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Showing posts from April, 2014

Italian / American Father & Son Players: Steve Lombardozzi Sr. & Steve Lombardozzi Jr.

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Stephen Paul Lombardozzi was born on April 26, 1960 in Malden, Massachusetts. He attended the University of Florida, getting drafted in the 9th round of the 1981 draft by the Minnesota Twins. He was an excellent defensive second baseman known more for defense rather than his bat. After four years in the minors he was brought up in 1985 & the next year replaced Tim Tueful as the Twins regular second baseman. In his rookie season he led all AL second baseman in fielding (.992%) & made just six errors in 701 chances. His locker at the Metro dome was right next to Kirby Puckett’s, & he joked that he knew the back of all the writers heads since they were always around Puckett. In the Twins 1987 Championship season, he batted just .238 with 8 HRs & 38 RBI but went on to have a great post season, becoming an unlikely hitting hero. Post Season: In the ALCS against Detroit he hit .267 driving in a run, going 4-15. In Game #1 of the World Series he hit a 5th innin

Former Italian / American Player: Mickey Morandini (1990-2000)

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Michael Robert Morandini was born on April 22nd 1966 in Kittanning, Pennsylvania. The five foot eleven second baseman, threw right but batted left handed. After attending Indiana University at Bloomington, Minnesota he was a one of the top players in the 1987 International Cup Tournament. He was also a member of Team USA's champion Olympic Team in 1988. He was selected as a fifth round draft pick for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1988. He got to the big leagues as a reserve infielder for the 1990 & 1991 seasons. In 1992 he became the Phillies main second baseman for the next six years.  On September 20th, 1992 he turned an unassisted triple play in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with Jeff King as the batter. In the Phillies 1993 NL pennant season, he batted .247 with 9 triples (third in the NL) 3 HRs 13 stolen bases & 33 RBIs. Post Season: In the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves, he hit a two run triple in the final 6-3 Phillies clincher game at Veterans Sta

Concert Review: Ozzy & Black Sabbath Rock Brooklyn's Barclay's Center (3/31/14)

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Last night was opening night, of the second leg of the Black Sabbath's North American; "13" Tour. 13 is the latest Black Sabbath album, released in 2013. It is the first Black Sabbath album to hit #1 in the United States. It also topped the UK charts, 43 years since the Paranoid album had done the same. The 43 year gap is the longest space for the same group to have a chart topper. 13 is the first Sabbath album of all new material featuring Ozzy Osbourne on lead vocals since 1978. The album was also picked as the #1 album of 2013 here on centerfieldmaz top albums of the year. Ozzy Osbourne There are two big points that stand out to me about of this incredible Black Sabbath show, first of course was the front man; Ozzy Osbourne & second was he band behind him. I will explain both: F irst off, Black Sabbath as a live group, are still one of the few live classic acts that goes out on stage with just it's four members. There are no backing musicians, o