Twin Bill Tony Feature Articles

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.

Today is April 15 th and to most of you it is just another Wednesday. But to tens of

millions of Americans past and present, this date means quite a bit more.

You see on this date, April 15 th , in the year 1947 (79 years ago) something

incredible and heroic took place, as Jack Roosevelt Robinson, former 4 sport star

athlete at UCLA and First Lt. in the US Army, trotted onto the baseball diamond at

Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, NY with 8 other Dodgers to face the Boston Braves.

What made this so incredible and heroic was that Jackie was a Black man and on

that day he broke the MLB Color Barrier that had been in effect for over 60 years.

The crowd of over 26,000 at Ebbets Field that day witnessed history, Red Barber

announced that history to hundreds of thousands over the radio.

Jackie was truly a trail blazer. But it did not come without a cost. Jackie had to

endure some of the most vulgar and vile insults imaginable.

If anyone saw the movie “42” and enjoyed the fantastic performance by the late

Chadwick Bozeman, the insults shown in that movie were about 1/10 of what was

actually hurled at Jackie by fan and player alike.

But he endured. For 10 seasons Jackie played first, second and third base for

Brooklyn and in 6 of them, led the Dodgers to the World Series and helped

Brooklyn win their only world championship in 1955.

After the 1956 season ended, Jackie retired from baseball and took the position of

Vice-President of Personnel for the Chock Full O’ Nuts coffee company and

became a leading force in the Civil Rights Movement, working closely with Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

On October 24 th , 1972 Jackie passed away from a fatal heart attack at the age of 52,

due to complications from Diabetes.

His widow Rachel, who is still alive today at 103 years young, founded the Jackie

Robinson Foundation, which is still doing great work today.

Since the 1990’s Major League Baseball has honored Jackie on this day, the

anniversary of his debut.

Every April 15 th , EVERY MLB player, coach, manager and umpire wears Jackie’s

#42 on their jersey. No names, just the #42.

A new commemorative hat is issued every year to be worn for that day.

So today, April 15 th 2026, Jackie Robinson Day, let us all do some research into the

life and legacy of a True American Hero both on and off the Baseball Field:

Jack Roosevelt Robinson

Today in Major League Baseball, if a starting pitcher records the third out in the fifth inning, it is considered a “quality start”. 40-50 years ago, that would have been considered just a warmup for the pitcher on the mound.

What occurred on the evening of July 2 nd , 1963, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco is looked at today as some kind of amazing. In that game, a matchup between 25 year old Juan Marichal and 42 year old Warren Spahn, proved to be a scoreless duel into the 16th inning.

The 17 year age difference meant nothing as the youngster and the old man tossed zero after zero onto the scoreboard as the game that started on a Tuesday evening, continued into Wednesday morning.

The entire game could have changed dramatically in the 4th inning, when the Braves seemed on the verge of scoring. Hank Aaron led off the inning with a deep drive to left, that Willie McCovey hauled in a few feet from the fence due to the western wind at the Stick. Milwaukee then used 2 walks to have men on first and second with two outs and Del Crandall at the plate. A soft line drive into center field was fielded cleanly and gracefully by Willie Mays and the best all around player in the game, threw a dart to home plate that cut down Norm Larker who was trying to score from second base.

The other Willie, McCovey; almost ended the game in the bottom of the 9th, with a deep drive to right, which was considered a homer by everyone except the first-base umpire, Chris Pelekoudas. The man in blue would not change his mind, despite being screamed at by McCovey, manager Alvin Dark and first-base coach Larry Jansen.

In the bottom of the 13th , Giants manager was about to lift Marichal for a pinch hitter, but the young pitcher snapped: “a 42-year-old man is still pitching. I can’t come out!” Dark knew exactly what the game meant to Juan and left him in.

In the bottom of the 14th , Spahn faced a bases loaded two out situation, but induced Ed Bailey to fly out to center and push the game to the 15th . As the top of the 16th inning ended, Marichal had thrown his 227th pitch. In the bottom of the inning, Spahn’s 201st pitch, with one out; was drilled into the left field seats by the Say Hey Kid himself, Willie Howard Mays.

The final stat line read as such:

Marichal: 8 hits, 4 walks and 10 K’s

Spahn: 9 hits, one walk (Mays was intentionally walked) and 2 K’s

At season’s end, Juan finished with a record of 25-8 and 18 complete games. Warren settled in with a mark of 23-7. It is safe to say that baseball fans today will NEVER see a game like this, and that in itself is sad for them and baseball.

5/16/2026

Twin Bill Tony

Very few athletes in the world have the reputation, likability and aura of one Sandy Koufax. Pitching in an era of the four-man rotation, Sandy crammed 165 wins, 87 losses, a 2.76 ERA, and 2,396 strikeouts into his 12-season MLB career, winning 3 Cy Young Awards and 1 MVP. To say that he was elite and the best of his day would be an understatement for certain.

A Bonus Baby out of the University of Cincinnati and Lafayette High School, who the Brooklyn Dodgers kept over another young lefthanded pitcher named Tommy Lasorda; Lasorda always lamented that he was the better southpaw. Koufax proved the Dodger management was correct by bringing home World Championships in 1959, 1963 and 1965.

Down the home stretch, while battling three other teams for the National League pennant, Sandy pitched 5 times in 15 days, winning 4, 3 of which were shutouts. The pennant clinching game was also won by Koufax, as he struck out 13 Milwaukee Braves to secure a trip to the World Series for his Dodgers. The 1965 World Series was the most controversial and exciting.

The controversy centered around Koufax himself, as he told Manager Walter Alston and his teammates that he would not pitch the opening game of the Fall Classic, because it fell on Yom Kippur and he was of the Jewish faith.

Some applauded and many did not. Don Drysdale took to the mound and lost game 1. Koufax pitched in game 2 and also lost. Down 0-2, the Series moved from Minnesota to Los Angeles and the Dodgers caught a spark with game 3 starter Claude Osteen. Game 1 loser Don Drysdale was able to gain control over Mudcat Grant and take game 4.

On Monday October 11th , Game 5 saw a rematch of game 2, as Koufax opposed Jim “Kitty” Kaat. The result was a complete reversal, as the Dodgers rapped out 14 hits and scored 7 times. Sandy limited the Twins to 4 hits and no runs, as LA took a 3-2 lead in the Series.

The teams took a day off to travel back to Minnesota and Game six was played on October 13th , and Mudcat Grant held the Dodgers to 1 run on 6 hits, but Claude Osteen ran into trouble and Minnesota tied the series at 3-3 with a 5-1 victory.

Game 7 came down to a Thursday afternoon in Minnesota, as

Metropolitan Stadium geared itself up for a do or die final showdown. For the third time in these seven games, Jim Kaat and Sandy Koufax would oppose each other; this time both on just two days rest.

Before the game even started, while warming up in the bullpen, Sandy told catcher John Roseboro that his curveball was not working. But even without his masterful breaking pitch and relying on just a fastball, Koufax was almost unhittable.

Getting out of two early jams, one in the first and another in the third, the best “money pitcher’ the game as ever seen, took complete control and the Dodgers were World Series Champions.

The final stat line for Sandy Koufax in this World Series, was the following:

Games Pitched:3

Record: 2-1

ERA: 0.38

Innings Pitched: 24

Hits Allowed: 13

Runs Allowed: 1

Walks: 5

Strike outs: 29

It was no wonder that the lefty from Bensonhurst walked away with the MVP award for the Fall Classic of 1965. Sandy was but 29 and in the prime of his career, but an arthritic left elbow, held together by cortisone shots and pain killers, would force him to retire at 30 in 1966 after losing the World Series to Baltimore in 4. Oh what might have still been.

But on Thursday October 14th , 1965, no one. NO OTHER PITCHER in BASEBALL, could match Sandy Koufax. Those of us old enough to understand, answer this simple question the same way.

If you had to choose one pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball to win the 7th game of a World Series, who would you choose?

There is but one answer.

Sanford “Sandy” Koufax, out of Lafayette HS in Brooklyn who went to Cincinnati University on a Basketball Scholarship.

From their inception in April of 1962, the New York Metropolitans, Mets for short, have gone from Lovable Losers, to World Champions, to the lowest of the low, to World Champions, to the worst team money can but, to the World Series, to last place, to the World Series, to last place, to taking the Dodgers to the limit, to last place.

To say it has been a roller coaster of emotions being low key. Met fans have experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Seeing Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver and Dave Kingman traded away decimated the fan base. Not having the front office make a counter offer to Pete Alonso destroyed any hope for the

2026 season.

The above debacles added to consistently finishing second to a boatload of free agents since free agency began, just adds salt to and already open wound; which constantly proves that Met management plays second fiddle to the rest of Major League Baseball.

But, in at least my humble opinion, the front office of the NY Mets hit a proverbial homerun when they acquired the following four players via a trade:

1972: Willie Mays

1983: Keith Hernandez

1984: Gary Carter

1998: Mike Piazza

In 1972, the Mets were barley holding their collective heads above water despite a great pitching staff, when the front office decided to look to New York City’s past to help their future.

On May 14 th , the Mets sent Minor League Pitcher Charlie Williams and the then princely sum of $50,000.00 to the San Francisco Giants in return for The Say Hey Kid, William Howard “Willie” Mays.

Even at the age of 41, Willie still had baseball in him and he proved that by using his arm, his legs, his glove and his bat to help the Mets make one of the most remarkable dashes for the finish line in baseball history, as they caught and passed the National League East, defeated the Big Red Machine in the NLCS and took the defending World Champion Oakland A’s to seven games before losing the World Series.

A side note to the 1973 World Series, and a fact that long time Met fans and announcers; Gary Cohen and Howie Rose both swear to. If George Stone, he of the 12-3 record with an ERA of 2.80, in which he led the National League in winning percentage had started Game 6, the Mets would have had a much better chance ofwinning and even if they lost Game 6 they would have had Tom Seaver going on full rest in Game 7 instead of on just 3 days rest in Game 6.

But unfortunately Met fans would never know what might have been because Manager Yogi Berra blew that one. In 1983, the Mets were again floundering. Yes they had Tom Seaver and Mike Torres and Rusty Staub, but they needed an anchor, a leader, recently proven winner.

And on June 13 th , a leader and winner fell into their laps. Whitey Herzog, Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, the defending World Champions called Met General Manager Frank Cashen, who was in his office talking with Scouting Director Joe McIlvaine, and offered them a trade. McIlvaine remembered it this way, “He said, I will give you Keith Hernandez for Neil Allen and either Rick Ownbey or Jeff Bittiger”.

The next day Cashen called back and offered Ownbey with Allen. The Met duo had decided to send Ownbey, at 25 to St. Louis instead of the 21-year-old Bittiger because they believed he had a brighter baseball future. Regardless of who was sent to the Cards, the Mets were dealt a winning hand, as they received the best defensive fielding first baseman in baseball, a clutch hitter and a former MVP.

Even though he did not like the idea of playing in NY at first, he signed a contract with the Mets, won the World Series in 1986, wrote a few bestselling books, made a great guest appearance on Seinfeld and for the past 20 some-odd years has been part of the best local broadcasting crew in baseball. And the Mets and Keith got all that for just Allen and Ownbey. Talk about Grand Theft.

On December 10 th , 1984; Frank Cashen found the last piece of the puzzle that was the NY Mets, Montreal Expo catcher, Gary Carter. Nicknamed “Kid”, the perennial All-star backstop did not come cheap, as the deal would be 4 for 1. Those for Mets who were sent north of the border were Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winningham and Floyd Youmans.

For the next 4 years, the Mets were legitimate World Series contenders, and due in part largely to Carter, brought home the championship in ’86. First, in the NLCS vs Houston, Carter bested Astro reliver Charlie Kerfeld, who was having his best year ever, with a sharp single up the middle, in the bottom of the 12th to score Wally Backman from second with the game winning run.

Next up were a pair of homeruns in Game 4 at Fenway Park in the World Series versus the Red Sox and a sacrifice fly to score Lee Mazzilli to tie Game 6 at 3-3.

Gary would then bat with 2 outs in the bottom of Game 6, down by 2 runs and line a clean single to left, which would start off the most amazing comeback of the Amazing Mets, which would force a deciding Game 7 two days later. May of 1998 saw an All Star catcher traded twice in 9 days, as the Dodgers sent Mike Piazza to South Beach Maimi and the Marlins, who then sent him to the Bright Lights of Broadway and the NY Mets.

First the Dodgers shipped Mike to Miami with Todd Zeile on May 14 th , and received in return: Bobby Bonilla, Jim Eisenreich, Gary Sheffield and Manuel Barrios. Mike only played 5 games with the Marlins before they negotiated a deal with the Mets.

On May 22 nd, Piazza was traded to the Mets for three prospects: Preston Wilson, Ed Yarnall and Geoff Goetz. Although the Mets did not make the postseason in 1998, at season’s end, they signed Mike to a 7-year $91 million dollar contract. This locked up the best hitting catcher in the majors and he paid off dividends very quickly.

In 1999, the Mets took the Braves to Game 6 of the NCLS. That year, his stats were: 40 homeruns, and 124 RBI’s. The following year, 2000, Mike led the Mets to the World Series with the following stats: 38 Homeruns, 113 RBI’s and a .324 batting average.

In the first game played in NYC after the tragedy of September 11, 20001; Mike Piazza cemented himself as a true NYC icon, with a laser like 2-run homer in the bottom of the 8 th inning vs the Braves that not only won the game but lifted the spirits of everyone there and watching on television.

I play this video on the Smartboard in my classroom during my Intro to Sports History Class on the anniversary of “9/11” to show how sports can make a difference in people’s lives.

Mike’s final salute to the people of NY was putting a NY Met hat on his bust when he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

So, there you have it. The four most impactful trades the Mets have ever made. Each one helped get the, into the World Series and the middle two were the main reasons they were able to capture the World Championship in 1986.

Four Trades - Four Men - Three National League Pennants

One World Championship

Millions of thrills and chills

Three Hall of Famers

Willie Mays, Gary Carter and Mike Piazza

7-23-2026