Luis Polonia

Luis Polonia was a speedy journeyman with a high batting average who played 12 years in the big leagues. His speed resulted in many triples but he was not a wise baserunner and led his league in times caught stealing five times (3 in the majors, 2 in the minors). He appeared in 1,379 major league games with a .293 average. He was in the top five in triples four different times, and in the top five in stolen bases three times. Not a particularly strong defensive outfielder, Dennis Lamp once said "If you hit him 100 fly balls, you could write a book about it: Catch-22."

He appeared in four World Series. Polonia, though, is as notable for his star performances in the winter in over two decades of play. He is among the top 10 contact hitters in Dominican League history and led the league in numerous categories. As of 2012, he is the all-time Dominican League leader in hits, triples and runs and the all-time Caribbean Series leader in hits, doubles and Series played. He also appeared for the Dominican national team in both the World Baseball Classic and Pan American Games.

Recently featured: Al Rosen - 2007 Japan Series - Robert Eenhoorn

• ...that Manuel Hidalgo (pictured) won three MVPs in the same minor league but never made it past AAA?
• ...what umpiring first Jack McQuaid was part of?
• ...that Chris Colabello set four Canadian-American Association records?
• ...that Cody Decker was the second straight Padres farmhand named Decker to win the Arizona League MVP?
• ...that Al Neil won two Triple Crowns in the minors?
• ...that George Weicker led NCAA Division I in average one year?
• ...that Tyler Kuhn led the Chicago White Sox chain in average and hits one season despite not having a set position?
• ...that Mike Loree went from having a 6.09 ERA one year to winning a pitching Triple Crown in the same league the next year?
• ...that Matt Carpenter was 4 for 4 lifetime against Matt Cain before hitting a key home run off him in the 2012 NLCS?
• ...what Chinese Professional Baseball League records Chao-Hao Tseng set?
• ...why Mitch Simons was in court with the NCAA one year after leading NCAA Division I in runs?
• ...what Australian Baseball League record Richard Vagg set?
• ...why scout Pablo Peguero was once suspended for a year?

• Rob Cordemans (pictured) is named both MVP and Pitcher of the Year for the 2012 Hoofdklasse.
• Tom Cheek wins the Ford Frick Award.
• Paul Hagen is honored with the J.G. Taylor Spink Award.
• Jacob Ruppert, Deacon White and Hank O'Day are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.
• Japan takes the Gold Medal at the 2012 Asian Championship.

• 1911 - James Gaffney and John Ward (pictured) buy the Boston Doves and will re-name them the Braves.
• 1927 - The Detroit Tigers trade away young outfielder Heinie Manush, a future Hall of Famer. Detroit sends Manush and Lu Blue to the St. Louis Browns for Elam Vangilder, Harry Rice and Chick Galloway.
• 1956 - The Brooklyn Dodgers deal Jackie Robinson to the New York Giants for Dick Littlefield and $35,000. Robinson will retire instead of joining his long-time foes.
• 2000 - The Boston Red Sox sign Manny Ramirez for $160 million over 8 years. Ramirez will help lead the team to two World Series titles in his first 7 years with the club.
• 2007 - The Mitchell Report is released, naming 89 players as having used or been in possession of steroids. Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Miguel Tejada and Jason Giambi are among those named. The report calls for tighter regulation of performance-enhancing drugs.

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• December 3, 2012 - The Winter Meetings began in Nashville, TN.
• December 3, 2012 - Results of the Veterans Committee Hall of Fame vote, featuring candidates from the pre-integration era, were announced.
• November 28, 2012 - The 2012 Asian Championship kicked off.
• November 15, 2012 - Pools C and D of the 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers started in New Taipei City and Panama City
• October 24, 2012 - The 2012 World Series began.
• October 23, 2012 - The 2012 Korean Series began.

• January 9, 2013 - Results of the BBWAA Hall of Fame vote will be announced.
• March 2, 2013 - The 2013 World Baseball Classic begins.
• March 19, 2013 - The championship game of the 2013 World Baseball Classic will be played at AT&T Park.
• March 31, 2013 - Opening Day of the 2013 Major League Baseball season.
• June 6, 2013 - The 2013 amateur draft will begin.
• July 16, 2013 - The 2013 All-Star Game will take place at Citi Field in New York, NY.
• July 28, 2013 - The annual Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will take place in Cooperstown, NY
• July 31, 2013 - SABR's annual convention opens in Philadelphia, PA.
• September 29, 2013 - Final day of the 2013 Major League Baseball regular season.