Mays Gaining on Hank

How many home runs did Willie Mays hit – 660, you say? Not so fast. Thanks to MLB’s recent recognition of Negro League stats in 2020, Mays will receive credit for statistics generated with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948. His career stats will change slightly.  Subject to the certification of available box scores, it appears he'll get credit for 16 additional hits (including one more home run).  However, his career batting average will drop from .302 to .301.

WILLIE MAYS  [SABR Bio] led his league in bases on balls for the first and only time during his age 40 season. In 1971 Mays had 112 bases-on-balls. It was the only year he walked more than 100 times. His career total of 1,464 places him at 22nd, just ahead of Jimmie Foxx. Though he is in the top twenty all-time in RBI, he never once won an RBI crown in any season of his 20+ year career. Seems he was always the player being batted in. His 2,062 runs rank 7th all-time. Some of his career stats will change despite his being inducted into the Hall of Fame 42 years ago. 

Ten good books on sports and faith, from Christianity Today. I’ve read Rivera’s autobiography and a different Dungy book. Several of these look good.

1. The Closer: My Story, by Mariano Rivera

2. The Mentor, by Ryan Shelton

3. The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge, by Tony Dungy

4. Games People Play: Theology, Religion, and Sport, by Robert Ellis

5. Good Game: Christianity and the Culture of Sports, by Shirl James Hoffman

6. Triumph! Powerful Stories of Athletes of Faith, by former NBA GM Pat Williams with Ken Husser

7. God and Football: Faith and Fanatacism in the SEC, by Chad Gibbs

8. In the Arena: The Promise of Sports for Christian Discipleship, by David Prince

9. Playing for God: Evangelical Women and the Unintended Consequences of Sports Ministry, by Annie Blazer

10. Christy Mathewson, the Christian Gentleman: How One Man’s Faith and Fastball Forever Changed Baseball

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.christianitytoday.com_ct_2020_december-2Dweb-2Donly_10-2Dbest-2Dbooks-2Dsports-2Dchristianity-2Dpast-2D10-2Dyears.html&d=DwIFAg&c=UXihhqr7vvdA-hrKyTiC1Q&r=wMWwaEbn9nr4zXI4p6CDP7FGwn1DrBd77MJElrWsP6U&m=vwABWP01a8muzboHAacGcf_Z67E10mj9c0HEt2sTgYk&s=NXv99u1-MPL6RgX7mj7jUtpPyT8o5wS-aD-SBRICNco&e=

Denison: the Wall Street Journal reports religious groups and figures have been silenced by tech companies at the rate of about one a week. The writer states: “It seems likely that religious groups and individuals will face mounting threats from tech companies. Their views on marriage, sexuality, life and other moral issues are unpopular among the Silicon Valley set.” He concludes: “Religious groups should refuse to silence themselves, change their views, or otherwise back down. Censorship is a symptom of a national collapse in civic culture. Curing the deeper disease will take all the courage and conviction we can muster.” How should we respond to those who oppose our faith? (1) Engage our critics, (2) use reason to defend revelation, and (3) stay faithful despite the outcome.

Two related tweets back to back: