The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
52°F
Current Conditions
Broken clouds
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

Notebook: Players set Gold standard

Willie Mays, who won 12 Gold Gloves, earned a spot on the all-time Rawlings team as voted by nearly 1 million fans and released Wednesday. PR Newswire (PR Newswire / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
Willie Mays, who won 12 Gold Gloves, earned a spot on the all-time Rawlings team as voted by nearly 1 million fans and released Wednesday. PR Newswire (PR Newswire / The Spokesman-Review)

Willie Mays making that over-the-shoulder catch. Brooks Robinson barehanding a bunt. Roberto Clemente unleashing a rifle throw.

Think of the most spectacular fielding plays in baseball history and those spring to mind. They’re also what helped put those greats on the all-time Rawlings Gold Glove team released Wednesday.

Big Red Machine teammates Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan, glove whiz Ozzie Smith and current stars Ken Griffey Jr. and Greg Maddux were picked in the fan voting.

Plus, on the 50th anniversary of the first Gold Glove awards, there was a surprise among the big names: Wes Parker, a Los Angeles Dodgers defensive ace in the 1960s and early 1970s, beat out the likes of Don Mattingly and Keith Hernandez at first base.

Nearly 1 million votes for the all-time team were received online, through the mail and in person at sporting goods stores.

Robinson drew the highest vote total of any player with 61 percent.

Anderson turns page

Garret Anderson’s 10-RBI game was history to him as soon as the final out was made.

The Los Angeles Angels stalwart already was looking ahead to the next game shortly after he hit a grand slam, a three-run homer, a two-run double and an RBI double Tuesday night in an 18-9 rout of the New York Yankees.

“I’ll remember it. It’ll get put in a box somewhere and I’ll be able to enjoy it later on,” Anderson said after setting Angels records for RBIs in a game and career grand slams (eight).

He became only the 12th player in major league history to reach double-digit RBIs in a game.

Clearing the bases

Major league ERA leader Chris Young (2.12) returned to San Diego to get his ailing back examined, and the playoff-contending Padres weren’t sure when he would pitch again. The All-Star righty was forced to leave Tuesday night’s game against the Mets after only five innings. … Don Zimmer is planning to return for his 60th season in baseball next year. Tampa Bay principal owner Stuart Sternberg has said that Zimmer, a senior adviser, will have a job with the Devil Rays as long as he wants one.