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As a 19-year-old Outfielder/First baseman for the Arizona State Sun Devils, Landon Hairston was a pretty good player.

The Son of Scott Hairston, nephew of Jerry Hairston Jr and grandson of Jerry Hairston Sr, had 65 hits in 195 at bats for a .333 Batting average. He only slugged 4 home runs and finished with the following in 54 games: OBP of .533; a SLG% of .467 and an OPS of 908.

This year, he not only turned 20 in January of 2026, but he seemed to turn the corner concerning his career.

So far in 40 Games played, young Hairston, who is not eligible for the 2026 Amateur Draft, is tearing up the “ole pea patch” as the great Red Barber quipped when he was the Radio announcer when the Dodgers were playing in Brooklyn.

In 195 plate appearances, he has 25 walks compared to being struck out a mere 19 times. In 162 at bats, the young slugger has acquired 72 hits. 18 doubles, 2 triples and an astounding 24 homers and 67 runs batted in. His stat line read like something out of a video game set on easy play. Landon’s Batting Average sits at .444 and his OBP at .533. His SLG% is 1.006 and his OPS is 1.540.

Just sit back and read this fact. Landon has more homers in 40 games than Barry Bonds had during his entire Junior season at ASU.

There is no question in my mind that Landon Hairston would be the number one hitter selected in the upcoming 2026 Amateur Draft, but because of his date of birth and age, he will have to wait until July of 2027 to become a member of Major League Baseball.

Based on what he has accomplished this season, many will doubt he can duplicate it next season, but then again, he may be not see as many good pitches next year and with NIL, who knows if he will still be playing for Arizona State. But wherever and however he plays in 2027, if it is ANYWHERE NEAR this season,

not only will he be a Top 5 selection, he may join the ranks of top prospects signing long term and VERY EXPENSIVE contracts. So far this season the baseball world has seen the Pittsburgh Pirates sign 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin to a 9-year $140 million contract. Soon afterwards, the Detroit Tigers signed 21-year-old infielder Kevin McGonigle to an 8 year $150

million contract. I wonder who will draft young Landon and what will be his massive contract?

Only time, his prowess, his health and which team makes him theirs will tell. -Twin Bill Tony 4/18/26

To many baseball and trivia fans, the name Joe Medwick is the answer to the following question: Which baseball player was ejected from a World Series game for his own protection?

During game 7 of the 1934 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers, Joe, a native of Carteret, NJ, slid into shortstop Jo Jo White and took him out at second base. This led to both benches emptying and the fans erupting. The chaos spilled over into the bottom of the inning, when Medwick ran out to his defensive position in left field. The Tiger fans unleashed their collective wrath on the Cardinal and threw as much debris as possible at him on onto the field.

Stone faced MLB Commissioner, Kennesaw Mountain Landis, called Medwick over to his box near the field and asked him a few questions. The Commissioner than ordered Frankie Frish, the second baseman and manager of the St. Louis team to remove Medwick from the game for his own protection and to allow the World Series to be played to its conclusion. The Fordham Flash was not happy but had to adhere to the orders of the Commissioner, and he pulled Joe from the game.

That St. Louis Cardinal team was known as “The Gashouse Gang” and were led by some VERY colorful players. Pitching brothers “Dizzy” and “Daffy” Dean, shortstop Leo Durocher, third baseman Pepper Martin, first baseman Ripper Collins and the aforementioned Ducky Joe Medwick. The Tigers would fall to this gang, and another World Championship would go to St. Louis.

But that is not the end of Ducky Joe, for he would make history and play 14 more seasons in baseball. When Joe Medwick called it quits after just 20 games with the Cards in 1948, he had accumulated Hall of Fame stats, and would later be rewarded and elected into Cooperstown in 1968.

Playing for 4 teams; the Cardinals, the Brooklyn Dodgers, the New York Giants and the Boston Braves, over those 17 seasons, Medwick’s career statistics read as follows:

Games Played: 1984, PA: 8143, AB 7635, Runs Scored 1198,

Hits 2471, Doubles 540, Triples 113, Home Runs 205,

Rbi 1383, BB 437 SO 551, BA .324, OBP 362,

SLG 504 and OPS 867

A great career, including two trips to the World Series. Winning with St. Louis in 1934 and falling with the Dodgers in 1941. Reaching the Hall of Fame and holding his own with some of Baseball’s greatest players. On top of all that, Ducky Joe Medwick is also the answer to a much more difficult trivia question. When baseball fans are asked which National League player last won the Triple Crown, not many have the answer at their fingertips. But Joe Medwick is that man and he accomplished it in 1937.

That season, Joe had what is known as a “career year”, as he put up his top numbers in Batting Average, Home Runs, Hits and Runs Batted in. The 1937 stat line was as follows:

Games 156, PA 677, AB 633, Runs 111, Hits 237, Doubles 56, Triples 10, Home Runs 31, Rbi 154, BB 41, SO 50, BA .374, OBP .414, SLG .641, and OPS 1.056

In any season in any decade, those numbers are phenomenal. Joe won the Triple Crown that season and no one, NOT Stan Musial, Not Hank Aaron, Not Willie Mays, Not Roberto Clemente, Not Frank Robinson, Not Barry Bonds, Not Luis Pujols; have ever won a Triple Crown.

In 1937, Ducky Joe Medwick, New Jersey born and bred, did.

Thrown out of a WS game for his own protection and a Triple Crown winner. And on top of that, a crackerjack nickname, Ducky.