What’s Happening in Baseball Today

The First Pitch: October 28, 2024

A day after Shohei Ohtani’s remarkable 2024 season appeared to be prematurely ended, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announces on Sunday: “He’s playing tomorrow.” 

Ohtani suffered a mild separation—a subluxation—of his left shoulder after being tagged out on a stolen base attempt in World Series Game Two. A hush came over the Dodger Stadium crowd as fans feared for their star player, writhing around the infield in pain. But further tests show that Ohtani’s injury isn’t sever enough to keep him from continuing his DH duties. 

The Dodgers take a 2-0 lead into Game Three tonight at Yankee Stadium, where the next three games will be played. Clarke Schmidt gets the call for the Yankees, against the Dodgers’ Walker Buehler.

It Was Whatever-Something Years Ago Today

1995: Despite a record 14 straight divisional titles (excusing the incomplete 1994 campaign), the Braves take it all the way to the championship podium just this once, 1-0 over Cleveland, in a game full of tension. Tom Glavine shuts down an exceptionally potent Cleveland offense on just one hit through eight spectacular innings, while the only run is provided on a sixth-inning solo home run by David Justice, who had raised the ire of his own fans before the game by stating that if the Braves didn’t win, they would burn the players’ homes down. It’s the Braves’ first world title in 38 years—and their last until 2021.

You Say It’s Your Birthday

Recovering Atlanta strikeout king Spencer Strider is 26; closer of 103 saves Braden Looper is 45; all-time leader in pinch hits Lenny Harris is 60; Giants manager Bob Melvin is 63; 1960s Pirates pitcher Bob Veale is 89. Born on this date is 1981 AL ERA champ Sammy Stewart (1954), two-time league leader in saves Joe Page (1917), two-time 20-game winner Frank Smith (1879) and 19th-Century first baseman of 1,882 hits Tommy Tucker (1863).

Shameless Link of the Day

Charlie Silvera was a back-up catcher to Yogi Berra during the Yankees’ run of world championships in the early 1950s. Here’s our chat with him from a number of years back.

This Great Game in Print

Baseball Cards at the Edge of War is the new book from author Todd Marcum that focuses on baseball’s legendary 1941 season and the “three bubble gum titans” that took on one another in an attempt to rule the burgeoning baseball card market. Marcum provides an introductory orientation with content from our 1941 Yearly Reader page, which is why you’ll find the names of TGG creators Eric Gouldsberry and Ed Attanasio on the book’s cover as co-authors. The core of the book that follows is devoted to the players and their baseball cards who graced the 1941 season. Baseball Cards at the Edge of War is now available on Amazon.

Temporarily Hacked

Our This Great Game Facebook page remains in a frozen state following a recent hack, while we attempt to revive it amid a lack of customer support. (Facebook literally has no customer support. None.) Be aware of receiving any messages from the FB page, until we get it sorted out.

To Whom It May Concern

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