Today we welcome back Mike Janacek with an interesting essay about one of – if not the best – outfields in baseball history: the Tigers’ Bobby Veach, Ty Cobb, and Sam Crawford. While much has been written about how great a player Cobb was, Bobby Veach certainly has to rank as one of baseball’s most overlooked and over shadowed stars. I had no idea how good he was until I read Mike’s essay…
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…
We Uncover a Bit of Baseball History In Photos of Hall of Famer, Sam Thompson!
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…
Ty Cobb Pitches in a Game…Against George Sisler!
I think we can safely file this one into the category of “Useless Baseball Trivia!” But we’re baseball fans…so useless trivia is right up our alley!…
The Guardians Late-Season Charge Calls to Mind Other Historic Comebacks, Including 1914 “Miracle” Braves!
Whenever there’s an historic comeback, it usually consists of a phenomenal run by a hard-charging second place team, accompanied by an equally-phenomenal collapse by the presumed-to-be winner, previously coasting to a title. We’re currently seeing a collapse of this magnitude in the race for the American League Central Division title…
“WILD BILL” DONOVAN: THE MOST SUPERSTITIOUS MAN IN BASEBALL!
We all know ball players are superstitious, but today, Ron Christensen tells us about possibly the most superstitious player of all, “Wild Bill Donovan. He’s off the “superstition charts”! It’s a great story that all baseball history fans will enjoy…
THE 1934 MVP Race: What?!? Really?!? (Part Two)
I’m happy today to continue with Ron Christensen’s deep dive into the 1934 MVP selection between the two primary contenders, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Cochrane. Only baseball history nerds like us can appreciate the extensive effort that Ron has made…
The 1934 MVP Race: What?!? Really?!?!
What could the sportwriters have been thinkiong when they gave the 1934 MVP award to Mickey Cochrane instead of Lou Gehrig??…
Tito Francona’s 1961 Home Run Gives New Meaning to the Term: “Dead Ball” Era!
Whenever you look past the surface and go deeper into the career of almost any major leaguer, you’ll invariably find some little tidbit of information that’s interesting or unusual. Such was the case when I was investigating the career of Tito Francona…
Hank Greenberg Sent Packing From Detroit…But What Was His “Crime”?
You’re probably wondering why I chose a pic of the Tigers’ great Hall of Fame slugger Hank Greenberg in a Pirates’ uniform for the featured photo. Read on to find out why!…
Frank Lary, the Yankee Killer From Dixie
Our “senior” readers will remember Frank Lary, the Tigers fine pitcher who was known as the “Yankee Killer.” Today Vince Jankoski returns with a deep dive into his career and tries to analyze how the Alabama native had such success against the dreaded Yankees…
Rudy York, the 1930-40s Version of Kyle Schwarber!
With one-eighth Cherokee ancestry and a severe liability with the glove, Rudy York was once described, in those pre-PC days of the 1930s, as: “Part Indian and part first baseman.”…
Another Edition of “Overlooked for the Hall of Fame”: Rocky Colavito
As I watched Detroit and Cleveland play their recent playoff series, I found myself thinking about a great player who starred for both these teams in days gone by. I was thinking, of course, of Rocky Colavito…
Let’s Recall Hank Greenberg’s Incredible 1937 Season!
“Home run hitters drive Cadillacs; singles hitters drive Fords.” By Hank Greenberg’s definition of a home run slugger we can be sure that he was driving a Cadillac!…
Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Lynwood “Schoolboy” Rowe
It’s time for another edition to my ongoing series of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars. “Schoolboy” Rowe fits right in. He’s a great example of a star from days gone by who has been largely forgotten over the passage of time…
George Lee Anderson (Who?) Is Traded to the Phillies, December 23, 1958, Did Anybody Notice?
Sixty-five years ago yesterday, the Dodgers traded journeyman minor league infielder George Lee Anderson to the Phillies for Rip Repulski and two minor league pitching prospects. Did anybody notice? Yawn…
Did Ted Williams Ever Pitch in a Major League Game? You Bet He Did!!
As strange to us as it seems, yes, the great Ted Williams once pitched in a major league game….
Let’s Remember the 1934 World Series and the “Gashouse Gang!”
“Why, they wouldn’t even let us in that league over there. They think we’re just a bunch of ‘gashousers’.” – Leo Durocher, speaking derisively of the American League…
Hank Greenberg Sent Packing From Detroit…For Being Photographed Wearing a Yankee Jersey!
You’re probably wondering why I chose for the featured photo a pic of the Tigers’ great Hall-of-Famer Hank Greenberg in a Pirates’ uniform. Read on to find out why!…
Another Edition of “Baseball’s Forgotten Stars”: Lynwood “Schoolboy” Rowe
“I’d just eat a lot of vittles, climb on that mound, wrap my fingers around the ball and say to it, ‘Edna, honey, let’s go.'” -Schoolboy Rowe…
1912: Ty Cobb Sets Another Record!
Sportswriter: “Ty, what do you think you’d hit against today’s pitching?” Ty Cobb: “Only .300, but you’ve got to remember – I’m seventy-three!”…
From the Lighter Side: Who Says You Can’t Steal First Base??
“They say it can’t be done, but I saw him do it. In fact, I was standing right on third base, with my eyes popping out when he did it.”…
We’re Contacted by Family Relations of Hall-of-Famer Heinie Manush!
“He always went to Cooperstown every year and to old-timers’ games. He went to everything he was invited to. He loved it because baseball was his life…”
Ty Cobb Re-signs with the Tigers for $4,000!
“I often tried plays that looked recklessly daring, maybe even silly. But I never tried anything foolish when a game was at stake, only when we were far ahead or far behind. -Ty Cobb…
Al Kaline, RIP
The baseball world was saddened to lean this week of the passing of “Mr. Tiger,” Al Kaline. Al died at his home in Bloomfield, Michigan age 85…
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…
Another Edition of “Baseball’s Forgotten Stars!” Let’s Remember Elden Auker!
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Follow Up To My Paul Gillespie and “15-Minutes of Baseball Fame” Post!
Subscribe to Baseball History Comes Alive! to receive new posts automatically 1945 World Series Photo Gallery […]
Beautiful Colorization of Hank Greenberg by Don Stokes!
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“Yankee Killer” Frank Lary Passes Away
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Briggs Stadium, Detroit, MI, August 29, 1957 – Ted Williams hits his 33rd homer of the season in Red Sox 1-0 win over Tigers
Boston’s Ted Williams rounds third base after blasting his 33rd home run of […]
More Baseball Trivia! Here’s Something I’ll Bet You Didn’t Know!
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The Major League Record for Home Runs in August Could Fall!
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The Tragic Death of Ty Cobb’s Father
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Fenway Park, Boston, MA, May 20, 1961 – A Neil Leifer photo captures action between the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox
A wonderful action shot taken by famed photographer Neil Leifer during a Detroit Tigers […]
Another Edition of: “The Sheer Thrill of Victory”
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Navin Field, Detroit, MI, October 2, 1935 – Action in Game One of World Series as Tigers look for their first title
It’s Game 1 of the World Series, pitting the home team Tigers against the National […]
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY, August 14, 1934 – Ruth out at home as Tigers Ray Hayworth applies tag
In the first inning of the first game of a doubleheader, the Yankees Babe […]
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY, May 9, 1926 – Ty Cobb’s two home runs help Tigers down Yanks in a slug fest 14-10
In his last year with the Detroit Tigers, the great Ty Cobb crosses home plate […]
Bennett Park, Detroit, MI, October 11, 1907 – Tigers continue to give in Cubs fits in World Series in winning Game Four
Leaving Chicago and already down two games to none to the Chicago Cubs in […]
