Summary Of The Clutch Gene

"Pitching is the art of instilling fear" (Sandy Koufax). These are the words Sanford ¨Sandy¨ Koufax believed in, and strived towards throughout his entire Hall of Fame baseball career. Through his impeccable talents on and off the field, Sandy was able to engraft the characteristics of trust, loyalty, and determination into all of the hearts of those who watched him. Sandy Koufax was the most influential baseball player of the 1960s, because he had a lot of experience with the game of baseball since he was young, he had a great impact on the people who watched him because of his actions, and he helped pave the way for the game of baseball to become even better.

Rose had his best offensive season in 1969, leading the league in batting for the second straight season (.348) and leading the league in runs with 120. As the team's lead-off man he was a catalyst, rapping 218 hits and walking 88 times. He hit 33 doubles, 11 triples, and tied a career-best with 16 home runs. He drove in 82 runs, slugged (also known as a slugging percentage; is a measure of the power of a hitter. It is calculated as total bases divided by at bats.) .512 (by far the highest mark of his long career), and had another career best .432 OBP (on base percentage) (Sports Reference, Inc). But the Reds finished four games out of first, and Rose lost the MVP to Willie McCovey. Rose and Roberto Clemente were tied for the batting title going into the final game; Rose bunted for a base hit in his last at-bat of the season to beat out Clemente.

The final 2 property points were earned for the description and discussion of specific heat.

He hit 600 home runs (5th most all time), won 10 gold gloves, and made 13 All Star Games. In almost 150 years baseball history, only the great Willie Mays can match Ken Griffey Jr. in these statistical categories. However, despite these extraordinary stats, Ken Griffey Jr. may be the ultimate “What Could Have Been” player. An incredibly promising career was derailed in the latter half by chronic injuries that robbed him of hundreds of games. If not for these injuries, Griffey was well on his way to becoming the Home Run King (Stark, 2010) and possibly the greatest player ever. Despite these setbacks, Griffey is still revered as one of the greatest and most popular MLB players ever. The savior of baseball in Seattle and the lone star to

practice R.A. worked his butt off and in the games he pitched in, he used all his power, blood, sweat and

Jonathan Griffin had his ups and downs playing baseball, however, he persevered and fought against all odds. The training helped out tremendously knowing he was not in the right track. Griffin eventually got back on his two feet and received an SOU Mid Season All Star for his rigorous work and

The man, the myth, the legend… Mariano Rivera, the best closing pitcher who ever played the game of baseball. Most of you might recognize him by his many nicknames given to him due to his dominant performance throughout his career. He was referred to as “The Great One, The Sandman, The Hammer of God, and Mo.” (Bleacher Report) Clearly, he was thought very highly of in the game of baseball. Coming from nothing, Mariano has really made a name for himself here in the states. He was once a struggling boy, who became a thriving athlete and a man. It was in his heart to fight for what he desired, and not to stop until he got it. However, contrary to what you may be thinking, Rivera was not only a man who dedicated his life to baseball, but he also dedicated his life to being a

Jackie Robinson was soon to be scouted by a white man, his name was Branch Rickey. He was the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers and he was in the white leagues. Soon later, Jackie Robinson first played for the Montreal Monarchs an all-white team then moved and became a new player to the Brooklyn Dodgers, he was the first black player to compete in the major leagues and first black player to be on the team too. For Jackie being the first African American to play in this major leagues, “Robinson was the target of racial epithets and flying cleats, of hate letters and death threats, of pitchers throwing at his head and legs, and catchers spitting on his shoes.” Jackie Robinson would get racial slurs from the crowd and from other teams. Jackie and his family would receive threats. He though was scared for himself and his family, but he knew that this was not an option to quit. Jackie did not give up, he will fight back with his talents in baseball. Throughout all his games, Jackie Robinson had the guts to play baseball through any adversity. He was able to overcome his fears and the hatred he had to hold back from the segregation and discrimination. The talent he had “Jackie Robinson became the first black player in the major leagues in 1947, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1947, National League MVP in 1949 and a World Series champ in 1955.” Through the course of the years, Jackie Robinson was able to achieve a lot. He knew just by playing his heart out there and giving his all would lead him to goals not a lot of baseball players can get to. Through any circumstance, Jackie was able to show the ones that doubted, made fun of him, and threatened him that he has never given up and he was able to do it and achieve it. From when Branch Rickey picked up Jackie Robinson, Jackie being the first and only black baseball player at this time, it is a huge

Jackie significantly helped his team by scoring 12 home runs in his first season, getting his team the National League Pennant, and helping to get them to the World Series. Although many people disliked him, he believed the only way to block them out was to excel. And he did! He ended the season with 12 home runs, 29 stolen bases, and a batting average of .342 . He was also selected rookie of the year in 1947. Recently, he won most valuable player in the League.

But what that Average does not account for is the importance of the hits. When the stage was just right for a hero, he has never failed to come in clutch. Jorge as well came to show his strength to hit the ball by being at more or less the top of the home run chart for the team during his prime. Jorge was more than a catcher, and sometimes the stats do not show how great some of those hits

To top it off, Ortiz is known as one of the best clutch hitters of all time considering

When someone thinks of baseball, they probably think of Mike Trout or Bryce Harper. They think of those two players for one reason: they are the best players in the game. Both were drafted in the first round and shot up through the minor leagues to the major leagues very quickly. Their talent and work ethic allow them to perform at an above average level, even in the major leagues. Although they both have enormous

So to make sure people remembered his name he made very spectacular throws and had an outstanding “inside-out” swing. These things made Derek Jeter develop a reputation as a player who thrives in very tough situations. His outstanding glove work possibly may have helped him in executing one of the most memorable plays of his career. In the 2001 playoffs, Jeter ran down a wild throw from the outfield and flipped it with his glove to the catcher to get an out at home plate. After beating the Oakland A’s in the 2001 playoffs, the Yankees played the Arizona Diamondbacks during the World Series. During this World Series Jeter hit a homerun that made them

Jackie’s family moved to California when he was a small child. Growing up in poverty in a well off neighborhood of Pasadena led him to join a small gang which a close friend of his encouraged him to leave. It was only then in high school did he realize his athletic ability which would destiny him for greatness. At John Muir High School which he attended with his older brother a great athlete in his own way who had already won a silver medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics encouraged him to take up sports. Jackie would go on to play a number of Varsity level sports which saw him lettered in the four major ones Football, basketball, track and baseball. Little did he know he would be changing the face of baseball America’s favorite pastime in years to come.

Instead of focusing on what hits count and what hits don't, let's focus on one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. Today, Miami Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki collected his 4, 257th in his career against the San Diego Padres. Obviously, the Major League Baseball all-time hits king is Pete Rose (who has 4,256). Ichiro recorded 1,278 hits in his nine-season career in Japan with the Orix Blue Wave. With the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Marlins, he has collected 2,979 and counting. Here's an emotional Ichiro in the post-game press conference after today's game versus the Padres: