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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.

Defector

<a href="https://twitter.com/ericnus">Eric Nusbaum</a> (words) is a writer based in Tacoma, Washington. He is the author of the book <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/stealing-home-los-angeles-the-dodgers-and-the-lives-caught-in-between-9781541742222/9781541742215">Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between</a>. He is also a former editor at VICE.
<a href="https://twitter.com/adamvillacin">Adam Villacin</a> (pictures) is an illustrator based in Joshua Tree, California. He has written, illustrated, and self-published roughly one hundred zines. He has worked with clients such as Nike, Jordan Brand, Adidas, Dr. Martens, and Fender in addition to editorial work for VICE and The Ringer. He’s also been drawing a musician every day for the last year and a half.

Eric Nusbaum and Adam Villacin

Lola Falana, who was a celebrity but never actually a part owner of the Mets.

History

Did Lola Falana Really Win A Cut Of The Mets Playing Baccarat In 1983 Atlantic City?

Tom Ley

Better Hate An Owner

The Ricketts Kids Don’t Know How To Care For Their Toys

Ray Ratto

Curt Schilling sitting in the dugout while with the Red Sox, thinking about how much everyone else sucks.

Curt Schilling’s Cooperstown Tragedy Is The Purest Farce

Defector Up All Night

Curt Schilling Has Activated Pissbaby Mode

Lauren Theisen

Gary Sheffield #3 of the Detroit Tigers bats

Gary Sheffield Feels Like A Hall Of Famer, Even If He Isn’t One

Hank Aaron, seen here laughing at a Mets/Braves game.

Henry Aaron Did It All, All The Time

Barry Petchesky

Watch The DH Needle For Up-To-The-Moment DH Results

David Roth

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, two good players the Padres already have.

The Padres Are Doing What Every Other Team Could

<a href="https://twitter.com/yayroger">Roger Cormier</a> is a writer at Baseball Prospectus. He has two cats but is a friend to dogs too.

Roger Cormier

Some pictures of Steve Christmas, a real baseball guy!

The Almost Unbelievable True Story Of Steve Christmas

<a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://demause.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://demause.net/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">Neil deMause</a> has covered sports economics for more publications than even he can shake a stick at. He’s co-author of the book <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Field-Schemes-Stadium-Swindle-Private/dp/1567511384?ascsubtag=c9dca64cfbbd6c35085d286f4423ee39b8350b2f&amp;rawdata=%5Br%7Chttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F%5Bks%7Cgoogle%5Bt%7Clink%5Bp%7C1800657108%5Ba%7C1567511384%5Bau%7C5722120546910826704%5Bb%7Cdeadspinascsubtag%3D4eba2da0f6cc83fe1f221e8d8ca5894cd93bf2a7ascsubtag%3D33f4f2a16c1eda72859c34ee8aa577410b04a0d8&amp;tag=deadspinamzn-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-ga="[[&quot;Commerce&quot;,&quot;deadspin - Baseball Doesn't Need Collusion To Turn Off The Hot Stove&quot;,&quot;1567511384&quot;]]" data-amazonasin="1567511384" data-amazontag="deadspinamzn-20" data-amazonsubtag="[r|https://www.google.com/[ks|google[t|link[p|1831644811[a|1567511384[au|5722120546910826704[b|deadspin[lt|text" data-commerceready="true">Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money Into Private Profit</a>, and runs <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://fieldofschemes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://fieldofschemes.com/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">the website of the same name</a>.

Neil deMause

CAROLINA, PUERTO RICO - NOVEMBER 13: A remaining batting helmet sits on the field at the Roberto Clemente Municipal Stadium on November 13, 2018 in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The ballpark was once used for minor league AA baseball. The stadium is set to be demolished due to the extended damage it sustained from Hurricane Maria. The effort continues in Puerto Rico to remain and rebuild more than one year after the Hurricane Maria hit and devastated the island on September 20, 2017. The official number of deaths from the disaster is 2,975. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images for Lumix)

Why MLB Declared War On The Minor Leagues

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 29: A view of cut-outs of African-American players from the Negro Leagues are displayed in left field during a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on August 29, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson this weekend. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Phillies won 4-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

MLB Attempts To Fix The Baseball History It Fractured

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Fans hold up a Chief Wahoo sign at a Cleveland baseball game.

The Cleveland Baseball Team Is Already Making A Big Mess Of Their Own Name Change

It's Dany Ramirez, the last player picked in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft.

Let Us Now Praise The Garbage Feast At The Heart Of The MLB Winter Meetings

Dave McKenna

Dick Allen, stylish to the last, throws out the first pitch at a Phillies game in 2009.

Dick Allen, Who Didn’t Like Fake Grass Or Being Fucked With, Is Dead

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

Zach Wheeler pitches in a grey Phillies uniform (red cap) in the 2020 season

The Phillies Are Reportedly Looking To Get Worse

This is a photo of Frank Menechino, and NOT Frank Catalanotto

White Sox Manager Tony La Russa: Let’s Remember Some Damn Guys

Albert Burneko

NC Dinos (KBO) lift giant sword trophy after winning Korean Series

This Is So Stupid

Make Sports Trophies Cooler

Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts as he is being taken out of the game

The Rays, Who Had The 28th-Highest Payroll Last Year, Are Reportedly Looking To Dump Salary

Robinson Cano #24 of the New York Mets spits

Robinson Canó Will Lose $24 Million After Testing Positive For Archaic Steroids

Theo Epstein’s Departure Is Another Bad Omen For The Cubs

A human cadaver positioned as if throwing a baseball at "Bodies...The Exhibition".

Interviews

An Astrophysicist Explains The Challenges Of De-Juicing The Baseball

Alex Cora makes a stupid face as manager of the Boston Red Sox, back before he was fired for being a cheater.

Red Sox Rehire Alex Cora, HEY LOOK OVER THERE

Marc Normandin currently writes on baseball’s labor issues and more at <a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="http://marcnormandin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://marcnormandin.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758998321491000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ZpjG5RUFwdpapWqR1u4bd">marcnormandin.com</a>, which you can read for free but support <a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="https://www.patreon.com/marcnormandin">through his Patreon</a>. His baseball writing has appeared at FOX Sports, SB Nation, Defector, Global Sport Matters, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Sports on Earth, The Guardian, The Nation, FAIR, and TalkPoverty, and you can read his takes on video games at Retro XP and Endless Mode.
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Marc Normandin

A back field at a MLB training facility in Glendale, Arizona.

Senne v. MLB Could Deliver Real Change For Minor Leaguers

Brad Hand walks off after getting the last out of an exhibition game in Pittsburgh, in July.

Brad Hand Is A Bad Omen

Justin Turner grimaces after nearly hitting a home run in Game 6 of the World Series, while aware he'd tested positive for Covid-19.

baseball