Mays, Berra named Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Barack Obama on Monday named Major League Baseball Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Yogi Berra recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Mays, 84, played 22 years in the majors, won two National League most valuable player awards and retired after the 1973 season with 660 home runs, fifth most all-time.
Lawrence Peter Berra, known to the world as Yogi, who died in September at the age of 90, was a catcher with the New York Yankees and one of the sports world’s most beloved and frequently quoted figures.
Mays played 21 seasons with the New York Giants and San Francisco Giants franchise and was one of the first African-American players in the majors.
DraftKings, FanDuel lose bid to head off NY shutdown
NEW YORK — Daily fantasy sports companies DraftKings and FanDuel on Monday lost a bid to head off the New York attorney general’s effort to shut down the companies in the state.
A New York state judge denied temporary restraining orders sought by the companies that would have halted New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s efforts to declare the games illegal gambling in the state.
Schneiderman said the games were against state law last week and told the companies to stop taking money from New Yorkers. The government will move for an injunction against the companies which will be heard in a state trial court on Nov. 25.
In seeking the restraining orders, the companies said that Schneiderman’s office had been pressuring their vendors to stop doing business with them, and they could be forced to close up shop in the state.
New York has more daily fantasy sports players than any other U.S. state, according to Eilers Research, so being forced to shut down there could cripple the fast-growing, multibillion-dollar industry.
Bryant, Correa named Rookies of Year
Chicago Cubs slugging third baseman Kris Bryant and speedy Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa won Rookie of the Year honors in their respective leagues in voting results announced on Monday.
Bryant, 23, was a unanimous choice for the National League award, capturing all 30 first-place votes for 150 points from members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Correa, 21, won with 17 first-place votes of 30 cast in a close-run victory over Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, who received the other 13 top votes.
Bryant, the second pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft, blasted 26 home runs, drove in 99 runs and batted .275. He became the 20th player overall, and the 11th in the National League, to win the coveted award by a unanimous vote.
Correa, selected first overall by the Astros in 2012, hit .279 with 22 homers, 22 doubles, 68 RBIs and 14 stolen bases during the 2015 season. He is the first Astros winner since Jeff Bagwell in 1991.
Rams bench Foles, to start Keenum
Nick Foles has been benched. St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher announced Monday that Case Keenum will start at quarterback for the Rams in Sunday’s game at Baltimore.
After two straight Rams losses, Fisher has decided to replace him as the team’s starter. Keenum has not attempted a pass this season.
The Rams acquired Foles and a second-round draft pick in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles that sent quarterback Sam Bradford to the Eagles.
Pacers’ Turner out 6 weeks
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner will miss approximately six weeks after undergoing surgery on his left thumb on Monday.
Turner suffered a chip fracture in the thumb during last Wednesday’s game against the Boston Celtics.
The 6-foot-11 Turner, the 11th overall pick in June’s NBA Draft, is averaging 6.1 points and 2.9 rebounds.