Wow! File this one into the file marked “Lost Potential.” I had heard of Louis Sockalexis but knew nothing about him. Rod Christensen fills in that gap today with an interesting essay about the first Native American ball player who had the potential to be one of the greatest players ever…
Cubs’ Base-Running Gaffe Recalls the Dodgers’ Babe Herman: The Only Major Leaguer To Double Into a Double Play!
The Cubs’ bizarre spring training triple play the other day brought to mind another equally bizarre base-running gaffe made by the Dodgers’ Babe Herman on August 26, 1926, one hundred years ago this summer…
Bill Mazeroski, R.I.P. Lets Recall Bill’s “Homer for the Ages”
On this the sad occasion of Bill Mazeroski’s passing, I’d like to honor him by saying a few words about the classic 1960 World Series and Bill’s historic homer, ranked Number One by ESPN on its list of the One Hundred Greatest Home Runs of All Time…
Harry Caray Passes Away 28 Years Ago This Week
This week, February 18, 1998, marked the 28th anniversary of the death of Harry Caray. Harry passed away as a result of complications from a heart attack and brain damage. On Valentine’s Day, Caray and his wife, Dutchie, were at a Rancho Mirage, California, restaurant celebrating the holiday when Caray collapsed during the meal. He was rushed to nearby Eisenhower Medical Center, where he never woke up from his coma…
The Rise and Fall of Denny McLain
Today we welcome back Matt Kastel with an interesting essay describing the life and career of Denny McLain, the last player to win 30 games. This essay is a condensed version of Matt’s longer essay for which he interviewed McLain…
Lets Remember the Great Yankee Manager, Miller Huggins!
Ninety-five years ago today, on February 15, 1931, the Yankees renamed their spring training facility, Crescent Lake, to Miller Huggins Field in honor of their late manager, who passed away at the end of the 1929 season…
Carlos Beltran For the Hall of Fame…Yes or No?
When Vince Jankoski set me an essay discussing Carlos Beltran’s qualifications for the Hall of Fame, I was hesitant to post it. I have a rule that anything after about 1970 is too modern for Baseball History Comes Alive. But when I read the essay, I discovered that Vince puts Beltran’s stats in historical perspective, comparing him to some of the great center fielders of the past. OK Vince…it’s a go! Anyway, I think you’ll enjoy Vince’s deep dive into Carlos Beltran’s merits for the Hall. Then you can make up your own mind!…
1942 Baseball Game With Dom DiMaggio’s All-Stars Halted by… a Prison Break??
We’ve all heard of baseball games being suspended for various reasons. Rain, snow, fog, swarms of insects, medical emergencies…even earthquakes. But there was a game played on February 8, 1942, eighty-three years ago today, at the Folsom Correctional Facility in California that was halted because of a prison break!…
Len Koenecke: A Remarkably Bizarre and Unusual Tale
I’ve said many times whenever you look deeply into the live and career of a former major league player you’ll find something of interest about him. However, as Ron Christensen accounts today, this story about the unusual demise of Len Koenecke is off the charts! This is one of the most bizarre stories involving the death of a major leaguer I can remember…
Who Actually Were the Boston “Bees”?
Ninety years ago this week, Judge Fuchs, the owner of the Boston Braves, sold the team to new ownership who thought the time was right for a new name to help to change the Braves’ losing image…
