Best of Big League Stew 2014: Recapping baseball’s top stories
The baseball story of 2014 will be defined by some of the names we expected to hear — there was Derek Jeter and A-Rod and Clayton Kershaw. But there were even more that surprised us — the Kansas City Royals, Hank the Dog, 50 Cent, and the all-too-soon loss of Tony Gwynn.
As we prepare to flip our calendars to 2015, Big League Stew is here with our annual look back at the year that was in baseball, from Madison Bumgarner’s legendary postseason performance to Mo’Ne Davis’ sizzling summer.
We thank you, once again, for following the biggest stories and oddest moments right here on Big League Stew. We’ll hope you do the same in 2015 because, as you might know, pitchers and catchers report in 51 days.
Previous best of Big League Stew retrospectives: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008
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STORY OF THE YEAR (ON THE FIELD)
The Kansas City Royals end playoff drought, then go all the way to the World Series.
Fans of the San Francisco Giants will surely dispute this, but the Kansas City Royals were the story of the 2014 baseball season. A team that had long been a punchline rebounded by playing its own brand of baseball, and advanced to the playoffs for the first time in 29 years. But the Royals didn’t stop there, of course, they hung on until Game 7 of the World Series. Along the way, we learned about all the Ned Yost quirks, their lockdown bullpen, their superfan from Korea, the guy with the big ol’ moose antlers and, of course, who could forget the young woman who got a puppy.
Honorable mentions:
• Madison Bumgarner’s already-legendary postseason run sends Giants to third World Series in five years.
• Derek Jeter retires, but not without one last moment of late-inning heroics.
• Clayton Kershaw was historically good, capturing both the Cy Young and MVP, plus throwing a no-hitter.
• Tommy John surgery entered full “epidemic” status, claiming Jose Fernandez and dozens others.
• Masahiro Tanaka comes to MLB, dominates and gets hurt.
• Joe Maddon leaves the Rays, joins the Cubs and brings new hope to Chicago once Jon Lester signs there.
• Giancarlo Stanton’s great seasons ends unfortunately, as he’s hit in the face with a fastball. He laters signs the biggest contract in sports history.
• Baseball adopts a number of new rules — from video replay to the home-plate collision rule — that lead to growing pains throughout the game.
• Mo’Ne Davis is a summer star after becoming the first girl to throw a shutout in the Little League World Series.
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STORY OF THE YEAR (OFF THE FIELD)
Tony Gwynn dies at 54 after bout with cancer
We knew Tony Gwynn, San Diego’s legendary Mr. Padre, was sick, but that didn’t lessen the blow when he died in June. Gwynn, one of baseball’s purest hitters ever, battled cancer and ultimately lost, but we were left to remember all the wonder his life with a bat gave us. We marveled at the facts — like how he needed 1,183 hitless at-bats for his career batting average to dip below .300 — and we were outraged when he didn’t get any love during the All-Star Game.
Honorable mentions:
• Hank the Dog goes from spring-training stray to beloved Brewers mascot.
• The A-Rod saga quiets, as he stops fighting and accepts his season-long suspension from MLB.
• Rob Manfred is elected as new MLB commissioner and heir to Bud Selig.
• Dumb controversy of the year: David Ortiz and his selfie with President Obama.
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PLAY OF THE YEAR
Derek Jeter’s delivers walk-off single in Yankee Stadium farewell
Yes, by the time Derek Jeter’s Yankee Stadium farewell came around, we were tired of Jetermania too. That’s what makes his final hurrah in the Bronx even more special. Jeter — as if it was drawn up by a higher power — came through with a walk-off single to give the Yankees a win, and even those of us exhausted by the lauding of Jeter had to marvel at him one last time.
Honorable mentions:
• Steven Souza’s diving catch on final out gives Jordan Zimmermann a no-hitter
• Yoenis Cespedes makes phenomenal throw that would impress Bo Jackson
• First World Series replay reversal gives Giants spectacular double play
• Incredible catch while falling into dugout suite caps Mike Moustakas’ great defensive night
• Billy Butler steals second base in ALDS Game 3 — no, really!
• Indy-Leaguer tears ACL after hitting homer, hops around bases on one leg
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VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Jeff Francoeur’s teammates pull month-long prank
When Jeff Francoeur joined the San Diego Padres’ Triple-A affiliate, his teammates played an elaborate prank on him. They spent an entire month convincing Francoeur that pitcher Jorge Reyes was deaf. Teammate Cody Decker captured the whole thing on video and released it as a short film called “On Jeff Ears.”
Honorable mentions:
• Joey Votto dresses as a Mountie for hilarious ‘Intentional Talk’ interview
• Watch the end of World Series Game 7 recreated using ‘R.B.I. Baseball’
• Rapper 50 Cent threw out probably the worst first pitch ever (Video)
• The Internet made it so: 50 Cent’s bad first pitch hit by Vladimir Guerrero
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GIF OF THE YEAR
Following the trajectory of 50 Cent’s awful first pitch
It didn’t win video of the year, but 50 Cent’s horrible first pitch wins in the GIF category, especially when the trajectory is traced by Yahoo Sports’ GIF wizard Eric Orvieto.
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TOUCHING MOMENT OF THE YEAR
Batkid throws out the first pitch before San Francisco Giants’ home opener
You couldn’t deny the heart-warming wonder of Batkid — the Make-A-Wish child for whom San Francisco was transformed into Gotham City. He returned for the Giants’ home opener, throwing out the first pitch at AT&T Park. The sequel was just as wonderful as the original.
Honorable mentions:
• You have to read the text message Madison Bumgarner’s dad sent him during Game 7
• Boy writes to Billy Beane asking A’s to ‘play extra hard’ on his birthday
• Minor league mascot surprises deaf boy by using sign language
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FAN PLAY OF THE YEAR
Wise young kid gives baseball to pretty girl
He’s not the first person to pull a switcheroo on a souvenir baseball, but we have to honor the kid above. He didn’t make a great grab on a foul ball — it was simply tossed to him — but his game came when he tossed a ball to a pretty girl seated behind him. But pay close attention. He kept the game-used ball for himself and tossed her a different ball. Smooth!
Honorable mentions:
• Slick Cubs fan makes great catch on homer, then throws back different ball
• This will make you smile: Little girl wins foul-ball scramble
• This kid got a foul ball at the Rockies game and his reaction is priceless
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WORST FAN OF THE YEAR
Adult swipes fall from kid at Yankees-Red Sox game.
There is no debate about this. If a player at a baseball game tosses a ball to a kid, no adult should take it. Never. Ever. Ever, ever, ever, ever. No other fan belongs in this category by comparison, not even the guy who sued the Yankees and ESPN after he feel asleep at a game.
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FOOD POST OF THE YEAR
Twins introduce self-serve beer machines
Let the record show: You can make up any crazy hot dog or food item, but a self-service beer station, like the one the Minnesota Twins debuted at Target Field this year, will always win. Even if it serves Bud Light.
Honorable mentions:
• Diamondbacks introduce 18-inch, bacon-stuffed corn dog that costs $25
• Phillies Triple-A team, the IronPigs, will wear a bacon cap this season
• San Diego brewery honors Tony Gwynn with Pale Ale 394
• The New York Mets are the cheesesteak-eating champs of the world
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PHOTOSHOP OF THE YEAR
The New York Mets loooooove cheesesteaks
The Mets set a record for most cheesesteaks consumed in the Philadelphia Phillies’ visitors’ clubhouse. Of course, the photoshop possibilities were endless.
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GOOF OF THE YEAR
Rockies misspell Troy Tulowitzki’s name on giveaway jersey
The Rockies handed out 15,000 jerseys to fans with their best player’s name spelled incorrectly, punctuating a disappointing season in Denver. Granted, Tulowitzki’s name isn’t an easy one, but the marketing department should know how to spell it by now.
Honorable mentions:
• Dodgers make three throwing errors on same hilariously embarrassing play
• Brewers score three runs on one Rockies’ wild pitch
• Spelling-challenged Giants fans tell team to ‘Baet L.A.’
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BEEF OF THE YEAR
Dodgers prospect Alex Guerrero has his ear bitten off in fight with teammate
Who cares that this didn’t happen at the big-league level — a baseball player got part of his ear bitten off in a fight with his own teammate. Alex Guerrero was the victim and Miguel Olivo was the biter. Olivo, as you probably guessed, was booted from the team and will forever live in infamy as baseball’s Mike Tyson.
Honorable mentions:
• Carlos Gomez ignites benches-clearing brawl with Pirates after showboating on triple
• Diamondbacks play revenge game, drill Andrew McCutchen with fastball
• Ump Joe West grabs Papelbon’s jersey after ejecting Pap for grabbing self
• Jesus Montero has altercation with Mariners scout over ice cream sandwich
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FIRST PITCH OF THE YEAR
Army vet throws first pitch grenade style
As you’ll see in the list below, we’ve seen first pitches of all sorts by now, so our hats go off to Army veteran Brian Keaton who did something that was both meaningful and creative — he threw out the first pitch like a grenade.
Honorable mentions:
• McKayla Maroney cartwheels and flips her way to impressive first pitch
• Bob Costas throws terrible first pitch, takes a mulligan, throws a strike
• Supermodel Chrissy Teigen before Dodgers first pitch: ‘I’m pretty drunk’
• Armless man throws out first pitch at Royals game
• Baby T-Rex throws out first pitch with its mouth at Padres game
• For the last time: Absolutely the WORST first pitch you’ll ever see
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ODDITY OF THE YEAR
Aaron Barrett and Brandon Barnes engage in National Anthem standoff
Oh, the things that happen during the dog days of summer — like two players engaging in an eight-minute National Anthem standoff, neither of them wanting to leave the field. Barrett, of the Nationals, outlasted Barnes, of the Rockies, because the Rockies didn’t win much last year.
Honorable mentions:
• Joe Maddon makes Rays lineup ‘867-5309’ to honor Tommy Tutone’s ‘Jenny’
• Jerome Williams beats A’s for third time this season with third different team
• Dodgers put four defenders on right side of infield — and it works
• Logan Morrison slides into base that doesn’t exist trying to disrupt double play
• Madison Bumgarner wins truck with ‘technology and stuff’ during awkward MVP ceremony
• Royals catcher Salvador Perez wears perfume, says MLB umpires love it
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KATE UPTON MOMENT OF THE YEAR
She’s the most famous girlfriend in MLB and we wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t keep tabs on her.
The most front-and-center baseball moment of the season for Upton and her boyfriend, Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, came in August when she wooed Verlander from the stands and convinced him to toss her a baseball. Of course, a number of fans loved being voyeurs to their public flirting.
Honorable mentions:
• Justin Verlander, Kate Upton team up to complete ice bucket challenge
• Kate Upton says Yankees wouldn’t let her wear Tigers’ gear at Yankee Stadium
• Justin Verlander and Kate Upton appear cozy at GQ Super Bowl party
• Justin Verlander, Kate Upton caught on Kiss Cam at Cavs game
OUR FAVORITE POSTS
Big League Stew writers pick their favorite posts they wrote in 2014:
From Mike Oz:
• Finding Jobu: Who has the good-luck charm from ‘Major League’ 25 years later?
• The San Francisco Giants are flourishing as underdogs — again
• Ken Griffey Jr. still watches ‘Little Big League’ 20 years later
• Inside AT&T Park’s Gotham Club, a baseball VIP experience like no other
• Madison Bumgarner, the best pitcher of the postseason, can send Giants to World Series with one more win
From Mark Townsend:
• Indy-Leaguer tears ACL after hitting home run, hopes around bases on one leg
• Young girl innocently throws back Derek Jeter foul ball
• Brandon McCarthy wins Yankee Stadium debut while wife gets stuck in NY traffic
• Rockies misspell Troy Tulowitzki’s name on 15,000 giveaway jersey
• Derek Jeter’s nephew steals show during ceremony in Detroit
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
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Mike Oz is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
