FRIDAY FUN
AND SOME HOLIDAY MUSIC
THE INTRO
There isn’t much news, but there are always fun things to share on Billy-Ball.
This is newsey: the Padres surprisingly re-signed pitcher Michael King to a three-year contract with opt-outs after the first two seasons. His 2025 was a mix of injuries and good pitching. We’ll probably be talking about him again next offseason.
A SONG FOR THE PADRES AND A SONG FOR YOU
The Padres are also in the process of signing infielder Sung Mun Song. According to Francys Romero of BeisbolFR, it’s a three-year deal that guarantees Song around $13MM. He is 29 and has been playing in Korea for playing for the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes. According to our friends at MLB Trade Rumors, in 2024, Song had a .340/.408/.518 slash line and in 2025, as he slashed .315/.387/.530 with 26 homers, 25 steals, and 37 doubles in 646 trips to the plate.
Billy-Ball today will feature some of my favorite holiday songs. Here are The Kinks.
HERE’S YOUR HALL OF FAME BALLOT
Next week, I’ll share who I'd vote for if I had a ballot, but I would love to hear who you would vote for.
Who are your choices?
You can vote for up to 10. A player needs 75% of the BBWAA vote for induction. If you can find 10 players to vote for this year, look again at your ballot; you are too much of a softy.
Top Returning Candidates (from 2025 ballot):
Carlos Beltrán: 70.3% (4th year)
Andruw Jones: 66.2% (9th year)
Chase Utley: 39.8% (3rd year)
Alex Rodriguez: 37.1% (5th year)
Manny Ramirez: 34.3% (10th & final year)
Andy Pettitte: 27.9% (8th year)
Félix Hernández: 20.6% (2nd year)
Bobby Abreu: 19.5% (7th year)
THE BILLY-BALL ALL-YANKEES/METS TEAM
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Kansas City Athletics were such frequent trading partners that the A’s were frequently referred to as a Yankees farm club.
On February 19, 1957, the Athletics traded Art Ditmar (RHP), Bobby Shantz (LHP), Jack McMahan (LHP), Clete Boyer (3B/SS), Curt Roberts (INF), and Wayne Belardi (1B) to the Yankees for Mickey McDermott (LHP), Tom Morgan (RHP), Rip Coleman (LHP), Jack Urban (RHP), Irv Noren (OF), Billy Hunter (SS), and Milt Graff (INF). That was a 13-player deal.
On June 15, 1957, following the Copacabana incident involving Mickey Mantle. Kansas City traded Ryne Duren (RHP), Jim Pisoni (OF), and Harry Simpson (OF/1B) to the Yankees for Billy Martin (2B), Woodie Held (INF/OF), Bob Martyn (OF), and Ralph Terry (RHP).
The Copa incident
On May 16, 1957, several Yankees (including Billy Martin, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, and Hank Bauer) were at the Copacabana celebrating Martin’s 29th birthday when a group of bowlers began heckling Sammy Davis Jr. with racist taunts, leading to a fight that left one man badly injured. The Yankees felt the only way they could protect their young star, Mickey Mantle, was to separate him from Billy Martin. I don’t think Martin ever truly recovered from that deal.
On December 11, 1959, KC traded Roger Maris (OF), Joe DeMaestri (INF), and Kent Hadley (1B) to the Yankees for Hank Bauer (OF), Don Larsen (RHP), Norm Siebern (OF/1B), and Marv Throneberry (1B).
I bring up the Athletics’ relationship with the Yankees because it now appears that the Yankees are the New York training ground for players who then join the Mets. Former Yankees Devin Williams and Luke Weaver are joining Juan Soto and Clay Holmes as members of the Mets
“If you can make it there (Yankee Stadium), you’ll make it anywhere (Citi Field); It’s up to you, New York, New York.”
