MLB History

I spend way to much time at baseballreference.com. For real. There actually might be something wrong with me. I don't know what it is about baseball statistics and history that fascinates so much, all I know is that I've studied this stuff since I was eight years old and got my first pack of cards.

Baseball fans have long been enamored with pitchers who have the ability to rear back and throw blazing fastballs by helpless hitters. Power pitchers who hit top-notch speeds often tally huge strikeout totals and are sought-after commodities to lead a rotation.

As a pitcher in Major League Baseball, it can be difficult to survive without an above-average fastball. Of course there are exceptions, such as plus-40-year-old hurlers Tim Wakefield and Jamie Moyer, but for most pitchers the fastball serves as the base for every repertoire.

Among the nine positions in baseball, the catcher is oftentimes the most overlooked.

For every pitch, there is someone behind the plate ready to catch the ball. A pitch is not released to the batter until after the pitcher receives a sign from the catcher.

Inning after inning, the catcher has the rough task of crouching in a very uncomfortable position that seems to take a toll after a while, as we see catchers traditionally regress late in the season.

It's one of the hardest things in sports to execute. It gives the opposition fits when thrown properly. It can ruin a career.

The curveball has been around for ages and has taken many forms throughout the history of baseball.

There's the looping 12-6 curveball, which drops off the table just as the hitter thinks he has a read on it. A curveball can also be thrown with some velocity in an attempt jam a hitter. And let's not forget the classic knee-buckling curveball that has made countless hitters look foolish. 

If there's one weapon every baseball team has, it's an outfielder with a cannon for an arm.  Throughout baseball history, there have been players that, regardless of how fast a runner one might be, their arms were not to be tested.

It would be easy for me to pick one player and go on and on about how their arm is the best in MLB history, but doing so would be an injustice to all of the other cannons out there.  Thus, I'm going to use this type of player to debut a new series.

Anyone who says size does not matter has clearly missed out on some key moments in baseball history.

In the early 1900's, President Roosevelt borrowed an old African proverb by stating, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." And while he may not necessarily have been referring to baseball, the saying seems to have made impact on the sport anyway.

The following is a list of the top 10 "big" moments, statistics and feats in baseball throughout the years.

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The Houston Astros have always had a team that was based on strong pitching. From the 1980s with Mike Scott, J.R. Richard and Nolan Ryan to their most recent World Series run with Roy Oswalt, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte.

When the Astros have had success, you can bet they had one or more superb pitcher behind it. The Astros have used strong pitching to secure six division titles, two wild card berths and one National League pennant. I have compiled a list of who I think are the top 15 starting pitchers in the history of the Houston Astros.

Most Americans (at least before the current depression) retired in their late 60s or early 70s, or not at all. Baseball players, even those with the most longevity, retire while they are still young.

Mickey Mantle retired in 1968 at the tender age of 36. Like old generals, old players never die, but unlike old generals, Mickey Mantle never fades away.

First base is a funny position.  

Often, the first baseman is the team's best hitter, but one of its worst fielders.  Many first baseman are both indispensable (to the batting order) and replaceable (in the field).  

Third base may arguably be the hardest position to play in all of professional sports. Hitters at the peak of their power strokes ripping line drives only 90 feet away and smoking ground balls can make it tough for even the best of athletes.

The following list of players counts down the best third basemen for each franchise in the MLB.

The Players are in no specific order as their accomplishments and trends are closely influenced by the era in which they played in.

Hitting lead-off, the Seattle Mariners...