The phrases had been delivered greater than 30 years in the past on a film set in an Iowa cornfield. However they resonate simply as deeply in the present day.
“America has rolled by like a military of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased once more. However baseball has marked the time,’’ James Earl Jones’ character, Terrence Mann, advised Kevin Costner’s Ray Kinsella throughout their climactic scene within the iconic 1989 film “Discipline of Goals.”
The sport of baseball is a part of our previous, Mann added, then tugged on the heartstrings by suggesting, ”It reminds us of all that when was good and might be once more.”
Let’s face it, it’s been a tough few years. Baseball’s by no means been excellent – the lockout this offseason was additional proof of that – however it may be a terrific healer. Simply take a look at how the Giants’ World Sequence runs within the early 2010s captivated the area, and so they did it once more throughout final summer time’s sudden breakthrough. The A’s dominated not solely the Bay Space, however had been the most important rock stars of the baseball world within the late Eighties. Who is aware of what the sport would seem like in the present day if the Swingin’ A’s of the Seventies with their assortment of colourful characters – and uniforms – by no means existed?
However this isn’t in regards to the groups. Few areas on this planet can declare to have a bigger imprint on the sport than our Bay Space. The collective whole of trophies, plaques and different hardware from space merchandise may stretch a span of the Bay Bridge. Most likely with slightly left over.
Corridor of Famers? We’ve produced loads of them. MVPs and Cy Younger Award winners? Too many to rely. The all-time residence run king and the stolen base king grew up on reverse sides of the bay, and the man who struck out extra batters than another left-handed pitcher is from Livermore. Bay Space-produced gamers dominated the early twentieth century’s useless ball period, had been within the beginning lineup of the first-ever All-Star Sport and have been on the heart of a number of the largest on- and off-field moments in baseball historical past. ESPN lately ranked the highest 100 gamers of all-time, and 5 of the highest 24 gamers on that record realized the sport on sandlots throughout the Bay Space.
We’re thrilled to share our nostalgic take a look at the legacy of baseball within the Bay Space via the names and achievements of our hometown heroes.
Much like the Corridor of Fame, we had just a few tips to go by. Gamers who had been born within the Bay Space and moved away earlier than their youth aren’t included. The identical goes for all of the gamers from the super schools in our space who grew up elsewhere.
What we ended up with isn’t an all-time finest record. Certain, all the celebrities are accounted for. However so are gamers who left an indelible mark on the game as groundbreakers, one-hit wonders or unforgettable personalities.
Simply our method of serving to to point out how Bay Space baseball has marked the time.
Wally Berger (San Francisco)
The Mission Excessive product was the Nationwide League’s beginning heart fielder for the primary two All-Star Video games and was one of many league’s prime energy hitters within the early Nineteen Thirties. He hit 38 residence runs in 1930, a rookie document that stood till Mark McGwire hit 49 in 1987. And he was teammates with Corridor of Famer Joe Cronin on the 1922 Mission Excessive group that received town highschool championship.
Barry Bonds (San Mateo)
This Serra Excessive alum is MLB’s single-season and profession Dwelling Run King, however suspicions of performance-enhancing drug use have saved him out of the Corridor of Fame. Bonds was a seven-time MVP and 14-time All-Star with the Pirates and the Giants. He completed his profession with 762 residence runs and at his peak was such a feared slugger that he was deliberately walked with the bases loaded. ESPN lately listed him because the No. 8 participant in MLB historical past.
Ernie Broglio (El Cerrito)
He was a 20-game winner with the Cardinals in 1960, however the El Cerrito Excessive product is finest recognized for being the man the Cubs received for future Corridor of Famer Lou Brock in probably the most lopsided trades in MLB historical past. Broglio received seven extra video games earlier than shoulder accidents ended his profession.
Glenn Burke (Berkeley)
The previous Berkeley Excessive star by no means grew to become “one other Willie Mays” as Mays’ up to date and then-Dodgers coach Jim Gilliam as soon as predicted, however he did depart a formidable legacy. Burke, who performed for the Dodgers and A’s from 1976-79, was the primary MLB participant to return out as homosexual to teammates and possession whereas he was an lively participant. Burke, who died in 1985 on the age of 42, is also credited with inventing the excessive 5 on the ultimate day of the 1977 common season. He ran onto the sector together with his arm raised to congratulate Dodgers teammate Dusty Baker, who had simply hit his thirtieth residence run, and Baker slapped Burke’s hand, making a cultural phenomenon.
Joe Charboneau (Santa Clara)
The 1980 American League Rookie of the Yr performed simply 70 video games in components of two seasons and is the oft-cited instance of the sophomore jinx. The Buchser Excessive alum was an immediate sensation in Cleveland for his manufacturing – he hit a .289 common with 23 residence runs and 87 RBI – in addition to his larger-than-life persona and backstory. Charboneau mentioned he boxed bare-knuckled in field vehicles and warehouses to earn cash as a teen and was capable of drink beer via his nostril as a result of all of the cartilage was eliminated after one in all 3 times it was damaged.
Brandon Crawford (Pleasanton)
The Foothill Excessive alum grew up a Giants fan, and after final season, no shortstop has performed extra video games for the franchise than the three-time All-Star. Debuting in 2011, he hit a grand slam in his first recreation, received his fourth Gold Glove final season and completed fourth within the NL MVP race. He was additionally a key contributor to 2 World Sequence championship groups.
Joe Cronin (San Francisco)
Cronin received prep metropolis championships at Mission Excessive and Sacred Coronary heart (he transferred after Mission Excessive burned down in 1922) earlier than embarking on a Corridor of Fame MLB profession that included being a star shortstop, supervisor, common supervisor, AL president and member of the HOF’s board of administrators. In all, the seven-time All-Star (he began for the AL within the first-ever recreation in 1933) spent almost 50 years in baseball and, remarkably, was by no means fired or out of labor.
Joe DiMaggio (San Francisco)
Probably the most recognizable participant of his period stays a cultural icon – it doesn’t harm that he was married to Marilyn Monroe – in addition to being one of many best gamers of all time. “The Yankee Clipper” did all of it in a Corridor of Fame profession that noticed him win three MVP awards and make the All-Star group in every of his 13 seasons. He performed his total profession with the Yankees, profitable 9 World Sequence titles and 10 AL pennants. His 56-game hitting streak in 1941 stays a MLB document. He dropped out of Galileo Excessive and caught the eye of the Yankees whereas enjoying with the San Francisco Seals.
Dennis Eckersley (Fremont)
The primary-ballot Corridor of Famer from Washington Excessive was a profitable starter – he was a 20-game winner and pitched a no-hitter – however is finest often known as the dominating nearer for his hometown A’s. “Eck” was the AL’s Cy Younger winner and MVP in 1992. He had two different top-5 MVP finishes and was runner-up for the Cy Younger in 1988. He’s the primary participant in historical past with a 20-win and 50-save season.
Ferris Fain (Oakland)
The five-time All-Star first baseman received consecutive AL batting titles in 1951 and 1952 however solely performed 9 seasons due to knee accidents. The three-sport star at Roosevelt Excessive nonetheless ranks fifteenth all-time in profession on-base proportion (.424) but in addition was recognized for his brushes with the legislation, together with getting busted in 1988 on the age of 66 for rising greater than 400 pot vegetation at his Placerville residence.
Curt Flood (Oakland)
The three-time All-Star batted over .300 in six of his 15 seasons and was thought of by some through the period a superior defensive heart fielder to Willie Mays (he received the Gold Glove seven consecutive seasons, from 1963-1969 with the Cardinals). However he’s finest recognized for sparking the free company motion. Flood sat out the 1970 season after refusing to report back to the Phillies as a part of a commerce. He sued MLB and misplaced, however paved the way in which for better gamers’ rights. He performed in the identical McClymonds outfield with Vada Pinson and Frank Robinson however graduated from Oakland Tech.
Jim Fregosi (San Mateo)
This six-time All-Star from Serra Excessive was one of many prime all-around shortstops within the AL through the late Sixties and early Seventies and managed for 15 seasons, main the Phillies to the 1993 World Sequence. He was a key a part of the 1971 commerce that introduced Nolan Ryan from the Mets to the Angels.
Elijah ‘Pumpsie’ Inexperienced (Richmond)
The El Cerrito Excessive product broke the Boston Crimson Sox’s coloration barrier, 22 years after Jackie Robinson debuted with the Dodgers. Inexperienced spent components of 5 seasons within the majors, and when he made his MLB debut on July 21, 1959, he grew to become the primary Black participant to play for the Crimson Sox. Boston was the ultimate pre-expansion MLB group to combine. Inexperienced labored at Berkeley Excessive for greater than 20 years after his retirement from baseball.
Harry Heilmann (San Francisco)
The Corridor of Fame outfielder debuted with the Detroit Tigers at 19, simply two years out of Sacred Coronary heart, and nearly instantly was among the best hitters of any period. He led the AL in batting 4 instances from 1921-27, with averages of .394, .403, .398 and .396. He was one in all six AL gamers to hit .400, and his profession common of .342 is the twelfth highest in Main League historical past and third amongst right-handed batters. Heilmann hit over .300 for 12 consecutive seasons.
Rickey Henderson (Oakland)
Born on Christmas Day, Henderson was the present that saved on giving. He's the single-season and profession stolen base king and the best leadoff hitter in MLB historical past. The previous Oakland Tech pupil was a first-ballot Corridor of Famer who performed for 9 groups over 25 seasons, together with 4 separate stints together with his hometown A’s. The ten-time All-Star outfielder was the AL MVP in 1990 and catalyst for World Sequence winners in Oakland (1989) and Toronto (1993). He had energy to go together with his pace, hitting 297 profession residence runs. His 81 residence runs to steer off a recreation is an MLB document.
Keith Hernandez (Millbrae)
The Capuchino Excessive and Faculty of San Mateo grad became one of many all-time nice draft success tales. The Forty second-round decide received 11 straight Gold Gloves at first base, was a five-time All-Star, shared the NL MVP in 1979 and received World Sequence titles with the Cardinals (1982) and the Mets (1986). He appeared in “The Boyfriend” episode of Seinfeld, which TV Information as soon as ranked No. 4 on the record of the best TV episodes of all time.
Harry Hooper (Oakland)
Hooper wasn’t launched to baseball till he left his household’s Santa Clara farm to attend St. Mary’s Excessive, however he blossomed into among the best defensive proper fielders and leadoff hitters of the useless ball period. He was the one MLB participant to steer off each video games of a doubleheader with a house run till Rickey Henderson completed the feat 80 years later. After profitable 4 World Sequence with the Crimson Sox from 1912-18, he served because the postmaster for Capitola for greater than 20 years.
Jackie Jensen (Oakland)
The three-time All-Star from Oakland Excessive received a World Sequence with the Yankees as a rookie and was the AL MVP with the Crimson Sox in 1958. He retired after 1961 on the age of 34 due to a concern of flying. One of the completed faculty athletes in Bay Space historical past, “The Golden Boy” led Cal to the inaugural Faculty World Sequence in 1947 and a 12 months later, led the Bears soccer group to the Rose Bowl. Jensen completed fourth within the Heisman Trophy voting after changing into Cal’s first 1,000-yard rusher that season.
Randy Johnson (Livermore)
The “Large Unit” dominated – and intimidated – hitters at Livermore Excessive, USC and early in his professional profession with a blazing fastball and erratic management. However the 6-foot-10 lefty put it collectively after a 1992 dialog with Nolan Ryan, profitable at the least 17 video games in eight of the subsequent 10 seasons, incomes him 5 Cy Younger Awards. The primary-ballot Corridor of Famer received his three hundredth profession recreation with the Giants in 2009 and ranks second to Ryan in profession strikeouts.
George “Excessive Pockets” Kelly (San Francisco)
Kelly helped the New York Giants win 4 consecutive NL pennants as a gifted defensive first baseman and among the best hitters of the early Twenties, main the NL in residence runs as soon as and in RBIs twice. The San Francisco native dropped out of faculty to play semi-pro in Oakland and was within the majors on the age of 19. He was voted into the Corridor of Fame in 1973.
Mark Langston (Santa Clara)
Langston went to San Jose State after the Cubs drafted him within the fifteenth spherical out of Buchser Excessive on the age of 17 and was the Mariners’ second-round decide three years later. He led the AL in strikeouts as a rookie, was a four-time All-Star and pitched a mixed no-hitter in 1990. Received seven Gold Gloves and had among the best pickoff strikes of all time – when he retired, his 91 profession pickoffs had been an MLB document.
Carney Lansford (Santa Clara)
The previous Wilcox Excessive star achieved a uncommon accomplishment by enjoying in each the Little League and MLB World Sequence, reaching Williamsport in 1969 with Briarwood LL, then enjoying in three World Sequence with the A’s, profitable one in 1989. He received a batting title in 1981, simply missed a second in 1989 and completed with a profession batting common of .290.
Cookie Lavagetto (Oakland)
The previous Oakland Tech Excessive pupil was found throughout a semi-pro recreation and went on to grow to be a four-time All-Star and play in two World Sequence with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Lavagetto spoiled what would have been the primary no-hitter in World Sequence historical past, amassing a walk-off, pinch-hit double with two outs within the backside of the ninth inning in Sport 4 of the 1947 Sequence in opposition to the Yankees. That was the ultimate hit of his MLB profession.
Tony Lazzeri (San Francisco)
The Corridor of Fame second baseman was a part of the Yankees’ famed “Murderers’ Row” within the late Twenties, together with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Bob Meusel. The San Francisco native dropped out of Galileo Excessive, however was within the majors with the Yankees by the age of twenty-two and completed tenth in MVP voting as a rookie. He drove in over 100 runs seven instances and was a member of the unique AL All-Star group in 1933.
Ernie Lombardi (Oakland)
The Corridor of Fame catcher from McClymonds Excessive was an eight-time All-Star who hit over .300 in 10 seasons. The 2-time NL batting champ caught for Johnny Vander Meer’s back-to-back no-hitters in 1938.
Billy Martin (Berkeley)
Martin had a well-earned fame as a fighter earlier than he arrived at Berkeley Excessive, and he saved swinging all through a colourful and profitable profession as a participant and supervisor. He was a key member of the Yankees’ 1950’s dynasty – he was MVP of the 1953 World Sequence – and in addition Mickey Mantle’s roommate and carousing accomplice. As a supervisor, he had well-known battles with George Steinbrenner, Reggie Jackson and a Minnesota marshmallow salesman. He was sometimes an preliminary success – he revived the A’s together with his BillyBall groups of the early Eighties, one in all his 5 division winners – however at each cease was fired or left amid off-field controversy.
Gil McDougald (San Francisco)
McDougald was a basketball star at Commerce Excessive and didn’t make the varsity baseball group till he was a senior, however he wound up being a key piece to the Yankees’ Nineteen Fifties dynasty, enjoying second, third and shortstop. He was the AL Rookie of the Yr in 1951 (Mickey Mantle’s rookie season and Joe DiMaggio’s final) and was a six-time All-Star and a part of 5 World Sequence profitable groups. Retired in 1960 on the age of 32.
Joe Morgan (Oakland)
A key piece of Cincinnati’s “Large Crimson Machine” of the Seventies, the Corridor of Famer from Castlemont Excessive was by any measure one of many best second basemen in MLB historical past. He was a two-time MVP, 10-time All-Star and received 5 Gold Gloves earlier than spending greater than 20 years as a broadcaster. He was elected to the Corridor of Fame in 1990.
Daniel Nava (San Carlos)
Nava hit the primary pitch he noticed within the majors for a grand slam in 2010 with the Crimson Sox, punctuating an inconceivable journey worthy of a film. Undersized at St. Francis Excessive, the place he was a talented defensive outfielder however not often batted, he was reduce as a walk-on at Santa Clara and served because the group supervisor. He went to the Faculty of San Mateo, received greater and have become a JC All-American and returned to SCU, the place he led the West Coast Convention in hitting however was not drafted. A 12 months after being reduce, he was rated the No. 1 prospect within the Unbiased League, and the Crimson Sox purchased his rights for $1. Two years later, he made his dramatic debut and spent components of seven seasons within the majors, profitable a World Sequence ring with Boston.
Lefty O’Doul (San Francisco)
The 2-time batting champ and participant within the inaugural All-Star recreation has the best profession batting common (.349) of any participant eligible for MLB Corridor of Fame who just isn't enshrined, however was inducted into the Japanese baseball Corridor of Fame for his work selling the sport there earlier than and after World Warfare II. The hometown hero has a drawbridge close to the San Francisco ballpark named after him. If the Tokyo Giants uniforms look acquainted, it’s as a result of the previous New York Large designed them. He managed the San Francisco Seals and was credited with creating Joe DiMaggio.
Vada Pinson (Oakland)
A trumpet participant within the McClymonds Excessive band, Pinson was persuaded to observe a profession path in baseball as a substitute of music and was one of many NL’s prime all-around gamers within the Sixties. The 2-time All-Star heart fielder performed 18 seasons and had extra hits in his first 5 full seasons (985) than Corridor of Fame contemporaries Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson, his highschool teammate.
Dave Righetti (San Jose)
The Pioneer Excessive product was the Giants pitching coach from 2000-17 and the chief architect of the dominating staffs that helped win three World Sequence titles after a profitable profession that noticed the left-hander grow to be the primary MLB participant to pitch a no-hitter and lead the league in saves throughout his profession. “Rags” was the AL Rookie of the Yr in 1981 as a starter and pitched a no-hitter for the Yankees on the 4th of July in 1983 however grew to become New York’s nearer in 1984. He made two All-Star groups as a reliever and set a then-MLB document with 46 saves in 1986.
Frank Robinson (Oakland)
The McClymonds Excessive alum left indelible marks as a participant and a supervisor and was elected to the Corridor of Fame as quickly as he grew to become eligible in 1982. As a participant, Robinson was named Rookie of the Yr, received MVP awards in each leagues, had a Triple Crown season, received a Gold Glove in proper discipline and was a World Sequence and All-Star Sport MVP. In 1975, he grew to become the primary Black supervisor within the majors and managed 4 groups in all, together with the Giants.
Jimmy Rollins (Alameda)
The previous Encinal Excessive star was the leadoff man for Phillies groups that received 5 straight division titles, two NL pennants and a World Sequence from 2007-11. Rollins was a three-time All-Star, received a Silver Slugger and 4 Gold Gloves. He was on the Corridor of Fame poll for the primary time this 12 months and obtained 9.4 % of the votes to stay eligible.
C.C. Sabathia (Vallejo)
Rated the highest prospect in Northern California whereas at Vallejo Excessive, the massive lefty lived as much as the hype. He went 17-5 as a 20-year-old rookie with Cleveland and retired after the 2019 season with the third-most strikeouts by a left-hander in MLB historical past and tied with Bob Gibson for the second-most wins (251) by a Black pitcher. The six-time All-Star led the majors in wins twice and received the 2007 AL Cy Younger award.
Marcus Semien (El Cerrito)
The St. Mary’s Excessive alum adopted his dad or mum’s footsteps to Cal (dad, Damien, performed soccer there) and enters this season as one of many majors’ prime second basemen. He completed third within the MVP race with the A’s in 2019. Final season, he signed with the Blue Jays, modified positions and wound up beginning the All-Star Sport and setting a single-season document for second basemen with 45 homers. Signed a $175 million cope with the Rangers this winter.
Willie Stargell (Alameda)
Stargell wasn’t even the perfect participant on his Encinal Excessive group, however he developed into one of many NL’s most feared sluggers within the Sixties and ‘70s and was a first-ballot Corridor of Famer. Stargell, who has a road named after him in Alameda, was a seven-time All-Star and had six top-10 MVP finishes (he was second twice) earlier than – on the age of 39 and the chief of the “We Are Household” Pirates – he shared the award with Keith Hernandez in 1979.
Dave Stewart (Oakland)
Joined his hometown A’s on the age of 29 and have become probably the most dominating – and intimidating – pitchers of the late Eighties and early ‘90s. The previous St. Elizabeth Excessive pupil went 10-3 in 16 post-season begins with the A’s and Blue Jays, profitable each of his begins in opposition to the Giants within the 1989 World Sequence. He had 4 straight 20-game seasons and top-4 AL Cy Younger Award finishes from 1987-90.
Troy Tulowitzki (Sunnyvale)
The five-time NL All-Star was one of many prime all-around shortstops when he was wholesome. In 13 seasons, he performed in at the least 100 video games simply eight instances and hit 20 or extra residence runs in seven of these seasons. He was a baseball and basketball star at Fremont Excessive and the seventh total decide within the 2005 draft by the Rockies after starring at Lengthy Seashore State. Two years later, as a 22-year-old rookie, he helped lead Colorado to its solely World Sequence look.
Dontrelle Willis (Alameda)
Within the early 2000s, the “D-Practice” was one of many recreation’s largest stars and dominant pitchers. The previous Encinal Excessive pupil with the unorthodox supply was an instantaneous sensation as a 21-year-old rookie in 2003, making the All-Star group, serving to lead the Marlins to a World Sequence title and profitable the Rookie of the Yr award. Two years later, he was 22–10 with a 2.63 and was runner up for the NL Cy Younger however by no means recaptured that success. Due to command points and accidents, he received simply 26 extra video games and made his ultimate look within the majors in 2011.
Different notable Bay Space-bred gamers
Mike Aldrete (Monterey)
Scott A. Alexander (Santa Rosa)
Buzz Arlett (Oakland)
Kevin Bass (Menlo Park)
Buddy Biancalana (Larkspur)
Alex Blandino (Palo Alto)
Wealthy Bordi (South San Francisco)
Pat Burrell (Boulder Creek)
Eric Byrnes (Woodside)
Dolph Camilli (San Francisco)
Ken Caminiti (San Jose)
Tom Candiotti (Harmony)
Jerry Coleman (San Francisco)
Babe Dahlgren (San Francisco)
Daniel Descalso (San Carlos)
Dom DiMaggio (San Francisco)
Vince DiMaggio (San Francisco)
Taylor Douthit (Oakland)
Lew Fonseca (Oakland)
Jesse Foppert (San Rafael)
Kevin Frandsen (San Jose)
Danny Frisella (San Francisco)
Augie Galan (Berkeley)
Chris Gimenez (Gilroy)
Jerry Goff (San Rafael)
Joey Gomes (Petaluma)
Jonny Gomes (Petaluma)
Chick Hafey (Berkeley)
Tommy Harper (Alameda)
Brandon Hyde (Santa Rosa)
Gregg Jefferies (San Mateo)
Brian Johnson (Oakland)
Ruppert Jones (Berkeley)
Eddie Joost (San Francisco)
Von Joshua (Oakland)
Mark Koenig (San Francisco)
Ray Kremer (Oakland)
Chad Kreuter (Larkspur)
Lee Lacy (Oakland)
Darren Lewis (Berkeley)
Duffy Lewis (San Francisco)
Bob McClure (Pacifica)
Willie McGee (San Francisco)
Bob Melvin (Menlo Park)
Sam Mertes (San Francisco)
Brandon Morrow (Rohnert Park)
Lloyd Moseby (Oakland)
Don Mossi (Daly Metropolis)
Xavier Nady (Salinas)
Mike Norris (San Francisco)
Greg Norton (Oakland)
Invoice Pecota (Sunnyvale)
Joc Pederson (Palo Alto)
Gary Pettis (Oakland)
Stephen Piscotty (Pleasanton)
Ken Reitz (San Francisco)
Invoice Rigney (Oakland)
Bip Roberts (Oakland)
Joe Ross (Oakland)
Tyson Ross (Oakland)
Dutch Ruether (San Francisco)
Bryan Shaw (Livermore)
Chris Speier (Alameda)
Gus Suhr (San Francisco)
Willie Tasby (Oakland)
Eric Thames (San Jose)
Spencer Torkelson (Petaluma)
Sam Tuivailala (San Mateo)
George Van Haltren (Oakland)
Andrew Vaughn (Santa Rosa)
Will Venable (San Rafael)
Claudell Washington (Berkeley)
Invoice Wight (Oakland)