The strikeouts and home runs suggested a baseball game was played Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field in Chicago, but the final numbers were more like a tennis match.

6-0, 6-0, 6-0.

Arizona beat the Cubs 6-0, Randy Johnson raised his record to 6-0 this season, and the intimidating left-hander improved to 6-0 lifetime against the Cubs.

The Cubs streak of 13 games with a homer came to an end against Johnson, who struck out 11 in seven innings to give him 130 games of 10 strikeouts or more, second only to Nolan Ryan's 215.

Johnson has developed a two-seam fastball, a few miles an hour slower than his regular fastball, but one that has more movement. The hope is that the 36-year-old Johnson will sacrifice strikeouts for groundouts and keep his pitch count lower. So far, he hasn't sacrificed anything.

"When you're one of the greatest and a Cy Young winner, you might say, 'What do I need a new pitch for?" said Mark Grace, who is 1 for 8 lifetime against Johnson after a first- inning single. "But look at him. He's better than he was."

Jay Bell's first-inning homer off Andrew Lorraine (1-2) gave Johnson the only run he needed, but the Cubs were still in the game - in theory, anyway - until Johnson's two-run single with the bases loaded put the D'backs ahead 4-0.

"Everyone gets a little lucky once in awhile," Johnson said.

The Cubs had the bases loaded in the seventh after a walk to Sammy Sosa and singles by Damon Buford and Joe Girardi , but Johnson struck out pinch hitter Shane Andrews on a ball into the dirt to end the threat.

"When you're facing a guy like that, you're looking for his fastball, so you're really trying to cheat and get the bat head out," Cubs manager Don Baylor said. "And all of a sudden he throws a breaking ball down in the dirt and you look kind of foolish." Baseballhistorian.com - Newspaper Clipping.

Starting with 1900-09, when Honus Wagner lined 1,847 hits..... 1910-19, Ty Cobb 1,949... 1920-29 Rogers Hornsby 2.085... 1930-39, Paul Waner 1,959... 1940-49, Lou Boudreau 1,578... 1950-59, Richie Ashburn 1,875... 1960-69, Roberto Clemente 1,877... 1970-79 Pete Rose 2,045... 1980-89, Robin Yount 1,731... 1990-99, Mark Grace 1,754.

Grace feels strongly about the chances for the Arizona Diamondbacks to get to the World Series. He quoted as saying, "Am I the difference maker? I don't know... but if this team plays to its potential, it's the best."

He signed a two-year contract for $3 million per/year that includes an option for $3 million in 2003.

Grace's relentless hitting leaves him with 2,201 career hits, fifth on the all-time Cubs' list... trailing only Cap Anson, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ryne Sandberg. Grace had the highest batting average on the Cubs in 9 of his 13 seasons with them. His 364 doubles were the highest total of any other major leaguer during the '90s. He appeared in three All-Star games, '93, '95, and '97... and won more Gold Gloves Awards (four) than any other first baseman in the '90s. And we might add... Grace was as good a fielding first baseman as any we've ever seen... rating right up-there with Keith Hernandez.

Grace also set a new major league mark in 2000 by walking 95 times and striking out only 28 times - the highest walks-to-Ks difference in major league history. Baseballhistorian.com

In a career spanning 15 seasons, the clutch-hitting Galarraga carries a .291 batting average, including 2,070 hits, with 360 homers and 1,272 RBIs. After missing the entire 1999 season due to a cancerous tumor in his back, he hit .302 with 28 home runs and drove in an even 100 runs with the Atlanta Braves last season. He was not offered a new contract after his 3-year, $24.5 million pact with the Braves ran out.

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The ball didn't stop at Waveland Avenue. The 'whomp' that Sammy Sosa put on a Marc Wilkins' 3-2 pitch was so mighty that the ball sailed over the left-field wall and across Waveland before bouncing between parked cars on Kenmore Avenue.

More important than the home run's final destination was its effect on the Cubs' 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.

Sosa's three-run seventh-inning blast broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Cubs some breathing room in a game in which they had squandered several scoring opportunities. Julio Zuleta drove in one more run with an eight-inning double as the Cubs completed a three-game sweep of the Pirates with their fifth straight victory.

At 8-4, the Cubs share the National League Central lead with the Houston Astros.

Bagwell is just the second National Leaguer in history to hit 300 homers, score 1,000 runs, post 1,000 RBIs and collect 1,000 walks in his first 11 big-league seasons. And is just the fifth player in major league history to perform this rare feat. Bagwell joins Eddie Mathews, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and Frank Thomas.

Get Out and See these up-and-coming young stars with their, at least so-far, brash performances and see if they don't measure up to the players of old.

* Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals, 1st Baseman - power-packed rookie hit his 10th homer of the season... leads the National League with 19 two-strike hits and ranks up with the leaders with 34 RBIs... Pujols' .365 hitting certainly has helped the Cardinals thru their first 30 games of year 2001.

* Joe Mays, Minnesota Twins, Starting Pitcher - only 25-years old, but is fast becoming one of baseball brightest pitching stars... he's 4-2, with an outstanding 2.51 ERA... unlike last year, Mays is getting ahead of the hitters... has nice moving fastball and hard-slider and now seems to have the confidence to be a 20-game winner.

* Eric Milton. Minnesota Twins, Starting Pitcher - went 13-10 last year... only 25 years old... pitched a 4-hit, 2-0 shutout over the Yankees on May 8. Milton is a consistent mound performer... he's 4-2 and his 2.25 ERA is 3rd lowest in the AL.

* Miguel Tejada, Oakland Athletics, Shortstop - only 24 and already has established himself among the best shortstops in the majors... a superstar defensively, Tejada lined 32 doubles, 30 home runs, 115 RBIs last season. He's hit 8 homers so far in Oakland's first 32 games.

* Kyle Farnsworth, Chicago Cubs, Middle Reliever - it's an understatement to call his fastball - 'fast'... In relief against the Brewers at Milwaukee on May 9, he threw 6 pitches out of 16 thrown - over 100 mph and, the new scoreboard in Milwaukee recorded one at 102 mph - that's the fastest pitch in baseball history - WOW! Farnsworth has struck out 28 batters in 21 innings and has posted an outstanding 1.50 ERA... he's 24-years old.

* Mark Kotsay, San Diego Padres, Outfielder - the 25-year old outfielder already has three major-league seasons under his belt. Traded from the Florida Marlins, Kotsay, a former college pitcher, has one of the strongest arms in baseball. An exceptional, hustling fielder, Kotsay hit .298 in 2000... plays centerfield like Freddy Lynn did back in the '70s and '80s, a real pleasure to watch.

* Corey Koskie, Minnesota Twins, 3rd Baseman - rates as one of the best defensive 3rd baseman ever - 'nothing, but nothing gets by him'... last season Koskie hit an even .300 - and he's hitting .290 in 2001. Listen up! Fans, you have to see him play third base - he's special.

Marshall McDougall set a NCAA record by hitting six consecutive home runs and knocking in 16 runs on May 9, 1999 to led Florida State over Maryland 26-2.

McDougall, a second baseman, started his sensational day with a RBI single and then hit six straight homers. After singling in the 1st inning, he hit a solo homer in the 2nd, a three-run shot in the 4th, a solo homer in the 6th, another three-run whomp in the 7th, a grand slam in the 8th, and finished his record setting day with another three-run yard-shot in the 9th. Baseballhistorian.com

Barry Bonds hit his major league leading 29th home run and San Francisco Giants rallied for 3 runs in the 3rd inning, 4 runs in the 4th, and 4 more in the 6th enabling the Giants to rock the Rockies 11-7 in Colorado.

Bonds, who walked three times, teed off with a two-run, yard/shot off Colorado's rookie starter and loser Shawn Chacon (3-2, 6.21 ERA) before 40,630 in Colorado.

'The fans came to see Bonds hit a homer, and he didn't disappoint them,' said Rockies' manager Buddy Bell.

Barry Bonds, who hit more home runs in April and May than any player in baseball history, is on pace to hit a zillion homers this season.

Well, he's now going for the Japanese record of 55 set by legend Sadaharu Oh back in 1964. Rhodes plays for the Kintetsu Buffaloes and has blasted 49 home runs this season.

Rhodes' belted a two-run shot on September 2, 2001 to lead Kintetsu over the Nippon Ham Fighters 10-9 and help the Buffaloes maintain a half game lead over the defending champions - the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks.

'I'm trying not to think of the record,' said Tuffy Rhodes, now 33-years old. 'We're looking to win a championship and right now that's all I'm focusing on. I'm just having a good time here in Japan.'

The last time a foreign player made a run at Oh's home run record was back in 1985 when Randy Bass hit 54 while playing for the Hanshin Tigers. As he was entering the last weeks of the '85 season, Bass saw fewer and fewer strikes and started to hold his bat upside down in protest of what many called a conspiracy to keep an American from setting a new home run record.

But, Rhodes says he hasn't faced a similar problem. 'I'm just trying to swing at pitches in the strike zone,' Rhodes said. ' 'I've been getting good pitches to hit and it helps having good hitters behind you.'

NEWS FLASH: Tuffy Rhodes hit 55 home runs in 2001 and ended tied with Japan's legendary home run king, Sadaharu Oh.

baseballhistorian.com - the History of Baseball

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Sitting in a bullpen one night over 20 years ago, Portland Mavericks' left-hander, Rob Nelson and teammate Jim Bouton, the former New York Yankee All-Star, were looking for something fun and different to chew. Their idea? Big League Chew (R) - shredded bubble gum in a pouch.

What became an instant hit with ball players everywhere is now a major phenomenon, and today, Big League Chew Bubble Gum has been named the Official Players' Choice Bubble Gum by the Major League Ball Players Association.

Some of Big League Chew's biggest fans will be featured in Big League Chew advertising and merchandising this year. National League Player of the Year in 1998, Slammin' Sammy Sosa; 2002 Players Choice American League Player of the Year; Alex Rodriguez; five-time Cy Young Award Winner, Randy Johnson; nine-time Louisville Slugger Award Winner; Mike Piazza; four-time winner of the Players Choice Award for Outstanding Pitcher, Pedro Martinez; and Ken Griffey Jr., the 2000 Players Choice For Player of the Decade.

Professional and amateur players in all sports have enjoyed Big League Chew for over two decades. Kids love it because it tastes great and is fun to chew! They associate it with baseball and naturally think of their favorite ball player heroes.

Amurol Confections is promoting their partnership with Consumer print ads in various kids magazines... Big League Chew is made by Amurol Confections in Yorkville, IL. and is a Wrigley Gum Company.

baseballhistorian.com Notes: - Back in the 1980s Big League Chew (R) inserted baseball cards into their gum packs... we wonder if they'll do so again?

September 3, 2002 - New York Times by writer Joe Lapointe -Newspaper Clipping

Oakland - Amid the boisterous chatter and blaring rap music of the Oakland A's clubhouse on Monday, shortstop Minguel Tejada sat on a black leather sofa, answering reporters' questions in two languages. Someone had accidentally knocked over a deck of playing cards, and they had fallen to the floor in a mess next to Tejada's right foot. The two cards in the pile were the ace of clubs and ace of hearts.

That's the way things are falling these days for a team with a lot of heart and a lot of talent. The A's are coming up aces.

By overcoming a five-run deficit and beating the Kansas City Royals 7-6 on Tejada's single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, the A's increased their winning streak to 19 games, tying them with the 1947 Yankees and the 1906 White Sox for the American League record.

'I don't anybody's going to be satisfied with tying anything,' said closer and winner Billy Koch. 'We'd rather break something and set something.'

They are still far from the 1916 New York Giants' major-league record of 26 straight victories.

Kansas City scored three times in the third inning to increase its lead to 5-0.

A's left-fielder David Justice hit a two-run hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning and drove in two more runs with a single in the A's four-run sixth.

Left-hander Barry Zito, trying to become the AL's first 20-game winner, fell behind 5-0.None-the-less, Zito settled down and worked six innings, the last two scoreless, while allowing 10 hits. He had a chance to pickup the win because his team led 6-5 when he left the game. But the Royals tied it in the eight.

In Oakland's ninth, when Terrence Long led off with a triple to the left-field corner, Tejada jumped in front off the dugout, waving him around the bases like a coach.

After Royals' pitcher Jason Grimsley walked two batters intentionally to load the bases and set up a force at the plate, the Royals got the first out when Scott Hattenberg grounded to second and Long was thrown out at home. Then Tejada calmly stepped to the plate and drilled Grimsley's first pitch over second bases (for the game winning single).

baseballhistorian.com - Baseball News of the Day

Left-fielder Garret Anderson hits 3-run homer to lead Anaheim in 9-2 route of Florida

June 8, 2003 by Associated Press Newspaper Clipping: -

Miami - Garret Anderson might not want the Anaheim Angels 12-game road trip to end.

Anderson homered for the sixth time in five games and Aaron Sele won his second consecutive start, carrying the Anaheim Angels to a 9-2 victory over the Florida Marlins on Saturday night.

'Garret is having a pretty good career,' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. 'He is as consistent as any ballplayer around.'

Sele (3-3) had his best performance of the season in his sixth start. He pitched seven innings in his longest outing of the year and allowed two runs on four hits. He did not walk a batter and even singled in the seventh. 'It has been a work in progress,' said Sele, who had lost three consecutive games before winning a week ago.

Anderson's 13th home run of the season put the Angels up 3-0 in the fourth... The Angels who won the World Championship last year - 2002 - ran their record to 30-29 for 2003.

by John R Balazs administrator@baseballhistorian.com

While it wouldn’t be surprising if Will Clark was an action Movie star in some blockbuster movie like ‘Star Wars’ or ‘War of the World’,’ the fact is – he captured the attention of baseball fans with an enthusiasm for winning seldom seen in professional sports.

Well-known for his intense stare and sweet left handed swing, Will Clark announced yesterday, he was retiring, ending a 15-year career that started in San Francisco, included stops with the Texas Rangers, with the Baltimore Orioles and lastly with the St Louis Cardinals, 2000.

Will Clark seemed to approach the game like a warrior dropped from a helicopter to secure first base, was often called, ‘a man’s man.’

A fans favorite wherever he played, Will Clark was also a model of consistency, collecting 10 seasons of hitting over .300.

Will Clark, acquired by the Cardinals on July 31 2000, to play First base for the injured Mark McGwire, lived up to his nickname ‘the Thrill’ in his first at bat with the team, hitting a game winning homer.

The announcement caught the Cardinals by surprise, considering how well Will Clark played during the team’s final two months of the season and in the NL playoffs. He hit .345 with 12 homers and 42 RBIs from August 1 on, including a robust .345 in the post season games.

‘In every player’s career, sooner or later, you’re going to have to make a decision to move on.’ Said the 36-years old, six time All-Star first baseman. ‘The first part of my life was based on being a baseball player. The second part is going to be based on being a daddy and a husband.’

Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said, we were looking forward to having Will Clark come back. Everybody knows what he added to our club the second half really put us over the top.’

‘I can still hit, I can still play, field my position,’ said Clark. ‘But also at the same time, this is the right time for me to exit baseball.’

Will Clark stats .303 batting average, 284 Hr, 1,176 RBIs. His yearly batting mark, includes 10 seasons of hitting over .300, including a career high .333 in 1989, when he hit 29 homers and drove in 109 runs while a member of the San Francisco Giants.

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