As I’ve mentioned many times, we always love it when we’re contacted by a relative of a former major leaguer. It makes no difference if the player was a star or a sub…
The Sad Demise of Hack Wilson
“Hung over, yes, many times…drunk, no.” -Hack Wilson’s response when asked if he ever played drunk…
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…
Baseball’s Other “Babe,” Babe Herman: The Only Major Leaguer To Double Into a Double Play!
I was recently reading about baseball oddities (including “The Most Unusual Home Run Ever!”) and it got me to thinking about some other unusual occurrences on the baseball diamond…
Another Edition of: “From the Lighter Side!” Pepper Martin and his “Mudcat Band”
“Pepper Martin’s performance in the 1931 World Series was the greatest individual performance in the history of the World Series.” –John McGraw…
Let’s Recall A Relic From A By-Gone Era: the Team Pinch Hitter
In perusing the National Pastime This Day in Baseball History website recently, I came across this interesting tidbit involving the great pinch-hitter Smoky Burgess…
The Original Mr. Cub: “Jolly Cholly” Grimm
Today we welcome back to the fold Michael Keedy with an interesting essay covering the long career of Charlie Grimm, calling him the original “Mr. Cub.”…
The Most Lopsided Trades in Baseball History: “Lefty” O’Doul for Freddy Leach!
Ninety-four years ago this Fall, the Giants traded Lefty O’Doul to the Phillies for the aforementioned Freddy Leach…
Let’s Remember Baseball Lifer Don Zimmer and His 66 Years in the Game!
As I was watching the Yankees and Red Sox in their wild-card game last night, I have to admit that my baseball history antenna was real active…
THE TRAGIC STORY OF BASEBALL’S UNFORTUNATE HALL-OF-FAMER, ERNIE LOMBARDI
“Lombardi was so slow he ran like he was carrying a piano—and the tuner”-Anonymous teammate…
“DiMaggio” Stars In the 1943 All-Star Game!
“DiMaggio” Stars In the 1943 All-Star Game, and no…I’m not talking about Joe!…
Another Edition Of “Baseball’s Forgotten Stars!”: Wes Ferrell
I love going through the 1930s-’40s looking for stars who’ve been largely forgotten over the passage of time. And believe me, there’s plenty of them!…
Casey Stengel’s Often Overlooked Playing Career!
“Sure I played, did you think I was born at the age of 70 sitting in a dugout trying to manage guys like you?” – Casey Stengel
EDDIE STANKY: “THE BRAT”!
Today we welcome back Bill Schaefer with an interesting essay detailing the career of The Brat, Eddie Stanky
JIM “MUDCAT” GRANT AND A CERTAIN ”MISTER X”
I’ve learned over the years that whenever I write an essay for my website, Baseball History Comes Alive, it goes out to a wide audience. I never know exactly who it might reach or how it might affect someone…
The Tragedy of Fred Merkle, Part One
“Strength to overcome adversity…that is the enduring legacy of Fred Merkle’s life.’”…
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…
Ballplayers and Their Children, Part Three: Hack Wilson and Son Bobby.
The diminutive Hack Wilson was one of the most accomplished power hitters in the game during the late 1920s and early 1930s…
Ballplayers and Their Children, Part Two: “Sad” Sam Jones
In the featured photo from the George Brace collection with his two son, George and Paul,
THE AMAZING STORY OF REX BARNEY
“I should have been up there with the greats. I should have gone right up the ladder, but too many rungs were missing.” -Rex Barney
Let’s Remember the “Boy Wonder,” Hall-of-Famer Bucky Harris
“If you can’t play for Bucky Harris, you don’t belong in the major leagues.” -Joe DiMaggio…
DON MATTINGLY: FAME SECOND TO FAITH AND FAMILY
I loved watching Don Mattingly play baseball. A flawless fielder and an imposing figure in the batter’s box: powerful sloping shoulders, intense concentration…
My How Baseball Has Changed! Big Ed Walsh Wins Both Ends of a Doubleheader
One hundred and fifteen years ago yesterday, on September 26, 1905, a very unusual game was played at Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds in Boston…
Tribute to the Great Dead Ball Era Pitcher, Smoky Joe Wood
“I threw so hard I thought my arm would fly right off my body.” Smoky Joe Wood, quoted in “The Glory of Their Times”….
Larry Yount: King of the One Game Wonders!
Baseball history is replete with weird, one-time-only oddities. And so here’s a real good one I stumbled onto yesterday.
“Dalko”: The Untold Story of Baseball’s Fastest Pitcher
“I wish he could have accomplished more. He was slated for big things. It’s just unfortunate that he didn’t.…But he’s still a legend”…
“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…
Shootings, Murders, and Near-Tragedies, Part IV: The Amazing Story of Jack “Lucky” Lohrke!
“You were thinking of doing what??…Haha!…Don’t make me laugh!”…
PAUL DOYLE’S TRIBUTE TO CARROLL HARDY-Every Fan’s Underdog
An obituary of an old-time ballplayer appeared in the news the other day. Memories of childhood sprang to the forefront of my mind after reading the obit…
“Hippo” Vaughn and Baseball’s Rarest of Feats: The “Double No Hitter”
What are the odds of a double no-hitter? Well, I read somewhere the odds of a no-hitter in any game are 13,000-to-one…
“Shufflin’ Phil” Douglas and the 1918 Pennant-Winning Cubs
I always used to designate 1918 as the most dysfunctional year in baseball history, but I’m afraid this year, 2020, will now hold that dubious distinction…
THE GREAT BASEBALL NAME GAME: “VINEGAR BEND” MIZELL
Part of the lore and lure of baseball are the wonderfully screwy names of baseball players…
We’re Contacted by Grandson of Former Major Leaguer, Ken Lehman!
Subscribe to Baseball History Comes Alive! for automatic updates (sign-up block found in right side-bar) As […]
ALBERT BELLE FOR THE HALL OF FAME
Today we welcome the first guest post from Daniel McNamara. He makes an interesting case that the surly slugger, Albert Belle is Hall-of-fame worthy based on his performance between the white lines…
Let’s Shine Our Player Spotlight: Leon Day, “One of the Best Ever!”
“There wasn’t any position he couldn’t really play. He was something to behold, on the mound or in the field.” -Monte Irvin, speaking of Leon day
A Look Back at the Career of the Great “Double X,” Jimmie Foxx!
“How in the hell do you manage to hit all those home runs with those scrawny arms?” –Jimmie Foxx to his young teammate, Ted Williams…
Forty-Year-Old Warren Spahn Throws a No-Hitter!
It happened exactly 59 years ago yesterday, April 28, 1961. Warren Spahn, just five days past his 40th birthday, becomes the second-oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a no-hitter…
Let’s Remember Elston Howard and the Yankees’ Historic Day, April 14, 1955
“A man of great gentleness and dignity, one of the truly great Yankees.” –Inscription on Elston Howard’s Monument Park plaque…
Tribute to Baseball’s “Toy Cannon,” Jim Wynn
“Jimmy’s success on the field helped build our franchise from its beginnings. After his retirement, his tireless work in the community impacted thousands of young people in Houston…”
Baseball’s Forgotten Stars! Jim “Junior” Gilliam
While not a Hall-of-Famer, Gilliam was a clutch performer who had a fine career. It included membership, as either a player or coach, on ten Dodger pennant winners and four World Series championships…