The Top 10 Baseball Moments of 2021

2021 was very kind to baseball fans. No matter what team's logo you wear on your cap, it was a great year to be a baseball fan. At all levels of the game, there were feel-good moments, historic happenings, and above all else, fans returned to the stands!

In no particular order, here is our list of the top 10 baseball moments of 2021. These moments inspired us, made us smile, and captivated us.

1. Atlanta Braves Win the World Series

For only the second time since moving to Atlanta, the Braves were crowned World Series Champions. Boasting a homegrown team led by players drafted by the franchise (Freddie Freeman, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuna, and former Vanderbilt star Dansby Swanson), the Braves surged late in the season and never let up during the postseason.?

2. Trey Mancini Returns from Colon Cancer

In March of 2020, Trey Mancini received devastating news that he had stage 3 colon cancer. The Baltimore Orioles' first baseman missed the 2020 season while fighting the disease. He was declared cancer-free and played in 147 games in 2021, slamming 21 home runs. He was fittingly awarded the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award.

3. Miguel Cabrera Hits 500th Home Run

An unquestioned first-ballot Hall of Famer, Miggy hit his 500th dinger on August 22, becoming the 28th member of the 500 Home Run Club. While this on its own is a great achievement, Miggy's resume boasts more than just power. A lifetime .310 hitter with 2,987 career hits, Miggy is only 13 hits away from being the seventh member of the exclusive 3,000 Hit and 500 Home Run Club.

4. A Record Year for No-Hitters in MLB

It may be controversial, but Major League Baseball has definitely featured more home runs and more strikeouts in recent years. A lot can be attributed?to this: more hitter-friendly parks, changes in baseball technology, and a greater emphasis on power. Nonetheless, watching pitchers toss no-hitters is always exciting, and we saw it a record?nine times in 2021 !

5. An Unlikely Slugger

A baseball career is often a grind. For every future Hall of Famer like Miguel Cabrera, there are hundreds of other players who spend years in the farm system, hoping for a call-up to the MLB, no matter how brief it may be. Relief pitcher Daniel Camarena is one of these unheralded journeymen. At 28 years old, Daniel made his MLB debut for the San Diego Padres this past June. On July 8, he hit a grand slam off of pitching ace Max Scherzer, becoming the first relief pitcher to hit a grand slam since 1985. Daniel may not have a future spot in Cooperstown, but he certainly has carved out his own little page in baseball's long and fascinating history book.?

6. Taylor, MI Wins the LLWS

There's something special about the Little League World Series. It's the first big stage for the game's future stars, and the big diamond dreams are evident in the eyes of the young players. This year, the squad from Taylor, Michigan won it all, forever cementing a memory in their community and for the players, coaches, and parents involved.?

7.?Shohei?Ohtani's Amazing Season

There are stars, and then there is?Shohei?Ohtani. The Japanese slugger and stud pitcher redefined what it meant to be an MLB star in 2021, putting up two-way numbers that will simply never be matched. Two-way players have always been rare in MLB, and today, they are virtually non-existent;?Shohei?is truly in a league of his own. He?finished with a 9-2 record on the mound with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts. At the plate,?Shohei?slammed 46 dingers, drove in 100 runs, AND stole 26 bases. What makes?his magical season even more spectacular is that he did it all as part of a comeback. Shohei?battled injuries and poor hitting numbers last season, which made some question if two-way greatness was achievable. This season, he proved to everyone that his dream of being a two-way player is possible, albeit for one very special talent.?

8. A Record Year for Female Coaches and Leaders in MLB

This season was a groundbreaking year in MLB for females in coaching and leadership positions.?A record 23 females were employed on Opening Day ?in a variety of coaching roles, both on-field and developmental. Major League Baseball also had its first female General Manager in 2021, when Kim Ng was hired by the Miami Marlins. In 2022, we hope we see new records in terms of females employed in coaching and leadership positions.?

9. "Field of Dreams" Game Comes to Life

This past August, Major League Baseball brought the famous "Field of Dreams" game to life by constructing an MLB-worthy ballpark in rural Dyersville, Iowa, where the 1989 movie was filmed. Sporting vintage uniforms, players from the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox entered the field for the game through the cornfield behind the outfield fences. Kevin Costner led the players onto the field, reprising his role as Ray Kinsella. To add to the event, the game was a classic; the White Sox won 9-8 with a walk-off home run by shortstop Tim Anderson.?

10. Negro Leaguers Inducted Into Baseball Hall of Fame

It was announced earlier this month that?Negro Leagues legends Buck O'Neil, Bud Fowler, and Minnie Minoso will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this coming July. It is a well-deserved honor for these trailblazers of the game, and their recognition is thanks in large part to our Board Member and Baseball Advisor Bob Kendrick. Bob is President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and a tireless advocate?on behalf of the legacies of Negro Leaguers. Thank you, Bob, for helping everyone remember and honor these great men.?