Tuesday, November 17, 2009

CC Sabathia Just Missed Joining the Black Aces

When CC Sabathia stepped out on the mound October 2 on the road against the Tampa Rays he had 19 wins. One more would have given him 20, a nice round number to look good for the Cy Young voters and his only real shot at winning the award. He missed it, but missing out on an award he’s already won is probably not that big a deal to him especially considering the outcome of the playoffs themselves.

The more award that eluded him along with his 20th victory would have landed him in the category for elite black pitchers; he would have become a Black Ace.

The Black Aces are a group of 13 black pitchers who have won 20 games in a season at least once. Jim “Mudcat” Grant came up with the idea for the group and originally called it “The 12 Black Aces” after the group of guys who had broken the “last barrier” as there was still a reluctance to use black men as starting pitchers even after the color line was broken.

The group eventually expanded in 2005 when Dontrelle Willis won 22 games with the Florida Marlins. The other members are Vida Blue (’71, ‘73, ‘75), Al Downing (’71), Bob Gibson (’65, ‘66, ‘68, ‘69, ‘70), Dwight Gooden (’85), Mudcat Grant (’65), Ferguson Jenkins (’67, ‘68, ‘69, ‘70, ‘71, ‘72, ‘74), Sam Jones (’59), Don Newcombe (’51, ‘55, ‘56), Mike Norris (’80), J.R. Richard (’76), Dave Stewart (’87, ‘88, ‘89, ‘90), and Earl Wilson (’67).

Some of the members have expressed an interest in lowering the bar for pitchers to get in such as only winning 18 games or winning the Cy Young award since it is more uncommon for pitchers to win 20 games in this day and age. So far that has been just talk though, talk Sabathia would love to see turn into action as he’s won 19 games twice and a Cy Young.

Grant, who authored a book called The Black Aces: Baseball’s Only African-American Twenty-Game Winners that was released in 2006, was on hand during Sabathia’s final start this season anxious to make an addition to the tome.

“I’m looking for the 14th member of our club,” said Grant just before Sabathia’s October 2 start. “I’ve never actually witnessed the 20th victory by any of the guys, so it would be a thrill for me.

“CC is a great guy and he deserves it. And let’s not forget he’s going against (Rays pitcher) David Price, who could very well win 20 games one day, too.”

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good day !.
might , perhaps curious to know how one can make real money .
There is no need to invest much at first. You may start to receive yields with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.

AimTrust is what you thought of all the time
The company incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.

It is based in Panama with structures everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus.
Do you want to become an affluent person?
That`s your chance That`s what you really need!

I feel good, I began to get real money with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to choose a correct companion who uses your money in a right way - that`s it!.
I earn US$2,000 per day, and what I started with was a funny sum of 500 bucks!
It`s easy to start , just click this link http://izucexic.1accesshost.com/ejufateg.html
and go! Let`s take our chance together to feel the smell of real money

Anonymous said...

Hi!
You may probably be very interested to know how one can make real money on investments.
There is no need to invest much at first.
You may commense to get income with a money that usually goes
for daily food, that's 20-100 dollars.
I have been participating in one project for several years,
and I'll be glad to share my secrets at my blog.

Please visit blog and send me private message to get the info.

P.S. I earn 1000-2000 per daily now.

http://theinvestblog.com [url=http://theinvestblog.com]Online Investment Blog[/url]

Anonymous said...

Good day, sun shines!
There have were times of hardship when I felt unhappy missing knowledge about opportunities of getting high yields on investments. I was a dump and downright stupid person.
I have never imagined that there weren't any need in big initial investment.
Now, I feel good, I begin take up real money.
It gets down to choose a correct companion who uses your funds in a right way - that is incorporate it in real deals, and shares the profit with me.

You can ask, if there are such firms? I have to tell the truth, YES, there are. Please be informed of one of them:
[url=http://theblogmoney.com] Online investment blog[/url]

Anonymous said...

Good day, sun shines!
There have been times of troubles when I felt unhappy missing knowledge about opportunities of getting high yields on investments. I was a dump and downright stupid person.
I have never thought that there weren't any need in large initial investment.
Now, I'm happy and lucky , I begin take up real money.
It gets down to select a proper companion who uses your funds in a right way - that is incorporate it in real business, and shares the profit with me.

You can ask, if there are such firms? I'm obliged to answer the truth, YES, there are. Please be informed of one of them:
http://theinvestblog.com [url=http://theinvestblog.com]Online Investment Blog[/url]

Anonymous said...

Good day!

Let me introduce myself,
my parents call me James F. Collins.
Generally I’m a venturesome gambler. all my life I’m carried away by online-casino and poker.
Not long time ago I started my own blog, where I describe my virtual adventures.
Probably, it will be interesting for you to read my notes.
Please visit my web site. http://allbestcasino.com I’ll be interested on your opinion..