There are lots of baseball things we could discuss here today, like the fact there are just over two weeks remaining in the regular season, or that Zack Wheeler inexplicably sustained an injury to his pitching hand while putting on his pants. (I wish I was making that up.)
What I’ll lead with today, though, is the recent 100th birthday of Roger Angell.
Roger Angell’s name might not be as immediately recognizable to a younger generation of baseball fans as it is to those who have been around for several decades, but for the uninitiated, Angell is arguably one of the best baseball writers to have ever picked up a pen to muse about the sport we all love.
He has written for The New Yorker almost exclusively for some seventy-plus years, but it is his books about the game, and the experience of being at it during spring training and beyond, that helped romanticize everything about the sport to generations of readers.
If you haven’t picked up The Summer Game or Five Seasons, do yourself a favor and place an order at your local indie book shop immediately so you have something to hold you over this offseason.
On September 19, Angell will turn 100. While he has not contributed to The New Yorker or posted any new baseball writing since 2018, he remains one of the most impactful and thoughtful voices about the sport.
Mark Singer has written an incredible piece about Angell for The New Yorker.
- Some of the biggest stars in baseball aren’t living up to expectations, and Eno Sarris wonders if they’ll be able to bounce back. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Jim Callis tries to predict which players will make the 2025 All-Star Game.
- The loneliness of this unusual season is starting to weigh on players, writes Barry Svrluga.
- Thom Brennaman wants your forgiveness, but he probably doesn’t deserve it. Exclusive interview with Mark Fischer.
- Steven Goldman reflects on the passing of Lou Brock. (Baseball Prospectus subscription required.)
- Thursday marked an important milestone for a future Cubs great. (Just accept at this point I will post any and everything Fergie Jenkins related for the rest of known history).
Ferguson Jenkins made his MLB debut 55 years ago today.
— High Heat Stats (@HighHeatStats) September 10, 2020
He's one in a long string of excellent players the Phillies let get away. pic.twitter.com/yNG0z09DLQ
- Noah Frank brings us some truly bizarre closed captions from MLB broadcasts.
- Taylor Trammell says baseball is not Black enough, in a compelling Players Tribune piece.
- Before the season began, several players opted out. Ken Rosenthal speaks to those players about their experience in watching the season unfold from the sidelines. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- At MLB.com is the intriguing story of how baseball became a way of life for the Edman siblings. Written by Anne Rogers and Do-Hyoung Park.
- Rachael McDaniel dives into the exhausting grind of the season, especially for the Cardinals who are attempting to make up for lost time, quite literally.
- Can you buy a priceless baseball card for only $25? Bill Shea tells the story of his purchase fo a Mickey Mantle card. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- For fans who have lost loved ones, having cardboard cutouts in the stands has provided an unique way to grieve those they’ve lost. Story by Rick Maese.
- Craig Edwards takes a look at the absolutely bonkers set of skewed box scores from Wednesday night’s biggest blowouts.
- Speaking of which:
.@Braves @Brewers
— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 10, 2020
not scoring that extra run to make
their score aesthetically pleasing pic.twitter.com/NkpolBSIdb
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.