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Hundley sets new record for home runs by a catcher in 1996

staff — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 18:49:33 +0000

Gerald Herbert

Todd Hundley hits his 41st homer of the year, a 3 run shot to tie the game at 5-5, to set new club record for a catcher.

(Originally published by the Daily News on September 15, 1996. This story was written by Thomas Hill.)

Todd Hundley knew he was eventually going to provide the Mets’ final dramatic moment of this season. But finding a proper time and place for an achievement that dwarfed everything else he had ever done was important, too.

Somehow, in the middle of a cool and quiet late summer afternoon at Shea yesterday, Hundley suddenly discovered his stage was set. He recognized the chance, seized it and created an epic event.

With a national television audience watching a game carrying playoff implications for the defending world champion Braves, Hundley hit his 41st home and grabbed sole possession of the single season major-league record for home runs by a catcher. He snapped a tie he created last Sunday with Roy Campanella, who hit 40 in 1953.

Hundley’s three-run homer off Greg McMichael with two outs in the seventh completed the Mets’ comeback from a five-run deficit. The Mets eventually beat the braves, 6-5 in the 12th inning, when Lance Johnson drove home Matt Franco from second with a one-out single center.

“That’s the way you want to end that game,” Johnson

Nothing could match Hundley’s home run for sheer theatrics, though. He fell behind 0-2 and then drove an outside fastball from McMichael deep to the opposite field. The ball stopped carrying only when it struck a rotating advertisement for Dunkin Donuts that hangs above the fence in the left-field corner. Hundly’s homer, which traveled an estimated 353 feet, was just the third on he could recall hitting to left field batting left handed.

McMichael credited Hundley for hitting a tough pitch, a fastball designed only to set up an inside changeup. At first McMichael thought Hundley had hit only a deep fly ball. “But it kept going,” he said. Hundley has 14 games left to add to his record.

“I don’t think I’m done,” said Hundley, the switch hitter beside Mickey Mantle to hit 40 home runs in a season. “I’m not going to go out and pop off and put more pressure on myself. But getting that one off me is like getting a house lifted off my shoulders.”

Braves left fielder Jermaine Dye picked up the ball after it bounced back onto the field and flipped it into the crowd. With the help of stadium security personnel, the Mets contacted the fan who caught the ball – 17-year-old Keith Shell of Flushing – and invited him to a post-game news conference, where he presented it to Hundley in exchange for an autographed bat.

New York Daily News

This article in the New York Daily News was published on Sept. 15, 1996.

New York Daily News

This article in the New York Daily News was published on Sept. 15, 1996.

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As he has through most of his record pursuit, Hundley remained stoic when he reached his destination. He was expressionless as he trotted slowly around the bases following the blast.

“I wanted to be professional about it,” Hundley said. “I was not going to jump up and down like we just won the World Series, and show somebody up. I was thinking more of the score. I was thinking ‘Dog gone, here we go’.

“I was not going to show McMichael up and do a circus act on the bases. Once I got to home plate was the time to celebrate, not on the bases.”

Johnson, who was on third when the home run came, was the first to greet Hundley at the plate with a two-handed high five. Bernard Gilkey, who had been on second, offered Hundley a hug.

And then, as they did in Atlanta last Sunday when Hundley hit home run No. 40, the rest of the Mets poured from the dugout and formed an impromptu receiving line. A crowd announced at 22,857 stood and roared all through the on-field celebrations.

Thunderous waves of applause, unheard at Shea most of this unfulfilling season, continued after Hundley descended into the dugout. Within a minute, he responded by climbing back into view and raising his right arm, batting helmet held aloft.

Hundley needed no prodding to take the first curtain call of his career, a move perfected a decade ago by Gary Carter, the man Hundley has replaced as the Mets’ most powerful catcher.

“I wanted to stand there for a while, but we had to get on with the game,” Hundley said. “I’ve been through a lot with the fans here. I’ve gone from getting booed by 40,000 to getting a standing ovation from 20,000 or 30,000.”

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Baseball – NY Daily News

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Here's cheers for Ormsby's record ace

staff — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 05:07:08 +0000

It’s Wade Ormsby’s shout after he not only earned a supply of German beer for a his first European Tour, but also helped set a European Tour record on day three of the KLM Open in the Netherlands.

Ormsby will head to the final round along the Dutch North Sea shoreline lying in a three-way share of fifth place on 13 under and only three strokes from the lead as he seeks to capture a first Race to Dubai tournament.

The 35-year old has won on the Asian Tour, but yet to savour success in 219 events on the European Tour where he made his debut in 2004.

And after becoming the lowest-scoring Australian on the Tour in shooting a round of 61 on the opening day at Zandvoort, Ormsby again became part of European Tour history when he aced the par-three 11th today, extending the Tour record for the number of holes-in-one in a season.

Ormsby’s ace, the first by an Aussie on the European Tour this season. was the 41st hole-in-one this year and came just 30 minutes after Swede Magnus Carlsson broke Tour record of 39 aces when he holed out at the eighth hole.

England’s in-form Lee Slattery and Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello head the Kennemer Golf Club contestants with rounds of 63 to be tied at the top on 16 under.

Scotland’s Paul Lawrie, with scores of 61, 71 and 63, is next best at -15, with Belguim’s Thomas Pieters (62) fourth on -14.

Slattery captured last week’s M2M Russian Open ending a more than four-year winless drought to capture on his second Tour title, and now like the No. 273 bus, the affable Brit is in pole position for back-to-back titles.

However there’s also Pieters, and managed by the same firm that looks after the business affairs of Tiger Woods, coming off victory last fortnight in the Czech Masters.

Ormsby knows he needs to go low if he’s to have a chance of a lifting one of the oldest titles on the European Tour but then he did shoot a first round 61.

And after posting a double bogey at the 10th hole on day three Ormsby bounced back in the best way possible, and despite admitting he caught his 7-iron “thin”.

“You’re not suppose to say that when you get a hole-in-one but I did catch it thin, so I will still take it,” he said.

“I didn’t see the ball all the way as the shot was right on my eye line but then given the crowd’s reaction I knew it had found the bottom of the cup so it was a real bonus given I took a double at the previous hole.”

It is Ormsby’s third career tournament ace with a first while competing in New Zealand and a second in the US while he also has “a couple” during social matches back home.

And Ormsby’s prize was a year’s supply of Warsteiner beer — his only concern getting the supply of lager back home to Adelaide.

“I don’t know how we will do it, but I am sure there is a way, and I know come Christmas time there will be plenty of friends knocking on my door looking for a beer,” he said smiling.

“But on a serious note I felt good out there early but just kind of lost my rhythm and struggled in the left-to-right wind while there was a poor shot into 17 that kind of annoyed me a little bit as it was a pretty big target.

“I still very much in touch and only three behind and with scoring so low you are going to have to go low again if you are to have a chance of winning the tournament.

“But then in saying that I have been in every position heading to the last day and somehow found a way to lose, so it would be great tomorrow if I could pull it off.”

Golf Australia – News Headlines

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Record a dream come true – Rooney

staff — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 04:50:44 +0000

Wayne Rooney said it was a “dream come true” to break Sir Bobby Charlton’s England goalscoring record and set his sights on adding to his total.

The 29-year-old Manchester United striker’s penalty in the 2-0 win over Switzerland in a Euro 2016 qualifier took his tally to 50 goals.

“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “I’ve been close for the last few games and it’s a dream come true.

“I’ve got a lot of football in me for England. I hope the goals don’t stop.”

The spot-kick was awarded late in the game when Raheem Sterling was fouled in the area by Granit Xhaka.

Rooney, who scored his first England goal against Macedonia in 2003, told BBC Radio 5 live: “It’s a very special night for me and my family. A night I will never forget.

“I was very nervous stepping up to take the penalty. I knew it was such a big moment for me and my career. The players said to me afterwards it was like being at a concert because there were so many flashes from phones in the crowd.

“It’s a huge honour because Sir Bobby Charlton is an England and Manchester United legend. I know Sir Bobby will be extremely proud that a Manchester United captain has broken the record.”

The striker was handed a commemorative England shirt by boss Roy Hodgson in the dressing room after the match, and made a speech in front of his colleagues.

“Nights like this you don’t forget,” he added. “When you create a bit of history it’s a great feeling. It was really nice of the players and the manager to present me with a shirt afterwards.”

Listen to BBC Radio 5 live’s exclusive interview with Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney, pictured with his wife Coleen, pays tribute to those who have helped him

Rooney can score another 15 goals – Hodgson

England coach Roy Hodgson praised Rooney’s achievement, and said the former Everton forward could possibly reach a tally of 65 goals.

“You would like to think we are on about 10 games a year and maybe if we ever did very well in a tournament a bit more – that is at least to 2018,” he said.

“So you are talking 20, maybe even 30 games, so it could be like 10 to 15 goals.

“I know he is really delighted. He will tell you what a proud moment it is for him and his family. I also know, as a team man, he will be thinking ‘how can I help England become a better team?’, ‘can I make certain – like Bobby Charlton – I end up as a winner in a tournament or help England do very well?’

“You can’t do much better than be number one in the goalscoring list, but I still want to say a word for Bobby Charlton. He is obviously a legend and one of the finest players I ever saw and I don’t think we will diminish or debase Bobby’s legendary status.

“With him and Wayne Rooney we are talking about two of the finest football players in England and I’m lucky enough to have one still playing and that I can use him.”

‘Rooney captaincy has pleased me’

Fans wore Roy Hodgson and Wayne Rooney masks at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday

Hodgson handed Rooney the captaincy in August 2014, and the coach said the striker had repaid his faith in him.

“His maturity has impressed me, the way he has accepted the captaincy,” he continued.

“I don’t think it has surprised me because I gave him the captaincy. I believed in him and trusted him and I’m really pleased with the way he has taken on the extra burden.

“The other thing that impresses me is his constant passion and enthusiasm in every training session, meetings and in games. He’s not thinking ‘I’ve got 50 goals, I’m a legend’. He is still out there working as hard as a young 19-year-old, who is playing his first game in the team.

“The FA made a presentation of a shirt with a number 50 on and the players greeted him with great delight and when the shirt was given to him I provoked him into giving a speech.

“It was a very good speech, but fairly short. But the one thing I can tell you, and what struck me, was how proud he was to achieve that and how determined he is not to stop at 50 goals.”

Team-mates congratulate Rooney

Tottenham striker Harry Kane, who scored the opener against Switzerland, told BBC Radio 5 live: “I’m delighted for Wayne. I hope he goes on to score many more for his country. I’m slowly sneaking up. I’ve got a long way to go.”

Wayne Rooney’s United team-mate offered his congratulations

BBC Sport – Football

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Rooney wants team glory over record

staff — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 05:44:50 +0000

By Phil McNulty Chief football writer in San Marino

England captain Wayne Rooney is on the brink of history in San Marino as he stands one short of Sir Bobby Charlton’s national goals record – and believes he can still emulate the Manchester United legend and win a major international tournament.

Rooney captains England on Saturday knowing victory will secure their place in the Euro 2016 finals in France next summer.

And while the 29-year-old will delight in the personal milestone of eclipsing Charlton’s tally of 49 goals, he insists winning a trophy would give him more pleasure after he missed out with England at Euro 2004 and Euro 2012 as well as in the World Cups in 2006, 2010 and last summer in Brazil.

Still time for record – and England glory

Rooney has had to cope with claims that, even with the goal record, he will never be ranked ahead of Charlton because he, along with his brother Jack, was part of England’s 1966 World Cup team – the only time England have even won the trophy.

Wayne Rooney appeared alongside the World Cup in a sponsored appearance in 2006, but England went out in the quarter-finals against Portugal

He said: “Up to a couple of years ago, people were saying Lional Messi wasn’t as good as Diego Maradona because he hadn’t won the World Cup.

“In my mind, Messi is a better player than Maradona – but that’s how football is.

“It’s about the trophies you win. As a team, that’s how you’re judged. Sir Bobby did that. Hopefully there’s still time for me to be successful like that.”

John Stones set for golden England career

Everton’s elegant 21-year-old defender John Stones will play in San Marino on Saturday after having a transfer request rejected by the Merseyside club following Chelsea’s attempts to lure him to Stamford Bridge with three bids up to £30m.

Everton’s Stones will win his fifth cap in the match against San Marino

And England manager Roy Hodgson says he has no worries about his form after the saga.

“I don’t think John Stones requires me to talk to him about it,” said Hodgson.

“He’s been 100% professional and accepted there’s an offer for him from another club, but the club he is under contract to didn’t want to sell him. He will continue to play well for Everton now the window has closed. We believe in him.”

Hodgson added: “John is also more than capable of playing in two positions. Against Switzerland in Basel he played magnificently at right-back when we won 2-0. He’s a centre-back at Everton, where he also plays very well. It’s good to have a player of that type capable of playing in two positions. All I can hope is he continues to impress.”

England warning for Vardy

Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy makes his first start for England against San Marino less than a month after receiving a “substantial” fine and being ordered to undergo diversity training by the club after claims he made a racial slur in a casino.

Video footage emerged of Vardy allegedly abusing a Japanese man and Hodgson revealed the 28-year-old striker had been spoken to by the Football Association hierarchy.

“That was dealt with by Dan Ashworth [FA director of elite development], who took him to one side and spoke to him. I spoke to him. That’s water under the bridge.”

BBC Sport – Football

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Transfer spending at record high

staff — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 02:47:51 +0000

Kevin De Bruyne, Anthony Martial and Raheem Sterling were three of the biggest transfers

The summer transfer window was the richest in Premier League history as total spending for the calendar year reached £1bn for the first time.

Summer outlay passed £870m, 4% up on the record set last year.

The biggest spenders, Manchester City, paid the two biggest fees, £55m for Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg and £49m for Raheem Sterling from Liverpool.

Manchester United’s £36m signing of Monaco teenager Anthony Martial was the biggest deadline day move.

More on Transfer Deadline Day
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Early strikes, unseemly scrambles: Who won in the window?	Where has the last 48 hours left Man Utd?

Since the introduction of the transfer window system in 2002, gross transfer spending has exceeded £7.3bn, with over 80% of this being spent in summer transfer windows, according to financial analysts Deloitte.

Who spent the most?

Kevin De Bruyne’s move to Manchester City was the biggest of the transfer window

Manchester City broke their club record twice this summer to bring De Bruyne and Sterling to Etihad Stadium as they became England’s highest gross spenders in a single window.

Their total spend of approximately £160m beat the near £150m outlay of Manchester United in summer 2014, including deals for Fabian Delph, Patrick Roberts and Nicolas Otamendi.

The Premier League leaders were boosted this summer by having restrictions on their transfer spending lifted after meeting their Financial Fair Play target.

City’s spending in 2014 was capped at £49m and they were also fined £16.3m for breaching Uefa rules.

The four Premier League clubs competing in this season’s Champions League – City, United, Chelsea and Arsenal – had a combined gross transfer spend of around £340m, representing around 40% of the aggregate gross transfer spend by Premier League clubs.

How the record was broken

The signing of 19-year-old Martial, Everton’s £9.5m capture of Argentine defender Ramiro Funes Mori and Papy Djilobodji’s £4m arrival at Chelsea from Nantes on Tuesday helped the 2015 window overtake the £835m set last year.

Liverpool have used the Sterling money (and more) to sign seven players, with Christian Benteke (£32.5m), Roberto Firmino (£29m) and Nathaniel Clyne (£12m) the most expensive.

Manchester United have also been busy, spending £139m to bring in Martial, Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin, while Chelsea left it late in the window to conduct their serious business, signing Pedro, Baba Rahman and Djilobodji.

Newly promoted Watford have been the busiest club, signing 15 players.

What happened on deadline day itself?

West Ham were the busiest club on transfer deadline day but what else happened on Tuesday?

Premier League clubs spent approximately £90m on deadline day, £5m more than last summer.

Manchester United’s £36m signing of Martial made the 19-year-old the world’s most expensive teenager, with the fee potentially rising to £58m. He becomes United’s third most expensive signing after Angel Di Maria (£59.7m) and Juan Mata (£37.1m).

Other big-money signings on deadline day included Argentina defender Ramiro Funes Mori joining Everton from River Plate for £9.5m and Virgil van Dijk moving to Southampton from Celtic for £11.5m.

West Brom turned down a fourth bid for Saido Berahino , causing the striker to hint that he would never play for the Baggies again.

The most expensive teenagers in world football
Name	When	From	To	Cost
Anthony Martial	September 2015	Monaco	Manchester United	£36m (rising to £58m)
Luke Shaw	June 2014	Southampton	Manchester United	£27m (rising to £31m)
Marquinhos	July 2013	Roma	Paris St-Germain	£27m
Wayne Rooney	August 2004	Everton	Manchester United	£20m (rising to £27m)
Sergio Ramos	September 2005	Sevilla	Real Madrid	£18.5m

Where is the money going?

Total transfer fees paid to overseas clubs were £585m, about 10% higher than in the summer of 2014 and 67% of the aggregate gross transfer spend by Premier League clubs.

The Premier League clubs’ net transfer spend of £460m – the amount by which outlay to Football League and overseas clubs exceeded their income from those sources – exceeded the previous record of £410m set last summer.

Why are clubs able to keep spending?

The financial rewards of staying in the Premier League at the end of this season are immense.

Starting from 2016-17, the Premier League TV rights deal increases from £3.018bn to £5.136bn for three seasons.

The bottom club will pocket £99m per season with the champions earning more than £150m in prize money, even before extra money is paid for featuring in a TV match.

Alex Thorpe, senior manager in the Sports Business Group at analysts Deloitte, said: “Premier League clubs continue to use increases in their revenue to invest in playing talent.

“Looking across Europe, Premier League clubs’ gross and net spending this summer is more than double that of any other European league. The driving force behind this is the growth and distribution mechanism of the league’s broadcast rights.

“Earlier this year we reported the remarkable rebalancing of revenues and costs, such that Premier League clubs collectively generated pre-tax profitability for the first time since 1999, with clubs set to enjoy a further revenue boost when the next broadcast deals start in 2016.

“Therefore, despite a new record level of player transfer spending this year, collectively Premier League clubs have a chance to invest in playing talent while remaining profitable in a way that was previously not the case.”

How much was spent around Europe?

Across the other ‘big five’ top divisions of Europe, the next highest spending league was Italy’s Serie A, with a gross spend of £405m, followed by Spain’s La Liga (£400m), the German Bundesliga (£290m) and Ligue 1 in France (£220m).

BBC World Service’s John Bennett said: “Serie A was incredibly busy this window but still produced less than half the spend of the Premier League. Desperate to get back into the premier league of European clubs, Inter brought in 15 players and AC Milan spent money on players like Colombian forward Carlos Bacca for £21m.

“Barcelona didn’t let a transfer ban stop them from bringing in two new players but it was surprisingly quiet at Real Madrid where Mateo Kovacic and Danilo were the only relatively high-profile signings.

“And in France, Marseille are the example of a club struggling to compete with Premier League money. They lost around nine established players, including Andre Ayew and Dimitri Payet to Swansea City and West Ham.”

How social media reacted

There were 1.1 million tweets about David De Gea in the final 24 hours before the transfer deadline.

There were 34,071 mentions of Saido Berahino in the two hours after the West Brom striker posted his outspoken tweet – compared with 13,165 in the previous 10 hours.

Manchester United (#mufc) were the most tweeted team, with 491,023 mentions in 24 hours, followed by Arsenal with 308,148.

Heathrow Airport scored one of the most successful tweets of the day. Their picture of a map directing any potential new Arsenal strikers from the airport to the Emirates received more than 6,000 retweets.

BBC Sport – Football

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Mourinho mocks Wenger's win record

staff — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 00:44:43 +0000

There is little love lost between Wenger (left) and Mourinho

Man City v Chelsea: Barclays Premier League
Venue: Etihad Stadium Date: Sunday, 16 August Kick-off: 16:00 BST Coverage: live commentary on BBC radio 5 live

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has mocked Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger as the Blues prepare to play Manchester City on Sunday.

City boss Manuel Pellegrini signed a new contract recently after finishing a second in the league last season.

When asked if he was surprised by the deal, Mourinho said: “Why? Some other clubs, they have disappointed for 15 years and the manager is the same.”

Arsenal last won the Premier League under Wenger in 2003-04.

But the Frenchman, who has been in charge of the Gunners since 1996, has led his side to FA Cup victories for the last two seasons.

Wenger also achieved victory over a Chelsea side managed by Mourinho for the first time in 14 attempts when Arsenal won the Community Shield in this season’s curtain raiser.

There is a history of conflicts between the pair, with Mourinho claiming Wenger was “a specialist in failure” in February last year, while the Arsenal boss has previously accused his Chelsea counterpart of being “disrespectful”.

Meanwhile, Mourinho says Sunday’s game with Manchester City is not crucial at this early stage of the Premier League season.

The reigning champions head to last season’s runners-up on the back of a 2-2 home draw with Swansea City in their opening game.

“I cannot say it’s crucial, it’s decisive, or it’s very, very important,” said Mourinho.

“But it is two title contenders, and three points.”

Manchester City won the title in 2013-14 before finishing eight points behind the Blues last season.

But Mourinho has played down the significance of this weekend’s encounter, with the season just one game old.

“The season is very long. Thirty-eight matches is an eternity, a marathon which started last week and ends in around 10 months,” he added.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini on Raheem Sterling:
“Maybe we were criticised for the amount we paid for him but I am sure he will demonstrate during the year, especially against the big teams, why he was valued so much. It is always important for young players to play with good players who can improve them, the same way he did with Luis Suarez or Steven Gerrard for Liverpool. Here he will play with David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure… players that will make him improve in a lot of ways. I think last year he scored 11 in all competitions. I am sure this season he will improve.”

“If you can get three points and your opponent zero it is important.

“But for sure I am not going to say the game decides anything for the winner or anything for the loser.”

While Chelsea were held on the opening weekend, City comfortably beat West Bromwich Albion away 3-0.

The City and Chelsea bosses have a rivalry that dates back to when the Portuguese succeeded Pellegrini as Real Madrid boss in 2010 and made unflattering comments about his Chilean predecessor.

They did not shake hands after their first meeting in England in October 2013.

But Pellegrini said on Friday: “I said the first day I arrived here I have my differences with him but I always shake hands with him.”

As for the significance of the game, the Chilean added: “We are not thinking about the title in the second game.

“But we are thinking about trying to win our points at home, especially as we are playing against the champions and one of the teams that has a lot of chances to win the title.

“It is the same as Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham – all the big teams.”

BBC Sport – Football

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West Brom break record for Rondon

staff — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 05:46:19 +0000

West Brom have signed Zenit St Petersburg striker Salomon Rondon for a club record fee of around £12m.

The Venezuela international, 25, has agreed a four-year contract to become the Baggies’ fifth summer signing.

He will not be eligible for Monday’s Premier League match against Manchester City at The Hawthorns (20:00 BST).

“We feel with age on his side and the prices English clubs are asking for their players, it’s a deal worth doing,” said West Brom boss Tony Pulis.

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The club’s previous biggest transfer outlay was the £10m they spent on Brown Ideye last summer.

West Brom have already added James McClean, James Chester and Rickie Lambert to their squad, as well as Arsenal’s Serge Gnabry on a season-long loan.

Rondon scored 20 goals in 37 appearances for the Russian club last season, and has also played for Rubin Kazan and Malaga.

Pulis said he had spoken to Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini – who managed the striker at Malaga – and former Zenit boss Andre Villas-Boas and that Rondon came “highly recommended”.

“He’s got a fantastic goalscoring record in some of the top leagues in Europe and for his country,” said Pulis. “He’s 25 years of age and still to fulfil his full potential.

“We hope he hits the ground running of course but understand it might take him time to settle.”

Rondon said: “The club showed a lot of interest in me. That’s what is important for a player, what you take into account, and there are expectations of me.”

BBC Sport – Football

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Mike Hessman hits 433rd home run, sets minor league record

staff — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 15:51:21 +0000

SABO, ROBERT, NEW YORK DAILY NEW/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Mike Hessman plays for the Mets in 2010 and also sees the field with the Braves and Tigers but hasn’t been able to stick in the majors.

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Call him the real-life Crash Davis.

Mike Hessman, an infielder for Triple-A Toledo in the Detroit Tigers’ system, became the career home run leader for U.S.-based minor leagues Monday night, hitting his 433rd in the seventh inning of a game against Lehigh Valley.

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Davis was the character played by Kevin Costner in the movie “Bull Durham” who set the minor league record for homers.

Hessman reached the actual mark in style, hitting a grand slam to break a tie on the career list with Buzz Arlett, who played in the minors from 1918 to 1937.

“I don’t follow the numbers, but after the season I’ll probably do a little digging and learn a little bit about the guys I’ve passed,” Hessman said.

According to the Society for American Baseball Research, Hector Espino hit 484 minor league home runs, but he hit most of them in the Mexican League, which is not part of the affiliated minor league system.

The 37-year-old Hessman has played 109 games in the major leagues for Atlanta, Detroit and the New York Mets. He has not appeared in the majors since 2010. He’s hit 14 homers in the majors, batting .188 overall.

Hessman’s record-setting home run came off right-hander Dustin McGowan. Toledo ended up losing 10-8 in 11 innings, but after the game, Hessman’s teammates doused him with champagne in an on-field celebration.

“They’ve been cheering me on all year,” Hessman said. “I don’t like to talk about numbers and such, but they gave me words of encouragement every day.”

“I was just happy to do it here at home for the good fans here in Toledo.”

Hessman was selected by Atlanta in the 15th round of the 1996 draft. Although he hasn’t been productive enough for an extended stay in the majors, he’s always shown good power, even hitting five home runs in 12 games for the Tigers in 2008.

That same year, he was a member of the bronze medal-winning U.S. team at the Beijing Olympics.

Hessman also holds the career home run records for Toledo (184) and the International League (288).

Baseball – NY Daily News

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Mike Hessman hits 433rd home run, sets minor league record

staff — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 13:47:17 +0000

SABO, ROBERT, NEW YORK DAILY NEW/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Mike Hessman plays for the Mets in 2010 and also sees the field with the Braves and Tigers but hasn’t been able to stick in the majors.

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Call him the real-life Crash Davis.

FOLLOW THE DAILY NEWS SPORTS ON FACEBOOK. “LIKE” US HERE.

Davis was the character played by Kevin Costner in the movie “Bull Durham” who set the minor league record for homers.

Hessman reached the actual mark in style, hitting a grand slam to break a tie on the career list with Buzz Arlett, who played in the minors from 1918 to 1937.

“I don’t follow the numbers, but after the season I’ll probably do a little digging and learn a little bit about the guys I’ve passed,” Hessman said.

“They’ve been cheering me on all year,” Hessman said. “I don’t like to talk about numbers and such, but they gave me words of encouragement every day.”

“I was just happy to do it here at home for the good fans here in Toledo.”

That same year, he was a member of the bronze medal-winning U.S. team at the Beijing Olympics.

Hessman also holds the career home run records for Toledo (184) and the International League (288).

The Score

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Sports News One » Record

Hundley sets new record for home runs by a catcher in 1996

Todd Hundley hits his 41st homer of the year, a 3 run shot to tie the game at 5-5, to set new club record for a catcher.

This article in the New York Daily News was published on Sept. 15, 1996.

This article in the New York Daily News was published on Sept. 15, 1996.

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Mike Hessman hits 433rd home run, sets minor league record

Mike Hessman plays for the Mets in 2010 and also sees the field with the Braves and Tigers but hasn’t been able to stick in the majors.

Mike Hessman hits 433rd home run, sets minor league record

Mike Hessman plays for the Mets in 2010 and also sees the field with the Braves and Tigers but hasn’t been able to stick in the majors.