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.
Another Edition of Baseball’s Eccentrics! The Curious Career of Arthur Irwin
I’ve said many times that whenever you look deep into the career of a major leaguer you’ll almost always find some interesting details; and boy, does Ron Christensen proof me right today! Being the baseball history nerd that I am, I had heard of Arthur Irwin, but I had no idea of his up and down career and life! Read to the end to see the demise of one of baseball’s truly eccentric characters …
SELLING OUT THE HARTFORD DARK BLUES!
C’mon now…be honest! How many of you are aware that one of the original teams in the National League was the Hartford Dark Blues? That’s what I thought! Today Ron Christensen gives us a little refresher course in the early days of the National League and the role played by the Hartford Dark Blues. We always look for ways to enchance our knowledge of baseball’s early days,. I found Ron’s essay enlightening and I think you will too…
The Heart-Warming Story of Hall of Fame Slugger Roger Connor and a Little Orphan Named Cecilia
With all the “heavy writing” we do around here on Baseball History Comes Alive, it’s nice every once in a while to step back and simply enjoy a story that, while it has a baseball connection, has nothing to do with anything that happened between the white lines. And so we will today…
More Baseball Oddities: Career Home Run Record Holders!
Since 1895, 130 years ago, there have been only four players to hold the career home run record! Three of the names are easy to come up with: Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Barry Bonds. But the fourth? Any guesses?…
Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: John Montgomery Ward
We welcome back Ron Christensen with a detailed look into one of baseball’s forgotten stars from the nineteenth century, Hall of Famer John Montgomery Ward. As Ron demonstrates, JMW was truly a “jack of all trades,” and one of baseball’s great innovators…
The Cubs and Pete Crow-Armstrong Flirt with Baseball History!
It’s not often that I comment here on the Baseball History Comes Alive website about what’s happening in the modern game. As I’ve said many times, anything after about 1970 is a bit too modern for my taste!…
What a Week! Including Baseball’s 24th Perfect Game!
My baseball history alarm bells went off so many times this week that I thought I was in a four-alarm fire! The week including Domingo Germain’s Perfect Game…
NOBODY’S PERFECT: The Story Behind Baseball’s First Perfect Game
These last few baseball seasons have been puzzling to long time baseball fans who have been barraged by analytical terms such as launch angles, exit velocities…
THE “PHENOMENAL” GAME OF BASEBALL
In today’s essay, Paul Doyle returns with an interesting account of one of the true eccentrics from the nineteenth century,
Baseball and the Civil War
Thanks to our loyal reader, John Quinlan, for sending me this great lithograph from the American Battelfield Trust web site. It depicts Union prisoners held at Camp Salisbury, North Carolina playing a game that we can recognize as an early form of baseball…
Baseball Oddities: Career Home Run Record holders!
Here’s a real baseball oddity that I’ll bet you never thought about: Since 1895, 124 years ago, there have been only four players to hold the career home run record!
Another Gem From Don Stokes: The 1888 Cincinnati Red Stockings!
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Interesting Tidbits About Baseball Pitching Triple Crown Winners!
Pitching Triple Crowns Winners Photo Gallery Click on any image below to see photos in […]
Jim Creighton: “The Man Who Saved Baseball” …And martyred himself in the process!
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George Wood (1880-1892) – Outfielder with a rifle arm and played in first perfect game in MLB history (6/12/1880)
“Dandy” Wood, as he was known in some circles, played for six teams in his […]
Another Look at the Rare Feat of Four Home Runs in a Game: Ed Delahanty
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Joe Mulvey (1883-1895) – Third baseman who batted .261 for his career and committed six errors in one game on July 30, 1884
Despite being a solid third baseman, Mulvey shares a rather dubious record with five other […]
Dartmouth College, Hanover NH, 1882 – Dartmouth College baseball action takes place on unorthodox ball field
Here is a wonderful photo of a game played between Dartmouth College and a unknown […]
John McGraw: The Early Years
John McGraw Photo Gallery Click on any image below to see photos in full size […]
George Wood (1880-1892) – “Dandy” Wood was outfielder with strong arm and good arm
“Dandy” Wood, as he was known in some circles, played for six teams in his […]
1899 St Louis Perfectos (84-67, Finished 5th in National League) – Cy Young bottom left first row
Despite a very respectable win-loss record, it barley got the Perfectos into the top half […]
Photo Tribute to Kid Gleason. Let’s Set the Record Straight!
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1887 Umpire Indicator with 5 balls and 4 strikes
Four strikes and you’re out!! Well, back in the year 1887 that might have been […]
Jim Fogarty (1884-1890) – Philadelphia Quakers speedy right fielder who stole 102 bases in one season
Considered one of the finest right fielders in the game during his time, this San […]
Jake Arrieta’s Connection to 19th Century Baseball!
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