Today, I’ll continue with my series of great Norman Rockwell paintings showing scenes from baseball. The Rookie, shown above, appeared on the March 2, 1957 cover of the Saturday Evening Post magazine…
1927 Yankees: Spring Training in St. Petersburg, Florida
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Spring Training, Part I: Let’s Play Ball!
If this photo won’t put you in the mood for baseball, nothing will!…
From the Lighter Side: The Marriage of Lefty Gomez and Actress June O’Dea
It’s been a long while since I featured ballplayers and their wives, so now’s a good time to shine our baseball spotlight on Hall-of-Famer, Lefty Gomez and his marriage to the beautiful actress, June O’Dea…
Norman Rockwell and Baseball, Part Two: The Three Umpires
The best known of Norman Rockwell’s baseball-themed paintings is probably his 1948, The Three Umpires, which appeared on the April 23, 1949 cover of The Saturday Evening Post…
Our Annual Birthday Tribute to “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron
We can’t let the day go by without our annual birthday salute to the great Hank Aaron. He was born 86 years ago today…
Back Into the Dead Ball Era We Go! The 1901 Pittsburg Pirates!
Thanks to our crack baseball researcher, Don Stokes, for uncovering this neat pic of the 1901 National League champion Pittsburg Pirates (without the “h”!)…
The Iconic Norman Rockwell Painting: “The Dugout”!
In a recent photo of the Cubs at spring training, one of our readers noted that the Cub players in the bullpen wore uniforms similar to the Cub batboy in the iconic Norman Rockwell painting, “The Dugout.”…
Baseball History Comes Alive! Celebrates Its Fourth Anniversary…Thank You!
This week marks the fourth 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…
Is It Time To Reevaluate Hall-of-Fame Selection Qualifications?
We always welcome guest posts from our readers, and today we feature the first from Michael Keedy. He has an interesting take on the Hall-of-Fame selection qualifications.
The Three Alou Brothers Make History: All Three In The Same Outfield!
The 2019 baseball season saw the 57th anniversary of something unique in baseball history: The three Alou brothers, Felipe, Matty, and Jesus, all played together in the same outfield for the Giants.
Incredible Home Runs That Actually “Broke the Bat!”
Today we welcome a guest post from Mike Epson. Mike has chosen an interesting topic, broken-bat home runs. It’s a bit different for us at Baseball History Comes Alive!, but it’s well worth reading…
Baseball Rocked Again! Let’s Revisit Cheating at the Baker Bowl, 1900!
As someone who has written extensively about the Black Sox scandal, I never thought I’d see a cheating scandal that had the potential to rock the game to its core again, as occurred in 1919. But I think it may have happened.
Twenty-Five Year Reunion of the 1923 World Series Champion Yankees!
I admit it…I’m a sucker for Old-Timers photos! And here’s a real good one.
Babe Ruth’s “Improbable” Combined No-hitter!
There are 11 combined on-hitters in major league history, and I’m willing to bet you this weird one, involving George Herman “Babe” Ruth in 1917, is unique. Read on to see the details…
Shoeless Joe Jackson’s Incredible Three-Year Span, 1911-13!
“You know, he was such a remarkable hitter, it was almost impossible for him to swing without meeting the solidly.” -1919 White Sox pitcher, Dickie Kerr, speaking of teammate, Joe Jackson.
Let’s Recall Don Larsen’s “Perfect Game” Opponent, Sal “The Barber” Maglie
(Written at the time of the passing of Don Larsen in January 2020) With the passing of Don Larsen this week, the focus of the baseball world has understandably been on the Perfect Game gem he tossed for the Yankees in the 1956 World Series…
The Baseball World Says a Sad Good-Bye to Don Larsen
Don Larsen passed away yesterday at the age of 90. In tribute we’re posting an old piece by Gary accompanied by the artwork of our friend Graig Kreindler…
Let’s Remember Hank Greenberg!
Thanks to our resident baseball artist, Don Stokes, for reminding us that January 1 is the birthday anniversary of Hank Greenberg…
Baseball’s Darkest Day: The Tragic Death of Ray Chapman
It happened ninety-nine years ago. August 16, 1920 was a dark, overcast day. The Yankees were playing the Indians at the Polo Grounds. It was an important game as both teams were in the pennant race…
Merry Christmas From All Of Us At Old-Time Baseball Photos!
Ron and I would like to wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays! And to all our Jewish friends, a blessed Hanukkah season…
Another Edition of “Baseball’s Forgotten Stars!”: Phil Cavarretta!
I think there’s a real good chance the former 1930s-’40’s baseball star Phil Cavarretta saw the classic 1992 movie A Few Good Men sometime during his long life…
1913-14 “World Tour To End All Tours”: Near Disaster Strikes – Twice!
How many of you are aware that, in addition to a stomach ailment almost killed Charles Comiskey, the entire entourage of 67 people were almost wiped out – twice!…
Another Edition of “Baseball’s Forgotten Stars”: Willie Kamm, Plus, “More Fun with Triple Plays!”
“There is the best third-base prospect I’ve seen since my days with the old Baltimore Orioles.” –White Sox manager Kid Gleason, speaking of Willie Kamm…
HOFer Max Carey: One Of The Greatest Base Stealers Ever!
“Stealing bases is the art of picking up little things – things like a spitball pitcher who never threw to first if he was going to throw a spitter to the plate.” – Max Carey
The Indians’ Hal Trosky: The Best Player Who Was Never An All-Star!
Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time! I think we can all feel for Hal Trotsky. If your All-Star competition at first base was Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, and Hank Greenberg, your chances of making the All-Star team would probably not be very good!
Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: All-Star Third Baseman Bob Elliott!
“Bob Elliott made the 1948 Braves. He’s the old-time type who hits and plays his best in the clutch.” –Rogers Hornsby…
Happy Thanksgiving From Baseball History Comes Alive!
Let’s be honest. It’s hard to find a connection between Baseball and Thanksgiving…
Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Wally Berger
Today I’ll feature another outstanding player I’d guess many of you may not be familiar with. What if I told you this player’s stats compare favorably to at least two Hall-of Famers: Hack Wilson and Chick Hafey…
Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Dolph Camilli
“Dolph Camilli was a quiet, gentle man but he was as strong as an ox. Nobody knew how well Dolph could fight because, quite frankly, nobody had ever wanted to find out” –Dodger Manager Leo Durocher…
My Book on the 1919 Black Sox Scandal Now Available on Amazon!
I’m happy to announce that my book Reflections on the 1919 Black Sox: Time for Another Look is now available on Amazon in e-book form. The paperback should also be available shortly…
Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Ossie Bluege, “The Brooks Robinson of the 1920s and ‘30s!”
“Brooks Robinson was the 1960s and ‘70s version of Ossie Bluege!”…
“Baseball’s Forgotten Stars!” Let’s Highlight the Career of Wes Ferrell
I love going through the 1930’s looking for stars who’ve been largely forgotten over the passage of time. And believe me, there’s plenty of them!…
It’s Time For a Quiz!
Can you name the only person enshrined in both the NFL Hall of Fame and also the National Baseball Hall of Fame?…
Let’s Revisit the Last Time Washington Had a World Series Championship: 1924
“It was Fate, that’s all…Fate and a pebble!”…
Let’s Revisit the 1933 World Series
“What had unfolded in the ’33 Series was no mystery. Clearly good pitching had stopped good hitting.” –The Sporting News, 1933…
The 1912 World Series: Fred Snodgrass and the “$30,000 Muff!”
“I never lost that World Series. I never took the blame for losing any World Series.” –Fred Snodgrass…
Let’s Revisit the 1941 World Series!
Errors and miscues are always magnified in the World Series, and they can last forever, tarnishing the reputation of even the best players…
We’re Contacted by Nephew of 1930s Indians Star, Joe Vosmik!
“We offered no fewer than five players for Joe Vosmik, who is my idea of the type of left fielder we could use at Yankee Stadium.” –Yankee GM Ed Barrow
Congrats to the Washington Nationals! World Series in D.C. for the first time since 1933!
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