Remembering the ’71 Pirates, ‘the team that changed baseball’

Editor’s note: Sporting News senior writer and proud Pittsburgh native Mike DeCourcy was 11 in October 1971. The Sporting News was 85. The Pirates hadn’t been to a World Series in 10 years, and it would be almost 40 more before author Bruce Markusen would call Roberto Clemente and the

New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom is checked for foreign substances and passes inspection

The new normal has arrived for Major League Baseball pitchers.  Enforcing a rule that has always been on the book but perpetually ignored, umpires checked New York Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom for foreign substances to aid in gripping the baseball.  The "sticky stuff" controversy reared its head last week, when

Chicago Cubs’ Zach Davies combines with three relievers to no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers

For the seventh time this season, Major League Baseball had a no-hitter. But for the first time, more than one pitcher will get the credit. Chicago Cubs starter Zach Davies, along with relievers Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel combined to no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium

As prosecution receives Marcell Ozuna’s domestic-violence charges, specter of lengthy MLB ban looms

Marcell Ozuna remains held in a Fulton County, Georgia, jail, awaiting a bond hearing in upcoming days, and his case has now been turned over to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution, according to Salvador Ortega, a sergeant with the Sandy Springs Police Department. Ozuna, the Atlanta Braves

Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah makes MLB debut as mom is overcome with emotion

Highly regarded pitching prospect Alek Manoah made his major league debut Thursday for the Toronto Blue Jays in storybook fashion — against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.  After walking the first batter he faced, infielder DJ LeMahieu, on four pitches, Manoah registered his first strikeout when he got

Nationals’ Max Scherzer tosses complete game vs. Marlins, then joins wife for baby’s birth

Washington Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer pitched like a man on a mission Sunday against the Miami Marlins. Scherzer tossed his 12th career complete game, taking a shutout into the ninth inning before allowing a solo home run in a 3-1 Nationals victory, a game that took only 2 hours, 37

Topps NFT baseball cards, explained: What to know as trading card company enters crypto craze

Last week Topps announced it was going to become a publicly traded company again, with an initial valuation of $1.3 billion.  Apparently the company has a shoebox full of mint 1952 Mickey Mantles in the vault, eh? Seriously, though, the move to go public is part of Topps’ expansion of collectible offerings.

Fernando Tatis Jr. avoids surgery but heads to injured list with shoulder injury

The San Diego Padres have avoided a major disaster with Fernando Tatis Jr., but will still be without their star shortstop for a minimum of 10 days due to a "slight labrum tear" in his left shoulder. Padres general manager A.J. Preller said Tuesday that Tatis' shoulder popped in and

Daily Fantasy Baseball Weather Forecast: Rain, cold to impact several MLB games on opening day

The baseball season is finally here, and with it comes worries about weather-related postponements and delays, particularly for those in DFS contests and daily-transaction fantasy baseball leagues. Even if games are going to be played, you need to know the forecasts before locking in your lineups. Opening day provides the