PEANUTS AND CRACKER JACKS THE BEST OPENING DAYS IN BASEBALL HISTORY
Baseball’s opening day has been an American holiday of sorts since the Cincinnati Red Stockings threw out the first major league pitch in 1869. To celebrate the start of the 150th season of professional baseball, here are three of the best opening days in baseball history. A NEW BEGINNING On April 15, 1947, an opening-day game changed the course of Major League Baseball.
On this day, Jackie Robinson started for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African- American player to start for a major league baseball team. Robinson’s historic showing was lackluster, going 0-for-3 at the plate and making a solid showing on the infield at first base, but his mere presence in a Dodgers uniform had already broken history. Despite his nationally- recognized skills — Robinson was named MVP of the MLB farm team league in 1946 — the backlash that followed his rise to the pros, both from fans and teammates, was palpable. Still, as well-known sportscaster Howard Cosell said, “Suddenly, it was a new beginning.” LOU, COMBS, AND BABE — OH MY! Considered one of the best teams in baseball history, the 1927 New York Yankees started their historic run and 25th season by dismantling the Philadelphia Athletics with a score of 8-3. The slugfest was true to form for the 1927
Yankees, whose players would go on to make up baseball’s famous “Murderers’ Row.” With sluggers like Lou Gehrig, Earle Combs, Babe Ruth, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Tony Lazzeri, it’s no wonder this team went on to win its fifth championship that year. THE HAMMER TIES BAMBINO For decades, no one could match George Herman Ruth. The Great Bambino’s all-time home run record seemed like an impossible feat of strength — that is, until Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron came along. On opening day, April 4, 1974, Aaron smashed his 714th homer, tying Babe Ruth for the most home runs ever hit and extending the Atlanta Braves’ shutout lead over the Cincinnati Reds. A few weeks later, Aaron surpassed Ruth’s record, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd.
3 MYTHS ABOUT EXERCISE AND INJURIES DEBUNKING SOME EXERCISE MYTHS
MYTH 2: DEAD LIFTS HARM YOUR BACK. Like the first myth, dead lifts can actually decrease back pain and help stabilize the muscles around the spine, if done correctly. If you sacrifice form to move more weight than you should, the benefit of doing this exercise disappears. Getting the form right for a dead lift is tricky, and if you aren’t absolutely sure you have it down, you should ask a trainer. MYTH 3: YOU SHOULD STRETCH BEFORE YOUR WORKOUT. This myth is only partly true. You shouldn’t do any static stretches, but dynamic stretches are recommended before a workout. Doing static stretches can loosen your tendons and relax the muscles instead of getting them warmed up. Save static stretching for after your workout, since that is when your muscles will need to relax.
Thanks to the internet, there is a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips on how to properly work out your body. Unfortunately, the internet also houses many myths that are misleading at best, and that can, at times, prove harmful. There are myths that claim certain exercises are bad for your joints and others that claim they are good, but the opposite is true in both cases. Here are a few examples. MYTH 1: SQUATS HARM YOUR KNEES. Back in the 50s and 60s, there was a string of studies that claimed squats damaged the ACL. These conclusions continue to be perpetuated by fitness sites today, but squats can actually strengthen your knees, when done correctly. The key is to keep your knees behind your toes as you squat down.
If you ever have any questions or feel like a certain exercise is giving you unnecessary pain, please give our office a call.
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