Ron Christensen returns today with a detailed account of his youthful hobby of collecting baseball cards…and his discovery that pitcher Steve Blass was from his home state of Connecticut. Even though a Yankee fan, this started Ron off on a lifelong connection to the Pirates’ ace. Ron shares an interesting story to which – in many ways – we can all relate. -GL
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!…
A Real Baseball Rarity: Twins on the Same Team…The O’Brien Brothers!
I love reading about baseball family rarities. You know, things like family members hitting for the cycle (only three times, see list below), or three brothers in the same outfield (only once, the Alous). Today Vince Jankoski tells us about another such family rarity: twin brothers playing on the same major league team! It’s so rare it’s only happened once in baseball history!…
The Mysterious Case of the Misidentified 1905 Pirates Team Photo!
One of our readers, Tom Ford, contacted me this past week asking for help in identifying the players on a Pirates’ team photo from the early Deadball Era. As I always enjoy the challenge of trying to put names to faces in old baseball photos, I told Tom I’d be glad to help…
Let’s Revist the 1960 World Series!
Today Vince Jankoski takes us on a revisit to the 1960 World Series. Vince takes a deep dive into some of the more subtle reasons the Yankees lost the 1960 World Series to the Pirates despite besting them in virtually every offensive and pitching category…
HOFer Max Carey Gets Two Hits in One Inning – Twice in the Same Game!
There was a memorable game played at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis between the Cardinals and the Pirates, 99 years ago yesterday, June 22, 1925. In that game, future Hall of Famer Max Carey got two hits in the first inning and then again got two hits in the eighth innings,..
Lets remeber the Great Honus Wagner’s Birthday!
We can’t let this week go by without mentioning the birthday anniversary of Honus Wagner, born on February 24, 1874, 150 years ago yesterday…
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…
Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates: A Rivalry That Has Been Largely Forgotten
It’s less than 300 miles between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh and both the Reds and Pirates have been around for a very long time. Their NLCS clashes during the 1970s remain some of the best and most exciting in baseball history!
My Review of “Days of Reckoning,” by Author Ron Waldo
Those of us who have read Author Ron Waldo’s previous books know him to be a skilled writer and accomplished baseball historian. With the publication of his latest book, “Days of Reckoning: Players Punching Their Ticket Out of Pittsburgh During the Barney Dreyfus Era,” he now emerges as a top-notch baseball researcher…
The Classic 1960 World Series
Now that we’re in full “World Series mode,” I’ll continue featuring some of the more memorable Fall Classics. It’s been a while since I talked about the 1960 World Series, today we’ll revisit one of the most memorable of all — that is, if you’re a Pirates fan! — which included probably the most dramatic walk-off home runs in baseball history…
SLUGGER TURNED MALAPROP MAESTRO: RALPH KINER
Today Bill Schaefer returns with a long-overdue tribute to slugger Ralph Kiner. If you ever had any doubts that Kiner is a legitimate Hall of Famer, as I once did, I think you’ll be in for a surprise…
Baseball History Comes Alive Tops the One Million Hits Mark!
Seven and a half years ago, on January 20, 2016, the Baseball History Comes Alive website was born…
THE TURBULANT LIFE OF HARRY “THE HAT” WALKER
Harry Walker won the National League batting crown with a .363 batting average, in 1947…
We’re Contacted By Son of Legendary Pirates’ Manager, Danny Murtaugh!
“Managing a ball club is like getting malaria. Once you’re bitten by the bug, it’s difficult to get it out of your bloodstream!” –Danny Murtaugh…
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,…
Birthday Tribute to the Great Honus Wagner, Born February 24, 1874
Thanks to our resident baseball artist, Don Stokes, for calling to our attention that today is the birthday anniversary of Honus Wagner…
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!…
A Baseball Babe “Four Bagger!” Babe Adams
In recent days, I’ve written about “Babe” Ruth, “Babe” Dahlgren, and “Babe” Herman. Thanks to one of the readers who suggested I make it a Babe “Four Bagger” by including “Babe” Adams, the rookie hero of the 1909 World Series…
Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Arky Vaughan
Recreating the life of a man born over a century ago is no easy task, and it’s even more daunting when that man has been dead for nearly 70 years…
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
Great Footage of Honus Wagner!
“When he fielded grounders, his huge hands also collected large scoops of infield dirt, which accompanied his throws to first like the tail of a comet.”…
Beautiful Colorization From The 1903 World Series! Learn Why This Photo Is Very Significant for Us!
Check out this beautiful restoration/colorization of a rare combined team photo from the first World Series in 1903. It’s done by our friend Chris Whitehouse of Mancave Photos…
Harvey Haddix Near-Perfect Game: One for the Record Books!
“Not a day goes by that somebody doesn’t ask me about that game….
THE GREAT BASEBALL NAME GAME: “VINEGAR BEND” MIZELL
Part of the lore and lure of baseball are the wonderfully screwy names of baseball players…
Norman Rockwell and Baseball, Part Two: The Three Umpires
The best known of Norman Rockwell’s baseball-themed paintings is probably his 1948, The Three Umpires, which appeared on the April 23, 1949 cover of The Saturday Evening Post…
Back Into the Dead Ball Era We Go! The 1901 Pittsburg Pirates!
Thanks to our crack baseball researcher, Don Stokes, for uncovering this neat pic of the 1901 National League champion Pittsburg Pirates (without the “h”!)…
Baseball History Comes Alive! Celebrates Its Fourth Anniversary…Thank You!
This week marks the fourth anniversary of Baseball History Comes Alive! I’d like to thank all our loyal followers, especially those who have been with me from the beginning…
HOFer Max Carey: One Of The Greatest Base Stealers Ever!
“Stealing bases is the art of picking up little things – things like a spitball pitcher who never threw to first if he was going to throw a spitter to the plate.” – Max Carey
Today is “National Pi Day!” Mathematics and Baseball Have A Surprising Connection!
When is a pi(e) square? Well, in the mathematic world. Yes, the math constant of Pi, 3.14, is celebrated every March 14th. In baseball, there was a “constant” at third base for the Pittsburg Pirates from 1920 to 1937. He went by the name of “Pi,” although he spelled it “Pie.”
Birthday Anniversary for the Great Honus Wagner; Born February 24, 1874
Thanks to our resident baseball artist, Don Stokes, for calling to our attention that today is the birthday anniversary of Honus Wagner. He was born 145 years ago today. Don has also come through with a beautiful colorization of the great Dutchman.
Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: “Arky” Vaughan
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Here’s Something All Baseball History Fans Will Enjoy…But Especially Pirate Fans! We Located the Young Lad On the Right!
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Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, June 30, 1959 – Thunder, lightning and rain interrupts a pitchers’ duel
The City of Philadelphia was gripped by a punishing five-day heat wave when the […]
Shibe Park, Philadelphia, PA, April, 29, 1947 – Legendary sluggers Hank Greenberg and Ralph Kiner lead Bucs to victory with home runs
The Pirates newly acquired slugger 36-year-old Hank Greenberg watches his third home run of […]
Honus Wagner in the 1940’s
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The Classic 1960 World Series
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Salute to Roberto Clemente
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Let’s Dive Into the Dead Ball Era Again! The 1910 Pittsburg Pirates!
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We’re Contacted by Relatives of the Pitcher-Catcher Battery Mates from the Very First World Series, 1903!
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