Taichung, Taiwan – Taiwan swung into a new baseball season on Sunday — with one team planning to place robot mannequins in its crowdless stands — as the island bucked the global trend for scrapping sports events during the coronavirus. Despite its proximity and trade links with China, Taiwan has […]
Korea Baseball Organization targeting May as potential start date as number of new virus cases in South Korea drops
Seoul – With new cases of the coronavirus falling in South Korea, the country’s baseball league is targeting an early May restart with teams ready to play preseason exhibition games as early as April 21. On Wednesday, the country recorded 53 new infections, the third consecutive day that has seen […]
Retired foreign NPB players urge fans to be safe at home
With Japan facing the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, a number of former baseball players from overseas have been hitting social media with public service messages for a country that captured their hearts. So far over 20 former players have posted videos online in coordination with the Japan Retired Foreign […]
Former manager and Hall of Famer Junzo Sekine dies at 93
Junzo Sekine, a Hall of Famer and former manager who split his playing career between the mound and the batter’s box, has died at the age of 93, a source familiar with the matter said Thursday. Sekine managed the Yokohama-based Taiyo Whales, the predecessor of the DeNA BayStars, and later […]
Former Rangers star Josh Hamilton indicted, accused of abusing 14-year-old daughter
Fort Worth, Texas – Former Texas Rangers star Josh Hamilton has been indicted on a felony charge of injury to a child after his teenage daughter accused him of beating her. A Tarrant County grand jury indicted the 38-year-old Hamilton on Monday. He remains free on $30,000 bond after he […]
Players, managers intrigued by MLB’s all-Arizona option
New York – Boston’s Chris Sale, out for the season following Tommy John surgery, thought about the prospect of his teammates sequestered in the Phoenix area for an extended period if Major League Baseball and its players adopt an all-Arizona start to the season. « I don’t know if I could […]
NPB closes main office, announces further delays to season after emergency declaration
Like many other organizations in Japan, professional baseball is adjusting to the state of emergency declared Tuesday by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The declaration covers seven prefectures, including Tokyo, and will be in effect until at least May 6. Shortly after Abe made […]
MLB, union discuss playing all games in Arizona
New York – Putting all 30 teams in the Phoenix area and playing in empty ballparks was among the ideas discussed Monday by Major League Baseball and the players’ association. The sides held a telephone call to talk about paths forward for a season delayed by the new coronavirus pandemic, […]
Beloved Tigers star, Hall of Famer Al Kaline dies at 85
Detroit – Fresh off the train and only 18 years old, Al Kaline ran into an immediate roadblock trying to join the Detroit Tigers. Called up to the majors, he couldn’t get past the security guards at Briggs Stadium. « I finally convinced them I was the guy who just signed […]
Ichiro named to all-time Rookie of the Year team
Former MLB star Ichiro Suzuki was among three outfielders included on an MLB.com list of the all-time best Rookie of the Year Award winners at each position. Ichiro, who retired in March 2019 and has maintained his ties with the Seattle Mariners as an instructor and special assistant to the […]