oday is the anniversary of an important date in the career of Ted Williams, but one that I’m sure, if he were alive, he’d rather not talk about. I recently learned that on March 1, 1954, seventy-two years ago today, Ted broke his collarbone on the first day of spring training when he stumbled in the outfield shagging a line drive during batting practice. This unfortunate injury, coming after surviving two plane crashes and after flying thirty-nine combat missions during the Korean War, kept Ted out of action for the first four weeks of the 1954 season…
Willie Mays Name “Player of the Decade” for the 1960s!
Fifty-six years ago yesterday, on January 17, 1970, The Sporting News named the Giants great center fielder, Willie Mays, as its “Player of the Decade” for the 1960s, narrowly beating out two other great contenders, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente. Let’s take a look at what Willie accomplished from 1960-1969…
The Great “Double X” Jimmie Foxx Receives Third MVP Award!
As we extend our congratulations to the Dodgers for their victory in the exciting 2025 Word Series, here’s a few words about the great slugger Jimmie Foxx. On this day, November 2, 1938, in a season in which he hit .349 with 50 home runs and 175 RBIs, Jimmie became the first player to win the MVP award three times…
The Phillies MVP Reliever, Jim Konstanty
You may be wondering why we are featuring Phillies’ reliever, Jim Kostanty today, a player most of you have probably never heard of…unless you’re a baseball history nerd like me! Vince Jankoski, in his third and final installment on the evolution of relief pitchers, shows how pivotal Jim was in the development of today’s the modern reliever…
The Cubs Fire Manager Rogers Hornsby in the Middle of the 1932 Pennant Race!
“The worst decision I made in all my years in baseball was hiring Rogers Hornsby to manage the Cubs” – Cub President William Veeck Sr….
Roy Campanella’s Great Start to the 1953 Season!
On May 10, 1953, Roy Campanella hit a double and a home run against the Phillies at Ebbets Field. With those two hits, Campy drove in all five runs in the Dodgers’ 5-0 victory, which gave him over 40 RBIs in the first 30 games of the season, a feat that wouldn’t be matched for forty-four years…
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??…
Another Edition of “Baseball’s Forgotten Stars!” Phil Cavarretta
“You can’t handle the truth!” I think there’s a real good chance the former 1930s-’40s baseball star Phil Cavarretta saw the classic 1992 movie A Few Good Men sometime during his long life. If so, we can be fairly certain he felt a sense of vindication as he heard the famous line.…
Yankees Trade Roger Maris to the Cardinals, 1966!
Fifty-eight years ago today, December 8, 1966, a trade was made between the Yankees and the Cardinals. I think it’s fair to say the Redbirds got the better end of this deal!…
Yaz’s Heroics in the 1967 Red Sox Pennant Drive!
I think we’re all aware of what a great player Carl Yastrzemski was, and we’re aware of his heroic role in the Red Sox’ 1967 pennant drive and subsequent World Series championship. But when you read about all the specifics – as recounted for us today by Vince Jankoski – you’ll undoubtedly be as surprised as I was at just how spectacular his role was…
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!…
From The Lighter Side! “How Can You Hit All Those Home runs With Such Scrawny Arms!”
Here we see the great slugger Jimmie Foxx scratching his head, trying to figure out how his young teammate with such scrawny arms named Ted Williams generates all his power!
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…
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…
Stan Musial Named 1948 MVP!
Seventy-five years ago, December 2, 1948, Stan Musial was named the National League MVP. “Stan the Man” led the league in hitting with a .376 batting average and 131 RBIs, but just missed the Triple Crown by one home run. So let’s take a moment to pay tribute to the memory of one of the true greats in baseball history…
Another First for Jackie Robinson!
“The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it.” -Jackie Robinson…
How Times have Changed! Stan Musial Insists the Cardinals Cut His Salary From $100,000 to $80,000!
Here’s one I could categorize a couple different ways. It could go into “It’ll Never Happen Again,” category or even the “My, How the Game Has Changed!”…
Another Edition Of: Do You Have a Funny Caption For This Photo?
Now that we are in the “lull” between Christmas and New Years Eve, I thought it was a good time to have some fun with another edition of “Do you have a funny caption for this photo?”…
Frank Robinson Wins the 1961 MVP Award!
This past week marked the sixty-first anniversary of Frank Robinson’s first MVP award…
Here’s one Red Sox fans will remember: Jackie Jensen Wins 1958 MVP Award!
Sixty-four years ago today, on November 19, 1958, Jackie Jensen was selected as the American League Most Valuable Player. With his selection, Jensen broke the four-year dominance of Yankee MVPs (Yogi Berra, 1954-’55, Mickey Mantle, 1956-’57)…
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…
Let’s Remember the 1937 MVP and Triple Crown Winner, Joe “Ducky” Medwick!
“When Joe Medwick dies, half the National League will go to his wake just to make sure that S-O-B is dead!”…
Marine Captain Ted Williams Recalled to Active Duty, January 9, 1952
“If there was ever a man born to be a hitter it was me…A man has to have goals – for a day, for a lifetime – and that was mine, to have people say, ‘There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived’ ” –Ted Williams…
The Yankees’ Slugging Sparkplug: Roger Maris
Earlier this month many of us were once again disappointed that Roger Maris failed to make it into the Hall of Fame…
Another Edition of “Baseball’s Lopsided Trades”: Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas!
Today in my ongoing series on lopsided trades, I’d like to highlight the December 9, 1965 trade of the great slugger, Frank Robinson, from the Reds to the Orioles for Milt Pappas…
Spotlight on the Hall of Fame: The Great Johnny Bench
Scroll Down to Read Today’s Essay Subscribe to Baseball History Comes Alive for automatic updates (sign-up block […]
The 1962 World Series (Part Three)
Today, in Part Three, I’ll provide some details about the 1962 World Series which also had a dramatic ending. This time it didn’t end in the Giants’ favor.
Stan Musial Strikes Out Three Times!
Here’s something to really think about. It should wake up anyone who doesn’t think the game has changed drastically over the years…
A Birthday Tribute To Willie Mays As He Turns 90!
“What can I say about Willie Mays after I say he’s the greatest player any of us has ever seen?” –Leo Durocher, who spent over 50 years in baseball…
DON MATTINGLY: FAME SECOND TO FAITH AND FAMILY
I loved watching Don Mattingly play baseball. A flawless fielder and an imposing figure in the batter’s box: powerful sloping shoulders, intense concentration…
Captain Ted Williams Recalled to Active Duty, January 9, 1952
“If there was ever a man born to be a hitter it was me”…
Our Annual Tribute to Roberto Clemente: “HE’S GOT IT!!”
“If it was humanly possible for a ball to be caught, Roberto Clemente was going to get it.” –Pirates’ manager, Danny Murtaugh
A Tribute to Dick Allen, RIP
“One day people will understand that standing up for yourself and your dignity makes you a man and not a malcontent”…
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…
A Look Back at the Career of the Great “Double X,” Jimmie Foxx!
“How in the hell do you manage to hit all those home runs with those scrawny arms?” –Jimmie Foxx to his young teammate, Ted Williams…
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…
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 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…
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…
