in our neighborhood. Congratulations to Cedar Grove and Sean O - from your proud former coach - The Baseball Head!

Welcome to Boston Gentleman!

Canadian born, Eric Gagne joined the Boston Red Sox so he can, "win a World Series". A great thought from the former NL MVP, who was a dominant closer and now hopes to be the top set-up man for the Sox. Gagne said all the right things in his Boston introduction. The talking is OVAH - now we all look forward to having a lights out bull pen with Gagne, Okajima and Papelbon at the end of the game.

Full Name: Eric Serge Gagne
Born: 01/07/1976
Birthplace: Montreal, QC
Height: 6'0" Weight: 240
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
College: N/A
MLB Debut: 09/07/1999

Ten time NBA All Star, Kevin Garnet got a heroes welcome from the Fenway Faithful last night. Kevin just joined the Celtics after a block-buster deal with Minnesota. He came to Fenway to have a few laughs and meet new friends. Kevin tossed out the first ball to Big Pappi. Welcome Kevin - we hope you will lead the Green back to their rightful place as an NBA power house!

2006-07 Statistics
PPG
22.4
RPG
12.80
APG
4.1
EFF
+ 29.17
Born: May 19, 1976
Height: 6-11 / 2,11
Weight: 253 lbs. / 114,8 kg.
High School : Farragut Academy HS (IL)
Years Pro: 12

The CLASS of Baseball Inducted into Cooperstown!

A star baseball and basketball player in college, Tony Gwynn opted for the diamond and fashioned a stellar 20-year career with the San Diego Padres. Gwynn's mastery of slapping the ball between the third baseman and shortstop, what the lefty called the "5.5 hole," propelled him to 3,141 career hits, a lifetime .338 batting average and eight batting crowns, an NL record he shares with Honus Wagner. A true student of hitting, Gwynn was an early advocate of using videotape to study his swing, while his five outfield Gold Glove Awards, 319 career stolen bases and 15 All-Star Game selections attest to his superior all-around play.

“He was one of the best players I ever saw, and he was probably the smartest and most dedicated.” — Bruce Bochy

Cal Ripken Jr. gave new meaning to the phrase "everyday player." From May 30, 1982 through September 19, 1998, the lanky shortstop played in 2,632 straight games for the Baltimore Orioles, shattering Lou Gehrig's "unbreakable" mark of 2,130. Beyond "The Streak," however, Ripken methodically put together a remarkable career, notching 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, 19 straight All-Star appearances, and two Most Valuable Player Awards. Though his solid, steady play earned him hero status throughout America, Ripken also had a flair for the dramatic, homering in both his record-setting 2,131st game and his final All-Star contest.

“I know that if Lou Gehrig is looking down on tonight's activities, he isn't concerned about someone playing one more consecutive game than he did. Instead, he's viewing tonight as just another example of what is good and right about the great American game.” — Cal Ripken Jr.

They did not play for the Red Sox, BUT I WISH each did at some point in their storied career. Cal "The Iron Man" Ripken, Jr. & Tony "The Hitting Machine" Gwynn were inducted with the elite at Cooperstown on Sunday.

San Diego and Baltimore were blessed to have these two Classy Baseball Men play their entire careers in each city.

I send out a Boston Baseball Heads Salute to both men as they venture into immortality!

Manny IS Manny AGAIN!

Manny was just "chillin-out" and visiting old pals in Tampa Bay this past weekend!

Our good old pal - Manny is BAAAACK! The long awaited arrival of the OLD Ramirez is unfolding. While Big Pappi recovers and struggles in the "power department" Manny IS being Manny again and is on a rip!

The Sox - Hall of Famer - to be is now batting a respectable .303 has smashed 18HR and is responsible for driving in 68. Those are much more comfortable numbers for Red Sox Nation. Now that Manny is back. We hope that Big Pappi can make adjustments and belt out a few game winning bombs in the stretch run.

Steve Buckley's OLD TIME BASEBALL GAME!

Boston Park League Hall of Famer and good friend - Josh Powel wearing his classic LA Dodger uniform. Josh currently is umpiring games in the Yawkey League for the SSUA.

Yawkey League Hall of Fame Member, Brian Carey in his Cleveland Indian Classic Jersey.

Former McKay Club and Yawkey League All Star, Brendan Smith (right) in his Classic Red Sox uniform. Brendan plans to return to the YBL in 2008!

Former McKay Club and Yawkey League All Star, Joe Orlando in his Alaska Gold Panners Uniform.

Len Merullo and Johnny Pesky will manage the 2007 edition of the Oldtime Baseball Game.

JOHNNY PESKY, LENNIE MERULLO RETURN AS MANAGERSAT 2007 OLDTIME BASEBALL GAME ON AUGUST 15

Former major-league infielders Johnny Pesky and Lennie Merullo will be back in uniform at the 14th Annual Abbot Financial Management Oldtime Baseball Game, to be played Wednesday, August 15 at 7 p.m. at St. Peter’s Field on Sherman Street in North Cambridge.

The Oldtime Baseball Game is a celebration of our national pastime, featuring college and high school players participating in a modern-day baseball game while wearing dazzling old-style uniforms. Players represent schools from throughout the area, and from the Yawkey League, Park League, Intercity League, New England Collegiate League, Cape Cod League and other summer leagues. This year’s game is being played as a benefit for the C2 Mission, which was created to benefit children and families affected by cerebral palsy and cystic fibrosis. The C2 Mission will earmark funds from the Oldtime Baseball Game to its Pick Me Up Program, which provides financial assistance for families in need affected by these diseases.

Johnny Pesky, who turns 88 in September, is well-known to Red Sox fans, having served the club in a variety of capacities, from player to manager to broadcaster, for more than 60 years. He played shortstop for the Red Sox in the 1946 World Series. Lennie Merullo, a native of East Boston, played seven seasons in the big leagues, all with the Chicago Cubs. He was the Cubs’ shortstop in the 1945 World Series. Merullo, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, will be honored in a special pre-game ceremony.

What makes the Oldtime Baseball Game so special is its glittering array of oldtime uniforms, used just once a year for the game. The old-style flannel uniforms represent just about every era in baseball history, from the 1901 Baltimore Orioles to the 1969 Seattle Pilots. Such long-ago teams as the Boston Braves, St. Louis Browns and Brooklyn Dodgers are represented. The old Negro Leagues are also included, with uniforms from the Homestead Grays, Kansas City Monarchs and Baltimore Elite Giants. Such long ago minor-league teams as the San Francisco Seals, Oakland Oaks and Roswell Rockets are represented. The game features uniforms from Alaska (Alaska Goldpanners) to Cuba (Cienfuegos Elephantes). The Oldtime Baseball Game even features the uniform of a team that never actually existed: The York Knights, for whom Robert Redford’s Roy Hobbs character played in “The Natural.”

Prior to this year’s game, a banner will be unveiled in memory of former Red Sox infielder and Boston College baseball coach Eddie Pellagrini, who passed away last October. Eddie coached in the Oldtime Baseball Game from 2000 to 2002.

Admission to the Oldtime Baseball Game is free. Fans are asked to bring a beach blanket or chair and camp out along the foul lines, as it is the crowd that makes the evening so electric.

The rain date for the Oldtime Baseball game is Monday, August 20, also at 7 p.m.

For more information about the Oldtime Baseball Game, visit our web site at oldtimebaseball.com or email us at Goinyard@aol.com.

PANIC IN THE PAHK!

GO AHEAD - PRESS IT --- GO AHEAD NOW PRESSSSSS ITTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!! PRESS IT!!!!!!!