Liam Hendriks gets a haircut from social media star Vic Blends
In the perfect crossover between baseball and pop culture, White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks and barber-turned-internet personality Vic Blends came together for a conversation -- over a haircut. Vic, a barber-gone-viral, has burst onto the social media scene for, essentially, exchanging free haircuts for meaningful conversations. With over 14 million
Griffey points his camera at soccer legend Lionel Messi
Baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr. has picked up sports photography in his post-playing days. The Hall of Famer was spotted on the sideline at Wednesday's Inter Miami CF vs. Nashville SC soccer match with a camera and his vintage backwards cap.
How Stubbs became 'Mr. Day Games'
This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki’s Phillies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
This reliever is hitting the right notes
This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
'Swingable Art:' The company behind MLB's coolest bats
Back in 2012, in a small garage in central Pennsylvania, Victus Sports CEO Jared Smith didn't start out making Crayola or Santa Claus or Uncle Sam bats. His lumber did stand out color- and design-wise, but for the most part, at the outset of his lumber-making business, the 26-year-old and
New documentary highlights White Sox rebrand's place in hip-hop history
Few baseball hats have impacted hip-hop culture as much as the current White Sox cap that debuted in the 1990s. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of hip-hop -- it was 50 years ago that the cultural movement was born in The Bronx -- the Chicago White Sox have produced Fitted
Palacios brothers share MLB field for the first time
This story was excerpted from Justice delos Santos’ Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
J-Ram proud of youth field that bears his name
CLEVELAND -- A piece of paper sat on the seat at José Ramírez’s locker last week. He walked into the clubhouse and glanced down at the colorful printout. For a second, his eyes squinted, curious what was in front of him. Quickly, he burst out into an enormous grin and
MLB launches Commissioner's Ambassador Program
On Tuesday, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred unveiled the launch of the Commissioner’s Ambassador Program, a new effort featuring 12 former players who will participate in Major League Baseball programs, represent the game at MLB events and support the league’s international growth, among other responsibilities. The program will be
A special in-person meeting after 24 years of emails
This story was excerpted from Ian Browne’s Red Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Chicago food festival showcases unique spin on ballpark fare
CHICAGO -- Food and baseball are intertwined. Walk into any ballpark, and you will instantly be hit with the aromas of hot dogs, burgers and popcorn. As you take in the game from your seat, vendors roam the stands offering an assortment of options, including peanuts, Cracker Jack, cotton candy,
Carlos Estévez keeps favorite anime close on game day
This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter, with Adrian Garro filling in for this edition. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Which bat is better: No. 2 pencil or crayon?
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- The kids at the Little League World Series may not be ready to go back to school quite yet, but Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott came prepared with some extra supplies -- sort of. Stott stepped into the box with a custom No. 2 pencil bat for
How this dog trainer became an Astros favorite
Word travels fast in the close quarters of a big league clubhouse. It's not uncommon for players to sling recommendations and referrals across the room, from restaurants to vacation destinations … and even dog trainers. That's how Wesley Dawe, owner of Good DaweG, ended up with a growing contingent of
Judge is newest MLB star to sign with Jordan Brand
Aaron Judge followed in Derek Jeter's footsteps as the new Yankees captain last winter, and the two now have something else very significant in common: Judge is the newest baseball player to sign an endorsement contract with Nike's Jordan Brand, which announced the deal on social media on Friday. Jeter
Australia's two-way superstar Genevieve Beacom drawing Ohtani comparisons
THUNDER BAY, Ontario -- Genevieve Beacom has always been the outlier. Growing up playing mostly on men's teams, one memory crystalizes that best in the 6-foot-2 lefty's mind: Playing in an under-12s competition, she faced an opponent who simply did not want to get in the box. It wasn't because
'Part of the team': Andy Fade more than a barber to Twins
This story was excerpted from Do-Hyoung Park’s Twins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
How the pun finally paid off for Burger
This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola's Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
The Braves star who lives in an aquarium
Ozzie Albies pulls up a video on his phone, pushing it excitedly into my line of view. He's not showing me some big home run he hit or some diving play at second base or even the time he whacked a ball so hard he tattooed his name on it.
Fan vows to name daughter after Mookie if he homers -- and follows through
On Aug. 2, Mookie Betts did something he’d done 241 times prior in his Major League career: hit a home run. While the homer extended the Dodgers’ lead against the Oakland A’s, it also changed the lives of a family in a way that Betts didn’t fully realize until recently.
Blind broadcaster lends unique perspective in High-A broadcast booth
This article is based on an interview with broadcaster Allan Wylie and Lake County Captains broadcast director Cole Liggett, for MiLB.com's "Show Before the Show" podcast. Listen to the full interview HERE. Wylie will be in the Lake County broadcast booth for three more games, Aug. 15-17, vs. the Peoria
The legend of Fat Joe, softball pitcher
In the early to mid 1990s, Joseph Antonio Cartagena, aka Fat Joe, was a rising Hip-Hop star. He rolled with legendary, up-and-coming NYC rappers like Big Punisher and Cuban Link. He'd start up his production company, Terror Squad, a few years later in 1997. He had just released his first
Yankee Stadium plays host to epic night of music history
NEW YORK -- The party on Friday night was at the perfect venue: Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, the Boogie Down, where it all began. And some of the biggest names in rap turned out in a living time capsule to celebrate a Golden Anniversary with the mega concert Hip
They homered off each other in Little League. It's time for the MLB showdown
The family members, friends and casual spectators at the Little League field had no idea what they were watching at the time. New Braunfels, Texas -- a suburb on the north side of the Greater San Antonio area -- has always been a baseball town, but not exactly a traditional
How 'Empire State of Mind' helped carry Yanks to '09 title
The Yankees needed some help. Sure, they'd won 103 games during the 2009 regular season and mashed their way to the World Series, but they were now facing a very tough Philadelphia Phillies team -- the reigning champs. And the Phillies dominated the Yanks in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium,