Tuesday, December 16, 2025

2025 Hall of Fame elects 2

 The Hall of Fame class of 2025 welcomes Hank Crowell and Gerald White Sr to the legends of the game. Both players received 100% of the votes.

Crowell was a 2-time MVP and a triple crown winner. In 2008 he hit .336 with 48 homers and 129 RBI for the LA Shockers. He finished his career with 2667 hits and 383 homeruns.

Gerald White fell short on the previous 6 HOF ballots despite 2596 career hits. It turns out all he needed was one more. Last summer, the 63-year-old suited up for one more game to join his grandson in the lineup. Gerald had 4 at bats that game and added one more hit to his total. He now ranks among the immortals.

Falling short with 2 votes are: 

Jason Baret, Prince Coleman, Jaret Benser, Kenny Anderson Jr, and Charlie Zito.

The following players received one vote and will remain on next year's ballot:

Rufus Anderson, Suzuke Mazdahonda, Alex Maldonado, and Ryan Harris.

2025 World Series

 Game 1: Toledo arrived in Philadelphia as extreme underdogs. They face a team that won 106 games in the regular season, while they only won 90. It didn't take them long to flip the script. The second batter of the game, Tsutomu Sato, belted a 2 run homer off Philly starter Gary Smith. In the 3rd inning, Sato homered again as Toledo won 9-2. Cary Lee started the game and allowed 1 run on 2 hits over 6 innings.

Game 2: Philadelphia brought out their ace, Tom Weaver, the new strikeout king. Sato struck again with an RBI single in the first, and a double in the 3rd to put Toledo up 2-1. Felipe Cortez followed with a 2 run homer. Weaver took the loss, allowing 5 runs on 9 hits over 5 innings. Michael Farley allowed 2 runs over 7 innings as Toledo won 7-3.

Game 3: Toledo pounded Philadelphia 12-5. Carl Bell had 5 hits, Cortez and Broderick Jordan each scored 3 runs. Jesus Palmeiro won the game with 6 1/3 innings of one run ball, and Mark Stevens took the loss.

Game 4: We finally had a close game. In the bottom of the first Jeremy Keen doubled. He tried for third on a fly ball to left field, challenging the weak arm of Barry Rayburn. Rayburn threw the ball away, allowing Keen to score. In the third inning, Sato struck again with a solo homer off Larry Pressley.

Dorian Ivey pitched six innings of shutout ball. In the 8th, Kelsey Lester hit a solo homer off closer Steve Greer to bring the Grays within one. Greer retired the next 5 hitters to earn a save and give the Mud Hens their first ever championship.

Sato was named series MVP. Commissioner Manfred presented the championship trophy to 91-year-old Mud Hens owner Max Klinger, a Toledo native and lifelong Mud Hens fan.