Editors Choice

The 116th Anniversary of the “Merkle Game”: The Day Fred Merkle’s Life Changed Forever

I think all fair-minded baseball fans would never want to see anyone’s life negatively altered by what happens in a baseball game (think: Steve Bartman). Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to a young 19-year-old rookie named Fred Merkle 116 years ago today…

Let’s Remember the Dean Brothers On Their Great Day: Dizzy and Daffy!

Ninety years ago today, September 21, 1934, was a memorable day in baseball history. It was also a memorable day for the Dean family.  In the second game of a doubleheader at Ebbets Field, 22-year-old Cardinal rookie pitcher Paul “Daffy” Dean became the fifth rookie to throw a no-hitter, beating the Dodgers, 3-0…

“Claire Hodgson Ruth: The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Babe Ruth,” plus:  “Was Claire the Cause of the Babe Ruth-Lou Gehrig Feud?”

We all know a lot about the Babe, but I thought I’d share some interesting information about his second wife, Claire Hodgson. Also, I’ll shed some light on the purported role that Claire played in the storied feud between the Babe and the great Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig. 

Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Luis Arroyo

On September 9, 1961, the New York Yankees celebrated Whitey Ford Day at Yankee Stadium.  Ford was in the midst of his greatest season, the only season in which he would win a Cy Young Award.  Ford was in the process of being showered with gifts when a car drove up with a giant Life Saver candy package in the rear seat.  As the car came to a halt, the lid on the Life Saver popped open and relief pitcher Luis Arroyo emerged…

Great Baseball Photo Collections, Part II: The George Brace Collection

I think it’s a safe assumption that most of us enjoy looking at old baseball photos, especially those old black-and white collections from the first half of the twentieth century when baseball was at its peak as the national pastime. Great photographers like Charles Conlon, George Burke, George Brace, Leslie Jones, and Barney Stein come readily to mind…

BOB KUZAVA – WAS CASEY STENGEL A GENIUS…OR JUST PLAIN LUCKY?

Today Vince Jankoski returns with an interesting essay addressing the age-old baseball question of whether Casey Stengel was a genius – as many baseball fans think – or just lucky. His decisions in the seventh game of the 1952 World Series will leave you scratching your head…and with good reason!…

Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Eddie Yost

Today Vince Jankoski returns with an eye-opening look at the career statistics of forgotten star Eddie Yost. How can I call a career .254 hitter a forgotten star? It’s because he played 18 years in the Bigs with a .394 on-base percentage, leading the league twice in the category (.435 in 1959 and .414 in 1960). Read Vince’s essay and see if you agree with me…

Joe McCarthy’s Odd Choice of Denny Galehouse To Start the 1948 Playoff Game!

Vince Jankoski returns today with an interesting essay on the choice of Denny Galehouse to start the one-game playoff between the Indians and the Red Sox, the winner advancing to the 1948 World Series. The choice didn’t seem to make sense then and still doesn’t all these years later!…