The Baseball Buffet for 2/20/2026

NYY vs. BAL (1:05pm ET)

Northeastern vs. BOS (1:05pm ET)

KCR vs. TEX (3:05pm ET)

CHW vs. CHC (3:05pm ET)

ARI vs. COL (3:10pm ET)

SDP vs. SEA (3:10pm ET)

Golden Gophers vs. MIN (6:05pm ET)

1929: The Red Sox will play on Sundays, just not at Fenway. “The Boston Red Sox announce they will play Sunday games (allowed for the first time in Boston) at Braves Field, because Fenway Park is located too close to a church and therefore barred from hosting games by a city ordinance.”

1992: The Simpsons air the classic episode Homer at the Bat. “The episode of the animated series The Simpsons entitled "Homer at the Bat" gets its first broadcast on FOX. In the episode, Springfield Nuclear Plant owner C. Montgomery Burns hires a team of major league ringers in order to win a bet he placed on a softball game against a rival businessman. In the end, though, it's the hapless Homer Simpson who saves the day with a walk-off hit-by-pitch. A number of contemporary major league stars, many of them future Hall of Famers, lend their voices and likeness to the show, which is considered one of the classic episodes of the series.”

2001: Bill Rigney dies at the age of 83. “Longtime baseball figure Bill Rigney dies at the age of 83 after a long bout with cancer. After an eight-year playing career in the major leagues, Rigney went on to manage the New York and San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels, and Minnesota Twins. Rigney also worked as a scout, executive, and broadcaster in a career that began in 1938.”

First-round draft pick (2nd overall) in 2004 by the Tigers

So far has had a 20-year major league pitching career, mostly with the Tigers and Astros

Won the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2006 after going 17-9 with a 3.63 ERA

Nine-time All-Star, and winner of three Cy Young Awards, including in 2011 when he took home the AL Pitching Triple Crown with a 24-5 record, a 2.40 ERA, and 250 K

Has led the AL in wins four times, ERA twice, and strikeouts five times

In addition to all of his regular season pitching, he has essentially pitched another full season over his many postseason appearances which have added up to a 17-12 record, 3.58 ERA, and 244 K in 226 IP

Overall he so far has a regular season record of 266-158 (.627), a 3.32 ERA, a 128 ERA+, and 3,553 strikeouts which ranks him 8th all-time

Hall of Famer

20-year major league career, spanning from 1915-1934, almost entirely as an OF with the Washington Senators

Was a high-average hitter, with top marks of .350 in 1925 and .349 in 1930

Had 20+ SB nine times, including a career-high and league-leading 63 SB in 1920

Had 10+ triples in ten consecutive seasons, including leading the AL with 18 triples in 1923. Didn't have much HR power though, with only 34 HR in 10,260 career plate appearances.

Scored 100+ runs five times and had 200+ hits six times, including leading the AL with 216 hits in both 1924 and 1926

Overall had 2,987 hits, 1,514 runs, 351 SB, 184 triples, a .322/.374/.427 slash line, and a 112 OPS+

16-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1953-1969, mostly as a reliever with the Pittsburgh Pirates

Led the NL in saves three times, including a high of 28 saves in 1962 while also posting a 1.88 ERA

Three-time All-Star, including in 1959 when he posted an impressive 18-1 record in relief, along with a 2.70 ERA over 93.1 IP

Had 191 saves, a 3.48 ERA, and a 109 ERA+

15-year major league career, spanning from 2005-2019, as a catcher for the Braves, Yankees, and Astros

Seven-time All-Star

Was a very consistent HR hitter, with between 18-26 HR in 12 seasons

Overall had 282 HR, 1,018 RBI, a .262/.337/.452 slash line, and a 110 OPS+

11-year major league career, spanning from 1937-1950 (missing 1943-45 due to military service), all as an OF with the Yankees

Five-time All-Star

Hit 20+ HR four times, with highs of 31 HR in 1941, and 25 HR and 100 RBI in 1948

Led the AL in triples with 13 in 1947 and 14 in 1948

Scored 100+ runs four times, including an AL-leading 138 runs in 1948

Overall had 183 HR, 901 runs, a .282/.382/.491 slash line, and a 132 OPS+

17-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1996-2012, mostly with the Expos/Nationals, Giants, and Marlins, but also playing for six other clubs

Two-time All-Star

Led the NL in innings pitched each year from 2003-2005

Had between 12-17 wins seven times

Was an above-average hitter as a pitcher, batting .221 with 10 HR and 38 doubles in 973 AB

Had mixed results in the postseason, but did well early as a 22-year old in 1997 for the Marlins. He won the NLCS MVP after striking out 16 with a 0.84 ERA over 10.2 IP. Then he won the World Series MVP after winning games 1 and 5, even though he allowed 15 H, 10 BB, and 8 ER over 13.2 IP.

Overall had a 178-177 record and a 4.44 ERA

Liván is the younger brother of Orlando Hernández, who pitched in the majors for 9 years from 1998-2007

19-year major league career, spanning from 1915-1934, as a catcher for the Senators, Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Browns, and White Sox

A top defensive catcher of his era, for many years he was the preferred catcher of the great Hall of Famer Walter Johnson

Was a capable batsman with a career .275 average, and a .365 OBP, but had almost no power with only 4 HR in 5,299 plate appearances

According to his bio at SABR, "The origin of the nickname “Muddy” has more than one explanation. One story is that the young Herold came into his house covered in mud after playing outside. At which point, his father looked at him and said, “Well, there’s Muddy.” Another version attributes the moniker to Ruel having mud splattered on his face from catching a thrown ball that was made of mud. Yet, another version indicates that the name originated with Ruel’s use of a “dirty” tongue in an attempt to psyche out opposing hitters."

First-round draft pick (2nd overall) in 1977 by the Expos

14-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1979-1994, mostly with the Expos, Reds, and Tigers

Won 15+ games three times, including posting a 20-9 record in 1991 for the Tigers

Did well in the postseason in 1981, as a 22-year old for the Expos, with a 2.05 ERA over three starts and 22 IP

Overall had a 162-136 (.544) record, a 3.93 ERA, and a 98 ERA+

Games today! Here’s what to watch for in Cactus/Grapefruit League play, by Manny Randhawa at MLB, 2/20/2026

Who's the most likely World Baseball Classic champ? We rank 'em, 1-20, by Michael Clair and Will Leitch at MLB, 2/19/2026

Who will take the title in a stacked AL East? Let's discuss, by Jake Rill, Keegan Matheson, Adam Berry, Ian Browne, and Bryan Hoch at MLB, 2/19/2026

4 Padres roster battles to watch as games begin, by AJ Cassavell at MLB, 2/19/2026

First base future Hall-of-Famers are staring you right in the face, by Mark Kolier at Almost Cooperstown, 2/20/2026