Former Major League Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent died on Saturday at the age of 86 due to bladder cancer.

Vincent was baseball's commissioner from 1989 to 1992, taking over for Bart Giamatti after his sudden death just eight days after he banned Pete Rose from baseball.

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Vincent played a major role in Rose's punishment, having been the deputy commissioner to Giamatti.

He became the commissioner on Sept. 1, 1989, and presided over the league during that year's World Series between the Giants and Athletics that was halted due to the deadly earthquake in the Bay Area.

Vincent was commissioner during the owners' lockout of 1990, and he handed down a permanent suspension to New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who was reinstated by Vincent's successor, Bud Selig.

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As baseball commissioner, Vincent angered owners by becoming the first management official to admit the collusion among teams against free agents following the 1985, ‘86 and ’87 seasons. He also divided expansion fees among both leagues and attempted to force National League realignment, changing the divisions of four teams.

"Mr. Vincent served the game during a time of many challenges, and he remained proud of his association with our national pastime throughout his life," the current commissioner, Rob Manfred, said in a statement.

In one of his lasting acts as commissioner, he chaired an eight-member committee for statistical accuracy, which removed the asterisk that had been next to Roger Maris’ entry as the season home run leader and deleted 50 no-hitters. The group defined a no-hitter as games of nine innings or more that ended with no hits.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Here’s something New York Mets fans might not have seen coming this offseason: Pete Alonso's contract talks are "worse" than Juan Soto’s, according to owner Steven Cohen. 

During an appearance at the Mets’ Amazin’ Day Saturday afternoon at Citi Field, Cohen was on a panel with his general manager, David Stearns, and manager Carlos Mendoza, while legendary broadcaster Gary Cohen (no relation) moderated the group. 

Before questions could be asked, though, the Mets’ faithful in the crowd burst into a "We want Pete!" chant, referring to Alonso, the free agent first baseman who has been a Met his entire career. 

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"Hold that for the end, OK?" Cohen told the crowd, smiling. 

The Mets and Alonso have had negotiations, but have not reached a deal after they signed Soto to his $765 million deal. New York has landed other players in free agency, but Alonso remains one of the top players on the market. 

Alonso was the team’s second-round pick out of the Florida Gators’ program in 2016, and he’s spent his first six seasons hitting home runs (226), including a rookie record 53 that aided his Rookie of the Year resume in 2019. He's also made four All-Star teams, including each of the last three, and has a career .854 OPS. 

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As a fan favorite, it’s easy to see why Mets fans are chanting for their first baseman to be back for a hopeful World Series run in 2025 with Soto added to a roster that also includes Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos. 

But Cohen, as he has been many times in the past, was transparent with the fan base about what’s been going on in negotiations with Alonso's agent, Scott Boras, who also represents Soto. 

"We’ve made a significant offer to Pete, and, you know, what David said is correct. He’s entitled to go out and explore his market," Cohen said. "That’s what he’s doing. Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. I mean, Soto was tough. This is worse."

The Soto sweepstakes were a roller coaster, and it seemed like he was going to stay with the New York Yankees until Cohen came swooping in at the eleventh hour with an offer of a lifetime, crushing Shohei Ohtani’s record contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

So, with a record-breaking deal done, how could Alonso’s negotiations possibly be worse?

"I don’t like the structures that are being presented back to us," Cohen explained. "I think it’s highly asymmetric against us, and I feel strongly about it. I will never say no. There’s always the possibility. But the reality is we’re moving forward, and we continue to bring in players. As we continue to bring in players, the reality is it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have. That’s where we are.

"I’m being brutally honest. I don’t like the negotiations, I don’t like what’s been presented to us, and maybe that changes. Certainly, I’ll always stay flexible. If it stays this way, I think we’re going to have to get used to the fact that we may have to go forward with the existing players that we have."

Mets fans appreciated the honesty from their owner, giving him a round of applause at the end. 

Stearns added, "We all love Pete. And we've said that many times. I think as we've gone through this process, we've continued to express that."

SNY reported this week the Mets have a $68-70 million offer in "present day money" on the table. Alonso turned down a deal for more than $70 million when taking deferred money into account. 

The Toronto Blue Jays have also been linked to Alonso, but no deal appears imminent.

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Earlier this week, a young collector pulled the coveted autographed MLB debut patch card of Paul Skenes from the market. 

An 11-year-old collector from Southern California, who nabbed a one-of-kind baseball card featuring the Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher, decided to turn down a trade offer from the MLB franchise.

The card was featured in the 2024 Topps Chrome Update set. On Friday, the trading card and collectible manufacturer confirmed the collector had "chosen to send the card to auction with @FanaticsCollect instead," Topps wrote in an Instagram post.

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The Pirates offered a package of perks in exchange for the card. A pair of premium Pirates season tickets for three decades, an opportunity to play a softball game on the field, a meet and greet with Skenes and autographed jerseys were among offerings from the team.

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LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, who is dating Skenes, also offered an incentive to the owner of the card.

"Let's raise the stakes…the person who finds this card can sit with me at a Pirates game in my suite," Dunne wrote in a post to her Instagram story.

While the collector wrote in a journal entry shared by Topps that nabbing the card was a "dream come true," apparently that dream did not include spending time over the next 30 years attending games at PNC Park.

The Pirates admitted they were "bummed" after learning of the collector's decision but offered to have the fan at a game sometime during the 2025 season.

"Well…we’re bummed that we won’t be seeing you behind home plate for 30 seasons. But we’d still love to bring you to Pittsburgh for a special day at PNC Park this season," the team posted on X.

Fanatics Collect, which will handle the auctioning of the card in March, said it will donate its proceeds from the sale to fire relief funds in the Los Angeles area.

Skenes delivered a season to remember in 2024, finishing 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts. Before winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award, he was named to the MLB All-Star team. Skenes was the top pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and made his big league debut in May 2024. 

Rookies have worn MLB debut patches on their jerseys since 2023. Topps acquired the patches and created the unique cards. The card could hold pretty high value considering the potentially bright future ahead for the 22-year-old, who finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting.

Skenes said over the weekend he hasn’t thought about the potential of signing a long-term contract to remain with the Pirates, saying instead his focus is on helping the Pirates take a step toward contending in 2025. He is eligible for free agency after the 2029 season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, sent a letter to Judge John W. Holcomb, asking for leniency in his sentencing and outlining the reasons for his gambling issues. 

Mizuhara committed bank fraud and tax fraud as he stole nearly $17 million of Ohtani’s money to pay off gambling debts. 

Federal prosecutors asked for a 57-month prison sentence, while also asking Mizuhara to pay $16.9 million of restitution to Ohtani, and another $1.1 million to the IRS.

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Mizuhara asked for an 18-month sentence in prison, while revealing the factors in his life that drove him to gamble, in his letter obtained by The Athletic.

Mizuhara said he has sacrificed his life and his family's lives since becoming Ohtani’s interpreter/manager in late 2017.

"Usually, when a Japanese baseball player makes the move to the United States, they would bring over multiple staff members to take care of various tasks, such as a driver, trainer, chef, off-the-field interpreter/support member, etc. However, I was the only person Shohei brought along," Mizuhara said in the letter.

"So naturally, I had to support him with most of the above-mentioned tasks. I drove him everywhere he needed to be, went on frequent grocery runs, ran random errands whenever he needed them, so I felt like I was on call 24/7."

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Mizuhara said the busy baseball schedule, combined with the international time difference dealing with Ohtani’s management team in Japan, would keep him up late at night on the phone, causing him to lose sleep. 

Mizuhara said the offseason was more difficult than the baseball season, due to Ohtani’s demanding schedule.

"The offseason was much harder both physically and mentally. Shohei would train 5-6 times per week, and I was responsible for reserving the facility, setting up and cleaning up all of the practice equipment, filming and tracking all of his exercises, being his training partner (as it was just him and I during all of the offseason training), driving him back and forth, and communicating all of this back to the Angels and his personal pitching/hitting/rehabilitation people in the United States."

"I would also be running daily errands such as grocery shopping, checking his mailbox, fixing his bicycle, accompanying him when he went back to Iwate Prefecture to visit his family, taking his dog to the vet and groomer, dropping off and picking up his dinners with peers while I waited in the car, helping to coordinate Japanese and U.S. lawyers for his marriage prenup and attending meetings, etc."

In addition to those tasks, Mizuhara said he was responsible for communicating with the endorsement and brokerage companies to set up Ohtani’s commercial shoots. Those shoots were once per week in between offseason training, leaving Mizuhara with little time off. 

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With all the work he was doing for Ohtani, Mizuhara said he felt severely underpaid. Mizuhara said the Angels paid him $85,000 in 2018, $87,000 from 2019 to 2021, $99,611.16 in 2022, and $250,000 in 2023; but Ohtani paid him roughly $11,000 per year.

"I felt like I was getting severely underpaid, but I was afraid to speak up for myself, as I was on a one-year contract every year, and I didn’t want to upset them and risk being fired," Mizuhara said.

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Another challenge of working for Ohtani was that Mizuhara had to live close by to Ohtani, which meant he had to pay higher rent to have a place near him. 

"All of these extra expenses were taking a huge toll on me, and I was living paycheck to paycheck. There were months when I had to borrow money from family and friends to make ends meet."

Mizuhara said he had opportunities to help himself financially, "such as writing books, doing TV/radio interviews, and appearing in TV commercials, which would have helped me financially, but they were all shut down by Shohei and his company in Japan."

Among the salary, high demands of his job, and not being able to make any money for himself on the side, Mizuhara said he thought gambling might be an opportunity to help himself financially.

"Before I knew it, my gambling debt had grown so much that I couldn’t find any way to pay it off but by using Shohei’s money," Mizuhara said. "I felt terribly guilty about putting my hands on his money, but at the time, it seemed like the only solution."

Mizuhara can now only hope that Judge Holcomb can find some sympathy for him in his sentencing, with his side of the story now out there. 

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A four-minute audio recording was disclosed by federal prosecutors Thursday that shows Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, allegedly attempting to push through a six-figure wire transfer from one of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star’s accounts by impersonating him. 

Mizuhara has been convicted of defrauding Ohtani, the National League MVP and world baseball superstar, and the recording, obtained by The Athletic from the Department of Justice, is a key piece of evidence. 

It was mentioned in a court filing, which also had prosecutors recommending a nearly five-year sentence for Mizuhara and an order to repay Ohtani, according to The Athletic. 

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Mizuhara, who is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 6, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return after stealing almost $17 million from Ohtani, who he was best friends with for years, in June 2024. 

The recording was obtained from a bank, assistant U.S. attorney Jeff Mitchell told The Athletic, and it supports prosecutors’ claims that Mizuhara would call banks to arrange wire transfers. 

Prosecutors added that the recording was edited to redact bank names and the name of an "unindicated co-conspirator."

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In the recording, Mizuhara clearly states his name is Ohtani after the bank agent asks, "Who am I speaking with?" Mizuhara bypassed the bank’s security measures and changed Ohtani’s account information to include his own email and phone number.

So, when the bank agent asks Mizuhara to perform a two-factor authentication using a six-digit code sent to a phone number, he can do so because it’s going to his phone instead of Ohtani’s. 

The recording shows Mizuhara matching the numbers, which allows the agent to work on his request, a car loan for $200,000.

"Now recently, we’ve come across a trend of fraud and scams, so we have been monitoring the online transactions closely to make sure our clients are not the victim of either," the agent says first. "What is the reason for this transaction?"

Then, the agent asks "Ohtani" what his relationship to the payee is, to which Mizuhara says, "He’s my friend."

"Have you met your friend in person"" the agent responds. 

"Yes, many times," Mizuhara answered. 

Mizuhara said he stole from Ohtani to cover "major gambling debt," which he said in a brief statement after pleading guilty. 

"I went ahead and wired money … with his bank account," Mizuhara said in the statement at the time. 

Prosecutors asked that the restitution amount bet set at nearly $17 million for Ohtani, though it was noted Mizuhara is unable to pay that back to the All-Star. Another $1.1 million in restitution is being sought by the IRS.

The ex-interpreter’s winning bets totaled over $142 million, which he deposited into his own bank account and not Ohtani’s. His losing bets were around $183 million. He did not bet on baseball.

There is also no indication Ohtani bet on baseball. 

The Athletic reported the court filing says that, between December 2021 and January 2024, Mizuhara placed around 19,000 bets online through Matthew Bowyer, his bookie who also pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business in August 2024.

Mizuhara’s debt was up to $40.7 million. 

"His years-long theft of funds from Mr. Ohtani and the myriad lies he told to Mr. Ohtani’s agents and financial advisors to cover up his theft represent a calculated betrayal of the very person he was hired to help," Mitchell wrote in the court filing. 

"To summarize how I’m feeling right now, I’m just beyond shocked," Ohtani said in a statement on the matter last year. "It’s really hard to verbalize how I’m feeling at this point.

"I’m very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this."

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Hall of Fame voting results in arguments every year, and, for the eighth year in a row, the crowd is loud about Andruw Jones.

The former Atlanta Braves outfielder received his highest vote percentage Monday, but he did not join Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner as soon-to-be inductees.

Jones has made up a lot of ground.

He received just 7.3% of the vote in his first year on the ballot, but came in at 66.2% this week. Players need 75% to be elected.

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Jones, a slugger at the plate with 434 home runs, is considered one of the greatest defensive outfielders of all time. He won 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1998 to 2007, winning at least two in all three outfield positions, while hitting .254 with an .823 OPS in his career.

He has an argument, but one of his former teammates, Chipper Jones, who got a plaque in Cooperstown in 2018, said there shouldn't even be a discussion.

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"I wanna ask all HOF voters one question….if Andruw Jones plays for the New York Yankees for 15 yrs with 10 GGs, 400Hrs, 1300 rbis…is he a HOFer? Lemme answer for you….first ballot!" Chipper wrote. "Time to have a conversation about HOFers chiming in. 75 living members can make sure it’s right!"

Baseball writers have long been the Hall of Fame voters, but with flawed concepts in the voting system, there have been calls to change the process.

Chipper and Andruw were teammates from 1996 to 2012, playing in the 1996 and 1999 World Series together but losing to the Yankees both times. They won 10 consecutive NL East titles together.

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President Biden's recent declaration that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is now "the law of the land" has prompted mockery in his final days in office. Biden isn't even safe from insults from Vice President-elect JD Vance. 

Vance responded to Biden's declaration in a post on X, joking that Biden should put the late disgraced MLB icon Pete Rose in the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

"Hey Joe if we’re doing fake s--- on the way out can you declare Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame?" Vance wrote. "See you in two days!"

Rose, who died back in September, was banned from MLB for life for illegally betting on games. 

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Rose was banned in 1989 after an investigation concluded that he not only gambled on MLB games, but went so far as to wager on games involving the Cincinnati Reds when he was managing the team. 

Rose signed an agreement with Commissioner Bart Giamatti declaring him permanently ineligible for baseball but allowing him to petition for reinstatement and avoid a formal declaration that he bet on baseball. Multiple appeals by Rose for reinstatement over the last few decades have failed.

As a player, Rose won three World Series titles, two with the Reds and one with the Philllies, while making 17 All-Star games and winning NL MVP in 1973. He famously still holds the record for most hits in MLB history with 4,256. 

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Yet, his betting scandal has made him one of the most controversial holdouts of the baseball Hall of Fame since his retirement. His absence from the Hall of Fame is one of the sport's most fiercely debated controversies. 

So Vance had no reservations about referencing Rose's famed Hall of Fame controversy to mock the outgoing president. 

Citing the American Bar Association in the statement, Biden argued that the ERA has "cleared all necessary hurdles to formally be added to the Constitution." Biden added that he agreed with "the ABA and with leading constitutional scholars that the Equal Rights Amendment has become part of our Constitution." However, despite Biden’s argument, the National Archives disagreed.

In a post on X calling the ERA the "law of the land," implying that it is already part of the Constitution, which is not the case. Social media users were quick to point this out, with some calling the president a "dictator."

The ERA, a proposed amendment to the constitution that would guarantee "equal rights under the law" to all Americans regardless of sex. Its latest iteration was a rapid response by New York Democrats to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization decision in June 2022.

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Former Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun was evacuated from his home in California for the majority of the last six weeks due to the Los Angeles wildfires. 

Braun, 41, talked about his appreciation for firefighters as they continue to try and keep people and buildings safe.

"Firefighters and first responders are truly heroes," Braun told Fox News Digital on Saturday. "I don’t think that we get an opportunity to thank them often enough. But those guys have put their lives on the line. They’ve worked night and day. I know a number of firefighters who literally didn’t sleep for 72 hours.

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"These guys are out there doing everything in their power to save as many people and structures as possible. Incredibly grateful for everything that they’ve done for the community, and today is an opportunity to try to say thank you to as many of them as possible."

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Braun, along with World Series champion Mike Moustakas, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Brewers star Christian Yelich and Mike Attanasio from the Brewers' ownership created California Strong to help communities affected by the disaster.

California Strong is a program of the YMCA dedicated to providing support to all Californians after disasters.

Yelich spoke about the California community continuing to support each other in times of need.

"The community seems to step up every time there’s people in need. I remember the Woolsey Fire was about seven years ago now, which seems to have flown by, but it’s a long recovery process. You know, it’s not something that takes a day, a week, even a year," Yelich told Fox News Digital.

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"It’s a multiyear process, and just to help people get back on their feet here at the beginning, hopefully be able to stay with them throughout the process and get back to normal whenever that may be."

Moustakas talked about how California Strong originated from Braun, Yelich, Goff and Attanasio just checking in with each other during tough times.

"It started out with us checking in on each other and then quickly transformed into us trying to use our platforms to help those in need. And that’s one of the greatest things about what we were able to do in baseball was use the platform in a way for good," Moustakas told Fox News Digital.

"We were very fortunate enough to have this YMCA partner with us, and it just kind of took off from there. And we’re here today supporting a ton of families with a great community. We’re very excited to help these people out."

Braun talked about how long and arduous the rebuilding process will be for people and how California Strong wants to help those people. 

"We live in this community. We grew up in this community. We can relate to the people and what they’re going through and dealing with. Similar to Mike (Moustaktas), I have three young children, and so I always view these situations through the lens of other parents. It’s difficult. It’s traumatizing. It is a long and daunting process for a lot of people to think about where to even begin to rebuild their lives. And, so, for us, the goal of California Strong was to support people after natural disasters and tragedies," Braun said.

"That’s what we’ve tried to do over the last seven years. That’s what today is all about. And the goal is to be able to support people both in the near term, immediately today and then longer term as they go through what ends up being a very long and challenging process to rebuild their lives."

California Strong is working with Proactive Sports to help get Californians back on their feet. 

"Proactive Sports has been partnered with California Strong since the inception," Proactive Sports owner Emily Capretta told Fox News Digital. "We hosted an event for those impacted by the Woolsey Fire and the Borderline shooting, unfortunately, that we experienced in our community in 2018. 

"And a really smart, strong group of women we mobilized to do a community thanksgiving, and that kind of started the beginning of California Strong,

"This particular event, the night those that were being displaced and losing their homes, I texted that original group of women that they wanted to do this again with me. And then I also texted Ryan Braun, and I said, ‘It’s time to mobilize. We need to be the first action point for those impacted."

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Coveted Japanese-born pitcher Roki Sasaki is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Friday, the 23-year-old announced he had signed a minor league contract with the organization.

Roki's arrival in Los Angeles cements the city and the baseball franchise as the preferred MLB destination for the top players in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Sasaki is the latest pitching sensation to pick the reigning World Series champions. The team lured pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and fellow pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto last offseason.

In the hours since Sasaki made his decision public, baseball players across the big leagues have shared their reactions to the move. However, San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb's apparent reaction to the news is one that stood out.

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The All-Star right-hander took to X on Friday and posted a GIF from "Space Jam." The post featured a clip of Monstars team along with the caption, "Time to play a little basketball." 

In the film, the Monstars were made up of a group who stole the talents of NBA players to effectively become a powerful super team.

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The live-action and animated sports film was released in 1996 and starred Michael Jordan and several other NBA stars.

The Dodgers signed Ohtani to a historic 10-year, $700 million contract in Dec. 2023. While his recovery from an injury prevented him from taking the pitching mound in 2024, Ohtani hit a career-best 54 home runs en route to earning his third MVP award.

If Ohtani retakes the pitching mound at some point in 2025, he would be part of arguably the deepest and most formidable pitching rotation in the major leagues. The Dodgers' projected pitching rotation already features Yamamoto, Dustin May, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, and Clayton Kershaw. Gonsolin and May did not throw a pitch in MLB last season due to injury, and hey will likely have to be eased back into the rotation.

 Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, also signed with LA earlier this offseason.

LA lured first baseman Freddie Freeman away from the Atlanta Braves in 2022. Freeman had already won one National League MVP award and a World Series title with Atlanta before he signed with the Dodgers. LA's lineup also includes 2019 American League MVP Mookie Betts and a host of other star hitters.

Sasaki posted a 2.02 ERA over his four seasons playing at the highest level of baseball in Japan. His fastball routinely reaches 100 mph. He can also throw an impressive splitter, which bolsters his potential to be an ace in a pitching rotation.

He played alongside Ohtani and Yamamoto during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. 

A long list of MLB clubs submitted information about their respective organizations to Saski and his representing agency in December during baseball's winter meetings. By January, Sasaski narrowed down his choices to the Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres — ultimately picking Los Angeles.

Webb's Giants also had a busy offseason, acquiring star shortstop Willy Adames and veteran pitcher Justin Verlander in free agency. San Francisco competes in the NL West and missed the playoffs last season. The Giants will have to contend with what is projected to be one of the best divisions in the MLB in 2025.

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Bob Uecker, a legendary baseball broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers and former player, has died, the organization announced on Thursday. He was 90.

Uecker called games for the Brewers since 1971 and appeared in the 1989 movie "Major League" and the film’s two sequels.

"Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss. He was the heart and soul of Wisconsin and a dear friend. Bob loved people; his presence warmed every room and he had a way of welcoming all of us into his world as if we were lifelong friends," the organization said in a statement.

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"Saying goodbye to Bob shakes us all. He was so much more than a Milwaukee Brewers icon. He was a national treasure. Bob entertained us with his words and storytelling, so it is no surprise that his passing now leaves us at a loss for our own words.

"There is no describing the impact Ueck had on so many, and no words for how much he was loved. We are left with a giant void in our hearts, but also remember the laughter and joy he brought to our lives throughout the years."

Uecker’s family said in a statement that the broadcaster had battled a private battle with small-cell lung cancer since 2023.

"He brought joy to countless listeners through his wit, charisma, and love for baseball, Milwaukee, and all of Wisconsin, creating a legacy that will forever be cherished," Uecker’s family said. "While his contributions to the game are noteworthy, it is his kindness, humility, and love for family and friends that we will hold closest to our hearts.

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"We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time as we grieve and celebrate the man we were so lucky to call ours."

Uecker was born and raised in Milwaukee and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954. He played baseball while he was at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Belvoir. Uecker joined the Milwaukee Braves’ organization in 1956 and was in the minors until he got called up in 1962.

He played 33 games in his rookie season and hit .250 with two doubles and a home run. He also played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves before his professional baseball career ended in 1967. 

He was on the Cardinals’ 1964 World Series-winning team and got himself a ring.

Uecker was a broadcaster in Atlanta before doing broadcasts for the Brewers. He called games for 54 seasons before his death. He also served as a broadcaster for ABC and NBC during World Series and League Championship games. He called the Brewers’ 1982 World Series loss to the Cardinals for a local Milwaukee station.

Health issues ultimately forced him to cut back on games in 2014. He famously signed his first contract with the Brewers’ organization in 2021 in order to be covered for health insurance, according to MLB.com. Uecker was receiving health benefits under the Screen Actors Guild until the organization discontinued health coverage in 2020. Before all of that, he was working under a series of handshake agreements.

"It’s amazing how you take everything for granted," he told MLB.com of his return to the Brewers’ spring training facility in 2021. "Being down there on the field, shooting the bull. Then when you can’t do it, it’s bad. You really lose that."

Uecker’s popularity soared over the course of his broadcast career. He made dozens of appearances on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson. He hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 1984.

Dubbed "Mr. Baseball," he won the Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year five times and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011.

He also made appearances for WWE at WrestleMania III and WrestleMania IV. In one segment, Andre the Giant choked Uecker.

Uecker shared four children with his first wife. Two are still alive. 

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Twelve Los Angeles and Anaheim sports teams announced Monday they would contribute more than $8 million to support victims of the wildfires that have plagued the area since last week.

The Anaheim Ducks, Angel City FC, LAFC, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Sparks made the announcement in a joint statement.

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The money will go to support victims and those fighting the fires. The American Red Cross, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, California Fire Foundation, Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund, World Central Kitchen, California Community Foundation Wildlife Recovery Fund, Team Rubicon and several other local animal rescue organizations were named as the beneficiaries of the donations.

Los Angeles residents who were forced to evacuate their homes due to the fires will also be the recipients of about $3 million worth of Fanatics merchandise as well. The teams, in partnership with their own foundations, teamed up with Fanatics and the Fanatics Foundation to provide the gear. Evacuated victims can participate in the distribution events on Jan. 17 at Dodger Stadium, SoFi Stadium and BMO Stadium.

The wildfires have left dozens dead and thousands of structures burned. Several games have either been canceled or moved because of the wildfires as well.

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The Rams were set to host the Minnesota Vikings in their playoff game on Monday night, but the matchup was moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The Lakers already saw a game postponed last week due to the fires. The team said Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs will be dedicated to the Los Angeles community.

"We are committed as ever to Los Angeles," Lakers head coach J.J. Redick said in a news release. "We recognize it’s not just our community that has been impacted by this. We’re committed to helping people as much as we can and we’re going to do that." 

Officials warned earlier Monday the threat to the area is not over.

"We are not in the clear. I want to make sure of that. We are not in the clear as of yet, and we must not let our guard down," Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said. 

"As the increasing wind event is upon us as we speak, the Los Angeles City Fire Department has maximized our resource capabilities and response capabilities," Crowley added. "All available LAFD resources have been staffed. I have strategically pre-positioned engine strike teams and task forces, which are dedicated to rapid response for any new fire that breaks out in the city."

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Former President Jimmy Carter was remembered in the sports world on Sunday after it was announced he had died at the age of 100.

The Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Falcons were among those who remembered Carter in statements posted to social media.

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"The Atlanta Braves are deeply saddened by the passing of President Jimmy Carter," the Braves said. "President Carter was a testament to the best America, and Georgia, can produce.

"He served both his country and home state with honor his entire life. While the world knew him as a remarkable humanitarian and peacemaker, we knew him as a dedicated Braves fan and we will miss having him in the stands cheering on his Braves.

"Our deepest condolences to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren."

The lifelong Braves fan was the first president to welcome a Super Bowl champion to the White House, kick-starting a time-honored tradition that has lasted through current President Biden’s administration. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates visited in 1980 at the same time.

JIMMY CARTER’S PRESIDENCY: A TIME OF 'MALAISE' THAT LED TO THE ELECTION OF RONALD REAGAN

He was also in attendance when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s Major League Baseball home run record with his 715th dinger on April 8, 1974. He threw out the first pitch in Game 6 of the 1995 World Series.

Carter was president when the U.S. announced the boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow as part of a protest against the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank remembered Carter as an "inspirational global humanitarian."

"He lived his life with great civic responsibility and took it upon himself to be the change he wished to see amongst others," Blank said. "On behalf of my family and our family of businesses, we send a heartfelt message of condolence to his love ones.

"President Carter’s kind and uniting spirit touched so many lives. He was a man of deep faith, and did everything with principal and grace, doing things the right way for the right reasons."

Carter served one term as president. He entered hospice care in February 2023.

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Shohei Ohtani's 2024 is ending on a high note, which is pretty impressive, considering how amazing a year it's been.

This year marked the first of the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar's ten-year, $700 million deal (where 98% of it is deferred), and he is living up to it.

Ohtani, who didn't pitch due to recovering from elbow surgery, became the first person to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season, en route to winning his third MVP Award in the last four seasons.

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Personally, he underwhelmed in the postseason, but his Dodgers did defeat the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Now, with just days left in the year, Ohtani announced that he is set to become a father.

Ohtani posted a photo on Instagram of his now famous dog, Decoy, lying beside a onesie and shoes, along with a sonogram. The gender of the baby was not revealed, as the onsite was pink and the shoes were blue, but Ohtani did appear to use a boy emoji to cover up the sonogram photo.

"Can't wait for the little rookie to join our family soon!" Ohtani captioned the post.

Back in February, Ohtani revealed that he was married to a "normal Japanese woman" named Mamiko, but he did not reveal when that occurred.

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"I felt like it was good timing because it was before the season," he added. "I didn’t really want any distractions once the season started. I would have liked to announce it earlier, but there were some paperwork issues that (delayed) the whole process."

There are reports that AL MVP Aaron Judge and his wife will also soon welcome their first child.

Ohtani's 134 runs scored and 411 total bases were the most in the majors, and he led the National League in home runs (54), RBIs (130), on-base percentage (.390), slugging percentage (646) and a 9.2 bWAR. 

His .310 average in the NL was second behind only Luis Arráez's .314, and his 59 stolen bases trailed only Elly De La Cruz, who swiped five more bags.

Ohtani won the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a member of the crosstown Angels while finishing second to Judge in 2022. He is one of just 12 players to be named an MVP three times.

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Athletics president Dave Kaval is resigning after being the public face of the organization's move from Oakland to Las Vegas.

Kaval, 49, served as the seventh president of the A’s in their 123-year history, and held the role for the past eight years. 

"We are grateful for Dave’s contributions and leadership over the past eight years. He guided our organization through a period of significant transition, and we sincerely thank him for his unwavering commitment to the team," A’s owner John Fisher said in a statement. 

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"As we look ahead to the next chapter of our franchise, the team will continue to grow under new leadership, driving the organization toward success during our interim years in West Sacramento and at our new home in Las Vegas."

Kaval will step down from the role on Dec. 31 to pursue new business opportunities in California. Sandy Dean will serve as the interim president, and a search to fill the full-time role will begin in 2025.

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Dean is a long-time business partner of the Fisher family. 

Kaval’s resignation comes after the team cleared its last major hurdles to get a stadium built in Las Vegas, despite the overwhelming opposition of the fanbase. 

The Las Vegas Stadium Authority approved lease, non-relocation and development documents earlier in December for the A’s to build a $1.75 billion stadium on the strip.

Groundbreaking will likely take place in the spring with the new stadium in Las Vegas being ready for the beginning of the 2028 season. 

Kaval was unsuccessful in getting a stadium built in downtown Oakland. He then came to a deal to move the franchise out of the city, ending a run of 57 years with the team.

The A’s will play at least the next three seasons at a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento, California.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The New York Mets introduced their new superstar, Juan Soto, Thursday after outbidding the New York Yankees for his services.

During his introductory press conference, a reporter asked if Soto had talked to his former Yankees teammates throughout the free agency process.

"I haven’t talked to any of those guys. We talked to them through (the) playoffs, end of the playoffs. But, after that, I made this process. I haven’t talked to any of those guys," Soto said. 

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In his press conference after winning the AL MVP, Aaron Judge said he hadn’t spoken to Juan Soto since the end of the World Series.

"The best thing is to really give those guys space," Judge said, according to Fox Sports. "I talked to him all season, and he knows how we feel about him. And I think the most important thing is now let him do his thing with his family, pray about it, talk with people and come to the right decision for him and his family."

The bidding for the 26-year-old came down to the crosstown rivals, and the Mets won the prize of free agency. 

The Mets gave Soto the most lucrative deal in professional sports history, a 15-year, $765 million contract that includes escalators that can take it over $800 million. 

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There is a player opt-out after the fifth season that the Mets can void by paying Soto $55 million per season for the remainder of the contract should Soto choose to opt out. 

The jump to $55 million annually would be a $4 million raise from the $51 million Soto will receive annually for the first five years of the deal. 

In addition to becoming the highest-paid player in baseball history, Soto will also receive a ballpark luxury suite for his family, four premium seats for home games and security for him and his family, according to the New York Post.

Last season, Soto finished third place in the AL MVP voting after having a career-best year hitting in front of Judge. 

The four-time All-Star hit .288 with 41 home runs and 129 walks, second only to Judge.

During the Yankees' run to the World Series, his performances were crucial in the ALDS and ALCS, which was highlighted by his game-sealing, go-ahead extra-inning home run against the Cleveland Guardians. 

Now Soto will take his talents crosstown and anchor the top of the Mets' lineup alongside Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos.

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