Who Is Mr. Baseball?
Contents
Who is Mr. Baseball? He’s the guy who knows everything there is to know about America’s favorite pastime. He can tell you who won the World Series in any given year, who the MVP was, and he can probably even recite every rule in the book.
The Beginnings
Mr. Baseball is the nickname of former Major League Baseball (MLB) player, manager and coach Don Mattingly. He played 14 seasons in the MLB for the New York Yankees. After retiring as a player, he became the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a position he held for five years. He is currently the first base coach for the Miami Marlins.
His birth and early life
Satchel Paige was born Leroy Robert Paige on July 7, 1906, in Mobile, Alabama. He was one of seven children born to John and Lula Paige. His father worked as a janitor, while his mother took in laundry. Leroy’s first name was given to him by his mother, who had previously had a son named Leroy that died as an infant. It is believed that his father named him Robert after the doctor who delivered him. As a young boy, Leroy began calling himself Satchel after overhearing people referring to him as “the satchel boy” because he frequently carried a heavy bag for his mother.
His family
Satchel Paige’s family was very large, with his mother Lula having given birth to eleven children. His father, John DeVane Paige, was a sharecropper and prize fighter who went by the name of “Big PaPa”. Big PaPa had another wife and children before he married Lula, and as a result, Satchel had numerous half-brothers and sisters. His parents farmed near Mobile, Alabama, but his mother died when he was seven years old.
His Education
Mr. Baseball is the nickname of former Yankee outfielder, Hideki Matsui. Matsui was born in Neosho, Missouri in 1974 and raised in Kobe, Japan. He excelled in both baseball and academics as a young man and was drafted by the Yomiuri Giants in the early 1990s.
His schooling
Mr. Baseball is a 1992 American sports comedy film directed by Fred Schepisi and starring Tom Selleck, Ken Olin, Dennis Haysbert, and Lolita Davidovich. The film was written by screenwriter Phil Alden Robinson. It was released by Universal Studios.
The film grossed a total of $32 million worldwide. Critics gave the film mixed reviews with some praising its humor and acting while others criticized its predictable plot.
His college years
Derek Jeter attended Kalamazoo Central High School in Michigan, where he played baseball and basketball. After high school, he was drafted by the Oakland Athletics, but he opted to attend the University of Michigan instead.
At Michigan, Jeter was a shortstop on the baseball team. He helped lead the Wolverines to the College World Series in his junior year. After his junior year, he was drafted by the Yankees. Again, he chose to finish his college education, and he was named College World Series Most Outstanding Player in his senior year.
His Professional Life
Mr. Baseball is a nickname for the former professional baseball player, catcher and first baseman, Mike Piazza. Piazza played for four teams during his Major League Baseball (MLB) career: the Los Angeles Dodgers (1992–1998), the Florida Marlins (1998), the New York Mets (1998–2005), and the San Diego Padres (2006–2007).
His early years in the MLB
Born Kevin Michael Costner on January 18, 1955, in Lynwood, California, actor and director Kevin Costner’s ancestry includes Irish, German and Native American. The youngest of three sons, Costner grew up in Compton, California. He played on his high school baseball and football teams, and went on to study finance and marketing at California State University in Fullerton.
In 1986, Costner made his directorial debut with the baseball film starring as an aging minor league player-turned-manager. Field of Dreams was a financial success, grossing more than $200 million at the worldwide box office. The movie also earned acclaim from critics; Roger Ebert called it “one of the most sentimental films ever made,” while Gene Siskel dubbed it “the best baseball movie ever.”
His later years in the MLB
Satchel Paige was 55 years old when he joined the MLB, playing for the Cleveland Indians. He was the oldest rookie in baseball history, and his arrival sparked a national sensation. Newspapers followed his every move, and fans flocked to see him pitch. He went on to play three seasons with the Indians, winning 28 games and helping the team to a World Series victory in 1948. He retired from baseball in 1953, but continued to make guest appearances and promote the game until his death in 1982.
His Personal Life
Seattle Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki has been married to his wife, Yumiko, since 1999. The two met while they were students at Aishin Gakuen, a prestigious school in Tokyo. They have no children together.
His marriage
Mr. Baseball was married to his high school sweetheart, Mary, for over 50 years until her passing in 2010. They had four children together.
His children
Bobby Murcer had three children: a daughter, Ashley, and two sons, Todd and Tori. Bobby’s wife of 42 years, Kay, died in 2012 after a long battle with cancer.
