Baseball

Tampa Tarpons manager Rachel Balkovec watches from the top steps of the dugout, while making her debut as a minor league manager of the Tampa Tarpons on Friday in Lakeland, Fla.

Sports

Rachel Balkovec, the 1st woman to manage an MLB-affiliated team, debuts with a win

2:45pm April 09, 2022

by Rina Torchinsky

Crowds cheered as the first woman to manage an MLB-affiliated team took home a victory for the New York Yankees-affiliated Tampa Tarpons on Friday.

The Kansas City Royals take batting practice before their opening day game against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday in Kansas City, Mo.

Sports

And here's the pitch ... MLB season officially begins today

2:55pm April 07, 2022

by Jeff Dean

After protracted negotiations between Major League Baseball's owners and players led to a 99-day lockout, baseball officially begins with new rules and new faces.

MLB and players agree to a new labor contract, paving the way to a full 2022 season

6:20pm March 10, 2022

by Jonathan Franklin

The new collective bargaining agreement must be approved by both sides before it becomes official. Baseball would return on April 7 if it's accepted.

Locked gates are shown at Truist Park home of the Atlanta Braves baseball team Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Atlanta. Negotiators for locked-out players made their latest counteroffer to Major League Baseball on Wednesday.

MLB pushes opening day back to at least April 14 as lockout persists

8:28pm March 09, 2022

by Jonathan Franklin

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that another two series of games are being canceled, as players will not be paid for the games they don't play.

Michael Jordan, No. 23 of the Chicago Bulls, is seen in a game in 1984. An unused ticket from his first game as a Bull, Oct. 26, 1984, has sold for $468,000.

Sports

Opinion: Spending big on old game tickets

9:15am March 05, 2022

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon wonders about the money collectors paid for ticket stubs: one for the 1st game Jackie Robinson played as a Dodger, the other for the 1st game Michael Jordan played as a Chicago Bull.

Queue Listen Now

Derek Jeter, CEO of the Miami Marlins, speaks with the news media before a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies last year in Miami. Jeter announced a surprise departure from the Miami Marlins on Monday.

Derek Jeter steps down as CEO of the Miami Marlins

7:07pm February 28, 2022

by Jonathan Franklin

The five-time World Series champion became a minority shareholder of the team in 2017. He was elected into baseball's Hall of Fame in 2020.

The Portland Pickles baseball team is asking Oregonians to be on the lookout for their mascot, Dillon T. Pickle, after he was stolen from the front porch of their office early Thursday morning.

The Portland Pickles need your help finding their stolen mascot, Dillon T. Pickle

2:31pm February 10, 2022

by Rachel Treisman

After being lost in transit for days, Dillon T. Pickle was shipped to the team's office — only to be stolen off its porch. The team is offering a reward for information or a no questions asked return.

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Will Smith and catcher Travis d'Arnaud celebrate after winning baseball's World Series in Game 6 against the Houston Astros Tuesday, in Houston. The Braves won 7-0.

The Atlanta Braves shut out the Astros 7-0 to become World Series champions

11:41am November 03, 2021

by Doreen McCallister

The Braves needed six games to put away the Astros, and are now celebrating their first championship since 1995. Atlanta's Jorge Soler was named the series Most Valuable Player.

Chris Sale of the Boston Red Sox warms up in the bullpen before a game against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park on Aug. 1, 2017.

Sports

PETA wants MLB to rename the 'bullpen' to 'arm barn'

3:25pm October 29, 2021

by Tien Le

A day before Game 3 of the World Series, the animal rights organization released a statement saying the term "bullpen" is insensitive to cows and bulls. The suggestion drew mixed reactions.

Joe Jackson is pictured when he played for the Cleveland Indians.

Sports

'Shoeless' Joe Jackson-signed baseball photo sells for a record $1.4 million

8:29pm October 09, 2021

by Sharon Pruitt-Young

Experts believe that it's the only authentic signed photo of Jackson in existence.