What could be more splendid than the marriage of baseball and bingo, two of America’s favorite pastimes?

The Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League will offer spectators the chance to play baseball bingo and win prizes during Monday home game during the 2011 season.

The rules are fairly straightforward:

Each square on your Baseball Bingo card represents a play that could happen during the game. After each play, when River Cats players (other than the pitcher) are at bat, check your card for the bingo number corresponding to that play and fold back that square.

Major League Baseball and Victoria’s Secret have joined forces to co-brand a new fashion line aimed at raising the level of male female interest in the game.

The Victoria’s Secret Limited Edition Pink Major League Baseball Collection features various forms of attire for 27 MLB teams. Items range from Arizona Diamonds Boyfriend Pants to Washington Nationals Hipster Panties.

You can find the whole lineup here. So far the Yankees have taken the early lead in Facebook Likes, followed by the Phillies and the Red Sox.

Andy Leonard

Today is St Patrick’s Day, so what better time to examine the Irish contribution to baseball.

In total, 45 major league players were born in Ireland. Andy Leonard, born in County Cavan in 1846, was the first Irishman to wear a big league uniform when he played left field for the Boston Red Stockings.

Interest in baseball in Ireland has picked up in recent years after the formation of the Irish Baseball and Softball Federation. The country now boasts adult and youth (little) leagues.

To honor Saint Patrick, the Pittsburgh Pirates will be donning green caps today when they face the Baltimore Orioles at their Bradenton, Florida spring training grounds.

Was Bud Selig right all along? Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

MLB released news this morning that a team of historians has been appointed by Commissioner Bud Selig to delve into how America’s pastime really began.

The 12-member group will be lead by John Thorn and includes such notables as George Will, Ken Burns and Doris Kearns Goodwin.

“The Committee will compile and evaluate information that pertains to the game’s founding and its growth,” according to information put out by Major League Baseball.

Selig caused a stir last year when he expressed his belief that Abner Doubleday had invented the game.

Update: Good news. Marty Kuehnert and is family are OK. More information in the comments section. Thanks to all those who sent word.

The following appeared in The Brisbane Times earlier today:

Queensland business figures believe a US baseball manager who runs Sendai’s main baseball syndicates may be missing following Friday’s harrowing tsumami in northern Japan.

Marty Kuehnert was to be invited to the Gold Coast next month to meet the new CEO of the Australian Baseball League, Peter Wermuth.

Kuehnert has been involved in the Japanese baseball and business communities in one way or another for over three decades. He carries an extensive resume that includes sportswriter, broadcaster, agent and consultant.

According to his website, Kuehnert “made sports history in Japan when in October 2004 he was named the first foreign General Manager of a Japanese professional baseball team. Kuehnert became the GM of Japan’s first expansion team in more than 50 years, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.”