I’ve said many times that whenever you look deep into the career of a major leaguer you’ll almost always find some interesting details; and boy, does Ron Christensen proof me right today! Being the baseball history nerd that I am, I had heard of Arthur Irwin, but I had no idea of his up and down career and life! Read to the end to see the demise of one of baseball’s truly eccentric characters …
Mickey Mantle Wins Second MVP In 1957!
Sixty-eight years ago yesterday, November 22, 1957, Mickey Mantle edged out the great Ted Williams to win the American League MVP. In a controversial vote, the 26-year-old Mantle won the award for the second time, his first coming the previous year…
Another Edition of: Baseball’s Forgotten Stars! Let’s Remember Cy Seymour
There’s nothing I enjoy more than learning about baseball’s forgotten stars; and today, Mike Janacek returns with a detailed look into the career of Cy Seymour, an overlooked star who was certainly one of the most versatile players in the history of the game…
Veteran’s day Tribute: Eddie Grant – The True Measure of Courage
Today we welcome back Ron Christensen with a special Veteran’s Day tribute to Eddie Grant: the first ball player to enlist during WWI and who was later killed in action. As Ron mentions, Captain Eddie Grant deserves to be properly recognized for his service to his country, and so we’re glad to shine our baseball spotlight on this authentic American hero…
Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Elmer Flick, ‘The Demon of The Stick’
Be honest…Have you ever heard of Elmer Flick? If so, did you know he’s in the Hall of Fame? It doesn’t seem right to include a Hall of Famer in the “Forgotten Stars” category, but I think it applies to Elmer Flick. Mike Janacek returns today and attempts to set the record straight with an interesting account of Elmer’s life and career…
Smoky Burgess and His Bat Got Around!
Lets face it…the old pinch hitters (from the pre-DH era) are the Rodney Dangerfields of baseball: they get no respect! Today, Mark Kolier sets the record straight with an interesting essay about one of the best pinch hitters of all time: Smoky Burgess. I think you’ll enjoy what Mark has for us today…
Another Edition of “Baseball’s Forgotten Stars”: Guy Harris ‘Doc’ White
Mike Janacek returns today with an interesting essay on the long-forgotten Deadball Era star, Doc White. I was familiar with him as a standout pitcher for the 1906 World Series champion White Sox, but, as I discovered, he possessed many other talents not normally associated with ball players. I always find it enlightening to learn more about the game’s forgotten stars, so I think you’ll enjoy what Mike has for us today.
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…
Harry “The Cat” Brecheen: Pitching Coach Par Excellence!
Boy…If there’s one category of major leaguers overlooked for a spot in the Hall of Fame, it’s coaches. There’s a wing for executives, umpires, and sportswriters…but for coaches, a big fat zero. Mike Janacek returns today with an interesting essay about Harry “the Cat” Brecheen, showing why this blatant oversight should be rectified. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read Mike’s interesting essay…
Willie Mays Hits His 50th Home Run of the 1955 Season!
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…
DAVEY JOHNSON, RIP
The baseball world was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Davey Johnson. Today Vince Jankoski takes a detailed look int this fine ball player and successful manager…
Deadball Era Match-up For the Ages: “Smoky” Joe Wood vs. Walter “Big Train” Johnson!
On September 6, 1912 Smoky, Joe Wood faced Walter “Big Train” Johnson in a memorable pitching duel at Fenway Park. Matched pitch-for-pitch, Wood eventually bested Johnson 1-0 for a two-hit complete game shutout, his 30th of the year…
A “Slide-Off” Victory?? What the Heck Is that!!
Today I stumbled upon some interesting information that proves that two of my personal baseball axioms are true:
My two personal axioms: Just when you think you know everything about this game, you suddenly realize that actually you don’t – no matter how many years you’ve been following it; and whenever you look closely into the career of almost any major leaguer, you’ll find something of interest. Lets see what I learned today…
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…
Another Edition of Baseball’s Overlooked Stars! Eppa Rixey Jr.
It seems like a contradiction to say that a Hall of Famer is a forgotten star, but I think the term applies in the case of Eppa Rixley. I’d venture to guess that the vast majority of baseball fans have never heard of him. And does he belong in the Hall of Fame? Mike Janacek returns today with a detailed and interesting look into his career. You can decide for yourself the answer to the question…
Let’s Remeber Bucky Harris: Grandfather/Godfather/Inventor of the Modern Relief Pitcher!
Vince Jankoski returns with another installmetn in his series on the evolution of relief pitchers. Today, he highlights the role that HOF manager “Boy Wonder” Bucky Harris played in the development of the modern relief pitcher…
Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Larry French
“He’s destined to become one of the greatest hurlers in the National League.” – Lefty Grove, speaking of a young Larry French…
Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Frank ‘Noodles’ Hahn
Many of you may have heard of the early twentieth century ball player, Noodles Hahn. Besides having one of the greatest baseball nicknames of all-time, Noodles Hahn was quite a pitcher over his injury shortened career, as Mike Janacek tells us today…
“WILD BILL” DONOVAN: THE MOST SUPERSTITIOUS MAN IN BASEBALL!
We all know ball players are superstitious, but today, Ron Christensen tells us about possibly the most superstitious player of all, “Wild Bill Donovan. He’s off the “superstition charts”! It’s a great story that all baseball history fans will enjoy…
Baseball’s Eccentrics and Zany Characters! “Frenchy” Bordagaray
A couple years ago, I started a new ongoing series that I called: “Do You Have A Funny Caption For This Photo?” It didn’t go anywhere back then, but I thought I’d give it another try. Check out zany ballplayer “Frenchy” Bordagary and his pretty wife, Victoria!……
Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: John Montgomery Ward
We welcome back Ron Christensen with a detailed look into one of baseball’s forgotten stars from the nineteenth century, Hall of Famer John Montgomery Ward. As Ron demonstrates, JMW was truly a “jack of all trades,” and one of baseball’s great innovators…
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…
Waite Hoyt and the Dead Body in the Trunk!
Amidst all the “heavy” writing we do around here on Baseball History Comes Alive, it’s fun to sit back every once in a while and have a good laugh. I guarantee that will be your reaction when you read Ron Christensen’s essay today about “Waite Hoyt and the Body in the Trunk”…
Let’s Remember Hall of Famer, “Gettsburg” Eddie Plank!
Today, we welcome Mike Janacek with his first guest submission: an interesting look at the career of the A’s Hall of Famer, Eddie Plank, one of the greatest left-handed pitchers in baseball history. I think you’ll enjoy what Mike shares with us today…
Pete Runnels: The Most Underrated Hitter You’ve Never Heard of!
OK…I had heard of Pete Runnels and knew he played for the Red Sox, and had a vague recollection that he was a good hitter, but, as a National League fan back then, that was about the extent of my knowledge of his career. Today, we welcome back Ron Christensen who sets the record straight on this fine ball player, including winning two batting titles!…
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…
Another Edition of “Baseball Oddities”: Ouch! Hit by A Pitch Twice…In The Same Inning!
I have to admit I’ve never heard of a Reds pitcher named Willard Schmidt. Yet, he found a way to get into the baseball record books, although not particularly a way he would have intended…
The Big Cat Has A Big Day!
Seventy-eight years ago today, April 24, 1947, the Big Cat, Johnny Mize, had a big day. The Giants’ first baseman hit three home runs in a losing cause as the Giants lost to the Boston Braves 14-5 in a game played at the Polo Grounds. In doing so, Johnny became the first major leaguer to hit three homers in one game five different times…
Forgotten Dodger Star Dolph Camilli, Part Two
Today, we continue with Part Two of Bill Gralnick’s interesting essay on former Brooklyn Dodger, Dolph Camilli, whose outstanding achievements have been overlooked over the passage of time. We’re happy to shine our baseball spotlight on this true baseball star from the 1940s…
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.…
“Tinker to Evers to Chance”- But What About Harry Steinfeldt??
Whenever I think about the Cubs’ fabled Cubs’ infield of “Tinker to Evers to Chance,” I also wonder about third baseman, Harry Steinfeldt, who became, in my opinion, baseball’s version of “odd man out”…
Frank Lary, the Yankee Killer From Dixie
Our “senior” readers will remember Frank Lary, the Tigers fine pitcher who was known as the “Yankee Killer.” Today Vince Jankoski returns with a deep dive into his career and tries to analyze how the Alabama native had such success against the dreaded Yankees…
Rudy York, the 1930-40s Version of Kyle Schwarber!
With one-eighth Cherokee ancestry and a severe liability with the glove, Rudy York was once described, in those pre-PC days of the 1930s, as: “Part Indian and part first baseman.”…
Dick Williams Out as Manager of the Oakland A’s December 1973!
Those of us old enough to remember the Oakland A’s of the early 1970s can readily recall how good those teams were, winning three successive pennants and World Series championships (1972-1974). The roster of talent assembled over those years is truly staggering…
A Deep Dive Into the Career of Sandy Koufax (Warning: This essay comes from the sacrilege department. You may not like what you read!)
Vince Jankowski’s not afraid to tackle controversial subjects…and with today’s essay, “A Deep Dive Into the Career of Sandy Koufax,” it’s like controversy on steroids!…
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!…
Have You Ever Heard of Dodger All-Star Norm Larker? I Hadn’t Either!
Today we welcome back Mark Kolier with an interesting essay on overlooked Dodger first baseman, Norm Larker, a player I had never really heard of. As is always the case, whenever you look into the career of a former major leaguer, you’ll find some interesting information. Such is the case with Mark’s essay today.
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…
Another Edition of “Overlooked for the Hall of Fame”: Rocky Colavito
As I watched Detroit and Cleveland play their recent playoff series, I found myself thinking about a great player who starred for both these teams in days gone by. I was thinking, of course, of Rocky Colavito…
Pete Rose, RIP
The entire baseball world was deeply saddened today to learn of the passing of Pete Rose. Those of us who saw Pete Rose play regularly will never forget the fire he brought to the game. Love him or hate him, there’s no disagreement he was a great ballplayer – one of the best ever…
