Joe Blanton (and friends) wins the World Series!

by JLeverenz on Oct 30, 2008 4:00 PM EDT

Former UK pitcher Joe Blanton and the Phillies finished off the suspended Game 5 and the Tampa Bay Rays last night, 4 - 3. Cole Hamels was named WS MVP (cue Wildcat supporters claiming anti-UK bias on the part of the media for the snub of Sluggin' Joe)

Blanton won Game 4 for the Phillies, going 6 IP, giving up 2 ER on 4 hits and 2 BB while striking out 7 and adding his first ever homerun for good measure. For the 2008 postseason he was 2-0 in 3 games with a 3.18 ERA in 17 innings, striking out 18 while walking 6 batters and giving up 16 hits. Joe is now 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in 4 career postseason games.

Joe is the only UK player to ever pitch in the World Series, and of course is also the only UK player to ever win a game in the World Series.

Joe is the second UK player to play in the World Series; the other was Jim Leyritz who played in 3 World Series in the 1990's with the Yankees (1996 and 1999) and the Padres (1998).

Kentucky doesn't have much history of good MLB players, so celebrate Joe's accomplishment and be proud that he is one of ours!

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That is great news

For the former Wildcat pitcher. I don’t normally follow MLB but when I saw via Ken’s post here that we had a UK guy on the team, my interest was sparked.

So with this WS win, we now have how many former UK athletes in national prominence this year?

Rondo Celtics NBA Champs and Basketball Gold Olympics
Blanton Phillies World Series
JB Holmes the Ryder Cup

Am I forgetting someone? Go Cats! and congrats to the Phillies.

by kykat51 on Oct 30, 2008 9:23 PM EDT reply actions

Jared Lorenzen in the Super Bowl

Though he didn’t play, he was still on the team

"That's not a Sherman tank, it's Frank Thomas!" - Monkeyball

by JLeverenz on Oct 30, 2008 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Another ...

… professional championship for a UK player. We are starting to collect them now — Prince, J-lo, Blanton. Great for the school.

I hope our baseball program can continue its rise to the upper crust of the SEC. I am concerned about that, but a bit less so since our recruiting has gone so well under the new coach. This year’s recruiting class, though, will be the one to watch.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Oct 31, 2008 7:23 AM EDT up reply actions