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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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tip jar sweepstakes

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Ray Ratto

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts as he is being taken out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning in Game Six of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

World Series – Tampa Bay Rays v Los Angeles Dodgers  – Game Six

The Rays Can’t Help Themselves

<a href="https://twitter.com/yayroger">Roger Cormier</a> is a writer at Baseball Prospectus. He has two cats but is a friend to dogs too.

Roger Cormier

Some pictures of Steve Christmas, a real baseball guy!

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The Almost Unbelievable True Story Of Steve Christmas

<a href="https://twitter.com/ericnus">Eric Nusbaum</a> (words) is a writer based in Tacoma, Washington. He is the author of the book <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/stealing-home-los-angeles-the-dodgers-and-the-lives-caught-in-between-9781541742222/9781541742215">Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between</a>. He is also a former editor at VICE.
<a href="https://twitter.com/adamvillacin">Adam Villacin</a> (pictures) is an illustrator based in Joshua Tree, California. He has written, illustrated, and self-published roughly one hundred zines. He has worked with clients such as Nike, Jordan Brand, Adidas, Dr. Martens, and Fender in addition to editorial work for VICE and The Ringer. He’s also been drawing a musician every day for the last year and a half.

Eric Nusbaum and Adam Villacin

Matsutaro Shoriki, drawn by Adam Villacin

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History

The Newspaper Mogul Who Risked His Life To Bring Babe Ruth To Japan

<a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://demause.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://demause.net/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">Neil deMause</a> has covered sports economics for more publications than even he can shake a stick at. He’s co-author of the book <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Field-Schemes-Stadium-Swindle-Private/dp/1567511384?ascsubtag=c9dca64cfbbd6c35085d286f4423ee39b8350b2f&amp;rawdata=%5Br%7Chttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F%5Bks%7Cgoogle%5Bt%7Clink%5Bp%7C1800657108%5Ba%7C1567511384%5Bau%7C5722120546910826704%5Bb%7Cdeadspinascsubtag%3D4eba2da0f6cc83fe1f221e8d8ca5894cd93bf2a7ascsubtag%3D33f4f2a16c1eda72859c34ee8aa577410b04a0d8&amp;tag=deadspinamzn-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-ga="[[&quot;Commerce&quot;,&quot;deadspin - Baseball Doesn't Need Collusion To Turn Off The Hot Stove&quot;,&quot;1567511384&quot;]]" data-amazonasin="1567511384" data-amazontag="deadspinamzn-20" data-amazonsubtag="[r|https://www.google.com/[ks|google[t|link[p|1831644811[a|1567511384[au|5722120546910826704[b|deadspin[lt|text" data-commerceready="true">Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money Into Private Profit</a>, and runs <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://fieldofschemes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://fieldofschemes.com/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">the website of the same name</a>.

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Neil deMause

CAROLINA, PUERTO RICO - NOVEMBER 13: A remaining batting helmet sits on the field at the Roberto Clemente Municipal Stadium on November 13, 2018 in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The ballpark was once used for minor league AA baseball. The stadium is set to be demolished due to the extended damage it sustained from Hurricane Maria. The effort continues in Puerto Rico to remain and rebuild more than one year after the Hurricane Maria hit and devastated the island on September 20, 2017. The official number of deaths from the disaster is 2,975. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images for Lumix)

The Spirit of Sport After Hurricane Maria In Puerto Rico

Why MLB Declared War On The Minor Leagues

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 29: A view of cut-outs of African-American players from the Negro Leagues are displayed in left field during a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on August 29, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson this weekend. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Phillies won 4-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

Atlanta Braves v Philadelphia Phillies

MLB Attempts To Fix The Baseball History It Fractured

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Chris Thompson

Fans hold up a Chief Wahoo sign at a Cleveland baseball game.

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The Cleveland Baseball Team Is Already Making A Big Mess Of Their Own Name Change

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 16: Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians celebrates his third inning two run home run with Carlos Santana #41 and Jose Ramirez #11 while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 16, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Cleveland Indians v Detroit Tigers

Let’s Rename The Cleveland Baseball Team

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David Roth

It's Dany Ramirez, the last player picked in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft.

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Let Us Now Praise The Garbage Feast At The Heart Of The MLB Winter Meetings

Dave McKenna

Dick Allen, stylish to the last, throws out the first pitch at a Phillies game in 2009.

Dick Allen, Who Didn’t Like Fake Grass Or Being Fucked With, Is Dead

Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.

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Dan McQuade

Zach Wheeler pitches in a grey Phillies uniform (red cap) in the 2020 season

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The Phillies Are Reportedly Looking To Get Worse

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Patrick Redford

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 25: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates a win with teammates after during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Phillies v Washington Nationals

Bryce Harper Wants You To Donate To This Incredibly Shady Anti-Trafficking Operation

This is a photo of Frank Menechino, and NOT Frank Catalanotto

White Sox Manager Tony La Russa: Let’s Remember Some Damn Guys

2010 Baseball Hall of Fame Preview

Why I Won’t Tell You Who’ll Be On My Hall Of Fame Ballot

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Lauren Theisen

Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts as he is being taken out of the game

The Rays, Who Had The 28th-Highest Payroll Last Year, Are Reportedly Looking To Dump Salary

Robinson Cano #24 of the New York Mets spits

New York Mets v Philadelphia Phillies

Robinson Canó Will Lose $24 Million After Testing Positive For Archaic Steroids

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Barry Petchesky

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 09: during game three of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field on October 9, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Divisional Round – Washington Nationals v Chicago Cubs – Game Three

Media Meltdowns

Don’t Let The Ricketts Family Off The Hook

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Tom Ley

Chicago Cubs v Pittsburgh Pirates

Theo Epstein’s Departure Is Another Bad Omen For The Cubs

Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.

Patrick Dubuque

How Baseball Was Solved, And Where It Got Us

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: A general view of the field prior to the game between the Miami Marlins and the Washington Nationals at Marlins Park on September 20, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Washington Nationals v Miami Marlins – Game One

Kim Ng Is Finally A GM

A human cadaver positioned as if throwing a baseball at "Bodies...The Exhibition".

Interviews

An Astrophysicist Explains The Challenges Of De-Juicing The Baseball

Wild Card Round – Cincinnati Reds v Atlanta Braves – Game One

Former Draft Bust Wins NL Cy Young Award

Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.

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Diana Moskovitz

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Report: Tony La Russa Told Arresting Officer, “I’m A Hall-Of-Famer Baseball Person”

against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Chase Field on April 23, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Pittsburgh Pirates v Arizona Diamondbacks

Tony La Russa Really Stepped In It

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after flying out against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning in Game Six of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

The Dodgers Have A COVID-19 Outbreak And Nobody Seems To Care

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Justin Turner #10 and the Los Angeles Dodgers pose for a photo after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in Game Six to win the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

MLB