This Great Game Comebacker Archive: 2021

The return of fans, the ban of sticky substances used by pitchers, no-hitters galore, and an improbable late run by the Atlanta Braves are just a few of the baseball stories we commented on throughout 2021.

January 2021

A rough month for the Hall of Fame—losing three icons while gaining no new members in the general vote; A disrespected Nolan Arenado is sent packing from the Rockies to St. Louis.

February 2021

Spring Training shows signs of normalcy returning; Trevor Bauer’s short, rich and just plain weird contract with the Dodgers; Mariners President Kevin Mather shows once again why no baseball exec should ever talk candidly to a local group.

March 2021

The slow, steady progress back toward full ballparks; MLB’s funky new list of experimental rules for the minors; Spring Trained—who’s ready, and who’s not, for the 2021 season.

April 2021

Has 1968’s “Year of the Pitcher” finally met its match in the 2021 season?; Joe Musgrove gives the Padres—at long last—their first no-hitter; MLB moves the All-Star Game from Atlanta.

May 2021

No-No times four: The no-hitter epidemic continues; Joe West surpasses Bill Klem; MLB brings on its 20,000th player, and scores its 2,000,000th run; Albert Pujols switches address in Los Angeles.

June 2021

Spider Tack be gone—MLB cracks down on pitchers using illegal substances; Just when DBacks fans think it can’t get worse, it does; Kyle Schwarber is not your average leadoff hitter.

July 2021

The Nationals and Cubs trade everyone; Cleveland’s new nickname; Dread, white and blue: those awful All-Star Game uniforms; Joey Votto’s power resurgence.

August 2021

The Orioles’ lastest long, losing streak is nearly a record-breaker; Miguel Cabrera’s 500th home run; The Mets dare to take on Mets fans.

September 2021

The Cardinals win 17 straight and swoop to the wild card; Ryan Braun steps down, leaving a tarnished legacy; Kevin Kiermaier and the case of the missing cheat sheet.

October 2021

The Giants and Dodgers end an historic regular season and burn each other out in the postseason; Grand slams dominate the playoffs; R.I.P. Ray Fosse, Jerry Remy and Eddie Robinson.

November 2021

The underdog Braves triumphantly finishes off a world title; free agent activity ramps up in advance of a likely lockout; Buster Posey steps down.

December 2021

Owners lock out the players in (technically) the first work stoppage since 1995; The Hall of Fame welcomes in many new “very good” members; Was MLB using the 2019 ball selectively in 2021—and if so, why?