Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » Tim Raines

The Hall of Fame SS That was Nearly a Met

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

The terms “Cincinnati legend” and “lifetime Cincinnati Red” were used to describe Barry Larkin yesterday after his election into the Hall of Fame. He also became the 48th member of the Hall to spend his entire career with one team. Born in Cincinnati, Larkin won the 1990 World Series, MVP in 1995, and become the first shortstop […]

Vote: NYBD 2012 Hall of Fame Ballot

Sunday, January 1st, 2012

We are a little over a week away from the Baseball Hall of Fame announcing its 2012 selection. Each year, I give the readers of NYBD an opportunity to cast their own BBWAA-style ballot. Last year Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar garnered the most fan support, but not the requisite 75% needed for induction. In December, Gil Hodges received the most […]

Pete Abe Speaks Out Against Baseball “McCarthyism”

Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

Back in the 40s and 50s the United States was facing a huge threat - communism. During this era, thousands of Americans were accused of being Communists or communist sympathizers and became the subject of aggressive investigations and questioning before government. Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy led the brigade with the “Hollywood Blacklist” and investigations by the House […]

BBWAA Will Not Induct Anyone Until 2014

Monday, December 19th, 2011

It’s been nearly 15 years since the BBWAA elected to not enshrine someone in Cooperstown. During the 1996 election, Phil Niekro received 68.3% of the vote, followed by Tony Perez (65.7%), and Don Sutton (63.8%). Ironically, all three would be enshrined by 2000.  I believe there is a good chance no one will be inducted by the […]

Newark Baseball Appears on the Brink

Friday, July 15th, 2011

Every Friday I take a look at what is going on with Independent Baseball. Today, I took at look at the Newark Bears and wonder if there still is a future for this troubled Can-Am League team. Baseball in Newark has a rich tradition that dates back to 1902. There were the Newark Indians, Newark […]

Long Island Ducks Begin Their 12th Season Tonight

Friday, April 29th, 2011

I will, as I do every year, follow the Atlantic League and the Long Island Ducks throughout the season. The Ducks will begin their twelfth season tonight on the road in Bridgeport to play the Bluefish. Every Friday I am going to try and share an Atlantic League fact or player of interest that is […]

Early Look at the 2012 HOF Candidates

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

To wrap up this 24 hours of Hall of Fame, I decided to take an early look at the 2012 ballot, and perhaps project who I would support, and maybe lay out some questions that could be answered over the next twelve months. It appears that Barry Larkin might have the best shot for induction […]

HOF Prediction: Alomar In, Blyleven Short, Palmeiro Goodbye

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

Later today the BBWAA will announce the latest member(s) to join the Baseball Hall of Fame. A year ago everyone assumed Roberto Alomar would be a shoo-in his first time on the ballot. Instead, the BBWAA threw everyone a curve and only elected Andre Dawson. As a matter of fact, Alomar got a lower percentage […]

NYBD Hall of Fame Vote

Monday, December 27th, 2010

In addition to voting for our “Man of the Year,” I want to gather an unscientific Hall of Fame vote from the NYBD community. Last year NYBD readers selected Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven for the 2010 class. The BBWAA disagreed and only elected Andre Dawson. This year I will be using Survey Monkey to […]

My 2011 Hall of Fame Ballot

Monday, December 27th, 2010

December 27th Updated Version Each year I discussed who I believe should be elected into the Hall of Fame. Although I don’t have a vote, it’s fun to submit a ballot just like the writers of the BBWAA for discussion purposes. Last year I voted for Robert Alomar, Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris, and Edgar Martinez. […]

Watch: Tim Raines Grand Slam Off Orosco in 1987

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

I found this video and thought I would share it with everyone. In January of 2009 I had a chance to talk to Tim Raines when he was named manager of the Newark Bears. You could download that interview by right clicking here, or subscribe to the NYBD App for Droid, Iphone, and Blackberry (it’s […]

NYBD Fans Elect Alomar and Blyleven

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

In a very unscientific poll, NYBD readers elected Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven to the Hall of Fame. No other got the necessary support (75%) needed to gain election. Both Barry Larkin and Tim Raines had strong showings with around 70% support, Edgar Martinez was in the low sixties, while Mark McGwire, Dawson, and Trammell were […]

Prediction: Alomar Will Be Only One Elected to HOF

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Tomorrow the 2010 Hall of Fame will be announced. If you haven’t been following BBTF HOF Ballot Gathering Machine, head over there and check it out. Each year, Repoz tabulates writer’s ballots that are made public in order to predict who the next class will be. As of this writing (Jan 5) it appears there […]

Keith Hernandez and the HOF

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

Cybermetrics is a blog by Cyril “Cy” Morong, professor of Economics at San Antonio College. Early in December he took a look at some Hall of Fame cases using four criteria, one being WARP (Wins Above Replacement Player) from Sean Smith’s site. Yesterday we reviewed Don Mattingly’s Hall of Fame chances. To balance it out […]

Sticky: Vote in NYBD Hall of Fame Committee

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Just like every other website (i.e. Dugout Central, BBTF, etc.) I want to have a Hall of Fame vote. The fast and easy way we are going to do this is to allow the listeners and readers to cast their vote. Here are the rules: 1) Poll will be open from today till next Wed […]