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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

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winter 2023 gift (eyebrow)

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Ray Ratto

Multiple exposure of Oakland Athletics Rickey Henderson (24) in action, stealing base vs San Francisco Giants. Game 1. Oakland, CA 10/14/1989

Oakland Athletics vs San Francisco Giants, 1989 World Series

Rickey Henderson Believed In Rickey Henderson

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Kathryn Xu

Devin Williams #38 of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers a ninth inning pitch.

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Yankees Make Big Moves To Rebuild Juan Soto In The Aggregate

Pittsburgh Pirates right-fielder and All-Star Dave Parker (#39) signs some autographs for fans at a game in April of 1980 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Dave Parker of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1980

Dick Allen And Dave Parker’s Hall Of Fame Election Is A Victory For Baseball’s Cool Guys

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Chris Thompson

A much younger Juan Soto celebrates a dinger in the Nationals dugout.

Juan Soto’s Megadeal Ends A Long Goodbye

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Barry Petchesky

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 28: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees reacts after grounding out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning during Game Three of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 28, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Yankees – Game 3

A Guide To Yankees Fans’ Juan Soto Cope

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David Roth

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 28: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees arrives to the stadium before the Opening Day game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on March 28, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

New York Yankees v Houston Astros

Juan Soto Got Super-Duper-Mega Paid

Shoppers walk past an MLB store during the National Day Golden Week holiday at Raffles City Chongqing on October 5, 2024, in Chongqing, China.

chinaMLBStorePhillies

In Search Of A Phillies Hat In Chinese MLB Stores

<p>Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.</p>


Patrick Dubuque

American baseball pitcher Wilbur Wood, of the Chicago White Sox, demonstrates his 'knuckle ball' at the club's Comiskey Park stadium in Chicago, Illinois, 30th July 1973.

Wilbur Wood, American Baseball Pitcher

The Last Pitcher

Blake Snell of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Miami Marlins on August 30, 2024 in San Francisco. EDITORS NOTE: This image was created with the free lens technique)

Miami Marlins v San Francisco Giants

The Dodgers Should Cut To The Chase

Field workers at the New York Yankees spring training camp pull a tarp across the field during a rain delay in 2022.

Field workers at the New York Yankees spring train

A’s Vs. Rays Is The Catastrophe MLB Deserves

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Lauren Theisen

A Delta Air Lines banner ad for Pride Night is seen behind Casey Mize #12 of the Detroit Tigers as he pitches

Detroit Tigers v Atlanta Braves

End MLB Pride Nights

World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v. New York Yankees – Game Five

Shohei Ohtani Reverse Tungsten-Arms His Way Into A World Series Ring

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 30: Tommy Edman #25 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Mookie Betts #50 during the eighth inning of Game Five of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on October 30, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Yankees – Game 5

The Humble Sac Fly Wins Championships

Alex Vesia of the Los Angeles Dodges runs in from the bullpen at Dodger Stadium during Game 2 of the 2024 World Series.

World Series – New York Yankees v. Los Angeles Dodgers – Game Two

There Was No Relief From, Or For, The Dodgers Bullpen In This World Series

Teammates celebrate with "Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler (21), left, after winning the World Series. Game 5 of the World Series against the Yankees at Yankees Stadium in New York City Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

Dodgers, Yankees, Worled Series, MLB, baseball

The Dodgers Did It The Weird Way

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 29: Fans interfere with Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers as he attempts to catch a fly ball in foul territory during the first inning of Game Four of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on October 29, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The play resulted in an out. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Yankees – Game 4

Yankees Jamokes Have Been Training For This

Gleyber Torres of the Yankees celebrates his eighth-inning homer in Game 4 of the 2024 World Series while rounding the baes at Yankee Stadium.

A World Series Of Unexpected Heroes Just Minted A Few More

Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tags out Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees at home plate.

If This World Series Ends In A Sweep, I Will Launch The Yankees Into The Sun

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Samer Kalaf

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani sustains a shoulder injury while trying to seal second base during the seventh inning of the Dodgers' 4-2 win over the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series

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Ah Shit, Shohei Ohtani Messed Up His Shoulder

Freddie Freeman points his bat at the sky in the foreground while various Dodgers fans watch his game-winning grand slam home run and freak out in the background. This was from Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, at Dodgers Stadium.

World Series – New York Yankees v. Los Angeles Dodgers – Game One

That’s How You Start A World Series

Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees grimaces/smirks after a strikeout in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Four of the ALCS.

Championship Series – New York Yankees v Cleveland Guardians – Game 4

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There’s No Rutgers Football In The Champagne Room

Pete Alonso flat on the ground with the brim of his helmet jammed into the earth after fouling a ball off his foot in Game Six of the NLCS in Los Angeles on October 20, 2024.

Championship Series – New York Mets v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game 6

The Mets Ran Out Of Magic

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Let Me Push The Win Button

Manager Dave Roberts celebrates with bench coach Danny Lehmann, right, as the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after defeating the New York Mets 10-5 to win game 6 of a National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the New York Mets 10-5 to win game 6 of a National League Championship Series.

History Is For The Dead And The Boring

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Tom Ley

Juan Soto #22 and Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrate after Soto hit a home run in the 10th inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Five of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 19, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Championship Series – New York Yankees v Cleveland Guardians – Game 5

The Yankees Have Power In All The Right Places