Philadelphia Phillies Archives - Baseball History Comes Alive

Baseball Rarities / Philadelphia Phillies August 31, 2025August 31, 2025

The Exclusive “Four-Homer Game Club” Gets a New Member!

What happened Thursday night had occurred only 20 times previously in all of baseball history. It’s much rarer than a No-Hitter (326 times), or a Cycle (350 times). In fact it’s even rarer than a Perfect Game (24 times). The only two feats I can think of that are in the same “league” – so to speak – are Unassisted Triple Plays (15 times), and the rare Natural Cycle (14). So what was it?…

Eddie “The Natural” Waitkus Shot by an Obsessed “Femme Fatale”!

Today Mike Janacek returns with a “deep dive” into the shooting of former Cub Eddie Waitkus by stalker, Ruth Steinhagen in Chicago’s Edgewater Beach Hotel. Eddie is believed by many to be the character portrayed by Robert Redford in the movie, “The Natural.” Whether or not you’re familiar with this incident, I think you’ll find Mike’s essay interesting…

MVPs / Philadelphia Phillies / Vince Jankoski Posts August 12, 2025August 12, 2025

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…

Chicago Cubs / Chicago White Sox / Coaches / Philadelphia Phillies / Player Passings July 24, 2025July 25, 2025

The Sad Passing of Lee Elia: Always Be Careful About What You Say – Your Words May Come Back to Haunt You!

A very poignant lesson can be learned from the life of Lee Elia: One bad moment – usually involving a loss of self-control – can stay with us forever and sully our reputation. How many of us would like to have the worst moment of our lives serve as our epitaph? Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to Lee Elia…

Chicago White Sox / Hall of Fame / Philadelphia Phillies December 8, 2024December 8, 2024

Wow! Dick Allen Elected to the Hall of Fame!

The announcement has been made! After two near misses by one vote each of the last two times he was on the ballot, Dick Allen is in!…

Chicago White Sox / Hall of Fame / Philadelphia Phillies November 24, 2024December 8, 2024

The “Dick Allen For the Hall of Fame” Petition Has Been Submitted, Due to Arrive at the Hall of Fame on Tuesday, December 3, Ahead of the Vote on December 8.

The Classic Era Hall of Fame Committee is scheduled to meet on December 8, just two weeks from now. Having missed out on selection to the Hall by one vote the last two times he was on the ballet, this is a great chance for all of us to help correct one of the biggest injustices in all of sports by showing our support for Dick’s election to the Hall…

It'll Never Happen Again / Philadelphia Phillies August 20, 2024August 20, 2024

What Are the Odds??

Here’s something crazy that happened sixty-seven years ago this past week in a game between the Phillies and the Giants…

Chicago White Sox / Philadelphia Phillies / Player Spotlights April 6, 2024August 8, 2025

Let’s Get Dick Allen Into the Hall of Fame!

“Dick Allen hits the ball harder than any player I’ve ever seen!” –Willie Mays. Now that’s quite a quote!…

Guest Posts / Philadelphia Phillies May 19, 2023May 19, 2023

Wearn Field…and The Ghost of Phillies’ Spring Training Past

Today we have something a bit different. Guest contributor Matt Kastel returns with an interesting account of Phillies’ Spring Training – 1919 style – at Charlotte’s Wearn Park…

Don Stokes' Colorizations / Philadelphia Phillies / Player Passings December 15, 2022December 18, 2022

Curt Simmons, RIP; Let’s Recall the 1950 World Series (Link Corrected)

The baseball world was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Curt Simmons (May 19, 1927- December 13, 2022) at age 93. Simmons was the last surviving member of the 1950 “Whiz Kids”…

Guest Posts / Historic Events / Philadelphia Phillies October 11, 2022

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…

Don Stokes' Colorizations / It'll Never Happen Again / Philadelphia Phillies / St. Louis Cardinals September 3, 2022September 6, 2022

Has The Game Changed Or What?? Pete Alexander Pitches Two Complete Games In A Doubleheader!

“The Cubs finished last last year and if they finish last again, I’d rather it be without Alexander.” –Cubs’ manager Joe McCarthy…

Philadelphia Phillies / We're Contacted by Relative/Acquaintance of a Former Player! April 22, 2021April 25, 2024

We’re Contacted by Long-Time Friend of Dick Allen!

“I’ve been around the game a long time, and Dick Allen is the greatest player I’ve ever seen play in my life. –Hall-of-Famer Rich Gossage…

Paul Doyle Posts / Philadelphia Phillies February 19, 2021February 22, 2021

“Owners Aren’t Angels”: The Story of the 1943 Phillies

“If there is a ‘jerk’ connected with the Phillies, it is William D. Cox, president of the baseball club…and he’s an all-American jerk!”…

Chicago Cubs / Philadelphia Phillies September 11, 2020September 13, 2020

Cubs Park Raided! May 24, 1920

“Today, Cubs management talks of welcoming gamblers to Wrigley Field. A century ago, it was calling the cops on them.”…

Historic Events / Latin Ball players / Philadelphia Phillies / Player Spotlights August 29, 2020August 30, 2020

“The Curse of Chico Ruiz”: The Phillies Blow the 1964 Pennant!

“It was about the dumbest play I’ve ever seen…except that it worked.” -Pete Rose, speaking of teammate Chico Ruiz’ 1964 steal of home…

Baseball Shootings and Murders / Chicago Cubs / Historic Events / Philadelphia Phillies August 9, 2020August 14, 2020

Baseball Shootings, Part Two: Eddie Waitkus Shot by an Obsessed “Femme Fatale”

“If I can’t have you, nobody else can either!” –Ruth Ann Steinhagen to the object of her obsession, Eddie Waitkus, just before shooting him…

Baseball Cheating / Cincinnati Reds / Dead Ball Era / Philadelphia Phillies January 18, 2020January 19, 2020

Baseball Rocked Again! Let’s Revisit Cheating at the Baker Bowl, 1900!

As someone who has written extensively about the Black Sox scandal, I never thought I’d see a cheating scandal that had the potential to rock the game to its core again, as occurred in 1919. But I think it may have happened.