Wow! File this one into the file marked “Lost Potential.” I had heard of Louis Sockalexis but knew nothing about him. Rod Christensen fills in that gap today with an interesting essay about the first Native American ball player who had the potential to be one of the greatest players ever…
Cubs’ Base-Running Gaffe Recalls the Dodgers’ Babe Herman: The Only Major Leaguer To Double Into a Double Play!
The Cubs’ bizarre spring training triple play the other day brought to mind another equally bizarre base-running gaffe made by the Dodgers’ Babe Herman on August 26, 1926, one hundred years ago this summer…
The Rise and Fall of Denny McLain
Today we welcome back Matt Kastel with an interesting essay describing the life and career of Denny McLain, the last player to win 30 games. This essay is a condensed version of Matt’s longer essay for which he interviewed McLain…
Len Koenecke: A Remarkably Bizarre and Unusual Tale
I’ve said many times whenever you look deeply into the live and career of a former major league player you’ll find something of interest about him. However, as Ron Christensen accounts today, this story about the unusual demise of Len Koenecke is off the charts! This is one of the most bizarre stories involving the death of a major leaguer I can remember…
We Uncover a Bit of Baseball History In Photos of Hall of Famer, Sam Thompson!
OK…Today we’re really going into the weeds! This one is for the real baseball history nerds out there! I was recently contacted by two SABR members asking my opinion on whether or not a player in an 1880s photo found on eBay from an Ohio estate sale was nineteenth century Hall of Fame ball player Sam Thompson…
Baseball History Comes Alive Celebrates Its Tenth Anniversary!
This week marks the tenth 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. To celebrate the happy occasion, here’s a repost of my very first essay, posted on January 20, 2016, along with a nice photo gallery highlighting the life and career of the great “Flying Dutchman,” Honus Wgner…
Sometimes Minor Trades Can Have Major Consequences: The Dodgers Sign Sanford Braun! (Who??)
Seventy-two years ago last month, December 13, 1954, a rather unremarkable trade was made between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles. The Dodgers traded away Billy Cox, their mainstay third baseman whose best years were behind him; and Preacher Roe, a fine pitcher who was also at the end of the road. In return, the Dodgers got two nameless minor league prospects…
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…
Another Edition of “Baseball’s Forgotten Stars!” – Phil Cavarretta
With this week being the 15th anniversary of Phil Cavarretta’s passing (December 21, 2010), I thought this would be a good time to repost my tribute to this overlooked star that I first wrote nine years ago…
Cardinals Trade Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown to the Cubs, 1903!
Brock for Broglio? Yeah, that was a pretty good deal…for the Cardinals, that is. Not so good for us Cub fans, however! But how about getting Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown from the Cardinals almost for free?? Now that’s a deal!!…
Two Interesting Trades involving Billy Pierce!
As I’ve said many times, whenever you look into the career of almost any major leaguer, you’ll almost always find something of interest. That certainly holds true the case of Billy Pierce. The 5’10”, 160-pound southpaw was the principal player in two very interesting trades: One coming to the White…and one leaving the White Sox!…
Another Edition of Baseball’s Eccentrics! The Curious Career of Arthur Irwin
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…
