Ryan Franklin's Chin Happy to Be Named Closer

Facial hair on baseball closers is a topic into which JoeSportsFan.com has looked numerous times.  I evaluated the prevalence of mustaches on closers of the 70’s and 80’s here, and reviewed the hometown St. Louis Cardinals closer facial hair here. 

In today’s game, the mustache has taken a back seat to a new type of closer facial art, the massive goatee. 

Maintaining the tradition of Cardinals closers adhering to the standards of the era, the man who has established himself as the stopper in St. Louis, Ryan Franklin, is willing to participate.

Even if it makes him look completely ridiculous.

And, for the record, it does.

May 11

1904—Cy Young’s streak of 23 straight no-hit innings comes to an end. The streak spanned 16 days and four appearances, one of which was a perfect game against the A’s. This is why Cy Young awards are valuable commodities in baseball. Email your local starting pitcher and tell him to get the Cy Young Award.

1991—Albert Belle throws a baseball at a heckler’s chest after the ignoramus called Belle “Joey,” a name of which Albert was none too fond.

1998—Striking out 13 Diamondbacks, Cubs’ Kerry Wood sets a major league record for strikeouts in consecutive games with 33. The previous record for strikeouts (32) in two consecutive starts was held by Luis Tiant (1968, Indians), Nolan Ryan (1974, Angels), Dwight Gooden (1984, Mets), and Randy Johnson (1997, Mariners). It’s crazy to think that of all the guys who held the previous record, Dwight Gooden might be the least intimidating.

Any time JoeSportsFan stumbles onto a Starter ad featuring Cecil Fielder, Cam Neely, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, it’s a guarantee the video is getting posted for all to enjoy.

Patrick Imig interviews the man of a thousand interviews, Curt Schilling. He has a lot to say about Manny.