Baseball Digest

View more issues: Oct 2004, Nov 2004, Jan-Feb 2005

Articles in Dec 2004 issue of Baseball Digest

• Born to lead: Ivan Rodriguez takes charge in Detroit: All-Star catcher has pushed the Tigers to shed their losing ways and begin the long march to respectability
  by Jo-Ann Barnas
• Top 50 career pitching leaders
• Al Oliver: former National League batting champion recalls his home run in the N.L. Championship Series against the Giants in 1971
  by Al Doyle
• Letters to the editor
  by Bob Lueder
• Don Newcombe recalls historic game against Phillies
  by Robert Schweppe
• Former third baseman Butch Hobson: players who left the game on their own terms: one-time Red Sox slugger pounded 30 HR with 112 RBI in 1977, but injuries and other off-field obstacles led to a shortened playing career
  by Kevin Glew
• Baseball quick quiz
• Fans offer six ways to improve game at the major league level
  by John Kuenster
• Baseball rules corner: visual obstruction call ranks as a rarity in baseball
  by Rich Marazzi
• Hall of Fame Slugger: Harmon Killebrew
  by Adam Schefter
• Hitting sensation: Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki has joined elite company in his first four years in the majors
  by Dave van Dyck
• Baseball profile: Nomar Garciaparra—Sportstop
  by Rick Sorci
• Seven biggest surprises of 2004 season: some unexpected developments in the major leagues included the successful runs put together by the Cardinals, Braves and Rangers
  by George Vass
• Ben Sheets' success burned batters with surprising heat: in 2004, Brewers right-hander put it all together with velocity, command and drive to get better with each start
  by Tom Haudricourt
• The home run: it's a hit baseball fans look for, sluggers swing for, announcers get excited about and pitchers dread
  by Larry Stone
• Top 50 career batting leaders
• The heavy ball: some hurlers' offerings are described as being a different sort of pitch, often due to the ball's late-breaking movement
  by Norman L. Macht