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…
Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Johnny Blanchard
A few years ago, I wrote an essay about backup catchers, an important team position that is often overlooked. Today Vince Jankoski sets the record straight with an interesting essay detailing the exploits of the Yankees’ backup catcher in 1961, Johnny Blanchard….
The St. Louis Browns Last Game: September 27, 1953 Part Three
Today Matt Kastel concludes his three-part series on the St. Louis Browns with an interesting account of the Brown’s last game. In a fitting conclusion to their 51-year run in St. Louis and their well-earned reputation for ineptitude, they ran out of balls in the last game!…
What Are the Odds??
Here’s something crazy that happened sixty-seven years ago this past week in a game between the Phillies and the Giants…
Great Baseball Photo Collections, Part One: The Leslie Jones Boston Public Library Collection
I was honored this past weekend to give a PowerPoint presentation at the annual SABR convention in Minneapolis highlighting the Leslie Jones Boston Public Library Baseball Collection…
“The St. Louis Browns’ Last Game,” Part Two: Enter Bill Veeck
Today we continue with Part Two of Matt Kastel’s three-part series on the St. Louis Browns. Today’s essay is titled: “Enter Bill Veeck”…
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!…
Stealing for the Cycle!
This one goes into the “You learn something new about this game every day” file!…
The St. Louis Browns’ Last Game
Today we welcome back Matt Kastel with the first of a three-part series on the not-so-successful history of the St. Louis Browns, certainly the most overlooked franchises in baseball history…
How Bad Can a Baseball Season Get? White Sox Challenge Post-1900 Record of 1916 Philadelphia A’s For Futility
Here in Chicago, we’re in the midst of a stunningly bad baseball season…
Frank McCormick’s an MVP You’ve Not Heard Of
Comparing merely great players to Hall-of-Famers is a subjective exercise. Two-time MVP winner HOFer Hank Greenberg born in 1911 is remembered as a no-brainer choice for Cooperstown…
The Day Yogi Berra Had A Real-Life “Deja Vu Moment!”
“It was déjà vu all over again!” -Famous quote attributed to Yogi Berra
It happened on September 28, 1951…
Yankee Stadium. Yankees vs. Red Sox. First game of a doubleheader. Two outs, top of the ninth, Yankees ahead 8-0. If they can sweep the twinbill, they win their third pennant in a row…
The Remarkable 1950 Boston Red Sox!
Today we welcome Vince Jankoski back with an interesting essay on the remarkable 1950 Boston Red Sox. This was all new to me, and I suspect it will be to all but the most ardent Sox fans. I think you’ll enjoy what Vince has on tap for us today….
First White Sox Immaculate Inning Since “Sloppy” Thurston in 1923!
This week, White Sox Michael Kopech tossed the second “Immaculate Inning” in team history, the first since it was last accomplished by Hollis “Sloppy” Thurston back on August 22, 1923…
A Look Back At The First All-Star Game! July 6, 1933
As we get closer to the All-Star break, I thought it’d be a good idea to revisit the first All-Star game, played before 49,200 fans at Comiskey Park on July 6, 1933…
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…
Roger Bresnahan, A Baseball Life, by John R. Husman, Reviewed by Gary Livacari
If you asked most baseball history students what they know about Roger Bresnahan, you would likely hear something like this: “Isn’t he the guy who invented shin guards? Isn’t that the reason he’s in the Hall of Fame?”…
Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Jack Quinn – The Oldest Pitcher To Hit a Home Run!
Ninety-four years ago this week, on June 27, 1930, Philadelphia A’s pitcher Jack Quinn — just nine days short of his 47th birthday — became the oldest pitcher in major league history to hit a home run…
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!…
HOFer Max Carey Gets Two Hits in One Inning – Twice in the Same Game!
There was a memorable game played at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis between the Cardinals and the Pirates, 99 years ago yesterday, June 22, 1925. In that game, future Hall of Famer Max Carey got two hits in the first inning and then again got two hits in the eighth innings,..
Tribute to Willie Mays (1931-2024), RIP
“What can I say about Willie Mays after I say he’s the greatest player any of us has ever seen?…If he could cook, I’d marry him!” –Leo Durocher, speaking of Willie Mays…
Happy Father’s Day!
“It was at St. Mary’s that I met and learned to love the greatest man I’ve ever known…He was the father I needed. He taught me to read and write, and the difference between right and wrong.” -Babe Ruth, speaking of his father figure and mentor, Brother Mathias
The Cardinals Record Historic Comeback Against the Giants!
Did you ever wonder what was the greatest comeback in National League History? I discovered that it happened 72 years ago today…
Tribute to Lefty O’Doul: What His Career Could Have Been
Today, we welcome back Mark Kolier with an interesting essay on a great hitter who has been overlooked for the Hall of Fame, Lefty O’Doul. Lefty was also one of baseball’s greatest ambassadors who played a vital role in establishing baseball in Japan…
Forgotten Stars: Staten Island’s Finest, Hank Majeski
Today we welcome back Vince Jankoski with an interesting essay on forgotten star, Hank Majeski. I was familiar with him, but Vince really filled in the gaps as to what a fine ball player Hank Majeski was. I think you’ll enjoy what Vince has for us! -GL
From the Lighter Side: There’s No Crying—Or Sleeping!—In Baseball!
Don’t believe me? You could have asked Hall-of-Famer Edd Rousch! (if he was still around)…
The Greatest World Series Game Ever?
“When you’re going good it doesn’t get any better than being in New York. But when you’re going bad it doesn’t get any worse.”-Met’s manager Davey Johnson…
Boston Brave Babe Ruth Plays His Final Game, May 30,1935
“All ballplayers should quit when it starts to feel as if all the baselines run uphill.” –Babe Ruth, 1935…
Baseball’s First Night Game: May 24, 1935
This week marks the eighty-ninth anniversary of the first night game in major league history. The game was played between the Reds and Phillies at Crosley Field on a chilly night before 20, 422 fans on Friday, May 24, 1935…
Book Review: What’s in Ted’s Wallet? The Newly Revealed T206 Baseball Card Collection of Thomas Edison’s Youngest Son
Fans of the Deadball Era, along with those who have an active interest in vintage baseball card collections, will enjoy the new book by J.B. Manheim and Lawrence Knorr, What’s in Ted’s Wallet? The book details the early 19th century baseball card collection of Thomas Edison’s son, Theodore, which dates to 1909-1910…
Red Ames: “The Harvey Haddix of the Deadball Era”
If Harvey Haddix were alive today, he could take some solace in the fact the he’s not alone on baseball’s all-time list of “hard-luck” pitchers. He’d be pleased to know that Deadball Era pitcher Red Ames is right there with him!…
White Washing the Black Sox: A Tale of Gamblers, Gamers, Guilt, and Greed
I’m happy to report that my first venture into novel writing, “White Washing the Black Sox: A Tale of Gamblers, Gamers, Guilt, and Greed” is finished and is now available on Amazon…
Mothers Day Tribute to Baseball Mothers!
We can’t let an occasion like this pass without a connection to old-time baseball! So here’s my little contribution to the day, a salute to “Baseball Mothers!”…
More On “Baseball Goats”: Contemporary Goats
Most of us remember Bill Buckner’s error in Game Six of the 1986 World Series. While Buckner was largely blamed for the loss, there was plenty of blame to go around, especially from the Red Sox bullpen…
A New Major League Record…For Balks!
“I never called a balk in my life. I didn’t understand the rule., so I never called one.” – Major League Umpire Ron Luciano (1969-1979)
Let’s Recall Hank Aaron’s First Major League Home Run!
This week marked the seventieth anniversary of “promising rookie” Hank Aaron hitting the first of his 755 home runs. Hank’s solo round tripper came on April 23, 1954, at Busch Stadium…
Tribute to Carl Erskine, RIP
The baseball world was saddened to learn this past Tuesday, April 16, of the passing of Carl Erskine, age 97, the last surviving member of the Dodgers’ Boys of Summer Brooklyn teams…
Special Category: Gene Mauch – A Managerial “Goat”
Vince Jankoski returns today with an essay telling us that a manager can be a “goat,” too. According to Vince, “Managers, even good managers, make glaring mistakes that cost their teams crucial games”. He cites Gene Mauch as Exhibit One!…
Jerry Grote, RIP
“If Jerry Grote and I were on the same team, I would be playing third base” –Johnny Bench…
THE DODGERS’ GOATS
Today Vince Jankoski returns with Part Two of his four-part series on baseball goats, focusing on the Dodgers. The first two incidents, involving Mickey Owen and Ralph Branca are well known, but the third involving the great Gil Hodges and his unfortunate – and uncharacteristically poor – performance in the 1952 World Series is not as well known…