Introducing my 3rd book NHL HOCKEY BY THE NUMBERS! On sale now, just in time for the holidays!
NHL HOCKEY BY THE NUMBERS
Featured
Reply
#38 Phillies Rick Wise
Rick Wise – Phillies/P (1966-71) Rick Wise won his first MLB game 8-2 on June 21st, 1964 in the second game of a double header vs. New York Mets. In the 1st game of the twinbill, Jim Bunning pitched his historic perfect game. Wise almost had a perfect game of his own when he pitched a no-hitter for the Phillies on June 23rd, 1971 vs. Cincinnati Reds giving up just one walk. Wise hit two HRs in the game. On August 28th that same year vs. San Francisco Giants, Wise once again had a two-homer game. Wise was a 1971 NL All Star and retired 28 batters in a row later that season. The following season Wise was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Steve Carlton in one of the most lopsided trades in MLB history. Wise finished his career tied for 21st all-time in HRs by a pitcher with 15.
On This Date…
On June 23rd, 1971, Phillies pitcher Rick Wise became the only player in MLB history to hit two home runs in a game in which he threw a no-hitter.
#43 Eagles Darren Sproles
Darren Sproles – Eagles/RB-PR (2014-present) Darren Sproles was a member of the Eagles Super Bowl LII Champs. The three-time Eagles Pro Bowler was 2nd team All-Pro in 2014. Sproles had a 49-yard TD run in his Eagles debut, the longest rush from scrimmage in his career. Sproles led the NFL with 506 punt return yards in 2014. It was the 2nd highest single-season punt return yardage in Eagles team history. Sproles was a three-time NFC Special Teams Player of the Week and once an NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Sproles had an NFL-record 2,696 all-purpose yards for the New Orleans Saints in 2011. Sproles sits 8th on the NFL’s career all-purpose yards list with 19,164. At the close of the 2017 NFL season, Sproles had the most career all-purpose yards than any other active NFL player. Sproles is tied with DeSean Jackson for most career punt return TDs in Eagles history with 4. On September 25th, 2017, Sproles broke his arm and tore his ACL on the same play, ending his season during the Eagles run to their first-ever Super Bowl Championship.
On This Date…
Eagles Darren Sproles was born today June 20th, in 1983 in Waterloo, Iowa. Sproles set a new NFL record for all-purpose yards in a season with 2,696 yards with the New Orleans Saints in 2011. Sproles has been an explosive offensive weapon during his NFL career despite his small stature. Sproles, at 5’6″ is the second shortest NFL player in the last 30 years (Trindon Holliday). Happy 35th Birthday Darren Sproles!
Did you know…
Phillies Lenny Dykstra’s uncle Tony Leswick scored an NHL game-seven overtime Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Detroit Red Wings over the Montreal Canadiens in 1953-54.
On This Date…
On June 18th, 1989, the Phillies acquired OF Lenny Dykstra (and P Roger McDowell) from the New York Mets for 2B Juan Samuel. Former Mets teammate Keith Hernandez, in his book Pure Baseball, said Dykstra was “on the wild and crazy side,” and believed it was why the Mets traded him, and the Phillies traded for him.
#4 Phillies Lenny Dykstra
Lenny Dykstra/CF – Phillies (1989-1996) Three-time NL All Star, Dykstra was the spark plug that ignited Macho Row and the 1993 pennant-winning Phillies. “Nails” was NL MVP runner-up (Barry Bonds) in 1993. Dykstra batted .348 against the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series hitting four homers in the series loss. Dykstra’s post-baseball life has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows as detailed in his 2016 memoir, House of Nails: A Memoir of Life on the Edge.
On This Date…
On June 18th, 1989, the Phillies acquired OF Lenny Dykstra (and P Roger McDowell) from the New York Mets for 2B Juan Samuel. Former Mets teammate Keith Hernandez, in his book Pure Baseball, said Dykstra was “on the wild and crazy side,” and believed it was why the Mets traded him, and the Phillies traded for him.
Did you know…
On Father’s Day, 1964, during the first game of a double header against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, Phillies pitcher Jim Bunning threw the 7th Perfect Game in MLB History. Bunning’s perfect game was the first regular season perfect game in the National League since 1880! It was also the first no-hitter thrown by a Phillies hurler in 58 years. A young Rick Wise won game 2 of the twinbill for the Phillies, in his MLB debut.
