By BEN WALKER
NEW YORK (AP) — Bobby Murcer succeeded Mickey Mantle, played in pinstripes with Don Mattingly and watched proudly from the broadcast booth when the New York Yankees returned to power.
A cherished link from former Yankees greats to the club's current stars, Murcer died Saturday due to complications from a malignant brain tumor, the team said. He was 62.
In his final moments, Murcer was surrounded by family at Mercy Hospital in his hometown of Oklahoma City, the Yankees said. A five-time All-Star outfielder, he spent nearly four decades with New York as a player, executive and announcer.
"Bobby Murcer was a born Yankee, a great guy, very well-liked and a true friend of mine," owner George Steinbrenner said. "I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Kay, their children and grandchildren. I will really miss the guy."
Ex-Yanks star, broadcaster Bobby Murcer dies at 62....
ESPN.com news services
ATLANTA -- Jeff Francoeur's stay in the minor leagues barely lasted a weekend.
Francoeur, who had four hits in his third game with Double-A Mississippi on Sunday, was recalled to the Atlanta Braves on Monday.
Francoeur was 7-for-13 (.548) with two RBIs at Mississippi.
The recall came after Francoeur, who hit .538 (7-for-13) with a triple and two RBIs in three games at Mississippi, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he felt "betrayed" by the Double-A assignment.
Francoeur recalled, felt 'betrayed' after demotion....
By CHRIS JENKINS
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia was traded Monday from the Cleveland Indians to the Milwaukee Brewers for four prospects.
Sabathia, eligible for free agency after the season, went 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA last season and gives the Brewers another power pitcher to pair with Ben Sheets as Milwaukee tries to make the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
"I'd say we're going for it," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. "That's the way I look at it."
Sabathia is the first reigning Cy Young winner to be traded since Roger Clemens was dealt to the New York Yankees after winning the award with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998 — a sign of surrender by Cleveland that hardly anyone would have imagined going into the season.
Sabathia traded to Brewers....
NHL to Play Outdoor Game at Wrigley Field, Star Tribune Reports
0 comments Posted by Dstall at 7:39 AM
By Erik Matuszewski
July 7 (Bloomberg) -- The National Hockey League will play its second outdoor game at Chicago's Wrigley Field on Jan. 1, when the Blackhawks host the Stanley Cup-champion Detroit Red Wings, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
The game was approved last week when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman met with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and officials from the Blackhawks and Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, the paper said, without citing the source of its information.
NHL to Play Outdoor Game at Wrigley Field, Star Tribune Reports....
By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com
The fans have voted. And now so have the managers and players. This year's All-Star squads are now set to represent the National and American Leagues in the annual Midsummer Classic at Yankee Stadium on July 15. Again they offer the best and brightest of Major League Baseball's veterans and talented younger set.
From Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones and Lance Berkman to Chase Utley, Joe Mauer, Ryan Braun and Geovany Soto, it's the finest of the old and the new.
Rodriguez, the third baseman for the Yankees, was again the top overall vote-getter with 3,934,518. Last year, for the game in San Francisco, A-Rod also out-polled all 16 elected starters with 3,890,515 votes.
Utley, the six-year second baseman with the Phillies and a .299 hitter this season with 24 homers and 67 RBIs, paced the NL with 3,889,602 votes.
A record 214.7 million votes from 16.5 million ballots were cast online via MLB.com and the affiliate 30 club sites.
Midsummer Classic has 25 newcomers....
CBSSports.com wire reports
NEW YORK -- New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez will skip the All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium later this month, choosing to protect his finely tuned swing.
The reigning AL MVP participated in three derbies before he joined the Yankees in 2004 and he feels the made-for-TV event held the night before the July 15 All-Star Game can have an adverse affect on a batter's mechanics.
A-Rod to pass on Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium....
Red Sox mum on report about mailed threat targeting black, Latin players
0 comments Posted by Dstall at 12:16 PM
CBSSports.com wire reports
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona declined comment Monday on a report the team received a mailed threat targeting black and Latin players.
The Boston Herald, citing unidentified sources, reported the threat was believed to be postmarked in Memphis, Tenn., and that a suspect believed to be from Baltimore but living in the Memphis area was being sought. The newspaper said the team increased security for its three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
"I will not discuss that out of respect to everyone concerned," Francona said Monday night. "It's not something we can address."
No names of players were identified in the newspaper report.
Red Sox mum on report about mailed threat targeting black, Latin players....
