Baseball

The Nationals' director of field operations, John Turnour, looks over his domain.

Sports

The Grass Is Always Greener At The Baseball Field

1:07pm April 07, 2018

by Scott Detrow

Baseball players have all of spring training to get ready, but for the groundskeeper, Opening Day brings a lot of pressure. NPR spoke with John Tornour, the Washington Nationals' head groundskeeper.

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander was traded from the Detroit Tigers in a move that that experts estimate netted the Astros about $10 million, though no money changed hands between the two teams.

Tax Change Delivers A Blow To Professional Sports

10:27am March 22, 2018

The change of a single word in the 2017 tax overhaul means professional sports franchises could take a big tax hit each time they trade a player.

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Babe Ruth clouts a towering home run during his time with the New York Yankees.

Long-Lost Babe Ruth Interview Discovered In Prep School Archives

5:27pm February 22, 2018

by Diane Orson

The interview is part of a collection donated to Cheshire Academy 20 years ago by broadcaster Joe Hasel. A Ruth historian tells NPR the recording offers some new insights about the ballplayer.

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Roy Halladay won two Cy Young awards and was an eight-time All-Star during his 16 years in the major leagues. He's shown during his final season, in 2013.

Sports

Roy Halladay, Retired Cy Young-Winning Pitcher, Dies In Plane Crash At Age 40

6:53pm November 07, 2017

by Colin Dwyer

Halladay, an eight-time All Star, died when his plane crashed in the Gulf of Mexico. "He was probably one of the most humble human beings you'll ever meet," the local sheriff said Tuesday.

Yuli Gurriel will be suspended for five games in the 2018 season, and will receive sensitivity training in the off-season.

Sports

Astros' Yuli Gurriel Suspended For Racist Gesture — But Not Until After World Series

7:45pm October 28, 2017

by Maggie Penman

The Astros' first baseman Yu Gurriel will sit out five games next season without pay, and undergo sensitivity training. But the MLB stopped short of excluding him from the rest of the World Series.

Ben Hansen (left) watches data on a hand-held device as Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Matt Benedict throws a ball. Benedict is wearing sensors that recorded 39 sets of measurements.

Sports

What's Up Those Baseball Sleeves? Lots Of Data, And Privacy Concerns

3:07pm August 30, 2017

by Tom Goldman

Professional athletes use wearable technology to improve performance. But key questions remain over who owns the data and how the information is used.

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Sports

North Carolina Little League Baseball Team To Be Recognized

10:51am August 30, 2017

by Neal Charnoff

A North Carolina Little League baseball team is being honored at home and at the state capitol today.

The Yankees and Tigers raise dust on the diamond after both benches cleared in Detroit on Thursday.

Sports

Benches Clear — Again And Again — During Brawls Between Yankees And Tigers

7:28pm August 24, 2017

by Colin Dwyer

The confrontation opened with a hit batter and an inside pitch, but before long, both benches had cleared amid a flurry of fists. Then, they cleared again. And again. Luckily, no one appears injured.

Uniforms of the New York Yankees will be among those getting a personality infusion during Major League Baseball's Players Weekend later this month.

Baseball Hopes Players Weekend Will Bring New Spark To The Traditional Game

8:43pm August 10, 2017

by Tom Goldman

Players of the traditionally conservative sport will bust loose with "uniquely colored and designed" gear, including nicknames on their jerseys. The teams hope to sell a bunch of that merchandise too.

The Congressional Baseball Game is to be played at Nationals Park on Thursday night, just a day after Rep. Steve Scalise was critically injured in a shooting during practice in Virginia.

'We Will Not Give In To Fear': Congress Is Still Ready To Play Ball

9:23pm June 15, 2017

by Miles Parks

The traditional Congressional Baseball Game is being played Thursday night at Washington's Nationals Park, in spite of the shooting at the GOP practice on Wednesday morning.