OK…Today we’re really going into the weeds! This one is for the real baseball history nerds out there! I was recently contacted by two SABR members asking my opinion on whether or not a player in an 1880s photo found on eBay from an Ohio estate sale was nineteenth century Hall of Fame ball player Sam Thompson…
Lets Recall the 1939 Hall of Fame Class!
There have been some questionable Hall of Fames inductees over the years, but you certainly can’t quibble with the Class of ’39. Eighty-seven years ago yesterday, January 24, 1939, the Hall enshrined Eddie Collins, George Sisler, and Wee Willie Keeler.
We Can Thank The St. Louis Browns For The Modern Pitching Coach!
We welcome back Vince Jankoski today with another interesting essay on coaches. This time he highlights the evolution of the modern pitching coach. As I’ve said before, there’s no group in baseball more neglected than coaches. Fortunately for us, Vince is attempting to right this obvious wrong…
Baseball History Comes Alive Celebrates Its Tenth Anniversary!
This week marks the tenth anniversary of Baseball History Comes Alive. I’d like to thank all our loyal followers, especially those who have been with me from the beginning. To celebrate the happy occasion, here’s a repost of my very first essay, posted on January 20, 2016, along with a nice photo gallery highlighting the life and career of the great “Flying Dutchman,” Honus Wgner…
Wilbur Wood, RIP
The baseball world was saddened this week to learn of the passing of Wilbur Wood, age 84 (October 22, 1941-January 17, 2026).
A few years ago, I wrote a detailed essay about Wilbur’s career in which I termed him “Baseball’s Rodney Dangerfield.” Although I meant that in jest, I was not far off the mark. Wilbur, like most knuckleballers, gets little respect from the baseball world…
The 1935 Bismark Churchills: A Team Ahead of Its Time!
On Martin Luther King day, it’s fitting that we salute the Bismark Churchills, a ground-breaking team that almost no one has ever heard of. I was familiar with the rich history of baseball in Bismark, North Dakota, including Satchel Paige’s participation, but until I read Ron Christensen’s essay, I had no idea of the role the Churchills played in breaking down baseball’s racial barriers…
Willie Mays Name “Player of the Decade” for the 1960s!
Fifty-six years ago yesterday, on January 17, 1970, The Sporting News named the Giants great center fielder, Willie Mays, as its “Player of the Decade” for the 1960s, narrowly beating out two other great contenders, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente. Let’s take a look at what Willie accomplished from 1960-1969…
Back into the Deadball Era we go! “Colby Jack” Coombs
I always love learning more about the Deadball Era, and today, Mike Janacek returns with an interesting essay on the career of one of the DBE’s best, “Colby Jack” Coombs. For a three-year period (1910-12), he was one of the best in the business….
“Words of Regret”: The Story of Giants’ Manager Bill Terry
Did you ever say something off-handedly and regretted it almost before the words were out of your mouth? I think it’s safe to conclude that Giants’ manager Bill Terry came to regret uttering those words. Maybe not immediately, but certainly by the time the 1934 baseball season had ended…
Guest Post: “Two Foul Balls and an Historic Home Run!”
With all the “heavy writing” we do around here, it’s fun sometimes to step back and enjoy something about the game we all love. And I away love the personal reflections! Today were have a guest post from Andrew Wilson, telling us about his experiences with foul balls, the first at Forbes Field going back over 50 years ago…
Sometimes Minor Trades Can Have Major Consequences: The Dodgers Sign Sanford Braun! (Who??)
Seventy-two years ago last month, December 13, 1954, a rather unremarkable trade was made between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles. The Dodgers traded away Billy Cox, their mainstay third baseman whose best years were behind him; and Preacher Roe, a fine pitcher who was also at the end of the road. In return, the Dodgers got two nameless minor league prospects…
