Tag Archives: MLB

Number 42

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jrobinson42Every player knows the importance of “mental toughness” in baseball and softball. Jackie Robinson was a world class athlete, and had the physical tools to become a Hall of Fame second baseman, but what allowed him to excel on the diamond was his extraordinary mental toughness.

Robinson’s ability to withstand racial slurs, physical play on the field and social backlash from the game of baseball and the world is still an inspiration to today’s Big Leaguers.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder, Carl Crawford, had this to say regarding Major League Baseball’s upcoming celebration of Jackie Robinson Day. “When I see the number 42, it just makes me think about all the things Jackie had to go through. It just makes me want to represent myself the same way he was able to represent himself.”

The number 42 is officially retired by every team in Major League Baseball. In honor of Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, Major League Baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson Day every year on April 15th. Take a moment today, while the players are lined up for the National Anthem, to reflect on the symbolism of the 42 on the back of every jersey.

Jackie Robinson may be gone but his legacy will live on forever. He knew that breaking the MLB color barrier carried more significance than just his career statistics. That can be summed up in one of Jackie Robinson’s most famous quotes:

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”

“42: The Jackie Robinson Story” is currently playing in theatres everywhere, so check it out to get a closer look at Robinson’s remarkable story. Also be sure to continue sending us your game pictures or bat review videos for a chance to win a $25 or $300 gift card from JustBats.com. Click HERE for directions and see just how easy it is to enter.

MLB Player Equipment. Use What The Pro’s Use!

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useprosuseIn honor of the 2013 MLB Opening Day, we want to show you what the big leaguers will be using when they take the field. Here are a few players who are looking to continue their All-Star caliber level of play.

Position Players

Pitchers

Player

Glove

Justin Verlander

Rawlings Heart of the Hide: PRO12M

Clayton Kershaw

Wilson A2000

Matt Cain

Mizuno Pro

C.J. Wilson

Wilson A2000

Make sure you’re equipped with the best bats and gloves for your own season and continue to submit your photos and bat review videos for a chance a to win $25 or $300 JustBats.com Gift Card!

Major League Baseball Opening Day Schedule!

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mlbopeningdayMost of you reading this article have fond memories of Opening Day. Everytime I think of Opening Day, there’s one image that I’m sure a lot of you share. I’m walking up the concourse in slow motion, and before me unfolds a scene out of a hollywood movie: the sights, sounds and smells of the stadium and field overload my senses. The players are warming up while the grounds crew puts the final touches on the field that looks too immaculate to be real. Experiences like this spark dreams within a lot of young players. After all, Big League dreams start on Little League fields across the world.

Opening Day is a fresh start for all 30 teams and the fans that support them. The San Francisco Giants look to defend their championship, while the other 29 teams fight to knock them off their throne. The battle for the World Series Championship begins Sunday March 31st followed by official opening day on April 1st. Here is a look at the opening day matchups:

Sunday March 31st

Rangers @ Astros

Monday April 1st

Red Sox @ Yankees

Marlins @ Nationals

Padres @ Mets

Cubs @ Pirates

Rockies @ Brewers

Angels @ Reds

Tigers @ Twins

Royals @ White Sox

Giants @ Dodgers

Phillies @ Braves

Mariners @ Athletics

Cardinals @ D-Backs

Take your own game to the next level this season with the hottest BBCOR, Wood Youth Big Barrel, Youth, Fastpitch, and Slow Pitch bats this season. Also be sure you don’t miss out on your chance to win a $25 or $300 JustBats.com Gift Card! Click HERE for details.

Michele Smith Visits JustBats.com!

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JustBats.com was privileged to host one of the best female fastpitch pitchers of all-time, Michele Smith. The two-time Olympic gold medalist took time out of her hectic schedule and stepped in front of our cameras to shoot an array of videos that’ll soon be released on JustBats.com.

Among those videos, Michele Smith touches upon a variety of topics that include the new RIP-IT Prototype and Prototype Air, proper swing mechanics, and how to select the perfect bat. Michele Smith even demonstrates an assortment of training tips she teaches at her popular fastpitch camps and clinics. As a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the first female sports analyst to commentate a full MLB game, Michele Smith is more than inspiration, she’s a legend, and we can’t wait to share her baseball and softball knowledge with you.

Dreams of the MLB Draft

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Every June, baseball players across the country dream of hearing their name announced in the MLB Draft. Sound like you? If so, JustBats.com wants to help your dream become a reality by equipping you with the right bat. Every week, we’re giving away a $300.00 gift card to the best customer-submitted video and a $25.00 gift card to the best customer-submitted photo. In order to win, simply submit your best photo(s) or video(s) of you using your bat. If you decide to submit a video, we want to hear why you love your bat (your odds of winning will greatly increase if you do). To learn more about the JustBats.com Contest, go to:

http://www.justbats.com/contests/gift-card-giveaway/

Let us help your big league dreams become a reality and enter to win. This is one giveaway you don’t want to miss out on! For the largest online selection of softball and baseball bats and the best customer service on the web, go to JustBats.com.


Louisville Slugger At The All-Star Game

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Louisville Slugger® dominated the Major League Baseball® All-Star Game Tuesday night in Kansas City, with Melky Cabrera winning the game’s MVP Award and other players making history with their Louisville Slugger bats.  More players swung Louisville Slugger in the 83rd Mid-Summer Classic than any other bat company: Melky Cabrera, Jay Bruce, Pablo Sandoval, Jose Altuve, Rafael Furcal, Starlin Castro, Derek Jeter, Asdrubal Cabrera, Ian Kinsler, and Miguel Cabrera.

“We take great pride in Melky winning the MVP and our other Slugger guys doing well in the All-Star Game,” said Louisville Slugger Manager of Professional Baseball Chuck Schupp.  “The All-Star Game represents the best of the best.  Louisville Slugger has been part of all 83 MLB All-Star Games because we make products that make players great.”

Louisville Slugger‘s success in All-Star Games, the regular season and the post season is certain to continue with 60 percent of current Major Leaguers swinging the game’s #1 bat, including stars like Josh Hamilton, Joey Votto, Buster Posey, David Wright and Curtis Granderson.  And rising stars like Futures Game MVP Nick Castellanos, Billy Hamilton and Jurickson Profar are already swinging Louisville Slugger.

“We’ve been identifying and aligning with young stars for 128 years,” Schupp said. “This new group of guys coming up are going to be great and will entertain fans for years.  They’re swinging Louisville Slugger bats and using our fielding gloves because they have confidence in our products.  That should be a signal to all young players out there that they can be great with Louisville Slugger, too.”

Louisville Slugger made a clean sweep of the Most Valuable Player Awards during All-Star events.  Matt Kinsey, U.S. Army, of the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team joined Melky Cabrera (ASG) and Nick Castellanos (Futures Game) as an MVP.  Kinsey was named Most Valuable Player of the Legends & Celebrities All-Star Softball Game after going three for three and hitting a three-run home-run with his Louisville Slugger Z-2000 softball bat.

One of the most memorable and spine tingling moments of the ASG events was the standing ovation Kinsey and fellow Wounded Warrior Saul Bosquez received during Sunday evening’s softball game as the crowd of 41,000 honored them for their service and sacrifice for our country.

Louisville Slugger is the equipment provider for the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team.
All Star Bat Usage
·         Louisville Slugger 15 players including MVP Melky Cabrera
Futures Game Key Louisville Slugger Players
·         MVP of Futures Game Nick Castellanos  
·         Billy Hamilton , HAS 109 Stolen bases at ALL Star break
·         Jurickson Profar , the #2 Overall Minor league prospect in Baseball

Opening Day At JustBats.com

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Here at JustBats.com we take Opening Day pretty serious, but in a really fun way. Today marks the opening day for The Kansas City Royals as they play the Angels away from home. Quite a few of us are sporting our KC Royals apparel and in honor of Opening Day our chef, Nathan, made us some delicious good old fashioned ballpark food. We had hamburgers, Cracker Jacks and frosted malts. It’s a great day to be at JustBats.com! Go Kansas City Royals!

Player of the Week: Joe Mauer

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This week’s Player of the Week and signature bat are Major League catcher Joe Mauer and the Rawlings Joe Mauer Game Day Ash Wood Bat. Mauer is a Major League catcher for the Minnesota Twins and is the only catcher in the history of the Major Leagues to carry three batting titles under his belt along with winning three consecutive Gold Glove Awards. Mauer is a very well rounded athlete with accomplished high school careers in basketball and football, but ultimately he chose to go with a professional career in baseball and it’s been a great choice with a lot of career highlights and accomplishments.

Mauer was the first overall pick by the Twins in the 2001 draft and since then has performed extremely well as a catcher, proving himself in 2006 by becoming the first Major League catcher to lead the Majors in batting average and becoming the first American League catcher to walk away with a batting title, with an average of .357.

We all know that Major League baseball players typically get better bats than most players, but there is an exception to that this year. Rawlings just happens to have an over abundance of big league caliber bats and they are selling them to the general public! So if you looking for a Major League quality wood bat then stop by JustBats.com to pick up the Rawlings Joe Mauer Game Day Ash Wood Bat before they are all gone!