A couple days ago, I posted an essay about whether or not Old Pete Alexander was nursing a hangover in the bull pen during the 1926 World Series when Rajah Hornsby called him into the game to face Lazzeri in the seventh inning. One of the readers took me to task for “speculating” about Pete’s condition, which he thought may have had the effect of damaging the reputation of a great pitcher. Today, Pete sets the record straight in his own words…
The Classic 1926 World Series: Was “Old Pete” Alexander Nursing A Hangover In The Bullpen??
“Less than a foot made the difference between a hero and a bum.” -Grover “Old Pete” Alexander, speaking of the long and barely foul ball hit off him by Tony Lazzeri during the 1926 World Series before striking him out…
Harvey Haddix and the “Imperfect” Perfect Game
Ron Christensen returns today recalling one of the greatest games ever pitched: Harvey Haddix’s gem from May 29, 1959, in which he pitched 12 perfect innings, something never done before or since. What makes it even more historic is that Harvey didn’t get credit for a perfect game or a no-hitter…he had to settle for a loss!
Cubs Blow 8-Run Lead in 1929 World Series!
With the 2025 World Series due to start shortly, I always like to recall some of the more memorable Fall Classics from the past. Today, we’ll take a look at the 1929 World Series between the Cubs and the Philadelphia Athletics. However, if you’re a Cub fan, the memories are not good…
Lets Recall “The Greatest Game Ever Pitched”: Don Larsen’s Perfect Game!
“This most assuredly was the greatest game ever pitched in the history of baseball!” -Vin Scully
I can’t let the month go by without recalling Don Larsen’s World Series perfect day. It happened 69 years ago last week, on October 8, 1956…
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…
Brooklyn Says Good-Bye to the Dodgers and Ebbets Field!
Sixty-eight years ago this week, September 24, 1957, was a sad day in Dodger history. On that day Dodger fans had their hearts broken forever, as the Dodgers played their last game at historic Ebbets Field, their home since 1913…
Let’s Recall Baseball’s Most Eloquent Moment: The Lou Gehrig “Luckiest Man” Speech, July 4, 1939
Amidst all the Fourth of July celebrations today, all baseball history fans (like us!) should take a few minutes to reflect upon the anniversary of one of the most memorable – yet saddest – days in baseball history. It occurred 83 years ago today on “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day,” at Yankee Stadium between games of a Yankees-Senators doubleheader: Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest Man” Speech…
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?…
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!…
Let’s Remember Two Baseball Immortals: Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson!
As we all know, the Brooklyn Dodgers made history on April 15, 1947 when Jackie Robinson appeared in a major league game. But yesterday, April 10, 1947, was also an historic day…
The 116th Anniversary of the “Merkle Game”: The Day Fred Merkle’s Life Changed Forever
I think all fair-minded baseball fans would never want to see anyone’s life negatively altered by what happens in a baseball game (think: Steve Bartman). Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to a young 19-year-old rookie named Fred Merkle 116 years ago 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…
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…
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…
Gee, Thanks Brooks!
Before we say our final goodbye to the great Brooks Robinson, who passed away last Tuesday at age 86, I thought it would be fitting to take a look at Norman Rockwell’s wonderful 1971 painting of Brooks signing an autograph for a young baseball fan…
More Fun With Triple Plays…Especially Unassisted Triple Plays!
In reading the National Pastime This Day in Baseball History website, I discovered that yesterday was the twentieth anniversary of the twelfth unassisted triple play in major league history, pulled off by the Braves’ Rafael Furcal on August 10, 2003…
Beautiful Color Restoration of the Addie Joss Benefit Game by Chris Whitehouse
Addie Joss was a much-beloved ace starting pitcher for the Cleveland Naps whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 31…
Happy Presidents’ Day! Let’s Recall President Eisenhower’s “Baseball Secret!”
“Not making the baseball team at West Point was one of the greatest disappointments of my life, maybe my greatest.” -Dwight Eisenhower
1942 Baseball Game Halted by… a Prison Break??
There was a game played in 1942 at the Folsom Correctional Facility in California that was halted because of a prison break! That has to be a first!…
The “Amazin Mets!” 1962-69
“The Mets have shown me more ways to lose than I even knew existed.” -Manager Casey Stengel
The Heart-Warming Story of Babe Ruth and Little Johnny Sylvester
“I’ll knock a homer for Wednesday’s game. Babe Ruth” –Inscription on baseball scrawled by Babe Ruth during the 1926 World Series and given to little Johnny Sylvester, recovering from a near-fatal illness….
Baseball’s Deadliest Day: Black Saturday – The tragedy that changed ballpark construction forever
Black Saturday began innocently enough when a 13-year-old girl ran an errand for her aunt that took her past where the Phillies were playing a doubleheader…
Babe Ruth’s Called Shot: “Did He or Didn’t He?”
The story goes that Ruth pointed to the center-field bleachers during the at-bat. But did he?…
Let’s Remember Two Baseball Immortals: Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson!
“Ethnic prejudice has no place in sports, and baseball must recognize that truth if it is to maintain stature as a national game.” -Branch Rickey…
New Blog Topic: A Real Wacky Game! Blue Jays Beat the Red Sox 28-5!
Did any of you guys notice the crazy game between the Blue jays and the Red Sox last Friday? The Blue Jays defeated the Red Sox 28-5…
Twins Historic 8-5 Triple Play vs. White Sox Recalls Brooks Robinson’s Dubious Record!
In case you missed it, the Twins pulled off a historic 8-5 triple play in Monday’s game against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Park in Chicago. There’s never been an 8-5 triple play before in all of baseball history…
“Lucky Lindy”—And Rogers Hornsby—Visit Sportsman’s Park, June 18, 1927
“The noisemaking [on Lindbergh Day] was reminiscent of the celebration here last fall when the Cardinals won the city’s first baseball pennant”…
June 3, 1932: A Truly Memorable Day In Baseball History With Three Historic Events!
I wonder if there’s ever been a day quite like June 3, 1932 when not one…not two…but three historic events occurred – two within the same game!…
Harvey Haddix Near-Perfect Game: One for the Record Books!
“Not a day goes by that somebody doesn’t ask me about that game. I think I got more notoriety from it because I lost.”-Harvey Haddix,…
Lou Gehrig’s Consecutive Game Streak Comes to An End!
Eighty-three years ago yesterday, April 30, 1939, was a memorable day in baseball history. On that day, the consecutive game streak of the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig, finally came to an end…
Sammy Byrd, The Greatest Baseball Golfer Ever!
Here we are in the heart of winter caught that “no man’s land” between the end of the World Series and the start of spring training…
Let’s Remember the Great Branch Rickey!
“Ethnic prejudice has no place in sports, and baseball must recognize that truth if it is to maintain stature as a national game.” -Branch Rickey…
The Three Alou Brothers Make History: All Three In The Same Outfield!
Can we put this one in the category: “It’ll never happen again”? I think that’s a safe bet!…
“I SAW IT ON THE RADIO!”
Today, Paul Doyle offers us something a bit different: Paul gives us a brief history of baseball and radio broadcasting…
“M&M BOYS” HIT HOME RUNS GOOD & PLENTY!
With the overabundance of Home Runs being hit in the majors over the last twenty years or so, we have almost forgotten the 60th anniversary of Roger Maris’ quest to break one of the iconic records in the game-most home runs in a season…
How Many of You Know What An “Immaculate Inning” Is?
Reading this morning’s Chicago Sun-Times, I learned that Boston’s Chris Sale threw what’s called an “immaculate inning,” tying Sandy Koufax as the only pitchers in baseball history to have thrown three in the entire history of baseball…
The Tragedy of Fred Merkle, Part Three: It’s Time to Right a Historic Wrong!
“I wish I’d never gotten that hit that set off the whole Merkle incident. I wish I’d struck out instead. It would have spared Fred a lot of unfair humiliation.”…
The Tragedy of Fred Merkle, Part Two: The Warren Gill Game
The game isn’t over until that man touches second base! Why don’t you wait until the game is over, you big fathead!…
