The unfortunate throwing error by Orion Kerkering in Game Five of the playoff series between the Phillies and Dodgers brought the Phils season to an abrupt end. As Kerkering is sure to learn the hard way, post-season errors in crucial spots can be magnified and can often tarnish the careers of fine ball players…
Let’s Recall The Last Legal Spitballer, Frank Shellenback!
Today Vince Jankoski returns with an interesting essay on Frank Shellenback, one that we can add to our on-going tribute to baseball’s many overlooked coaches. Shellenback was an outstanding PCL pitcher who never really made it in the majors. His lasting contribution is as pitching coach for the New York Giants, where, among other things, he converted Sal Maaglie from a journeyman reliever into one of the most dominant pitchers of his era. Shellenback also has the distinction of being the last pitcher to throw a legal spitball…
“The Giants Win the Pennant! The Giants Win the Pennant!”
I can’t let the day go by without recalling one of the mot memorable home runs in baseball history: Seventy-four years ago today, Bobby Thomson hit his “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”…
Baseball’s Demon Barber: Sal Maglie
I’m pleased to post Ron Christensen’s essay on Sal Maglie today. Sal was not only one of baseball’s most complex characters, he was also a great pitcher, as Ron vividly details. When his teams were in a must-win game, Sal was the one they wanted on the mound…
The Great Baseball Tune, “Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio” Debuts 84 Years Ago!
Nineteen forty-one was one of the most notable years in baseball history. Ted Williams hit .406 that year, the last player to hit over .400. The great Lou Gehrig passed away on June 2. And the Dodgers won their first pennant since 1920. But without doubt, the crowning event that will always mark 1941 as a special year in baseball history was “Joltin’ Joe” DiMaggio’s amazing 56-game hitting streak…
Who Else Besides Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson Were Reinstated on May 13th? The Case For Shufflin’ Phil Douglas!
Amid all the media hoopla given to the recent reinstatements of Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, it’s easy to overlook that a total of seventeen players were given a reprieve by Commissioner Rob Manfred. One of the players reinstated was Sufflin’ Phil Douglas, a long forgotten ace pitcher from the early decades of the twentieth century…
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…
Bob and Irish Meusel – A baseball family affair
Mark Kolier returns today with an interesting essay about the two Meusel brothers, Emil (Irish) and Bob. Younger brother “Long Bob” had a near-Hall-of-Fame career and is better known due to being a part of the 1927 Yankees’ Murders’ Row. But older brother Irish had a fine career too, as you’ll soon see…
There’s No Crying – Or Sleeping! – In Baseball!
Don’t believe me that there’s no crying in baseball? You could have asked Hall of Famer Edd Rousch (if he was still around!).
Spring Training, 1912 Style in Marlin, Texas!
With spring training finally starting to heat up this year, here’s one of my favorites: a neat photo, originally found by my Old-Time Baseball Photos partner, Ron Bolton, from the 1912 Giants spring training camp in Marlin, Texas…
White Sox and Giants Play Baseball…in Egypt, 1914!
One hundred eleven years ago today, February 1, 1914, tour members of the White Sox and the Giants played to a 3-3 tie in the first-ever baseball game in the deserts of Egypt. The contest was part of a 56-game world “Tour to End All Tours!”…
Today is the 70th Anniversary of Willie Mays’s Great Catch! But… Who is the “Mystery Person”?
We’ve all seen variations of Willie Mays’s great catch in the 1954 World Series before. But there’s something about this photo that I’ll bet you never noticed. It’s… The “Mystery Person!”…
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…
A Memorable Baseball Brawl: Carl Furillo Gets 50-Year Old Leo Durocher in a Chokehold!
“Durocher was a dirty manager. He was a dirty player… I hated his guts.” –Carl Furillo…
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…
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…
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!…
The Shot BEFORE the Shot Heard ‘Round the World!
Today we welcome back Matt Kastel with an interesting account of a tragic incident that occurred at the Polo grounds on July Fourth, 1950. This is something I had never heard of before. Many years later, it’s still painful to read about what happened to a fan casually sitting in the stands and enjoying a ball game…
Memorable World Series Moments: 1917 World Series White Sox vs. Giants
Heine Zimmerman Chases Speedy Eddie Collins Across Home Plate!…
Bobby Thomson’s Doubleplay Saved His “Shot” Legacy
Bill reminds us today of a fantastic twin killing initiated by Bobby Thomson in the final series of the 1951 pennant race that may very well have changed the course of baseball history…
Michael Keedy’s Mystery Player Number Four!
Come back later today around 7:00 PM CT to see who it is that Michael Keedy is featuring today as Mystery Player Number Four. Here’s a hint: He was on the 1951 Giants…and you’ll find him in the photo gallery!…
THE SHOT HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD (THAT ALMOST WASN’T)
Today we welcome back Bill Schaefer with an interesting account of the 1951 game between the Dodgers and Phillies that necessitated the three-game playoff series between the Dodgers and Giants…
I Never Get Tired of Talking About Willie!
For those of us weaned on baseball in the 50s and 60s, we never tire of talking about Willie Mays…
The Sad Demise of Hack Wilson
“Hung over, yes, many times…drunk, no.” -Hack Wilson’s response when asked if he ever played drunk…
Michael Keedy’s Top Ten Greatest World Series Catches, Number Four: Willie Mays, “The Catch,” and the 1954 World Series
“Part of the charm of the Polo Grounds…is that a man pitching a game can, without turning his head, listen to fans in the right-field stands ask each other for matches.”…
GIANTS, DODGERS AND A BRAWL FOR THE AGES
“Baseball fights can be more dangerous than hockey fights, where two players square off, because you’ve got guys running all over the place and people throwing punches at you that you don’t see half the time”…
Giants’ Manager Bill Terry Learns A Lesson – the Hard Way!
You’ve heard the old saying: “Hell hath no fury like a scorned woman”? Well, it applies in spades to scorned baseball fans!…
MEL OTT—THE BIGGEST LITTLE GIANT
“Every time I sign a ball, and there must have been thousands, I thank my luck that I wasn’t born Coveleski or Wamsganss or Peckinpaugh.” -Mel Ott…
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!…
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!…
THERE ARE ERRORS…AND THEN THERE ARE ERRORS!! Hank Gowdy and the 1924 World Series
“The mask held me like a bear claw,” –Hank Gowdy, recalling his unfortunate incident in the 1924 World Series which led to Washington’s winning run…
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.
Back Into The Dead Ball Era: The 1912 New York Giants!
“In playing or managing, the game of ball is only fun for me when I’m out in front and winning. I don’t give a [hill of beans] for the rest of the game.” -John McGraw…
Followup To Paul Doyle’s Essay on the Dodger-Giant 1962 Playoff Series (Part Two)
A Bitter Stan Williams Recalls His Role In One Of The Worst Innings In Dodger History, October 3, 1962
1962: THE LAST DODGERS-GIANTS “PLAYOFF” SERIES (Part One)
Most of us who read Baseball History Comes Alive treasure the 1951 National League Playoff Series where Bobby Thomson hit the “Home Run Heard ‘Round the World.”…
Baseball “Goats,” Part Three: Heine Zimmerman and the 1917 World Series
“Who the hell was I supposed to throw to, Bill Klem?”…
Baseball “Goats,” Part Two: The “$30,000 Muff”
To follow up on my three-part series on the tragedy of Fred Merkle, I’m today starting another series on well-known baseball goats…
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!…
The Tragedy of Fred Merkle, Part One
“Strength to overcome adversity…that is the enduring legacy of Fred Merkle’s life.’”…
