Seventy-five years ago today, August 29, 1951, Brooklyn Dodger first baseman Gil Hodges hit two home runs in the Dodgers’ 13-1 rout of the Reds at Ebbets Field. With his second “long one,” the 27-year-old Dodger first baseman topped Brooklyn’s previous single-season home-run record of 35, set more than two decades earlier…
Lets Remember Billy Goodman: The One-Man Bench!
We welcome back Ron Christensen today with a real eye-opening deep-dive into the career of Billy Goodman. I remember him from his time with the White Sox, including the 1959 pennant-winning team. I had no idea about the rest of his career, including his role as a “super-sub”…
The Day a Rookie Saved Frank Robinson’s Life
The year was 1966. The date was August 22- sixty years ago today. The Baltimore Orioles were enjoying an off day while feeling rather good about their 12.5-game lead in the American League pennant race with only six weeks to go. Superstar Frank Robinson, acquired during the offseason in a memorable trade with the Reds, was enjoying the best season of his career…
Baseball’s Forgotten Dynasty: The Sacramento Gilt Edges!
Today we welcome a guest essay from Lisa Jonsson about the Sacramento Gilt Edges. They won four consecutive championships in the now-forgotten California League, which existed before the Pacific Coast League came into existence in 1903. I enjoyed Lisa’s easy, and I think you will too…
Remembering Roberto Clemente on His Birthday: A Great Ballplayer…and an Even Greater Man
If it was humanly possible for a ball to be caught, Roberto Clemente was going to get it.” –Pirates’ manager Danny Murtaugh…
RIP Tommy John: The Pitcher Who Changed Baseball Forever
Baseball lost one of its most remarkable figures on Saturday when Tommy John passed away at the age of 83. Most baseball fans know his name because of the famous surgery that bears it. But Tommy John was much more than the name attached to an operation…
Joshua Báez Does Something Never Seen Before In the 150 Years of Baseball History!
It’s not very often that I write about something from the current game. As I’ve said many times, anything after about 1970 is too modern for my taste. But I’m making an exception because of what happened at Wrigley Field yesterday – in a game I was actually watching!…
Harry Heilmann Went Through the Front Door. Chuck Klein Used the Side Door
Contributor Mark Kolier returns today with an interesting comparison of two of the lesser-known Hall of Famers: Harry Heilmann and Chuck Klein. Both players had remarkable careers, but remain relatively unknown because of little (Klein) to none (Heilmann) World Series experience…
It’ll Never Happen Again! And that’s putting it mildly!
As I’ve said many times, whenever you look deeply into the career of any major leaguer, you’ll almost always find something of interest in his past. Try this on for size: The Cubs Jack Taylor threw 187 consecutive complete games!…
Four Homers In a Game: When Will Someone Hit Five?
Today we welcome back contributor Mark Kolier with an interesting article about the baseball rarity of four home runs in one game. Mark asks the question: When, if ever, will someone hit five in a game?…
Cubs Fire Manager Rogers Hornsby In the Middle of the 1932 Pennant Race and Replace Him with “Jolly Cholly” Grimm!
“The worst decision I made in all my years in baseball was hiring Rogers Hornsby to manage the Cubs” – Cub President William Veeck Sr…